ARROGANT MASTER Read Online Free PDF Page A

fills with a million punishments I’d thoroughly enjoy bestowing upon
her right now, but we need to get a few things out of the way first.
    The door swings open a second later. I expect her to freeze
in my doorway, to wait for my command or permission to enter. Instead, she
shuts the door behind her and struts to my desk, taking a seat across from me.
    Bellamy has no idea what she’s agreed to.
    She’s perfectly at ease around me. Confident. Buoyant and
much too self-assured in the presence of a man who’d break her in ways she’d never
imagine.
    We’ll need to fix that soon.
    That is…if I decide I’m going to keep her.
    “How’s your morning?” Her voice is breathy in the most
tantalizing of ways. A soft sigh leaves her mouth before it curls into a sweet
smile.
    “It could be better.”
    She doesn’t frown or wince or pry. If she wants to stand a
chance around here, she’s going to have to learn to read me. And fast.
    “Sorry to hear that,” she says.
    “It’s always disappointing when my employees fail to show up
on time their first day.”
    Her lips form a circular shape as her eyes widen. A
manicured hand flies to the tiny hint of cleavage peaking from her white
blouse. She looks like she should be in church and not executively assisting a
man who’ll fully expect her on all fours at some point in the near future.
    “Am I late?” She glances around the room in search of a
clock.
    I reach for the antique pewter desk clock and flip it around
to face her. “Yes.”
    “I didn’t realize the walk from the parking garage to your
building would take this long. I’ll plan ahead going forward.”
    Her apology lacks a certain respect, like a glaring typo in
a hastily written email.
    “I don’t tolerate much, Miss Miller.” I fold my hands across
my desk, pinning her down with a scrutinizing stare. “Shall we go over my
expectations?”
    A wisp of platinum blonde hair falls across her shoulder,
splaying over the spot above her cleavage, which I now see is rising and falling in quick succession. She’s nervous. Her face may not show
it. Her words may not show it. But the rest of her says it all.
    I’m going to take great pleasure in watching her bullshit
her way through the next several minutes with me given what revelation came to
light this morning.
    “I do hope your expectations are realistic.” There’s a hint
of a laugh injected into her tone like she thinks this is funny.
    It’s not.
    Not to me.
    “Expectations.” I let the word linger. “Tardiness is not
tolerated. Excessive lateness will go on your employee record, Miss Miller. And
reprimands will be assigned as I see fit.”
    “I won’t be late again, sir.”
      “Second,” I
continue, “Lying is a fire-able offense.”
    “Shouldn’t we be going over job duties first?” She almost
interrupts me. I can only assume she’s trying to change the subject, knowing
full well she lied to get this job.
    “You’ll be doing for me the same things you were going to do
for Mr. Mutchler.” My fingers form a peak as I await her response. “The duties you
said you couldn’t discuss with me.”
    I fully expect her to slink back in her seat, exhale loudly,
hang her head, and admit that she’s a filthy liar.
    “I’d like to tailor this relationship, Mr. Townsend.”
    This girl is good.
    “Working relationship,” she disclaims. “Tell me exactly what
you need from me, and I’ll deliver. That’s the way I operate. I’m grateful for
this opportunity, and I’ll do anything in my power to ensure it’s a mutually
beneficial arrangement.”
    My mouth curls into a devilish leer. I’ve approached a fork
in the road, and I could easily take this in a completely different direction
if I were in a tortuous mood today.
    She’s lucky I’m not.
    “Well, then, we should discuss limits.” I exhale and hide
the secret pleasure I receive as I wait for her reaction.
    “Limits? Can you be more specific?”
    “Hard limits. Soft limits,” I say,