Bound Beneath His Pain: A Dirty Little Secrets Novel Read Online Free PDF

your first clients, at a restaurant called The Vault
.
Do you know it?”
    “Yes, I do.” I reply, having eaten there many times. “But wait. You set up the meeting? Isn’t it my job to find the clients?”
    Anderson’s grin is sweet, trusting. “Not at Holt. Here, clients come to us.” He reaches into his pocket and pulls out an envelope. “Before I forget, here’s your company credit card. It’s not unusual for clients to request meetings over breakfast, lunch, or dinner—five-star restaurants are mandatory when entertaining clients.” I accept the envelope, then Anderson addresses both Liv and me. “Enjoy your day, ladies.”
    I wait for Anderson to be out of hearing distance before saying to Liv, “This place is a freakin’ dream come true.”
    “I know,” Liv mutters, still stroking the glass on her desk. “It’s a perfect new home for us.”
    I give my head a slight shake. “Did you ever think we’d end up”—I wave my hands around the office—“here?”
    “Hell no.” Liv grins, eyes twinkling. “But I’m glad we did.” She pauses to study me, her eyes narrowing a little. “By the way, did you have anything to do with my raise?”
    “Maybe.” I smile.
    “Thought so.” Liv smiles back. “I was happy with what they offered me yesterday. But Anderson had me sign a new employment contract this morning, with a better salary. So, thanks for that.”
    “Were they good to you?”
    Liv nods. “Very.”
    “I’m glad.” There are thousands of assistants. But there’s only one Liv. And she deserves to be paid well.
    I move farther into our office, passing the two sleek leather chairs in front of my desk, and then take my seat, staring at the doorway that Anderson had exited. My lungs expand to their fullest with a deep satisfied breath when I turn to stare out at the high-rise next to ours.
    Five years I put in at Richardson, and now, here at Holt, I have a dream job most agents would kill for. The thought vindicates my lack of love life. At least I have a spectacular job now, instead of a decent job and no sex life.
    “So…” Liv drawls, turning me away from the window. Her chin is resting on her hand, eyes dancing. “Are we going to finally talk about the fireworks between you and Micah yesterday?”
    I hastily avoid looking at her and begin setting up my Mac. “Nope, ’cause there were no fireworks.” I’d dodged that particular question from her all day yesterday. Apparently, my luck had run out.
    “Right,” Liv says. “So all that intensity bouncing between you two is normal everyday stuff.”
    “Yup.” I give a firm nod. “Totally normal.”
    “You’ve never been a good liar,” she says dryly. “You know this, right?”
    “Yup. I know that, too.” I grin.
    This is why I love Liv. Somehow we mix personal and professional flawlessly. She’s not only my go-to girl for all things work related, but she’s my go-to girl for a seriously fun night out.
    “Excuse me. Allie?”
    The smooth voice snaps me out of my thoughts and I glance at the door, finding a slender man entering the office. Liv gives me a knowing grin, and the large bouquet of flowers in our visitor’s hands isn’t the reason for it. The man’s shoes, obsessively shiny, are nicer than mine. He dresses better than me too, in a perfectly tailored gray suit with a dark blue tie. His eyebrows are tweezed to perfection and his spiky blond hair doesn’t have a strand out of place. This guy is
pretty.
    I smirk at Liv and then say to the man, “Yes, I’m Allie.”
    “I’m Neil, Mr. Holt’s assistant.” He places the flowers on my desk, laugh lines creasing the corners of his baby blue eyes. “These are for you.”
    “Wow. Flowers from the boss,” Liv says to Neil. “Is this something Mr. Holt always does for new employees?” She’s totally digging to prove me wrong about the “fireworks.” Her sly smile gives her away.
    “Oh, no.” Neil chuckles in a cute sort of way that nearly brings a smile