Envy (Seven Deadly Sins) Read Online Free PDF Page A

man what’s up?”  Paul leaned against the door jamb to my office with arms folded and a curious grin.
    I peered up at him with my cheek still against my desk, “I dated Benton Frazier for eleven years.”
    A whistle escaped Paul’s lips and he stepped into my office, closing the door behind him.  “That’s a long time girlfriend!  Now he shows up in New York and you’re assigned to work with him!  Damn, I thought I had shitty luck with my ex’s!”  He sat down across from me and studied my pitiful look.
    With a chuckle I put my hands on my desk and forcibly lifted my head, “No kidding!”
    “So how long have you been sleeping with, Michaud?”  Paul scrutinized me.
    I knew my face was burning red now, “What do you mean, Paul?”  I put on my best innocent expression.
    But Paul only laughed and shook his head, “Darlin,’ I’ve been a lawyer since you were in diapers.  I’ve learned a few things about the mannerisms of people over the years.  Up till now I thought Michaud was a robot, all work and no play, but when his eyes land on you they shine.  I think the man’s in love.”
    I looked up at him hopefully, “Do you really think so?”
    He stood up and stepped to my office door, his hand resting on the door handle, “I really do.  Now get to work!”  He closed the door behind him with a laugh.
    *-*-*-*-*-*-*
     

Uneasy was an understatement.  I felt downright disgusting.  That big shit eating grin of Benton’s was burning a hole into my brain, and for the life of me I couldn’t figure out why I just couldn’t let him go.  His forceful ways, and the fact that he truly knew me better than myself made me sick to my stomach.  Still, no matter what, he was a part of my life that would never go away, not even with a man like Carlton by my side.
    Carlton’s comfort level around people like Benton was also disturbing.  His ability to compartmentalize was incredible, and I was pretty sure flustered was a state he’d never been in.  His confidence was amazing, and on a somewhat higher level than Benton’s.  Well, maybe not higher, but different.  You could almost see the mechanical wheels churning in Benton’s brain.  Carlton, on the other hand made it look effortless.  It was simple really.  During business hours Carlton maintained the cut and dry persona that sent his combatants running like sissies for cover.  I appreciated that, but it was the afterhours Carlton that made my panties damp.
    And now I have to eat with both of them.  Each one unnerves me for a different reason.  Of course there was one issue that terrified me.  If Benton somehow senses he’s losing this imagined battle for my love, he’s liable to spill our secrets.  At dinner he could just as easily say that he’d like more bread as “Lets gang bang Liz afterwards, she loves that shit.”  I recoiled at the thought of his hands on me again.  I wanted IT not him.  After seeing the secret room in Carlton’s apartment, I knew for a fact he had it in him to give IT to me.  Thus my deduction was that Benton Frazier was now a disgusting liability for me, and that was all there was to it.
    I brushed out my hair and looked at the dress Palmer laid out for me.  He was still rummaging around my closet looking for the perfect pair of shoes for the ensemble.  It was just a simple black dress, tight around the midriff that accentuated my breasts perfectly.  And the sterling silver necklace that had belonged to my Mother hung neatly down to the top of my cleavage, drawing everyone’s attention to my ‘greatest’ feature, as Palmer put it.  A small black Gucci clutch with a silver strap accented the outfit perfectly.
    “I found them!” Palmer sang out from deep in my closet.  “Perfect shoes for tonight!”
    They were perfect, as ususal.  Low strappy heels, just high enough to improve the looks of my legs, yet low enough to be comfortable for an evening of dancing.  Carlton’s secretary had sent a