Master's Flame Read Online Free PDF

and dark-haired, sent him an apologetic look. She looked terrified on Valentina’s behalf, but Michel was rather enjoying the drama. He hadn’t experienced this kind of mutiny in years. Ever, really. Was Valentina crazy, as Jason claimed, or only exceptionally brave?
    He walked closer to her, inches away. She held her ground, vibrating with indignation. When he spoke, it was in a biting and resolute tone. “Miss Sancia, Genevieve might be the director of this show, but I am the director of all things Cirque du Monde. Perhaps you were unaware of this. Perhaps you are unaware of too many things. Let us proceed to my office, where I can explain these important matters to you.”
    Genevieve blanched and Jason got in his way as if to impede him. What did they think, that he would take her there and wring her neck? As tempting as the prospect might be, he’d worked too hard to get her here to choke the life out of her. It was only time to lay down some ground rules and teach her who was in charge. Without physical force, hopefully.
    The only person in the room who did not look at all alarmed was Valentina. She stormed off ahead of him. Marshaling her defenses, he was certain. Planning her mode of attack. “You will wish to come too?” he asked Jason, who shadowed his side.
    “I would like to, yes.”
    “Your protectiveness is one of your best qualities. Although you realize I would not behave inappropriately toward her.”
    Jason gave him a hooded look. “I don’t think you’d be inappropriate, no. But you can be brutal all the same. She’s new here, Michel. She’s impetuous, and in some way, I don’t think she lives in the same world as the rest of us.”
    “I know she doesn’t. I intend to redirect her more troublesome behaviors, that’s all.”
    Jason gave a skeptical grunt Michel chose not to analyze, and the two men headed down the hall after the fuming young artist.

Chapter Three: Singed
     
    Once in his office, Jason sat in one of the leather chairs in front of the desk and Michel sat in the other. Both of them watched her stalk back and forth across the room.
    “Will she stop?” asked Michel. “Or should I make her stop?”
    Jason raised a brow. “You can’t make her do anything.”
    Michel believed he could, but his methods might upset Jason. Or Valentina, for that matter. He held out a hand to get her attention. “My dear, I need to talk to you. If you won’t sit, then at least stop pacing.”
    She spun on him. “Why do you call me ‘my dear’? I am not dear to you, that is obvious.”
    “If you were not dear to me, you’d be packing your bags right now.”
    “I’m upset, you know. Very upset.”
    “I sense that.”
    “I have a vision for the act. I’ve been working hard. Working, working, working, and you storm in, and you complain because I fell? It was Adei’s fault. I need more time, more practice. How can you come in after only a few weeks and say, ‘Show me something perfect’? How can you make me have spotters who will distract and get in the way? You are unreasonable, unfair. You do not listen, only give orders. Do this, do that, blah blah blah,” she barked, giving an exaggerated imitation of his stony critique face.
    Michel ignored Jason’s chuckle, steepling his fingers and studying her. His whip hand twitched. “Are you finished?”
    “Will you answer my questions?”
    “When you address me with the respect of an employee for her superior, I will answer your questions.”
    She turned to storm away. His hand shot out to catch her wrist. “
Mademoiselle
, I don’t remember granting you permission to go.”
    The look she gave him could have melted rock. Blood rushed to his cock, a reaction to being challenged.
If you were mine, ma chère, the punishments I would deal you for this display...
But she was not his submissive, not his slave or plaything or anything.
    Not yet, anyway.
    The words whispered in his brain, and for the first time he admitted to himself that he