Chapter 7 - 7 (1/2)

I walked back into the living room finally fully clothed and took a deep breath while squaring my shoulders, determined not to back down now. After my little pep talk, I was feeling more in control and ready to take him on.

When I came around the corner, I noticed his back was to me so I happily took a moment to admire his exquisite physique. He had a strong, muscular back that I knew had to be a product of heavy lifting or days in the gym, and I could see them bunch up as he bent to pick up a picture I had sitting next to my TV. He had a rather spectacular ass, tight and firm and just the kind you wanted to slam your heels against as he was driving into you. Damn it, Mia, get a hold of yourself.

”So, what did you come here for?” I asked a bit more forcefully than I had intended.

I had just been trying to distract myself from my dirty thoughts and him from the picture he was looking at. It was the one the paramedics had taken of Lizzie and me on my 25th birthday after a wild night of drinking and dancing, it was also the night I had first met him. I'd rather not have to explain what happened that night to him just yet seeing as how I had been too embarrassed to call him the next day. Despite his obvious interest in me, I couldn't bring myself to ask him if he could dominate me. I just wasn't sure exactly how this sort of thing worked in real life.

”I came over to ask you to come back to work,” Reed said, turning back to me. ”Where was this photo taken?”

”At some club that Lizzie took me to,” I answered evasively as my mind whirled around with questions.

I finally shook my head to clear it of all the junk and got back to the matter at hand.

”I told you, I quit. I'm not going to work with Jones and I'm ecstatic to be out from underneath Chrissy.”

He set the picture down and turned to face me folding his arms together again.

”Don't worry about Ms. Anderson or Jones. They won't bother you anymore. Do you know the name of the club?” he persisted.

I shook my head in answer to his question, happily unable to answer that one because Lizzie had never told me the name of the club.

”Why won't they bother me anymore? Jones tried to blackmail me into sleeping with him, Mr. Callaghan. The very fact that he thinks he can get away with something like that bothers me. And as for Chrissy, she is the reason why he thought he could. The little tramp has slept with everybody while shoving all of her work off onto the rest of us,” I explained angrily.

There was no way I was going to come back and work with people like that and I was immeasurably angry at him for even considering asking.

Reed's face had grown darker and darker as I spoke. By the time I was done he looked about ready to punch someone. His expression was so fierce I found myself stepping back feeling a bit of fear.

”Believe me you won't be doing anyone's work but your own from now on and as for Jones, do you wish to press charges against him? Because I can guarantee he will be handled one way or another,” Reed said ending on a growl.

The way he said it sent shivers down my back and made me wonder how he was going to handle him. I recalled how the other man at work had looked and wondered if he was a bodyguard or something. The way he had held himself as he talked to Lizzie had sent dangerous chills down my spine and I had every certainty that if Reed was going to off someone that man would be the one to do it.

”What?! No, that's not what I meant!”

Frustration and fear had my voice on the rise. He just raised an eyebrow at me and shrugged as if to say ”okay, if you're sure”.

”Look I cannot work with him, I'm sorry I wish things were different but they're not,” I said my shoulders sagging, I was hoping he wouldn't be too disappointed.

However, instead of the dissatisfaction on his face, he just smiled triumphantly.

”Good. If that's the only thing keeping you from coming back, you'll be happy to know he's gone. So, I expect to see you at work tomorrow.”

My jaw hit the floor.

”He's gone?”