Beauty and the Boss Read online

  Beauty and the Boss

  MINK

  Beauty and the Boss

  MINK

  © 2020

  All rights reserved. This copy is intended for the original purchaser of this e-book only. No part of this e-book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without prior written permission from Mink.

  This e-book is a work of fiction. While reference may be made to actual historical events or existing locations, the names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Contents

  Beauty and the Boss

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Epilogue

  Also by MINK

  About the Author

  Beauty and the Boss

  MINK

  Liam Baxter is my new boss, and he’s not so bad. I mean, he does require that I knock before I walk into his office. And he doesn’t want me to bring my cat to work. Then he tells me if I don’t follow his rules, there will be discipline. On top of that, others say he’s cold and calculating. Hmm, maybe my boss is a little bit bad? But the more I work for him, the more things change. He shows me his true self in delicious glimpses. Perhaps underneath the stern, handsome boss, there’s a man who needs love even more than he needs an assistant.

  Georgia Lavine is a means to an end for me. Her father’s business is one I intend to destroy. What better way to strike at a man than to take his daughter? That’s just what I did, hiring Georgia as my assistant to spite him and also to gain more leverage. But this acquisition isn’t without its pitfalls. Georgia is too sunny, too beautiful, too fun, too naïve, too everything-I’m-not. She treats everyone so kindly. So much so that I begin to find that I’m the only one who should get her smiles, her attention, and everything else she has to offer. After all, I’m her boss. And though the assistant position is temporary, I have a much more permanent one in mind.

  1

  Liam

  Golden sunshine puts a glare on my screen, so I press a button that drops the blinds behind me. I get a better view of my target, her computer ridiculously easy to hack according to my tech guy.

  She’s scrolling through jobs on a search engine, the list carefully curated by my high-dollar hacker—some guy in Finland. Each position seems to be an okay fit, but not what she’s looking for. She double-majored in literature and business, is a cat person, and wants something close to her apartment. The job as a communications assistant at a dog food company? She scrolls right past it. Same for the positions at tech companies with all-male staff. But when she comes to my listing, she pauses.

  Her cursor hesitates over the link.

  I hold my breath as she flits around like a butterfly, her wings new and ready to open, with no clue there’s a spider web right in front of her. My web.

  She clicks the link.

  I can breathe again.

  She scrolls through the listing--one perfectly tailored to hit all her high-points: entry-level, PR and assistant duties, plenty of women at the company and many in high-level positions, environmentally-conscious office, and only a few subway stops away.

  She clicks to apply and begins filling out the form for my temporary position.

  I lean back and steeple my fingers. She doesn’t need to bother with the formalities. She’s got the job. And once she’s under my thumb, I’ll have the one bargaining chip that Duncan Lavine can’t resist. His daughter.

  “Why are you looking so evil?” Bradley strides in, his blond hair in disarray and his suit rumpled.

  “Why are you looking freshly fucked?” I fire back.

  “Got a new secretary.” He shrugs. “She likes the cock. What can I say?” He plops down in the chair across from me, then leans over and hits the button to open the blinds.

  It’s fine. I’m done with Georgia Lavine … for now.

  “So why the devil face?” He runs a hand through his mussed hair. Bradley is my half-brother, a total skirt-chaser, and quite possibly my only friend, though I’d never tell him that.

  “I just love it when a plan comes together.”

  “What plan? Based on your expression, is it the ‘stomping puppies’ plan?”

  “Something like that.” I’ll twist and bend Georgia to get what I want, and then I’ll toss her aside. So perhaps he has a point.

  “Is this about that Lavine asshole again?” He sighs dramatically.

  I shrug. “We’re going to own that business.”

  “You’ve been saying that for a year.”

  My anger flares like the head of a match. “Maybe you don’t care that Duncan Lavine fucked our mother over, but I do.”

  He shakes his head. “I care. I want him to get what’s coming to him. I’m just not sure that it’s worth--” He waves a hand at me. “Whatever it is you’re planning to get back at him.”

  “Mom was in rehab for three months after he left. He put her there with his false promises and lies. Not to mention he talked her into selling him her cosmetics company for a song. No, I won’t allow him to get away with it. And I intend to buy his company, break it down into tiny pieces, and ship them off to China.”

  “Count me in.” He looks out at the blue sky behind me. “Where do we start?”

  “With my new assistant.” I sit back and watch as she submits her resume through the online portal.

  My foolish little snack is caught in the web, and I’m a particularly hungry spider.

  2

  Georgia

  Feeling excited, I hit the submit button. I try not to get my hopes up. This is the first job I’ve applied for that I really want. I had no idea it would be so difficult to find a position when I left college, but it’s proving to be harder than I thought.

  “I’m not being picky,” I tell Mr. Grumpy Pants, who’s lying on the counter where he’s not supposed to be while giving me a judgy look. Then again, I think that’s his normal face. I let him get away with lounging there because he’s so stinkin’ cute with his hair sticking up in a million different directions. He really does live up to his name. When I went to adopt him, the shelter tried to warn me away from him. I refused to budge. I was going to give his grumpy butt a home and smother him with love. So I let him lie on the counter.

  “I just want to find the right position, you know? It’s my first real job. First should always be the best,” I explain. “I mean, you didn’t want me to work at the dog place, right?” I get up from my chair and walk over to pet him. “Firsts should be bests. First kisses, first loves, even first--” I cover his little kitten ears. “Sex,” I whisper. “But you don’t need to know about those things.” I give his little ears a rub because I’d held them down. “Like you. You’re my first cat, and you're purrfect!” I laugh at my own joke.

  Mr. Grumpy Pants keeps the judgmental look on his face, not finding my joke funny at all. He’s such a little cutie pie.

  I couldn't have a cat when I lived in the dorm at college. When I’d moved off campus I shared a small place with a few other girls. One was allergic, so again, I couldn't have one. The day I moved into my little studio apartment, I was down at the shelter getting myself my first little kitty.

  “Let’s make cookies for Mrs.
Wilson to celebrate.” It will help occupy my time while I wait to see if I get an interview. How long does that take? I have a small nest egg left and only so much time to find a job. I refuse to take money from my father.

  His money comes with a whole bunch of strings attached. Lucky for me, my grandma had left me a trust when she’d passed. When my father found out, he’d almost hit the roof. I don’t think it was so much about the money not having gone to him, but the fact that I was offered some form of freedom. I’m hoping with time he can see this was all for the better. That he doesn't have to control me for us to have a relationship. Although I don’t think he’ll ever agree with that statement.

  “No sprinkles this time.” I shake my head. The last time I took cookies over to Mrs. Wilson she threw them away saying she hated sprinkles. Who hates sprinkles? She often makes the same face as Mr. Grumpy Pants but I’m working on her, too. She’ll warm up to me soon enough. She has to! We’re going to be neighbors for a while, and she needs some sunshine in her life. I will turn that frown of hers upside down.

  I scoot Mr. Grumpy Pants off the counter, which earns me a meow of displeasure. I wipe the surface down, then get to work on gathering all the ingredients to make the cookies. I put some music on, singing along with it as I mix the recipe together and slide the first batch into the oven. I set the timer and try to be patient. I can’t wait to brighten Mrs. Wilson's day with a special little treat.

  I keep busy with cleanup for a little while so I don’t obsessively check my emails. I mean, it’s going to take more than an hour, probably days, maybe weeks (oh no) to hear back. So I shouldn’t keep thinking about it. But when I hear my email ding, I drop the pan of cookies I was pulling out of the oven on top of the stove and run over to check my email.

  I pray it’s not another email from Mike. He baits me into talking to him with kitten pictures, but I know what he’s really after. July says he’s after my pussy. Of course I turn three shades of red whenever she says that. I think she does it on purpose. She always gets a kick out of shocking me. But I’ll put up with it to make her happy. It’s a really good day when I can get her to smile. It’s a phenomenal day when I can steal a laugh. She and I are night and day, but somehow we work as best friends.

  It’s from Baxter International, the place I just applied. I let out a small scream that sends Mr. Grumpy Pants running into his cat house. “Sorry!” I shout at him. “Sorry,” I try again with a whisper. I’m guessing yelling again isn’t helping calm him down.

  I click the email. I read it three times, not believing what I’m seeing. No interview. I just got the job. Easy as that? I smile, because I knew today was going to be my lucky day. Having a positive attitude toward life always helps.

  “See, Mr. Grumpy Pants? If you put out happiness, you’ll receive happiness back.” I dance around, still not believing I got the job. Mr. Grumpy Pants does not look the least bit convinced of my happiness theory.

  “Keep it down up there!” Mr. Samson yells from downstairs and hits the ceiling with what I’m guessing is a broom.

  “Sorry! I got the job,” I shout to him.

  “No one cares,” he shouts back.

  Maybe I should take him some cookies, too. He also seems to need a little sunshine in his life, and I’m going to make sure he gets it. That’s how I live my life, being as positive as I possibly can. I learned long ago not to let the little things that didn’t matter in life bring me down. My dad is a miserable human being most of the time, and I never want to be that way. So at a young age, I decided to turn negatives into positives and focus on those. Not everyone understands this, but I don’t let it deter me. I’ll never live under the dark cloud he let rule our home. Maybe one day, he’ll let me give him a little bit of sunshine. Miracles happen.

  Look at me. I got the job, and I have Mr. Grumpy Pants. I am on a roll at this adulting thing. Nothing is going to stop me.

  3

  Liam

  I stop her as she walks through the door to my office. “Knock first.”

  She blinks, then retreats and stands outside my office.

  I wait.

  Then wait some more.

  Why isn’t she knocking?

  “Ms. Lavine, I said knock, not leave.” I pinch the bridge of my nose.

  “Oh, right.” She knocks. “I was just, you know, building up to it,” she calls.

  “Come in.”

  She enters again, her long legs on display from her short gray skirt. The buttons of her pink shirt pull a little between her breasts, but I don’t focus on that. I haven’t brought her here to bend her over my desk. A mental image of just that flits through my mind. I shut it down.

  “Sorry.” She hitches a thumb behind her. “About the knocking. I just thought that since your receptionist said you were waiting for me that--”

  “Sit.” I point at one of the office chairs across from my metal and glass desk.

  “Oh, okay.” She lowers herself primly, her skirt riding up her thighs as she crosses her legs.

  I watch every move she makes, from the paleness of her thighs to the eagerness in her eyes. Desire lights inside me, which is completely out of place. She’s young, naïve, and the daughter of my enemy. I have her here for one reason only. To use.

  “Your office is so … big.” She smiles, the look natural on her pretty face. “When I got the job I thought I’d be doing low level stuff, but you’re the CEO. I’m sort of shocked.”

  Her bubblegum tongue darts out to wet her lower lip. My cock wakes at the thought of what that pink tongue might taste like, might feel like against my skin. Get it together, Liam. This is my masterstroke of revenge, but my mind is wandering into Bradley territory. He preys on all the new hires. I make a note to keep him away from this one. She’s too sweet, like a ripe cherry that I need to pluck with my teeth. Just me. No one else.

  “Mr. Baxter?”

  I snap my gaze back to her. “What?”

  “I was just asking what my duties are going to be.”

  “There is a detailed file in your computer and on your phone of how I like my days handled. I expect you to follow those instructions to the letter.”

  “Okay, but--”

  “Any deviation from those instructions will result in discipline.” I clear my throat as the image of my hand reddening her round ass shows up unbidden. “Disciplinary action,” I amend. “Professional disciplinary action that will go in your file.”

  “Sure, but--”

  “If I have need of you, I will call you to my office. Do not forget to knock. Treat all visitors with the utmost respect, and above all, do what I tell you without question or interruption. Do you understand?”

  “Yes.”

  “Good. You may go.” I wave a hand at her and turn my gaze to my computer screen.

  “Mr. Baxter?” She rises, but I try not to look at her.

  “What?” I bark.

  “I just wanted to know if this was a cat-friendly workplace? See, I have this rescue cat that I think would be great to have around the office for morale and, you know, to lessen tension for anyone who might need it.” She looks away, then back at me. “Petting cats has been shown to reduce blood pressure and help you live longer, so it would be a real benefit to--”

  “Ms. Lavine?” I try to say it as nicely as I can, though given her wince, it was more of a sharp crack.

  “Yes?”

  “You are dismissed.”

  “Oh, okay.” She nods, her face falling for only a moment before her smile returns. “I’ll go get to work.” Her tone is bubbly and upbeat just like her.

  Turning, she gives me a perfect view of her round ass. Her hips are biteable, and I want to--stop. Where the hell did these thoughts come from? I’ve gone through dozens of secretaries, including quite a few attractive ones, but I’ve never even glanced at them twice. What’s different about this girl? Perhaps my bloodthirstiness to destroy her father is filtering over to her a bit, because I want to wreck her with my body, to give her eve
ry inch of my cock while she writhes and pants. Calm down, Liam. This is not the headspace I should be in right now.

  With another big smile over her shoulder, she closes my door.

  I take a breath once she’s gone and reach up to loosen my tie. I’ve got her now. She’s caught in my web. But I don’t intend to devour her. Not yet. First, I need to use her as a lure for my true target.

  I buzz Bradley on my office phone.

  “Yeah,” he answers, boredom in the word. That isn’t the correct office protocol for answering the phone, but I don’t have time to gripe at him about it again.

  “Do the post.”

  “She’s here?” He perks up a bit.

  “Yes. But don’t even think about trying to fuck her. Understand? If you screw up my plan, I’ll send your ass to work in the mailroom.”

  “Vicious. I like it.” He taps his computer keys. “Okay, done.”

  “Good.”

  “How long do you think it’ll take for Duncan to notice?” He crunches some sort of chips, the sound utterly obnoxious.

  “He checks our website frequently. I expect he’ll see our new hire announcement within the day.”

  “That’ll be fun.” He continues munching.

  I hang up and turn to look out my window. The game has begun, and I’ve made the first move. What Duncan does next will set the tenor for the rest of the match. But no matter what he chooses, I intend to destroy him.