Page 101 of Start With A Slap

“What? I’m in the outfit!”

“At least lose the Mark.”

“Okay.” She drummed her fingers on her hips, breathed in, and held her chin high. “I might be Ivy Tyler.”

He sized her up. “Here about the job, I see. Come. Have a seat.”

Trying to maintain her balance and a shred of dignity, she teetered toward him, tight nylon hose rubbing against her smooth sex. “This isn’t the shoe of choice for most secretaries, FYI.”

“Pity.” He watched her sit, cross and uncross her legs, try to pull her short black skirt down. “Now, Miss Tyler.” He steepledhis hands and looked important. “Tell me why you want to work for me.”

“I—” She couldn’t do this. “Sever, what is this? What do you want?”

“You. Obviously.”

“Yeah, but thisisn’tme.”

Picking up a rubber band, he got out of his chair and walked behind her. “I know it’s hard for you to be with me, Ivy.” Her eyes closed as he combed his fingers over her scalp, swept her hair up and tied it in the back. “I thought you might like to be someone else tonight.”

Someone else. He outlined the side of her neck, his tingly caress moving to her white satin collar, over her shoulder and down her left arm to her wedding ring.

“Someone... without guilt.” Kneeling beside her now, his voice lowered to a murmur as he eased the ring all the way off of her trembling hand. “Someone with a bit less at stake.”

Restraining the urge to take it back, she watched him regard her ring, spinning it between his thumb and forefinger.

“Now,” he placed it on the desk and touched her chin, “all you are is a gorgeous young thing looking for work.”

Her eyes met his. “If you’re in any way thinking of Tiffany?—”

“Tiffany?” He laughed, and stood up. “Do you know how many Tiffanys I meet on a regular basis? Girls who look at me with little dollar signs in their eyes? Do you know how often I’ve had to say ‘you’re lovely, but no thank you’ in the last eight years? Think about it, Ivy. She’s nothing new to me.”

“Yeah, well. It turns out she really wants this job.”

“I see.” Leaning against the desk, he folded his arms and sniffed. “Guess you’ll have to convince me you want it more.”

She thought about this. “Promise you won’t hire her if I do?”

“Convince me properly and I’ll put that in writing tonight.”

“Well, first off, Mr. Mark,” she said, inciting a wolf grin, “I just love to travel.”

“Hold that thought, Miss Tyler.” He went back to his side of the desk, pulled up his chair, straightened his tie and got serious. “Do go on.”

“I’m fluent in French, and I just started learning Spanish.”

He looked surprised and impressed. “Si, que es una ventaja.”

“I can translate legalese. I can find the catch in any binding document.”

Sucking air through his teeth, he said, “Ooh.”

“I’m calm under pressure. I’m highly organized and extremely efficient. I’m a self-starter, and I learn fast.” She crossed her legs and squeezed her thighs together, starting to like the feel of the nylon and the thought of him itching to get his hands on it. “I’m also an excellent substitute for a mirror.”

Sever chuckled, momentarily disarmed. “I’ll say. You’ve got quite a lot to offer, Miss Tyler. But I’m not completely convinced you want this.”

She bit her glossy lip and lightly traced her clavicle with her bare ring finger. “I can offer you total dedication, Mr. Mark.”

His adam’s apple moved, and his voice got hollow. “Is that right?”

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