Page 23 of Christian Clause

“Thanks,” I say, and reach out to take my glass of Bloody Mary from the table.

“So, what’s up with you?” Mike leans forward, looking at me keenly.

I replace my glass on the table and shrug. “Nothing much. I recently moved back here. Things were rough for me in Georgia for a while, but I’ve put my act together. I now work at Clause Enterprises.”

Mike lets out a whistle while Laura draws closer to me on the red leather booth. I see the twinkle in her eyes and laugh.

Laura turns slightly to look at Mike and says, “Apologies, Mike, but you know I can’t help it.”

Mike shrugs good-naturedly and smiles before taking a sip of his martini.

“Have you seen the handsome hunk who owns the place?” Laura fans her face with her hands. “Talk about sex in human form. Such handsomeness and charisma make me drool.”

Uneasy laughter flows from my throat. I look over at Mike, wondering how he feels that his girlfriend is describing another man in those terms.

“Don’t worry, Hope. I’m used to her drooling over men like Clause. It’s sort of her thing.” Reclining and throwing his arms across the booth, he adds, “You can say what you think. I won’t get offended. After all, you won’t be the first woman to fall for Clause.”

Laura giggles. “Mike knows I’m only kidding. He’s the only one for me.” She glances at her brown-haired boyfriend and winks at him before blowing him a kiss. Mike laughs.

Mike is handsome, but truly, he can’t hold a torch to Christian. There was something about Christian and his commanding presence that makes everybody, both male and female, sit up whenever he walked into a room. That he is also drop dead gorgeous and wealthy makes him quite a catch.

Laura turns to me. “So, have you seen him?”

A little flushed, I reply, “I work with him, I’m his PA.”

Laura whoops and claps her hands. “So, has he made a pass at you?”

My eyes widen. “Of course not. Chr— Mr. Clause is more interested in his business than anything else. Believe me when I tell you he’s a workaholic.”

“Why am I not surprised? No wonder he’s super successful,” Mike says with a note of jealousy.

Laura laughs. “I like men who work hard and play hard. Please wring an invitation for me and Mike whenever he hosts one of his high-class parties. I would give anything to be onboard his yacht, not to talk of the small Greek island I heard he recently bought.”

As I know nothing about his properties, I keep quiet. I try my best for my feelings not to show on my face as Laura talks about Christian’s ex-girlfriends. How do I compete with supermodels and celebrities whom he enjoys dating? Do I even want to?

After seeing Christian with that stunning woman the previous day at the restaurant, I know there is no hope for me. Clara has already told me Christian never dates his employees. And whenever one comes on strongly to him, he fires her. So, even if it kills me, I’ll continue to keep everything professional between us.

“Just look at her,” Laura blurts and I lift my head.

A small gasp escapes from my lips when I see Katherine walking in the opposite direction with a sexy smile on her face. Heads turn to stare at the beautiful woman in a dress that complements her perfect figure. But, of course, they make such exclusive clubs for the likes of her. Jealousy cuts through me when I see her approaching a table.

I am so enamored by the place I haven’t noticed Christian and three men sitting a few tables from ours. Christian always looks good in his power business suits. But seeing him now in a black leather jacket, black silk shirt and designer black jeans makes heat pool in between my thighs. Laura is right. Christian is sex on a stick. His hair looks wind kissed as if he ran his fingers repeatedly through it.

He can rake his fingers through my hair anytime.

I quickly jerk my gaze from the table after such an errant thought. My eyes quickly search the faces of my companions to see if they noticed the green-eyed monster in the depths of my brown eyes. Thankfully, they too are staring at Christian and his friends. Unable to stop myself, I look again to see that all the men had risen and Christian is placing a kiss on Katherine’s cheek.

“Rumor has it that that hot ex-model is Clause’s latest fling,” Mike mentions and turns to me. “Is that true?”

Tearing my gaze from the table, I shake my head, struggling to hide my jealousy.

“I have no idea. I only started working for Mr. Clause a few weeks ago.”

Laura laughs. “You haven’t changed much, have you? You always loved minding your business. If I were in your shoes, God knows, I would have found out every juicy gossip about Clause by now.”

I force a light hearted chuckle from my throat. “I’m only there to work, Laura, not get to know the boss.”

With a mischievous twinkle in her eyes and a wry twist on her lips, Laura asks, “Not even if he wants to get to know you?”

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