Page 19 of Sinful Lies

The first four months after I signed my contract, he was gone. Off to LA, building some film domain for his entertainment empire. I barely saw him.

Undeterred, I spent my time working with the other colleagues who had no choice but to teach me everything they knew.

Unfortunately for them, I learned quickly.

So quickly, in fact, that I ended up excelling past them all.

When he finally came back, it wasn’t the museum or the exhibitions he seemed to care about.

No, it was me.

Always me.

My opinion, my advice, everything.

He always requestedme.

But something told me that this time, he was paying attention in ways I wasn’t sure I wanted him to.

The meeting dragged to its conclusion, the room buzzing as people packed their laptops and papers, eager to escape.

Just as I got up and tucked my tablet into my bag, Lazzio’s voice sliced through the air, stopping me cold.

“Sit.”

My heart thudded. “Last time I checked, I’m not your pet, boss.”

He pushed off from the table and walked toward me with that same smug confidence I hated.

“I never said you were. Sit, Miss Whitenhouse.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Or what? You’re gonna drag me there by my hair like a caveman?”

His eyes sparkled with amusement, but he didn’t answer.

He just took another step forward, closing the distance between us.

“Sit.”

I rolled my eyes and did so, but not without showing my annoyance with a sigh. “I was only ten minutes late. I don’t think I need a spanking because of it.”

“Keep talking like that, and you just might get one.”

“Ugh, you’resoinappropriate.”

Crossing my arms, I tilted my head to the side, waiting for whatever urgent thing he needed to tell me. He studied me for a second, his eyes narrowing just slightly.

He was simmering now.

He hated when I pushed him like this, but I loved it.

Annoying him was too easy.

“How’s Simons?”

I looked down at my nails. “Good. Saved you two million, by the way. You’re welcome.”

He didn’t look impressed. “Guess your flirting’s more effective than I thought.”

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