Read Online Corporate Cowboy by Bella Masters - Free Book Online Page A

What just happened?”
    “I… I just got a promotion,” I tell her.
    Candy’s face breaks into a grin. “All right! Lunch is on me. Let’s go.” She hooks her arm in mine and leads me off toward the restaurant.
    ****
    I keep looking over my shoulder while talking to Candy, making sure there is absolutely no one within earshot who can hear our discussion.
    Her eyes widen. “He what?”
    “He wants me.”
    “Like, in what way? For a one-night stand? A permanent relationship? What did he say?”
    I exhale. “Well, his actual words were something like, ‘I want to make arrangements to fuck you.’”
    Candy shakes her head. “Don’t do it, Emma. I’m telling you. Don’t.”
    I simply stare at her.
    “Oh shit. You did already.”
    I shake my head. “No. Of course not. There are details to be worked out.”
    “Huh?”
    “A contract. An NDA. Ah, crap!” I’ve just violated an NDA I haven’t even signed yet.
    “You’re shitting me.”
    “No.”
    “He wants contract sex? And what do you get in return?”
    Wow. That was a good question. I had not even thought about that. “I… I don’t know. Crazy good sex?”
    She shakes her head. “No, you want more than that.”
    “Isn’t that, perhaps, just a step removed from prostitution? No. Not going there…”
    “Maybe you should think about it. I mean, if he wants you bad enough. God. I can’t even believe I’m saying this. Forget I said that.”
    “I can’t believe I’m considering it.”
    Her eyes widen more. “You are?”
    I bite my lip. “Yeah, maybe. But now I’m not so sure. After yesterday…”
    “Yesterday?”
    Suddenly I feel like I’ve talked way too much. I blow out a breath. “Never mind. I saw him. We talked and, well, did a little more than talking but…”
    Candy reached out and grasped my hand. “Look. Emma. Please forget what I just said a minute ago. It’s not worth it, whatever he offers you. He’s bigger than life. There have been rumors of women who worked here who got involved. I told you that in the gym. Remember? I’m not saying that he did anything illegal, but no one ever heard from those women again.”
    Panic stabbed my checks. “What are you saying, Candy?”
    “I’m just saying they are gone.”
    “Gone. As in…dead?”
    “As in gone. Hell, who knows?”
    “Oh God, Candy. Surely not. He can’t get away with something like that. He’s too visible. He’s not a murderer….”
    Or is he?
    Candy shrugs. “Then how do you explain their disappearances?”
    I look past her, staring. How do I explain any of this?
    ****
    At five minutes before two o’clock this afternoon, I once again take the elevator to the twenty-second floor. I step into the now familiar lobby and weave my way toward Chad’s outer office. He glances up as I approach and then rises, taking a quick look at his watch.
    “Miss Lavender. This way.”
    We face the double doors to Gage’s office. Something queasy lands in my stomach. I’m not sure I want to step forward, but the doors swing open and I do.
    Head down, I look at the floor as I approach his desk. I purposely do not look at Gage. Chad directs me to a chair, and I glance to the one beside me, where Christina Long sits. Christina is the HR manager who hired me and conducted my initial orientation session.
    She nods my way. “Good morning, Emma. Only here one week and a promotion. Imagine that.” Her grin is saccharin. Sweet and fake. Immediately I realize she is not gung-ho for my new position.
    Who can blame her? Has she been down this road before with personnel Gage wants to promote? And fuck?
    I smile, because that is what I do, and give her my hand. “So nice to see you again, Ms. Long.” She gives my hand a limp shake and I sit. Only then do I turn to look at the man behind the desk.
    His eyes, dark and steely, and showing no form of emotion, glare at me.
    “Mr. Parker.” I dip my head and lower my gaze. I notice a stack of papers on the desk in front of me.
    Christina