Read Online Scandalous Heroes Box Set by Serenity King, Pepper Pace, Aliyah Burke, Erosa Knowles, Latrivia Nelson, Tianna Laveen, Bridget Midway, Yvette Hines - Free Book Online
Authors: Serenity King, Pepper Pace, Aliyah Burke, Erosa Knowles, Latrivia Nelson, Tianna Laveen, Bridget Midway, Yvette Hines
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glass down in an abrupt fashion. “First of all I happen to like living in New York. It’s home for me. And second of all I’m not an employee so her offer was not extended to me.”
“I don’t understand. What does this mean? Not an employee? What are you?” Renaldo asked.
“I’m a receptionist, a temporary one, sent to work at Mirabella’s by an agency. If the company closes, no, when the office closes my contract is over. I’m fired.”
“I see.” Renaldo sipped his wine.
Kyra’s gaze lifted. She focused her hurt and confusion on him. “Is that all? You see? So I guess my problems don’t impress you.”
“No. Problems don’t impress me. People do. You do.” He sat forward and placed his wine glass on the table between them. “Your beauty impresses me. Your smile impresses me. That dress, it impresses me.”
He tried to guess her age. She was young but when he looked into her eyes he wavered on his first impression. Kyra had an inner strength he only recognized in adversaries. He found that bold contrast intriguing. She spent the evening being shunned by the people she tried so hard to impress. Yet she shed tears because she feared there were no options to continue the fight. This crusade of hers to be a shoe maker was as important to her as his vows to the Battaglias. He’d hate to see her give up now.
Instead of her ending the conversation and walking out on him she took a long sip of her wine until the glass was empty.
“What’s done is done. No point in crying over it. New York is a big city. I can find another job. Hopefully with another design company.”
He nodded in agreement.
“The thing is,” she continued. “This was my dream job. I’ve done everything to be noticed. All I got at the end of the day was this dress on loaner, and half a bottle of wine that probably cost more than I make in a month.” She reached for the bottle. Renaldo stopped her.
“Enough for the evening,” he said. “I make sure you are taken home. Safe.”
Kyra sighed. She dropped back in her chair. “I don’t want to go home.”
“I can summon your driver.”
“No thank you,” she said.
“He take you where you want to go,” Renaldo clarified not understanding her meaning.
She looked at him.
The emotional stare off had meaning and Renaldo struggled with his interpretation. Was she delaying for his company or something else?
“What if I wanted to go to your room? With you,” she asked.
It was the alcohol speaking. Whatever the reason there was no denying he’d have no problem taking her upstairs.
“How old are you?” he asked.
“How old are you?” she countered.
He smiled. “Old enough to know that a woman in distress is not a woman you want to take to bed.”
“I’m not in distress. I’m not even upset anymore. What I am is tired.” She stood up and wavered. After a brief second she walked around the room in a half circle in a graceful manner. Renaldo relaxed in the chair and enjoyed the show. His gaze swept her legs, hips, tiny waist, and the full swell of her breasts.
“What do you think?” she asked.
He nodded his approval.
Kyra’s lovely smile dissolved from her lips. “I’m tired of finishing last. Do you know I could have been a doctor? I got accepted into one of the top medical schools in this country after finishing a year early in my undergraduate studies. Dr. Kyra Okeeno. How does that sound?”
“Sounds important,” he said. She had his interest piqued. He knew there was more to the little shoe maker than her beauty and talent. He hadn’t guessed this. Doctors and Priests were very respected professions in his culture.
“My parents wanted it for me. I just… couldn’t.”
“Why?” he asked.
Kyra gave him a mischievous smile. The sadness dissipated. She turned sideways and extended her right foot a bit to make the crystals on her shoes sparkle. With the slender shapely line of her ankle and calf on display he nearly salivated. He was definitely
“I don’t understand. What does this mean? Not an employee? What are you?” Renaldo asked.
“I’m a receptionist, a temporary one, sent to work at Mirabella’s by an agency. If the company closes, no, when the office closes my contract is over. I’m fired.”
“I see.” Renaldo sipped his wine.
Kyra’s gaze lifted. She focused her hurt and confusion on him. “Is that all? You see? So I guess my problems don’t impress you.”
“No. Problems don’t impress me. People do. You do.” He sat forward and placed his wine glass on the table between them. “Your beauty impresses me. Your smile impresses me. That dress, it impresses me.”
He tried to guess her age. She was young but when he looked into her eyes he wavered on his first impression. Kyra had an inner strength he only recognized in adversaries. He found that bold contrast intriguing. She spent the evening being shunned by the people she tried so hard to impress. Yet she shed tears because she feared there were no options to continue the fight. This crusade of hers to be a shoe maker was as important to her as his vows to the Battaglias. He’d hate to see her give up now.
Instead of her ending the conversation and walking out on him she took a long sip of her wine until the glass was empty.
“What’s done is done. No point in crying over it. New York is a big city. I can find another job. Hopefully with another design company.”
He nodded in agreement.
“The thing is,” she continued. “This was my dream job. I’ve done everything to be noticed. All I got at the end of the day was this dress on loaner, and half a bottle of wine that probably cost more than I make in a month.” She reached for the bottle. Renaldo stopped her.
“Enough for the evening,” he said. “I make sure you are taken home. Safe.”
Kyra sighed. She dropped back in her chair. “I don’t want to go home.”
“I can summon your driver.”
“No thank you,” she said.
“He take you where you want to go,” Renaldo clarified not understanding her meaning.
She looked at him.
The emotional stare off had meaning and Renaldo struggled with his interpretation. Was she delaying for his company or something else?
“What if I wanted to go to your room? With you,” she asked.
It was the alcohol speaking. Whatever the reason there was no denying he’d have no problem taking her upstairs.
“How old are you?” he asked.
“How old are you?” she countered.
He smiled. “Old enough to know that a woman in distress is not a woman you want to take to bed.”
“I’m not in distress. I’m not even upset anymore. What I am is tired.” She stood up and wavered. After a brief second she walked around the room in a half circle in a graceful manner. Renaldo relaxed in the chair and enjoyed the show. His gaze swept her legs, hips, tiny waist, and the full swell of her breasts.
“What do you think?” she asked.
He nodded his approval.
Kyra’s lovely smile dissolved from her lips. “I’m tired of finishing last. Do you know I could have been a doctor? I got accepted into one of the top medical schools in this country after finishing a year early in my undergraduate studies. Dr. Kyra Okeeno. How does that sound?”
“Sounds important,” he said. She had his interest piqued. He knew there was more to the little shoe maker than her beauty and talent. He hadn’t guessed this. Doctors and Priests were very respected professions in his culture.
“My parents wanted it for me. I just… couldn’t.”
“Why?” he asked.
Kyra gave him a mischievous smile. The sadness dissipated. She turned sideways and extended her right foot a bit to make the crystals on her shoes sparkle. With the slender shapely line of her ankle and calf on display he nearly salivated. He was definitely
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