Read Online Slave to Love by Julie A. Richman - Free Book Online Page B

slides the room key back. “If we’re going to talk about my future it’s going to be in your office when we’re all sober.”
    “The best deals are made outside of the office,” he informs her.
    What a jackass.
    “Great. Then the details of my next promotion can be hammered out at Peter Luger’s over big steaks the next time I’m up at headquarters.”
    “Oh, so you like meat,” the jerk replies.
    I can see the muscles twitching in Kemp’s jaw. Sierra is one of his people and his instinct is to protect, like a lion protecting one of the females in his pride from a dangerous interloper. I totally get that, but both his and Sierra’s futures can quickly come to a broken halt in the next few minutes if he goes after this guy in the way I know he wants.
    “I do,” Sierra pauses, as she intently continues to stare into his snake-like eyes. “Except I’ll be the one doing the stabbing.”
    Zing.
    Slowly, it washes over Bob and when it finally permeates his brain, he breaks out into raucous laughter.
    “Sierra, you are such a delight. So bright.” And he reaches across the table to squeeze her hand and palm her his keycard.
    “You are relentless,” Sierra shakes her head, still trying to deal with this in a joking matter.
    She slides the keycard back to her boss’ boss.
    “Relentless.” She’s still shaking her head.
    I feel like such a douche watching this and knowing what a jerk I’ve been and what I’ve put her through. This scenario I’m witnessing is making me sick, and I realize that to be handling it with the dexterity and finesse that she is, comes from practice. And I’m angry and like Kemp, want to reach out and protect her. Which is ironic, because not all that long ago, the protection she needed was from me.
    Being a business owner, I make the rules and don’t have to live by anyone else’s. Being part of a bigger structure, as Kemp and Sierra are, they have a game to play, to master, learning a set of skills that will insure their survival or demise, including landmines to be dodged.
    I feel like I’ve just taken a masterclass in corporate battlegrounds and how to come out unscathed. Sierra is a warrior and I’ve just learned more in the past few hours on how to treat/not treat valued employees.
    I am humbled and I am sickened and I want to get her out of here. Now. I can’t watch another moment of this, nor can I let her endure it and not do anything. I can’t do what I’d really like to do, because that would jeopardize her and Kemp.
    I want to save her.
    Pushing my jacket sleeve back, I look at the Breitling. “Wow, I didn’t realize we’d been here for so many hours.” Looking at Sierra, “What time do we start again in the morning?”
    “7:30.”
    “Time changes always kill me,” I lie and push my chair back to get up. Sierra and Kemp rise with me and both see the escape route illuminated in front of them, as they agree they’re feeling the time change and that we’ve got a long day in front of us.
    Bob falls into step with me, right behind Sierra and Kemp, as we exit the Polo Lounge. He doesn’t even attempt to hide raping her ass with his eyes and I just want to smash him like the insect he is. We stop at the elevator and he brazenly slips the key into an outer compartment of her purse before bidding us goodnight and heading toward the path to his bungalow.
    Sierra just sighs and shakes her head. Silently, the three of us enter the elevator. Staying near the door, I ask the others what floors they are on. Kemp is on two, Sierra three.
    At two, Kemp bids us goodnight and I ride with Sierra to three. She turns right out of the elevator and I fall in step beside her.
    “You’re down this way, too.” It’s more of a statement than a question.
    “No.” I laugh.
    “You’re not?” She seems momentarily confused.
    “You know I like to see you to your door safely.”
    She nods, smiling and then takes me totally by surprise, slipping her small hand into mine and