Page 287 of The Morally Grey Billionaires Boxset

Penny

"You asshole. How dare you toy with me?" I snap.

He yawns. Bastard yawns and continues to study the screen. Anger blasts through my veins. I reach forward, grab the phone from his hand, and throw it over my shoulder.

His jaw hardens. He raises his gaze slowly to mine, and a pulse ticks at his jaw.

Uh-oh, what I did wasn’t very wise, eh? I take a step back, and another.

He rises to his feet and keeps rising--because he’s so freaking tall—and I have to tip my head back to see his face.

He holds out his palm. What? Oh. I turn, scamper to where the phone lies face down and bend to pick it up, then gasp when his big hands grab on my waist and hold me in place.

"You shouldn’t have done that, Little Dove. "

"It’s your fault! You drove me to it, you unfeeling brute, you piece of— Ah!

" I cry out as he spanks my backside. Not again. He wraps his arm about my waist and hauls me up to my feet because, of course, I weigh nothing to him, then turns and walks over to his chair. He sits down and splays me across his lap. I wriggle around, try to escape and come in contact with that solid column in his pants. Instantly, I stop my movements, but my pussy recognizes that I’m very close to the one thing that can put me out of my torment.

Damn him, damn him for always getting the upper hand.

"You’re a bully, a horrible man who’s intent on torturing me and—" I squeal as he flips up my dress and brings his heavy hand down on my butt cheek. Not again. What is it with this man and my ass? He seems to constantly find ways to touch it and tap on it and oh—He massages the butt cheek he hit, and the heat of his palm sears me through my panties. He rubs the ache through my asscheek, and it sinks through my blood and circles my clit. I can’t stop the whimper that leaves my mouth, can’t stop myself from squeezing my thighs together to clamp down on the ache that blooms between my legs.

"You like that, hmm?" His hard voice rumbles over me, and that only sends my nerve-endings skittering in delight.

"You know I like it. You know I want your touch. You know also how much I hate that you can get my body to respond to you. And you know I need this job, and yet, you’re intent on breaking every possible rule of etiquette between us."

"Etiquette?" His voice sounds almost puzzled.

I shove my hair out of my eyes and glance up at him over my shoulder, "You’re my boss, and I’m supposed to be your assistant.

There’s meant to be a professional relationship between us, but you’ve been overstepping that line—no, trampling all over that line—since I walked into the room.

In fact, you’ve been coming onto me since we met and—" I swallow the rest of my words as he lifts me up and plants me on my feet next to his chair. The fabric of my dress flows down over my thighs. He holds his hands on my waist long enough to ensure I’m not going to stumble.

Then, he lowers his arms, and jerks his chin toward the table.

"What?" I scowl.

"My phone."

"Oh, right." I place the phone clutched in my hand on the table.

"You may leave now, Ms. Easton."

I gape at him, too shocked to move. Did he dismiss me after what he did to me?

Can I expect an apology from him? No. Can I report him for his misconduct…

To whom? He owns this company, so the HR person would answer to him.

Besides, I need this job. So, I’m going to put up with everything he did because— He’s my best friend’s brother, and a complete dick, and his dick had felt so good when I’d felt it pulse against my pussy.

He places his phone face down on the desk and turns to his laptop. He begins to tap away at the keyboard, and I'm sure he’s forgotten all about my presence. I shake my hair back from my face, then grab my bag from his desk and head for the exit.

"Also, I’m sorry."

I pause, then turn around to face him. "Did you say what I think you did?"

He raises a shoulder. "I seem to forget myself around you, but you’re right. I need to maintain a professional relationship, now that you’re my employee. It won’t happen again. Not unless you want it to, that is."

So that wasn’t really an apology. What a piece of work he is. I don’t want anything to do with him. I don’t.

I turn to leave again, and he calls out, "HR is on the floor below. Have them onboard you, and I’ll see you at your desk tomorrow at eight a.m."

"So that’s it? You’re working for him?"

I pull up my legs and wrap my arms about my bent knees.

"I guess?" I slouch into the sofa and watch as Mira rustles up dinner for us. The HR induction had gone okay—I guess. Except for the pitying look I got from the HR manager. When I asked her what the problem was, she let slip that everyone tends to give Knight a wide berth. He’s only been in this position a few weeks, but his reputation as being very difficult to work with has spread throughout the building—which his family owns. Also, he’s been through an assistant a day since arriving.

Not one has lasted past lunch time. And yes, there's a betting pool going on for how long I'm going to last. They don’t realize I don’t have a choice.

I have to grit my teeth and bear it because that's my only option. I'm already in the asshole’s debt.

Mira plates out the spaghetti, then slides one across the breakfast counter. "Let’s eat."

"I’m not hungry."

"You need to maintain those curves—"

"That’s what he said."

She frowns. "What are you talking about?"

"Nothing." And no, I’m not insecure about my plus size figure. I like how I look. I’m a big girl, and although I’m not tall, my curves compensate for my lack of height.

Certainly, Knight hasn’t complained once as he’s squeezed my ample butt.

Also, I like to eat… Normally. So, why have I lost my appetite?

I unfold myself from the sofa then walk over to take my place on the barstool. "Do you think I’m making a mistake?"

Mira waits until she’s swallowed the mouthful she’s eating. "A mistake?"

"Agreeing to work for Knight?"

I nod, then twirl some of the strands of spaghetti around my fork before sliding them inside my mouth. The tart flavors of tomato and the tanginess of the garlic seep into my tongue. "It’s delicious. Thanks for making dinner."

"Of course, sweetie." She eats some more of her food, then eyes me closely. "I’ve never seen you this disturbed. Not even when you thought you had less than twenty-four hours to find a solution for keeping your mother in the care home."

"I never lost faith that I’d find a solution. I just didn’t think the solution would be this one."

"So, you go to work for him. What’s the problem?"

"I feel beholden to him. He paid for my mother staying on in the care home and now, I feel I have no option but to work for him, you know? It’s not a feeling I like.

I feel like I’m not in control anymore, like I have no option but to continue working for him, even if I don’t want to. ” I place my fork back on my plate.

She pops a shoulder. “Maybe this will force you to stay focused and see this job through."

I blink. "Are you saying I can’t focus? I know I’m not good at seeing things through. I like anything new and shiny and can’t stop myself from chasing them.” I hunch my shoulders.

"Oh, honey, I didn’t say that to make you feel bad." She leans over and puts her arm around my shoulders. "All I’m saying is, since it cuts down on choices, you’ll have to double down and concentrate on the job, which might help ground you."

Only, he’ll be there. Seeing him, working with him, watching him, smelling him, trying not to stare at him all through the working day…

It’s going to be torment—sweet torment, but torment, nevertheless.

And how am I going to get through my time working for him, without sleeping with him, or worse, falling for him?

Because I’m not so good at separating my emotions from the physical.

And he doesn't seems capable of reciprocating any sentiments, either.

Something of my thoughts must show on my face, for she stares. “Did you sleep with him?"

"What? No!"

When she narrows her gaze, I lower my hand to my side.

She steps back then surveys my features closely. "You did sleep with him.”

"What? Of course, not." Not yet, that is. Not ever, if I have my way, which doesn’t mean anything. When it comes to Knight, my ability to say no is non-existent.

"Penny!" Mira warns.

"What? It’s the truth." I bring more spaghetti to my mouth, then begin to chew.

“You told me when you met him at the club, nothing happened.”

“Nothing happened then,” I insist.

"But something did happen, since?”

I widen my gaze. “I’m not lying, I didn’t sleep with him.”

“But you kissed him."

I choke, then cough. Mira slaps my back, and I reach for the water and swallow down the piece stuck in my throat.

"Not exactly… I might have, uh, crossed the boundary of what’s professional, but he's the one who initiated it."

"Hmm." She has a speculative look on her face.

I wipe the tears that have rolled down my cheeks due to my coughing fit. "No, seriously, the man’s an animal."

"I see." Her lips quirk slightly. "I mean, I’m all for you riding that grumpy, gloomy, wounded warrior of a stallion. The sex will, surely, be an experience."

"He’s my boss. That would make things very uncomfortable."

"It's not like you’re sleeping your way into a job or anything."

I blush harder.

"Oh, my god! Did he offer you a job because you and he—" She pinches the fingers of her hands then brings them together. "Is that why he paid for your ma to stay on in the care home?"

"First, when it comes to Knight, it’s not like I have a choice.

He, uh, made a move on me, and I couldn’t resist him.

And he paid my mother’s bills because he likes to have a hold on me.

He likes to manipulate people. That’s what he does.

Also, this conversation is now giving me a headache, so can we change it? "

A line forms between her eyebrows. "But, Penny, you—"

My phone rings, thank god. I scramble off the barstool and walk toward the coffee table where I left it. "It’s Abby."

I bring her up on FaceTime.

"I’m so happy you’re taking the job." Abby’s features are wreathed in a smile. "This is going to be great! I know it."

Not sure she’d feel that way if I told her about all that transpired between her brother and me. Not that I’m going to… yet.

"Uh, yeah, I’m excited." I flash her a smile.

"You’re going to be good for him, Penny, I just know it."

"Um—" I clear my throat. "It’s not like I’ve been an assistant before or anything."

"But you’ve held down so many jobs, you have the experience to roll with the punches, you know?"

I wince.

She purses her lips. "I know Knight’s not the easiest person to be with, which is why you’re going to be great at being the intermediary between him and the rest of the office."

Mira walks over to glance over my shoulder. "Hey, Abby!"

"Hey, Mira. Gosh, you girls are hanging out together, and I’m so envious. I wish I could be there."

"You’re with your hot husband. Please. I’m sure you’d rather be there than with us," Mira scoffs.

A man’s voice calls out to her from off screen. Abby blushes a little, then turns to us. "Sorry, guys, Cade can be a little possessive."

"A little?" I laugh.

"Okay, okay, a lot." She chuckles. "Before I go, I wanted to invite both of you to our place tomorrow evening. We’re having a small get-together to welcome Knight back. Nothing fancy. Just a way of showing our thanks to everyone for standing with us while he was away, and… Uh… Also, so he can meet his friends again, you know?" She bites down on her lower lip. "He’s been spending so much time on his own. All he does is go to work, then go running or hit the gym, and come back home. He doesn’t socialize. Not even with Cade or Declan, and these are the guys he’d hang out with almost every evening. He’s changed so much.

" She hunches her shoulders. "I’m worried about him. "

"You’re a good sister, Abby," I say softly.

She shakes her head. "If I were a good sister, I’d push him to go see a therapist, but if I do, he’ll only get upset and stop talking to me.

So, I’m taking it step-by-step with him.

Also, he works too much. He needs to unwind a little and take time off to relax, you know?

" She nods at me. "I’m hoping you can help with this, Penny. "

"Me?" I ask, surprised.

"You’ll be working with him, so perhaps, you can make him see sense?"