Denying Mr. Parks (The Parks #1) by Lilly James Read Free Book Online Page A

pulled back into a huge doughnut bun. Clarke and I renamed her Jittery Joanna. She was a nervous wreck. Maybe that’s what working for Mr. Parks does to you.
    I also received a small bouquet of mixed flowers which had been sent to my office. “They’re from Alex.” I smirked, admiring them as Clarke teased me, but Parks then made his dominating entrance and spotted them.
    “Evelyn, I would appreciate it if you keep your affairs outside of my workplace.”
    My heart rate sped up from seeing his delectable face, but as soon as he spoke he angered me. I didn’t bite, though. Because that’s what he wanted. Parks then headed into Carla’s office with Jittery Joanna following him.
    “Ooh, something’s crawled up handsome’s arse and died,” Clarke taunted. Seconds later I got a bleep from my computer, telling me I had an email. I immediately knew who it was from.
     
    From: Wade Parks, CEO, Parks Industries
    To: Evelyn Banks
    Message: Flowers will not bring you happiness, my cock will. Bring your ass to my office this evening as you declined my demand this morning.
    And throw those flowers away. They are making my office look cheap.
     
    I screamed at my computer screen, making Clarke jump and clutch at his chest.
    “Good heavens, what was that for?” he asked.
    “An overbearing, arrogant prick,” I yelled, loud enough that he could hear me and received a glare from Posh Patricia over her half-moon glasses.
    “Evey, it is deeply inappropriate to use that sort of language when you are a young woman.” Queen Pat was off, sticking her oar in where it wasn’t wanted. I rolled my eyes over to Clarke, who lowered his head behind his desktop to hide his snickering.
    “I hardly find it amusing,” she snapped.
    “You don’t find anything amusing, Pat,” I uttered. I was seething because of her and seething because of those emails. I needed to go on my lunch to stop myself from barging into Parks’s office like a bull and charging at him. “Tea?” I asked Clarke, trying to find a way of getting out of an argument with Posh Pat.
    “Yes, please. I am gasping. Let’s go see what cakes we have on offer.” He wiggled his chubby fingers together and followed me out to the break room, leaving Pat and her remarks in the office.
    “Should we ask Mr. Parks if he would like some tea?” Clarke asked as he flipped the switch on the kettle.
    “He has that jittery assistant to do that, Clarke. Besides, I think he only drinks watermelon.” I shrugged flippantly.
    “Such a diva,” he cooed.
    “Indeed.” I copied Clarke’s posh voice as I took two mugs from the shelf.
    “Did you know he was accepted at Harvard Law School when he was only eighteen years old? I was highly impressed when I read all about it,” Clarke said, pouring hot water into our mugs.
    I pulled out a teaspoon from the drawer and took the milk out of the small fridge.
    “Who? God’s gift to women?” I scoffed, pouring full-fat milk into my tea.
    The only reason I looked up from the milk carton was because it went quiet. When I turned, just as I dreaded, Parks was standing with arms crossed in the doorway wearing his black suit ensemble and an inward, amused smirk.
    Clarke cleared an imaginary lump from his throat, picked up his tea cake and mug, then scuttled from the room, leaving me. Shit house.
    “Hi.” He smirked. His green eyes were bright and amused as they watched me. I quickly turned my back, placed the carton of milk back in the fridge, and said fuck under my breath for getting caught.
    “So you think I’m God’s gift to women?”
    Oh God, he heard me. I tried to hide my smirk by biting my lip as I turned to face him. “No. That’s what you think you are.”
    “Perhaps you are God’s gift to me?”
    I laughed at his ridiculous attempt to sweeten me up. “I am not a gift to you, Parks. And if I was a gift, it sure as hell wouldn’t be from God.”
    His eyes narrowed briefly as if he were afflicted. “Evelyn, I notice you have an