Her Old-Fashioned Boss by Laylah Roberts Read Free Book Online Page A

let’s go through what I expect from you.” Roarke launched instantly into work-related conversation and Ava soon relaxed as she found herself on familiar ground.
    “Very good,” Roarke praised, making her feel a ridiculous zing of pleasure. “And I insist you call me Roarke.”
    “And you must call me Ava,” she said back.
    He nodded. “Now, on to more unpleasant matters.” He leaned back in his leather chair and gazed at her firmly. Sam had come and gone, leaving her with a glass of water and Roarke with a steaming cup of really good smelling coffee.
    Ava squirmed under his gaze.
    “Please tell me why you didn’t wait for Max to pick you up this morning.”
    “Uhh, well…”
    “And remember, Ms. Scott, I am very good at discerning liars. Lying is one thing I cannot stand.”
    She gulped. “I was awake early. Max hadn’t arrived yet. I needed to leave so I thought I would take the bus. I’m sorry. I thought I could get here before he left.”
    He simply stared at her for a long moment and Ava nearly blurted the rest out, but she refrained. Barely.
    “Why did you need to leave? Do you live with someone else?” he asked.
    “No, I live alone. I just, I was too nervous to stay there.” That was basically true.
    Finally, he nodded. “Give your phone to Sam before you leave and he will program Max’s number in. You will text him twenty minutes before you wish to leave and you will wait for him to pick you up. And,” he continued as she opened her mouth to protest, “You will do this without protest. This is part of your position and you will accept it.”
    Ava narrowed her gaze but knew better than to say anything. She nodded instead.
    “Tell me, did you rest your feet after you left here on Friday afternoon?” he asked silkily.
    “I, umm, I, had to go meet my friends.”
    “That so? And if you explained, they wouldn’t have come to you?”
    “Yes, of course,” she defended. “But my feet were fine. They were just blisters.” She’d functioned on worse.
    “Ava, I can see having you here is going to be interesting. You will soon learn that when I give an order, I expect it to be obeyed.”
    “And if it’s not?” she challenged.
    “Then I guess I will have to think of some punishment to ensure you don’t disobey me again, won’t I?”
    Ava gaped at him.
    He smiled. Not comforting.
    “Now, there are a few firm rules. No lying. I expect respect and communication and I will give you the same. And no going to the club without my express permission. Follow those and I’m sure we’ll get on just fine.”
    Knowing she’d been dismissed, Ava stood, head reeling and left his office.
    What had she gotten herself into?
    *****
    With a curse, Ava gave up trying to work and stood with a huff of annoyance. Once again, the afternoon sun was shining directly onto her desk. She didn’t know how Roarke’s old personal assistant had managed to work with the sun shining right in her eyes, but Ava knew she couldn’t stand it any longer.
    And she refused to pull the curtains and sit in the dark. That was just stupid.
    No, she was going to have to move the desk.
    Standing up, she stared at the large oak desk in frustration. The thing was huge. But she had no other choice. She’d put up with the discomfit of sunlight burning her retinas for two weeks now and she refused to make do any longer.
    “Right.” Gathering up her energy, Ava moved to one end and tried to lift it.
    Nothing.
    “Ugh,” she groaned. “Stupid desk, shift, damn you.” Muscles shaking with strain, she managed to shift it an inch.
    “I have got to go to a gym,” she muttered breathlessly. Deciding this wasn’t working unless she planned to do this for the rest of the afternoon, she stood and, gathering back her breath, moved around the corner of the desk and started pushing.
    “Ugh, move, dammit.”
    “What on earth are you doing?” a deep voice asked. With a soft squeal—she really wished Roarke would stop sneaking up on