Seduced By My Billionaire Boss (The Billionaire Boss Series, #1) by Sierra Rose Read Free Book Online

eyes.
    “You don’t believe in taking a risk now and again, Miss Harks?”
    And at this point, I would flush and drop my eyes to the ground, wondering what unholy power struggle I’d stumbled across into and prayed for release.
    The only one who seemed to be enjoying my passive-aggressive torture, other than Thomas himself, was Michael—who had taken a rather amused position in the back, watching the disaster unfold with an unmistakable twinkle in his eye. When the lights had finally come back on, and the meeting had adjourned, he’d tried to get my attention. But I’d walked deliberately out the door, not speaking or looking at anyone else, lest they pull me into another interrogation to last for days. Instead, I headed straight to my office and pretended to be on an overseas call for the rest of the day. When Jamie popped his head in and told me that everyone could see my phone line was not in use, I flipped him off. He retreated with a grin and left a sympathy salad outside my door on his way back from lunch.
    I ate it with a fixed, sullen glare—stabbing at the crisp pieces of lettuce with a vengeance they didn’t deserve. It wasn’t them who’d tried to humiliate me during my first ever Larchwood presentation. It wasn’t them who’d x-ray visioned me in front of the entire office until cold chills were running down my spine.
    When it was finally time to leave, I waited until I heard the last computer shut down then made a bee-line for the double doors. Just to be safe, I took the stairs.
    And just like that—I was out. No one could touch me, no one could quiz me, no one could mess with me for at least two days. It was the weekend—and I had certainly earned it.
    Instead of heading back to the apartment, where Rose would no doubt be waiting to hear how the presentation played out, I went straight to the gym. I needed to run off my frustration for a while. Take off these binding office clothes and sweat it out where no Larchwood could ever find me.
    At least...that was the plan.
    I’d just emerged from the locker room, wearing a pair of clinging yoga capris and a sports bra, when I walked straight into Michael Larchwood.
    I gasped and fell a step back, shivering a little when he caught me. (Men like Michael caught by the waist, not the shoulders.)
    “Mr. Larchwood,” I stuttered, instantly wishing I’d worn more clothes. “What are you...I mean...I didn’t know this was your gym.”
    “It’s not.” He laughed as he set me back down on my feet. “I’m just trying it out for the day. Seeing where the evening takes me.”
    His eyes twinkled incessantly, and I couldn’t help but shake my head with a rueful grin.
    “You don’t give up easily, do you?”
    He laughed again. This time, he threw in a wink.
    “Nope.”
    I chuckled myself and accepted his arm when he offered it.
    “Where to, Madame?”
    I shook my head again. “ I’m heading to the treadmills. That’s where I’m going.”
    He pretended to look surprised. “That’s funny—that’s where I’m going as well.” His eyes narrowed shrewdly. “Are you...are you following me?”
    For whatever reason, that was the breaking point.
    The stress of the week and the nerves from the presentation finally pulled me over the edge, and I erupted in a fit of exhausted giggles. He stepped back when they started, looking wary that he’d somehow broken me, then his face brightened into a wide smile, and he chuckled along.
    “Just don’t, okay?” I pleaded between gasps. “I can’t handle you right now.”
    The walls had come down, and names no longer mattered. We were two people, the same age, flirting/trying-not-to-be-flirted-with at the gym. There was nothing more to it.
    “You don’t have to handle me at all.” He held up his hands innocently. “I’ll do all the handling, I promise.”
    I snorted and shoved him away from me as I hopped up onto the treadmill. Instead of taking the one next to me, he sat directly across, casually lifting