Laid and Leveraged (3 page)

Michelle
held
her
breath,
determined
to
stay
seated
this
time.

“
The
extended
maternity
leave
is
far
too
generous.
A
paid
year
off
is
flat
out
absurd.
Three
months
max.
”

Michelle
couldn't
help
it.
Despite
her
previous
resolve,
she
jumped
out
of
her
seat.

“
As
a
company
that
is
run
by
a
woman,
I
think-
”

“
Last
I
checked,
this
morning
in
the
shower,
”
he
smirked,
his
bold
eyes
meeting
hers.
“
I
felt
pretty
sure
this
company
was
not
run
by
a
woman.
”

Michelle
flushed,
unable
to
shake
the
image
of
his
handsome
naked
body
in
the
shower.
The
way
his
eyes
held
hers
now,
she
felt
certain
he
knew
exactly
what
he'd
done.
More
importantly,
he'd
done
it
on
purpose.

“
Everyone,
if
you
will
take
one
and
pass
the
rest
down.
”
He
slapped
a
stack
of
paper
on
the
table.
“
I've
listed
the
people
who
I
do
not
believe
are
an
asset
to
Today's
Energy
and
will
be
relieved
of
their
positions
by
the
end
of
the
week.
”

Michelle
looked
down
at
the
paper
and
gasped.
The
first
name
on
the
list
read,
Becky
Clark,
her
personal
assistant.

Roger
Hollins
spoke
before
she
had
a
chance.
“
If
there
are
anymore
objections,
as
experience
tells
me
there
are,
”
he
added
dryly,
locking
her
eyes
with
his
and
lowering
his
voice.
“
You
may
speak
to
me
in
private
out
in
the
hall.
”
Glancing
at
the
downcast
eyes
around
the
room,
Michelle
knew
she'd
be
the
only
one
to
raise
any
concerns.

“
Very
well,
”
she
gritted,
nearly
crushing
the
list
in
her
fist.
“
I
will
join
you
in
the
hall.
”

He
smiled
at
her,
a
smile
that
was
far
too
gracious
to
be
sincere.
She
squared
her
shoulders,
stood
and
followed
him
out
of
the
room.
As
soon
as
the
door
shut,
cutting
them
off
from
the
prying
eyes
of
the
board
members,
Michelle
launched
into
an
assault.

“
Don't
think
that
you
can
just
waltz
in
here
and-
”

He
turned
to
her,
bending
his
face
down
to
hover
mere
inches
over
hers.
She
reflexively
leaned
back.

“
Let
me
make
one
thing
clear,
Ms.
Grant,
”
he
hissed.
Michelle
realized
that
despite
her
tall
stature
he
towered
over
her
as
he
spoke.
“
You
work
for
me
now
and
the
next
time
you
try
a
stunt
like
questioning
my
authority
in
front
of
the
board
members
again,
I'll
add
your
name
to
the
list.
”
He
pointed
to
the
paper
in
her
hand
so
that
there
would
be
no
mistaking
on
her
part
just
which
list
he
referred
to.

Michelle
didn't
need
it
spelled
out
for
her
in
quite
so
many
words
but
she
couldn't
stop
herself
from
trembling
with
anger
as
he
spoke
to
her
as
though,
instead
of
a
savvy
business
owner,
she
were
nothing
more
than
a
silly
child.

He
leaned
back,
his
arms
crossed
over
his
muscular
chest,
and
he
smiled
that
arrogant
smile
that
Michelle
was
just
starting
to
get
used
to.
She
felt
a
new
wave
of
indignation
creep
over
her
flesh
as
his
eyes
raked
her
frame,
settling
far
too
long
over
her
large
breasts.

“
You
see,
Ms.
Grant,
”
he
sneered.
“
I
know
what's
best
for
this
company
and
,
”
he
lowered
his
voice
to
a
sultry
baritone
before
adding,
“
you
.
”