His Rules

Chapter 8

CHAPTER 8

K acey

I arrived at the company fifteen minutes early for my interview. I wasn’t going to allow my misfortune and stupid decision-making abilities to derail me for the rest of my life.

When I was finally taken into a conference room, I breathed a sigh of relief. Now I could sit in misery all alone. Married. What Stephanie had told me had haunted me all through Sunday. I hadn’t been able to sleep. How could I have been so stupid?

Twice.

Twice, for God’s sake.

You might as well put a huge crimson ‘A’ on my chest. I drummed my fingers on the table, wishing I’d been able to fall asleep the night before. I was wired to the hilt, the two cups of coffee having a harmful effect on my rolling stomach.

At least I’d pulled my entire concentration level off Sebastian by looking up the company. The CEO, Drake Caffrey, appeared to have a nice demeanor and was well photographed in marketing ads. He’d also been photographed with a different woman on his arm at several fabulous events.

But in doing more extensive research, I could tell the company was in financial trouble. Even Newsweek had done an article on the corporation about their falling stocks and lack of orders. It was similar in the entire industry, but for some reason, Aeronautical Enterprises was taking a direct hit from the military and commercial airlines. The why I didn’t know, but it would appear what I’d told Ms. Bennett had been on point.

Even if that had occurred by accident.

I’d shut down my computer after that, trying and failing to get a good night’s sleep. My father was itching to have Sebastian over for dinner. I prayed that didn’t happen. I wouldn’t be able to sit in the same room with him without blushing or calling him on the carpet for fucking a stranger when he had a wife.

Oh, God. I’d almost dug myself into an early grave.

The door opened and I plastered on my usual smile. No one needed to know I was melting in a pool of distress. I stood and smoothed down my skirt as Ms. Bennett walked around to the other side of the table. As I held out my hand for a shake, I sensed she was giving me a brutal onceover.

I looked perfect. I’d toiled away, finding the right outfit. My hair was coiled in a perfect bun, my makeup minimal on purpose. While I’d yet to tell my father why I was really in town, he’d commented on how professional I looked. Staying in the house I’d grown up in felt amazing and oh-so very wrong. I was a different person now than when I’d left for school.

I reminded myself of that as I defiantly stuck my arm closer to her. She finally accepted the gesture, her eyes as cold as she stared at me as I thought they’d be. But I kept my smile. Good for me.

“Please, sit,” she told me.

Very slowly I eased into the chair, noticing she did have a marked-up copy of my resume in front of her. “Thank you for meeting with me.”

“I’m very happy you were already in town. That will make the transition that much easier.”

“The transition?”

She smiled and patted her hand on the papers. “Yes, Ms. Taylor. I’ve spent extensive time going over your resume as well as checking your social media. You are a very cautious person, rarely posting anything personal about yourself. I’m happy to say, there were no drunken parties or other crazy events that would allude to a more difficult personality.”

I wasn’t certain whether to be thrilled or miffed by her comment. I chose to keep my mouth shut, merely nodding in reply.

“To that end, tell me why you’d like to work here.”

I’d tried to think about that question, but I certainly didn’t have some burning need to work for an airplane manufacturer. “The simple truth is that I wanted to immerse myself in a firm where I could utilize my skills that were learned through trial and error on the job. I also had the desire to move back home.”

“At least one part of your statement is true. Try again. Why do you want to work here?”

The bitch was smirking at me, challenging me. Well, fine. I leaned forward, taking her up on it. “Let me be frank, Ms. Bennett. This company is suffering financially. While the executives can pretend the reason is a downtrend in the market, the truth is that something internally is taking away from the profits. Something or someone. And I am determined to find what that is. I think I’m the perfect person to do that since very little disturbs me.”

She didn’t move a muscle, not even a tiny twitch in the corner of her mouth. But her eyes were even more on fire. Was that a good or bad thing? I couldn’t tell at this point.

“I did well by bringing you in, Ms. Taylor. I’d like to offer you the job. I believe the starting salary and benefits were already sent to you. There will be a thirty-day review and at that time, you can renegotiate your contract if so desired.”

“So I have the job?”

“You have the job, but as much as you’ve seemed to want it, I hope you did your research. The job isn’t easy. Long hours. Few accolades. A hell of a lot of stress.”

“I can handle it.” A small group of butterflies settled in my stomach.

“I certainly hope that you can.”

I was floored as well as giddy inside. I’d been right to stick to my guns. “If I may, what is it about what I just said to you that changed your mind?”

Ms. Bennett replied, “You may have a lot to learn about the industry, but you’re tenacious and a fighter. You’re going to need that to work with the CFO. If you agree, I’ll take you right away to meet him.”

“When would I start?” When she stood, so did I.

“How about right now? Unless you have engagements that would keep you from doing so.”

“No, I don’t have anything pressing at the moment, but I will need time to return to New York and make arrangements for a move.”

“That can be arranged. Do we have a deal, Ms. Taylor?”

I thought about what making this huge move would entail and a moment of fear trickled through me. But even with my recent stupidity, I felt confident this was the right decision for me personally and professionally. “You have a deal, Ms. Bennett. And I’m very excited.”

“Let’s just hope you feel that way when your thirty-day review pops up. Come. Let’s see if he’s in.”

I found it interesting that I hadn’t met with the man prior to being hired, but perhaps Ms. Bennett was a truly trusted employee.

It was too bad she was a prickly bitch.

She walked quickly down a long series of hallways and I had to use long strides to keep up with her. I tried to pay attention to my surroundings, but it was tough with everything flashing by in a blur.

“I’ll show you to your office after you meet with him. I will warn you that he’s not a people person. The last girl we hired lasted two weeks; the one before that, two days. However, I have a feeling you’ll put him in his place while providing him the assistance he needs. Afterwards, we’ll get the paperwork finished so you can spend additional time getting to know our standards and practices. It’s vital for you to learn the handbook inside and out. That will possibly save you some awkward moments. And whatever you do, don’t challenge him on any decision he makes. At least not outwardly. You’ll learn methods to corral him. If not, you won’t survive.”

I was shocked she spoke about one of her bosses that way, but every company had a different atmosphere. She kept walking, pointing out the restrooms and the breakroom, not bothering to allow me to ask a single question.

Meanwhile, my nerves were doing more flipflops.

I could tell the moment we’d entered the executive row. The doors were much further apart. “Um, I didn’t even ask. Who is the CFO?”

She stopped short, turning and looking at me as if she felt sorry for me. What in God’s name was wrong with the man? She took off walking for a few more feet and waved her hand at a name placard on the wall next to the door.

No. This just couldn’t be happening to me. There was no chance in hell unless the world and God hated me. What had I done to deserve this?

There etched in a golden plaque was the man’s name in bold letters.

Sebastian Winfield.

Why did I have a terrible feeling about even walking through his door?

She didn’t give me time to object or anything else, knocking and quickly opening the door. Had the bastard known about this? My stomach dropped. He was standing facing the window, a phone in his hand.

His voice was terse, his body language highlighting intense anger. She kept us waiting in the doorway and I was thoroughly sick to my stomach.

“No, I don’t give a shit, Francis. You ordered the planes. Now they belong to you. No cancellations or refunds, remember?”

I had no clue what was being said, but I could tell by Ms. Bennett’s expression this was a regular occurrence. My nerves were suddenly on edge.

He guffawed and threw out his hand in exasperation. “Listen to me. I’m the one who’s going to be taking you to court. And I assure you that I will win. You should know better than to fuck with me. Ever.” He didn’t bother turning around, merely shifting so he could toss his phone onto the desk.

My stomach dropped. This wasn’t possible. I hadn’t made such a colossal mistake.

The man I’d known and had slept with had never come across this angry, even when he’d shoved the jerk against the bar. He obviously had two distinct sides, a clear indication of why the help wanted ad had been written the way it had.

Ms. Bennett cleared her throat and Sebastian immediately stiffened.

“I asked not to be disturbed.”

“Yes, sir, but I have your new assistant.”

Assistant. Don’t you mean financial analyst? I didn’t say the words, but that’s what I was thinking. Had I been given a line of shit? I waited to see how he reacted before making my decision to bolt or not. The job was perfect, the benefits amazing, but I had a feeling the dark cloud hanging over my head wasn’t going away any time soon.

He turned around slowly and either all time had stopped, or we were both burning in the fires of hell. His face was expressionless, but his eyes were sparking with energy.

And a lot of other emotions I couldn’t quite pick out, but one was definite.

Annoyance.

Sebastian provided me with a taste of what I’d experienced the night I was with him by growling as he turned around. Whereas there’d been shock revealed on both sides the night of the charity event, this time as his eyes flashed to and over me, I witnessed hunger. Domination. The moment was short lived, his face and eyes turning dark and cold.

“Ms. Bennett. I told you I didn’t need another assistant.” His tone was stark, as if the fact I was standing in front of him was wasting his time.

“Financial analyst,” I interrupted, using the same terse voice, and was rewarded with another dark flash of his eyes. His attitude instantly pissed me off. I was aware everyone had two distinct sides, but I could instantly tell why he had trouble keeping certain employees.

His lips curled up in a smirk and I couldn’t ascertain if he was pissed or amused.

“Yes, well, Drake insisted you hire someone. He said you could use the help. This is Kacey Taylor. I vetted her myself and she seemed perfect for the job. I did send you her resume yesterday.”

The look of sheer annoyance on his face was memorable.

“It was Sunday, Ms. Bennett, and I was very busy. You can leave now and allow me to get acquainted with Ms. Taylor before I decide as to whether she’s a good fit for my company.”

From what I’d seen, Drake Caffrey owned fifty percent of the investment as well.

She handed another copy of my resume to the man. He took four seconds to read it over, tossing it onto a stack of paperwork. The man was ceremoniously dismissing me.

What the hell was wrong with him? He’d been entirely different before.

You mean when you were writhing in his arms?

It was obvious Mr. Coffee Shop had presented his true personality the morning before. I didn’t like the man one bit. Too bad since…

Oh, God. A flash of images rolled into my mind that were as inappropriate as they could be.

“There’s no one else who you’ll find suitable,” Ms. Bennett retorted. “At least not for your needs.”

Sebastian bristled.

She’d managed to get under his skin. “Yes, well, I’ll make that determination.”

I was honestly shocked at the two sides of him. The moment felt surreal, as if there were two men instead of one.

“Yes, Mr. Winfield.” She turned sharply and lifted a single eyebrow when looking at me. “Good luck.”

I had the distinct feeling I was going to need it. The door closed behind me and the two of us were left all alone. A feeling of anger swept through me.

That he was an asshole to his employees.

That he hadn’t told me that he was married.

That I’d fallen hard for his bullshit.

Thank God, I’d come to my senses when I had. I walked closer, holding my head high. He was far more intimidating standing behind a desk. That didn’t stop me from moving all the way to the edge. I waited for him to say anything, keeping my eyes locked on his.

There was a strange moment of understanding between us. While his expression didn’t exactly soften, there wasn’t nearly as much venom on his face as I’d seen before.

“Kacey Taylor.” The way he repeated my name felt strangely alluring.

“Yes, Sebastian Winfield.”

“You didn’t tell me you were applying for the position.”

“I didn’t know I was. You didn’t tell me you were married.”

Sebastian didn’t respond at all at first. Meanwhile, heat rose on both cheeks. He slowly turned his head. “I assure you, Ms. Taylor, I am not married. I doubt my ex would admit she was ever married to me.”

“Oh.” Oh? That was all I could think of to say after I’d driven my foot into my mouth with a sledgehammer? “Why does everyone think you’re still married?”

The hint of annoyance was similar to before. “Because it’s no one’s goddamn business what I do in my personal life. Let them think what they want.”

Ouch. Whatever had occurred had left him a bitter man. Did that excuse his behavior? Hell, no. Then again, I knew something about heartache and how it could change a person. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry. You need to learn apologizing highlights weakness in a competitive business. I’m not sorry. We weren’t a good fit.”

“Then I won’t apologize for calling you on the carpet at the coffee shop.”

His annoyance was increasing, the heat building between us explosive. I couldn’t quite figure out if I was trying to lose the job.

I was also beginning to wonder how I’d been so wrong about him. His callous attitude regarding his marriage certainly didn’t give me the warm and fuzzies any more than how he’d treated the young woman in the shop.

“Please. Don’t. Actions are a reflection of one’s soul.”

Was he kidding me? “I’ll keep that in mind.”

He eased around the corner of his desk, sitting on the edge and folding his arms. “Tell me why I should hire you.”

“You’d know that had you taken time to read over my resume.” I was being a little pushy, but my instinct screamed the man was testing me.

“Take a seat, Ms. Taylor.”

“I believe I’m more comfortable standing.”

Clear amusement was easily seen in his eyes before he looked away briefly. “Have it your way. Let’s cut to the chase, Ms. Taylor. From what I noticed on your resume, it would seem you’re perfectly qualified to handle the position. You do understand there will be long hours and you must remain strictly loyal to my firm. And to me directly.”

“In other words, I’m selling my soul.”

He slowly allowed a knowing smirk to cross his face. I hated it, especially from a man. “Exactly. Now, what I’m asking is why you want to work with us.”

The testing continued. “Because I believe I can offer some advice as an initial outsider that may be of use in dealing with both clients and competitors. It would seem several are breathing down your neck with enough pressure you’re cracking at the seams. Namely, Waterhouse Industries.”

His eyes flashed something other than amusement this time. I was taking a slight leap, although seeing their recent financial reports, it would seem they were edging out Aeronautical Enterprises by a solid fifteen perfect.

He took a breath, holding it for much longer than necessary. “Yes, well, those choosing to work with Waterhouse will find an incompetent staff.”

“Like the man you were talking to on the phone when we walked in? You were having a disagreement that led me to believe he’s taking his business elsewhere.”

“I assure you Mr. Kane knows better than to dare try and break our agreement.”

“But he intends on trying. Maybe you should try being nice to him, suggesting a meeting offsite. Usually, when you manage to get them off their home turf, they listen more clearly, making decisions without emotions involved.”

My God. His smile was practically evil. I was floored by my body’s response, the rapid pulse and instant yet light throbbing in my pussy. This was a very bad idea.

He allowed a full smile to cross his face. “I’ll consider it, Ms. Taylor. When you’ve been here long enough to learn the ropes, you’ll realize that not all people can be handled with kid gloves.”

“Oh, I’m a quick study. You might be surprised.”

“I doubt there’s anything about you that could surprise me at this point.”

My jaw clenched, his statement irritating the hell out of me. “I applied for this job because I believe my skills are helpful to high-ranking companies, even those in financial trouble. While I expect to work long hours, even weekends if necessary, what I won’t tolerate is attitude when you don’t know me or what I’m capable of.”

The fire in his eyes was beautifully aggravating. Even his nostrils were flared. “Nice job, Ms. Taylor. However new you are to the business world, your reaction of calling your boss on the carpet isn’t the best idea for your first day.”

My first day. Did that mean I’d gotten the job? I wasn’t certain I cared if I did or didn’t, his attitude was so off-putting.

“I’ve been in business for several years, Mr. Winfield, but as I said before, you would know that had you taken the time to go over my resume before I walked in this door. But I can see you have more important things on your mind. Perhaps this was a mistake.”

“Perhaps it was.”

Oh, Lord. He’d just laid a line in the sand and like a dumbass, I’d fallen for it. Hook, line, and sinker. He had a way of getting under my skin. But in turn, I’d allowed him to do just that.

“Fine. Then I’ll let Ms. Bennett know this isn’t going to work on my way out.” My feet felt glued to the floor, but I managed to make it to the door.

“Wait, Ms. Taylor. First of all, I didn’t end the meeting.”

My God. What an arrogant ass. Yet I found myself remaining right where I was standing, incapable of moving. Maybe I was a glutton for punishment. There were so many nasty things I wanted to say on the tip of my tongue it was tough to choose which one. Yes, I knew I’d end up on Santa’s naughty list, but so what? “I think you’ve made it clear I’m not worthy of working for you. Why would that matter?”

“Because I don’t want you to leave. In fact, I insist that you stay.”

I was surprised by his admittance. “How chivalrous of you.”

He snickered as if I was making a joke. “I’m a tough man to work for. However, I’m also fair and appreciate someone I can count on. As I said, I’d like you to stay.”

“And why is that?” If the fucker dared say something about the other night, I would walk right out that door.

“Because I can tell you’re very qualified for the job and if I may be frank with you, you’re correct that I can use the help. I’d like to turn this company around before it’s too late. I have a feeling you’re the person to help me do that. The salary pays one hundred thousand dollars.”

The sound of the deep growl in his voice was so hot, so obviously in control that I thought I’d melt into a puddle. He was pulling out all the stops, using his dominating side to keep me in my place. He was even more attractive than the night in the bar.

No. Absolutely the worst thing I could do at this moment was to find him anything but an arrogant potential boss.

“One hundred thousand?” I found myself whispering as I repeated the dollar amount. Given the cost of living, I could purchase a house within a year. A tiny burst of giddiness was almost overwhelming. “You’re kidding, right?” Now I sounded as arrogant as he did.

Were the corners of his mouth upturning? Was the bastard making fun of me?

“While I never kid about issues involving money, I’m a busy man. One hundred and twenty thousand. But you start today.”

I was shocked at his words, turning back to face him. My stomach was doing flipflops. Certainly, I could handle his arrogant ass for that kind of money. “Fine. But on one condition.”

“Alright.”

“We never mention the other night to anyone. Ever. And I do mean forever.”

He smirked once again. “I assure you that won’t happen, Ms. Taylor. What we shared is just a distant memory, an act that will never be repeated. Go spend time with Ms. Bennett. Then we’ll sit down and have a nice, long chat.”

I gritted my teeth, finally nodding, fury all I felt at this point.

Maybe I could quickly turn my feelings into hate.

“One last thing,” he stated before I had a chance to leave the room. “You will follow my rules. Every. Single. One of them.”