Resisting Mr Sterling (Obsidian #5)

CHAPTER ONE

ZANDER

––––––––

I climb out of my Mercedes Maybach GLS, take in a lungful of the Midtown air and adjust my tie.

Manhattan has its own unique set of scents, not all of them good, but this place is home. It’s also the location of Sterling Obsidian there’s no doubt about that.

The thing about me is that I love fucking. It's my number one hobby. I’ve slept with...well let’s not count...but there has been no lack of opportunity. Certainly not when your best buddy owns an exclusive adults club attracting wealthy clients.

So, she can be as beautiful as she wants; when I step through the front doors of the Sterling Obsidian & Partners building, I become a different man.

The shark.

Powerful people are experienced manipulators and attempt all kinds of bullshit when they enter my office. If she tries that with me, it won’t go down well.

Slipping into my soft leather chair, I spin around and take in the stunning early morning view of Manhattan.

I vowed not to take this life for granted the day I stood beside Jack’s grave.

I inherited a chunk of money from my grandfather, which I used to start this company, and my hard work and tenacity got us to the top.

Becoming the top divorce attorney in New York is no mean feat, and I intend to stay in that position.

Marriage isn’t for me, but I’ll happily profit from those who stupidly took the step and believed in the fairytale.

So sad...here’s my invoice.

After clearing my emails and phone messages, Kathy knocks lightly on my door, announcing that Courtney Blackmore is here. “She’s early.”

“That’s fine. Show her in,” I say, standing, knowing that Jason and Sean, both senior associates, will have been notified first and will join us.

A few minutes later, Kathy returns with Mrs. Blackmore as I school my expression.

Jesus.

“Zander, it’s good to meet you in person.” Courtney strides in with her hand out, ready for me to shake.

Her nails are long, pointed, and bright. So is her outfit. Dripping in designer everything, which might not be unusual in New York, but there’s something purposeful about the short, bright green dress and houndstooth jacket.

She’s rich, there’s no question about that, but it’s as if she feels she needs to prove it. On her fingers are several diamond rings of different carat sizes, a diamond-encrusted watch, and two unmissable studs in her ears.

If she’s trying to impress me, she failed.

Nothing about her outfit is gaudy—she fits right into the uber rich in New York, and no one would blink if she was striding down the road in Paris.

Courtney is beautiful, almost five feet seven I’d guess—shorter out of her Louboutin—and has long red hair, thick long lashes, unusually deep green eyes and full lips.

Fuckable.

If she weren’t my client.

Obviously.

I’ve never been tempted to cross the line and get disbarred for a hot piece of ass, and I’m not going to start now.

One thing about me is I have enormous self-control, even if my friends wouldn’t believe it for a second.

She could bend over right now and have no panties on and I’d be like...actually that’s probably pushing it a little. I’d get hard.

Let’s hope she doesn’t drop something.

My eyes dip to her outstretched hand, and I decide to keep a wide professional boundary with this woman and be clear I’m not a man affected by her sex appeal.

“Mr. Sterling, please.” I ignore the flash of offense in her eyes and indicate the table and chairs across the room. “Take a seat. My team will be here shortly.”

I collect my folder from the edge of my desk as her hand drops. Before another word can be spoken, Jason and Sean step into the room

“Excellent. Let’s begin.”