Total pages in book: 16
Estimated words: 14553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 73(@200wpm)___ 58(@250wpm)___ 49(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 14553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 73(@200wpm)___ 58(@250wpm)___ 49(@300wpm)
“Sounds like insider trading,” I blurt out but clamp my mouth shut.
“Those are dirty words in this office, Lana. I’m no criminal, but I’m not exactly a superhero either. I’m considerate when I exploit the weaknesses of other businesses to my company’s benefit. I like to think of it as necessary growing pains for other corporations.”
“That brings me back to my previous question, Mr. Archer. Have any of those corporations with those growing pains become a pain in the ass?” My mind immediately drifts to him, bringing pain to my ass with a slap from those massive hands.
Shit. I have to stop thinking about him like this, especially if he’s shaping up to be my new boss.
“You’ll have all the information you need to do your job, Lana, once you’re vetted for this position.”
“What’s the position exactly?” I ask him.
On my knees?
My back?
Against the wall?
Aiden nods. “I’d like you to come on—”
Your tongue? I’d love to.
“I’m sorry, what was that?” I ask him to get my mind back into the conversation.
“I’d like you to come on as my head of personal security. Once I have your background check on my desk later, you’ll be salaried and able to pick your team. You'll have access to my security resources to hire whoever you feel is suitable.”
“What’s my budget?”
“You’ll have as much money as you need to protect my son. I’m sending our meeting notes to HR now. Everything should run smoothly when you head down there.”
I nod. “Thank you. Can I ask that I surveil you and Jeremy for the next week to get an idea of the kind of people I’d need to hire?”
“Of course.”
“Where’s Jeremy now?”
He tips his head to the wall. “In the office next door with my secretary.”
“Okay, and as I gather this information, is it possible for me to teach Jeremy some self-defense tactics to help him handle situations like today?”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way, except...” He pauses, dragging his eyes up and down my body with a questioning glare that appears to mix with his own desires.
“Except?”
“I want to see how you defend yourself against someone like me. I wanted to train Jeremy myself, but I’m not in a space to give it my all. The person training him can’t hold back the way I would.”
“I don’t hold back because this training is what can keep him alive or at least give him enough time to get away. Is there a Mrs. Archer that I need to show defense moves to as well?”
“No. As a matter of fact, I have a list of people who aren’t allowed to step foot near Jeremy without my knowledge or my consent. His mother is number one on that list.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. You’re not the one who abandoned Jeremy to go on a six-day bender after I threatened divorce if she didn’t stop fucking her personal trainer.”
My eyes widen at the open admission.
Aiden huffs, pinching the bridge of his slender nose. “I apologize. I hate how angry she makes me, but she’s made it perfectly clear that she only gave birth to Jeremy to keep her hooks into me financially. She didn’t expect that my lawyer would be better than hers. I have full custody, but she gets supervised visitation that must be pre-arranged. She’s yet to arrange a visit.”
Poor Jeremy. My eyes glance at the wall separating me from the young boy who clung to me after I pulled him away from the woman trying to get him into that SUV.
“Wait, did you happen to get a look at the woman I tripped?” I ask him.
Aiden gets up from his chair to look out the large window before walking around his desk to pace behind me. “It wasn’t his mother. I doubt his mother is even in the country. I pay her enough alimony to keep her living lavishly, and I think her quiet conceit is leaving me and Jeremy alone.”
“Okay. When would you like to test my abilities?”
“Now.”
“I’m in a skirt.”
He shrugs. “You were in pants at the school.”
“I went home to shower and change before coming here. I didn’t think it was appropriate to show up in my scuffed-up suit.”
“You’d be right, Lana. However, you’re not always going to be in comfortable clothes. I think this is the perfect opportunity to give me an idea of what you can do.”
Before I can reply, I feel Aiden moving behind me. He’s fast as he grabs me from behind and lifts me out of my seat. He takes me by surprise, but it’s not enough to throw all my years of combat training out the window.
I throw all of my weight down to the ground, forcing myself to drop like a stone. I push back between Aiden’s wide stance and use a bit of restraint to knock the back of his knee. It brings him down on that leg and gives me enough time to get to my feet.