Free Under His Command (For His Pleasure, Book 17) by Kelly Favor Page B

“So are you a journalist? Was I right?”
    Kennedy giggled and shook her head. “Afraid not.”
    He sat forward. “You’re not in tech, are you? One of those geek girls that loves gaming and stuff but just so happens to be smoking hot?”
    “No. Can’t say I am. But I guess maybe you’re half right, because I am sort of considered a geek. I was a math major at MIT.”
    “No kidding. Math major?” He shook his head. “My thing is computers, but math was never really my strong suit.”
    “Oh well, I’m out of that field now.”
    “Okay, you’ve definitely piqued my interest. What field are you in currently?”
    “I’m an executive assistant.”
    “That’s not exactly a field,” Travis said, his eyes narrowing.
    “I don’t really know if I have a definitive career path just yet,” she said, trying to stall. She wanted Easton to get there already and be done with it, before Travis figured it out himself and took off.
    “So who are you working for? What company?”
    She took another long drink from her glass of wine. “Actually, I’m very new to the job. This is only my second day.”
    “Yesterday was your first day of work?” he said, shocked.
    “Yeah.” She laughed at his total inability to accept what she was telling him. “In fact, getting a meeting with you was my very first assignment.”
    He made a face of surprise. “Well done, then, Kennedy.” He leaned forward and spoke softly but with some intensity. “Okay, now I need to know who you work for.”
    Over his shoulder, she saw Easton coming in the door. It must have shown on her face, because Travis looked back over his shoulder and saw him heading their way.
    When he turned back to her, his expression was stunned and wounded. “You work for him?”
    “You didn’t want me to tell you what I did or who I worked for yesterday.”
    “But him? Easton Rather?” He spit the name like it was mud in his mouth.
    “Why do you hate him?”
    He wiped his mouth and sat back. “I can’t sit here and talk to that asshole. Fuck this.”
    A second later, Easton had slid in next to him. “So, this is awkward,” Easton said.
    Kennedy tried to smile. “Does it have to be? Maybe we can start fresh.”
    Travis made a face, but kept silent.
    Easton glanced at him sidelong. “I asked her to make this meeting,” he said,
    “because I know we can help each other.”
    “I have no interest in helping you,” Travis muttered. “And if I’d known this was going to be a bait and switch with you coming in…” he shook his head.
    “Look, let’s get past this,” Easton replied. “Your company needs us. You’re just about at the top of the market share you can get going the route you’re currently on. You need to break out and go mainstream, and we can assist you in doing so.”
    “I have no interest in going mainstream, and even if I did, I’d never use you.”
    Easton laughed. “All of this because I remind you of a guy from high school?”
    Travis glared at him, his cheeks blotchy. The rest of his face looked even paler and more boyish than before. “You don’t just remind me of the guy—you pretty much are that guy. But I’m the quarterback now. I’m the guy everyone wants on their team.
    You’re just some bully, a stuffed suit with no creativity, no real value. And your little honey trap over here,” he said, nodding over at Kennedy, “didn’t do the trick either. By the way, she’s not nearly hot enough to blow smoke in my eyes or anywhere else.”
    “Don’t talk like that,” Easton said, a flinty look coming into his eyes.
    “I’m just saying—“
    “Don’t say anything about her. She’s off limits.”
    Kenney felt a jolt of electricity at him saying she was off limits.
    Travis sat back, playing with the fringe of his shirt. “My point is, this meeting is a waste of time. I’m not going to sign with your agency. Even if it was a good idea, I’d reject it on principle.”
    “That seems rather shortsighted of you,”