Free Lust by T. C. Anthony

that Mr. Mason—oh God! Mr. Mason is the hot piece of ass that I landed on at the bar Saturday night. The same guy I propositioned to fuck his brains out.” Samantha’s mouth nearly hit the ground in shock.
    “I know, Sam. This shit only seems to happen to me. Look, we’ll talk more later. I just have to catch up on some work.”
    The energy it would have taken for me to fake a smile would have cleaned out my reserves, and regardless, Samantha would have called me out on it.
    Arm in arm, we walked into the building, through security and into the elevators, pressed the button that read fiftyeight, and stepped back. We proceeded as we did every morning, together, for the last seven years. But today it was just not the same. And only God knew what every other day after today would be like. I hoped for the best and prepared for the worst.
    “Eva? Get that look off your face. You have no idea how relieved everyone is that we still have you! They care for you and trust you that much, and it should come as no surprise. Now, snap out of it, and lead us all out of this darkness and sorrow.
    Be the boss we’ve always admired. Time to flip that switch and put these people at ease.”
    Samantha always knows what to say, and she never spoke anything that she didn’t truly feel or believe. Well, at least not to me.
    I stood uneasy with my hand on the lock to my office, and I knew Samantha was on the money. I knew what I had to do, and I needed to do it fast.
    Opening the door slightly, it all clicked. Ms. Chase was in the office and ready to gain control. With the door now ajar, I gave my orders. “You are right. Send an e-mail to the team: staff meeting at eleven sharp. Please cc me and cc Mr. Mason. I doubt he will care, but invite him anyway. I’m going to have to play nice whether I like it—”
    Walking fully into the office, I stopped dead in my tracks, and the only noise was the oooohhhh shit that went off in my head.
    “Ms. Chase. Good morning, and thank you for finally gracing us with your presence. Did you want to finish that conversation before I continue or…”
    Fuck. Mr. Mason. In my office, sitting in my chair, behind my desk, listening to me talking trash about him!
    “Good. I take your silence as the answer. I figure the ‘oh shit’ expression that you have on your face means that you would never feel comfortable enough to say these things to my face, and, though that’s your prerogative, I need you to know that I want you to—I need you to—be honest with me.”
    He was pissed as he suddenly stopped speaking. He placed his palms on his knees, pushed his body up off the chair, and walked toward me. Thank God the door was still open. It wasn’t that I felt threatened, I just didn’t think he would openly scream while the door was open and let the rest of the staff get a good glimpse of their new boss!
    As I finished the thought, I realized that while I was staring at the floor, Mr. Mason had walked behind me, and click.
    Fuck. He had closed the office door, and now we were in the office alone!
    This can’t be good.
    I stood motionless with my back toward him. And— there—I could feel it once again, his eyes staring through me from behind. I could feel his gaze starting from the top of my head to the very tip of my Louboutins. He was trying to play me, instill fear…intimidate me.
    No. I won’t let him do this to me. I have been around much more intimidating men and never lost my composure. And now, no, no, no! I can’t. I won’t. Why is he even getting to me? Why am I having trouble being who I have always been? I am not weak; I am a strong, intelligent business woman. I can do this.
    The thoughts died out as I turned around to face him, only to almost fall back on my own ass. When I turned, I found myself no more than five or six inches away from his chest. I am only five foot two—five foot sixish with the right heels on— but he still had a foot on me.
    Gasping, he reached out and with both