Free Hudson by Shayne McClendon Page A

your money.  Where men with
money and power didn’t insult an employee just because they could.
    “I’m sorry about the day we met.  For what I said to Henry.”
    She gave him a smile but it wasn’t a radiant one.  “You’re a
successful person and I guess it’s easy to forget people – even doormen – can
be hurt by things you say.  Thank you, Mr. Winters.”
    “Call me Hudson.”  He took her hand and squeezed slightly. 
“I’ve been abrupt all my life.  Most people would call me cold.  I don’t
remember a time when I wasn’t.  I’ve always been this way.  Everything is a
competition to me and there is always an end game.  I don’t know any other way
to be.  Kindness isn’t something that comes naturally to me.”
    Turning her hand, she squeezed back.  “Then I hope you meet
someone who can teach you how to be kind.”  Gathering her backpack and checking
for traffic, she opened the door and got out at the next light.  “I’ll walk
from here, Hudson.  Thank you.”
    Brie closed the door and he watched her step up on the
sidewalk.  She shoved her hands in her jacket pockets and walked calmly down
the street. 
    “Sir?  Shall I follow?”
    Hudson smiled.  “Not this time, Leonard.  Let’s get to the
office.”  With a last look at Gabriella’s rapidly disappearing ass, he took out
his phone and started his day.
     
    Gabriella could not get away from Hudson Winters fast
enough. 
    She wasn’t sure what the hell was wrong with her but she
knew he made her nervous on a primal level as a woman.  As someone used to
ruling his universe, he’d take and take as his due until a woman had nothing
left to give.  Being a person who gave generously would only further handicap
her with a man like him. 
    Not that he’d be looking for more than a casual fuck anyway.
    She needed to keep her head down and work on growing her
life in New York.  Wasting time contemplating a man way out of her league would
just throw her off her plans. 
    Brie focused on work and starting fresh. 
    Over the next weeks, she finished training on the
housekeeping tasks that fell to her and cross trained by request in other positions
just in case someone called out.  There was nothing worse than covering for an
employee and not knowing what they hell they did from day to day.
    If she did happen to catch a glimpse of Hudson coming or
going, she made herself scarce.  Something about him fascinated her; something
she didn’t like or need.
    While still on graveyard, she often ended her shift when a
woman with jet-black hair exited the private elevator to Hudson’s penthouse. 
Carlo called her Miss Natalia.  It was obvious she’d spent the night with him
and the woman looked pleased with herself. 
    She was pretty in a way that Brie could never be no matter
how much she worked out.  Tall, slender, and cosmopolitan. 
    Once she switched to her new hours, her shift started before
Natalia left and finished before Hudson returned from his office. 
    As a result, months went by without seeing him or his
lover.  She concentrated on putting them out of her mind. 
    Brie didn’t realize she was never far from either of the
friends’ minds and few things could have surprised her more.

Chapter Six
     
    Hudson stared through the window but saw nothing. 
    The location – and the view – was rated one of ten best in
Manhattan.  He hadn’t been able to convince the owner to sell so he’d rented
and refurbished the top floors for his corporation.  During the height of the
recession, many of the other floors emptied as companies went under and he took
over those floors as well.
    He was preparing to make the owner another offer. 
    After all, if Winters Enterprises vacated, all that lovely rent
money would disappear instantly.  Hudson was well aware that the man was barely
holding on to several of his properties.  He’d spread himself too thin.  The
taxes and city codes were about to crush him.
    Many in the business