Free Bared by the Billionaire by Kallista Dane Page B

check your account to verify that the funds are there. Once the deposit is made, you can transfer the money to any institution you want, anywhere in the world. I’m sure you won’t need assistance in doing that.” His smile was playful, inviting her to share a private joke regarding the circumstances that led to her being here.
    She lowered her head and leafed through the stack of papers, willing her hands not to shake. Confidentiality agreement, letter giving her unlimited access to his legal team, employment contract, promissory note for a bonus of an additional $500,000 after the original contract was fulfilled. There was even a form requiring her social security number stating that taxes would be paid for her monthly, in addition to her exorbitant salary.
    She read through the employment agreement and her eyes widened when she came to the part where she would be on call 24/7, prepared to submit to whatever discipline he required and to obey his every whim or command, immediately, with no protest or argument. In spite of the spanking she’d just received, seeing it there in black and white shocked her all over again.
    Harmon was nothing if not thorough. He’d included a clause with a blank space for her to fill in whatever safe word she wanted, and then detailed the consequences she’d face if she chose to use it. Every clause required her to sign next to it, to prove she’d read it, understood it, and agreed to it. He was taking no chances. Kyra rummaged in her bag for a pen.
    “Here, use mine,” Harmon said. “But first, let me get my administrative assistant in here to witness both our signatures.” He pressed a button on his desk and a side door opened. Another tall, well-built man walked in. He had the same short haircut and ramrod stance as the security guard in the lobby, except his dark hair had a few silver streaks around the temples. Despite his gray dress pants and blue long-sleeved shirt with a button-down collar, he looked a whole lot tougher and meaner than any office assistant Kyra had ever seen.
    “Slade, this is Miss Thornton. She’ll be with us for the next few months, staying here in the penthouse guest suite.”
    “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Thornton,” he said, extending his hand.
    “Please, call me Kyra,” she responded as they shook. His hand was hard, callused. This guy definitely hadn’t been pushing papers all his life. She wondered briefly why Harmon felt the need to surround himself with men who looked like they belonged to a SWAT team. Kyra bit back a nervous giggle at the thought of meeting Carmen and Esther. Would they look like body doubles for Bambi and Thumper, the female villains in that old Bond flick?
    She flipped through the papers, scrawling her name on every line, hesitating a moment before coming up with a safe word to fill in the blank. As she finished each page, she handed it to Harmon for him to sign as well. Slade went through the papers, checked every signature, and signed as witness on the bottom of each form. He paused for a moment on one page, glanced up at her, then went on, his face betraying no emotion.
    “I’ll see that you have copies of everything for your files,” he said. Kyra flushed with embarrassment, realizing that if Slade hadn’t known the lascivious details of her terms of employment before, he certainly did now.
    “A few more caveats, Kyra,” Harmon said after Slade left the room. “You will carry the cell phone you were given at all times. If you leave the building during the daytime, make sure that either Slade or Sam knows when you’ll be back. I respect your need to have some free time, but per the terms of our agreement, I reserve the right to call or text while you’re away. If I do so, you are to return here immediately.”
    He went on. “The men all call me Mr. Harmon but during business hours, feel free to call me Jake. When I summon you by phone or text, however, you will refer to me as master or sir until I