Free Laid and Leveraged by Alison Ford Page B

meeting hers. “ I felt pretty sure this company was not run by a woman. ”
    Michelle flushed, unable to shake the image of his handsome naked body in the shower. The way his eyes held hers now, she felt certain he knew exactly what he'd done. More importantly, he'd done it on purpose.
    “ Everyone, if you will take one and pass the rest down. ” He slapped a stack of paper on the table. “ I've listed the people who I do not believe are an asset to Today's Energy and will be relieved of their positions by the end of the week. ”
    Michelle looked down at the paper and gasped. The first name on the list read, Becky Clark, her personal assistant.
    Roger Hollins spoke before she had a chance. “ If there are anymore objections, as experience tells me there are, ” he added dryly, locking her eyes with his and lowering his voice. “ You may speak to me in private out in the hall. ” Glancing at the downcast eyes around the room, Michelle knew she'd be the only one to raise any concerns.
    “ Very well, ” she gritted, nearly crushing the list in her fist. “ I will join you in the hall. ”
    He smiled at her, a smile that was far too gracious to be sincere. She squared her shoulders, stood and followed him out of the room. As soon as the door shut, cutting them off from the prying eyes of the board members, Michelle launched into an assault.
    “ Don't think that you can just waltz in here and- ”
    He turned to her, bending his face down to hover mere inches over hers. She reflexively leaned back.
    “ Let me make one thing clear, Ms. Grant, ” he hissed. Michelle realized that despite her tall stature he towered over her as he spoke. “ You work for me now and the next time you try a stunt like questioning my authority in front of the board members again, I'll add your name to the list. ” He pointed to the paper in her hand so that there would be no mistaking on her part just which list he referred to.
    Michelle didn't need it spelled out for her in quite so many words but she couldn't stop herself from trembling with anger as he spoke to her as though, instead of a savvy business owner, she were nothing more than a silly child.
    He leaned back, his arms crossed over his muscular chest, and he smiled that arrogant smile that Michelle was just starting to get used to. She felt a new wave of indignation creep over her flesh as his eyes raked her frame, settling far too long over her large breasts.
    “ You see, Ms. Grant, ” he sneered. “ I know what's best for this company and , ” he lowered his voice to a sultry baritone before adding, “ you . ”

Chapter 2.
    “ You've got to get out of here! ” Becky pressed her body against the inside of Michelle's door, her fist still gripping the handle. By the way she panted, Michelle could tell that she'd run the whole way to her office. “ Roger Hollins is on his way here right this second! Word on the street is he's furious that you haven't implemented a single one of his changes. ”
    Michelle bristled. “ I'm not afraid of him and I'm most certainly not going to let him ruin all the hard work I've done for the last fifteen years. ” She looked fiercely into Becky's eyes. “ This is my company, ” she vowed. “ He wants to destroy it for a quick profit and it's not going to happen. ”
    Becky frowned, her penciled in eyebrows coming together. “ I dunno, ” she chirped. “ It kinda seems to me like his idea about getting rid of the solar plant was a good one. ”
    Michelle glared at her, crossing her arms over her breasts through the thin cream colored blouse she wore. She was about to set Becky straight when the door to her office flung open, sending her little assistant flying. In the next minute, Roger Hollins' big body stood within the frame. He caught sight of Becky sprawled out on the floor and pointed to the hall behind him.
    “ Out! ” he hissed so menacingly that both women jumped at the sound of his voice. Becky scrambled to her feet,