Free TROUBLE 1 by Kristina Weaver Page B

well guarantee the man will never come near me again.
    “I’m talking about the fact that Lucas has bought the agency! Lock, stock, and freaking barrel. Yates is staying on as VP, but from now on we’re going to be seeing a lot of him. He’s coming in to get things running smoothly. Apparently he’s some sort of financial genius, and he aims to get the agency back to its maximum potential.”
    I don’t think I’ve heard correctly. I pray I haven’t as nausea and a not-too-small dose of dread hits me.
    “He’s coming in today! I guess I shouldn’t be so excited. I mean, he’s hot and all, but totally off the market.”
    “Huh?”
    “I Googled him. I should have done it days ago. You’ll never guess who he’s engaged to. Selena Jeffries, of the New York Jeffries! I hope we get to meet her. I’m so excited.”
    I’ll bet. I, on the other hand, feel as if my life has entered the twilight zone, and the normal, organised woman I was is currently flitting around in an alternate universe while I’m stuck living a practical joke.
    I am a whore, a total slut, a home-wrecker. I’ve just banged a man who’s practically married.
    Lucy leaves, eventually, thank God, and by lunch I’ve been summoned by Mr Yates. Jordan hasn’t been in yet, and as I think about what could be happening I am not even slightly worried about the dress any more.
    My stomach has been tied in knots since Lucy’s little bomb, and I have a feeling as I exit the elevator that it’s going to get worse.
    “Go right in, Han, they’re waiting for you,” Taz says, giving me a thumbs up.
    They?
    I enter the office and force myself not to freeze when I see him casually sitting on the deep brown sofa, a smile lining his lips.
    “Mr Yates. Mr Lucas.”
    “Good afternoon, Miss Newman. Have a seat, please.”
    This is awkward, and not just because I told Gregory Lucas to go doodle himself. I can almost see the accusation in Yates’ eyes when he looks at me. I am not the only one who saw the gossip pages yesterday.
    “As you already know, the agency is now a part of Lucas Enterprises. We’ve been looking for a partner for a while, and I’m pleased to say that we have now found one. Mr Lucas will be here for the next month as he restructures the company and oversees our relocation to the financial district, where Lucas Enterprises is based.”
    We’re moving? Great, I’m going to have to get engaged to the goddamned subway just to get to work.
    “Jordan is not coming back, Miss Newman, and as a result that leaves you at loose ends.”
    Here it comes, I think, throwing a glare at my nemesis. Why I didn’t think this would get me fired is beyond me, but I should have known he’d throw a tantrum and have my ass kicked to the curb. I’m almost relieved, almost, as I keep my gaze trained away from him and breathe deeply.
    “You will be moving up here for the remainder of our stay, to assist Mr Lucas until such a time as we can place you elsewhere. For now I would like you to assist Taz in the packing and organisation of the upcoming move.”
    My brain has stalled and hooked on the first part of that statement. It’s only when I turn and look directly at Gregory that I know and believe what I’ve just heard.
    “Miss Newman?”
    I snap to attention and turn to Yates. I know what he sees: a woman in shock, horror, mortified. I’m speechless, and I know my face is telling the whole story as I gape at them.
    Work for Gregory Lucas? No. I can’t…
    “Perhaps you should give us a minute, Yates.”
    I wait until we’re alone before turning back to him.
    “I don’t want to work for you. Move me somewhere else or fire me.”
    I can get another job, hopefully. What I can’t do is spend every day for the next weeks with this two-timing asshole without doing something I’ll regret, and I know it.
    “No, Hannah,” he says quietly, walking over to kneel at my chair. “You’ll be with me every day until I’ve had my fill of you.”
    Wait, what?