Free Boxed Set: The His Submissive Series Complete Collection (Part One-Part Twelve) by Ava Claire Page A

be maintained and exchanged electronically."
    Duh, Lay! "O-Of course. It won't happen again."
    Rachel set her glass of ice water down and the cubes were like nails on a chalkboard. "But how would she draw hearts in the margins if she had an iPad?"
    I looked her square in the face, a retort on my tongue that was really gonna get me in trouble. Allegra cleared her throat, grounding me, and I just let it go, turning back to Jacob.
    We discussed the press junket that was scheduled after lunch, complete with all the talking points from the director and studio. If any reporters asked about her recent stint in rehab, she was to refer to it as a period of growth and divert attention back to the film. During the screening, she was to pause for photographs only and then exit discreetly for the charity after party.
    Jacob's voice deepened to the low, authoritative tone that gave me chills as he wrapped it up. "There is to be no alcohol consumption of any kind, Rachel." He gestured at her glass of water. "We've arranged for a substantial amount of Evian and Perrier and I don't care if you tape it to your wrist like a corsage, but when you're in public, no glasses, no cups. Everything is bottled and clearly H20."
    She bat her eyes at him dismissively. "You and your rules."
    "I mean it," he said, no undercurrent of joking to be found. "Remember what we discussed last night. My terms are non-negotiable."
    The gasp that shot from my lips was gone before I could stifle it. The rational part of me knew that it was possible that the two of them met platonically. But since Jacob Whitmore touched me, there was no room for anything except irrationality and doubt. And Rachel squeezed right into that hole of uncertainty.
    "What is it, sweetheart?" she said, with condescension practically oozing from every word. She steepled her fingers beneath her chin and let out a gasp of her own. "Are you finally getting that the billionaire doesn't ride off into the sunset with the help?"
    I shoved back from the table, my anger erupting from my lips. "I'm not gonna sit here and put up with this bitch for one more second."
    Rachel went wide eyed. "What did she just call me?" She stood up too, crossing her arms tight against her chest. "I refuse to work with her, Jacob. I absolutely refuse ."
    All eyes were on him and I could tell from the way he grit his teeth that he wasn't happy with any of us. Still, he remained quiet.
    His silence only stoked her indignation. "Jakey, did you hear me? I said-"
    "It's Jacob ," he said curtly. "And I think we all need to take a breath." He looked at each of us, daring us to question him. I had a lot more to say, but I jutted out my lip. Rachel flipped her hair. Allegra was still as a statue.
    "Now," Jacob said after a moment. "Everyone's a little on edge. Leila, I believe you owe Ms. Laraby an apology."
    "What?" I snapped. He couldn't be serious.
    He moved to my side and dropped his volume level. "I know Rachel can be trying, but she's our client. As such, you have to put aside your baggage-"
    " My baggage?" I said in disbelief. "She's been treating me like crap since the moment she met me. Any baggage was already packed and ready to go. Her baggage is you ." I stepped away from him, getting Rachel in my crosshairs. "I'm sorry I'm the first person to call you that to your face."
    Seeing nothing but red, I found my way to the door and threw it open. Tears of frustration cascaded down my face and I knew I looked horrible from the stares I got, but I didn't care. On some level, I knew I wasn't being professional, that Jacob was right about putting aside my issues for the job, but that woman had a way of getting under my skin. I couldn’t just let it go.
    As soon as I opened the door to my room and saw Jacob’s card on the bed, I knew it was a little more than a client with an attitude. It was the idea that she liked him. That maybe he'd been with her. That he'd cared about her. It was the thought that maybe instead of coming to my