His Absolute Domination: The Billionaire's Paradigm (#5) (A BDSM Erotic Romance) (The Billionaire's Ultimatum, Book Two) by Cerys du Lys

intend to wait for my interview, Lucent.
Please excuse my appearance, as I've been dealing with some
annoying people."
    "Like me," he said.
    "Actually, yes, exactly like you. I
wish you wouldn't be so annoying."
    He frowned. "Miss Tanner, I can't
interview you for the personal assistant position."
    "Why?" I asked. "Just tell me why,
then?"
    "It's complicated."
    "I don't understand how you can think
it's complicated. Ask me some questions. Even I know how an
interview works."
    Removing himself from the floor, he
took a seat on the couch next to me. "Have you eaten
anything?"
    "What kind of interview question is
that?"
    "It's not an interview question. I'm
worried that you're going to do something foolish and refuse to
eat."
    My stomach wanted to grumble in
protest, but I ordered it not to; it ignored me.
    "No, then," he said.
    "As a matter of fact, no. I haven't
eaten anything," I said.
    He stood and held his hand out to me.
"Come."
    I took his hand without thinking and
let him lift me up off the couch. He squeezed my fingers tight,
holding my hand, and led me towards the door to his
office.
    "Lucent, I..." I couldn't! I couldn't
leave. I was mad at him still, and if he thought that acting nice
to me momentarily would fix that, it wouldn't.
    "I'll interview you," he said. "You're
too stubborn and difficult by far, and so I'll interview you. Over
breakfast."
    "You're taking me for breakfast?" I
asked, perplexed. "What time is it?"
    "Early," he said.
"Seven-thirty."
    "Oh. I thought you said you came to
work later now."
    "Yes," he said. "Typically I do,
except I feared I might have to deal with an obstinate woman
wreaking havoc in my office."
    "I didn't wreak havoc," I
muttered.
    "You're still obstinate," he
countered.
    "I hope you know you just said you're
afraid of me."
    "Yes, that's probably correct." He
tugged on my hand, urging me out of his office and into the halls.
"Come."
    Lucent was scared of me? Odd. I didn't
know what to think of that. What did he mean?
     
    ...
     
    He marched me down the halls of
Landseer Tower and to the glass elevators. We waited quietly and
entered silently. No more talking now. I needed to talk. I wanted
to say something, but I didn't know what to say.
    He still held my hand, too. He
confused me so much.
    And onwards, downwards, outwards. We
arrived outside Landseer Tower, hand in hand, and he marched me
once more. We walked side by side, but I felt like he was pulling
me along more than anything else. This was all so strange and I
didn't know how I felt about it. Well, I felt strangely, but that
wasn't enough for me. I wanted to know more, to feel
more.
    After a brief walk, words eluding us,
we reached the front door of Sam's Delicatessen. I stared at the
door, frowning. They were closed now, and they wouldn't open for
hours; they opened at eleven in the morning for the lunch crowd,
then stayed open until seven for people on their way
home.
    Also, they were expensive. I never
understood how a deli could be so expensive when they basically
just served sandwiches, but honestly they were really good
sandwiches. Not the paltry fare typically found in the average
sandwich, but hearty chunks of real meat, cooked and seasons to
perfection, with real, fresh chopped vegetables and homemade sauces
spread throughout. I'd eaten here once because of a special
occasion at the library, but otherwise I barely even walked by. I
couldn't afford it on a casual basis.
    "Lucent," I said, "I think they're
closed still."
    Or, I knew they were closed. The sign
on the door said as much.
    This didn't deter Lucent, though.
Striding forth, he knocked on the door. Not a regular knock either,
oh no. It sounded like some secret club special knock, something or
other.
    And, sure enough, someone opened the
door. A man wearing a pristine white apron and a brilliant smile
greeted us and welcomed us inside the deli.
    Lucent nodded to him. "Thank you,
Sam."
    "Anytime, Lucent. You haven't been by
for breakfast in so long. It's just