9. Kian

9

KIAN

W ith my eyes locked on the CCTV footage on the screen before me, I sit back in my seat with one leg resting over the other and wait.

And wait…

There are a hundred and one things that need my attention right now, but none of them interest me as much as what's going to happen in the next few minutes.

She'll be early. I know she will. Which means?—

"Bingo," I breathe when a familiar figure moves toward the main entrance.

One of our doormen steps forward and pulls the door open for her, and my skin prickles the second she turns her attention on him.

What the fuck is that?

Ignoring the odd reaction, I keep my eyes on her as she moves toward reception to announce her arrival.

Rebecca is meeting her to get her paperwork and security passes sorted.

She comes to a stop at the desk to introduce herself and my eyes drop down her body.

She's wearing a fitted light gray jacket with a matching skirt that fits her hips and ass like it was stitched onto her body.

Leaning forward, I try to get a better view.

On her feet are a pair of purple heels that make my dick twitch as the image of those stilettoes digging into my ass emerges in my mind.

A smirk pulls at my lips as I make my way back up her body and to her long, dark curls that are hanging around her shoulders. The perfect length to wrap around my fist as I?—

She turns abruptly, forcing me to take my eyes off her enough to realize that Rebecca is standing before her.

The two women greet each other before Rebecca gestures for Lorelei to follow her.

Only a few minutes later, they disappear into the elevator, heading for Rebecca's office to complete the outstanding paperwork.

I beat them there, already staring at her empty office when they walk in laughing.

My stomach does some weird tightening thing as I take in Lorelei's smile.

Fucking hell, I'm one stupid son of a bitch for this.

But when I want something…

I watch as Rebecca goes through everything before they walk off again, but I follow closely behind.

The team in the security room is ready, and as they hand over her ID card and security pass it's impossible to miss the way her brows pull together in confusion.

I know exactly what our head of security just explained, and I can't help but feel like I just won this round despite her still being unaware of what's about to happen.

My heart kicks up its pace as they turn to leave.

I know their next destination, and I can't fucking wait.

Clenching and unclenching my fists, I watch their journey back down the hallway and then into the elevator.

Switching to a camera a little closer, I stare at the closed elevator doors, watching the number on the small LED screen climbing through the building until it hits the top floor.

My floor.

I can't stop my smile from spreading when she steps out of the car with a confused expression on her face.

Her eyes dart everywhere as she takes it all in. The rest of the building is nice, but the décor up here is on another level.

The floor is covered in white marble tiles, the furniture is dark, rich walnut, and all the accents are gold.

To us, it's normal, but I've seen more than a few visitors taken aback by it all, and it seems that Lorelei is one of them.

She's still looking around ominously as they approach Melissa's desk. The other two up here are empty. Dad's assistant seems to be here even less than he is these days. I've no idea if they're together wherever they are, and to be honest, I'd rather not know.

What our father does is his business. He may not have officially handed everything over, but we're as good as in charge around here now.

If we need him, he's always at the other end of the phone, but that has been happening less and less recently.

As far as King and I are concerned, Callahan Enterprises is ours now.

Ours to run as we see fit. And fuck, we're doing a damn good job, if I do say so myself.

Profits are higher right now than they've ever been. Our staff turnover is almost non-existent. People love being here and working for us. The results of that speak for themselves.

Lorelei stands with her fingers twisting nervously behind her, a habit I would guess she's not aware of, considering she's standing as tall and as confidently as possible.

I give her another five seconds to settle in on the top floor before I push my chair out behind me, smooth down my tie, and straighten my jacket.

Excitement bubbles in my stomach as I pull my door open and march out to reception.

My shoes tap against the expensive floor, but if Lorelei hears or suspects my approach, then she doesn't turn around.

When the hallway opens up into the huge reception area, I slow my pace.

"Good morning, Lorelei," I state confidently, letting my voice fill the space around me.

Her entire body flinches as if I physically struck her.

Did she really think I wouldn't personally welcome her to the organization this morning?

I really thought she was smarter than that.

It's been a week since I delivered her home from Tate and King's apartment.

A week since I've seen her.

Clearly, I haven't been on her mind as much as she's been on mine, if that's her reaction.

After rolling her shoulders back, she spins toward me.

Her eyes find mine instantly and she holds my gaze firm, daring me to be the one to step down.

I almost outwardly laugh at the thought alone.

You're going to need to try harder than that, Lorelei. We're in my territory now .

A wicked smirk plays on her lips. One that I'd love to make better use of.

"Mr. Callahan. What a surprise," she says, refusing to cower under my heated stare.

"Really?" I ask. "I would have thought you'd have expected to see me today, seeing as I'm your new boss."

My pulse continues to race as an army of butterflies threatens to erupt from my stomach.

"Hmm," she says letting her eyes drop from mine in favor of my body. She's doing it on purpose, trying to put me on edge, but she's going to learn very soon that it takes more than one suggestive glance to knock me off kilter. "I'm sorry to disappoint you, sir," she says, putting a little more emphasis than necessary into the final word. "But I believe that you're actually my boss's boss. Hopefully, that means that our paths won't cross all that often."

Both Melissa and Rebecca's eyes widen in surprise.

"Right, well," I say, moving closer. "That security pass in your hand...did anyone explain what it gives you access to?"

She swallows nervously. She knows the answer. I made it very clear that I wanted her to know the second it was handed over.

"Th-the whole building," she stutters, a little of her initial confidence beginning to wane.

"Correct," I confirm, coming to a stop right in front of her.

Melissa and Rebecca are watching our exchange with more than a little interest, but I don't so much as glance in their direction. My entire focus is on the woman before me.

"But here's the thing, Miss Tempest," I say, lowering my voice a few octaves. "No other finance assistant has ever been granted permission to step foot on the top floor of this building, at least not without a very specific invitation."

A frown mars her face, and her chest begins to move faster as her pulse rate increases.

"I have no interest in having access up here, Mr. Callahan."

"Well, that's a real shame, Miss Tempest, because without access to this floor, you're going to fail at your new role before you've even started."

"But the finance floor is?—"

"Follow me, please," I demand before abruptly turning around and marching toward my office. "Back to work, please, ladies," I shoot over my shoulder.

She hesitates behind me, but Lorelei obviously makes the right choice, because a couple of seconds later, the tapping of her sexy purple heels sound against the tiled floor.

The hair on the back of my neck stands on end as accomplishment floods my veins.

Oh, this is going to be so much fun.

I hold my office door open and watch her closely as she walks inside before closing and locking it behind her.

She studies my space with intrigue, but she doesn't react until I pick up the small remote on my desk and darken the glass wall that would allow anyone passing to see inside.

A sharp gasp fills the room, and I swear it sucks all the air from the vast space.

"What is going on here, Kian?" she demands, walking toward the floor-to-ceiling windows that showcase the city outside.

I chuckle at her confusion. I can't help it; riling her up is just too much fun.

"Why are you finding this so fucking funny?" she snaps, finally losing her patience. "Is all of this one big joke? Was the job offer bullshit? Are you just doing this to get revenge because I turned you down? I've got to say, if that's true then?—"

"There is a job, Lorelei," I say, interrupting her rant.

"Then why am I up here and not down with Martin?" Her hands land on her hips as she glares nothing but pure hatred at me.

"Another candidate was chosen to be Martin's assistant," I explain as I undo my jacket and lower my ass to my chair. "Someone a little more suited to the role."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"It means that it went to someone with a little more experience with the kind of tasks that role demands."

"And what? I wasn't good enough?" she spits.

I stare at her while she fumes. I'm pretty sure if I wait long enough, steam is going to begin billowing from her ears.

"Something like that," I muse.

Her eyes widen and her mouth opens and closes like a fish as she fights to come up with a suitable retort.

"You are unbelievable. I need this job, Kian. And to think, I actually believed that something good was happening in my life. What a fucking idiot I am," she storms toward the door, ready to flee.

"You weren't given the job as Martin's assistant because you're too good for it, Lorelei. That role is beneath you."

She pauses with her hand on the door handle as my confession lingers between us.

"We didn't need a reference from your previous employer. We already know what you are capable of and where your skills lie."

Her shoulders rise and fall with every deep breath she sucks in.

"What are you saying, exactly?" she asks, her voice weak and vulnerable.

I push my chair back and stand before stalking closer to her.

"I'm saying that I have a better offer for you."

I don't stop until I'm close enough to her that there is no chance she can't feel my warmth against her back.

"You're not going to be Martin's assistant, Lorelei." I swear she trembles before me as she waits for the words she fears that are about to fall from my lips. "You're going to be mine."