Haze(9)

His left brow arches as the corner of his lip rises. "I was your first?"

I keep my eyes trained on his face, watching the way his gaze slides over my lips before it falls to my neck. He's enjoying this. He's pulling some perverse pleasure from watching me squirm in this leather office chair.

He wants me to break and fall to my knees in apology so I can keep my job. I see it in the way his fingers are strumming the edge of his desk. He's relaxed and completely, utterly in control.

"You were the first." I dart my tongue over my bottom lip, suddenly feeling as though the air in his office is heavy and thick. "I shouldn't have offered to come to your office. I don't know why I did. I guess I wasn't thinking clearly."

He adjusts one silver cuff link, then the other, before he pushes himself gracefully to his feet. "Stand up, Isla."

I do it because I have no other choice, even though I'm not sure my knees won't buckle from the combination of stress and desire I'm feeling right now. I know logically that he's called me here to reprimand me for breaking one of the company's mandatory rules, but I can't help but wonder what he's like when he's not wearing the suit, and his focus is entirely on a woman he craves. He's different since he showed Cicely out. The energy he's exuding is rawer, more intense.

"In a case like this, company policy is clear," he says with no emotion.

The rasp in his voice resonates, pushing me back a step. I cross my arms over my chest. It's a restless gesture meant to help me gain my composure. My job is on the line here and even though I know I can score another retail gig tomorrow, I'll have to work twice as hard to make the money I'm pulling in at Liore. I just need this to tide me over until my birthday next month.

"I'm the best you'll ever have," I blurt out.

"You're the best I'll ever have?" His voice lowers as he steps towards me. "You'll need to explain that to me."

I sigh realizing how arrogant my words sound. "My sales are more than all the other girls combined. I work hard. I move merchandise. I'm an asset to Liore."

"I reviewed the numbers for last month this morning when I received them from accounting." He tips his chin towards his desk. "Your sales are impressive. I'm not going to argue that point."

I rub my fingertips over my forehead before I look up and into his face. "I made a stupid mistake earlier today, Mr. Foster. I guarantee that it will never happen again."

He glances down at the silver watch on his wrist. "This company is an extension of my family, Isla. I expect each and every employee of Foster Enterprises to follow the code of conduct that is outlined in the employee manual."

Yes, I know, and I broke it when I essentially offered to come to his office and give him a private lingerie show. "I don't have an excuse for my behavior, sir. I want this job. I like working at Liore. All I'm asking for is a second chance."

He tilts his head back just a touch as his eyes study mine. "You're still within the probationary period. One incident like this warrants termination."

My heart sinks at the words. It's not as though I'm planning a life of selling lingerie. I don't want that. I doubt that I'll willingly be working there three months from now. I need the money that the job affords me right now and the hours allow me to pursue the one thing I'm actually passionate about, my music.

Liore is in no way my be all and end all. It's a means to an end and for now, I don't want to give that up.

"Please consider my performance beyond what happened today." I look directly into his brown eyes certain that I feel something pass between us. "If you give me another chance, I promise that you won't regret it."

"I have no reassurance that this isn't something you do on a regular basis." His voice lowers. "You seemed very comfortable when you propositioned me."

I was very comfortable because it was exactly what I wanted. The magnetic pull I felt between us in the boutique has only heightened since I walked into his office. Who wouldn't proposition him? He's insanely gorgeous and hot as f*ck.

"I thought you were attractive," I begin before I stop to pull in a deep breath. "You're obviously very attractive, sir. I just wanted to have some fun. I don't normally do things like that. I'm not like that."

"What are you like?" he asks, startling me with the question.

"What am I like?" I parrot back. "I'm not sure I know what you mean."

A small smile touches his lips. "From what I've witnessed today you're a very ambitious, hard-working woman who isn't afraid to go after what she wants. Beyond that my knowledge of you is limited to how astute you are regarding our products and the fact that you have a boyfriend."

"No." I exhale in a rush. "I don't have a boyfriend but you're right, I work very hard. I believe I work harder than anyone else in the store."

His brows lift. "No boyfriend? You mentioned him when you were speaking to Cicely about the garter slips."

Embarrassed, I shift on my feet, wishing he hadn't demanded that I stand. I feel off balance. "I was referring to my last boyfriend. We dated in Chicago before I moved here. He liked pretty lingerie."

"I see," he murmurs under his breath. "I misunderstood that. I didn't misunderstand the proposition though. It's difficult to overlook that."