#Boss (The Empire Series Book 3) Read Online Free Page A
Author: Nicole Hite
your time and, if you need me, here are my business cards. Feel free to call, text, email, whatever, if you have a question or concern. I'm available any time."
Vivienne was strangely attracted to this subdued businessman in front of her. This was a far cry from the man she met yesterday. She wanted to believe this was the man she met last night, but that man was far more aggressive. She like knowing he could conduct himself like a CEO should during business hours. However, she knew better than to assume when it came to Luca.
Standing to leave the conference room, she was quickly approached by Luca.
"Can I speak with you?" he insisted.
"I don't think we have anything to speak of unless you want to explain to me why you purposely left me off of the email regarding this meeting. Did I crush that ego a little too hard last night? If so, get the fuck over it. I have a business to run."
"I honestly didn't mean to exclude you from the email. Trust me, you were on my mind when I sent it out," he babbled.
"I take a lot of bullshit from my staff at times, I can smell the shit from here, Luca," she stated angrily.
Turning to leave the room, Luca clutched her elbow.
"Vivienne Harper, you will not walk away from me when I am speaking with you," he affirmed, while asserting himself in an oddly authoritative voice she wasn't prepared for.
She was immediately taken off guard by his command. She didn't expect for her body to have the kind of reaction it did. She swore he could hear her heart beating from within her chest. Her panties seemed to melt away, and her gut reaction to backtalk ceased to exist. What was wrong with her?
As she stopped mid stride, she turned to look him in the eyes –those beautiful brown eyes. Luca released her elbow, as his demeanor began to shift in an unusual way. This was certainly not the man that was just addressing the entire staff. This was strict, corporate, no bullshit, Luca Manning. A Luca Manning she desperately wanted to see more of, but needed to push far down into her subconscious.
"I'm sorry, but you are the most stubborn woman I've ever met. It does something inside of me..." he trailed off.
"If you don't mind, Mr. Manning, I have work to do." She began to walk out of the room again, a little less agitated and a little more intrigued than before.
"I know you are mad at me, and I know I can't make up for that, but please give me a chance. A chance to prove to you that I'm a decent guy."
"We'll see." She left with little remorse for her curt departure.
Making her way into Ariel's office, she tossed herself on the couch. She needed time to think where no one could interrupt her from her thoughts.
"Knock, knock," Sam tapped on the door, expecting to see Ariel. "Viv, where's Ariel? Why are you on her couch?"
"Super schmuck took my office," she declared, as she pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Which super schmuck? We have several in the office, if I'm not mistaken." She giggled.
"Luca Manning." Viv joined her in laughing.
"Did I miss something because super schmuck seemed like a pretty outstanding guy?"
"I'm sorry. It's inappropriate to talk about him like that. Forget I said anything," Viv turned her head to see a sideways Sam.
"Hey, Harper...," Luca's face came creeping through the door as he drummed his fingers across the wood. "My apologies, I didn't realize you had company. I'll come back."
"Nonsense, Luca, come in," Sam offered. Viv needed to remember to reprimand her for that.
"I hope I'm not interrupting anything important?" he asked, as Vivienne sat up on the couch. Trying to adjust herself, she stood to push down her already short skirt. She had worn it to drive Luca crazy.
"What did you need, Luca?" Viv asked, a little annoyed.
"I was hoping we could talk in private." He eyed Sam.
"I'll leave you to it," she began to make her way out of the room.
"You'll do no such thing, Samantha. Stay," Viv barked. "What you have to say to me, you can say
Vivienne was strangely attracted to this subdued businessman in front of her. This was a far cry from the man she met yesterday. She wanted to believe this was the man she met last night, but that man was far more aggressive. She like knowing he could conduct himself like a CEO should during business hours. However, she knew better than to assume when it came to Luca.
Standing to leave the conference room, she was quickly approached by Luca.
"Can I speak with you?" he insisted.
"I don't think we have anything to speak of unless you want to explain to me why you purposely left me off of the email regarding this meeting. Did I crush that ego a little too hard last night? If so, get the fuck over it. I have a business to run."
"I honestly didn't mean to exclude you from the email. Trust me, you were on my mind when I sent it out," he babbled.
"I take a lot of bullshit from my staff at times, I can smell the shit from here, Luca," she stated angrily.
Turning to leave the room, Luca clutched her elbow.
"Vivienne Harper, you will not walk away from me when I am speaking with you," he affirmed, while asserting himself in an oddly authoritative voice she wasn't prepared for.
She was immediately taken off guard by his command. She didn't expect for her body to have the kind of reaction it did. She swore he could hear her heart beating from within her chest. Her panties seemed to melt away, and her gut reaction to backtalk ceased to exist. What was wrong with her?
As she stopped mid stride, she turned to look him in the eyes –those beautiful brown eyes. Luca released her elbow, as his demeanor began to shift in an unusual way. This was certainly not the man that was just addressing the entire staff. This was strict, corporate, no bullshit, Luca Manning. A Luca Manning she desperately wanted to see more of, but needed to push far down into her subconscious.
"I'm sorry, but you are the most stubborn woman I've ever met. It does something inside of me..." he trailed off.
"If you don't mind, Mr. Manning, I have work to do." She began to walk out of the room again, a little less agitated and a little more intrigued than before.
"I know you are mad at me, and I know I can't make up for that, but please give me a chance. A chance to prove to you that I'm a decent guy."
"We'll see." She left with little remorse for her curt departure.
Making her way into Ariel's office, she tossed herself on the couch. She needed time to think where no one could interrupt her from her thoughts.
"Knock, knock," Sam tapped on the door, expecting to see Ariel. "Viv, where's Ariel? Why are you on her couch?"
"Super schmuck took my office," she declared, as she pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Which super schmuck? We have several in the office, if I'm not mistaken." She giggled.
"Luca Manning." Viv joined her in laughing.
"Did I miss something because super schmuck seemed like a pretty outstanding guy?"
"I'm sorry. It's inappropriate to talk about him like that. Forget I said anything," Viv turned her head to see a sideways Sam.
"Hey, Harper...," Luca's face came creeping through the door as he drummed his fingers across the wood. "My apologies, I didn't realize you had company. I'll come back."
"Nonsense, Luca, come in," Sam offered. Viv needed to remember to reprimand her for that.
"I hope I'm not interrupting anything important?" he asked, as Vivienne sat up on the couch. Trying to adjust herself, she stood to push down her already short skirt. She had worn it to drive Luca crazy.
"What did you need, Luca?" Viv asked, a little annoyed.
"I was hoping we could talk in private." He eyed Sam.
"I'll leave you to it," she began to make her way out of the room.
"You'll do no such thing, Samantha. Stay," Viv barked. "What you have to say to me, you can say
Readers choose
Alex Wheeler
Lesley Choyce
Gretel Ehrlich
Carol Marinelli
Lyric James
Cathy Yardley
Lois Peterson
Luke; Short
In The Light Of Madness