Thrust: Bad Boy Racing Romance (Fastlane Series Book 2) Read Online Free

I straightened the strap of my bag across my shoulder, squeezing it tight.
    “I’m glad that the two of you are happy,” I began, staring at them. “But, I’ll tell you something right now. I’m not thrilled about the fact you are holding my ability to sign him over my head for a shot at partner.”
    “What exactly are you trying to say, Dani?” Leopold asked.
    I swallowed hard. The last remnants of saliva eked their way down my throat. I couldn’t believe they were going to make me say it, but at this point it didn’t really matter.
    “Fine. If you want me to come right out and say it, I will. I have no intention of sleeping with him just so I can satisfy the demands you placed on me for partnership.”
    No sooner had I finished speaking than Bernard leaned back, roaring with laughter. Unable to get a word out, he slapped Leopold on the back.
    “What’s so funny?” I said, clenching my jaw.
    Leopold raised his hands in a gesture of mock surrender.
    “Dani,” he began, with Bernard’s laughter easing. “Who said anything about you sleeping with Marco Rhys?”
    I wasn’t stupid. Of course they would never explicitly tell me to have sex with him. But they’d have to be blind not to get the intention behind Marco’s invitation. If they weren’t, then I needed to know. My self-respect was worth more than any deal, or any partnership, even if it meant seven figures a year.
    “I know you didn’t say anything about me sleeping with him. Yet, you’ve both made it crystal clear that if I don’t sign him, I can forget about making partner.”
    By now, Bernard had stopped laughing.
    He nodded. “Yes, that’s correct, Dani. You are going to have to bring Marco in as a client to make partner. But, neither of us said anything about you sleeping with him to make that happen.”
    Leopold listened while Bernard spoke. When he finished, Leopold looked at me.
    “I have to echo what Bernard said. You’ve become like a daughter to us, Dani. Neither of us want you to do anything unethical or immoral to bring in a client. I’m sorry if that's the way you feel.”
    I suppose I really shouldn’t have expected any other kind of response. Maybe I was being overly sensitive. In all the time I’d worked for them, Bernard and Leopold supported me and gave me the ability to move up in the organization. While I still might’ve believed I didn’t advance as fast as men like Miles did, things weren’t any better at any of the other two dozen investment banks in Manhattan.
    “Dani,” Leopold began, “If landing this client is too stressful or otherwise difficult for you, please feel free to let us know.”
    My shoulders drooped a bit. I exhaled. Bernard bent over and picked up his briefcase. Swinging it up, he placed it on top of the limousine’s trunk with a thump. 
    “Perhaps this will change your mind,” he said, clicking the case open with two snaps of the locks.
    I glanced at Leopold. He nodded at me. In less than a second, Bernard produced a thin stack of papers. Closing the case, he placed the stack on top of it and spun it around to face me.
    “Here, Dani. Have a look.”
    I glanced at it for an instant before looking at him again.
    “What is this?”
    “It’s the partnership agreement, Dani.” Bernard said, extending it towards me. “What does it look like?”
    Frowning, I took the paperwork from Bernard. The two of them remained silent while I looked through it. I wasn’t an attorney, of course, but it looked to be legitimate. Over the next few minutes, they highlighted all of the major perks from it, including my equity, performance bonuses, and salary increase.
    The strange thing about dreams coming true is that they always come wrapped in a different package than you’d expect. Yet, the unmistakable feel of the partnership agreement between my fingertips was all the proof I needed that my goal of independence was within my grasp.
    “Do you want to be a part of this firm’s growth in the future,