MichaelRainey had been the perfect distraction over the weekend. Even though we didn’t make it farther than kissing, she was on my mind the entire night on Saturday since we slept in our separate rooms. I thought about going into her room and finishing what we’d started but I respected her wishes. She’d been closed off after her divorce and I wanted to be the one to break down her walls, one sexy Fredrick at a time. And I’d been burned before by falling for someone too quickly. Now I had the added dilemma of Rainey working for me. I had to play my cards correctly before starting anything with her.The next morning at breakfast, she was fun, flirty and relaxed, but sadly the intensity of the night before had vanished. I was sure I could build it up again but now that I knew she was interested in being more than my assistant, I had all the time in the world to take her on proper dates and start this relationship in the right way. The way she deserved. There was also her hidden past tha

RaineyI hadn’t seen the gritty attitude from Michael since the interview. But he had been right. I had no business prying in his life when I didn’t give him the same courtesy. I had dropped the accusations by the time we reached Rachel’s office, though I’d be on the lookout for any more suspicious activity.I intended to ask Tessa more about the mob rumor from her friend’s lover. Worst case scenario was that the rumor was true and I’d have to quit my job after the Christmas charity event. I wasn’t going to let the event suffer because I left Michael in the lurch but I also wasn’t going to work for someone who had ties to the mob. I’d rather live with my parents the rest of my life before I allowed Tanner to get wrapped up in that.Michael was his normal businessman self when we met with Rachel again. I tried to pull from her energy but I found myself wanting to be elsewhere as my mind vacillated between the present and wondering what Michael was hiding.If Michael noticed my wanderin

MichaelI opened the door to my front office, and before it could close, someone attacked me. Two strong arms wrapped around my shoulders and a chunk of black hair flew into my mouth. A wet sensation pressed against my cheek.“Michael!” Natalia’s voice filled my ears.I leaned my head back and spat her hair out of my mouth.“Damn, Natalia. You scared the shit out of me.”She dropped back down to the floor. Her hair was much shorter than it had been the last time I saw her. Her physical appearance changed as quickly as the cars she drove.I caught my reflection in the mirror across the room. A big lipstick stain took up most of my cheek.“I told you not to kiss me when you wear that stuff,” I said.She pouted her thick red lips. “I missed you, darling. And I have so much to tell you.”I crossed the room to the sink in the small bar nook. I grabbed a towel and wet it under the stream of water then rubbed at the lipstick stain. Natalia knew that annoyed me yet she always did it whenever

RaineyThe elevator couldn’t get down the shaft quick enough. By the time I reached the lobby of Michael’s building, my eyes were burning with angry tears. I couldn’t believe I’d been so stupid. Everything I’d thought about Michael was true. He was a liar, and I should have trusted my instincts. Just because he was rich, that didn’t give him permission to treat people that way.I nearly sprinted through the lobby to get out of that building. I didn’t even care how I looked. And I hoped Michael had the sense not to follow me. I imagined his piercing blue eyes fixing me in place and demanding I tell him why I left.I reached the curb and hailed a cab. Luckily Michael’s home was on a busy street. I wanted to get as far away as quickly as I could. And it was downright freezing outside. Getting to the train wasn’t an option today.I gave the driver my address and leaned back in my seat. I turned to the building and said a silent “good riddance” as we drove off.How could I have been so foo

MichaelWhen Natalia finally left to have a meeting with her lawyer, I confronted Sam about Rainey leaving.“What did she say when she left?” I asked him after pulling him into the other room. I didn’t need Milly involved with this. She already knew enough about my love life. This thing with Rainey was new, and I wasn’t going to share it until I knew it was going to happen for sure.“She didn't say anything, Sir,” he said.“She walked out of here without a word?” This was far worse than I expected. What had happened to make her leave so suddenly?“Yes, after she saw Mrs. Carter.”I leaned my head back and rolled my neck. Damn it, Natalia. Sometimes she had the worst timing. What had Rainey thought? We never directly discussed Natalia, but I had a feeling she had some thoughts about her, especially with her portrait at the lodge.“Might I offer some advice, sir?” Sam asked.“Go ahead,” I said.“This all seems to be a misunderstanding,” he said. “I suggest giving Ms. Foster the space sh