Owned by Alexx Andria Page A

uncomfortable
encounter ended soon and when it did, I hoped I still had a job. I
was barely making my bills at the end of each month. As crappy as
this job was, at least it was a paycheck and I didn’t want to lose
it. Otherwise I would’ve split the moment Mr. Villanti had entered
the room and focused that laser stare on me.
    “What’s your name?” he asked me.
    My lips seamed shut and I refused to answer.
Maybe I thought if I remained silent he would lose interest and
quickly move on. I was wrong.
    “Mr. Villanti asked you a question, girl,”
Leonard said abruptly, startling me when he kicked the leg of my
chair. “Answer him.”
    “H-hannah,” I answered, shooting a quick
scowl Leonard’s way before remembering myself. That quick show of
fire only served to increase Mr. Villanti’s interest.
    “Hannah,” he repeated, slowly savoring my
name on his tongue. I suppressed a shudder at the odd thrill it
gave me. “I wonder, Hannah…what are you have hiding beneath that
shapeless, ugly outfit? Are your tits small and perfectly round or
large enough to overflow a man’s hand and mouth?”
    The urge to cover myself warred with my
desire to tell him to piss off but I did neither. I couldn’t. I was
strangely drawn to this man and I didn’t understand the why or how
of it but it was undeniable. The knowledge only served to increase
my misery at the situation. Mr. Villanti didn’t want someone like
me. Why would he? Not when he was given a virtual smorgasbord of
gorgeous women to choose from.
    “I—I’m the bookkeeper, Mr. Villanti,” I said
faltering as I shot a pleading glance at Leonard to help me but I
received nothing but silence from my boss. If anything, he seemed
curious as to how this would all end. “If you’ll just let me leave
you to your b-business,” I could barely say the word without
stumbling with embarrassment. It was clear he was looking for a
whore, something I was the furthest thing from. “I won’t say
anything…I promise.”
    Mr. Villanti didn’t seem to hear my pleas. He
skewered me with his stare, as if seeking my secrets and turning
out my hidden desires without my assistance needed. It was
unnerving to feel as if you’d been peeled like an onion with so
little effort. I should’ve stayed in bed this morning. I should’ve
pulled the covers over my head and played hooky.
    But I never did that. I was a good girl. I
was a good employee.
    I was… terrified .
    “If I may…” Leonard tried interjecting but
Mr. Villanti ignored his attempt with a flick of his wrist,
dismissing the naked beauties without a further glance. All his
attention was on me. He rose from his chair and moved toward me. I
gripped the armrest, almost trying to sink into the chair and
disappear but there was no escaping. Soon he was in my space,
crowding me with his solid body and keen gaze. The drift of his
expensive cologne teased at my nose and made me think of things I
really had no experience with and I couldn’t help the burn in my
cheeks. Damn my penchant for blushing. Never in my life had I ever
lamented that simple biological process as much as I did right that
moment.
    “I want to see what’s beneath this sack,” he
murmured dangerously, coming in support his weight on either side
of me. His breath smelled of cinnamon and whiskey, a combination
that I would come to associate with him and I shuddered at the
implication in his eyes.
    “You don’t want me,” I said, surprised my
voice sounded strong and sure when inside I was a shaking mess.
“I’m not your type.”
    “You, my sweet Hannah, don’t know my type,”
he corrected me softly, the rebuke for all of its gentleness felt
like a slap in warning.
    “Why are you doing this?” I asked, sliding my
tongue along my dry lips. “I don’t understand. I’m just the
bookkeeper. Do you get off on being unnecessarily cruel by taunting
me like this? I’m no one’s plaything and I don’t appreciate being
treated as one.”
    My show of