STEP SECRETARY (Billionaire Bareback Taboo Steamy Romance) by Nikki Wild Page A

smiled at my reflection. Raising hell was definitely something I could do, and it wasn’t corporate in any way, shape, or form. If anything was going to make me feel better, it would be ruining my stepfather’s day.
     
    The commute to my stepfather’s office didn’t take long. Although we lived in a very nice neighborhood offset from the rest of society, downtown wasn’t very far away, and neither was the enormous building he owned, Holsten Tower. It was a gargantuan skyscraper with a blinking red light at the end of its spire, one that was all but lost to the fog and cloud cover today.
     
    Great. On top of the fact that I was basically a slave to my stepfather’s whims, it was also going to look like shit outside. I wouldn’t even be able to enjoy the view.
     
    I parked in the garage and reported to security for my plastic name badge and keycard to my stepfather’s executive level. The guard there had made a big deal about it—“not many get the kind of pass you do, girl!”—but I was considerably less impressed. I got the feeling that pretty much everyone sucked up to my insufferable stepfather, either because he was unbelievably powerful or because he was unfairly handsome, but probably both. It wouldn’t have surprised me to hear that his last personal assistant had gotten the job strictly on the merits of lying on her back.
     
    But that wasn’t likely. In addition to every other ounce of perfection that slithered through his veins, William was, by all accounts, a man of integrity and honor. There was no juicy gossip to be had here. I’d have to make do with my sordid fantasies of catching him in the act and my mother divorcing him and getting half his fortune.
     
    When I entered the elevator, I didn’t see a number listed for his floor. There was, however, a keycard slot near the bottom, which I assumed was meant for people like me. I slipped mine in and the panel sucked it in, holding it in place as some digital process read the card and instructed the elevator to take me to the appropriate floor.
     
    That, at least, was interesting, and a phenomenal way of keeping out solicitors and other unwanted visitors. If they couldn’t even find your floor listed, they couldn’t “stumble in by mistake.”
     
    I was surprised when the doors opened. The elevator had moved so fast and silently that I hadn’t realized we’d ascended thirty-three floors already. Not only that, but my stepfather’s inner sanctum was positively pristine, more so than I’d even imagined.
     
    It was the very definition of immaculate. The marble floors almost glowed, and the cherry wood pedestal desk waiting for me at the far end of the room had been so vigorously shined that the glare almost hurt. There wasn’t a speck of dust to be found anywhere, not even on the antique chandelier glittering overhead. I was in awe, and I sincerely hoped that my stepfather didn’t think that part of my duties would involve keeping the lobby clean.
     
    I slowly walked over to the desk next to a set of double doors leading into his office. I opened the bottom drawer, inserted my purse, and sat on the tufted leather chair drawn up near the computer screen. I fussed with the mouse until it came to life, asking me for a password I didn’t yet have.
     
    I sighed, drumming my manicured nails on the desk and staring up at the clock on the wall. It was nearly eight. Where was William?
     
    While I waited, I dug into my purse and retrieved my phone, texting Derrick: Miss u. Txt later ? I didn’t receive a reply, but I hadn’t expected one. He was on California time right now, just like I would have been had my stepfather not decided to fuck up my life.
     
    Then I heard one of the double doors begin to open. I quickly put my phone away, only to see my stepfather walking toward me. Had he been here overnight?
     
    He certainly looked like it. He was ragged, his hair disheveled, his finely-tailored suit wrinkled and his tie loose. He had