She was still contemplating her next move when, in one fluid movement, Roman got up from behind the desk and began to walk toward her.
Serena gasped and took an involuntary step back. When her bottom smacked the door she realized there was nowhere to go, nowhere to hide. What the heck had she gotten herself into?
But then, to her relief, he stopped in front of the desk and pulled out a chair. “Are you going to stand there all day, Miss Van Buren?” He held out his hand, directing her gaze to the empty chair. “Have a seat.” Then without so much as another glance in her direction he went back around the desk and sat down.
Serena expelled her breath. The man wasn’t coming to get her, he was simply offering her a chair. What was she thinking? She’d been so wired up, expecting his rage, that she’d imagined his anger. Her sudden fear had been unfounded. She was not out of the woods yet. She’d be stupid to think that. But at least it seemed that he would be calm and collected about things.
Before she could lose her courage Serena walked over to the chair and perched on the edge, hands clasped tightly in her lap. Okay, Roman Steele. Do your worst. I’m ready for you. She was preparing herself for the fight she knew was coming.
He did not cut corners. Folding his arms across his broad chest he gave her a cold stare. “So what’s your excuse today? More traffic on the road?”
Serena shrugged in as casual a manner as she could muster. “No. I just didn’t feel like coming in early today.”
Roman stared at her in stunned silence. Then his brows fell and he glared at her. “You seem to misunderstand your position here. As an employee of this company it is your responsibility to get to work on time-”
“And what do you do with employees who don’t follow the rules?” Serena cut him off before he could launch into the lecture she knew was coming. “You fire them, right? Well, I would suggest you give me my walking papers because you and I know this is not going to work out.”
“Oh, so that’s it. You’re working to get fired. Well, don’t hold your breath. It’s not going to happen.”
Her shock at his response made Serena hop to her feet. “What? What do you mean, it’s not going to happen? You have to fire me.”
Roman’s lips curled in a sardonic smile. “Oh, do I? Sorry to disappoint you but you’re stuck here with me. You’ll leave in six months and not a day sooner.”
“You can’t do this to me.” Serena’s voice cracked with frustration. “I’ll never fit in here. I’ll never do what you want. You need to fire me. Now.”
Roman leaned forward in his chair, his face as hard as rock. “Never.”
Serena gasped. What kind of game was this man playing? Why couldn’t he see reason? “I don’t want to be here and you don’t want me here. Why don’t you fire me? You know you want to, so what’s stopping you?”
Roman’s nostrils flared. “You don’t know what I want to do right now.”
“Of course I do,” Serena retorted. “You want to take your perverse pleasure in torturing me. You know I can’t quit because of my father’s conditions. The only way I can get out of this is if you fire me. So why don’t you just do it? You want me to beg? Is that what you want?”
“You don’t know what I want,” he said through gritted teeth, his scowl as black as night.
“I do know, you sadist. You want to make me suffer-” Serena gasped as Roman got up and in two strides was right in front of her, his large frame towering over her. “What-”
“This is what I want. I’ve wanted it ever since I laid eyes on you.” His arm snaked round her waist and he pulled her body into his, so close that she could feel the powerful muscles of his suit-clad legs and the hard ripples of his chest through the cotton of his shirt. His other hand cupped her head as he pulled her even closer, bringing her face up to his, forcing her to stand on tiptoe.
She put her hands up, clinging to his broad shoulders for balance, and he pressed firm lips to her gasping ones, taking full control, kissing her until she melted in his embrace. As his tongue explored her she responded willingly, eagerly, wanting this too, more than anything in the world. Had he known she wanted his kiss from the very first day they met? Had he seen the desire in her eyes? She would not ponder any of that. For the moment she would wipe everything from her mind and revel in his kiss.
Too soon he lifted his head, withdrawing his lips from hers, leaving her panting. Slowly, he withdrew his arm and set her back on her feet.
Still feeling like she was floating on air Serena opened her eyes and peered up into Roman’s face. What she saw there made her step back in dismay. The scowl on his face was even darker than before. Was he totally unmoved by the kiss?
Roman gripped her upper arms and set her away from him. “I suggest you leave my office now,” he said, his voice a harsh growl, “or else I won’t be responsible for my actions.” Then, with a look of disgust he released her arms and turned back towards his desk.
Serena did not wait to see what he would do next. Smarting from the blow of his rejection she turned and marched to the door. When she went through it she pulled it shut none too gently. She was fuming. She was mortified. She was…she didn’t know what she was. She’d never been so humiliated in her life. So she disgusted him, did she? And yet he refused to release her from her bondage? Well, she would just see about that.
******
Roman dropped into his chair and let his breath out in a whoosh. He shook his head, hardly believing what had just happened. What the hell had he done? Serena Van Buren was an employee, for Christ’s sake. On the job for all of two days. The daughter of his associate, a girl entrusted to his care. And what did he do? He’d done a damned good job of playing the pervert, taking advantage of the girl right there in the middle of his office. Jesus, what was he thinking? He was so disgusted with himself he could not sit still. He got up and began to pace the room.