as if they’re nobodies. But often the cleaners, the people on the front desks, the canteen staff, these are the people who know things. They see things and hear things, precisely because they’re invisible to so many.
Cassie moves, clicks her pen on and off, then, as if she’s realized she’s drawn attention to herself, shrinks farther into the wall.
I’ve never seen this Cassie before. This is a new Cassie for me to watch and learn about. She’s different to the sunshine girl from the coffee shop, and different again to the jailbait wannabe from the other night. This Cassie looks like a young woman trying on the mantel of an older professional. She’s wearing a tight black skirt that grips her hips like sin itself. She’s curvy and lush, and I want to take that ponytail of hers and wrap it around my fist as I bend her to my will.
My dick twitches, and I will it down. I don’t need to be standing in front of this room full of people with a boner. Although, that really would cement my reputation as a bastard. I bite back a smile and focus on wrapping things up. I’m bored.
“I think Alistair would like to say a few more words before we finish,” I lie smoothly. Let him wrap this shit up.
Alistair looks at me, back to the room, clears his throat and begins to waffle. I don’t care that I’ve just put him on the spot. I wanted a moment to look at my sexy new employee.
She’s wearing makeup, again, but nothing like what she worn the other morning. Then she was all smudgy, smoky eyes and rock chick sexiness. Now, she wears nothing but some subtle stuff on her face and shocking pink lipstick. The lipstick matches her blouse, tucked into that tight black skirt.
Fuck, give her glasses and she could be a secretary in a porn film. A walking cliché of hotness, but one that makes my dick hungry.
She studiously continues to stare at that patch of floor she’s been focused on, not looking up once as Alistair finishes, the door opens, and people begin to file out of the room.
Cassie’s friend stalks past me, as people exit the room, shooting me a hot look. One I read as, you can fuck me anytime so long as I keep my job, and I’ll enjoy the hell out of it too.
Most of the other people keep their eyes averted as they file past, except for two of the male managers whose jobs are on the line. They give me confident nods and the sort of alpha-male eyeballing that I’m sure they believe signals, I’m confident and capable. Instead it says, I’m full of bullshit and think I can fool you. I don’t smile or nod back. In fact, I make a mental note to fire them if they are the weak links I bet they will turn out to be when I re-examine their files.
Cassie, little miss jailbait, hugs the wall, looking at the pen and notepad in her hand as if reading something of extreme importance.
Christ, I could honestly come simply from watching her.
“Jonathon and Cassie, can you two hang behind, please?” Alistair says. He addresses Cassie and one of only three men left in the room. Jonathon Barbor. Shit-hot game designer with a gambling habit, one that Alistair probably doesn’t know about, but I do, thanks to Margaret. Not that I’ll be getting rid of him because of it. He’s one of the stars of the company, and he’ll be needed moving forward. The last couple of games haven’t done as well as the others, and I think I know the reason. The artwork is tired; it’s not new. I’m not a gamer, I’d rather work and earn money than play games, but I asked Michael who is, and he said the artwork isn’t fresh; it’s too much like their previous hit games.
Cassie’s head jerks up, and she drops her pen. I want to break down her defenses further before I strike with my offer. I want her accept it and come work exclusively for me as a hacker not an IT consultant, and I’m not above more forceful persuasion if needed. I need a small, very small, team of people I can trust to hack for me. Both on the legitimate and not-so legitimate sides of my business. I had a deal a year ago, which I needed insider information to make a decision on. I hired