5

Pieces began to fit together. That was how he’d known my name. He’d

probably come that night to check out his would-be staff. But that didn’t

explain his possessive staring. Maybe he was the type to think of women as

objects. Maybe he took the definition of owner to a whole other level. The

thought made my skin pebble in goose bumps.

And underneath that, panic crept into my gut.

I could not be this twisted up over my boss, the head honcho, the guy

who would determine my fate at the club. Freaking out over him would end

in serious consequences.

I placed a hand loosely over my belly, encouraging a deep

diaphragmatic breath to calm my growing anxiety.

Hudson tilted his head and studied me. “I’ve heard many things about

you. And witnessed your work.” He paused, moving his gaze up and down

my body once more, scorching my skin as he did. “But none of what I heard

or saw prepared me to find you wearing this ensemble.”

The color drained from my face. I wasn’t sure where he was going with

his statement, but from his tone, I felt chided. “Excuse me?”

“I would think a graduate of Stern looking for a career in management

would be more appropriately dressed.”

As quickly as I paled before, now I flushed, equal parts embarrassed

and enraged. Sure my top was revealing, but he hadn’t seemed to mind

when he ogled me only a moment before.

Or maybe his ogling had merely been wishful thinking.

Shit. I’d imagined it all, hadn’t I? That whole knowing he desired me—

god, how had I so completely misread him?

Even in my error, I couldn’t take his criticism without responding.

Whether Hudson owned other nightclubs or not, I had no clue, but he was

certainly wrong about what acceptable attire was. Eye candy was expected

at a club. Hot girls drove in customers. “What I’m wearing is quite

appropriate for a club staff.”

“Not for someone working toward manager.”

“Yes, even managers. Sex sells, Mr. Pierce.”

“Not at an elite club. Not at the kind of club I intend to run.” His

authoritative tone resonated through my head, but then he lowered his

volume and the words resonated through my bones. “You must know that

women have a difficult time in the business world. You need to work to be

taken seriously, Alayna. Dress sexy, not like a floozy.”

I clenched my jaw shut. Normally I’m the type to argue well past the

point of winning or losing—I’d had several heated debates in more than one

of my graduate classes—but now I found myself flustered and at a loss for

words. Hudson was right. I had ideas for the club—ideas that required

people to trust my business savvy. I’d learned at Stern what it took to

impress people and, to my credit, I’d hesitated when I’d purchased the

corset, wondering if the open middle that revealed my midriff from the

insides of my breasts to my belly button was too revealing. His words

validated that fear.

Worse, I realized that what I’d thought was desire was something so

much different. He wasn’t claiming me, he was judging me.

My stomach dropped. There went any chance at promotion. How could

I have been so stupid? Dressing for a guy instead of my career? Stupid,

stupid, stupid!

I looked to David and discovered he was equally petrified at the

transaction. “Um, yeah, Laynie,” he said, attempting to recover. “Is that

new?”

It didn’t matter what David said. The glimmer in his eyes told me he

appreciated my outfit. But he was with his new boss. He had to keep it

professional.

And truthfully, I cared more about Hudson’s opinion at the moment than

David’s. David was a category one attraction, after all. The kind of guy I

didn’t emotionally invest in. Hudson, on the other hand, was…

No, I wouldn’t think about him like that.

I ran my tongue across my dry lips. “It is new.” I hoped I didn’t sound

as ashamed as I felt. “I apologize. I misjudged.” I also sort of hated Hudson

Pierce. Even though he was in the right. He was an asshole with wandering

eyes, just like all the other suits I’d ever met.

“I’ve got that lace pullover in my locker,” Liesl offered. “It should tame

you.”

“Thanks. I’ll take it.”

Liesl whispered in my ear as she brushed past me toward the staff break

room. “Though, if you ask me, you look damn fine!”

“Now that that’s taken care of...” Hudson turned his attention to David.

“I’ve changed my mind about returning this weekend.” David visibly

relaxed. But Hudson’s next statement had him stiffening again. “I’ll be back

tomorrow. I can’t be here until nine. Could you spare time for me then?”

I fiddled with the napkin holders, even though I’d already stocked them,

not sure if I was supposed to be part of the conversation or if I should get

back to my duties.

“Of course,” David said, even though nine was when the club opened

and wasn’t really a convenient time to have a meeting.

“Good.” Hudson turned to me and I froze mid-napkin shuffle. “Alayna,

you’ll be here as well.”

Still ruffled from my disastrous mistake, I was uneager to accept the

invitation—the demand, rather. But I’d have to get over my rough start if I

expected to continue working with him. Not even sure he expected a

response, I gave one anyway. “Yes, sir.”

Hudson narrowed his eyes, so I couldn’t be certain, but they seemed to

have dilated. He scrutinized me as if deciding something—whether to fire

me, maybe, or give me another shot. After several painful seconds, he

simply nodded. “Tomorrow.” Then he turned to leave.

David and I watched in silence as Hudson walked toward the club

doors. At least, I watched, too distracted by the hint of tight rear end under

the bottom of his suit jacket to notice what David was doing. Damn,

Hudson looked just as good from the rear as from the front. If he was going

to be in the club a lot I was going to have to start wearing panty liners.

The minute Hudson’s gorgeous backside disappeared into the entrance

area, David let out a sigh, reminding me of his presence.

I stared at him, wide eyed. “What the fuck?”

David chuckled. “I have no idea. I’ve only met with Pierce once before

today and we haven’t gotten much into anything besides me explaining our

current business operations. He’s certainly odd, though.”

“Well, what do you expect, growing up with all that wealth and pressure

to succeed?” Why the hell was I defending him? The man made me feel

anxious and intimidated and humiliated. And maybe a little bit excited. Oh,

and horny as all get out. I wasn’t even going to acknowledge the fixation I

knew I would have on him if I didn’t get myself under control.

I took a deep breath, hoping to release the strange knot in my stomach

that thinking about Hudson created. “I don’t know what I’m saying. I guess

we’ll just have to wait and see.”

“Don’t worry, Laynie.”

Remembering he was the one I was almost sort of dating, I met David’s

blue eyes, straining to recapture the certainty that he was perfect for me.

Misinterpreting my anxiety to be about my job, he continued. “Pierce

has too many high profile assets. He won’t want to spend too much of his

time on the club. I’m sure he’ll let things run pretty much as is with maybe

some minor finessing. And as long as I have a say in it, you’ll have a more

significant role.”

David grinned, more at my chest than at my face. “Want to stay and

help close tonight?”

His playful change of attitude provided the assurance I needed. “I was

counting on it.”

AT FOUR A.M. the club shut down for the night, and David and I worked

quickly and efficiently, splitting the managerial duties between us. When all

the drawers had been counted and the money dropped in the safe, he

dismissed the rest of the staff and sat behind his desk to finish up the

reports. I perched on the desktop and swung my feet as I watched him

work.

David glanced over at me and smiled before returning to his monitor.

“Thank god you were behind the counter earlier. Who knows what else

Hudson would have said about your outfit if he’d seen those pants?”