Chapter 18: Chapter 18

The memory of their first night together came flooding back to her: The way Miller had ushered her into the hotel…through the lobby and straight past reception…it all made sense now. Of course he'd owned the hotel. And had she not been so thrilled at the thought of staying in Seattle, she might have been able to put two and two together!

Was she even cutthroat enough to work for him? Her business degree certainly wasn't serving her very well so far. She winced as she thought that maybe she should have majored in something else.

"Gre—Eric owns The Lux?" she asked in a low voice.

"You didn't know?" Kate returned in surprise as she broke off a piece of bread and popped it into her mouth.

"How would I?" Ana hissed.

Kate shrugged. "I told you to google him."

"I did google him," she informed her friend. "There's not enough time in the day to read everything that's been written about him!"

"Well…jerk or not, he found a way to keep you in Seattle. That's all I care about," Kate said dryly.

Ana frowned. "Why don't you like him?"

"I—I didn't like the way he spoke to you at the bar that night," Kate admitted hesitantly. "He was…harsh. And I don't like the way he looks at you. He looks at you like…God, like he wants to find the nearest…solid surface and…." Her voice trailed off, but her meaning was more than clear.

"Trust me, Kate. If there's one thing you don't have to worry about, it's that. I have no plans to fall prey to that man."

She failed to mention that any effort she'd made resisting Eric Miller thus far had been pointless—or that a solid surface wasn't a necessity for him. Kate wasn't ready to hear that yet. Of course, it didn't matter. After this stunt she'd have no problem staying away from him—outside of work, anyway.

Seething couldn't even begin to describe the way she felt at this moment. Clearly she'd underestimated Eric's desire her for her. Was she so good in bed that he couldn't stand the thought of letting her go? The thought nearly made her laugh hysterically. She was inexperienced, for God's sake. Surely there were other women out there he'd rather be with…new women. Willing women.

He'd all but admitted to her that feelings weren't a factor for him; he had no emotional attachment to her. A physical connection was the only thing that made any sense. But it would certainly help if she had something to compare their 'encounters' to. Was there something different about her? About them together?

Ana sighed as she reached for her glass of wine—the only one she was going to allow herself—and took a sip. When had life gotten so complicated?

Ana barely slept a wink that night. She was showered, dressed, and ready to go the next morning at five.

After careful consideration, she'd decided she wasn't going to fight Eric on this. It was one year; surely she could survive one year. The pay was nearly double what Jackson, Inc. had offered her, and she'd have the added advantage of being linked to the Miller name when all was said and done. It shouldn't be a problem for her to find another job when her contract was up; Miller Enterprises Holding's was known for developing their staff. She'd read about actual bidding wars over former GEH's employees. Not that she expected that would happen…but the thought that it could…

There was no need to cut off her nose to spite her face. However, there was also no need to take it lying down. So after a quick stop at Jackson, Inc., she headed for Eric's office.

"I'm sorry? Your name, again," the Stepford blonde behind the large, marble desk requested. She looked like the other four blonde's Ana had seen since entering the building.

"Ana Thompson," she repeated.

"Is Mr. Miller expecting you?" the woman asked.

Ana quirked a brow. "I'm certain of it," she assured the girl wryly.

The woman sighed. "I don't have you on the calendar," the woman told her. "Mr. Miller is extremely busy, and—"

"Is his office through there?" Ana asked, pointing to the nearest door.

A panicked expression filled the woman's face. "Yes, but—"

"Excellent," Ana said with a wide smile. "I'll just show myself in."

"Ms. Thompson, I'm going to have to call security—"

"Well, you can't do that and chase me into Mr. Miller's office, can you?" Ana shot back over her shoulder, the clicking sound of her heels echoing off the floor as she marched toward Eric's office.

She thrust the door open and Eric looked up in surprise. Her breath caught at the sight of him sitting behind the desk in his crisp white shirt and bright blue tie that made his eyes look even Millerer.

"I'll have to call you back." His informed the person on the other end of the phone, then hit a button to end the call. "Ana."

It threw her for a loop that he seemed genuinely surprised to see her.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Miller," his assistant—at least, that was who Ana guessed she was—said breathlessly. "I tried to stop her. I can call security if you—"

"It's fine," he interrupted firmly.

The woman gave a curt nod and then promptly exited the room, shutting the door behind her.

"What can I do for you?" Eric asked as he stood.

Ana scoffed. "You think you're so sneaky, don't you?" she demanded in a steady voice.

"I...I'm afraid I'm going to need some clarification," he informed her as his gaze swept over her.

An involuntary shiver made its way down her spine at his perusal. "You certainly found a way to keep me in Seattle, didn't you?"

"Isn't that what you wanted?" Eric asked.

"What I wanted?" The laugh that made its way from her throat was humorless. "Are you really concerned with what I want? Or are you more concerned with getting what you want?"

"I thought you'd be happy about this." The puzzled expression on his face made her fury rise. Did he really think she was just going to let him manipulate her so effortlessly? Was that what the women in his past had been like?

"And what? Be so appreciative that I'd bend over and let you fuck me right here?" she asked hotly.

The novelty of her showing up at his office disappeared with her words; the question shocked the hell out of him. "Ana, I think you're overreacting," he informed her calmly as visions of her pulling her skirt up and leaning over his desk assaulted him. He struggled to suppress the image—an erection wasn't going to help his current situation.

"No, Eric. Or should I start calling you Mr. Miller? This is me reining it in," she assured him.

Mr. Miller? What in the hell was she talking about?

"All I did was make a phone call," he informed her. "If you'd like, I can make another and undo—"

"No," Ana interjected. "I don't want you to do that. I think you've interfered enough already, don't you?."

"Then what do you want me to do, Ana?" Eric forced himself to remain where he was as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"I want you to sit back and watch," she answered.

He drew his brows together in confusion.

"You think you have me exactly where you want me, Eric," she remarked. "And I have to hand it to you, because for a moment…you did. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized what an opportunity this is for me. In more ways than one."

"I'm glad you think so—"

"Don't be so sure about that, Eric," she said as she locked her gaze on his and deliberately lowered her voice. "All you've done…is ensure that every time a man asks me out, I'm going to say yes. Every time he invites me into his bed, I'm going to fall right into it. And the best part about the whole damn thing…is that you've made sure it's going to happen under your watchful eye." A satisfied grin spread across her face as she spun on her heel and strode from his office.

Eric could only stand there stunned.

He was still sifting through their conversation half an hour later when his assistant knocked on his door. "Mr. Miller?"

"Yes," he answered harshly.

"I'm sorry for interrupting, but you didn't answer your phone. You told me that if Emma from Jackson, Inc. called you wanted to be alerted immediately. She's on line one."

"Put her through," he ordered.

"Yes, Mr. Miller."

Less than fifteen seconds later, his phone began to ring; he picked it up in the middle of the first one. "Eric Miller."

"Good morning, Mr. Miller," Emma greeted in a brisk voice. "Mr. Jackson told me I was to call you after my meeting with Ana Thompson."

"Yes."

"I apologize for the delay. Mr. Miller…Ms. Thompson didn't accept our offer," Emma informed him.

"What do you mean?" Eric growled. "Did you tell her that you'd been able to find her a position here in Seattle?"

"Well…yes," the woman assured him hesitantly. "But she…she'd already accepted a position elsewhere."

"Where?" he demanded.

"That's the thing. She accepted a position with your company."

Eric's heart began to race at her announcement.

"Mr. Miller...she signed with The Lux."