BethanyThe morning sun streamed through the small window of her bedroom, the brightness stinging her eyes and turning up her headache. Why had she let herself drink the night before? She rarely drank, and she blamed that on how she felt the morning after she did. Nothing was worse than being debilitated for a whole day simply because you sated yourself with an evening of fun.The smell of bacon wafted into her room, her stomach turning at the idea of food. They rarely cooked around the apartment, but the weekend was to be filled with friends, family, and good food. Bethany rolled over and groaned, the memory of offending Jake the night before assaulting her.Why hadn’t she just offered herself to one of the assholes from Kappa Alpha? There had been more than enough of them at the party. Sleeping with Jake had seemed like a good idea before she’d walked into the kitchen and pushed him a little too far. She covered her eyes with the palms of her hands pressing against the pain a little
Bethany"I'm fine. I just wish someone would have told me. She said I tried to sleep with you last night. I feel like a total ass." She forced a laugh, the memory of the night before pushing its way across her aching skull. She would never let him know that she remembered every moment of it, but the loneliness at his denial and the hour of crying herself to sleep was still very real as she stared at him."It's no big deal. A month ago I would have fallen over myself to get you in bed." He laughed, and the goofy sound caused her to smile.He wasn't at all someone that she'd normally sleep with or try to start a real relationship with. The need to share her celebration with him had pushed her to want something more, but it would have ended as the sun came up. It was for the best."Enough of this. Congratulations." She reached up and straightened the lapel of his robe before turning and sliding into line as they were instructed to do.She waited her turn, her mind wandering to the conver
At first, she was hesitant to order anything off the menu, the prices ridiculous for a simple graduation meal. Her mom ordered a salad for herself, and Bethany followed suit, but the bread bowl was calling her name. She waited until Kent reached out and took a piece, offering it to her next."So, Mom tells me that you're an accountant as well?" Bethany passed the bread to her mom, her eyes on the newest member of her soon-to-be family."I have a degree in accounting and a doctorate in law. It's a passion of mine, but my company is actually an accounting firm, which is something I wanted to talk with you about." He smiled and looked over at Bethany's mother as if asking permission for something. Her mom smiled shyly, and he reached over and took her hand under the table."Oh yeah? That's great news. I'd love to talk accounting with you; just don't tell anyone how nerdy I am. I keep that locked down most days." She smiled as her mother chided her.Kent sat back, the look on his face giv
BethanyNot having any siblings of her own, she wasn't even sure how to approach their new relationship but figured her best bet was to respect him as her boss, and if something familial grew from that, all the better. Forcing something wasn't her style at all, her heart set on impressing people with her intelligence and wit no matter the audience.Bethany pulled into the visitor parking, an elderly cop moving toward her and motioning for her to lower the window. The large building above them reaching high into the sky, as most of the other buildings in the business district in downtown did."Where ya headed, miss?" He leaned down, a smile lifting the furry mustache on his upper lip."I'm starting my internship with McKenzie and Bryant today. I hope I'm in the right place." She looked around for a sign, nothing but plain concrete walls surrounding them."You're in the right place. Go to the fourth floor or above in the garage, and make sure you don't park in a reserved spot. Take the
BethanyLinda was far too good looking to be a secretary, or Damon was the asshole her mother had warned her about. Bethany hated to judge a book by its cover, but the tall blonde model posing as a receptionist had been incredibly sexual—just in showing Bethany to Damon's office, her words almost purred. Bethany thanked her and shivered in disgust as the door closed. Apparently, Damon was down the hall and would be back shortly.Taking advantage of the few moments she had, Bethany walked around the large executive office. The windows lined the walls of half of the office from floor to ceiling. The view was spectacular, and she wanted to see it at night, the lights of the city a beautiful spectacle, no doubt.Pictures of three men accented the wall behind Damon's large cherrywood desk, one of them being Kent and the others Damon and his brother. She picked up one of the photos of the three men smiling at the camera, their golf shirts showing that they were at an event together."Oh shi
BethanyBethany moved toward her new office like a zombie, her mind trying desperately to work through the last few words her stepbrother Damon had spoken to her. His voice had been filled with conviction, the seriousness of his gaze leaving her to wonder if he hadn't meant everything simply from a business perspective.He had certain needs, and she would be required to know them and fulfill them, as it seemed every other woman in the company was busy trying to do.Did Kent know that his son was pimping out the women of their accounting firm for his own perverted desires?Or had Damon simply meant that, as the CFO, he would need her to be on her toes, to work fast, like he did, and keep on top of things? Those were needs, too… Maybe she was trying to make something sexual out of it because he was by far the most good-looking man she'd seen in her short life."Here's your office. The laptop is yours to take with you. The cords are all there, and the phone is already set up." The recept
BethanyShe could see her and Damon in her afternoon fantasies."Why the faraway look?" Ben asked, his short chuckle bringing Bethany back to the present."Hmmm?""You look like you're lost in thought.""Oh, just trying to deal with all of the transitions in my life. Sorry. Didn't sleep too well last night. I was nervous like crazy about this morning.""I bet. It's not only graduation for you but a new family and your first accounting job, right?""How did you know?" She tilted her head to the side, her smile dropping as she tried to understand who else knew about her and Damon being family soon.Ben held his hands up, standing and shaking his head as he backed toward the door."I'm the only one. I get a full rundown on you guys from the boss man because I'm in charge of the program. I only know what I just shared, though, so no worries about a bulletin board being up with your info for all to see." He laughed, and Bethany did too, liking him for his transparency, above all."Damon to
BethanyBethany packed up at around six, grumbling over the fact that her mother had called twice during the last hour of work. She placed her laptop into the nice black bag that they’d left for her, which had the firm logo embroidered into it.Nervousness tugged at her stomach as she walked through the halls, her eyes moving about to ensure that if Damon walked out of an open office, she'd be prepared to encounter him.He probably thought she was a child, a young girl with too many brains and not enough courage to speak up. She should have called his ass on the rug for talking with his girlfriend inappropriately in front of her, but truth be known, she could only dream of a man like him demanding something of her.Her pathetic friendship with Jake rolled across her thoughts as she walked languidly to the elevator. She squeezed in as the doors opened and had to apologize when she stepped on a beautiful red-haired girl’s toe. The girl, who was about Bethany’s age, merely huffed.Bethan