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hadn’t realised it was so obvious.
    The young girl came back with a menu and handed it to Mr Stone. He glanced at it briefly and returned his gaze to Rachel, eyebrows slightly furrowed, as if he were contemplating something.
    “Do you prefer vanilla,” he murmured, “or are you more adventurous?”
    “Sorry?” Rachel felt her cheeks burn as she tried to appear innocently oblivious to the inferred nature of his question.
    “Ice cream. Do you prefer plain, predictable vanilla or would you like to try something a bit more exotic and interesting like passion fruit sorbet?” Mr Stone’s face remained completely straight and Rachel suddenly realised he must have been talking about ice cream all along. Oh God, she’d thought he was asking about her sexual preferences. What was wrong with her?
    “I’m fine, thank you,” she managed to reply. “I really don’t need a dessert.”
    “She’ll try the sorbet,” said Mr Stone, and handed the waitress the menu. “I’ll just have a coffee.”
    “Mr Stone, I really don’t…” Rachel’s voice trailed off when she caught his icy eyes glaring at her. She was clearly going to have the sorbet whether she liked it or not. “Are you always so bossy?” she grumbled under her breath.
    “Yes, Rachel,” he replied, his voice soft, but with a dark undertone. “One day you’ll learn that I will always know what you want, even before you do, and when that time comes you’ll obey me without question. Do you understand?”
    “Yes, Sir,” she whispered. Wow—did he know about her BDSM fantasies, and if so was he making a pass at her or was he just talking about her choices of food? His words could be taken in either context and she sighed in relief as the waitress brought her dessert so she could concentrate on tucking into it rather than thinking about the hot, throbbing sensation growing between her legs.

Chapter Five
    At six o’clock, with all her work up to date and the phone finally quiet, Rachel logged off her computer and cleared the last couple of things from her desk. She glanced at Mr Stone’s closed door and felt a nervous twitch settle into a hard lump in her stomach.
    Did she dare knock on the door and risk disturbing him? Should she ask if she could leave or should she just slip out without bothering him? Yesterday, he’d told her she could go, but his door had been open so he obviously hadn’t been too busy. Did the fact that his door was closed now mean ‘Do Not Disturb’?
    The trouble was, she needed to talk to him and even though it would probably really annoy him to be disturbed for something so trivial, it was important to her and she needed an answer.
    So, with a shaking hand, she knocked gently on his door and waited.
    “Yes?” He sounded annoyed.
    She peeped nervously around the door and gave him a shaky smile, which was futile as he didn’t even look up from his laptop. “Er, Mr Stone? I was wondering if I could have a word, please?”
    He finally looked up and actually smiled at her. “What can I do for you, Rachel?” He didn’t sound annoyed at all, she realised with relief. The thought made her feel a bit braver as she made her way over to his desk and waited to be invited to sit.
    When he didn’t say anything, she remained standing and cleared her throat. “I was just wondering if…if you have any idea how long I’ll be working for you. Not that I mind,” she said, hastily. “It would just be helpful to know.”
    Mr Stone’s eyes darkened and a look of anger crossed his face as he glared at her in disbelief. Oh shit, she wished she hadn’t said anything now.
    “Didn’t HR fill you in?” he asked, with an edge to his voice that made her want to run out of his office and hide.
    “No, Sir. I’m sorry, you’re right, I should have spoken to them first.”
    “No, Rachel. That’s not good enough, you shouldn’t have to chase them. I asked them yesterday to let you know the terms of this arrangement.” He picked up his