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Authors: Ella Ardent

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BOOK: Hunted
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“She’s actually not gone.”

Rex looked up.

Athena shrugged. “She locked herself into her room and refuses to leave.”

“You could have opened the door and tossed her out.”

“I didn’t really have the heart for it. She clearly wants attention, and I felt like denying her any.” Athena studied him. “But maybe that’s worked out for the best. You can do the honors of evicting her.”

Rex shook his head. “Not yet.”

“You want to discipline her?” Athena asked.

Rex toyed with his wine glass. “That’s exactly what she wants. I think it’s the very last thing we should give her.”

Athena’s eyes brightened. “Then what?”

“We’ll give her the chance to stay if she meets a challenge.”

“Which is?”

“To prove herself a valuable employee by making three fantasies come true at The Phoenix.”

Athena scoffed. “That’s not much of a challenge.”

Rex smiled. “You don’t know fantasies I’ve chosen for her.”

A light dawned in Athena’s eyes. “The impossible ones,” she breathed, and Rex nodded, liking that their thoughts were as one. They had started a file for the fantasies they couldn’t see how to fulfill, even though it felt like a failure to have to deny any client’s deepest desire.

“We’ll start her off with the woman who wants to be reunited for a week with her dead lover.” Rex shrugged. “I have no idea how to even approach that one, although I can appreciate her desire to turn back time and make different choices.”

“Don’t we all,” Athena said ruefully. Then she smiled brightly, so brightly Rex knew she was trying to hide her thoughts. She was troubled on this night, and not just about Amy. There was a sadness in Athena that wasn’t characteristic, and he wondered how to put the sparkle back in her eyes. He counted on her being optimistic and enthusiastic, so to see her down was enough to shake him up. “But we just don’t have the connections to bring back the dead,” she said lightly.

Rex forced a little smile. “Not yet at least.” Athena’s smile widened. “Let Amy solve it to prove herself.”

“She might walk away.”

Rex shook his head.

“She might screw it up.”

“That’s the risk we’ll have to take.”

“And you have two more after that?”

“That file is getting fatter. I’m sure there will be even more.” Rex met Athena’s gaze. “I can’t imagine she’ll succeed at all three, but if she does, we’ll keep her on.”

“And if she doesn’t, she’s gone.” Athena nodded, then raised a finger. “But no sex or sex games until her challenge is complete. She has to be chaste.”

“Absolutely. I’ll lock her into a chastity belt myself.”

“You’ll like that,” Athena teased.

He smiled. “It might just be a bit tight,” he murmured and Athena laughed for the first time that evening. Rex finished his meal and considered his plate. “In the meantime, she should have no access to our servers.”

“She’s a hacker.”

“So, we’ll take her laptop and phone away. That should be enough isolation to spook her.”

Athena nodded approval. “I like it. As usual, Rex, you have the perfect solution.” She raised her glass of wine in tribute to him. “To your understanding of human nature.”

“What about Steele?” Rex asked as he lifted his own glass. The man had disobeyed and deceived Athena as well.

“He’s gone, Rex, and that’s the end of that.” She spoke quickly, that shadow touching her eyes again.

“You weren’t done with him.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

Rex leaned closer and dropped his voice to a whisper, having a very good idea of something that would improve both of their moods. “I’ve thought for a long time that we weren’t done with each other.”

Athena’s eyes widened. “I thought I was the only one with that view.”

“Not by a long shot.” Rex held her gaze, watching the flush touch her cheeks. “Want to do something about it? Or maybe you’re busy tonight.”

Athena laughed, the sparkle in her eyes making Rex’s heart skip a beat. “I’m never too busy for you, Rex,” she murmured seductively. “I suppose we’ll have to decide who’s in charge.”

“I suppose we will.” Rex touched his glass to Athena’s, so the crystal sounded like a bell, then held her gaze as they drank to each other.

To the pleasures of the night ahead.

And to the successful future of The Phoenix.

* * *

The next erotic novella in The Phoenix Series is

Haunted

Coming Soon!

* * *

Subscribe to Ella’s

New Release Newsletter at

http://eepurl.com/SPciv

Books by Ella Ardent

The Phoenix Series

Revealed

Harnessed

Hunted

Haunted
(coming soon)

* * *

The Plume Series

Submission

Surrender

Seduction

Deception

Exhibition

Exposure

Flashback

Switch

Celebration

The Plume erotic novellas are also available in anthologies, in print and digital editions, each containing three novellas.

The Plume—The First Anthology

The Plume—The Second Anthology

The Plume—The Third Anthology

* * *

The Wedding Trilogy

The Best Man

Always A Bridesmaid

Forever Bound

The erotic romance novellas of The Wedding are also available in an anthology, in print and digital editions:

The Wedding Anthology

* * *

Dangerous

An Erotic Romance

This erotic romance was originally published in 9 digital installments.

It’s also available its entirety in both print and digital editions.

* * *

For more information about Ella’s books, please visit her website at

http://ellaardent.com

BOOK: Hunted
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