“What do you mean?” Livy said.
“The Foxtail Ad Group handles most of the biggest music and entertainment beasts in the country. Your granddaddy Donovan worked with The Foxes? Then he partnered with the best of the worst—.” Poppy bit another chunk off her dog, nodding.
“Give me the dirt,” said Livy.
“Girl, The Foxtail Ad Group buys companies and sells them off, piece by piece. Granddaddy Donovan Lee Castle partnered with a virtual seabed of sharks.”
*****
Livy gave Poppy power of attorney over Doggy Hearts. She knew she was about to face her biggest challenge since finding out about her mom’s illness and breaking up with Jacques. The town continued to buzz about the two of them, now that the photo shoot had graced the pages of Haute Looks, and now W Magazine. Livy never expected the shoot would become a runaway success.
Livy realized she’d inherited a company and it was more than she bargained. She still didn’t have any funds to help her mother, and now she had to meet a pair of brothers who were apparently responsible for controlling most of the larger ad revenue in the city. There wasn’t much information about both brothers, only one. Livy hadn’t known Donovan had created The Castle Agency to be part of a larger company.
*****
The Leigh Crocs wedges Livy wore she decked out with white stockings, a navy blue mini, a white naval shirt with an ocean blue scarf, and a red purse. Hey, if she was going to be eaten by a shark, she could as least look the part.
Livy decided to leave her blonde tresses down so she didn’t look a completely cosplay. She thought her hose and her naval choice made her look snazzy.
Livy walked into The Foxtail Ad Group wary but cheerful. Maybe her grandfather had placed enough funds into her mother’s accounts for the future, and everything would be fine.
If Donovan hadn’t, Livy was going to have a time trying to figure out how to come up with a whopping 250K, for her mother’s bills and change.
Rhonda met Livy and instantly they clicked.
“I have an appointment to see Mr. Fox?” Livy said.
“Yes. Miss, Castle, is it?” Rhonda replied.
“Yes.”
“We’ve heard many great things about The Castle Agency. I’m sorry to hear about your grandfather. He treated the Foxtail Agency to a long-time partnership the company may not see again for a while.”
Rhonda leaned over her desk towards Livy.
“Is it true Donovan Lee liked whiskey with hot chocolate?” Rhonda whispered.
Livy leant close to Rhonda. “Not whiskey. Éclairs. My grandfather had them made with Jack Daniels and he had them shipped to Castle Agency every Friday.”
“Gosh, would I have loved to have been there on ‘casual day’,” Livy saw Rhonda was donned in a red blouse and faded jeans.
“I’ll ring Mr. Fox you’re here. He doesn’t particularly like early risers,” Rhonda said. “Thrilled to see you have him on his toes, already.”
Rhonda ushered Livy to the Foxtail Ad Agency’s meeting room.
“You’re wonderful,” said Livy. “I’ll send you a box of granddad’s scandalous éclairs, as soon as I can.”
“Ooh, thank you,” Rhonda whispered.
Livy entered the meeting room and was met by a tall gangly teen. He was relieved he was an intern, but if the advertising world was raising millennials this fast, Livy pined for the advertising niche’s future. Especially since she was still young enough to be considered a ‘millennial’ too.
A second taller man approached. He was dressed in a charcoal gray business suit, a chambray shirt and a gold tie. He was taller than her Creative exec Francis, and Livy felt his heat nearly singe her body when she dropped her purse and he bent to collect it.
“Hello, I’m Livy Castle,” Livy shyly said.
“Good morning, Miss Castle. I’m Hudson Fox. I believe I will be arranging the sale of your grandfather’s company.”
*****
“Excuse me?” Livy stormed at the tall, handsome man, and she pointed her perfectly manicured finger into his face.
“Don’t you greet me with ‘How do you do’, and then announce you are going to sell my father’s company. I’ll have you know I represent The Castle Agency now, and it’ll be a cold day on the Equator before I give you the chance to take it.”
The man smiled. “My family is part of a company your grandfather helped build. The Castle Agency is part of The Castle Ad Agency and the Foxtail Ad Group. Your grandfather Donovan Lee agreed to sell his stock and ownership of our company to us.” Hudson went round the office-length mahogany table and he returned with papers.
“Thanks, but I’ve already seen them.” Livy turned to leave to meeting room.
“Then you know about the clause your granddad included if you don’t marry.”
Livy spun around and she approached the magnificent Mr. Fox. She ignored the deep pools of ebony and amber in his smoldering eyes, and she willed herself to forget he was tall, impossibly handsome with full Italian lips, and that he had flawless skin she’d revel to touch.
“What did you say?”
Hudson enjoyed taking the offence. Not that he was a complete bastard, but he had steered The Foxtail Ad Group into its current heyday.
His partnerships with Donovan Lee and other agencies after his father Dick Fox passed, was the company’s crowning achievement. Hudson wasn’t about to throw all of it away on a simpering, wannabe business girl. Even if she did look mighty fine in her school girl getup.
“Your grandfather agreed to sell the company to my father if he did not produce an heir.”
“Really? My granddad did have an heir, and she happens to be me,” Livy closed the gap between herself and Hudson again.
Hudson leaned on the edge of the mahogany table and his folded his arms. Livy watched the muscles of his hard thighs lengthen beneath his pertly tailored slacks. Oh, she must have been starving for affection, because all she could think about was running her hands over this arrogant man’s body and dipping her long red-tipped nails through his beautifully floppy black hair.
“You’ll see when you read the clause why I beg to differ.”
“What clause?” Livy asked.
“Donovan’s heir must marry and provide proof he would have been made a granddad twice over—.” Hudson took the legal papers and flipped to a section and he pointed.
Livy made herself forget she was a single blonde, and reminded herself she was not looking for love in the big city, ever.
Livy took the papers and read.
“The party to the first part must form a joint partnership and ensure the family legacy, or the party of the second is to assume all fiduciary and representative—.” Livy thrust the papers at Hudson’s chest.
“In English?” Livy said.
“The heir of your grandfather’s fortune must marry and provide proof he or she is starting a family—.” Hudson said as Livy took back the papers.
“You mean my grandfather is pimping me out for the good of his company!”
*****
Livy threw the papers onto the mahogany desk just missing Hudson’s head.
“No. However your family must produce an heir. If you don’t within the allotted time, your agency will be consolidated into The Foxtail Ad Group.” Hudson walked to the opposite end of the table. “Any other questions?”
Livy saw red. She breezed past the papers she tossed onto the table and she flung her red fingers in rage and just shy of Hudson’s pretty cranium.
“It will be the end of time before I give my grandfather’s company to you. You’ll never get it, or my name isn’t Castle!”
Livy stormed toward the office door. “I’ll come back and when I do, you’re going to have more than you can chew!” Livy slammed the door shaking the frosted windows.
“What I could do to him if I had some of my granddad’s éclairs!” Livy said as she tore past Rhonda and out through the agency doors.
“What the heck was that..?” H
udson’s brother came out from the adjoining office, his long-sleeved white shirt and khakis slacks contrasting with his older younger brother’s conservative flair.
“Oh, just a young lady with a thing for whiskey flavored confections, a minor nuisance,” Hudson coyly smiled.
*****
“The arrogant, chauvinist—.” Livy flung an overstuffed pillow across her hotel room. When it ‘poofed’ when it hit the wall, Livy picked it up and she hurled it at the wall again.
The pillow burst open and oodles of feathers billowed over the room.
“I just can’ believe it,” Livy held her phone as she growled into the speaker. “My grandfather is peddling me to be—a baby farm!”
“Poppy, what can I do?” Livy sank onto her queen sized antique bed that was covered in pillow feathers.
Poppy typed a search into her law office’s computer and she smiled. “You don’t have to fly the white flag just yet.”
“You can file an injunction.”
Livy bounded to her bare feet, nearly slipping on a feather. “I’ve heard of that.”
“You can tell Mr. Smarty-pants what he can do with his cute attitude and your grandfather’s promise,” said Poppy.
Livy heard Poppy typing.
“Is he really as fine close up as his photos that I just found on Google?”
“I need to reach through this phone and pinch you,” said Livy. “Yes, he is gorgeous,” Livy stressed the first and second vowels for effect.”
“Then it should be that much more fun to tell him where he can stick his, stuff,” Poppy hesitantly said. “Give him a good swift one with the verbiage when you do, okay?”
“Oh, you bet I will,” said Livy.
“I want you to know I’ve filed an injunction,” said Livy.
Hudson Fox looked up the leggy woman threatening him with an envelope. He decided he liked been threatened. Especially when his assailant looked like a walking pinup girl from the cartoon series Sailor Moon.
*****
Yes, Livy Castle looked better the second time she came around; Hudson stood as his rolled up the cuffs to his satin button down shirt. He read the papers Livy showed him.
“Impressive. Thank you.” Hudson returned to his work. He asked his sales department to bump up their meeting with him to the next ten minutes.
Livy stared. “What? That’s it?”
“You served me with what you’ve already filed. Our legal will handle anything we need. You have the upper hand. What else would you like?” Hudson returned to reviewing his company’s luxury watch campaign.
“You—smug, son of a—.” Livy shut the door to Hudson’s office.
“You really think you can brush me off like this? You’ve threatened to hurt my grandfather’s legacy and you’ve threatened me. All of that deserves more than wave of your hand, like I’m some, throw away!”
Livy stood by Hudson’s chest as she waited for his response.
Hudson Fox caught her scent of citrus and honey. His hardness swelled as it lengthened in his pants. Hudson’s sight sharpened and his breathing turned ragged.
Hudson had been raised by his father Dick to never take advantage of a lady, but he couldn’t concentrate. The fine, large breasted female warning him she was ready to pounce had managed to suck up all the air around him somehow, and Hudson liked it. The beautiful woman beside him was tapping her pretty shoes and all he could do was imagine how hot it would be if he kissed her.
So he did.
Hudson pushed back from his oak desk and he drew the petite wisp of a lady into his arms. She tasted like chocolate coffee and cinnamon. Hudson knew then and there he had to have more of her.
*****
Oh my gosh, what was he doing?
Livy had demanded the man pay her attention. The next minute he was lunging at her and yanking her into his big, manly arms. How dare he use her and not give her as much as a, “I’m going to kiss you now.”
Livy felt her body slip against Hudson as she succumbed to his heat and his kiss. His tongue rasped her tender flesh as he sought her mouth, thrusting deeply.
They ended up on top of his desk.
Livy gasped as her handsome Italian took charge.
Hudson pulled Livy’s blouse off and he held it to his face. Livy watched in awe as the man inhaled her scent and he tucked the soft chemise under Livy’s hips. He walked to his office door and he clicked the lock in the knob.
Livy watched the tall, impeccably built man strip off his shirt. She marveled at the magnificent ripples when his biceps flexed along with his abs. She was thrilled when he let her unbuckle him and slip his pants off his lean male hips.
Hudson wrapped Livy in his arms while she pressed her hard nipples against him, He enjoyed how helpless the woman seemed to feel when she faced his impressive erection. Hudson leaned back on top of his desk and he let Livy ogle his taut body and his bulge.
Livy ran her red-tipped fingernails along the hairs around his shaft and she tested the weight of Hudson’s erection. It hung low and it swung above his scrotum, which was also heavy and full. Livy inhaled Hudson’s scent. The smell was earthy, with a hint of spice, and completely male.
“I want you.”
Hudson dipped his fingers between Livy’s legs. He positioned Livy onto her back so her hips curved and her lower body arched over her blouse. Hudson parted Livy’s thighs. Livy swooned when she felt Hudson tease her with his hot beast-like tongue.
“You are so beautiful.”
Hudson tasted Livy. He lapped at his secret core and he thrust his fingers until Livy spasmed and her legs thighs dripped with her luscious honey.
“Part for me.”
Livy opened her thighs, feeling like she had been drugged by a trance. She saw Hudson lift his strong hips on top of her. He thrust into her and their bodies knocked as he pounded his massive flesh inside her.
Livy reached for Hudson’s face. He dove into her harder as their half-naked bodies mingled and their lips locked.
Livy had never felt so wanton in her life. A wild specimen of man ravaged her with animalistic fury and Livy wanted more. Hudson pawed Livy breasts to her core. She wrapped her ankles around his hips trying to draw him in deeper.
Hudson slammed into Livy’s body, making her quiver.
They exploded into shards of ecstasy before Livy heard Hudson’s business partner knocking.
“Hud? Hudson it’s your bro. We’ve got the meeting with the watch people in a couple of minutes—.”
Livy looked up at Hudson, her face pale. She grabbed her clothes and threw them onto her body, wrestling to put on her white goddess sandals, and her naval-style mini-dress. “Oh, what do we do?” Livy whispered.
“There’s a side office. Take it and there’s an exit to the right. Wait—.” Hudson reached over the desk, half-dressed, his erection throbbing hard and boldly for Livy to see.
“I want you again.” Hudson grabbed Livy and he pulled into her arms. He dipped her backwards like they were in a 1930s flick, and he savaged her with a heathenish French kiss.
Hudson set Livy back onto her feet when she realized what they had just done.
“Never!” Livy rasped. She grabbed her red purse and she fled Hudson’s office, promising herself she’d never put her family’s business or her life at risk again.
Hudson’s blond-haired brother entered the office. “Why was the door locked? The business was that important, bro?”
His brother crossed to the desk. “Does it smell like honey in here?”
Hudson smiled. He used his shoe to hide his tie he saw on the floor.
*****
Livy kissed her mom Julia as she looked around the room. “Wow, there are a lot of them, aren’t they?”
“So many. Did you do all this?” Julia Castle peeked around the hospice room where she stayed at Memorial and at the flowers. “Wall to wall flowers and new ones come every day.”
“No,” Livy lied.
Livy knew where all the flora was co
ming from, and she wasn’t about to tell the purveyor. ‘Thank you’. Not for being such a heel, and certainly not for using sex to try and get the upper hand over her family’s company.
“Maybe we should send some to the children’s hospice too?” Livy smelled a bouquet of yellow roses and smiled. Roses were some of her favorite; even if they were from a lying, scheming, ad man named Hudson… the good-looking and hung jerk.
STEPBROTHER: The Bride's Surprise (FMM Menage Stepbrother Romance) (Contemporary Women New Adult & College Menage Short Stories) Page 3
