Hot CEO: An Enemies to Lovers Romance

by Charlize Starr

  She needed both jobs or she wouldn’t be able to afford to live and scrape a little bit into savings every month so she could go back to school one day.

  Her co-worker and friend, Jen, sauntered up beside her to grind beans. “Mr. Cranky-pants is throwing another tantrum. You know you’re the only one who can calm him down.”

  Sure, it was childish, but Mr. Cranky-pants was the name Jen had given their manager, Kevin. Laken rolled her eyes and sighed. She was too tired to deal with Kevin today. “I’ll see what’s going on. Be right back.”

  She followed the narrow hall back to Kevin’s office, wiping her hands on her apron. “Hey, Kev, what’s wrong?”

  “The cash register came up short again yesterday. If it happens again, I’m going to have to let one of you go.”

  Whoa, this wasn’t just a bad day. This was a big freaking deal. Neither she or Jen could afford to lose their jobs. Jen had a little boy at home, two years old, and no one to support them. It would be Christmas soon and Laken couldn’t imagine how awful it would be if Jen couldn’t buy her little boy any gifts.

  On the other hand, since Laken’s dad had died, she had no one to support her, either. Somehow, even though he’d been partners in a business and they hadn’t exactly been poor, her father hadn’t left a will. If he had, no one could find it.

  Her stepmother’s first action after the funeral had been to kick Laken out of the house and vow not to give her another dime, either for college or to live on. Laken didn’t mind so much being financially independent if you could call the frugal way she lived that, but her father had saved all her life for her to become a doctor. It’s all she’d ever wanted.

  She brushed her hair away from her espresso black eyes, where it had fallen from her bun. “Kevin, calm down. There’s got to be a logical explanation.”

  Kevin stood and scrubbed at his short beard with a hand. “If there is, I can’t figure it out. I don’t think either of you girls would steal from the till, but I’ve got to answer to the owners.”

  Laken sat down in a chair beside his desk. “Have you considered the register might be going wonky? It’s pretty old. It’s not out of the question that it’s not recording when we have to comp a coffee or invalidate a sale.”

  “I’ll see about getting a new one, but I honestly doubt the owners are going to spring for it.” He sat down behind his desk and picked up the phone. “You should get back to work.”

  Laken’s chest hitched when she tried to breathe. This was scary, for her and for Jen. Maybe she should start looking for a new job? She’d hate to leave this place, though. She knew her job, she was good at it and she liked Jen. She even liked Kevin, much as she hated to admit it. But something had to change. She just couldn’t afford to get fired. If she were going to leave, it needed to be on her own terms.

  ***

  Trevor sat across the table from Eleanor Singleton, his best friend’s widow of the last three years. This was one hell of a way to spend his forty-fourth birthday. He drummed his fingers on the table, eager to get this meeting over with.

  They didn’t have a board of directors or investors. There was only him and Eleanor.

  Before, when it was him and Frank, things had been easy. This company was their baby. Trevor had no kids of his own. When his wife was alive, he never gave up half hoping she’d take pregnant, but she never did. He supposed one of them had been infertile. She hadn’t been interested in pursuing any treatments. He’d accepted that, as he had many things going on in his life. It hadn’t been a happy marriage.

  He never intended to settle for less than the best life had to offer ever again.

  “Eleanor, you can’t really want to sell the company Frank worked so hard to build.”

  “I have no interest in this company, especially if it’s not bringing me any profit.” She scowled at him and lit a cigarette. There was an ordinance against smoking in public places, including office buildings. Eleanor could care less if they got cited, so she lit up during all of their meetings. It never seemed to worry her that Frank had died of lung cancer after a long-fought battle to survive.

  Trevor stood and shut the office door, so at least his employees wouldn’t be subjected to her secondhand smoke. “Goddamn it, how much do you want for your share?”

  She picked up a pen, grabbed a post-it and shoved it at Trevor. He picked it up. It was outlandish—the company, which she only owned half of, was nowhere near this much. “If we sold today, you’d never get this much.”

  “All the same, if you want my half, that’s what it’s worth.”

  He’d try reasoning with her. He willed his voice to come out calm and even. He couldn’t seem to help his jaw clench. “Why do you want to sell?”

  “I want to move me and my kids to Florida. I’m tired of living through these cold winters here in Ohio.” She fluffed her hair out and gave him a serene smile.

  “Ellie, be reasonable for a change. What if the company were turning a profit again?” Running the business without Frank and his ingenuity had proved more difficult than Trevor would’ve ever imagined.

  She stabbed her cigarette out in her empty mug of coffee. “I’m through being reasonable. I’ve waited and waited for you to pull this company together, and I’m done waiting.”

  “We’re finally out of the red. We’ll be profitable again within the next year.” Trevor had worked his ass off to bring the company this far.

  “You forget that I don’t still have Frank’s salary to support me.”

  That was just selfish lies—Frank had left behind life insurance, savings and this company. He’d heard through the grapevine that Eleanor and Laken, Frank’s daughter from his first marriage, had parted ways. He didn’t ask her about it. She held fifty percent interest in his company. If he could afford to buy her out, he would, but he doubted he could. He’d been keeping the company afloat for the last few years with his own savings.

  Eleanor jumped up. ”I’m done arguing with you, Trevor. Either make this company profitable in the next three months, or we sell. That’s all there is to it.”

  She stalked out of the room, slamming the door behind her, and he sat down. Rage and helplessness sizzled through his veins, reminding him of the night when he’d asked his wife for a divorce.

  He’d never forgiven himself for what happened after, and now he was letting Frank down, too. He refused to accept that there was nothing he could do.

  ***

  Laken pushed her braid back over her shoulder and blinked at the man who’d just come into Coffee Hut. He looked familiar. Like, really familiar. And he was handsome, a little bit older. Thick brown hair came down in a widow’s peak on his forehead. Caramel brown eyes and full lips rounded out his features. Even though he’d probably shaved that morning, a trace of stubble shadowed his chin.

  He came up to her, in his business suit, and tilted his head. “Laken? Is that you?”

  “Oh, my gosh.” She would recognize that voice anywhere. She hadn’t seen him in three years. “Trevor Elliot. I knew that I recognized you.”

  “How are you? You doing okay?” He looked around at the dilapidated cafe then back at her, an eyebrow raised.

  “Let me get you some coffee and then we can sit and talk for a few minutes. What would you like?” She smiled, she couldn’t help herself. It had been so long since she’d seen a friendly face. And a handsome one, too.

  He ordered a plain black coffee and she grabbed a latte for herself, then led him to a table in the corner. “I’m taking my break, Jen,” she called out over her shoulder.

  “Cool,” Jen replied, helping the next customer. They were a hole-in-the-wall business, but they got by with plenty of locals coming in for coffee.

  They sat together and he just stared at her until she became so uncomfortable that she took a sip of her latte and gazed out the window.

  “I’m sorry,” he said. He didn’t sound sorry and his eyes roamed her body. “You’ve become such a beauty. I can’t seem to reconcile you w
ith that tomboy I knew.”

  She wished he wouldn’t. Her cheeks flamed at his praise. She didn’t know why, maybe because she tingled when he looked at her, but she wanted him to find her attractive.

  Of course, he’d never be interested in her. She was young, inexperienced. She’d never thought that not being with anyone sexually made her somehow deficient, before now. Of course, a man like him would want someone who knew how to be a lover.

  Her cheeks burned, probably turning her face an uncomplimentary shade of red, at the turn her thoughts had taken. She scrubbed absently at the Formica tabletop with her napkin as Christmas music flowed from the speakers “So, tell me how you are, Trevor. How’s business?”

  “It’s business. Could be better, could be worse. We’re doing okay now, but losing your dad was a huge loss.”

  “For me, too.” She put a hand over his and a thrum of electricity shot through her.

  “So what are you doing? You should be just about finished with your undergrad degree, shouldn’t you?”

  “I work. And work some more. I’m saving for school right now, not attending.”

  He turned his hand over to squeeze hers. “But your dad saved all his life for your schooling.”

  “Tell my stepmother that.” Laken sighed. “You know what, it doesn’t matter. Let’s talk about happier things.”

  “You can’t be making much here.”

  “I get by.” She sat up straighter in her chair. She wanted him to see her as a woman who took care of herself.

  Not that it mattered. She’d never actually fall for anyone, much less someone the same age her father would be now. When you loved people, you just ended up losing them. It was a hard lesson, but she’d learned it.

  “At least come work for the company. We can get you a secretarial job. It would pay better, and you wouldn’t have to work two jobs.” He let go of her hand, as though he’d just realized they’d been clasped together for the longest time. “I insist. Let me help you out that much. Your dad would want me to.”

  She looked around Coffee Hut, and thought what it would be like to not be on her feet for sixteen hours a day? Just then, Kevin came out, a murderous expression on his face. The time had come. He was going to have to fire one of them. Maybe if she left on her own, Jen could keep her job.

  “Yes. I am all about working at my dad’s company. I’d love that.”

  “Great. Come in tomorrow. I’ll have HR get you set up with someone right away.”

  He took a last chug of his coffee, got up and walked out.

  Laken crossed behind the counter and tugged Kevin back into the hallway. “I know you have to get rid of one of us. Let me save you the trouble—I quit.”

  Kevin ran a hand through red hair that badly needed a trim. “I hate that it’s come to this.”

  “Me, too. But Jen can’t afford to be without work and a great opportunity just came my way. Two birds, one stone, right?”

  Laken took off her apron, handed it to Kevin, and walked out to give Jen a hug. “Call me later, I’ll explain everything.”

  And just like that, Laken walked out of Coffee Hut and into, hopefully, a brand new life.

  Chapter Two

  Laken woke up the next day excited for her fresh start. Taking particular time on her appearance, she carefully applied her makeup to make her look like a woman. She stared into her closet and went through her clothes, discarding most of them.

  When you worked in a diner or coffeehouse, tee shirts and jeans were acceptable, even encouraged. But, in an office? She needed something snazzier.

  She finally settled on a white, lacy blouse and a thin, black pencil skirt. It showed off her shapely calves, one of her best features. She brushed and curled her hair, then decided it made her look too young wearing it down. She pulled it up into a full bun on top of her head and pulled some random curls down to float around her face.

  Humming to a song on the radio, she tried to ignore that she wanted to impress Trevor. She just couldn’t help it—his handsome face came to her mind unbidden. She wanted to make him notice her. Just a little. Okay, a lot, if she were being honest with herself. It didn’t matter. Nothing would come of it.

  She’d had so little to get excited about in the years since her dad’s death. Her boyfriend at the time had deemed her “too depressing,” and left with barely a goodbye. She hadn’t been in love with him, so it was no great loss. She’d never been in love with anyone, which was exactly why she was still a virgin. No one had ever swept her off her feet, made her forget everything. Until that happened, she’d stay squarely in the no-experience category.

  She rode the bus to her dad’s old office, a security firm. He and Trevor had started it a couple of years after she was born with their own savings. Her dad had always had a head for business. It would make her heart ache to be there without him, but she thought he’d be happy for her. At least this would get her off her feet, maybe let her put a little more into her measly savings account.

  She climbed off the bus at her stop and walked the rest of the way. Once there, she went straight to Trevor’s office, instead of reporting to HR. She just wanted to say hi before she started.

  He looked up at her knock on the door jamb. He’d been engrossed in print-outs on his desk. “Oh, Laken. Look at you.” He stood up and took his time perusing her. By the time he brought his gaze back to hers, it was as though all the oxygen in the room had been eaten up. She struggled to just breathe like a normal person.

  “Hi.” She smiled at him, shyness overcoming her all at once. “It’s so strange being here without my dad.”

  “To be honest, I feel the same way sometimes.”

  Laken did a half turn back to the empty desk outside his office. “Where’s your secretary?”

  He leaned back on his desk, his hands resting on the flat surface. He looked scrumptious in a black suit and red tie. “Here’s the thing. My secretary went on maternity leave, and she just let me know yesterday evening that she doesn’t plan to come back. If you’re uncomfortable working with me, since we know each other, I’ll understand and have someone transferred. But, if you’d like, you can work with me.” He gave a little shrug. “For me.”

  She didn’t know what to say. She’d very much enjoy seeing him every day. It was just a harmless crush and she’d get over it eventually. It’s not like he was going to feel the same way in a million years. “That’s perfect. I’d love that.”

  Was she too eager? She felt her cheeks warming up, betraying her with a blush. “What I mean is,” she went on, “I already quit my other two jobs, and I’d be happy working with you. Happier than working with someone I don’t know. Promise you’ll be gentle while I learn the ropes?”

  His eyes flashed, dark and intense. “I can’t promise anything. I’ll do my best, how about that?”

  Had she made him angry? She went out to her new desk, put her purse away, and started going through the large pile of paperwork on his secretary’s desk. On her new desk.

  ***

  Trevor shut the door firmly behind Laken and wandered back to his desk. He could ignore the now beautiful young woman working for him with the door shut. He’d lied to her, and he hated himself for it.

  He had specifically asked that a more experienced secretary not be transferred to work for him. He was the boss. Of course, he wouldn’t get the secretary fresh off the street, without any training. Judy in HR would never make a mistake like that.

  Still, he’d asked and she’d accepted. Nothing wrong in that, was there?

  But there was, because as he sat down behind his desk and put his feet up, it occurred to him for the hundredth time since yesterday that Laken was a beautiful young woman.

  She was his best friend’s daughter, and he wanted her with a fire that could burn down buildings. So much had changed since Frank had died, and in that time, Laken had become a woman.

  Since his wife’s death, Trevor had taken lovers. He was a widower, and there was no guilt in that. But
his old partner’s daughter, who was half his age? That was madness.

  Laken was probably a fine young woman, and he didn’t deserve her. Didn’t deserve to indulge, to let himself want her in a way that had him sitting in his goddamn office, his cock hard as a concrete slab.

  He would never fall in love again because he’d quite literally broken his wife’s heart. She’d died the same night he’d asked her for a divorce. No one knew that. They’d assumed he was a grief-stricken widower, but he’d been more hurt when Laken’s father died. The man had been his best friend.

  He had a responsibility to make sure nothing happened to Laken and he was the wolf at the door. Maybe he should talk to HR and have her transferred. “Laken!” he called out.

  Laken walked in and he noticed how she filled out her slim skirt with curves, the luscious shape of her calves that begged for his tongue to explore. “I’ve rethought this. Maybe us working together isn’t the best idea.”

  Her face fell, and she looked stricken. “Sure, whatever you want.”

  He picked up the phone and dialed Judy’s extension, his entire HR department. “Judy,” he said when she answered, putting her on speaker. “I’ve thought it over some more. Why don’t you transfer Laken Singleton to someone else?”

  “There is no one else.”

  “I’m sorry?” He sat up in his chair and jabbed a finger at the phone. “You said Gary in accounting needed a secretary just this morning.”

  “I did. But I’ve already hired someone. They’ve completed their HR packet, which Ms. Singleton hasn’t done yet. It wouldn’t be right to fire her.”

  “Can’t you switch them?”

  Judy sighed. “This girl is in college to be an accountant. She could be a real asset to Gary. I just feel like the placement works as is. But,” she said, her voice belabored, “you’re the boss.”

  “No. Leave her with Gary.” He slapped the speaker button and cut the phone off. He tried to think of something else, but he couldn’t put Laken on one of the security teams. She had no training. “I don’t know about this, Laken.”