I flinched when my cell buzzed. My mother’s name displayed on it when I picked it up. She likely wanted to wish me well on my first day.
“Good morning, Mom.” I leaned on the edge of my desk as I continued to look out the window.
“Hello, my sweetheart. You sound so happy this morning. You excited about your new position?”
I was in my late twenties, but I felt like a little boy when my mom called me that. “Yes. But it doesn’t seem all that new.”
“True. You’ve been shadowing your father for a while, and now I can’t believe the time has come for you to run the company. You’re going to be great. As for your father, it will take some time for him to get used to the idea he’s retired. Did you know he’s at work?”
“What? Then why did he promote me?” I didn’t mean to raise my voice.
“You know your dad. He can’t stay away. He’s probably taking care of loose ends. Don’t tell him I told you. Just pretend you don’t know.”
It would have been easier if she hadn’t told me in the first place.
“Sure. I can do that. Besides, I’ll be in meetings all day. I doubt I’ll run into him.”
“Good. Have you seen Matthew?” A weary tone replaced her happy one.
I scrubbed the back of my head. “No. Not yet. I didn’t know he was in town.”
“He came yesterday. I was hoping he would come for dinner. We had a long talk last night. I wish—”
“Mom. He’s a big boy. He just needs time to find himself again.”
Mom’s heavy, concerned sigh echoed in my ear. “It’s my fault. I babied him. I suppose he’s still young. And I understand about what happened to Tessa, but your father at twenty-one, he had dreams and—”
“Well, we were both spoiled. What can I say?”
“You’re right. He’ll come around when he’s ready. He promised to come by at dinner. I hope he will. Will you come, too?”
“Hold on.” I put her on speaker and scrolled to my calendar on my phone. “I’ll be over by seven. Sound good?”
“Good. I can’t wait to have both of my boys under the same roof. It’s been so long. See you then.”
“Bye, Mom. Have a good day.”
I moved from the edge of desk, sat on my black leather seat, and turned on the computer. After thirty minutes, I checked the time. I had a meeting in ten minutes.
“Mr. Knight?” Mandy’s voice rang through a speaker on my desk.
I pressed a button. “Mandy.”
“Sorry to disturb you, but you have a meeting in ten minutes. I know you’re busy working and wanted to give you a heads-up.”
“Thank you, Mandy. I appreciate the reminder. I’ll see you there.”
Chapter 2
Employees greeted me as I sauntered down the hallway. When I opened the door to the meeting room, everyone was already seated. I said hello and looked at the clock on the wall. I admired their punctuality. Either that or they wanted to impress the new boss.
“Good morning.” I took my iPad out of my briefcase and set it down.
My pulse kicked up and I fought the urge to loosen my tie. All eyes settled on me, waiting. I had attended the monthly meetings with department heads plenty of times, so why did my stomach tumble with nerves?
Piece of cake, Max. Don’t be a wuss. Take charge.
I cleared my throat. “Let’s begin.” I flashed a glance at Mandy, letting her know she could start taking minutes. I unlocked my iPad and opened the agenda.
“Before I begin the meeting, I just want to express my gratitude and thank you for all the support you have given my father and now I hope you’ll give to me. It is my honor to work with you all. I still have a lot to learn, but I promise you, I’ll be working just as hard, if not harder than my father.”
Applause filled the room.
I smiled and met each person’s eyes in turn.
“Congrats on your new position.”
“You’ve worked hard.”
“Thank you. Let’s continue. Sales are doing well. Even going ahead with the online magazine, we’ve not seen a dip in US, but in Asia we have.”
“Having the option to go paperless was an exciting idea, Max,” said Victor, the director of formatting.
“Thank you.”
“I have a new global report, Mr. Knight.” Carrie from Finance lifted a folder. “This report indicates we’re taking a hit in Asia by ten percent.”
“Yes, I’m aware. I plan to take a trip end of this week. Don’t worry, I’ve got it handled.”
“I’m sure you do.” Carrie’s smile was infectious.
If I wasn’t mistaken, her voice hinted a little flirtation.
“A dinner and sweet-talking won’t hurt.” I chuckled.
Laughter filled the room.
“Don’t forget to hire strippers.” Carrie’s face turned pink when the room went silent. “Oh my God. I was just joking.” Her face flushed brighter.
Chuckles returned.
Carrie’s shoulders eased and she flashed a glance my way. Her innocence was quite charming. I hadn’t noticed it before.
After I dismissed the meeting, I leaned back in my chair and checked my agenda. Grabbing my briefcase, I was the last one to leave. When I stepped out, my phone buzzed.
I pulled my phone out from inside my pocket when something—no, someone—collided into me. Stumbling, I caught my elbow on the doorway.
“I’m so sorry.”
The sultry voice told me the person was a female. Then our eyes locked.
Motionless, I stared into warm, sky-blue eyes, the prettiest I’d ever seen. Her blonde hair cascaded over half her face, but I knew a good-looking woman when I saw one. And she was a goddess.
She stood straight, the top of her head level with my chin. Slowly, her lips curled into a smile brighter than the sunrise, and the gleam in her eyes told me she liked what she saw.
“Apology accepted.” I nodded politely and tried not to lower my eyes down her full length.
Don’t look. Don’t look. It’s not professional to look.
Too late. My mind told my eyes to do one thing, but the man in me couldn’t help himself. She wore a tight black pencil skirt, and a white sweater hugged the curves of her breasts. My mind wandered to a place it shouldn’t.
Stop it. Be professional. But she has no idea I stripped her naked in my mind.
She smiled again, showing me all her pearly, polished teeth, and crouched to pick up something. When she rose, her head stopped right in front of my jewels, long enough to send a hot, tingling sensation down to my toes. Then she met my eyes again as she closed the gap between us.
Wicked witch. She did that on purpose. But oh, how I enjoyed this daring, dangerous encounter.
“Here.” She handed me a cell phone. “You dropped your phone.”
I froze for a second, registering her words. “Well, I believe I have. Thank you for picking it up. That was kind of you.”
I barely knew what I’d said. Wanting to keep her there with me a bit longer, I babbled nonsense.
“Anyway, my name is Crystal. I was recently hired in the Customer Relations Department as director. I believe we’ll be flying together to South Korea.”
I swallowed. “I wasn’t aware I had a flying partner.”
She pushed a lock of hair behind her ear and shifted in her high heels. “I was just informed through email. You were cc’d as well.”
I scrunched my face in confusion. “Who sent the email?”
“Mr. Knight.”
I gave her a sidelong glance. “You must be mistaken. I’m Mr. Knight.”
Crystal leaned closer. Her sweet, flowery perfume floated around me, carrying me away into a dreamland of lust and desire.
“I know who you are, but isn’t your father Mr. Knight as well?”
I felt like an idiot. Father wouldn’t dare assign me a companion without asking, would he? Yeah, right. He would.
“My father retired. He doesn’t get to make the call.”
My voice stayed tame, but anger made my heart pound faster.
“Oh.” She created distance between us. “Then I’m sorry to have brought it up. Maybe you should go speak to him. However, I would love to accompany you on your business trip. You’re going to need someone like me as your right hand. Our competitors are aggressive and I know how to do my job to get the deal done. And right now, with Asia slowly sinking away from Knight Fashion, you need all the players in your court. Thank you for your time, Mr. Knight. Think about it.” With that, she winked and sauntered away.
I stood there like a horny schoolboy and watched her hips sway, the tightness in her ass making me drool.
Somehow this woman I hardly knew melted me into a puddle.
Chapter 3
Crystal
Maxwell Knight—a man of honor, dignity, not to mention good-looking and quite the great catch—would be mine. He didn’t know I existed, but he would after today.
I had called Mandy earlier to get an appointment with Maxwell, but his schedule was jam-packed. Back-to-back meetings. She did ask me if it was urgent and said she would squeeze me in, but my meeting with him was not a top priority.
So I had to improvise.
I took a chance and waited by the meeting room. It seemed stalkerish of me, but I had to meet him today.
Employees rushed out. Being recently hired, I recognized only a few of them.
No Maxwell.
Mandy had told me the floor and conference room number. Could she have given me the wrong information? After all, she had only been promoted today.
Lucky girl. I would love to service Maxwell all day.
Just as I was about to leave, he came out. I didn’t mean to bump into him, but I had dashed toward him without thinking. But colliding into him couldn’t have worked any better.
“I’m so sorry.” I used my most sultry voice.
Then our eyes locked when he recovered his balance.
Motionless, he stared into my eyes. Damn. I had seen him on magazines, seen him from a distance, but in person… His photo didn’t do him justice.
Over six feet of him towered over me. His broad shoulders showed both his strength and that he was someone who took care of himself. The dark gray suit highlighted his toned body, and he looked debonair and delicious.
I slowly beamed an approving smile, taking all of him in. He was my candy, and mentally I was licking him all over.
“Apology accepted.” He nodded politely.
When his gaze roamed my body, I swear I felt naked. Take me now. I would’ve stripped for him right then and there. And my mind wandered to a place it shouldn’t.
You have no idea what I’m doing to you in my mind.
I smiled again and reached down to pick up his cell. He didn’t seem aware that he’d dropped it. When I rose, I stopped right in front of his family jewels. Not because I had planned it but because I was imagining how beautiful he would be.
I met his eyes again, closing the gap between us.
“Here.” I handed him his cell phone. “You dropped your phone.”
He blinked as if coming out of a stupor. “Well, I believe I have. Thank you for picking it up. That was kind of you.”
Maxwell seemed flustered. Had I made him nervous? I snickered under my breath.
“Anyway, my name is Crystal. I was recently hired in the Customer Relations Department as director. I believe we’ll be flying together to South Korea.”
He raked his hair back, confused. “I wasn’t aware I had a flying partner.”
You are now. Flying partner. I love that thought.
I tucked some hair behind my ear and shifted in my high heels. My toes pressed against the sides from standing too long while I waited for him. “I was just informed through email. You were cc’d as well.”
He scrunched his face in confusion. “Who sent the email?”
“Mr. Knight.”
He gave me a sidelong glance. “You must be mistaken. I’m Mr. Knight.”
I leaned closer, needing to smell him. His cologne had teased me, but I needed more, wanted more. “I know who you are, but isn’t your father Mr. Knight as well?”
“My father retired. He doesn’t get to make the call.”
His tone made me sorry for the misstep. I had to do something to fix it.
“Oh.” I created distance between us. “Then I’m sorry to have brought it up. Maybe you should go speak to him. However, I would love to accompany you on your business trip. You’re going to need someone like me as your right hand. Our competitors are aggressive and I know how to do my job to get the deal done. And right now, with Asia slowly sinking away from Knight Fashion, you need all the players in your court. Thank you for your time, Mr. Knight. Think about it.” With that, I winked and sauntered away.
I felt the weight of Maxwell staring as I walked away. Hopefully he was staring at my ass, thinking dirty thoughts of me. The same way my mind ran wild with us naked in bed.
Maxwell Knight, I can’t wait to be under the covers with you.
Chapter 4
Maxwell
“Max.” My father gave me a manly hug and smiled proudly.
“Max.” Mother embraced me and patted my face. Her infectious smile and joy made me smile, too.
I kissed my mother’s cheek and passed the foyer, looking for my little brother I’d missed so much.
“Hello, Max.” My brother greeted me with a hug when I rounded the corner of the hall.
“Hello, Matt.” I tightened my hold on him and let go.
As soon as I passed the kitchen, the aroma of pot roast hit me. I hadn’t had much to eat for lunch, and my growling stomach reminded me.
I gave polite nods to the cooks, grabbed a beer out of the fridge, popped the cap open, and settled on the sofa. Matthew dropped next to me.
“Congrats on your new position, boss.” Matthew raised his bottle at me.
I tapped it with mine. “Thank you. And don’t call me boss.”
Matthew leaned back lazily and put his feet on the table. “Well, if I work there, you’ll be my boss. So I’m going to call you boss, boss.” He smirked.
I raised an eyebrow, reining in the elation coursing through me. “You’re going to work with me?”
Matthew gulped a long one. “Yes, I am, but not tomorrow, or in a week. I need another month, I think. I’m getting tired of traveling. I need to settle down. Right next to you, big bro, so I can bug the shit out of you.” He chuckled.
“Just don’t live across from or beside me. Maybe the next city. Put some miles between us.” I lightly punched his arm.
I didn’t mean it, of course. Having Matthew in the same city would be enough, but having him even closer would make my day. Family was everything to me, and after Matthew had been gone for so long, I was happy he decided to return to put down roots.
Matthew took another drink and rested an elbow on the sofa cushion. “No matter the miles between us, you know I’ll be in your face.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.” I grinned. “So, how are things? Have you seen Tess’s family?”
The love of Matthew’s life had died after a devastating car accident. A drunk driver had hit her car on a rainy day. Tess’s family had eventually decided to take her off life support, and Matthew lost himself that day.
I had been there for him, and he did stay with me for a bit. Then he decided to travel by himself for a year. Sometimes he met his friends in Europe and spent time with them, and sometimes he visited other countries by himself.
I never wanted to know what it was like to lose someone you love like that. Our family had been patient with him. He needed time to heal, time to process and find the meaning of life himself without being told what to do.
“No, I haven’t seen them.” Matthew shook his head, his expression turned somber. “Can we talk about something else? So anyone special in your life?”
Crystal’s face flashed in my mind and my body warmed. “No one special, but maybe I met one
today.”
Matthew sat up tall and twisted his body to face me. “No, shit. At work? You have to be careful with the ladies there. They’re vultures.” He snorted. “If things don’t work out … well, you know what will happen. And you need to watch out for the gold diggers. They know how much you’re worth.”
I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. “I know.”
“Is she the always-and-forever type?”
Matthew and I had this saying… Don’t get attached to a woman unless she’s the always-and-forever type.
“I don’t know. We haven’t gone out on a date yet.” I twirled my bottle, watching the liquid swirl. “She’s joining me on my business trip to South Korea in two days. I suppose I’ll get to know her then.”
Matthew hiked up his brow. “Business trip? I see. Don’t rush things.”
“Who says anything is going to happen?”
“Uh-huh. I know you.”
We stopped our conversation when Mom and Dad entered.
“It’s so nice to see both of you in the same room.” Mom sat next to Matthew, looking nostalgic. “Every time I look at you two, I see my little boys.”
Dad squeezed my shoulder, sitting next to me. “I can’t believe Max is taking over the company.”
“Speaking of which.” I twisted at the waist to face my dad. “Did you by any chance set up my itinerary with someone named Crystal? She’s the new head of Customer Relations.”
Dad peered up to the ceiling and then back at me. “I might have suggested at one of the meetings before today that the customer relations person should go with you, so she could get to know the clients as well. Nothing beats a face-to-face relationship. I’ve told you that many times. Your job requires travel, as you know I have done. Sometimes, you can’t be in two places at once. So it’s a good idea for you to have someone as your backup. In the meantime, it’s a good idea for Crystal to go with you. It would be a better idea for Matt to go with you, but until he’s ready to settle into Knight Fashion, we’ll have to train someone else.”
Alphas of Seduction Page 7
