by King, Kelsey
As they start discussing my work, I walk away. Even though they compliment my creativity my eyes burn with shame as I hurry toward the elevator, speaking with Tammy is long forgotten.
Was this what everyone thought? That I was screwing Branson to get Lisa’s job?
I take a few deep breaths in the elevator trying to ignore what I’ve just heard. But it isn’t that easy. I want to be respected, not gossiped about.
How do they know about Branson and me? How does anyone know? We’ve kept our affair completely secret. I remember the cleaner who had caught us beneath his desk, but I shove the thought aside. She didn’t even know it was me.
But their words start a sequence of errant thoughts that bug me throughout the day.
Branson walks into my office shortly after six o’clock. “Can I take you to dinner?” he asks awkwardly.
Ever since we’d started seeing each other, we’ve only ever had sex. We’ve shared take out in my apartment once and the dinner in Florida, but that’s it.
My eyebrows rise as I meet his gaze and the conversation I overheard rushes to the front of my mind. What if anyone sees us leave together? But it’s not enough to stop me.
I sigh heavily, give him a smile, and a head nod then grabs my coat and my purse. As I walk out of my office ahead of him, I search for my courage. This wasn’t dinner; this was me needing to end whatever it was I had with Branson.
I would not let our thing interfere with my career. If my colleagues were already whispering about an upcoming promotion because I was screwing the boss, who knew what would be next. I can’t do this. I can’t throw away everything I’ve worked for, for sex. I’ll be known as a whore in the industry, and that’s not what I want.
Granted, it was fantastic sex, but I just can’t. I step into the elevator, making sure there’s ample space between Branson and me as the doors close.
I sigh with relief when we reach the foyer and exit the building without seeing another person. Branson hails a cab, and I climb in without meeting his eyes.
As soon as he slides in beside me his hand reaches for my knee. I clench my teeth trying to ward off the heat that his touch incites when his voice interrupts my resolve.
“Riley, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” I say, glancing out the window and watching as New York passes us by.
The cab pulls up to an upscale restaurant on Fifth Avenue. Branson greets the waitress by name before we’re shown to the best table in the house. Within a few seconds, we’re served wine, and Branson is apparently a regular patron as they didn’t even ask his order. For a second I wonder if he bought Lisa here too.
I shake my head at the thought, and Branson’s hand closes over mine. “Riley, spit it out. You’re coiled tight as a new mattress.”
I meet his blue gaze and consider lying, but I find the guts to tell him the truth. “I don’t know if I can keep doing this.”
Branson’s eyes cloud with confusion as he takes his hand away from mine. If I said I’m an alien from the Mars, I’m sure he wouldn’t be more shocked. “You don’t enjoy this?”
“Yes,” I whisper before clearing my throat. I take a fortifying sip of wine before our eyes meet again. “I don’t want our relationship to interfere with my career.”
“It isn’t. In fact…” Branson smiles and takes my wrist. He rubs small circles on the inside waking up all my fuck-me-now hormones. “I think it’s made you better at your job.”
I smile and shake my head. “They’re talking, Branson. I heard two women today say that…” I sigh and take another sip of wine. “It doesn’t matter what they said it just matters that they think I’m sleeping with you to get ahead.”
“But we both know that’s not true, so why does it matter?”
“It matters to me. I still want to make a name for myself. I don’t want people thinking I got a leg up professionally because I fucked you.” My words sound harsh to my own ears, but I can’t stop them from tumbling out. A waiter arrives as I say the last few words and he quickly retakes his leave. “That’s what they’re saying, Branson.”
Branson huffs before calling the waiter and barking out an order of two medium-rare New York strips. He turns to me, this time his eyes are as cold as the Antarctic. “You and I know that isn’t the truth, so before you kick me to curb Riley, answer this. Do you want to fuck me?”
His voice is low and ruthless and a thrill courses through my body at the hint of danger. I nod and play with the stem of my wine glass.
“That’s settled then. Who were they;? They’ll be out on their asses before noon tomorrow.”
My eyes widen as his words. “Branson, you can’t just fire them.”
“Why not? I don’t like gossip-mongers anymore than I like stupid-fucks and don’t want either working for me. Who were they?”
I get a glimpse of the ruthless man he had warned me he was. I pull my hair up into a messy bun on top my head and fasten it with a band I had around my wrist from when I let it down earlier, anything to diffuse the atmosphere between us. “Branson I don’t know.” I know where they sit, but I don’t know their names.
“You’re protecting them, why would you do that?” Branson taunts me. I can see his carotid bouncing in his neck.
“I don’t want them to lose their jobs because I couldn’t say no. And I really don’t know their names, just what they look like.” I say the words, ashamed to admit they’re true.
“I couldn’t say no either, and I still won’t. No one is going to determine who I’m with and no one is going to make you feel bad for doing it. This isn’t stopping unless you can look me in the eye and tell me you never want me to touch you again.”
My breath hastens even as my nipples harden. I know I can’t look him in the eye and say that, for fuck sakes, my body was already begging for his touch again.
“Right.” He grins at me satisfied. “Now since that’s settled, I have something else I want to discuss with you. I’m tired of playing hide and seek. I don’t give a damn who knows I’m seeing you, come tomorrow morning we will no longer be a secret.”
I gasp at his words, my eyes widen at the thought of the whole company knowing about our relationship. “Branson, you can’t be serious.”
“I’m as serious as I was the first day I met you. I don’t give a damn. I want the world to know you’re mine.”
A thrill runs through my body at the words. Mine.
“Okay, but can we at least take it slow?” I ask in a small voice.
“I’ve already fucked you seven ways to Sunday, and now you want to take it slow?” Branson’s crude words make a blush bloom on my cheeks. Heat rushes to my face, and his blunt words turn me on.
“Yes. Branson, just for a few days to let me get used to the idea before you go shouting it from the company’s newsletter.”
Branson chuckles and shakes his head as he starts cutting into his New York strip. “Fine, but just a few days.” As he bites the meat off his fork, his eyes are taunting me. Why did I have a feeling I just unleashed a caged tiger? “It would make for good reading though.”
I giggle and cut into my steak.
Later, as Branson sit beside me in the cab, I can feel the anticipation build in my belly. I know exactly what I want for dessert, I think to myself as I slide my hand up his thigh. Branson groans and glares at me with a look that melts my panties instantly.
As the cab draws up in front of my building, I rush out, eager to have him to myself.
He follows me out of the cab, but instead of following me into the building he grabs my arm and crushes me against the side of the building. His thick arousal presses into my heat as he destroys me with an intoxicating kiss. I feel my knees weaken for a moment until he suddenly steps back with a wicked grin. “Remember, Riley? We’re taking it slow.”
He heads back to the cab and gets in. The car quickly turns back into traffic and drives away, leaving me standing in front of my building; panties drenched, knees weak, and mouth hanging agape.
1
4
Branson
“Branson? Do you have a minute?” I lift my head from the profit and loss report in front me at the sound of Lisa’s voice. She’s standing just inside the door of my office. Curious, I let my eyes trail over her business suit and platinum hair and feel nothing.
Not even a hint of a stir.
I wonder why I was ever attracted to her as I gesture for her to step into my office.
She takes a seat and checks her manicure, giving me a minute to get lost in my thoughts. Riley is the first thing that comes to mind, a new habit of mine. My cock is already throbbing at the thought of leaving the office early. We have taken it slow long enough. Two days was my limit, I needed my Riley fix, and I was getting it tonight.
Lisa clears her throat bringing me back to the present. I meet her gaze and feel irritated by the condescending look she gives me.
“Branson, this is hard for me to say, but as your Creative Director I feel I need to be honest with you.” Her voice drips with honey, but I know its really acid.
“Fine, be honest.” I huff, I already don’t like where this was going.
“Rumors are floating around about you and Riley Harper.” Lisa’s eyes drop to her lap as she says Riley’s name.
My temper fizzes at her words. I’ve promised Riley to take it slow, and I’ve kept my word. I haven’t told anyone about our relationship. So where the fuck was Lisa getting this? I crack my knuckles as I tilt my head. “What about Riley and me?”
Lisa sighs and her shoulders sag, but I can see straight through the act. She’s enjoying every fucking minute of this. “People who are saying that you and Riley have been seeing each other.”
I smirk. Riley and I have been doing much more than just seeing each other. Lisa’s eyes widen at my smirk, she knows she’s overstepping.
“I know things have been strained between us, but I know you would never do this to me, Branson. I know you have more respect for me than to see someone right under my nose.” Emotion gathers in her voice, and I’m tempted to throw her out on her ass.
We haven’t been together in almost eight months, and she’s still holding out hope for some kind of fucked up fictional relationship. “Lisa, we’re not together.”
“Oh good.” She sighs, relieved. “I knew the rumors were just that.”
“Lisa,” I say, slamming my hand down on my desk causing the stapler to bounce and fall over. “You and me aren’t together. I don’t owe you any answers.” I wave impatiently at the space between us.
Her eyes widen before they shine with tears. “Are you seeing Riley?”
I consider telling her the truth, but I remember Riley’s plead of not telling anyone yet. If I admitted our affair to Lisa, it would be all over the company within minutes, and Riley would be judged by it. “No.”
“I believe you, Branson. But I’ve heard things about her that would make you shiver in your boots. She’s not like us.”
I clench my teeth as I consider telling Lisa that Riley is a wonderful person, but I’m not pouring gas on a blazing forest fire.
“Lisa, I’m going to say this once. So you better listen closely.” I rest my hands on the desk between us as I lean closer. My voice drops to a dangerously low octave. “You and I fucked a few times for a few months, but that was long ago. It was over even before it started.” I wait for the words to sink, letting pause stretch into a minute. “I’ll let today slide because of you’re position, but I want to make this goddamn crystal clear. If you ever step into my office confronting me about my personal life again, you’ll be out on your fucking ass so fast, it’ll feel like you’ve been dropped thirty stories.”
I watch the transformation as it happens before my eyes. The first time she flipped a switch on me, it turned me on, but now it just makes me angry as a fucking devil straight out of hell.
The tears are pulled back. Her eyes turn glass-pale even as her mouth quirks into a thin smile. Lisa stands up and rests her hands on the table between us, her face inches from mine. “Let me make this perfectly fucking clear to you, Branson. I will not let you humiliate me. Everyone in this company thinks we’re together, and I’m not letting you prove them wrong by fucking your latest acquisition.”
“Get out of my office,” I say through clenched teeth. If she were a man, my fist would’ve snapped her jaw by now.
Lisa smiles sweetly and glides her fingers through her platinum hair.
“Consider yourself.” She flicks her hair over her shoulder and struts out of my office.
As soon as the door closes, I grab the stapler and haul it across the room against the wall. My temper hasn’t been tested like this in years.
She’s a fucking nutcase. Who the hell was under the illusion that we were together? Sure, I fucked her a few times, we went on a few dates, but that was so long ago, I’ve already forgotten intimidate details.
An uneasy feeling crawls down my spine as I look at the broken stapler on the floor. I don’t have a good feeling about this.
I groan and pinch my eyes closed. Me and my fucking dick. First Lisa and now Riley. I don’t regret Riley, but Lisa… I regret all of it.
I regret hiring her.
I regret fucking her, and now I regret she’s onto Riley and me.
She’s bound to make it a living hell for Riley if her suspicions are confirmed. I squeeze the bridge of my nose and vow to keep a close eye on Lisa, and maybe taking Riley’s advice of taking it slow.
My phone buzzes on the table. I pick it up and smile at the message from Riley.
Riley: My apartment, treasure hunt, and the name of the game is Seek the Heat.
I rub the back of my neck and shake my head as the smile breaks into a laugh. Who didn’t want a girlfriend who sends kinky messages? An iron fist clenches around my heart…did I just use the word girlfriend?
Well shit…
15
Riley
“Oh my God! Did you hear about Weston and Carter? Everyone’s talking about it.” Tammy says, gesticulating with her arms, the mango smoothie in front of her completely forgotten.
“What?” I try to act nonplussed, although my whole system is raging with questions. What is everyone talking about and how am I the last to hear about?
“Seriously? You’re on the same floor? Apparently, she went into his office last night just before his secretary left. The door was closed, and the blinds were drawn.”
“Where did you hear this?” I ask, remembering Branson had said he had a late meeting. He failed to mention his late meeting was with Lisa. I cringe at the text I had sent him, no doubt while he was busy entertaining her. Did he sleep with her? We never discussed not seeing other people, and now I’m questioning everything.
Warring emotions flood my system. When Branson had come over last night, we made love more tender than ever before. Was he really that jaded that he could walk out of his office after having hot office sex with Lisa before coming over to my place? I suddenly yearn for a shower. I need to wash Branson and the Lisa residue off my body.
“His secretary.” Tammy shrugs. “She was about to leave when Weston arrived. She offered her something to drink, but Lisa just told her not to bother they wouldn’t be wasting time with drinks. Needless to say, she left, and we all know what happened in that office.”
My heart clenches in my chest, and my cheeks burn with outrage, but I try my best to hide my reaction from Tammy. Maybe it was nothing, I tell myself.
“Oh,” I say, trying my best to seem uninterested. Even though secretly I want to grab Tammy by the shoulders and force her to tell me everything she knows.
“Yep, and the best part was this morning I noticed Lisa was wearing a ring.”
I cough on my orange juice, not a sweet and innocent clearing your throat cough, but a gut-wrenching, spit flying kind of cough. Surely Tammy didn’t just say a ring?
“Riley, oh my gosh. Are you okay?” Tammy asks, rushing around the table to pat me on my back.
I shake my head and c
lear my throat. “Fine. God I always forget how brutally sour fresh orange juice can be.” I cough a few more times for good measure and push the orange juice aside, although I really need it to dampen the sudden sawdust lining of my throat. “A ring you say?”
“Yep.” Tammy leans closer and glances around conspiratorially as if someone from BPC Advertising would be having lunch at the same café as us. “What type of ring?”
“The big kind!” Tammy’s eyes widen. “The shiny rock on the ring finger kind. I’m telling you before the month is out they’ll probably be officially announcing their engagement.”
“I’m thrilled for them.” I try to smile, but it feels like I’m cracking my cheeks. My heart starts bouncing around in my chest to a very disturbing rhythm.
“You know it’s actually nauseating. Not only is she beautiful and rich but now she’s engaged to the hottest guy in New York. We should actually hate her.”
I laugh at Tammy’s reasoning. Besides the fact I already hate Lisa, I can think of about a hundred more reasons to hate her right now. I close my eyes and suddenly dream about Lisa heading out to lunch right now. She crosses the street and doesn’t see the truck coming from the left; it drives right over her, leaving nothing but a blood spatter in the road beneath her Martinez heels. Of course, the Martinez can’t be ruined, they’re too beautiful. A smug grin crosses my face.
“Why are you smiling?” Tammy asks, confused.
“Just a thought.” I shrug and start to gather my things. “We better get back to the office.”
As we make our way back toward the office, I’m contemplating grabbing the things in my office and leaving for the rest of the day or confronting Branson. I know the latter is probably a better option, but I just can’t stand the thought of him laughing at me. Telling me that he can’t believe how stupid I was to have fallen for him, or even to have seen more in what was nothing more than another office fuck. I cringe at the thought and wave to Tammy as she gets off on her floor.
