by A. Gorman
Say what? I’m totally fucking speechless. Where in the hell does he come off talking to me like that? I’m now seeing red, and I slam my hand on the emergency stop button. The car comes to an abrupt standstill. I’m up in his face, standing on my tiptoes in my heels before he can blink.
“What I do with my free time away from this office is my business, not my father’s. He doesn’t tell me what I can or can’t wear. The last time I checked, I am an adult, so I don’t need his permission to go to a club. And if I want to fuck my best friend on the dance floor, well, that is my business too, definitely not yours. You don’t have to be a dick because I didn’t jump at the chance to ‘remedy’ getting to know you. You don’t know me and I sure in hell don’t want to know you,” I seethe, but stop short when the smell of his cologne invades my senses. Mmm, Ralph Lauren.
Turning around before I lose my pissed-off composure, I hit the emergency stop button again, and as the elevator starts on its way to the forty-ninth floor, I’m breathing heavily. Before the elevator can make it to its destination, he grabs my upper arm, sending jolts of electricity through my body, and spins me around. Reaching around me, he hits the emergency stop button this time. My body caves, begging for this man to take me here and now.
“First of all, I wasn’t being a dick. Secondly, I see where your decisions have led you. Third, I was concerned for your safety, especially after seeing you dressed like a prostitute and dancing like you were trying to crawl inside your friend. There were at least a dozen guys in that place jerking off to your little show. And I do know you. You may think I don’t, but I do. It’s you that doesn’t remember how much I know.”
He stares into my eyes, licking his lips, almost as if he is debating kissing me. His head starts to lower, and I feel myself starting to lean into him. Just as I feel his breath on my face, security comes through the speaker asking us if we are okay since the car’s not moving. He pulls back, speechless for a few moments, but he finally answers in the affirmative as I’m in a daze.
He breaks his eyes away from mine and hits the emergency stop button to start the elevator back on its original destination. A few moments later, I’m getting off the car and heading to my desk. I sit down in my chair and think about how wonderful that asshole’s lips would be on mine.
A clearing of a throat pulls me out of my daze. I look up and see my father.
“Good morning, Father. Are you in the office today?” I ask, secretly hoping he isn’t staying here for long.
“Morning, Jesse. I am taking the week off, but I wanted to come in and tell you where I am going to be and make sure things are in order. I’m taking Chantelle to New York for the week, and I will be in meetings during the day, so please be available in case I need you for files. Also, Natalie was in a car accident over the weekend. You will need to assist Aedan this week with anything he needs, so please don’t give him any of your attitude,” he says with finality in his voice.
I try not to show my annoyance with his instructions. “Yes, Father, I understand. Have safe trip.”
After he leaves the office, I remember I wanted to ask him for Friday off, but he’s already on the elevator on the way back down to the lobby. I guess I can ask Aedan. I roll my eyes at that thought and decide I’ll email Aedan later. I turn on the remaining lights that need to be turned on and fire up my computer.
Wanting to peek at the men that I’ve emailed on my profile, I login to my Denver Singles account and see that a match from last week, Levi Levine, has messaged me back again. Recalling what his profile says, I want to say he’s a college graduate. I know he works in Denver for a reputable company and he works out. The biggest thing that drew me to him was that he isn’t looking for a relationship; hook-ups are fine with him. I totally think he sounds amazing.
We’ve been playing twenty questions back and forth, and I feel comfortable meeting him. Something about the way he answers his questions makes me believe he is genuine…I guess as genuine as you can be on a dating site. I don’t think he’s a psycho stalker or anything.
After reading his thoughts about what an amazing date would be, I see he left his number in his email. Oh my. Do I want to call him? I think I’ll jump in for once. The only thing that has me a little hesitant is he has a picture of this amazing pool instead of him on his profile.
Looking at my watch, I notice it’s eight in the morning and wonder if he is available. I dial his number and hit send. He answers in three rings.
“This is Levi,” a deep, sexy voice answers, sending a chill up my spine.
“Good morning, umm…Levi? This is Jesse from the dating site. I got your email, and I was wondering if you are available to meet up soon,” I say, somewhat apprehensive. I can hear him breathing on the other end of the line.
“Hi, Jesse.” My name rolls off his tongue, making my panties wet. “I was hoping to hear from you. I’ve enjoyed our flirty emails back and forth. I’m out of town this week, but how does dinner and things sound for next Tuesday?”
“Next Tuesday sounds good. Do you have a certain time?” All day long, I think to myself.
“Does six in the evening work for you? I’ll text you with the location when I get back into town to make reservations.”
“That works for me. I’ll email you my cell number in my reply to your questions. I look forward to meeting you, Levi.”
I end the phone call with a huge smile on my face. I can’t wait to meet this man. He sounded so delicious on the phone.
I listen to my office voicemails. There are a few hang-ups, but that’s normal as most of the investors want to talk to a person instead of a machine. I check my email and it’s mostly follow up reminders from my father. He likes to make sure our investors know what is going on with their money via a phone call instead of only sending them a simple statement because he likes to keep business personal. That’s what has made him so successful.
I try to keep myself busy so I don’t think about the confrontation I had with Aedan this morning. In the back of my mind, I can’t help but wonder, What did he mean by he knows a lot about me? I let that thought drift away as I pick up the phone to call the twenty-two clients that my father instructed me to call. I hope these calls will make the morning go by quickly.
Chapter
thirteen
Jesse
After hanging up the phone with the twenty-second client, my cell phone goes off. Laney texted me to let me know that she is waiting for me in the parking lot to go to lunch. I made twenty-two phone calls in less than four hours; I think that has to be a record for me.
After grabbing my purse, I head toward the elevator and press the button, waiting for it to come and whisk me downstairs. I don’t normally drink at lunch, but it’s been a crazy morning and I need a drink.
Laney and I head to the Falling Rock Tap House. The restaurant is one of my favorite places to grab a beer, and they have the most amazing chicken sandwich. Mmm, I can’t wait to get a beer in my hand and food in my belly.
We can’t find a parking space close to the bar, so we park in a garage. I have that same weird feeling that someone is watching me again. I check out the area, but don’t see anyone familiar, nor do I see anyone looking at us, for that matter. I ignore the feeling and hook my elbow with Laney’s as we make our way out of the garage and to the bar.
When we arrive, the restaurant is busy with the lunchtime crowd. We sit at the bar because it’s the only place with open seats. The bartender is busy, but luckily, the menu is on the bar. I peruse the selection of beers. Instantly, I know what I want, New Belgium Fat Tire. The bartender finally comes over to us to take our drink and food order. While taking my order, he is staring at Laney. She’s hot; I’d stare too. He leaves to put our order in and Laney rolls her eyes.
“How did meeting your new bosses go?” I ask as I lean into her, trying not to talk too loud.
“Wonderful! I am so happy I took the position. I’m ecstatic, actually. They want me to come back next week, but I do
n’t know how I can get this all worked out,” she says with a slight frown.
“That would be wonderful if you could! You would be here for sure to watch me graduate.” I can’t stop the huge smile from spreading across my face.
“I’ll have to see what I can work out. I’m going back to the museum today to do a tour and meet the employees that will be working under me. I might head back to Indiana early so I can try to speed up things. What do you think?”
“That could work. The sooner you leave, the quicker you can be back here, permanently,” I say as the bartender brings us our drinks.
“I think I will. I’ll get that arranged too, so I’ll see about leaving either tomorrow night or Wednesday instead of Sunday. I hope it’s okay and I didn’t ruin any plans you might have made for us.” She glances at me, obviously second-guessing herself.
“Oh no, not at all. I was going to see if you wanted to go to a movie or hit up another club,” I say before taking a sip of my beer.
“Okay, it’s settled, then. How was your morning?” She looks at me as if she knows there is something bugging me.
“I had a serious clash with Aedan this morning. He was all up in my ass about Saturday night, asking me if my father knew where I was and what I was doing, blah, blah. Suddenly he grabbed me, and I instantly wanted to jump him right there. Then he tells me that he does know me and it’s me that doesn’t remember him or whatever. I wouldn’t forget someone like him, especially the way he makes me feel. I have no idea what he is talking about,” I mutter, frustrated.
“Are you sure your father hasn’t told him everything? I mean, how much do you know about his position with your father? And I’m proud of you for not caving.”
The bartender brings us our food and asks if we need anything else. “We’re good,” we reply in unison.
“Thank you, I wanted to. And I don’t know. I’ve worked with him for a year and a half but not in a close proximity. He always communicates with my father, so I guess my father would have told him about what went on with Chet and the contract. I wasn’t joking when I said the past few weeks are the most I’ve talked to him since I’ve been here. I get the occasional hi and bye, but normally he’s cocky about it. Maybe it’s because he’s around my father, but I’m not sure. And get this, I have to assist him because Natalie was in an accident. Which, thinking about it now, I’m surprised I didn’t hear from him this morning.”
“Maybe he knows about the contract you signed with your father? I mean, you told me even though you weren't supposed to, and it's only in place for less than a month. After that, you are free to date anyone, including company employees.” She cocks her head to the side, seeming curious.
“Possibly, but I don't think my father would tell him, ‘Hey, don't let anyone around my daughter because I made her sign a contract so she can't hook up with co-workers.’ Maybe I should ask him. I don’t want to call him, though; it’s more of a face-to-face conversation. He took the lovely Chantelle to New York, so it will have to wait.”
“Oh, what is the latest adventure that step-mommy dearest is up to?”
“I have no idea. I stay away from her as much as I can. She tries to be all buddy-buddy, but I can’t do it. I’m polite to her, but that is as far as I can go. There is something off with her. I swear she married my dad for his money, but I’m sure he saw through that and made her sign a pre-nup. The man loves his contracts,” I say with a snort-laugh.
“Let’s hope so…but sometimes you McCoys go head first into love without thinking.” She smirks.
“Ouch, bitch.” I giggle.
We finish eating lunch and drink the rest of our beers, then pay and go to the parking garage to get my car so we can head back to our destinations. I wasn’t in the mood to talk very much because Aedan’s comments were on my mind. I will figure out what he meant about me forgetting him, I hope sooner than later.
***
Aedan
I can’t believe I…well, Levi, was finally able to get a date with Jesse for Tuesday night at six. The time works out perfectly because it gives me a chance to get everything together for her. Dinner in the room, and then I’m going to fuck her until she begs me to make love to her.
After this morning, I feel hyperactive, ready to explode. I need to work out or hit something; I have to get out of the office. I take the elevator to the lobby, arriving just in time to see Jesse get in the car with her friend. Hurrying to my car, I follow them downtown. I should have known she would go to Falling Rock. The bar is one of her favorites.
Luckily, my gym is around the corner. I watch them go in the garage and then I follow behind them. I park, grab my gym bag out of the trunk, and hurry down the stairs to wait for Jesse and Laney to exit the garage. I watch them make it to the bar before heading to the gym. I need a good run. Hopefully, I can run long enough to get rid of this ache in my cock.
In the locker room, I change into a pair of black basketball shorts and a sleeveless shirt, throw on my Nikes, and head out. I grab a bottle of water and a towel on my way to the treadmill. I think a five-mile run will lessen my hunger for Jesse.
After stretching out my body, I set the pace on the treadmill for a six-minute mile. That will give me time to get my run in, take a shower, and get back to work before it’s too late.
Forty minutes later, I look down. I’ve done well over six miles, yet the throbbing is still present. Argh.
Cold shower, here I come.
Chapter
Fourteen
Jesse
When I get back to the office, I have two voicemails from Aedan. He needs to see me because my father wants me to work out a new security plan for the company he is buying. I really don’t want to help him and I am seriously about to tell him he can do it himself. I think I’ll let him stew over it a bit. I guess I should learn to work well with Aedan in case I do get my father’s position.
I need to check my school email. Luckily, this semester I only had to take a few filler courses and they are online. Many of my courses from IU transferred to UC. In two and half weeks, I will be finished with my bachelors and then I can start working my way toward the top.
I had nothing in my school email that needs my attention, so I check my work email. I see an email from someone I don’t know, so I click on it. A picture flashes up of me in a very compromising position, almost like a Snapchat picture. I try to get it back, but it won’t come up. I call IT and ask them to trace it. They log into my computer then tell me it’s gone from the server. They try to trace the email, but they come up with a dead end.
I thank them and hang up. Who in the hell besides Chet would have pictures of me looking like that, and why would they try messing with me now? With everything going on, it’s not as if I don’t have enough on my plate. My cell starts to ring and I look at it. The number shows up as unknown. I let it go to voicemail.
My office phone starts ringing.
“McCoy Investments…”
“Jesse, can you please come here now? I really need you to help with this project. Your father was very adamant about you learning this detail in security when we acquire new companies,” a very irritated Aedan states on the other end of the line.
“Yes, I was getting ready to come up there after I checked my work email. I had an issue, so it took a little longer than I thought it would. I’ll be there in five minutes,” I say. I hang up before he has a chance to reply.
I will have to see if I can contact my father’s private investigator and see if I can have that email checked for more detail. I want to know who exactly has pictures of me that could destroy everything that I have rebuilt since I left Indiana. I will not run away this time. I will fight to make sure I come out on top.
I sigh and begrudgingly head down the hallway to Aedan’s office. I hope this doesn’t take long. I think I am going to see if Laney can head out early today. I am ready to get out of here for the day. I don’t care that it’s only one thirty.
***
A
edan
IT called me to inform me that someone sent a picture with a tracking virus to Jesse’s email. The picture wasn’t too pretty. I made IT destroy it after they took it off the server, where she couldn’t see it again. No one needs to relive what was happening in that picture. I swear if I find out Chet emailed this picture to her, I’ll have his balls on a platter. Why would he start messing with her after two years? I’m wondering if he is out of money. I’m not going to like telling McCoy about this email.
I start to call McCoy, but Jesse arrives in my office to help me with the security details we put together for each company that comes into McCoy Investments. McCoy wants Jesse to know how every single team works together to make the company as successful as it is. When I look up, I see Jesse’s face and she looks dejected.
“Thank you so much for taking time out of your day to learn this part of the company. I’m sure you won’t have to do it, but it would be beneficial for you to know all the pieces of the acquisition package,” I say as I give her the biggest smile I can.
“You’re welcome,” she says quietly.
“Um…is there something bothering you? Are you okay?” I ask. I’m wondering if all of this is because of that email.
“I’m fine. Just stress from work and graduating, I guess.” She sighs and then continues.
“Want a drink? I have whiskey, bourbon, or vodka.”
She gives me a look like I’m off my rocker. “Um, thank you, but no. I’m good. What all do we need to put this package together?”
“Here, sit in my chair. It’s easier for me to show you than tell you how it will look.” I try to give her a comforting smile.
She sits in my chair and I start showing her the forms I use and where I get the information to fill out the forms. The smell of her attacks my senses. I will never be able to get her apple scent out of my mind. The smell is comforting. I lose track of my current thoughts and think about what it would be like to be with her. She would be dressed in one of my white dress shirts with my favorite green tie. Yes, the one that matches her eyes. I’d lay her on the bed and start running my hands up her creamy…
