by Peggy Hunter
But this one was different. He wanted to see her again; he wanted to fuck her again...and again and again.
In fact, he soon regretted not getting her name. He had a hard-on again within an hour and wished he hadn't dumped her so quickly. Shit! Who knew he'd want her again?
Determined to find her, he put his personal secretary on the job. The older woman was clearly none too pleased with her assignment.
"How am I supposed to find her if you don't even know her name?"
"I don't know."
Ethel's brows rose over her glasses but she made no comment. “Are you sure she works for Diamond Industries?"
"She wouldn't have been at the Christmas party if she didn't,” he said impatiently. All employees had to show their ID cards at the door before they could get into the party. “I've given you the woman's description, that's all I've got."
Ethel sniffed indignantly. “This would be a lot easier if you'd asked her name."
Max sighed. “Look, Ethel—"
She raised her hand and stopped him in mid-sentence. “No need to explain, Mr. Diamond. Don't forget that I've worked for your father for thirty years."
Max winced. “Am I just like my old man?"
Ethel rose from her chair. “Not just like him,” she said as she walked to the door. “Your father built a multimillion dollar empire while he screwed around."
Max sighed as his secretary closed the office door behind her. How had it come to this point? At thirty-two, what did he have to show for himself? He hadn't earned the post of vice president, he'd landed it when his father retired and Zachary moved up to president. And no one, not even Ethel, expected much from him. After all, he was the n'er do well son, the one most likely to screw up. While his father and his second oldest brother engulfed themselves in the Diamond Industry Empire, Max was busy finding women to fuck.
That said, something happened to him when he walked out of the executive restroom two nights ago. Rather than putting another proverbial notch on his bedpost, he found himself thinking about her all the time. Her scent lingered in his mind; the memory of her soft skin and silky long hair kept him awake at night. He longed to feel her hands on him; to shove his cock into her moist depths again and to hear her soft gasps when he fucked her.
Max wasn't sure how long he'd been sitting at his desk when Ethel burst back into his office. Steely grey eyes glared down at him while she stood primly at the edge of his desk.
"I've come up empty,” she said briskly. “There are a lot of women in this building who match the description you gave me. I need something more to go on."
"Scott."
"Pardon me?"
"She called me Scott. Does that help?"
Ethel rolled her eyes and plunked down on one of the chairs near his desk. “Yes, it helps,” she said. “Why didn't you tell me this before?"
Max shrugged. “Didn't think of it before."
"The only Scott I know working for Diamond Industries is a bicycle messenger. He works out of the mail room. He'll probably know who she is."
Max winced when his old secretary's bones cracked as she started to get up from the chair. “I'll go to the mail room now—"
"No, I'll go.” Max shot up from his chair. “Hold my calls."
Ethel snorted as he headed for the office door. “Not like you'll get any calls. Everyone knows you're a layabout."
Max turned and glared at his secretary. “I resent that."
She rolled her eyes but made no apologies. “I'm sure you do. The truth hurts."
To hell with the old broad anyway. Max was on a mission. He stepped into the hall and hesitated.
Ethel sighed loudly. “Go left. Pass the main elevators and go to the end of the hall. There's a freight elevator that goes to the basement."
Max smiled sheepishly. “I probably should have known that."
Ethel waved her hand as if she was dismissing an overindulged child. “Whatever. Just go."
"Thanks."
When she bowed her head and placed her hand over her eyes, Max felt a pang of guilt. He expected she felt like she was being punished for being his personal secretary after thirty years of loyal service. She probably wondered on a daily basis what she'd done to deserve being the secretary of Edward Diamond's youngest son.
Max quelled the urge to go back into his office and assure Ethel that he'd change. Fact was, Max wasn't so sure he actually could change. Life was too damn short to give much of it up to actual work.
* * * *
"Hey, babe."
Julie looked up from her workstation to find Scott standing over her. She took a step back and looked him up and down. Dressed in skintight bright yellow spandex that hid absolutely nothing and the matching helmet accentuated his long face. And oh lord, his needle-nose, long narrow, and pointy, would be the envy of Woody Woodpecker.
How could she have thought Santa was in fact Scott, the man who considered himself God's gift to women?
Yep, she'd most certainly had too much to drink at the Christmas party.
Julie took a deep breath as she turned back to her table. She kept her eyes trained on her work as she replied, “Hi."
"Been away a few days,” he said. “Did you miss me?"
"No, can't say I did,” she replied.
Scott ran his hand over her back and settled it on her butt. He managed to get a good squeeze in before Julie slapped his hand away. “Oh come on,” he said. “How can you resist taking a ride on the Scottmobile?"
The other women in the mail room started to laugh, at first it was soft snickering and then it became all-out, grab-your-belly laughter. Scott glared at them. “Mind your own fucking business,” he said through clenched teeth. “This conversation is between my goddess and me."
Nina stepped forward. While she continued to snicker, she quickly closed the distance between herself and Scott. “Look here...” she gazed at his bright yellow skintight outfit and struggled to keep her laughter at bay, “you sorry excuse for a canary—"
Scott frowned. “Who the fuck do you think you are?"
Nina flattened her hand on his chest. “You know who I am,” she said tightly. “And you're nothing more than a messenger boy. So I suggest you get off your high horse. One word from me and you're out on your ass."
Scott snorted. “Says who? Go ahead, report me. It's not like anything will come of it."
"You're fired."
Julie was still trying to take in the exchange between her boss and Scott when another voice entered the mix. This one was deep and rich and oh, maybe a bit more familiar than Julie wanted to admit.
Maxwell Diamond stood just inside the mail room. He stood perfectly still, his shoulder resting on the doorjamb. With his arms folded over his chest, he looked magnificently confident as his dark brown eyes lazily washed over Scott.
There was a collective gasp in the mail room when he pushed off the doorjamb and walked inside. Each step he took was filled with confidence; his deep brown gaze focused on Scott.
Scott sputtered. “Excuse me, Mr. Diamond,” he said humbly. “I have to get to work."
Maxwell held out his hand, halting Scott. His eyes leveled on Scott and his face turned to stone. “I believe I just fired you."
"But, sir..."
"I'll notify HR,” he said, referring to the human resources department. “You can pick up your severance package tomorrow."
Scott's pale face puckered but he said nothing. Everyone in the mail room watched him walk out. When the door closed behind him, the staff cheered...all except Nina and Julie.
Julie quickly turned back to her sorting table but kept her ears pricked as Nina approached Maxwell Diamond.
"Well, well,” the buxom middle-aged woman said. “In my twenty years as supervisor of the mail room, this is the first time any Diamond has stepped foot into the basement."
"That's all about to change,” Maxwell Diamond said.
Nina snorted loudly. “Why? The mail room has always been considered the assh
ole of Diamond Industries. Needed but no one wants to admit it exists."
Everyone in the mail room laughed. Max's rich laughter sank into Julie's soul. She couldn't help but turn to see her boss and Maxwell Diamond go head to head.
"Very good,” he said. “I probably had that coming."
He closed the distance between himself and her boss and carefully fingered her name tag. “Nina Portias.” He said her name as if committing it to memory.
Nina was a tall woman yet she was forced to look up at him. If she was uncomfortable with Maxwell Diamond's close proximity, she certainly didn't let it show. “What brings you here?"
Maxwell smiled and backed away. His eyes slowly scanned the room. “Thought it was about time I checked out the mail room,” he said as he began to wander around the small room. Julie's breath caught when he stopped in mid-stride. She kept her eyes trained on her work as she slowly sorted the morning mail and placed it into the slots over her workstation. “It's dark in here,” he said. “Turn on a few more lights."
"Every light we have is on, Mr. Diamond,” Nina said. “I've asked for more lighting but my requests have always been ignored."
Julie froze when Maxwell Diamond stepped closer to her. Her body felt electric when he leaned over her shoulder. “How can you see what you're doing?"
Oh my God. Julie went completely numb. Her heart thundered in her chest. That voice, that incredible, soft, sultry, gravelly voice. She'd heard it whisper in her ear just two nights ago.
As Julie attempted to pick up a bundle of papers, her fingers fumbled, letting them fall on the floor in front of her.
"If I may answer your question, Mr. Diamond,” Nina interrupted, “the lighting in the mail room has been an issue for a long time. No one in the executive offices seems to care."
"Then I'm glad I came,” he said. As Julie moved to pick up the spilled letters, Maxwell gave her a tiny pat on her ass. “Butterfingers,” he said softly.
Julie almost fell on the floor. The pat on her ass was one thing but his soft voice, meant for only her to hear, just about drove her over the edge. She blindly began to gather the scattered mail.
"So what are you going to do about it?” Nina demanded.
"Maybe it's time Diamond Industries made a difference in the lives of all their staff."
Since Maxwell had afforded her some distance, she was able to clear her mind enough to pick up all the scattered mail and place it on her workstation. She breathed a sigh of relief when she managed to turn her attention back to her work.
"Fair words,” Nina replied. “But what are you willing to do to make our lives better?"
"The first thing I want is an advocate from the mail room,” Max said.
Nina frowned but she was clearly interested. “I'm listening."
"I think your voice won't be heard unless you insist on it. We need someone willing to speak up. Someone willing to rattle cages until you get what you want."
Julie was amazed that everyone in the mail room clapped and shouted in agreement. How could they so easily be duped by Maxwell Diamond's words? The guy had no intention of helping them. In fact, he probably thought his visit to the mail room could be written off on his taxes as charity. Yet, everyone seemed so taken in.
Nina smiled broadly. “I like you, Maxwell Diamond. Maybe we finally have found someone who will make our jobs easier."
Maxwell's thousand-watt smile blinded Julie as he responded, “I'm glad you appreciate my efforts. I want to help."
Julie's mind reeled. She could not rein herself in any longer. “Give me a break!” she said. When the room suddenly went silent, she looked at each of her coworkers and finally settled her gaze on her boss. “Nina,” she began, “I've worked here for two years and this is the first time anyone from the executive offices has ever visited."
Nina frowned. “I think it's a good thing the VP of Diamond has taken the time to visit the mail room."
"Yes, it is,” Julie replied. “But—"
Nina quickly cut her off. “But nothing. Why would you take issue with our finally being noticed for all the hard work we do down here?"
Julie's heart pounded in her throat. She didn't want to alienate her boss but she wasn't so sure Maxwell could be trusted to follow through on the promises he was making to them. “Nina,” she began, her mind searching for a way to soothe her boss’ anger. “I don't mean to—"
This time, Maxwell cut her off. “Since it seems Julie can't decide whether I'm a friend or a foe, maybe she's the best choice to be the mail room advocate."
Everyone agreed before Julie could find her voice. She blinked while Maxwell reached to shake her hand. “I expect you to be in my office first thing tomorrow morning with your report."
Julie frowned as she gazed at him, still not sure what she was signed on for.
As his hand continued to hold hers, he leaned in and whispered into her ear, “Ho, ho, ho."
Julie's throat tightened as reality sank into her numb brain. Maxwell Diamond was Santa? As he released her hand and walked out of the mail room, Julie's knees went weak. If she didn't sit down soon, she'd most certainly fall down. She wasn't sure if she asked for help or if Nina saw her go pale. Either way, a chair was quickly brought to her and Julie gratefully sank into it.
"Are you okay?” Nina asked anxiously.
No, she wasn't okay. In fact she wasn't sure she'd ever be okay again. Sure, she'd admired Maxwell Diamond from afar. And yes, she'd had fantasies about having him in her bed. But holy shit.
"Water,” Julie said breathlessly. “I need some water."
When Nina pressed a cool bottle of water into her hand, Julie pressed it against her feverish forehead before she tipped it to her lips.
As she gasped air into her lungs, Nina took the bottle from her hand. “I think we better talk in my office,” she said.
"Okay,” Julie replied. “Just give me a minute.” But Nina's cool hand pulled Julie from the chair and quickly led her to the office. “Or better yet,” Julie said as she was being dragged along, “I could go with you right now."
Julie winced when the office door slammed behind her and Nina rounded her small desk and sat down. “You fucked him, didn't you?"
Julie blinked. “Who?"
Nina's brows knit together. She was clearly very unhappy. “You know who I mean,” she said through clenched teeth. “You fucked Maxwell Diamond. That's why you stayed after the party last Friday. You weren't sticking around to help clean up. He got to you."
Julie wasn't sure how to reply. Her mind whirled. “I was turned when I sat on his lap. I had no idea who he was.” When Nina rolled her eyes, Julie quickly added, “I swear, I thought he was Scott."
"Scott?” Nina blinked as if she had no idea who Julie was talking about.
"You know...Scott. The bicycle messenger Maxwell Diamond fired a few minutes ago."
Nina's face fell. She looked appalled. “That guy is nothing less than a sleaze and you know it,” she said. “He's always given me the creeps so I'm glad he's fired. But if you thought Scott was playing Santa, why in the hell did you stick around?"
Julie's hands flew to her cheeks. “I don't know! Maybe I had too much to drink. And, well, it's been awhile. Maybe I was just plain horny."
Nina shook her head. “I'm still trying to get my head around the fact you thought Santa was anyone other than Maxwell Diamond. It was common knowledge he was taking the role this year."
Julie was tired of having to defend herself. “Well, maybe I didn't get the memo,” she said angrily.
"All right,” Nina said calmly. “Maybe you didn't know. But having that jackass show up in my mail room has opened a big can of worms."
Tell me about it. “So what if he found me?” she asked. “It's not like the guy will want more from me than he already got."
Nina shook her head. “Even if he isn't interested in another roll in the hay, he came looking for you."
"So what?"
"So now he wants a daily report fro
m the mail room,” Nina said. “The mail room has always been considered beneath any of the Diamond men. I've been allowed to run it as I see fit."
Julie frowned. “But there are a lot of problems in the mail room. The poor lighting, the ventilation could be a lot better. It gets so musty—"
"We've managed just fine all these years,” Nina said, cutting her off. “And now you've drawn the attention of one of the Diamond clan."
"I'm not crazy about it but you have to admit, it's about time some changes were made down here."
"Is it? Everyone knows he's Edward Diamond's spoiled youngest son. He's never lifted a finger to prove his worth yet he somehow managed to become vice president."
Julie was becoming quite annoyed with her boss. Who was she to trash Maxwell Diamond? “Okay, so what's your point?"
"My point is this,” Nina said, “If his dick wasn't on full alert, he never would have found his way down here. He's as useless as tits on a bull. He's not going to do a damn thing for us. He's after you. If you reporting to him on a daily basis is what it'll take to keep him out of my hair, I'm fine with it. “
Julie suddenly understood. She'd just become a sacrificial lamb.
Chapter 4
"What the hell are you up to?” Edward Diamond said through clenched dentures.
"Good morning, Dad,” Max said as he reclined in his leather chair and smiled.
"Don't take that tone with me,” Edward said angrily. He braced his hands on Max's massive oak desk and glared at him. “I heard you've been to the mail room."
"That's right."
"You fired some messenger boy."
Max nodded. “Yep."
"Heard something about you designating someone to be a mail room advocate."
Max nodded again. “You heard right."
His father's face reddened. “Who the hell are you to make decisions like that?"
Max leaned forward and picked up the name plate on his desk. “Well, let me see,” he said as he dusted it with the cuff of his bright white shirt. He turned it to show his father. “Yep, that's me. Maxwell Diamond, Vice President of Diamond Industries."
Edward ripped the name plate from Max's hand and slammed it on the desk. “Fuck your title,” the old man said vehemently. “You've always been a layabout. Why are you changing now?"
