Corporate Ties (Silken Ties Book 1)

by E. L. Loraine

  "I assure you, Olivia, I had no idea of her intentions. Why would she do such a thing? Did she hurt you?"

  "It startled me, and I had the distinct feeling she was trying to take me, to kidnap me. How she planned on getting me out of the building I don't know. She would have needed help for that. Perhaps a car in the lower level garage? I have no idea. I needed to know if you ordered it. I can see now, you didn't."

  He glowered at her. "And if I had, what then, Olivia? He raised his hands. "You're here with me, alone."

  "People know where I am. I don't feel threatened in your presence." She smiled. "Let's be frank, shall we? We're attracted to each other. Maybe it was jealousy on her part that forced her to attack me?"

  "You're very observant, Olivia. You're wasting your time at Dolby. Come and work for me."

  She didn't flinch. "In what capacity?"

  He shrugged. "You tell me?"

  "Acquisitions."

  "Done."

  She stood. And when he rose, she stepped closer and he offered his hand. She shook it, a satisfied smiled on her lips.

  "You need time to make me the perfect offer, in writing. Then I'll need two weeks to settle things at Dolby." She pulled her hand away and strode toward the chair holding her jacket.

  Isamu was right behind her, his smile matching hers. He was right all along, she was his now. He held her jacket and slipped it back up her arms, thinking of all the things he wanted to do to her.

  Olivia knew exactly what he was thinking as she reached up and flipped her hair from the jacket collar. She then turned, only inches separated them now. Her hands moved slowly up his chest under his lapel.

  "You won't regret this," she assured him in perfect Japanese.

  He smiled. His passion rose. All he really wanted to do was take her, here and now. In fact he never wanted anything more, but it wasn't the time to be impatient. For their first joining, he wanted more, much more.

  "I will contact you when the contract is ready. This will be very profitable for both of us," he informed her, again in Japanese.

  She nodded and walked to the door. "Soon then," she said, boldly letting her eyes rake him from head to toe before turning away. The large bulge in his slacks told her everything she needed to know.

  This time she stood well back as the elevator doors opened, relieved to see it empty, she stepped inside.

  In his office, Brian too was relieved, she was leaving. Hmmm, she wasn't going back to the office, she was going home. He got up and went into the control room.

  "Keep your eye on Matasuki. Go ahead and run that check he wants on his hotel room. Deactivate the bug and replace it somewhere else later."

  "You got it. Here's the address for the coordinates we looked at."

  "Thanks, Jimmie. Remind me to give you a raise."

  "Oh, you can bet I will."

  He dialed the phone. "Hey, Olivia. I'm sorry I didn't say goodbye this morning. I have some information to talk to you about. Do you have some time? Okay. I'll see you at home then."

  Brian was pacing in the hallway in front of her apartment when she arrived. She grinned and shook her head. "We have to stop meeting like this." She put her key card in the door and pushed it open.

  "What happened?"

  "I'm taking some time off. I need to work some things out. I'm not sure Dolby is the right professional fit for me anymore. I have a couple of weeks to figure it out."

  Brian planted his hands on his hips and tilted his head, and waited. A frown furrowed across his handsome face.

  Olivia’s focus was drawn away from the question, to the two day stubble on his chin, his lips and those sexy eyes. "Okay, Olivia, get a grip."

  "Oh, you meant with Isamu?" She refocused herself.

  "It's Isamu now?" he challenged.

  She pulled her chin back and batted her eyelashes. "Are you jealous?"

  "Stop teasing me. And okay, I'm a little jealous."

  Olivia cocked an eyebrow.

  "Okay, more than a little."

  She smiled, took off her jacket and tossed it on the chair as she walked into the kitchen.

  Opening the refrigerator she glanced over. "Water?"

  "Olivia."

  "I'm sorry. I confronted him about the 'shadow'. Don't worry, I didn't let anything slip about what we knew. I actually just called her 'that woman'. He told me he didn't have anything to do with it and I believe him."

  "Really? Why?"

  "I saw the shock on his face. He told me she didn't come back last night and he hasn't seen or heard from her yet today. And then he offered me a job. Which, I think, I'm going to take."

  Brian's mouth gaped open. "Olivia, you can't be serious."

  "Oh, I most certainly am. I'm going to get the goods on Mr. Matasuki and turn this all around."

  "You may not have to do any of that now. Let's sit down." Once settled on the couch he continued. "Jimmie noticed something on the emails from Paul."

  "Really, what?"

  "He always signed off with numbers, like he did when he wanted you to go to your personal email."

  "Okay, interesting. What does it mean?"

  "Did he ever mention why he did it?"

  "No, and I guess I never cared to ask. It was just our way of saying it was private business, not corporate stuff."

  "Your code?"

  "Yeah. Wait, the signature was a code of some kind?"

  "A cipher actually. Jimmie found it and this morning he told me he thought it was a latitude and longitude."

  "The cabin!"

  Brian nodded. "I have the address and directions right here."

  "We have to go."

  "The funeral is tomorrow, right?"

  "Yes."

  "Are they doing an internment?"

  "Yes, but its private."

  "Good, it'll give my guys a chance to watch, make sure we're not followed. We'll leave from there."

  She leaned in and gave him a kiss, that ended with her sucking on his bottom lip, nipping it before letting it spring back.

  "All this covert stuff is making me hot."

  "Oh, you were always hot."

  "Can you take the day off?"

  "I'm on call, but, yeah, I guess. Can you think of anything to do?"

  "Lots of things. We'll order in, let them slip it under the door."

  "Funny."

  "No one knows I'm home. You're the one on call." Sliding up onto his lap, she kissed him, and kissed him again. "This skirt has got to go. Want to slip in something more comfortable?"

  "I'd love slipping into you."

  He brushed hair away from her face. His finger trailing over her cheek. He hated to even think the phrase let alone say it, but it was what he was feeling. This soon? Ridiculous. Her eyes, so bright, his need so great. She was all he wanted, all he needed. He could only hope she felt the same way.

  Olivia could see he wanted her, but now there was more in his eyes. God, he felt the same way she did, she knew it. It resonated in his kiss, the way he hesitated to tell her he cared about her. He probably thought it was too soon, so did she. Yet, who knew how long they had? She'd lost so many already. She closed her eyes as he kissed her again. They both were so scared, so vulnerable.

  The sex, however, said what they couldn’t voice. They both could express their feelings that way, the only way they trusted.

  Olivia woke at the usual time. Brian was sprawled out next to her, his hair sticking out everywhere. She cringed thinking what hers must look like. They'd spent most of the day in bed, having great sex, drinking, cuddling together while watching movies, feeding each other popcorn. It was everything she needed.

  Today, however, was a new day. She turned on her back and stared up at the ceiling. It was the day to say goodbye to Paul, and one that would bring back memories of all those past goodbyes. She'd pushed those back, buried them deep. Today, it was probably all going to rush right back to the surface.

  "Good morning, beautiful."

  Olivia smiled and turn
ed her head to him. "Good morning."

  He slid over, raised up on his elbow, and just looked down at her, this beautiful, smart, sexy woman.

  Olivia saw something different in his eyes this morning, a soft, loving look. Her lips parted as he leaned in and pressed his mouth down on hers.

  "I can't be right next to you this morning, but I won't be far, I promise. You're not alone, not anymore."

  Her eyes started to fill. He seemed to know just what to say, what she needed to hear. His palm cupped her face, his thumb brushing the first tears away.

  "I'll be okay. I have to be." She reached up and ran her fingers through his messy hair. "Having you with me means so much."

  "I'll be here as long as you need me. As long as you want me."

  "How about a shower?"

  He grinned. "You mean one where we get mostly clean?"

  "Exactly."

  She slapped his butt and giggled on the way by, reaching into the shower to turn it on. Brian reached around her waist and pulled her off the floor and she laughed. Brian stepped into the shower still carrying her. Setting her down, he adjusted the water. Olivia watched as he turned to her, now fully aroused, water flowing over his shoulders and down his back. She reached for his thick cock and stroked it several times as they kissed.

  Brian's hand cupped her breast, squeezing it and rubbing his thumb over her contracted nipple. He dropped his mouth to the nape of her neck. She tipped her head to the side and softly moaned as he kissed her there. His hands roamed down her body to her heart shaped cheeks. He lifted her off the floor. Olivia, one hand around his neck, reached between them and placed the smooth tip of his cock inside her, then wrapped her legs around him, and Brian pulled her down over him, filling her completely.

  Her lips parted and her head relaxed back, as his strong hands and arms held her body effortlessly as he thrust in and out of her. He watched pleasure fill her face and loved pleasing her.

  The orgasm started to build, slowly at first, coiling tightly in her pelvis. She clenched and groaned in time with his thrusts. Brian responded, driving into her harder, rotating his hips at the same time. His ass flexed, a low growl left his throat as he came. Olivia’s orgasm exploded as he pumped jet after jet into her, coating her inside and mixing his seed with her juices.

  As last shudders of their shared orgasm left them, they kissed greedily. She still had her legs tightly wrapped around his waist as he leaned their joined bodies against the shower wall to keep them upright.

  When the kiss ended she panted, "Maybe we should try to get clean now."

  He grinned. "If you insist."

  Chapter Fourteen

  After stuffing a change of clothes into a pack, Olivia stood in the closet, hair and body wrapped in a towel and took the simple black dress down off the hanger. The sight and feel of the black dress triggered a release of emotion that had been threatening to erupt since Paul disappeared. Emotions Olivia had been pushing down for weeks. Gripping the fabric into a fist, her eyes pinched closed, she bent from the waist and sobbed. Let some out, push the rest back down. She'd told herself this so many times before.

  The ride down in the elevator seemed to drag. It was the time of the day where everyone was heading to work and the elevator stopped several times on the way down to the ground floor.

  Brian had the car in position by the time she got outside. He held the door for her and the car pulled into traffic headed to the church. She walked down the long aisle as organ music resonated around her. She had steeled herself, yet her gut twisted as she got closer to the symbolic casket.

  In the front pew Clay rose, gave her a hug and kissed her cheek before she slipped into the pew between Maureen and Paul's son Charles. Olivia clasped Maureen's hand. It was ice cold and trembling. She swallowed hard, reaching next for Charles. His hand was warm, and he squeezed hers tightly. She didn't dare look over to Charles for fear she'd break down; she was to be the strong one. She needed to be there for them.

  Several speakers took their turn and as they eulogized, their voices became background for her thoughts and plans. Flashes of Paul's face in happier times faded as Maureen and Charles pulled their hands away and stood. The service had finished. She'd endured it by retreating into her own world.

  Olivia followed them down the aisle taking note of how full the church was, knowing amongst them were others who were most likely on Matasuki's payroll.

  "It was a lovely service," Maureen expressed, shaking the hand of the pastor. The receiving line finally disbursed and the family and friends had gathered outside the church.

  Olivia squinted in the bright sunlight. The crisp, cool fall air sent a slight chill across her shoulders.

  "You're welcome to ride with us to the cemetery," Charles offered.

  "Thank you, but I have a car." She hugged first Charles and then Maureen. Gripping Maureen's forearms, she looked her straight in the eye. "Don't ever hesitate to call me if you need anything."

  Maureen's eyes darted, but she nodded, turning to Charles as she walked away. Seeing Brian in his black suit standing by the car was a relief. Her shoulders lowered as she relaxed slightly and the knot in her stomach began to ease.

  She sat in the back and swung her legs inside. Brian glanced around, nodded and closed the door, taking his place in the driver's seat of the black sedan. He draped his arm over the seat and looked at her. He noticed that her expression was flat. The spirit which usually filled her eyes wasn't there, but she seemed much more determined than sad.

  He frowned. "You okay?"

  She nodded. "I'm fine. What's the plan?"

  "We'll follow along with the others to the cemetery, but instead of driving to the internment site, we'll take the exit before we get there. As soon as I'm sure we're not being followed I'll head to a car I have stashed. We'll take it to the cabin. Okay, looks like the line is starting to move." He buckled his seat belt and so she followed suit.

  Adrenaline started to pump through her veins as the car pulled out. Twisting in her seat she counted seven cars in front, many more behind them. Brian was keeping a close watch on the cars and the road, so she slipped off her shoes, pulled her pack from the floor and opened it. Knowing the darkened windows afforded her privacy to change, Olivia quickly pulled the dress over her head, before sliding her stockings down her legs and pulling on the faded low waist jeans and simple navy t-shirt. She finished by slipping on socks and a pair of comfortable cross trainers, and stuffing everything she'd discarded back into the pack. If they had to move fast, she wanted to be prepared.

  After several miles, the car suddenly swerved onto an exit. Olivia twisted again to see if anyone from the parade of cars from the funeral followed, but none did.

  Brian made several quick turns and circled back around the block. When he was sure it was safe, he headed to the garage that housed the stashed car. He pulled into an empty stall and parked. Olivia released her seatbelt and reached for the handle of the door.

  "Wait, Olivia. Just for a moment." He quietly opened his door and slid out. "Okay, let's go."

  "Olivia gathered the pack and her purse. Quickly she exited and followed him down the row of cars. He stopped behind a gunmetal Honda sedan and looked around. Squatting, he reached under the fender and pulled out a small box which contained a remote and the keys to the car.

  "Get in," he advised as he pressed the remote. Olivia heard the distinctive click and walked to the passenger door, opened it and slid inside.

  Brian backed the car out and glanced over. "Maybe all this was a bit dramatic. I hope so."

  Olivia shrugged. "Better to be safe. What do you think we're going to find at the cabin?"

  Brian's eyes moved from the road to the mirrors, constantly checking for anything suspicious. "I don't know, but what I hope we find is enough evidence to put Matasuki away for a very long time."

  "Jail isn't punishment enough, Brian."

  He frowned. "What do you have in mind, Olivia? To have him drawn and quartered?"
r />   "Hmmm. I'm thinking."

  Brian chuckled, squeezing the steering wheel. "Remind me not to ever cross you."

  "Don't ever cross me," she teased. "How far is it, anyway?"

  "About two hours."

  The scenery changed from urban to rural, and Olivia felt her mood lighten as they passed through lovely farm country, where the cows and horses roamed the fields without a care. She lowered her window and breathed in the fresh air.

  Brian grinned. "This suits you very well."

  She smiled and leaned out, her hair flying back. "Yes, it does. I should get out of the city more often."

  "It can't be far now. In the satellite image, there was nothing anywhere around it. It's registered under his great-grandmother's name."

  Olivia raised the window and glanced over. "Maybe it'd always been in his family. It was his sanctuary, a place all his own. I understand that."

  "So do I."

  "Wait, I think that was the road."

  "Why didn't you put in the car’s GPS?"

  Brian put the car into reverse. "Because if anyone found the car, even after the destination has been deleted, someone with the technology could recover the directions." He made sure no one was coming from either direction and then turned down the dirt road to the left, heading northwest. He glanced over, Olivia was observing him. "It's just habit, Liv, to be extra cautious."

  "It's my nature as well; with everything. I guess with your instincts you already knew that."

  He grinned again. "Yes, I had noticed. I also noticed you don't share much."

  "I could say the same thing about you. If I ask, you tell me things, otherwise, you keep everything to yourself."

  "We're quite a pair aren't we? I always felt out of place in life. With you I feel..."

  ". . .like we fit," she concluded. "I think so too, and I've never really felt like I did before."

  Brian offered his hand and she took it. The road became bumpy and narrow. After three miles they came to a metal farm-type gate, as wide as the road and locked with a padlock and chain.