Seduced by the CEO

by Pamela Yaye

  The tension in the room was suffocating.

  “Thanks for making breakfast, Ma. Everything looks good,” Nicco said, admiring the delicious spread. Helping himself to a plate, he loaded it with all of his favorites. “Ma, why do you look so glum? Didn’t you have a good time at your anniversary bash last night?”

  Her brown eyes filled with gratitude. “I had a wonderful time, but that altercation with that girl and her parents is still weighing on my mind.”

  “Altercation? You make it sound like they assaulted you.” Nicco took a healthy bite of his panini and chewed slowly. “Mrs. Brooks’s anger was directed at Mrs. Covington, not you. They have a sordid history, and if everything Jariah told me is true, Mrs. Covington has made their lives a living hell.”

  “I find that very hard to believe. I’ve known Stella and Lee Covington for years, and they’re one of the most charitable and generous couples I know.”

  Mr. Morretti folded his newspaper and set it aside. “Listen to your mother, son. She knows what she’s talking about.”

  “And I know Jariah. She’s loyal, honest and I trust her completely.”

  “Is that why you gave the little tart your Mercedes?”

  He took offence to his mother’s quip, but didn’t speak on it. “Jariah needed a car, and I have plenty, so I insisted she take one. Ask Rafael and Demetri. I had to practically force the keys into her hands.”

  “Right, good one.” His father gave a harsh, bitter laugh. “Who would want to drive around town in a brand-new, custom-designed Mercedes? I know I wouldn’t!”

  “What if she damages your car? Or sells it to a chop-shop?” Mrs. Morretti questioned, her voice full of fear and fret. “What then? Could you imagine the scandal? We’d be the laughingstock of the country club and Miami’s High Society league.”

  “Jariah would never do that. She’s not that kind of person.”

  “How the hell do you know? You’ve only known her for five minutes!” Mr. Morretti struck his fist on the table. The noise reverberated around the room, causing the plates and utensils to rattle. “I knew this was going to happen. That’s why I told Mrs. Reddick to hire a male assistant to work with you. If that girl goes to the tabloids or screams rape it will ruin us, and I’ve worked too damn hard and too damn long to watch everything I’ve worked tirelessly for go up in smoke.”

  Shaking his head, he refuted his father’s claim. “Dad, you have nothing to worry about. Jariah would never do anything to hurt me or to betray my trust. She loves me and I love her.”

  “Open your eyes, son, it’s all an act. You’re her meal ticket to a better future, and if you’re not careful she’ll betray you just like Gracie did, and Tye...”

  Too tired to argue, he blocked out their voices and finished eating his breakfast. He snuck a glance at the clock, saw that it was ten o’clock, and took a swig of his orange juice. It was time to go. He was taking Ava and Richie to the movies, and he didn’t want to be late.

  “So, how long have you been screwing Mrs. Brooks?”

  Nicco winced, as if he had a sore tooth, and dropped his fork on his plate. He glared at his father, staring him dead in the eye. His dad looked amused. Out of his two brothers, he looked the most like Arturo, and if that wasn’t bad enough he’d also inherited his father’s sharp tongue, and pessimistic nature. Before meeting Jariah, he’d thought the worst of people, and didn’t trust anyone outside of his inner circle. But he didn’t feel that way anymore. He’d finally found his better half, the woman he was destined to grow old with and he wasn’t going to let his father reduce their relationship to meaningless sex. “I love Jariah with all my heart and I’m going to marry her.”

  “Nicco, you will not marry that girl. I forbid it.”

  “Ma, quit calling her that girl,” he snapped, finally reaching his breaking point. “Her name is Jariah, and I’m going to propose on her birthday, so you better get on board fast.”

  “But she’s from Overtown, and—”

  Disappointed, Nicco hung his head and dragged a hand down the length of his face. “Ma, not you, too. I thought you were better than that.”

  “Son, I just want what’s best for you.”

  “Then you’ll accept Jariah and Ava into this family with open arms. She’s the one, Ma, and I’m not going to lose her. Not for anything.”

  “Nicco, you can’t be serious. She’s Wesley’s baby mother for goodness sake!”

  “So what? They broke up almost a year ago, and she doesn’t love him.”

  “But Wesley’s your friend,” she argued. “Sleeping with the mother of his child is...wrong.”

  Nicco cursed in Italian under his breath. “We went to the same high school and hit the clubs back in the day, but it’s been years since we talked.”

  “I still don’t like the idea of you dating his ex. There’s something unnatural about it—”

  “Ma, I’m a grown man. I can date whoever I want.”

  Mrs. Morretti opened her mouth to speak and then quickly closed it.

  “You’re so whipped, you can’t think straight.” Mr. Morretti stood, stalked over to the breakfast bar and scooped up the file folder beside the fruit bowl. “I had Gerald do a background check on Mrs. Brooks, and she isn’t as squeaky clean as you think.”

  Nicco tried to conceal his anger, but inside he was seething with rage.

  “Did you know that she’s a registered member on over a half dozen dating sites?” He held the file up high in the air, waved it around, like a prosecutor wielding the proverbial smoking gun. “She’s up to her neck in debt, so she’s actively and aggressively looking for a rich, successful man to take care of her and her young daughter.”

  “Those profiles were created months ago, long before we ever met, and she deleted them weeks ago.” Nicco picked up his plate, dumped his food into the garbage and put it in the sink. “Dad, there’s nothing you can say to break us up, so save your breath.”

  “Read Gerald’s report before making any hasty decisions.”

  “I don’t need to. I know everything about Jariah that I need to know.”

  Mr. Morretti chucked the file on the kitchen table. “It’s your life, do what you want, but don’t come running to me when she screws you over.”

  Nicco wanted to lash out at his dad, but knew getting in a shouting match with Arturo would get him nowhere. Standing, he slipped on his sunglasses and took his car keys out of his pocket. “I’ll see you guys later.”

  “Where are you going?” Mr. Morretti asked, glancing at his gold wristwatch. “We have to leave at eleven, and it’s already ten fifteen. Are you packed and ready to go?”

  Nicco frowned and scratched his head. “Packed and ready to go where?”

  “To the airport. Our flight to Lisbon leaves at noon. We had discussed visiting Mr. Sarmento and scouting locations for our new offices, remember?”

  “You mentioned it a few days ago, but you never confirmed the travel dates with me.”

  His eyes darkened three shades. “Mr. Sarmento was injured on your watch, but if you’re too busy to visit one of my closest friends and associates, I’ll go alone and apologize on your behalf.”

  “Where’s Rafael? Why can’t he go with you?”

  “He flew to New York on the red eye. He had an urgent personal matter to deal with.”

  What personal matter? Rafael has no life! His brother was a workaholic with few hobbies and no close friends, so his hasty departure piqued Nicco’s curiosity. Making a mental note to call him later, he said, “All right, Dad, I’ll go with you to Lisbon.”

  Mr. Morretti sighed in relief. “I’m expecting you to come through for me in Lisbon, so stay focused. I don’t have to tell you how important this visit is with Mr. Sarmento. He has been a client for years and pays big bucks for our services.”

 
“Dad, I understand, but I can’t stay in Portugal all week. I have a business meeting in L.A. on Friday that I can’t afford to miss.”

  “Very well, we’ll leave Thursday morning. I’ll call First Officer Burke right now and...”

  With a pang, Nicco realized he’d have to cancel his plans with Ava and Richie. The thought saddened him, but he forced a smile and dropped a kiss on his mother’s cheek. “I’m going to go pack,” he said, taking his cell phone out of his pocket. “See you guys in a bit.”

  Chapter 19

  Jariah couldn’t do it. Tried, but failed miserably. Typing a letter in Italian, and eavesdropping on her colleagues required extraordinary skill, and she was determined to finish the tasks on her checklist. She blocked out the noise in the reception area and continued working. Her coworkers were yakking it up like a bunch of tween girls at a slumber party, and as usual Jariah felt excluded.

  Hearing her name, she narrowed her eyes and inclined her head toward the door. Raucous laughter seeped through the stark-white walls. Jariah knew her colleagues were talking trash about her, but instead of storming out of her office and giving the trio a tongue lashing, she kept her eyes on her computer screen.

  Thoughts of Nicco overwhelmed her mind. She couldn’t go five minutes without thinking of him, and spent hours on end looking at the pictures of him on her cell phone. It had been four days since his parents’ anniversary bash, and although she’d stressed and fretted about leaving the party, nothing had changed between them. Nicco was still as sweet and as romantic as ever.

  On Sunday, he’d surprised her with two dozen roses; the following day he arranged for dinner to be delivered to her house from The Greek Isles, and last night on the phone he’d recited her favorite Maya Angelou poem to her. After days of sexting and flirting on Skype, Jariah was desperate to be back in his arms. Work was boring without Nicco to talk and laugh with, and every time she turned around Mrs. Reddick was breathing down her neck.

  A message popped up on the corner of the screen. Jariah read the sentence, minimized her document and clicked on the internet icon. Nothing was more important than talking to Nicco, and Jariah was so anxious to see him she couldn’t log into her Skype account fast enough. The moment his face filled the screen, her spirits lifted.

  “You’re looking gorgeous as usual. I love that shade of purple on you.” Flashing a boyish smile, one that made his eyes twinkle, he slowly licked his lips. “Stand up so I can see the rest of your dress, or better yet, take it off so I can see what’s underneath it.”

  “You wish!” Jariah couldn’t keep a straight face and burst out laughing.

  “That’s right, baby, I do. I miss you bad, girl.”

  “You’ve only been gone for few days.”

  “I know, but it feels like years since I saw you. Don’t you miss me? Even a little?” he asked, wearing a puppy-dog frown.

  Jariah wanted to lie, to tell Nicco that he was being silly, but her conscience wouldn’t let her. She longed to see him, to kiss and caress him, and was counting down the days until he returned from Lisbon. But she didn’t want Nicco to know the truth, so she downplayed how she felt. “Of course I miss you. There’s no one to bring me breakfast in bed or to rub my feet at the end of the day.”

  An amused expression covered his handsome face. “That’s not all I’d like to rub.”

  That makes two of us, she thought, marveling at how delicious he looked in his white button-down shirt and dark slacks.

  “I hope you don’t have plans tonight, because I’m making you a home-cooked meal.”

  Jariah raised an eyebrow. “That’s going to be mighty hard to do from Portugal.”

  “I’ll be back in Miami by eight.”

  “Tonight? But you’re supposed to be heading straight from Lisbon to L.A.”

  “That was the plan, but I’m going crazy without you. I have to see you.”

  “So you’re going to fly home for six hours, then fly back out? That’s insane!”

  “Not to me. As long as I can hold you in my arms, and kiss your beautiful face the trip will be worth it.” He grinned, and his eyes lit up like a star. “I died laughing when I heard the message Ava left for me this morning. She is hilarious!”

  The memory of her daughter singing her favorite pop song on Nicco’s voice mail forced Jariah to laugh, as well. “That was very sweet of you to send Ava a gift box from Lisbon. She loved the souvenirs, devoured the chocolate seashells in one sitting and danced around the house for hours in her new Taylor Swift tour jacket!”

  “I just wanted Ava to know that I was thinking about her, too.”

  And I love you for that.

  “How are things going in Lisbon?” Jariah noted the dark lines under his eyes and wondered if he’d had a good night’s sleep since arriving in Portugal four days earlier. “Did you visit with Mr. Sarmento yesterday?”

  “Yeah, he was real happy to see us, and was even able to tell us more about the gunman.”

  “Did you finally close the deal with Sea Freight Shipping?” she asked.

  “No. They’re playing hard ball, so we rescinded our offer and shut down talks.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that. Are you disappointed?”

  Nicco shrugged a shoulder and raked a hand through his hair. “Not really. There’s plenty of money to be made in Lisbon, and Sea Freight Shipping is just one of many companies trying to break into the international market,” he explained, loosening the knot in his burgundy tie. “On the upside, I found the perfect location for Dolce Vita Lisbon.”

  “That’s great, baby. Congratulations! I’m so happy for you.”

  “We should celebrate at The Four Seasons,” he proposed. “We can have dinner on the terrace and slow dance under the stars.”

  “That sounds wonderful Nicco, especially the part about us slow dancing.”

  “I thought you might like that.” His gaze was full of longing and heat. “And when we get to the penthouse suite, I’m going to show you just how much I missed you.”

  Jariah was so excited she feared her heart would burst right out of her chest, but she faked a scowl and pretended to be upset. “Do you ever think of anything besides sex?”

  “Yes, you, and when I’m not thinking about you, I’m dreaming about you.”

  Licking her lips, she fanned her hands to her face. God help me.

  “I can’t wait to see you,” he said, leaning forward in his chair. “We might have to forgo dinner and spend the entire night in bed. Sound good to you?”

  “Quit flirting and get off the phone.” She blushed. “You have a plane to catch, and I’ll kill you if you miss that flight!”

  Chuckling, he threw his hands in the air like a crook surrendering to the police. “All right, all right, I’m leaving, take it easy, baby. I’ll call you when I land at Miami International...”

  Jariah heard a knock on the door, and reluctantly tore her gaze away from the computer screen. Fear knotted inside her chest, and panic gripped her heart. Standing in the doorway, wearing a fitted red business suit and a dark hostile glare was Vivica Morretti.

  “Baby, what’s wrong? Is everything okay?”

  “Yes, of course,” she lied, regaining the use of her mouth. “Have a safe flight.”

  Quickly, Jariah logged out of Skype and closed her monthly planner. She couldn’t risk Mrs. Morretti seeing the love notes Nicco had given her, so she dropped it in her bottom drawer and jumped to her feet. Her stomach was twisted in knots, but she didn’t let her fear show. If she did, Nicco’s mother would eat her alive. “It’s wonderful seeing you again, Mrs. Morretti. How are you?”

  “Was that my son?” she asked, pointing at the computer. “He called you from Lisbon?”

  “Yes, of course, we were talking about work, and—”

  “Sex, right?”
/>
  A gasp fell from Jariah’s lips.

  “You used sex to entice and seduce my son, but I’m here to tell you the jig is up.”

  The temperature in the office shot through the roof.

  “I know all about how you trapped Wesley Covington by willfully getting pregnant.” Her tone was matter-of-fact, and her voice was patronizing. “You have several online dating profiles. I wouldn’t be surprised if my son was just one of many wealthy, influential men supporting you.”

  “Is that what you think? That I’m after Nicco’s money?”

  “I don’t think, Ms. Brooks. I know.”

  “If Nicco lost everything tomorrow, it wouldn’t change how I feel about him. I love him because of who he is, not because of what he has. He’s the man for me, and I plan to be in his life for many years to come.”

  “I have a hair appointment at noon, so I’m going to get right to the point.” Mrs. Morretti flicked her thick, auburn locks over her shoulders. The former Broadway actress had a slender frame, a perfectly sculptured nose and radiant brown skin. She didn’t have a crease or wrinkle in sight, and carried herself with the grace of a prima ballerina. “As of four o’clock today, you no longer work for Morretti Incorporated. You are not the right fit for this company or my son, and I expect you out of here by the end of the workday.”

  “With all due respect, you didn’t hire me, and I don’t work for you.”

  Her eyes were sharp, lethal daggers. “I’m a company stakeholder, and also one of the founding members. I have the power to make decisions just like anyone else on the board.”

  The news came as a shock and sent Jariah’s heartbeat into an erratic tailspin. It took everything she had not to cry, and supreme effort not to argue. Mrs. Morretti spoke in a polite, quiet manner, and never once raised her voice. But her hatred was evident, as clear as the clouds in the morning sky.

  Mrs. Morretti opened her Louis Vuitton purse and took out a white envelope. “Here’s your termination letter and your severance pay,” she said. “I understand the plight of single mothers, so I ensured that your settlement was more than generous.”