There are three young salesmen standing at the end of the mattress, lustfully staring at Jules.
“You can join us.” Jules purrs and pats the space between us. “This is a king size.” She raises her brows. “There’s plenty of room for all of us.”
All three of them look like they’re seriously considering her offer.
I cough and clear my throat. “She’s just kidding.”
“No, I’m not.” She pouts.
“Yes, you are!” I say with my best mother voice.
I address the young man with the name Drew written just above an assistant manager tag. “Drew,” I say and he turns his body but his eyes are still fixed on Jules. I clear my throat again. “Hello—Assistant Manager Drew.”
He turns his head and finally graces me with eye contact.
“Drew, I think this is the mattress.” I pat it. “That I want.”
“Okay.” He answers as his eyes float back to Jules.
“Can you check stock and available delivery times for today?”
“Yeah…okay…sure I’ll check on that…be right back.” Drew sighs then leaves with great reluctance.
I return my attention to the other raging hormonal teenagers.
Jules winks, at them, then slowly slides down onto her elbows giving the young men an exceptional view of her tatas. “Are you college boys?” she purrs.
A lanky cute blond answers her. “No…we’re in high school... but seniors.” He adds.
Like that makes it any better, or even legal.
“Really?” she says with a tilt of her chin. “You sure look like college boys.” She pouts.
They grin and flush like idiots.
“What high school do you attend?”
“Jules.” I spout and shake my head.
She giggles.
“Jeff, Rick—get over here!” We hear a man shout.
They look up. “Crap.” The blond says. “Sorry, ladies, that’s the boss, we need to help other customers. But…could we get your numbers? They pull out their cell phones.
Jules grins—I shake my head. “Sorry” I say.
They give Jules a pleading look. She pouts. “Sorry, mom won’t let me.”
“Oh…okay. If you change your minds you know where to find us.” He winks, and they leave to help other customers.
“Jules,” I say and shake my head. “You need to get some. A legal some.
THE CEO MAKES HIS OFFER
The next day, Jules and I walk into the office of Jaxson Chase Ryan, CEO of Ryan Acquisitions. Yeah, I know that you already get who he is but I just like saying it.
Jaxson shakes my hand, then pulls me into him. I breathe him in. I’m not sure that it’s humanly possible to smell so good. Maybe he’s a Martian. I run my nose along his suit-clad shoulder. Why you ask? Because I can’t get enough of his scent; it does strange things to me. So when I run my nose along his suit his scent rubs off and lingers under my nose. It’s like taking a piece of him with me. If I were sleeping with him I’d smell his pillow and roll in his sheets. I’m not, so I make do. A girl’s got to do what a girl’s got to do.
“Alexia, thanks for coming” he says, drawing me out of my olfactory trance.
I nod.
He releases me then shakes Jules’ hand. “Jules, good to see you again.”
She takes his hand while giving him a once over.
He gives her a tight smile then releases her hand. He then steps aside.
“Alexia, Jules, this is Nick Cain.”
“Hello,” I say and give a firm handshake to a man that looks like Malibu Ken in Armani.
“Alexia, it’s a pleasure. Jaxson talks about you all the time,” he says with a warm smile.
“All the time huh?”
“Yes, every chance he gets. It does get rather tedious and boring,” he says with a wink. Nick turns to Jules and takes her hand. “Wonderful to see you again, Julianne.”
She grins like an idiot. “I see you still have the shirt on your back Mr. Cain.”
“Yes, no thanks to you.” He smirks.
“I heard you left the DA’s office.”
“Yes, I’m doing some consulting work.”
“So, you two know each other?” I ask even though it’s obvious.
“Yes” Jules replies with a snort. “I represented his wife in their divorce. What? Two years ago?” she asks with a tilt of the chin.
“Yes, two years.”
Jaxson directs Jules and me to a leather sofa. We sit and they take the two opposing leather chairs.
“So it’s a small world after all,” I say trying to be humorous but Nick and Jules ignore me.
“When Jaxson said that Alexia’s friend Jules Cunningham will be accompanying her I was so pleasantly surprised. I knew there could only be one Julianne Cunningham.”
“Thank God for that.” Jaxson says under his breath.
I bite my lip but Nick and Jules remain oblivious.
“Are you still practicing family law?” Nick asks with concern.
“Oh my goodness yes, still representing the better halves.”
I look over at Jules, wondering if a hypnotist ran in, put me in a trance then replaced her with June Cleaver.
“I’m not here as an attorney, if that’s what you’re asking. I’m here as a friend.” Jules leans forward trying to get closer to Nick. “Are you consulting for Ryan Acquisitions?”
“No, I’m here as a partner and a friend.”
I catch Nick’s eye. I think I might have just met my anonymous e-mailing partner.
“Jaxson and I met at Princeton. We’re fraternity brothers.”
“Really?” Jules exclaims like Nick just gave her the answer to world hunger.
I roll my eyes. Jaxson starts to play with his hands.
“Lex and I met while I was living in London.”
Nick scoots closer. “You really look great, Julianne.”
“So do you, Nick. It’s been way too…”
Jaxson clears his throat. “Nick, I have a tight schedule this morning. If we could proceed I would appreciate it.”
Jules turns to me and whispers loudly in my ear. “Someone needs a booty call.”
I give her an elbow.
Jaxson gives her The Brow.
We all cringe.
“As I said before, I’m here as the representative for the partners.” He looks at me. “Alexia, as you know, the partners have met several times over the last few weeks to review this unfortunate predicament.”
Yes, Nick is Mr. Partner Anonymous.
“I really like that word, pre-dic-a-ment.” Jules raises her brows. “Don’t you Nick?” She purrs.
Nick chuckles. “Yes, It’s one of my favorites now.”
Jaxson clears his throat again and taps his watch.
Jules smirks. “Booty call,” she whispers again loudly.
Jaxson looks like he’s going to gives us The Brow.
I shake my head and silently plead mercy.
He gives me a what the look.
Nick smiles again, then continues. “At these meetings we reviewed the embezzlement report and debated for hours on solutions we could all live with. I know that Jaxson informed you that they agreed to suspend charges for ninety days.”
“Yes, he told me.”
Nick looks at Jaxson and he nods.
Nick stands and retrieves a file off of Jaxson‘s desk, then hands it to me. “Alexia, please take a few minutes to look over the partners’ contract.”
Jules and I scan over the main points.
“So, if I’m reading this correctly, it states that I have ninety days to prove my innocence.
“Yes, you’re not guilty until it’s proven, but this will delay any formal charges.”
“It states that, for the duration of these ninety days, I will be placed under house arrest at the Ryan Estate.” I look at Jaxson. “Explain.”
Jules places her hand over mine. I tilt my head and witness her gift Jaxson with the mother of all dirty looks. Her hand
s start to shake, then her body, as she continues to shoot him with razor-sharp poisonous daggers. She snatches the file from my hand and stands.
Then she marches on shaky limbs around the room. She stops in front of Jaxson, waving the file over his head. “I know what this is!” She shouts. “It’s one of those millionaire—billionaire BDSM kinky fuckery contracts!”
She takes a deep quivering breath and continues with her assault. “Holy! Fucking! Hell! To think…Oh my God…to think that I’ve been encouraging a relationship between you two.”
She tosses the file onto Jaxson‘s lap then points a quaking finger in his face. “You have one of those fucked up fuckery play rooms and you…Holy mother of God you want to tie my best friend up and spank or whip her with some kind of…cat thingy…or paddle thingy.” She steps back on her wobbly legs as tears begin to cloud her eyes.
“Jules, calm down. You’re not making any sense.” I plead.
“I will not calm down!” she shouts. “He’s probably into that slave fuckery and he will chain…you…up to a radiator and use you as a potty slave!”
Jaxson looks up at her, his eyes wide with confusion. “What the fucking hell are you talking about!”
I jump up and drag her away from Jaxson. “For hell Jules. Paranoid much? You need to chill out” I spout.
Nick looks at Jules. “What the fuck is a potty slave?”
Jules starts to explain. “It’s when you…well when you make…”
I grab her arm and pull her down onto the sofa. “Jules! No one wants to hear that shit.”
Nick raises his hand. “I want to know.”
Jaxson gives him The Brow.
Please not now. My heart is pounding in my ears. I’m going to get a migraine.
Jules starts to explain again. “You have a slave and you make…”
I put my hand over her mouth. “Jules just stop. You’re making my head hurt.”
She bites down hard on her trembling lip as tears drip down her cheeks. “You’re clueless Lex” she cries out. “You have no idea what you’re getting yourself into. You’ve never been to his estate.” She wipes tears from her cheeks. “What if he has a playroom and ties you up.”
I pull her into my arms. “Jules honey, I’m sure Jaxson doesn’t have a playroom and if he does I’m not going to be playing in it.”
Her lips quiver. “You say that now Lex, but…he could overpower you or brainwash you…or something.”
I lift a brow. “Jules, really?”
“I’ve read all kinds of stories, Lex. I know what I’m talking about.”
She continues to cry; I look up at Nick with pleading eyes.
He nods then walks over and pulls her up into his arms. I mouth a “Thank you.”
She lays her head on his Ken doll chest and wipes her tears and other stuff on his lapel.
“Julianne, I’ve been to the Ryan estate many times and I can assure you that Jaxson doesn’t have a playroom and I have never seen any slaves chained to radiators.”
“He might not be into the kinky fuckery, but now I don’t trust him. Why would he want her under house arrest?”
I look at Jaxson “Good question.”
He sighs. “The partners final vote was six to four to turn you over to the DA. Alexia, I told you I would never let that happen.
He runs his hands through his locks. Dear Lord not now. I cross my legs. God I need to get some.
“I had to come up with a solution that they would agree to and I could live with.” He takes a breath and continues. “Alexia, this whole thing is getting more complicated and fucked up.”
He shuffles to his desk, grabs a file then hands it to me. ”These e-mails were found on your hard drive.”
I open the file.
“As you can see they are threats and expletives similar to the one painted on your wall. Die Cunt. Die Bitch. You’re Dead, Bitch. There are about fifty of them. Flip to the back of the file.”
I flip to the back and pull out several photos of me.
“These were placed in your mail box?” There are sixty photos total, all with your face or body x’ed out and most with expletives written over them.
“When did you get these?”
“Dale found them the same day your loft was trashed. We think they were delivered when you were on vacation. I didn’t tell you because I wanted to do some research first. Unfortunately, I haven’t made any progress.”
I hand them over to Jules to look at.
Jules pulls several out of the file. “Oh my goodness, someone has been stalking you.”
June Cleaver has returned.
“These are pictures of you doing everyday things.” She thumbs through them. “Entering and exiting work, your loft, the gym, shopping at Whole Foods, coffee at Joe’s, running. What about this one Lex?”
She hands over a picture of me on a date. “That’s Garret White. We went out to lunch a couple of times.”
“When did you go out with him?” Jules asks with concern.
“Right before I left for France.”
Jaxson looks at the picture. “Really? Garret White?”
“What’s wrong with Garret?” I ask.
“Garret is a friend of mine” Jules adds while shooting Jaxson with another dagger. “He’s hot and a good man. I know for a fact that he’s not a Dom.”
“I’m not a Dom, Jules. And Lex doesn’t have a submissive bone in her body.”
“All right you two, enough with all that crap.” I grab the file back from Jules and hand it back to Jaxson. “Will has to be behind this—but why make it look like I’m the victim?”
Nick clears his throat. “I think he’s trying to intimidate you.”
“Well, he’s wasting his time because it’s not working. Can we get back to the house arrest issue?”
“Yes, the house arrest.” Jules adds.
Nick waves a hand. “I can explain,” he says.
Jaxson nods clearly relieved that he doesn’t have to deal with Jules.
“It was a compromise between the partners and Jaxson. They believe you’re a flight risk. So Jaxson proposed the house arrest. They agreed but they made other demands—wanted more reassurances.”
I look at Jaxson. “What other demands?”
He clears his throat. “If you flee, I resign as CEO and give up my shares.”
“You can’t do that!”
“Are you going to flee?” he asks.
“No. But I haven’t agreed to the house arrest. Why does it have to be at your estate? Why not my loft? Why not some other house?”
“Jaxson stands and faces Nick and Jules. “Can you give us a minute?”
Jules raises a brow. “I don’t think…”
Nick latches onto her elbow and gives her a warm smile. “Take all the time you need. We’ll go grab some coffee.”
“Are you okay with this?” Jules asks me.
“Yeah, go with Nick, I’ll be fine.
FLIRTING WITH TROUBLE
They leave and Jaxson tugs me down onto the sofa. He takes my hand.
“Okay, spill it. Why are you concerned about staying at my estate?”
“It’s not just that, it’s everything.”
“Okay, I get that your overwhelmed and confused but do you really have a choice?”
I frown. “That’s the problem, I feel like I’m being backed into a corner.” I tilt my chin up. “Jaxson are you taking advantage?”
“What?”
“Why do I feel like you’re almost happy about my situation?”
“Do you think that little of me?” He lets my hand fall, gets up and stomps to his desk then drops into his chair.
I’ve never known anyone that can switch from cold to hot faster than Jaxson Ryan. I follow him and let my ass glide onto the edge of his desk. “Jax you know I don’t think little of you.”
I raise a brow while looking at his crotch. “Definitely not little.”
He smirks. “Lex, I’ll admit that knowing that you’re in m
y home makes me more than a little happy. But your safety is my number one concern. Look, you were set up, your home was trashed, someone has been following you around and sending you e-mails. What’s next?”
I slide back further onto his desk. “I get the safe thing. But your home, Jax?”
“Lex, my estate is two hours way from the city. It’s secluded, safe, and secure. And I know and trust everyone that lives and works there.”
“Okay, I get it.”
“Lex, if you want to face the DA I’ll help any way I can. If I was in your position, that’s what I’d do. But I know that you have this thing about the press and keeping a low profile. I don’t get it, and I’m tired of asking you. I thought the best solution for you would be a secluded home out of the city. No press…just squirrels and deer.”
“Well, why didn’t you tell me? Squirrels and deer—I’m there.”
“Very funny.”
“It is funny. Not the squirrels and deer, but this whole situation. I could make it go away with one phone call.” Damn did I just say that out loud?
“What does that mean?”
I guess I did say it out loud. “Nothing really, just thinking out loud.”
He tilts his chin. “Nothing, huh?”
“Yes, nothing.”
“I don’t believe you.”
I need to rescue myself from my own big mouth. I’m not ready to get into things, with Jaxson. Not yet, anyway. If there is one thing I’m good at—it’s distraction.
I glide my ass to the middle of Jaxson’s desk.
He lifts a brow.
With the toe of my Choo I roll his chair forward. Once I get him where I want, I kick off my heels and rest my bare feet on his thighs.
He licks his lips and I follow his gaze as it travels up my bare legs, pausing at the edge of my skirt that has settled high on my thighs. He bites down on his lower lip. Then his eyes latch onto mine.
“Are you comfortable, Ms. Keith?”
“No, not quite, Mr. Ryan.” I run my toes further up his thighs and plant a foot on each side of his growing erection. “Now I’m comfy.” I sigh and lean back on my palms.
He leans back in his chair. “I like that dress that you’re almost not wearing.”
Layers Page 6
