by Sandi Lynn
“Cheesecake?” She grinned.
“I’d love a piece.”
“I’ll be right back,” she spoke.
Chapter Thirteen
Anna
My body was still on fire as the feeling of him still inside me radiated. I had never been so sexually fulfilled as I was when I was with him. I went into the kitchen, cut two slices of cheesecake, and took them back up to the bedroom. I handed Wes his plate and then lay across the bed on my stomach and faced him with my plate in my hand.
“So, tell me why you don’t trust women.” I smiled.
“You’re cute.” He tapped my nose with his fork.
“Then answer me this. Do you trust me?”
“Oh my god. This is the best cheesecake I’ve ever had.”
“Right? Franco knows it’s my favorite. He’s quite a baker.”
“Do you think he’ll make me one?” Wes asked and I knew he was avoiding my question.
“If you ask him nicely. Now answer my question. Do you trust me?”
“No. Frankly, I don’t.”
“What? Why?” I cocked my head.
“Because you lied and sent in a fake resume.”
“Please. I told you exactly who I was when I found out I was working for you.” I pointed my fork at him. “I think I should get some points for that. I could have kept it a secret. But I didn’t. I was honest.”
“That is true. I guess I can give you a couple points for that.” A smirk fell upon his face.
“Do I get extra points for sharing my cheesecake with you? I don’t share with just anyone.”
His eye steadily narrowed at me as the corners of his mouth curved upwards.
“Fine. I’ll give you three extra points for sharing. But only because it’s so damn good.”
He set his empty plate on the nightstand and ran his finger across my lips.
“I better go. It’s really late and we both have work in the morning.”
“You can stay.” I bit down on my bottom lip.
“It’s tempting, but I won’t have time to run home before the office in the morning.”
“Okay.”
Disappointment rose inside me because I remembered how good it felt with his body tightly pressed against mine as we slept that night in Paris. We both got up from the bed. While he got dressed, I took the plates down to the kitchen.
“I had a good time tonight,” he spoke as his lips softly touched mine.
“So did I. Thank you for dinner.”
“Thank you for dessert.” He smiled. “I’ll see you in the morning.” His lips met mine one last time for the night.
“See you in the morning, Wes.”
He walked out the door and I let out a sigh. I’d only been in New York for two days and I already had a job and slept with a man. The same man that I hadn’t stopped thinking about since Paris.
The next morning, I stopped at Starbucks before work and grabbed myself and Tori a cup of coffee. Even though she didn’t deserve it, I wanted to play nice on the playground.
“Good morning, Tori,” I spoke with a smile as I set the coffee cup on her desk.
“What’s this for?” she asked with a snotty tone.
“I stopped at Starbucks on the way in and thought you’d like a cup of coffee.”
“I don’t drink coffee, only tea.”
She picked up the cup and handed it back to me.
“Noted.” I graciously smiled as I walked away. “Bitch,” I mumbled under my breath.
“Good morning,” Wes spoke without even cracking a smile as he walked past my desk.
“Good morning. I brought you in a cup of coffee.” I grinned.
“Thank you. I appreciate that. Come into my office so we can go over some things for today.”
I followed him into his office and shut the door. I was hoping he’d at least give me a morning kiss, but he didn’t. He just took his seat behind his desk and instructed me to sit down.
“Don’t I at least get a kiss?” I smirked.
“Not in the office, Anna. I don’t want rumors started.”
“So are we just to pretend that there’s nothing going on between us?”
He sat there and steadily narrowed his eye at me.
“There is nothing going on between us,” he said. “We fucked a few times. That’s it.”
Wow. Where was this coming from?
“You’re right. I didn’t mean it any other way than that,” I spoke.
“Every year, Carter Capital puts on an event for people who want to start a business to attend with the hopes of us investing in their company. We run an ad and accept the first one hundred people with a business plan who respond. We only choose one to invest in. I need you to start putting that event together. Chrissy should have a file in the cabinet by your desk with all the information. You need to book the venue and make all the arrangements for the food and put the ad together.”
“Okay. That’s great that the company does that for people.”
“It’s something my father started. It gives someone with a dream of becoming a business owner a chance in the community.”
“I’ll get started on it now,” I spoke as I got up from my seat. “By the way, when is the event? Next month, two months?”
“Two weeks from tomorrow.”
“Seriously? Why am I just finding out about this now?”
“Well, you’ve only worked for me for one day, and to be honest, I forgot about it until Christopher reminded me this morning. But I’m not worried. I know if anyone can put it together quickly, you can.” He smirked.
“Damn right I can. Is that all?”
“Yes. Hold all my calls until further notice. I’m buried in paperwork I need to go over.”
“Of course. By the way, do you want to grab some dinner tonight after work?”
“No. I can’t. I already have plans,” he spoke.
I walked out of his office and pulled opened the file cabinet, searching for the file Chrissy supposedly had. Found it. I pulled it out and took a seat behind my desk. Damn it. I wasn’t the one who did this shit when I worked for my father. I always delegated this type of task. Picking up the phone, I dialed Franco.
“Hello, sweet cheeks,” he answered.
“Franco, I need the person you use to organize your events.”
“His name is Bernard. What do you need him for?”
“Wes is having me organize a business event and it’s in two weeks. You know I don’t really organize things myself.”
“Ah, okay. Don’t worry. I’ll give him a ring right now and give him your number. I got you, babe.”
“Thanks, Franco. I owe you big time. Oh, by the way, if Wes asks you to make him a cheesecake, tell him you’re busy.”
“What?” He chuckled into the phone.
“I’ll explain later. Call Bernard now.”
Chapter Fourteen
Wes
She walked out of my office and I felt nothing but confliction. I felt like she was a woman I could get caught up in. A woman that I could fall instantly for. The woman I had already fallen for. And also a woman who had a lot of issues. Issues I wasn’t about to take on. I needed to keep my distance from her and keep things professional for as long as she was my personal assistant. It was going to be hard and my cock wasn’t going to like it, but I had no choice. I couldn’t stand people who lied. I’d been burned before, and I would never let it happen again.
“Wes, you got a second?” Christopher asked as he popped his head in the door.
“Sure. Come on in.”
“I have those reports you were looking for.”
“Thanks, Christopher,” I said as I held out my hand and he handed them to me.
He took a seat in the chair across from my desk and crossed his legs.
“Anna looks great sitting outside your office. She’s one hell of a looker. How did dinner go last night?”
“It was good. She used to work at Young Vine Enterprises in California.”
“The wine company?”
“Yeah. She was the chief operating officer and her father fired her after she ran off.”
“No fucking way! What the hell is she doing being your personal assistant? Jesus Christ, she’s probably more qualified to run this place than you or me.”
“Apparently, she gets bored easily.” I rolled my eyes. “I need to keep my distance from her.”
“Why? I can tell you like her.”
“I do, but I’m afraid I can’t trust her.”
“Why? Because she lied on a stupid resume? Big deal.”
“I believe she’s more trouble than it’s worth. She left her fiancé at the altar. Her father fired her from the family business that she was supposed to take over, and her mother isn’t in her life at all. What does that tell you about her?”
“It tells me that she comes from a shitty family,” he spoke.
“Or it could be that she’s the problem. I mean, I’m all for her knowing what she wants, but leaving that guy standing at the altar the way she did just isn’t sitting right with me. If she didn’t love him or was unsure, she should have called off the wedding. I just think she has some major problems and I’m not getting involved with someone like that.”
“Is this because of Alexa?”
“No. This has nothing to do with her.”
“I think you’re wrong, man. I think this has everything to do with her and with what happened. Everyone has issues and nobody’s perfect.”
“I know that, and as much as I like Anna, I can’t get involved with someone like her. It’s too much. I’m at a good place in my life and I don’t need any drama.”
Anna
I stood at the door and heard every word he said. My heart broke in half and I couldn’t listen anymore. He didn’t know me. He only knew what I chose to tell him. He didn’t know anything about me or how I grew up. I walked back to my desk as I tried to hold back the tears that formed in my eyes. Picking up my phone, I sent Franco a text message telling him to cancel Bernard. I’d handle this event on my own and then I’d quit, and he’d never have to see me again.
I went through the file and the place where the event usually was held was booked. So I started calling around. I found a place, the Hudson Terrace, had an opening for the night of the event. Grabbing my coat and purse, I walked past Tori’s desk.
“Mr. Carter is in a meeting. If he’s looking for me, tell him I went to check out a space for the small business event.”
“He isn’t going to like that,” she spewed.
“And I don’t really give a shit.” I kept walking.
As I was checking out the Hudson Terrace and speaking with the event manager, my phone dinged with a text message from Wes.
“I don’t understand why you had to leave. We have the event at the same place every year. All you had to do was make a simple phone call.”
I sighed as I rolled my eyes.
“Excuse me a moment,” I spoke to Laurinda, the event manager. “My boss is being a dick head.”
“That place was booked already because you failed to plan this event more than two weeks ahead of time. I had to find somewhere else.”
“Where are you?”
“Don’t worry about it. You wanted me to plan this and that’s what I’m doing. I’ll give you all the details tomorrow.”
“What’s with the attitude?”
“I don’t have an attitude. I’m simply doing my job and you’re interfering. Good bye, Mr. Carter.”
I shoved my phone in my purse and continued talking to Laurinda. Once I signed the contract and picked the menu, I headed home, since my workday was already over an hour ago. Walking into my apartment, I set my purse down and fell onto the couch.
“Hey, welcome home. What’s wrong?” Franco asked as he sat down next to me.
I slowly turned my head and looked at him with a look of sadness in my eyes.
“I overheard Wes talking to Christopher and he said some things about me.”
“Like what?” He grabbed my hand.
“He said he thinks I have a lot of major issues because of my parents and the fact that I left Matthew at the altar, and he’s not getting involved with someone like me. He said he’s at a good place in his life and he doesn’t need the drama.”
“Aw, Anna. I’m sorry.” He gently squeezed my hand and I laid my head on his shoulder.
“Christopher asked him if this had anything to do with Alexa.”
“Who’s Alexa?”
“I have no idea. I’m assuming an ex-girlfriend. She may be the reason why he doesn’t trust women. The thing that sucks is I found myself falling for him. I mean, really falling for him. Like for real.”
“You don’t even know him, Anna.”
“I know that. So explain to me why I couldn’t stop thinking about him since Paris? We have this chemistry and I know he feels it too. I’ve never in my life felt like this about anyone.”
“Not even Conrad Baines back in college? Because you were really into him.”
“No. Not even Conrad. Like I said, this is different, and to be honest, it scares me. But I guess I don’t have to worry about it anymore. He wants nothing to do with me.”
“I don’t think that’s true. I saw the way he looked at you last night when you walked down the stairs and the way his eyes lit up. He just doesn’t understand you, darling. He doesn’t know what you’ve been through.”
“You didn’t hear what he said. So, it is true. I’m putting on this event and then I’m quitting.
“You’ll figure it out.” He kissed the side of my head. “You always do, and as for Wes Carter, I don’t think this is over.”
“Yes, it is. It’s so over.”
Chapter Fifteen
Wes
I sat in my study with my phone in my hand debating whether or not to text Anna. I didn’t like our last conversation and her attitude bothered me.
“How was the venue you checked out?”
An hour later, a response from her came through.
“It was nice. I booked it. We’ll discuss it tomorrow during office hours.”
What the fuck did she mean ‘during office hours’? Something was up with her and I wanted to know what it was.
“Need I remind you that you are my personal assistant and it’s always business hours where I’m concerned?”
“LOL.”
Did she seriously just laugh at me? I grabbed my coat and scarf and hailed a cab to her apartment.
“Wes,” Franco spoke with surprise as he opened the door.
“Is she here?”
“Yeah. She’s upstairs taking a bath. But—”
I pushed past him and walked up the stairs and into the bathroom that was connected to her room.
“Excuse me!” she yelled as I walked through the door.
“I’ve seen you naked, remember? What is going on with you?” I asked as I placed my hand in my pocket to tame my rising cock.
“Oh my god. Get out of here! Do you do this to all of your personal assistants?”
“Fine. I’ll be waiting for you on the bed so we can talk about the event.”
“I already told you that we’ll talk about it tomorrow,” she spat.
“No. I’m not waiting until tomorrow. So hurry it up.”
I walked out of the bathroom, and as soon as I shut the door, I heard something hit it. To be honest, this wasn’t me. I would never in a million years behave this way, but she got under my skin and I wanted answers. I sat down on the edge of the bed and waited for her. A few moments later, the bathroom door opened, and Anna emerged wearing her short black silk robe.
“Okay, you psycho. I booked a room at the Hudson Terrace. It can accommodate three hundred people, which is more than enough space. I arranged the appetizers and dinner will be served buffet style. It’ll be easier that way and less formal. The less formal, the less nervous these small potential business owners will be. There’s an area in the corner where I’ve arra
nged for a table to be set up for the owners to hand you their business portfolios and talk to you for a few minutes so you can get a feel for their character.”
“I don’t do it that way. I collect all the business portfolios and then me and Christopher go over them the next day. Whichever one we feel is the best fit is when we contact them and bring them into the office.”
“Oh. Well, I like my way better. It’s important to speak to each business owner directly.”
“It’s a waste of time if I’m not interested in their company.”
“No. What’s a waste of time is finding a business to help out and then finding out after the fact the guy is a dick head. That is a waste of time. You don’t want to invest in a business if the owner is an asshole. This way, you can get a feel for someone and I’ll be right there taking notes.”
I sat and narrowed my eyes at her as she stood there looking sexy as fuck in that robe and her hair up in a messy bun.
“Fine. We’ll do it your way,” I hesitantly spoke. “Now tell me what’s up with the attitude?”
“I don’t have an attitude,” she innocently spoke as she cocked her head.
“You do. I could sense it in your text message.”
“Well, your senses are off, Mr. Carter. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have things to do.”
She started to walk past me, and I grabbed her hand and pulled her onto my lap.
“You have me to do,” I spoke as I placed my hand between her legs.
“I don’t think so.”
“I do.” I reached up and pulled the clip out of her hair and softly brushed my lips against hers.
“We can’t,” she moaned as my fingers stroked her.
“But we can. You’re already wet because you can’t stop thinking about my hard cock inside you.”
Our lips locked and our tongues greeted each other with excitement. I broke our passionate kiss and looked at her just to be sure.
