by Lola Darling
I check my schedule. It’s blank.
I panic.
“What do you think this means?” I whisper, showing Shauna. “Are they letting me go?”
She looks confused. “I don’t know, maybe it’s a mix-up? You should ask Beth when we’re done.”
I sit, my fear growing as I listen to the weekly rundown of reminders and tasks. Then we’re dismissed, but I don’t move from my seat.
What if he’s actually firing me? But wouldn’t he have done that earlier? Or had security march me out the door first thing?
“Good morning.”
I jolt at the voice.
Dominic is standing in the doorway, looking commanding in a black suit and blue shirt that sets off the blue of his eyes. He’s shaved and his face is baby-smooth, tempting me to touch.
“How did you sleep?” he asks, a wicked glint in his eye.
I blush. I dreamed of him all night: sexy, forbidden dreams. “Fine,” I say abruptly, getting to my feet. “I should go, I need to talk to Beth about my schedule.”
“No need,” Dominic stops me. “I’ve taken care of it. Do you have another outfit with you?”
I pause, confused. I’m dressed in the maid’s uniform, since I expected to work housekeeping again today. “I have regular clothes in my locker—”
“Excellent. Go change.”
“Why?” I’m still lost, still anxious about the possibility of losing my internship.
Dominic’s expression remains neutral. “When I make a request, Ms. Evans, it is to be followed immediately and without question. Is that clear?”
The authority in his tone makes me stand a little straighter. Controlled and collected, he’s one hundred percent the dominant business man.
I never realized before how much that turned me on.
“Yes, sir,” I reply, with an edge to my voice. “Where should I meet you?”
“Upstairs.”
My mouth drops open, but Dominic smirks. “The offices,” he adds. “You’ll be attending a board meeting with me.”
Cold hands run down my spine. “Board meeting? But I’m just an intern!” Management operations are part of my rotation, eventually, but only on a basic level. Board and director’s meetings are way over my head.
Dominic arches an eyebrow. “You don’t want to observe a management role? I assumed with a quick mind like yours, Ms. Evans, that you aspired to more than answering phone calls and cleaning rooms.”
“I do. But this… It’s not part of the program. I don’t want any favors.” My tone is defensive.
He softens. “This isn’t a favor. Trust me, just stop arguing and go change. Or I can invite one of your classmates…” He looks around, as if he’s about to go find someone else to get a front-row seat in the boardroom.
“No!” I yelp quickly. “Thank you. I’ll be right there.”
I grab my folder, and move to leave the room. He doesn’t stand aside, and I brush against him as I pass. The heat from his body on mine stays with me as I rush to the locker room to change.
I quickly trade my maid’s uniform for my pencil skirt and blouse, thanking God I arrived looking smart today, and not in jeans like some of the other interns. Whipping out my purse, I dig around for lip gloss and dot a bit on, before letting my hair from its braid and twisting it into a bun at the nape of my neck. It stays—by some miracle—and I rush to get up to the executive offices in time.
Dominic meets me in the conference room and hands me a leather portfolio. Other people are filing in, and I can feel their curious stares.
“This is a department head meeting. Take notes.” He reaches into his breast pocket and procures a pen, hands it to me. The shaft is polished wood with brass fittings. My hand is shaking as I take it.
“Notes?” Ooops, said that out loud. What types of things did one write down at meetings like this?
“Write down whatever you feel to be important.”
He’s testing me. I want to pass. Then I remember.
“Who should I send a check to?” I ask quietly, as the room fills up.
“Pardon?”
“For the tires? Where should I send the check?”
Dom smirks. “Don’t be ridiculous, Juliet. I take care of my own.” He nods to a chair in the corner. “Now, sit quietly and say nothing.”
His own? What does that mean? I move to a lone chair in the far corner of the room, puzzling over his comment. But soon the conference table is full, and Dominic gets to his feet. From here, I have a perfect view of his position at the head of the table. His tall body and broad shoulders make an impressive outline against the whiteboard behind him.
“Ladies and gentlemen.” Dominic pours himself a cup of coffee from the carafe on the table. “Shall we get started?”
One of the men begins talking about new tax laws and upgrading policies. I concentrate on what’s being said, picking out what sounds most relevant and writing it down. Dominic listens, giving the man his full attention. I notice how every attendee watches the head of Rexford as if they might miss something if they look away.
They respect him, and that’s something considering Dominic is the youngest man in the room.
“Mr. Yates, do you have a purchase report for us?”
“Yes, sir, I do.” Thin and birdlike, Yates recites purchase orders and the costs of replacing broken or outdated furniture and accessories. I write as quickly as I can while still keeping a sharp focus on the discussion. I find that I’m absorbing and processing the conversation more than actually writing. I try and take more notes, wanting to do what Dominic asked.
Despite everything, I want to impress him.
The meeting continues another forty-five minutes before a man in a nicely-cut suit takes a spot next to Dominic. I recognize him from staff introductions—Peter Baldwin, the head of the public relations department.
“Mr. Rexford, I’m afraid I don’t have good news.”
This catches my attention.
Mr. Baldwin holds out a paper to Dominic and then passes more around the table. I’m dying to know what it says, but one isn’t offered to me.
“It’s no secret that our gross has been down the past nine months. Our global locations are holding strong, but here in Chicago, we’ve seen a loss in revenue by another fifteen percent this quarter.”
Dominic skims the paper in his hand. A muscle twitches in his jaw—his only reaction as he places the paper on the edge of the table.
“This advertisement came out in yesterday’s issue of Elite magazine and I can confirm we’ve lost over a hundred reservations already.”
I scoot to the edge of my seat, thinking if I can maybe lean in enough, I can nonchalantly get a glimpse at one of the papers. No luck. The closest person to me is still too far away.
Dom catches my eye briefly, then turns to Mr. Baldwin. “Deliver one to Ms. Evans.”
All heads turn my way but it’s Dominic’s cool, steady glare that captures me. He’s radiating with controlled anger. I can only imagine what’s going on in his mind.
I take the paper from Mr. Baldwin. It’s an ad from the Prescott Group.
Summer Special: switch your reservation to Prescott and save big. Free luxury upgrades and more!
The image shows a glamorous woman walking away from a building that could only be the Rexford – and towards a gleaming Prescott property, greeted by valet, staff, and a literal red carpet stretching from a pair of wide-open, etched glass doors.
“I’ll deal with this later,” Dominic says, remaining calm and in control. “That’s all for today.”
The meeting adjourns but I remain in my seat, thinking about the ad. It’s clear this rivalry runs deep, but stealing customers with bribes like this is a low blow, even for the ultra-competitive hotel industry.
I’m still mulling over the move when I hear Dominic’s voice.
“Well? How was your first meeting?”
I look up. Everyone’s gone but him. We’re alone in the room.
&nbs
p; “It was… overwhelming,” I admit, collecting my papers. “I took notes, like you wanted, but I didn’t get everything. It was hard trying to keep up. How do you stay on top of everything?”
“I delegate,” Dom answers with a smile. “A good staff is the key to success. When you’re head of a big company like this, it’s important not to get caught up in the small details. I need to be free to focus on the big things.”
“Like the Prescott Group?”
Dom’s face darkens. “This ad is just the latest in a long list of moves against us. Blaine Prescott seems determined to steal all our customers away.”
“You’ll find a way to win them back,” I say confidently. “They might stay with Prescott once, but they’ll come right back to the Rexford.”
“And why’s that?” Dom surveys me.
I feel self-conscious. “Because the Rexford isn’t just a hotel, it’s an experience. One that can’t be replicated by anyone else.”
“Is that so?” He gives a smug grin, and I realize too late that I could have been talking about him.
Us.
He crosses the room towards me. And then he’s lifting me, his lips on mine with a crushing kiss. It’s shockingly familiar, and tempting as hell. I let the folder fall to the floor as I surrender, reaching to lock my arms around his neck and return the kiss.
I draw back, taking his lower lip between my teeth and softly biting down. He groans, his hands caressing my ass, my back, my shoulders. His muscles are tense.
“We should talk about Prescott.” It’s a weak attempt to put the brakes on, but I want to know more.
“Later,” Dom growls. “I want you on your knees, Juliet.”
I’m aware that the door to the room has been left cracked. The sounds of footfalls and conversation come from outside the room.
“Anyone could walk in,” I protest, shocked – and thrilled.
He kisses my neck, his hand finding my breast. “Shy little kitten, all of a sudden?”
A shuddering breath comes out of me as he tweaks my nipple. “Yes.”
We kiss, his hand cradling the back of my neck. “Then go to my office. Take off your clothes and wait for me.”
My pulse leaps. Now? In the middle of the work day?
Dom retrieves the portfolio and hands it to me, his face perfectly blank. “I’m not going to ask again, Juliet. It’s your choice.”
My choice…
My resistance crumbles. No part of me wants to deny him, or myself. I crave a continuation of last night, to find completion. The same part of me that took a risk with him at The Drake makes an appearance, pushing me closer to my desires.
I slowly exit the conference room, feeling his eyes on me. I pause in the hallway. I could go to his office like he ordered – or to the elevator, back down to the lobby. To my internship, and the rest of my work day.
What’s it going to be? I ask myself, but the decision has already been made.
I decided the minute he put his hands on me.
Luckily, the secretaries’ desks are empty as I walk past and open the doors to his office. My brain is on auto pilot now, so intent on giving my body what it wants that I’m not thinking of what I’m about to do anymore. I’m going to get naked. In my boss’s office. And it feels wicked and naughty and—
“Oh!”
I stop at the sound. Shauna is behind Dominic’s desk, her face white.
“What are you doing here?” I clutch the portfolio to my chest. She seems frozen, just like me. We’ve completely scared the shit out of each other.
I look around for Beth or another manager who might have come up here with her, but she’s alone – thank God.
“N—nothing.” Shauna skitters from around the desk, her hands in her pockets. “I was asked to drop off some files. What about you?”
“The same,” I say quickly. I hold up the portfolio Dom thrust into my hands moments ago, glad of the excuse. “I was just taking minutes at the board meeting.”
“Ooh,” Shauna relaxes, her color returning. “Big time management, huh? Was it interesting?”
“Kind of—”
“Shit, I have to run, I’m late already,” Shauna cuts me off. “Tell me all about it later, okay?” And then she’s gone.
Prickles go down the back of my neck, and for a second, I have the urge to follow her. But the memory of Dom is too strong.
He ordered me to get naked…
I carefully check that the door is shut, then I shrug out of my blazer. My fingers find the buttons of my shirt and I slowly pop them one by one. Desire returns, intoxicating. Any moment, Dominic is going to walk in here with his sexy, alpha swagger. His big, warm hands are going to find every inch of my bared skin.
The leather couch… his desk… against the wall, I don’t care. All of them. Any of them, as long as he takes me hard. Fast. And satisfies this relentless fire he started in me.
“There’s only a couple pretty ones in the group this year.”
A woman’s voice comes close to the door, muffled, but stull audible. One of his secretaries, back from her break. I go still, my heart racing. Is someone going to come in?
There are murmurs of agreement, somebody else with her too. “No, no, don’t worry. He went to the penthouse for a few minutes.”
“My money’s on the one with dark hair.” The first voice says again, her tone gossiping. “The one he took to the meeting this morning. She could barely keep up. You know I’m going to have to retake all those notes.”
She’s talking about me.
I pull my shirt closed, and edge closer to listen.
“You’d think he would have learned to stop screwing the interns after it killed his marriage.”
“Well, I have no sympathy for these girls. Either they’re trying to sleep their way up the ladder, or they’re too dumb to realize they’re just a convenient screw. And meanwhile, I’m the one stuck dealing with all the fallout trying to rearrange the schedules to get them out of his way once he’s done fucking and forgetting them.”
What?
I go cold, bile rising in my throat. He’s done this before? With other interns? Plenty, by the sound of the gossip.
I’m just one of a long list, girls too stupid to know any better.
I struggle to button my shirt again and pull my clothing into place. I can’t believe it. I feel so cheap, so used. I’m not special…
But he never said you were.
The truth hits hard. He never made me any promises – only demands to get naked, as soon as fucking possible. Even when I tried to stop, because he was my boss, Dom didn’t seem to mind, he only chased harder.
Because this is what he does. He’s got the routine down to an art.
And this time, I was the fuck-and-forget. I was the dumb bitch, the stupid intern.
I yank on my blazer and wipe tears from my eyes. Listening by the doors, I wait until the voices fade away, then finally make a break for it, hurrying to the elevator without being spotted.
I’ve been so, so stupid.
And it ends right the fuck now.
Chapter Nine
I find a note taped to my locker the next morning that says I’m assigned back to reception today. My phone beeps as I get ready for work.
It’s Dominic.
Yesterday, I finished my shift and went home, cracked a jar of buffalo chicken dip and dug out a bottle of cheap wine. Then my bag of chips, wine and I hid out in my bedroom to watch The Princess Bride and forget the entire day ever happened. Until my phone started blowing up.
I’d like to speak with you.
I erased the message and added the number under ‘Asshat’ in my contacts. Asshat called twice again last night, but I refused to answer, or even listen to his message. I wasn’t going to text or call him back because my mind was made up: I’d been stupid enough. My hormones are not going to ruin my future.
I’ve never known lust like this. But I’ve also never had an opportunity like The Rexford is giving me. I have t
o choose, and I choose myself.
Now, I turn off my phone and toss it into my locker. I feel a pain in my chest, but I tell myself that’s just the after-effects of too much hot sauce.
Dominic means nothing to me anymore.
“Hey.” Shauna is already on the front desk when I arrive.
“Hi,” I mumble back. She doesn’t say anything about finding me in Dom’s office yesterday, and I’m glad. I’d rather pretend the whole day never happened. I get to work checking in a new guest, and for the next few hours, I stay focused on my job.
Bad enough I already have a reputation. I want to be remembered for more than just being Dom’s latest plaything.
By the time noon rolls around, I’m in my element: dealing with guests, answering calls, even directing a family on a great walking tour of the city. This is what energizes me: challenge, interaction, responsibility. I love it, and I don’t want to lose it.
“Ready for your break?” Shauna asks, after I equip the family with an armful of pamphlets and maps.
“Please,” I smile, “My feet are killing me.”
Then I see one of the secretaries from Dom’s office approaching. “Juliet Evans?” she asks.
“Yes,” I brace myself.
She sweeps me with a quick glance and I realize, this must be one of the women who was gossiping about me. “Mr. Rexford would like to speak with you in his office. About the notes you took yesterday during the meeting.”
The notes? I’d completely forgotten about them. I stashed them in my locker last night.
I feel a tremor of nerves. I can’t face him, not now that I know the truth. “Please tell Mr. Rexford that I’m unavailable right now.”
The secretary looks surprised. “But… he said for you to come. Now.”
“And you can tell him you delivered his message,” I say brightly. “Thanks.” I pretend to get back to work, feeling her eyes on me, until at last I hear her walk away.
“I can’t believe you just did that.” Shauna looks shocked. “He’s the boss!”
“It’s fine,” I lie. “Go to lunch, Lace.”
She doesn’t move. “He’s a powerful man. Who knows what can happen if you cross him?” She almost sounds… scared. I look at her, trying to read what’s going on in her head.
