“We are. We’re staying on Maui for a long weekend.” The waiter places my napkin in my lap. “Are you originally from here?”
She shakes her head. “No, Alex and I met at the University of Washington during law school, and I followed him here.”
“You’re a lawyer?”
“Not anymore. Too many long hours, and we wanted to start a family.” She looks at her husband and smiles.
It’s good to see two people in love.
“What about you? What do you do?” she asks as she sips her drink.
I hate this question. If I tell her I’m an admin, she’ll think I’m not up to her legal standards. If I tell her I’m Jackson’s admin, she’ll think I’m sleeping my way to the top. I paint a smile on my face and go with my standard answer. “I work in operations and project management.” No one really pushes hard with that kind of response.
“How did you and Jackson meet?” she asks.
I’m about to answer when he interjects. “We met at work. She’s one of the most valuable employees at Soleil Energy.”
The governor and Jackson begin to talk, and Courtney and I listen politely.
“Thank you for the donation to my reelection campaign,” the governor says.
“I appreciate your agreeing to meet with me.” Jackson bows his head courteously.
“Of course. I’m happy to help, but I’m not sure there’s much I can do,” he says.
Jackson takes him through the invention of the solar panel window film. “We have a patent pending, but recently my CFO was arrested for theft of our plans and schematics and was seeking funding. He approached Hydro Energy Partners without authorization. Are you familiar with them?”
“I’m familiar with the owner, Jeff Wong.”
“I was told that, which is why I’m asking.” Jackson picks up his glass of bourbon. “Would you be willing to make an introduction?”
“Is this why you’re here in Hawaii?”
“No, I have a place on Maui, but when I thought you could help, I begged for this dinner.”
The governor nods. “Tell me more about your invention.” The two of them talk about Soleil Energy, and I talk to Courtney about adjusting to living on an island so far away from her family.
An older Chinese gentleman approaches the table, and the governor greets him. “Jeff, I was hoping to see you tonight. Please let me introduce you to my dinner guests. I understand you may run in the same circles.”
A look of smugness crosses Jeff Wong’s face.
“This is Jackson Graham, CEO and founder of Soleil Energy.”
Suddenly, he looks horrified. I’m sure he wasn’t expecting to see Jackson in Hawaii, and the fact that he ran into him in his private club visibly unsettles him.
“Mr. Wong, nice to meet you,” Jackson says. “I’ve been trying to reach you.”
“Sorry. I haven’t received any messages,” Jeff Wong says. “I’ll have to speak to my girl about that.”
“That’s fine. I’ll just tell you in person what I tried to tell you over the phone. My attorney has sent you a notice. The technology for the solar film you’re preparing to sell was stolen from me. Its application has been submitted for a patent, and it’s been financed in the US.”
“I’m sure it’s different from my technology.” Jeff turns a gold signet ring on his right pinky finger.
“Well, I would certainly hope so since you were digitally recorded meeting with Jeremy Knowles, the former CFO of my company. I’m not sure if you’re aware, but he was arrested for stealing the plans and patent information.”
“I assure you, I’ve never met a Jeremy Knowles.”
The men nod, sizing each other up. Jackson is significantly taller than Jeff Wong, and in much better shape. My bet is on Jackson.
“That’s great news for you. Because should you choose to move ahead and find yourself unable to prove ownership of your technology and development, I have more than enough money to pursue this.” Jackson leans in so he’s not overheard by the neighboring tables. “Both in the US and in China.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Jeff Wong paints a fake smile on his face.
“That’s fine, but I have my eye on you.” Jackson sits back in his chair, seeming confident. “I’ve spoken with Electrical Alternatives, and they’ve told me you mysteriously launched technology they created in the past, and while they didn’t have the funds to pursue this, I not only have more than enough money but also the connections. You can check.”
Wong turns to the governor. “I can’t believe you brought this haole mainlander, who has no interest in Hawaii and our culture, to our private club.”
“Actually,” I interrupt. “This haole mainlander owns the largest private estate on Maui and the second-largest private estate outside of the Robinson family in all of Hawaii. He employs over fifty people.” I should’ve just kept my mouth shut, but I couldn’t help myself.
“You own the Halona Moana Estate?” he asks.
“I do,” Jackson says.
“How did you buy it? It wasn’t listed for sale,” he challenges.
The waiter arrives with our drinks, and Jackson takes his time, knowing Jeff Wong must have been watching the estate if he knew it hadn’t been up for sale.
“I bought it from Viviana Prentis,” he finally says. “I just put five hundred thousand dollars into the operational budget this morning. I now have a big footprint in Hawaii.”
Jeff Wong begins to turn red, and he balls his hands at his side.
“I have no beef with you today, Mr. Wong, but if you continue to try to sell my technology, you will be sorry.”
Wong turns and walks away. He says something to his probably paid-for date, and they leave the club.
That was tense. I didn’t realize I’d been holding my breath until he walked away. Jackson grasps my hand under the table and rubs his fingers over my knuckles. I steal a look at him, and he has a smug smile. He’s won round two, but this might not be over. We’ll wait to find out if there’s going to be a round three.
The governor motions to the waiter. “A bottle of champagne for the table.”
“Yes, Governor.”
The champagne flows, and the food is outstanding. Dinner runs long, and by the time we fly back to Maui and get to the estate, it’s well after midnight.
Jackson and I curl up in bed together. A part of me wants to talk about how we’re going to manage when we return to San Francisco, but before I can figure out how to talk about it, he’s softly snoring in my ear.
I’m going to miss this. Can I get a casting of his dick? Sadly, I know it wouldn’t be enough.
***
The sun cutting through the blinds wakes me in the morning, but Jackson is up and gone. That’s too bad. I would have loved to start the day with sex. We gave Leilani the morning off, but she’s going to make us a huge dinner tonight.
I reach for my Kindle, and immediately it starts with a very naughty scene. The hero has tied up the heroine and is withholding her orgasms. Sounds like pure torture. I’m grateful Jackson gets pleasure from giving pleasure.
Just then he walks in wearing his pajama bottoms with a tray of coffee and fruit.
“You’re awake.” He kisses me on the forehead.
“I was lonely here without you.”
“What can I do to curb your loneliness?”
“Kiss me, please.” I point to my lips.
He sets the tray down, and his mouth softly touches mine. He bites at my bottom lip.
“And here.” I point to my shoulder, and he nibbles. My pussy is aching for his touch, and I know he can’t be too far behind me in his desire.
“Here, too.” I lift my heavy breast to him, and he suckles it, taking it deep in his mouth. I lean back and moan.
“Was that okay?” he growls.
I nod. “But I think I need another kiss.” I point to my pussy.
He pulls the sheets back, and my knees fall together. He opens them and lig
htly kisses my clit. “Does this work for you?”
I shake my head.
He does a single lick through my slit, just brushing my clit, and I almost explode.
My hands go to my breasts, and I begin to knead the nipples. “More,” I plead.
He gives a deep chuckle. “You want more?”
“Please.” I’m panting.
He goes to work, and his magic tongue and fingers send me over the edge. When I beg to satisfy him, he shakes his head and begins again. He sends me to my climax three times before I collapse in exhaustion.
“What about you?”
“I got off just getting you off.”
It takes some time, but I gather the energy to wander into the bathroom and shower. I’m both exhilarated and exhausted.
Jackson is gone when I return. Putting my bikini on, I grab the cold coffee and some pineapple from the tray and walk out to the pool deck. I find myself a place with indirect sun and enjoy the warm weather until I’m ready for lunch.
When I go back inside, I find Leilani busy in the kitchen with bags of groceries. “Is all of this for dinner tonight?” I ask while I pull together a sandwich to eat by the pool.
She nods. “I spoke with Mr. Graham, and he wants a quiet dinner for the two of you on the cliffs again tonight.”
“Can I help?”
She smiles. “No. This will be a special treat, and I want you to enjoy it.” She takes several things out of her bags that I don’t recognize.
“I’m excited.”
“I’m looking forward to it too.”
I explore the house, but I can’t find Jackson. I wonder where he got off to.
Chapter 17
Corrine
“You ready?” Jackson asks as he hands his bag off to Ben on Monday morning.
“Leilani, thank you for the fantastic food all weekend. I will have dreams of the egg scramble and the ono you made last night,” I tell her.
“When you come back, I’ll make it for you again.”
“Jackson will be back in a few weeks, but I’m not sure when I’ll return.”
She winks at me. She knows. “You two are good together. I think we’ll see you again.”
I smile. I don’t have the heart to tell her Jackson doesn’t keep women around long, and I’ve determined I’ll need to begin looking for a new job when we return.
Jackson and I sit in seats next to one another with our laptops open and work our way across the Pacific. He jumps from call to call on the satellite phone, talking to his team. I sort through my email and his. As I go through, there are several requests for his time, and I begin a list. There’s even an email from a journalist at the San Francisco Chronicle, who I know he’s slept with, asking for dinner.
I don’t know how I’m going to be able to do this—even for a little while. I add that to my list of questions for him.
I see an email from my roommate Angela. My stomach tightens. She and Stacy have been living in the Fairmont while the apartment was repaired, and I haven’t heard much. I’ve been assuming they were okay with being displaced—mostly because Jackson has done more than right by them. I hope this email doesn’t indicate otherwise.
I smile when I open it to find a picture of Angela and Stacy with wide grins and glasses of champagne. The walls behind them are white, and the furniture is all white and robin’s egg blue. It’s beautiful. Then it hits me—they’re in our apartment, toasting to being back with new furniture. “Please thank Jackson,” Angela’s message reads. “See you soon.”
If my apartment is done, I should go home tonight. It’s going to be hard when the Band-Aid comes off, but I might as well do it sooner rather than later. I will miss Jackson at night, but for now, we’ll have our days together. I won’t have to go cold turkey, but I’m determined to keep my heart safe and step away before he does.
When I get to the end of the inboxes, I’ve done all I can do without my phone. I pull out my Kindle for the last two hours of our flight. I’ve given up on romance, and now I’m reading a mystery. But I’ve already figured out who did it, and I’m bored. Nothing else looks good.
I stare out into the ocean. It’s just a solid blue form below us, with ripples and puffs of clouds. The day I’ve been dreading is here, and I can’t avoid the momentous wall I need to climb. It’s right in front of me. Everything hinges on the next few days. I can already tell I’m not thinking straight—I put my wallet in the wrong pocket of my bag and then panicked when I couldn’t find it. My hands spread like pale starfish around the ivory coffee cup in front of me. They’re cold and not absorbing the heat from my drink. The closer we get to San Francisco and our normal life, the fork in the road weighs more heavily on me, like a San Francisco fog.
By the time we arrive, it’s after five. I’m tired, but we have work to do.
“You look exhausted,” Jackson tells me. “I’m going to go into the office for a few hours, but why don’t I meet you back at the apartment? Go get some rest and we can have a late dinner.” He kisses me on the temple.
His phone rings, and he answers. “Jackson Graham.”
I grab his arm and whisper, “I’m probably going back to my apartment tonight.”
He nods and gets out of the car, talking on the phone. I turn to Brian. “My apartment on Lake Street, please.”
He turns and looks at me. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, I have to return at some point.” I can’t look at him, and I watch Jackson disappear into the building.
“Does Mr. Graham know?”
I look at his eyes in the mirror. “I told him, and he didn’t seem to have a problem with it.”
Brian stares back at me. If he calls Jackson or Jim, they’ll probably veto it, but I pay rent for that apartment, and I should go home if it’s ready for me.
“Look, Brian, the long weekend was fantastic, but you know as well as I do, it’s impolite to stay too long at the party.”
“I don’t believe that for a minute,” he responds.
“I’m only trying to recognize this for what it is. We’ll still see each other at the office. You can’t get rid of me that easily.” I wink and smile to assure him I will be okay.
I’m trying to protect my heart, but I’ve already fallen for Jackson. And I don’t believe a zebra changes its stripes. Growing up with an alcoholic teaches you that—no matter how many promises they make.
Brian drives me to my apartment. Everything looks the same, but I don’t feel the same.
“Should I walk you in?”
I already have my hand on the door handle. “Nope. My roommates should be at home. Enjoy your night and give that beautiful family some love. I’m sure they’ve missed you.”
I carry my suitcase up the stairs. Why is it that suitcases seem so light until you have to lug them up three flights?
I put my key in the door and drag my bag over the threshold. “Hello?”
“Oh my God, you’re here.” Angela walks out of the kitchen and gives me a big hug. “This place looks amazing!”
“Give me a tour.”
She walks me around. The furniture is high end in beautiful shades of robin’s egg blue and lots of white.
“Did you pick the stuff out?” she asks. “Stacy and I love it.”
“No, Jackson had a designer do it.” I look around, and I’m impressed with all the detail and what he did for my roommates. “I’m really sorry about the apartment.”
“It wasn’t your fault. They were able to save a few things that were important to me. It’s all good.”
I open the door to my room and see it’s been converted back to a closet. The girls have hung all their clothes up and placed their shoes on the shelves.
“Oh…” What do I do? Where do I go? “I guess I’m not living here anymore.”
Angela turns red. “Sorry. When the decorator didn’t do your room, we thought it was because you were moving in with your boyfriend.”
My heart drops. I’m not particularly close to my room
mates, and last they knew I was still dating Bobby—though they never knew which Bobby. I have no place to live. “No, I don’t have a boyfriend,” I whisper. “I’m not dating anyone anymore,” I add more forcefully.
“Oh…” Angela doesn’t seem to know what to do. “I don’t think Stacy will be home tonight. You can stay in her room.”
I’m lost. I have no idea how to manage all this. It’s time I face the facts and move home.
“That’s okay.” I manage a smile. “I can stay with my friend Gabby. I’ll figure it out.”
I pick up my suitcase and begin to descend the stairs. “Be sure to thank your boss for fixing our place,” Angela yells after me.
“I will.” I want to scream out my frustration as I walk to the curb. I never saw San Francisco as my permanent home, but I thought I’d have the chance to leave on my own terms—not in debt and homeless.
I call Gabby.
“Hey!” I say when she answers.
“Oh my God! You’re back.”
“I was only gone for four days.” I laugh. Already Gabby’s voice makes me feel better.
“It seems longer,” she counters. “Can you meet me for drinks?”
“As good as a nice glass of something crisp and white sounds, I don’t want to lug this stupid suitcase around. I may need a place to stay tonight.”
“Even better. Come on over. I have margarita mix and tequila.”
Margaritas sound perfect. I call a rideshare and make my way to her apartment. During the drive, I mull over why Jackson didn’t replace my things, too. What sort of message is he trying to send? Does this mean I don’t have a job? Or I have no choice but to stay with him? Maybe he gave me a trip and clothes, so I can replace my own bed? I should be grateful for what he’s done. I don’t know what I’d be wearing right now, otherwise. But I’m done being told where I have to live.
When I’m dropped at the curb, I look up at Gabby’s apartment, and she’s there in the window, waving at me. She’s my best friend, and I’d be lost without her.
“Girlfriend! Welcome back.” She brings me into a tight embrace, and I immediately break out in tears. Things are such a mess.
Royally Flushed: Tech Billionaires Page 13
