Royally Flushed: Tech Billionaires

by Ainsley St Claire

  I hand Brian the box of jammers, we climb into the back of the car, and I’m ready to pounce. Corrine, on the other hand, is all business.

  “Amber will be by tonight after dinner,” she tells me.

  “It can’t wait until tomorrow?”

  “No, we need to make some decisions, and things get shipped from the mainland, so we need to order quickly, and I don’t want any delay.”

  I nod, a little disappointed.

  “Brian will grab you when you’re done to go over the schematics for the drone jammers.”

  “Do I at least get to sleep with you?”

  She flashes me a smile, gathers the hemline of her dress, and winks. “I’d be disappointed if you didn’t.”

  That makes me feel better, but I’d prefer these meetings happen tomorrow morning.

  A little while later, we’re settled in for dinner on the cliffs. I love it here. Corrine’s face is lit by tiki torches, and Leilani delivers our excellent dinner. I don’t think I could ever give this place up. I hope Viviana understands.

  As we’re finishing up, one of the housemen approaches. “Mr. Graham, a Miss Amber Chin is here for you.”

  I look over at Corrine. “Why am I meeting with her?”

  “She asked.”

  “Are you joining us?”

  “Nope. I have a call with Caroline Arnault to go over the menu for Memorial Day weekend to make sure she thinks I’ve got everything covered.”

  “Why do I feel like I’m being set up?”

  She stands and kisses me. “Just remember, I trust you.”

  “What does that mean?”

  She’s walking away and smiles. “You’ll see.”

  I follow her, and she greets Amber, who is not friendly to her at all. I walk in behind her, and she lights up and gushes all over me. She’s a small woman, and she’s wearing a dress that seems more appropriate for a nightclub.

  “Mr. Graham, welcome to Hawaii.” She rushes up to me, teetering on her high-heeled sandals. “May I call you Jack?”

  No one calls me Jack. They only do that if they don’t know me. “Mr. Graham is fine.”

  I sit down on the couch, still not sure what she needs. She’s between me and enjoying some time with Corrine.

  “What’s the problem?” I ask.

  Amber shimmys up close to me. “Shall we have a drink?” she says with bedroom eyes.

  “No, thanks. Why am I here?”

  She seems to think this is some kind of date or something.

  “Well, I’ve been having some problems with Corrine. I didn’t want to call her out on this, but she’s not very helpful. I’ve presented her with beautiful designs, and she’s rejected them. She wants pillows from Bullseye.”

  “Amber.”

  She looks at me and is positioning herself so I can take a peek down her dress. I’m so not interested.

  “Corrine is in charge,” I continue. “She knows what she wants. If she wants you to fill the rooms with rubber balls, you do as she says. I promise you, if you piss her off, she’ll fire you, and she has my blessing to do so.”

  Amber’s face twists in confusion. This is evidently not what she expected from me. “But—”

  I stand to get away from her heavy perfume.

  “Whatever Corrine wants, she gets. Ultimately, this is her house. Anything else?”

  She adjusts her stilettos and stands. “Thank you, Mr. Graham. I’ll order them tomorrow.”

  “Thank you, Amber,” I say as I leave without looking at her.

  I find Corrine in the library, and I listen to her phone conversation.

  “—so too many appetizers and more low-brow?” She giggles.

  She turns to me and grins. She glances at her watch and raises her eyebrows.

  I sit down and wait for her to finish her call.

  “Alright, I have Gillian’s order for food, and we should be all set. Thanks so much for your help. This is the first time I’ve organized a party for my boss.”

  I watch as Corrine nods and turns crimson. I’m guessing Caroline is playing matchmaker. She has quite the reputation for that.

  “He flew in tonight. I have him booked with activities all weekend. Alright, I’ll talk to you next week. Thanks again.”

  She hangs up and turns to me. “I guess Amber didn’t get her way.”

  “She didn’t want to order from Bullseye?”

  “Well, that was part of it. Every time Amber came to meet with me, she was hoping you were going to be here. She questioned every decision I made, wanting to make sure it was something you’d want. That girl has it bad for you.”

  “Well, I think I made it clear that this was your house, and you were in charge.”

  “It’s not my house,” Corrine says indignantly.

  “When can I show you my appreciation for all you do for me?” I ask.

  “After you meet with Brian.”

  I sigh in frustration. “Meet me in the master, and I expect you naked.”

  She salutes me. “Anything else, sir?” She pops her tits, and lust rushes through me.

  “Yes. Come here.”

  I sit down on the couch.

  “Straddle my lap.”

  She lifts her dress, and I can’t quite determine if she is wearing panties, but she does as she’s told.

  “Kiss me.”

  She leans down, and we stare into each other’s eyes. She kisses me, softly at first but it soon becomes deeper. I reach beneath her dress and grab the globes of her ass, massaging them. She’s wearing a thong that I’m going to enjoy removing later with my teeth.

  When we stop, her eyes are hooded with desire.

  “I’ll try not to be too long,” I tell her.

  She nods.

  Chapter 34

  Corrine

  The last three weeks have been a blur. Being so far away from San Francisco has been challenging, both professionally and personally. Not being in Soleil’s offices has been difficult, but we’ve worked our way through. I miss Gabby the most. I talk to her some days during her lunch break, and I’m excited she and Damien have finally found the time to come visit.

  I watch as the plane touches down, and I can’t believe it’s been almost five weeks since I’ve seen Gabby. While the flight crew does their thing, the cabin door opens and extends the stairs. I can see Gabby in one of the plane windows, waving frantically at me.

  I grin and wave back with the same enthusiasm. Once Gabby’s allowed, she bursts out the door and is down the steps. She squeezes me in a ferocious hug. “I’m never flying commercial again!” she announces.

  When she lets me go, I step into Damien’s arms and hug him.

  I reach for the leis I brought. “Welcome to Hawaii.” I place a lei on each of their necks.

  “These smell amazing,” Gabby says.

  She takes Damien’s hand, and he winks at her.

  “I thought we’d go back to the house this morning,” I tell them as we begin walking. “Leilani makes an incredible breakfast. We’ll set you up on the cliffs over the ocean, and you can enjoy an amazing egg scramble over white rice with some Kona coffee.”

  Gabby nods. “I’m starved. To my body clock, it’s past lunch, and I’m ready to gnaw off Damien’s left arm.”

  He looks at her, his eyes wide.

  She shrugs. “Well, you’re right-handed.”

  Damien laughs. “Well then, eat away.”

  I cover my ears. “I don’t want any sexual innuendos. Seeing you two that one time when we were in college scarred me for life.”

  “Awww, my sex-kitten roommate was scarred. We hadn’t seen each other in a while, and it’s amazing we made it to the apartment at all. We didn’t know you were hiding in your bedroom.”

  “It was finals week, and I had one more test to go,” I protest.

  “I also seem to remember seeing some guy’s furry white ass that one time our senior year,” Gabby reminds me.

  “Okay, you two, if you’re so hungry, let’s get to the
house,” I say, ending the conversation. “I also want to give you your agenda for the rest of the day.”

  “We have an agenda that doesn’t require us by the pool and on the beach frolicking in our bikinis?” Gabby asks.

  “Yes. But I know it’s your first time here, so I’ve given you the morning to check out the estate and your bedrooms.”

  “See, Damien? She wants me to finally take your virginity. I told you she’d push for that.”

  Damien shakes his head, appearing to think hard about this. “I’ve been saving myself for marriage, so I don’t know.”

  I cover my ears and laugh until I’m snorting. It’s ugly. “Stop it, both of you.”

  When we’ve all recovered, I give them some additional details. “I’ve scheduled you a tour of the island by helicopter this afternoon. Brian will drive you to the heliport, and I’ll meet up with you for dinner downtown. After dinner, Brian will whisk—”

  “Jackson won the house in a poker tournament, right?” Gabby asks.

  I nod. “Technically Jackson paid a dollar for it, and he’s put some money into the place for renovations.” Just then, we drive up to the gate and roll in.

  Gabby grabs my arm. “Holy shit, where is the hou—”

  We’ve crested the hill, and the view opens to the majestic house that is all Hawaiian, with full-length windows open to allow the ocean breeze through the house.

  “That’s not a house, that’s a compound,” Gabby says with awe.

  I guess that’s one way to look at it. “We’ll have almost fifty people here in three weeks for Memorial Day weekend,” I tell them. “It’ll be crazy.”

  Gabby turns to Damien. “Honey, go invent something and become a billionaire. I want to live next door.”

  We laugh. A houseman comes out to greet us, and we follow him into the house. He disappears down the hall toward the room Gabby and Damien will be staying in, and I show them around the living area and where I’ll be working, if they need me.

  “I thought you might want to change into some shorts,” I tell them at the end of the tour. “Let me show you your room.”

  I lead them out of the library and down the hall. “I only wanted to show you all this because I helped with the decor. The decorator did not appreciate my taste. I think she thought it was too low-brow for Jackson. And, she thought she could hit on Jackson, and he’d take her up on it.”

  “Oh no, she didn’t,” Gabby says.

  I chuckle. “Jackson went so far as to tell the designer my wishes were to be followed, or I could fire her because it was my house.”

  “Are you kidding me?” Gabby asks.

  I shake my head.

  They follow me down the glass hallway. “I’m guessing you and Jackson don’t walk around here naked?” Gabby teases.

  I laugh. “Watch this.” I flip a light switch, and suddenly the glass becomes opaque.

  “Woah,” Damien says.

  “I know! Isn’t it amazing?”

  Gabby turns to Damien. “If she actually gets this house, we’re moving in. She’ll never know we’re here.”

  We stop in front of their room. “This is the Big Island suite. You just need to remember the name. That way, if you need help or someone asks you where you’re staying, the staff will know what you mean.”

  “Aren’t you clever?” Gabby winks at me as she enters. “It’s beautiful.” She looks around the brightly colored room. “I love it.”

  “Just so you know, everything came from Bullseye.”

  “Don’t they have the most amazing stuff? And it’s so affordable.”

  “I figured these rooms didn’t need ten-thousand-dollar décor. We were fine with five hundred dollars in décor, and that’s probably stretching what it cost.”

  “That decorator must be pissed at you.”

  “Probably, but I paid all her bills on time, so she better be careful. She has lots of competition on this island, and I could very easily make sure it got out that she presented us with Bullseye décor and charged her designer fees. That would take her reputation down a few notches.”

  “I think you’re part evil,” Damien says with pride.

  “I’ll leave you to change. Breakfast will be ready when you come out,” I tell them. “The view is stunning. I think you’ll love it.”

  “The view is better than this room?” Gabby shakes her head as if it’s impossible.

  I nod. “Every room has a beautiful view.”

  I walk back to my office and sort through most of my morning email before they come looking for me. I show them to the kitchen to meet Leilani.

  She greets them warmly. “Help yourself to whatever you find. If you want something made, just let me know, and I’m happy to whip it up for you.”

  “My own chef?” Turning to Damien, Gabby says, “If Jackson dumps her and comes to me, you’re toast for this house alone.”

  “I’m not worried. Jackson would spend one hour with you and send you back to me.”

  “What?” she feigns indignance.

  “He’d know you were only after his money, and my measly partnership at the law firm will have to suffice.”

  “Wait? You were named partner?” I ask. This is big news, and I’m so excited for him.

  He nods with an all-tooth grin. “I did. I owe it to you for tipping the scales when you referred Jackson to me.”

  I jump into his arms. “That’s fantastic.” Turning to Gabby, I say, “Your dad must be disappointed since that means you won’t be moving back to Dallas.”

  “Totally.”

  We walk out to the pool deck, and I point out various points of interest until Leilani appears with their breakfast.

  Gabby’s eyes go wide. “Holy crap. This is stunning. And you’re living here? Why would you ever want to leave?”

  “Enjoy your breakfast,” I tell them. “Leilani will serve a light lunch for us at one by the pool.”

  “You’re amazing.” Gabby hugs me and whispers in my ear, “I love you.”

  “I love you, too,” I whisper back.

  I leave them to their morning and head back to work through the bills for the estate, a laundry service for table linens, and dish rentals for fifty people over the poker tournament weekend—so much to do, and I’m running out of time.

  A little while later there’s a knock at the open door to the library. “Hey, we met Brian’s boys. Aren’t they cute?” Gabby walks in.

  “I agree. I keep trying to get Brian and Melinda to take an evening without them and go out for dinner. The boys could hang with me, but Melinda is sure Brian would be fired because the boys are a handful.”

  “I believe it. One of them crawled right into Damien’s lap and ate part of his breakfast.”

  I chuckle. “Do we need to get Damien another breakfast? Leilani won’t mind.”

  She shakes her head and plops down on the couch in my office. “I miss you so much in San Francisco.”

  “I miss you, too.”

  “Why do I get the feeling you won’t be moving back?”

  I shrug. “I haven’t decided. Jackson wants us to be committed, but I think being with him will still be really hard. Not only is he intense, but he’s incredibly handsome.”

  “And, that’s a bad thing?”

  I nod. “Women are always throwing themselves at him. Literally. Wait staff give him their phone numbers, women call the office daily asking for time on his calendar, and I understand that the marriage proposals are averaging about one every three or four days. They go up whenever he’s profiled in the media.”

  “Do you think that would go away if he was married or put it out that he was seeing someone?”

  I shrug. “It’s really more than that. I adore Jackson, but I don’t want this world. I want a nice little house, a few kids, and a husband who adores me and comes home to me every night.”

  “Why can’t that be Jackson?”

  “I’m not sure deep down he wants that. He thinks he does, but Jackson’s married to his work
, and in the back of my mind, I keep thinking he’s only attentive because he’s worried about losing me as his assistant. We can’t find anyone to take over, and it’s hard for him.”

  “Isn’t the sex amazing, though?”

  I blush. “Probably the best I’ll ever have, but…I’m not sure I can take Jackson walking away from me when he’s no longer interested. That’s always been my concern. I just keep talking myself into ignoring it for a while.”

  “Why would you think he’d ever do that? What has he said that makes you think that would happen?”

  I take a deep breath. “I can’t put my finger on it. He’s a lot like my dad. I just see what my dad did to my mother…the constant stream of women in his life. And, like my dad, when Jackson is hot about a project or a woman, he has tunnel vision. But once he’s done, they’re gone—never to be talked about or seen again. I can’t.” I struggle to hold back the tears. “I can’t set myself up for that. Please don’t say anything. I’m going to tell him when he comes for Memorial Day weekend.”

  Gabby brings me into her arms. “He’s not your dad.”

  “I know that, but I just can’t sort through all this. He did give me twenty percent of Soleil Energy. I’ll have money for the rest of my life.”

  Her eyes grow large as she looks at me. “He did what?”

  “Jackson gave me five percent from the employee allocation and fifteen of his personal allocation, and he gave the shares to me outright. No vesting.”

  “Holy shit. This solar film is all over the news and the internet. They’re calling it a real game-changer. Not that I don’t think you deserve it, but what was his reason for giving you such a high percentage?”

  “My job title gave me five percent. And he gave me fifteen of his because I keep him on task, helped write the patent application with the IP attorney, and was the one who caught our CFO stealing.”

  “You don’t have to live in a closet ever again.”

  “It was a big closet—I could put a twin bed inside,” I remind her. “A little bit of money goes a long way in Texas. I can buy a nice house and find a nice guy and start a family. I think I’ll set it up so the Lancaster Foundation gets the lion share of the money.”

  “When is the plan to go public?”