Determined & Derailed (Storm Corp Book 1)

by Gracie Wilson

  “You’re different and you know that.” Insert crushed heart here. I was back to being different, just when I thought he maybe had feelings for me. When would I learn?

  Chapter Four

  “Nolan, I’m sorry but I’m tired. Can we go?” He looked perplexed. He wanted to say something but didn’t. As usual. I got up, went to the corner of the room and grabbed my jacket. He suddenly grabbed it from me and helped me put it on. I turned and he did up the buttons. This was too intimate. I couldn’t help but stare into his green eyes. He went to fix the collar of my jacket and his fingers glided against my skin. I instantly felt the heat under his touch and wanted more of it. Before I had a chance to think about what those feelings even meant, his lips were crashing down on mine. He wasn’t holding back and I was still not ready to give in. He wrapped his arms around me and slid his hand under my jacket against my back. His hands found the bare patch of skin on my back that my dress exposed. Feeling his touch, the way my body was begging me to take him, I gave in and kissed him back without any further hesitation. I couldn’t help but let out a small moan at the pleasure from his heated kiss. I felt tingling all over my body and I didn’t want that to end. When he got the chance, he brought his tongue into my mouth and caressed mine with his. With his one hand still firmly grasping my bare back, his other slid down to my backside and he squeezed my ass. I let out another moan and he became motionless.

  He pulled back and I felt like I was back in my old house being let down again. Oh, hell no. “I’m sorry.” Yes, that was exactly what I wanted to hear him say. Not. Déjà vu anyone?

  “It’s fine, I’ll just go freshen up and then I’d like to go home.” Before he could say anything, I took off to the bathroom. As soon as the door closed behind me, I was wailing against the stall door. How stupid could I get? Nothing had changed. Well, fuck him. I was not letting him be the one to walk out this time. I would be the one doing the walking this time, Nolan. I pulled myself together and peeked out the door. No one was around in the hall. I slowly crept out and saw a back exit. I took it and it led me in to the back alley. Before I could chicken out, I ran and didn’t stop until I was a block away. I was shaking from the adrenaline. I had never taken off on Nolan or Tory. Well, not like this. Usually just twenty yards in front of them to give them the idea I was pissed off.

  My phone started buzzing and I saw it was Nolan calling. I rejected the call and it rang again. I rejected it again but immediately dialled Tory. “What the hell are you doing, Alexis?” Great, Tory gave Nolan his phone.

  “If I wanted to talk to you I would have answered your call. I’m not mad. I just wanted some space and air to think. Can I talk to Tory?” I heard Tory in the background asking where I was and what was happening.

  “You’re not mad. Well, I’m glad because I’m fucking pissed, Alexis. You took off on me and you won’t tell me where you are? No, you can’t talk to Tory, not until you tell me where you are.” This wasn’t going to work in my favor if it kept going this way.

  “I’ll only tell Tory,” he growled and I knew I would be in for it later.

  “Fine.” I heard shuffling and Tory was on the line.

  “Miss Storm, where are you and what is going on? Mr. Nathans is very concerned.”

  I was sure he was. If it weren’t for his need to screw with my feelings, we wouldn’t be in this spot. “Tory, I’m sorry, but I won’t do that. He’s going to be pissed, but you tell him this is his fault. I’m not a child and I won’t be treated like one. Don’t bother looking for me. You won’t find me until I come into work tomorrow. I won’t be in until after ten.” With that I hung up the phone and turned it off. I’d never done something like that before and it was a thrill. I knew there was going to be fall out for this later. I would be in big shit tomorrow from both of them, but I would deal with it then. Tomorrow was going to be interesting, for sure.

  I kept walking down the main streets. I’d never noticed the beautiful structure of the buildings and all the very different sights to see. However, let’s be serious, there were some very odd people walking around and I’d never been out alone like this before. I continued walking and I heard music beating through the streets. I came up to a place with a music note sign. It was called Tuned. It was corny and not at all appealing. I walked in, showing my fake ID so that I could get into this place. Lissa always said this would come in handy. I missed her and couldn’t wait to see her when the semester started back up. The surrounding was dark and it was a bit run down. But the soul of this place was unremarkable. It had a feel like I couldn’t describe. I walked up to the bar and noticed there was a DJ booth and a Stage at the center of the dance floor. There were tables along both sides of the floor and booths covered all the empty wall space. It was overcrowded with tables and all, but a few were empty. Most people were standing on the dance floor, listening to a man sing. He was incredibly talented and I knew I had to get a better look. Before I got a chance the bartender said something to me, but I didn’t quite catch it.

  “Sorry, I didn’t hear you.” She laughed and grabbed me a beer from draft.

  “This is on the house, you’re a new face and by the look of your clothing not a usual type for this place. What’s brought you in here?”

  My life was chaotic, that was what brought me in here. On a whim that I was not entirely sure about, I asked if the owner was here. She pointed me toward a table in the back corner and I took my beer with me. “Hello, I’m Alexis Storm.” He looked stunned and I assumed he knew the name.

  “As in Alexis Storm, Storm Corp CEO? Well, I’ll be. I’m Evan Walters.” Figured, after all my face was plastered all over the place and the office wasn’t far from here.

  “The one and only. I would actually like to talk to you about this place.” He told me all about how it was in his family and that he was having a hard time with keeping up with the new scenes. It was outdated, I knew that, but there was so much potential. “Well, I don’t know if you’re interested, but I’d like to buy it. Tonight.” He looked at me like I just spoke Latin.

  “Why? I don’t want it torn down and made into a parking lot.” That I deserved. My company did hostile takeovers, tore companies apart and sold them too. Not much when my brother took over and even less now with me running it, but it still happened.

  “This would not be owned by Storm Corp. It would be owned by me privately. I would like to keep most of it but update it so the new nightclub generation would attend as well. Fewer bands, not nightly but bring them in for special occasions and pick a night a week to showcase locals. I’d like to change the name, though. However, I’d have a spot on the wall with pictures of it when it opened and such with the name.” He seemed to be mulling over everything I said.

  “Paula stays.” I looked at him clearly confused as to who or what Paula was. He nodded toward the bartender who was watching us.

  “Most definitely.”

  He put his hand out and I shook it. I called my lawyer, who Nolan and Tory had no idea about. “Hey, it’s Lexi. I need you at Tuned right away with papers for a bill of sale on the place. I want it done now and from my private account.” I hung up and told Mr. Walters she’d be here shortly to finalize it all. I didn’t want anyone stopping me from doing this and if I waited, Nolan would definitely try. I looked to the stage and I was shocked. The man singing was Cohen Price.

  As he ended his set, I walked up to him just as Whitney, who was my lawyer, showed up and made her way over to Mr. Walters. I continued toward Cohen and when he noticed I was here, he started walking toward me. “Miss Storm, I’m surprised to see you somewhere like this.” He was looking around, trying to convey this wasn’t my scene.

  “Well, I hope you won’t be too surprised when I tell you I am the new owner. I’d like it if you called me Lexi. Since you’re very talented I’d like you to keep playing here.” He appeared astonished to the words that just left my mouth.

  “You bought Tuned? Need new employee offices?”

  Ou
ch. “Well, actually Storm Corp doesn’t have anything to do with this. This place is all mine and it’s going to stay very much in this business. A few necessary changes to keep up with the times, but nothing too drastic, I hope.” He was taken back by my boldness. He wasn’t expecting me to have such a domineering tone.

  “Well, Lexi, looks like I’m working for you on all fronts, does is it not?”

  I broke out laughing and he smiled. “Cohen, I think this is the start to a beautiful friendship.”

  I told Cohen all my wishes for this place, how I wanted it to contain live music and a DJ. He liked the idea, so I continued with my construction ideas and he agreed with making it less crowded in here. “It needs more open space and a new DJ booth that isn’t around the stage would be something I’d like to do too. I’d also like to put in a one way glass room off to the side of the bar to be my office. I want it sound proofed so I can work here at night. The back office will be Paula’s. I’m going to make her the Manager.”

  He nodded. “Paula is a great choice, hopefully she likes you or it’s going to be hell.” Oh, this was new, she seemed very nice to me at the bar, but would she be happy that I was her new boss? Just when I looked over, I saw her talking to Mr. Walters and she started walking this way. She smiled at me and it was a look that could melt even the coldest heart. With her golden blonde hair twirling down her back and her chestnut brown eyes, she definitely had that beautiful sweetheart look.

  “Well, chicky, looks like it’s just you and me. This is actually going to be awesome.”

  Well, guess she was accepting my ownership well. “Paula, I’d like it if you’d stay on, but as a manager. I’m going to need all the help I can get.”

  She laughed and I was not sure if it was a good thing. “Well, shucks, I’m down for that, but I’m not calling you Miss Storm.”

  I giggled and the mood was lifted. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’m Lexi.”

  We spent the next several hours talking about what we wanted to do with the place. She agreed to everything and even loved the idea for my new office. Cohen left a few hours ago since he had to be at the office for eight in the morning. By the time we closed up and I had all the papers I needed, it was six in the morning. I decided to go to my favourite place lately. It was my mom’s old studio and I had been using it to meet with Maxwell Finch about our contract. Nolan didn’t know I had the place revamped to curtail to my current situation. I had it made into more of an office than an extremely expensive art studio. It had a garage, an apartment on the top floor with a garden on the roof. It was my mother’s oasis and now I’d made it mine. Getting away from Tory was always tricky, but he’d always allowed me to go to classes or campus without a tail. I used that to get away with my little adventures there and the reconstruction. No one had access to my personal accounts other than myself, making it all too easy to do whatever I wanted. With money never being a problem you’d be surprised how fast you can get things done.

  I walked into the elevator and punched in the code to my suite. When you looked around you wouldn’t believe my mother had bought this building for the only purpose of working on her art. I walked out and into the apartment I had recently designed to my taste. You’d never think this was once an art studio with paint covering every inch of the place. I kept my mother’s entire art collection and had them put in the safe. I was lucky I had bought clothing for my meetings to stay here or I’d be going to work in this cocktail dress. I picked out a black dress that I knew I looked amazing in. It was my favourite new purchase, but I’d never worn it to the office. Now the only problem was I hated taxis, but a thought came to mind. Maybe it was time for another purchase.

  Chapter Five

  When I pulled into the private parking area of Storm Corp I drove to where Nolan and Tory had parked. It was five after ten and I turned my phone on. It was already hooked up to the Bluetooth. It started ringing and I saw them both pacing in front of the Escalade. “Hello, Nolan.” I sighed, wondering how bad this was going to be.

  “Where the fuck are you, Alexis?”

  My guess was now disastrous. “I’m pulling in now. Please move so I can pull into that parking spot.” He turned and I knew he saw the car, but I had heavily tinted windows. There was no way he knew it was me. He moved aside and I pulled in. I didn’t get out, though. I was scared how he was going to react and even more nervous to being close to him. I watched him walk up to the passenger side window and knock. Of course, he thought I had someone drive me here. I rolled down the window and looked right into his eyes. His face went from stunned to relieved and finally angry.

  “Whose car is this, Alexis?” I laughed and rolled up the side window, causing him to jump back. Stepping out of the car, I turned and admired it once more. I loved this car already and I had just bought it off the lot an hour ago. It was a white Porsche 918 Spyder and it was of course fully loaded. It was a very expensive car, but I loved it as soon as I sat in it. “I asked you a question, whose car is this and who did you stay with last night?” Who did I stay with? I was almost positive I was a grown woman and could take care of myself.

  “Who did I stay with? Meaning I couldn’t have been by myself? God forbid.” I started to walk off, but he grabbed my arm and spun me around to face him.

  “I was at the penthouse all night and you didn’t come home, so I know you were by yourself.” The nerve of him, but at the same time, he stayed there all night waiting for me. Unfortunately it was too late, he had done the damage.

  “Did you ever think that maybe I have another apartment?” Crap, why did I say that?

  “You what?” Nolan roared at me.

  “I’m not having this conversation if you’re going to be an asshole.” I immediately felt awful for saying that to him. He was just worried, but enough was enough. “When you’re ready to ask like an adult and not a child, we will talk about this. Until then piss off.” With that I rushed off to the elevator. Where did that come from and would I have to pay for it later? When the doors opened to the floor of my office, Cohen was standing there.

  “Morning, boss.” He smiled.

  I huffed. “Not in the mood, Cohen. Why are men such jackasses?”

  His smile disappeared. “Are you all right? Did something happen after the bar?” Now I felt like an idiot. I made him think there was a reason to be upset.

  “No, just Nolan being a major jackass. Guess it’s not fair to call you all jackasses.” He laughed and winked at me, causing me to blush.

  “Definitely not, Lexi, you’ll see soon enough that men aren’t all bad.” Oh, meaning what?

  “Meaning I’m too young and naive? Maybe I was right all men are jackasses?” He laughed and stalked after me.

  “No, what I meant was that I bet you never so much as had a man approach you before with Nolan and that bodyguard, but now with the club, that’s all going to change. I don’t see you letting them trail you 24/7 anymore.” He was right about that, things were going to change and it was going to start now.

  I’d been in my office for about an hour when I heard a knock. “Come in.” I was reading over my emails when a new email popped up. I laugh as it was from Nolan telling me he came in peace. What a dork and he could be funny when he was not driving me up the wall. When he opened the door I couldn’t take my eyes off of him. He looked so sullen and perplexed.

  “I’m sorry about yelling at you this morning. I was just so worried when you didn’t come home. I had plans for last night and things just started to go in the entire opposite direction.”

  Hold up right there, I was not letting him do this to me again. “I know you regret kissing me and that’s fine. It was hot, but I’m over it.” I was sure if I kept telling myself this it would happen, right? Power of positive thinking.

  “Kissing you is not something I regret. We are both adults and things happen. However, it’s just not the time for something like this with us. But we can figure all that out later. Whose house did you really stay at last nig
ht?” I laughed at the fact he was not giving up on this, but what did he mean by time for something like this? Would that time eventually come?

  “Mine, I wasn’t lying when I said I have a place that no one knows about. Before you ask whose car it is, I’ll just tell you. It too is mine and I just bought it this morning.” His eyes narrowed at me.

  “I want to know where this place is, Alexis-Christine.”

  Oh, shit. “Not going to happen, but nice trying pulling that full name crap. Didn’t work for Lucas, it isn’t going to work for you, sexy as hell or not.” I saw a smirk tugging at his lips and I knew he was fighting a smile.

  “So you bought a nine hundred thousand dollar car on a whim?” My frustration was almost none existent until just now.

  “No I bought it as my birthday present since I don’t have a car.” Just pulled that one out of my ass, but hopefully he bought it.

  “You have the Escalade, you didn’t need it. How is Tory going to feel driving that thing around?”

  “Well, we don’t have to worry about that since he won’t be driving it. I bought the car for me to drive myself places, alone. I’m not a princess. I don’t need to be watched every second. I can function without a bodyguard.” He smacked the desk and startled me.

  “Tory is not up for debate. I don’t care if you bought a shiny new sports car on some stupid whim. If you try pulling this shit again, I’m moving back in and you won’t be going anywhere without me.” I shot up from my chair and was walking around the desk before I knew what I was doing. I pushed him so his back was all the way up against the chair, and leaned down.

  “I didn’t buy the Spyder on a whim. That would be my new nightclub that was the whim purchase.” He didn’t say anything for a moment, then his face turned bright red.

  “You did what?”

  Without thinking I crashed my mouth against his and slid myself into the chair on top of him, straddling him. He tried to pull back but when he did I took the opportunity to deepen the kiss, bringing my tongue against his. At the contact he groaned and grabbed my ass with his hands. I could feel he was enjoying this and I knew the ball was in my court. When I moved my hand over his erection in a bad attempt at pretending to pull my dress down, he moaned. That was the response I wanted and I pulled away.