by Cat Schield
“I think you’ll be impressed with the division executives you’ll meet this week,” Sebastian said. “We believe our employees are our most important assets.”
“I’m sure he can tell that you appreciate your employees’ assets,” Brandon said, stirring the pot with a heavy dose of irony.
Sebastian ignored the dig. His father had no business judging. Brandon had indulged in his own indiscretions in years past.
He turned to his father and decided to be blunt. “What are you doing here?”
“I told you. I came by to see if you could tear yourself away long enough for a round of golf.”
“Not here in the suite,” Sebastian countered, working hard to keep his tone even while nettles drove into his gut. “I mean in Las Vegas.”
“This is your first time in charge of the leadership summit. With both your brothers putting out fires elsewhere, I thought you could use my help.”
More likely he’d thought to take over the leadership summit and undermine Sebastian’s authority as the current CEO of Case Consolidated Holdings. Brandon hadn’t wanted to resign after his heart surgery nine months ago. He’d only agreed to step down to appease his wife of forty years.
“I appreciate the offer,” Sebastian lied, regarding his father over the rim of his coffee cup. “But I have everything under control.”
Missy closed the door between her room and Sebastian’s suite and leaned back against it, heart pounding. Dismay tightened around her chest like a vise. She’d never seen Sebastian that angry before. Usually when irritated he froze someone in place. For the first six months she worked for him, she had heard one horror story after another of how he’d terrified her predecessors, and she waited for him to turn his icy disapproval on her. But he never had. Maybe because she made sure everything was done to his exacting specifications, giving him no reason to be annoyed with her.
But was that any way to live?
She deserved a job where she was appreciated for her talents.
Sebastian appreciates your talents.
At least she thought he did. He wasn’t the most effusive boss she’d ever had. But he did give her a big raise every year.
But it wasn’t enough.
She’d wanted more from a job than a paycheck.
She wanted more from Sebastian than employment.
Her nerves stretched taut as she closed her eyes and skimmed her hands over her body, sliding her fingertips along her naked thighs, cupping her breasts in her palms while she relived the highlights of the previous evening. How could she still ache for him after he’d satisfied her with hours and hours of the most creative lovemaking ever? She should be wrung out and exhausted—not revved up for more.
Missy pushed off the door and headed for the bathroom. Catching a glimpse of herself in the mirror, she regarded her reflection in bemusement. Her lips looked fuller than usual and felt more tender. She gently ran her tongue over her lower lip. Passion-bruised. Not surprising. The man could kiss. She’d been happy to let him demonstrate his prowess over and over.
Her red hair was a tangled mess. Her cheek color high. The neckline of Sebastian’s shirt gaped, baring more than a little cleavage. She leaned forward to investigate the faint bruise on her neck put there by her boss. Branded. She stepped back and examined the full picture. Bare legs, mussed hair, well-kissed mouth. Son of a gun, she looked like she’d been up having sex all night.
No wonder Brandon had shot his son a knowing grin.
No wonder Lucas Smythe had scanned her up and down.
No wonder Sebastian appeared as if he’d very much like to throttle her.
He’d been in negotiations with the conservative business owner for four months over the purchase of Smythe Industries. Would Lucas Smythe reconsider selling his family-owned business after finding her almost naked in Sebastian’s suite? Missy prayed that wouldn’t happen. If her actions last night had blown the deal, Sebastian would never forgive her.
Caught in the undertow of repercussions, she doubled over, unable to breathe. What had she done?
Nothing any other red-blooded American girl wouldn’t have.
Slowly, her lungs began to work again.
And really, what had she done? She’d slept with a man she’d known for four years. Big deal. She’d already quit working for him. No line had been crossed. It had been one night. Casual, maybe not forgettable, but certainly not life-changing. Sebastian wasn’t interested in pursuing a relationship with her. And she didn’t want to set herself up for heartbreak thinking she could fit into his world of money and social status.
For her, it had been rebound sex, pure and simple. After Tim’s rejection, she’d needed a man to demonstrate that she was an attractive, desirable woman. Sebastian had done an admirable job. Her memories would keep her smiling for a long time to come.
Straightening, she stepped into the shower, taking her time beneath the spray. The idea of returning to the suite to face Sebastian’s wrath lacked appeal. He needed some time to cool down. About a week might do it.
She’d go shopping. After her win last night, she had five thousand dollars burning a hole in her purse. The black dress had been her only new purchase yesterday. Sebastian and her father would counsel her to squirrel the money away. The pre-Las Vegas part of her agreed with their logic. Especially now that she’d quit her job. But her new future required a new attitude, and nothing boosted a woman’s confidence like looking fabulous.
She stepped out of the shower, dried her hair, and then set about taming the natural wave with a straight iron. Humming her mother’s favorite gospel song, Missy sorted through her luggage for something to wear. She’d packed nothing but boring business wear. Pantsuits in black and navy. Dress pants and sweater sets for sightseeing and business dinners.
Nothing sexy or eye-catching for her.
Tim wouldn’t have approved of last night’s dress. He was as conservative as her father. But Tim wasn’t in her life anymore. He’d lost any right to an opinion on her wardrobe the second he’d met his “soul mate” and decided to marry her instead of Missy.
Piece by piece, she consigned her wardrobe to the waste-basket beneath the desk. The act of emptying her suitcase was no less cathartic than quitting her job or wagering five thousand dollars on one spin of the roulette wheel. She’d become too complacent in her life. No wonder Tim had found somebody new.
A firm knock sounded on the door that connected her room to the suite. Startled by the sudden noise, Missy answered it without considering her attire. Sebastian stood before her, holding her purse.
“Are your father and Lucas Smythe gone?” she asked.
“Were you hoping to offer them an encore?” His gaze burned hot enough to torch the towel she’d wrapped around her body.
An encore? As if she’d planned for his father and business associate to catch her half-dressed. Whatever had transpired after she’d left had turned his mood from bad to foul.
She glared at him. “Of course not. What is your dad doing in Las Vegas?”
“He didn’t say.”
“Did you ask?”
Sebastian communicated more with one raised eyebrow than most men could with a ten-minute rant. “He claims he’s here to help with the leadership summit.”
“But you don’t believe him?”
“Let’s just say I wasn’t happy to see him in Lucas Smythe’s company.”
Few employees at Case Consolidated Holdings would know the vast chasm that existed between Sebastian and his father when it came to business strategy. Brandon liked to take risks and chase profits, often losing huge amounts of money in the process. Sebastian and Max preferred to use more structured methods when it came to growing Case Consolidated Holdings. Acquiring Lucas Smythe’s company was a perfect example of where they differed.
The two brothers liked the conservatively run company and the way the acquisition would help diversify their mix of product offerings. Brandon wanted to spend their investment capital on something th
at might offer more growth potential, and he had an ally in his youngest son, Nathan. Problem was, to get to the big gains, it was often necessary to risk big losses.
“Do you think he wants to sabotage the deal with Smythe?”
“He hasn’t had one good thing to say about the purchase. His showing up here means I have to keep an eye on him.”
“What did you tell them about us?”
“Us?” he echoed softly, the warning hiss of a cobra. “I didn’t tell them anything.”
“Why not?”
“It’s none of their business.”
“But they’re bound to wonder. The contracts aren’t yet signed. What if Lucas decides not to sell you his company? You have to make some excuse why I was in your suite, wearing just your shirt.”
“Like what?”
“You could have told him I’d gotten something on my dress and needed to rinse it out.”
“That might have worked if you didn’t look like a woman who’s been thoroughly made love to.”
She tingled all over, reacting not to his sarcastic tone, but to his choice of words. And his sizzling gaze. Her argument went numb.
“And the fact that we’re sharing the suite.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “Why are we sharing the suite, by the way?”
“We’re not sharing the suite. My room adjoins yours. The door between us has a lock.” That last bit sounded somewhat foolish. As if she didn’t trust him. As if he couldn’t persuade her to let him in. “You could have told them that I got drunk and quit. That I came on to you because I’ve had a thing for you for years.”
His gaze rested heavily on her, weakening her knees.
“No.”
“Don’t be a…” She bit her lip before the rest of that sentence came out. Had she almost called the imposing Sebastian Case a fool? “What about the deal? Are you still going forward with the purchase of his company?”
“I don’t know.”
Her breath caught. She scrutinized Sebastian’s impassive features, searching for anger, frustration, disappointment, but she saw nothing.
“What do you mean, you don’t know?”
“Just that.” His lashes lowered, giving him a sleepy look until you noticed the intensity of his watchful gray eyes.
“Yesterday, he was ready to sign the contract once one or two points were ironed out.”
“Some things have come up since then.”
“Like him thinking you make a habit out of seducing your employees?” Missy couldn’t believe how angry she was at the moment. Angry with herself for lingering in Sebastian’s suite because of some silly romantic hope that maybe last night had been the start of something. Angry with his father for showing up this morning with Lucas Smythe. But most of all, angry with Sebastian for his stubborn refusal to make explanations. “You need to tell him the truth. And if you don’t, I will.”
His fingers wrapped around her upper arms and bit deep. “Stay out of it.”
Eyes blazing, he pulled her onto her toes and bent down until inches separated his mouth from hers. Memories of their night together swamped her. Her fingers loosened their grip on the towel, ready to discard it if he showed the slightest hint of wanting to pick up where they’d left off in the wee hours of the morning.
He must have read her thoughts because he lowered his head still farther. Missy closed her eyes in anticipation of his kiss. When it didn’t come, she blinked in surprise. Sebastian had his own eyes closed. Tension pulled at his features, drawing his mouth into a grim line.
His chest lifted as he sucked in air. A second later she was free. Her heels hit the floor with a jarring thud that loosened her grip on the towel. It slipped off one breast before she caught it.
Snarling a curse through clenched teeth, Sebastian shifted his gaze to the pile of clothes spilling out of the trash. When his attention resettled on her, the only emotion he let her see was cool curiosity.
He used his chin to gesture toward her former wardrobe. “What’s going on with you?”
“Nothing.”
“You’ve thrown away your clothes.”
“I don’t need them anymore.”
Iron-gray eyes swept down her body once again. “Planning on spending the entire week naked?”
“No.”
He’d buried his mood beneath a neutral tone and an impassive expression, but her stomach muscles tightened. Getting caught half-dressed in Sebastian’s suite meant their encounter was no longer a complete secret. Were they to be boss and assistant or secret lovers? She tingled in anticipation of the latter.
“I thought I would buy some new things,” she continued.
He shook his head. “You don’t have time to shop. I need you to go over the arrangements for tonight’s cocktail party.”
Missy’s mood deflated. As far as Sebastian was concerned the night was over. He’d paid his debt. Time to get back to work.
“There’s no need,” she said. “I double-checked everything yesterday. We’re good to go. Let’s go down to the casino and have some fun.”
“This is a business trip.”
“And you can’t mix business with pleasure?” She cocked her head.
“I’ve already done that,” he retorted, biting off each word. The way he stared at her mouth, she could almost feel the firm pressure of his lips against hers. She swayed into the gap between them, brought up short by his next words. “Get dressed and let’s go over the arrangements.”
“I quit, remember?”
“You gave me your two-week notice,” he said. “Time to get back to work.”
He pivoted and left her staring at his retreating form. With a huff, she shut the door. She kicked at the pile of business attire that lay on the floor. At the thought of wearing any of it, a frustrated shriek built in her chest.
The phone on her nightstand rang. Summoned already? It had only been a minute since he’d left. She glanced at the door to Sebastian’s suite and imagined him pacing. She understood his impatience. This was his first time leading the summit. In past years, his father had been the CEO of Case Consolidated Holdings. Since taking over, Sebastian had made numerous changes to the business that involved selling off two companies that hadn’t fit their new business model and looking for new investments that were a better fit. He was growing into the CEO role and had a lot riding on this week in Vegas.
In the month leading up to the annual event, months of planning had gone into every presentation, every speech. Months of hard work and not just by Sebastian. When he worked hard, so did she. Sixty-hour work weeks meant late nights and weekends.
No wonder her boyfriend had strayed. She was never around when Tim wanted to get together. A part of her didn’t blame him for dumping her. She just wished he hadn’t done it the day before her birthday and that it hadn’t taken him less than a month to decide to marry someone else.
When the phone refused to stop ringing, Missy snatched up the handset.
“Missy? It’s Susan.” Sebastian’s mother sounded unfazed by Missy’s cranky greeting.
Over the years, Missy had grown close to Susan. And Brandon for that matter. They practically treated her like one of the family instead of Sebastian’s employee.
“Because my husband insists on golfing today,” Susan continued, “I wondered if you had any plans.”
“Sebastian expects me to work.”
Susan made a dismissive sound. “Tell him I need you to keep me company by the pool. I’m sure he’ll give you some time off.”
Missy ran that conversation in her head and didn’t arrive at Susan’s conclusion. “He really wants to make sure the conference goes smoothly.”
“And with you behind the scenes, it will. Now, you’ve done enough. Grab your sunscreen and meet me by the pool. I’m not going to take no for an answer.”
The people who thought the Case brothers got their determination from Brandon had never met Susan. “Sure. Give me ten minutes.”
“Wonderful.”
Fee
ling squashed between a rock and a hard place, Missy replaced the phone and scooped up her bathing suit. If she told Sebastian about his mom’s request, she would be in for another argument. She dropped the towel and stepped into the suit. Sebastian was already accustomed to her flaky behavior on this trip. And it wasn’t as if she hadn’t already decided that she wanted to go have some fun. Susan had just given her the nudge she needed to act.
She slid the straps onto her shoulders and shot a last glance at the door to Sebastian’s suite. Deserting her boss was going to make him even more irate than he already was.
Too bad.
Since starting as Sebastian’s assistant, the only time she’d taken off was to visit her family. And there’s no way anyone would consider that relaxing. Sebastian owed her four weeks of vacation. The least he could do is give her the morning to have some fun.
Grabbing her cover-up and a hat, she slipped out of her hotel room.
And when he caught her?
She’d cross that bridge when she came to it.
Besides, what’s the worst he could do?
Fire her?
Four
Location?
Sebastian hit the send button on the text to Missy as the elevator doors opened. It had taken half an hour for him to figure out she’d pulled a vanishing act on him again. He’d intended to spend the morning going over his opening speech for the summit, catching up on emails and checking in with Max and Nathan. Instead, he was cruising through the casino, once again, in search of his wayward assistant.
His phone vibrated.
Pool.
Tucked into a protected hollow created by the hotel’s tall towers, the pool area, with its waterfalls, swim-up bar and assorted potted palms, looked more like tropical paradise than a desert oasis. Two-thirds of the lounge chairs were occupied, but as it had the night before, his gaze went straight to Missy.
She wore a cerulean blue one-piece with a wide white band around the waist that drew attention to her hourglass shape. Barely a hint of cleavage showed above the suit’s straight, unadorned neckline. In color and style, the suit was unremarkable. Sebastian doubted that anyone would give her a second look with so much skin being bared by the less modest women in her vicinity.
