My Dad's Rival's Secret Baby

by Jamie Knight

  My first instinct is to correct her - she clearly hasn’t got the first clue who I am. And I have work to get to. This company doesn’t run itself. Obviously.

  But then, on impulse, I decide to play along. I try to tell myself it’s just a good way to determine if she’s actually worth keeping around, but there’s more to it than that. The blonde hair, the pretty blue eyes, the tight outfit… she’s practically the perfect woman I’ve imagined for myself so many times. Even though I know she can’t possibly be the real thing, spending a few extra minutes around her certainly won’t hurt… right?

  “Thank you very much.” I let her lead me over to a seat. “And I’ll take some coffee too, please. Cream, no sugar, if you don’t mind.”

  “Of course not!” She flashes that grin again, and my breath catches in my throat. “I’ll be right back with that.”

  I can’t even bring myself to pretend that I’m not watching her walk away. She’s toned and sexy, and the skirt is almost tight enough to see a panty line.

  Wesley. You old pervert. This time, the voice in my head isn’t even mine. It belongs to my Aunt Shelly… the one member of my family I do seem to actually get along with. We’re incredibly close, and most of what I know about life, I’ve learned from here.

  She’s completely batty, but she’s rarely wrong. In this case, I force myself to remember, she’s exactly right. The woman - girl, practically - can’t be more than twenty-one. I’m twice her age, and I’m her boss. Get your shit together, Wesley. And don’t spill that coffee.

  What? I snap back to reality just in time to take the cup of coffee from the woman.

  “Here you go, sir! It’ll be just a few more minutes, all right? Thanks for being so patient.” She’s looking at me with more than just a businesslike expression now - no, Wesley, stop that. She is not. And even if she is, you’re way too old for her, anyway.

  I take the cup from her, smiling. “No problem at all.” Then, before I can stop myself, I ask, “Do you mind if I ask your name? I don’t think I’ve seen you here before. And I know most of the staff pretty well.”

  “Of course not! I’m Mariah. Mariah Young. And don’t tell anyone, but I just started working here a few days ago. This is all new to me.”

  “Well, you’re a natural. I never would’ve known if you hadn’t said something.”

  “Oh, thank you so much.” Mariah smiles again, and this time, it’s not just a business-like one. “What I really want to do is be a realtor - I have a degree in business management, and I’m trying to climb the ladder here.”

  Interesting. “And it doesn’t bother you to be spending your time serving coffee in the lobby? Even as someone who might be qualified to work as a realtor already, or at least as an assistant?”

  Her lips twitch just a bit, but the professional facade slides back down to cover it immediately. “Of course not. Everyone has to start somewhere, right? So, I’m starting here. More coffee?”

  “No, thank you, Mariah. I don’t want to keep you from your other work.”

  I sip from my cup and watch her as she bustles around the room, chatting and pouring coffee with ease. She acts like she’s been doing this job her whole life. She’s a natural, even winning a thin smile from Roger Powell, one of my best (but also most uptight) clients, as she tops off his coffee cup. Maybe she’s worth keeping around after all…

  It’s not long before Matthews, one of the senior sales staff, appears in on the floor.

  “Mariah, next client, please.” he calls to her.

  Down goes the coffee pot onto its warming pad, and up pops Mariah, walking straight over to me. Oh, this is going to be interesting then, I have time to think before she reaches me, a confused Matthews in her wake.

  “Mr. Matthews, this gentleman is your next appointment… Mr.… oh, my goodness, I’m so sorry,” she stammers, “I didn’t even ask your name.”

  “Is this some sort of joke, Mariah? If so, it’s not humorous at all.” Matthews looks at me askance, clearly expecting me to put a stop to things, but to be honest, this is the most fun I’ve had in the office in years, so I let it go just a moment longer. Then I stand up.

  “The name’s Wesley. Wesley Drive.” I stand, tilting my head towards Mariah just a bit in a ‘nice to make your acquaintance’ gesture.

  “Mr. Matthews, Mr. Drive. Your next client.” Mariah recovers nicely - for a brief second. Then, “That’s so funny, the President of the company’s last name is Drive too…”

  That’s when she catches the look on Matthews’ face fully. He’s none too pleased, and for some reason, that makes me unreasonably happy. Matthews never had learned to take a joke.

  The color drains from Mariah’s face as she puts the pieces together. “…Wesley… Drive. The head of this company.”

  I nod, fixing her with what I imagine is a stern glare.

  “Exactly. So, you have some explaining to do.”

  Chapter 14

  Wesley

  “I am so sorry, Mr. Drive. We weren’t expecting you back until Friday at the earliest, and I just didn’t even think - ”

  This poor young woman is scrambling to right herself, and she’s almost managing it. Almost. I decide to stick with this for a little longer… it’s worth finding out why she’s here, at least. If Matthews hired her just for her looks, keeping her around is going to be a waste of payroll. But if not…

  “Mariah - it is Mariah, correct?” I ask her.

  She nods, cheeks still filled with color. A wisp of her hair has escaped the ponytail she’s got it in, and it brushes against her cheek as she stands there. I have to resist the urge to reach out and tuck it back behind her ear.

  “Well, Mariah…who hired you?” I already know the answer to this, and even if I didn’t, the sudden paleness in Matthews’ cheeks as I asked the question would have tipped me off.

  Mariah gestures towards him. “Mr. Matthews did. Sir.”

  “All right,” I say. “You two, come join me in my office.”

  I catch the withering glare that Matthews directs towards Mariah, and that helps me make up my mind about what’s going to fucking happen next. I stride ahead of them down the hall, then look back.

  “Now. If you don’t mind,” I say.

  They both follow me. Matthews is seething, and the new girl, Mariah, is thin-lipped but oddly… poised. She doesn’t seem afraid, or flakey, or stupid. Just embarrassed - and even then, she’s hiding it well. I’m impressed, but now’s not the time to show it. Not yet, anyway.

  Inside my office, I sit down at the desk and stare at the two of them as they stand in front of me. “So, what exactly is going on here, Matthews? I leave the office for a week, and before my office is cold you’ve hired two new people? Yes, I noticed the other new receptionist too. But she seemed to actually be working, so I didn’t feel the need to drag her away from that. You, though…” I start to say, turning my gaze towards Mariah.

  Matthews chooses to pipe in, finally. “Sir, we’re short-staffed. We needed to bring people in, and I determined that expediency was in order. Having these two around takes pressure off the agents to manage all their own clients as they arrive, and - ”

  “ - And it lets you enjoy some eye candy while you’re at it? These uniforms are absolutely absurd, and they don’t make the company look even remotely professional. I’m not impressed.”

  That’s a lie. I’m quite impressed, just not with Matthews. With Mariah. I’ve had to remind myself several times even as I’ve been sitting behind my desk to not let my eyes wander up and down her body. She’s exactly the type of woman I was hoping to meet out on my vacation - at least that’s what it looks like so far.

  Another thought strikes me. “Wasn’t it Susan’s job to corral the clients as they came in for appointments?”

  “Ah…yes, it was.”

  “Was? What the hell happened to Susan?” I fix my gaze on Matthews, actually a bit angry now in earnest.

  “She quit. Went off to pursue her passion… denta
l school or something like that.”

  “Dental school. Well. Best of luck to her, then. Matthews, get out.”

  “Sir, I-”

  I cut him off with a wave of my hand. “Matthews, after this stunt you’re lucky I don’t send you out to the curb with a cardboard box. Go back to your office - and on the way there, tell the receptionist to wear professional clothes tomorrow instead of your idiot uniform, would you?”

  Matthews nods. “Yes, sir.”

  “Good. Now you go, and you - Mariah - stay a minute, okay?”

  I wait until the door closes behind him and then turn to Mariah, dropping the stern look. “I’ve always loved doing that. The hand-wavey-thing? It’s fun. Perks of being the company president.”

  Mariah nods, but that’s about it. She’s still admirably holding it together, but it’s pretty clear that the shift in tone hasn’t gotten through to her yet. She mostly just looks confused and a bit anxious- not that I can blame her.

  “Mariah, have a seat, okay? Let’s talk for a minute.”

  She sits. That’s when she finally gets up the courage to open her mouth - and the only person more surprised than me at what comes out is her, I think.

  “Sir, I’m so sorry about all of this. I’m sorry I didn’t know who you were, and that I made you wait…and most of all about this stupid uniform he made me wear. But I deserve this job. I can do it well, and I don’t think that I should be fired. I want to work here. I really, really do. Real estate is what I love doing. I grew up loving it and I still do, and it makes me excited to come to work in the mornings. I have experience with a different company already. Plus, I’m good at it. Sir.”

  The look on her face is halfway between defiance and apprehension. But she doesn’t budge, and that’s when I decide exactly what I’m going to do with her.

  “Mariah,” I say. “You’re right.”

  She blinks. “I’m sorry?”

  I lean forward onto my desk, letting the smile I’ve been holding back spread across my face now. It feels good.

  “Listen, Matthews is an arrogant man child more often than not. But he made the right decision hiring you, I can tell. I see your determination and your passion. Not many people in this building would stand up to me the way you just did. And even less of them would display the same level of professionalism that you did out in the lobby. Fetching coffee is a thankless job, and most people treat it that way, because that’s all it is to them - a meaningless gig that’s no different from being a barista at Starbucks. But you just proved that it’s something more to you. I admire that.”

  Finally, Mariah smiles. It’s hesitant, but beautiful. “Thank you, sir.”

  “You’re welcome. Now come with me. There’s something I want to show you.”

  I can tell she’s surprised and a bit apprehensive, but she does her best to not let that show. Not that she has anything to worry about. We head down the hall until we reach the only door without a nameplate on it. I open the door, revealing the cramped office beyond.

  “Go ahead,” I say, gesturing to Mariah to step inside. “It’s yours.”

  She turns to me, eyes wide. “Mine?”

  “Well, yes. Since Susan’s run off, it’s empty. Besides, Junior Realtors all get their own offices.”

  “But I’m not a - ”

  “Mariah, do you know the old saying ‘never question your new boss when he’s promoting you and giving you your own office because you’ve impressed him?’”

  She nods vigorously, keeping her mouth shut. “Right. You’ll still need to split your time between your own clients and handling some of the lobby work to help things run smoothly, but I have no doubt you can handle that. Right?”

  “Yes, sir. Of course.”

  “Good. Welcome to the team. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go figure out what else my employees have snuck in here behind my back in the last week.”

  “You mean besides the margarita machine in the kitchen?” Mariah says.

  It takes a second before I realize she’s joking, and I burst out laughing.

  “If that’s true, I’m just going to go down there and pour myself a drink or three. None for you though - you’ve got work to do. I’ll be seeing you, Mariah.”

  With that, I leave her standing in the doorway of her new office, still looking a bit dumfounded. Yet, absolutely stunning, still.

  Chapter 15

  Wesley

  Back behind closed doors in my office, I finally take a breath. I hadn’t expected to need to jump back in with both feet so quickly upon entering the office again, but that’s the way it goes when you’re the boss.

  Deciding to promote Mariah was an easy choice. She had been sharp and professional with me when I was a ‘client,’ and respectful but assertive with me once she found out who I actually am. Not to mention, her determination and clear love for the job…

  Okay, Wesley, that’s enough. We get it; you didn’t hire her just because she’s gorgeous. That, of course, is exactly what I’m worried about. I don’t think I’ve misjudged her, but I’ve been wrong about women before, and letting my immediate attraction to her get in the way of my business sense would not be a proud moment. But behind closed doors…

  Behind closed doors, I can admit to myself that she’s exactly the type of woman that I’ve been searching for. The kind of woman I went off on vacation to try and find, and the kind that until today, had been nowhere to be found.

  A big part of me wonders what might have happened if I had met Mariah outside the office. Say, while at dinner one night in the city…

  I’d be wearing a nice suit, as usual, sipping a red wine at an outdoor table, enjoying the warm night air and watching the city pass me by…

  There are lots of beautiful people out and about tonight – in my fantasy - but none quite so eye-catching as the young blonde woman in the white dress with gold trimmings. At first, she pays me no attention. And why should she? She’s clearly waiting for someone else.

  Leaning against the railing that surrounds the front patio of the restaurant, she checks her phone every few minutes and scrutinizes the faces of the men walking by. Plenty of them slow down to look back at her, but none of them is the one she’s waiting for. She stands there long enough that I finish my first glass of wine at a leisurely pace.

  The waiter comes by my table to offer a fresh glass, and on impulse, I tell him to bring me two glasses instead of just one. Once he does that, I catch the woman’s eye the next time she looks around.

  “Whoever left you standing here by yourself is going to be miserable when they figure out what they’re missing.”

  “What?” She turns fully towards me, leaning over the rail.

  “You heard me.” I say, proffering the second glass. “Why don’t you come sit down, share a drink with me instead?”

  She flushes a bit, looks up and down the street one more time, and then says, “You know what? Sure.”

  She sits with me. We drink, we talk, we hit it off… and before too long, she says, “I need to go freshen up.” Standing, she leans down to my ear and adds, “Why don’t you join me in a few minutes?”

  I down the rest of my wine in an undignified gulp, and stare at my watch for a grand total of about thirty-seven seconds before I head towards the restrooms myself. She’s waiting for me in the dimly lit hallway, and wraps her arms around me before kissing me deeply. I kiss her back unhesitatingly, and she wraps her arms around my neck and shoulders. I lift her up by her thighs, and she wraps her legs around my waist too.

  Pushing through the door into the women’s room, she releases her hold, dropping to her knees and backing me against the door to hold it closed before undoing my belt. I’m already getting hard before she wraps her hand around me and presses her lips against my head… I intertwine my hands in her hair as she begins to suck, taking me deep right away. She releases control and lets me move her head, looking up at me through her hair as she takes my cock.

  I feel myself getting close al
ready, and pull her up from the floor. I kneel down in front of her, reaching up under her dress and pulling down her panties, which are already soaked in her juices. She holds her dress above her waist as I press my face between her legs, kissing and caressing my way up her thighs.

  She gasps as my tongue reaches her slit, flicking ever so gently, teasing, and my hands grip her hips.

  An “Oh, fuck…” escapes her lips, and it only encourages me.

  She tastes like sweet butter, and I press my face deep into her pussy, breathing in her scent and lapping up her juices. My tongue flicks against her clit, and I suck the nub in between my lips, letting my teeth graze it. Her legs buckle - but I steady her, climbing back to my feet.

  She leans forward, bracing herself on the sink, as I stand behind her, spread her legs, and push inside her. “Yes. Take me. Please, please…yes.”

  I measure my thrusts, wanting this to last. She feels amazing wrapped around me… soft and tight and smooth. I wrap my hand around her throat, pressing just slightly, and we both stare into the mirror, watching ourselves fuck. Her mouth opens and closes with each thrust, low, steady moans escaping each time I press fully inside her. Cupping her breasts in my hands, I feel myself reaching the edge of orgasm along with her -

  Beeeoooop. The buzz of my office intercom rips me out of the fantasy, and my moan is nowhere near as sexy as Mariah’s had been within it. I bite off a “Fuck,” take a deep breath, and answer the phone.

  “Yes?”

  “Sorry to disturb you, sir, but a woman named Shelly Powers is here to see you? She doesn’t have an appointment,” and then more quietly, “and she’s quite offended that I even asked.”

  I recognize the voice of the new front office assistant…who’s never met my Aunt Shelly before.

  I can’t help but laugh. Leave it to my Great-Aunt Shelly to ruin my dreams.

  Sighing, I press the intercom button again. “Go ahead and send her back. She’s right, she doesn’t need an appointment.”

  Chapter 16