Conflict of Interest

by A. M. Kusi

  He should spread her out on his desk and get a taste of her sweet juices as he fucked her with his tongue. He felt her hot breath against his lips, and he moved, minimizing the remaining distance between them. The temptation was too great. Her allure overpowered his common sense. He was unhinged and uncontrolled. His lust overrode everything else.

  A knock on his office door suddenly halted his decent. Jax dropped his hands immediately to his sides as he turned to open the door a crack.

  “Yes?” he barked.

  It was Simon. “I, uh, I wanted to see if Harper had a minute,” Simon said; the only sign of nervousness was in his speech.

  “Simon, despite the lack of a no fraternization policy, I expect you to keep personal discussions to a minimum during work hours. I’m sure Mr. Parker would have a thing or two to say about you trying to hook up with his daughter during work hours. Don’t you?”

  Simon shifted onto his other foot. “Look, man. I don’t know what you think of me, but I don’t just do hook-ups. When I see a special woman in front of me, I try to not take that lightly. A unique woman like Harper doesn’t come around every day. I’ll catch up with you after work,” Simon called to Harper, leaving before Jax could respond.

  Jax closed the door and turned to see Harper facing away from him. He walked up to her and placed his hand on her lower back. “Harper, I…”

  He thought about what Simon had said. He was right. Harper deserved someone who could pour their attention and affection into her. Jax couldn’t do that right now for several reasons.

  “I’m sorry,” he finished.

  He turned her to face him and hurt flashed in those pretty brown eyes. Harper nodded, her eyes glistening as she fought back the tears. It felt like a sucker punch to the gut, but he was doing the right thing to protect her as well as his relationships with her family.

  “I can’t,” he said again.

  “You keep saying that, and then you won’t let me go,” Harper said, placing her hand on his chest.

  Jax covered her hand with his as he spoke. “It’s hard when you flaunt it in my face.”

  Harper sighed. “You invited yourself on my lunch date.”

  She was right. “Won’t happen again. Truce?”

  “Fine,” she agreed. “What time is the call?” she asked, sitting in her designated chair.

  He rubbed the back of his neck, looking at the floor. “Uh, there really isn’t a call. I just…”

  Harper smiled. “You just feel the same way about me as I do about you, and yet you’re afraid to do anything about it. You’re afraid to take the risk because it’s not part of your plan and you don’t do spontaneity. Everything else is just an excuse.”

  Harper was right, but he would never admit it. “Let’s just get back to work. Sound good?”

  “Whatever you say, boss.” The fantasies that sprang forth at her words, temporarily rendered him unable to focus. “Please don’t call me that,” he pleaded.

  He sat at the desk, trying not to think about how bad he wanted to bend her over it.

  He forced himself to talk only of business for the remainder of the day, and he beat his thoughts into submission whenever they strayed—which happened to be often. One of her top buttons had come undone, leaving him an amazing view of her ample breasts as she sat next to him. Her legs were crossed, making her skirt rise an extra inch, showing off the thick, tanned thighs that had been wrapped around his body just three nights ago. Was she wearing any panties, or was that a onetime thing?

  “Jax?”

  “Uh, yeah?” he asked, coming back to the present.

  “When is River returning to the office?” Harper asked.

  “Couple of weeks. He’s in Vermont now and then he goes to New York City.”

  “Good. I need to ask him something,” she said, picking up her purse. “I think I’ll head out for the day.” She walked towards the door, turning in time to catch him staring at her ass as she exited. Harper’s lips formed a knowing smile as she said, “Next time, I’ll know you’re watching and be sure to give you a better show.” She winked.

  He had been caught.

  “See you tomorrow, boss man.”

  It was a good thing Jax was still sitting, because there was a tent in the front of his pants as he strained against his zipper. If that was what one day of working with Harper Parker was like, he had no idea how he was going to continue.

  First, he needed to go home and have a big glass of whiskey, because it was bound to be one hell of a week.

  Chapter 5

  Tuesday through Thursday went a lot easier for Jax. He simply had Harper learn from Natasha Tuesday and Wednesday. Unfortunately, Natasha had a work trip on Thursday, so Simon spent the day with Harper. Jaxton may have walked by the desk every thirty or so minutes just to catch a glance inside Simon’s office to make sure he was keeping his hands to himself. All in all, it was easier on him than Monday.

  Friday morning rolled around. A knock sounded at his door at nine.

  “Come in.”

  Harper walked in wearing a grey pencil skirt reminding him of the naughty fantasy he’d entertained the last time they were alone in his office. The cream-colored flowy blouse gave him a glimpse of her gorgeous cleavage. She carried a cup over and set it on the desk in front of him while she took a seat. He caught the scent of roses mixed with fresh coffee.

  “Is it poisoned?” he joked.

  She narrowed her eyes at him, seeming offended. “I need to speak with you. I don’t want the fact that we have a strong attraction to one another to derail any chance I have of learning the ins and outs of my father’s company. I know you have been avoiding me. I promise to be a good girl, and to not make this harder than it has to be,” she teased.

  He grew immediately hard when she said good girl—a solid reminder of why he needed to stay far away from her. “Aren’t you the one always reminding me you’re not a girl, but a woman?”

  “Are you suggesting you’d rather I be bad?” She smirked.

  His mouth went dry. “We’re getting off topic. This is exactly why I get so hard.”

  Harper raised her eyebrows, her eyes widening.

  Jax scrambled to recover. “I mean, why it’s so hard—so difficult for me to be around you, because you turn everything into…suggestive…” He struggled to find the words.

  “Ahhh. I see.”

  “Do you see? This is a total cluster-fuck. We work together, and I have ties to your family.”

  Harper held out her hand in protest. “I know. That’s why I am here: to say I will be completely professional during work hours, and in exchange, I ask that you treat me as an equal. I want to learn from the best so I can be the best. Since my brother is in Vermont, I’m stuck with you,” she joked.

  Jax laughed. “I am the best, honey.”

  “Hmm, see you can’t use endearments like that when speaking to a woman in the workforce. It’s degrading, seeing as we don’t have a romantic relationship.”

  Jax was caught off guard, and he sat up straighter. “You’re right. This is going to take some effort for both of us. I promise, next week I will take you under my wing.”

  Harper bit her lip, and he fought the urge to picture her under him in any manner of ways.

  “So, today I will be with Simon?” she asked.

  Jax cleared his throat. “Ugh, I guess we can start today.”

  “Okay.” She smiled.

  He got to work, giving her a website checklist to go over while surveying the company website they were consulting for. She reviewed the site and asked questions. He could tell she had learned a lot already. Harper offered some suggestions on updates the website needed to communicate how they could solve the customers’ problems. Overall it was a good day.

  At five o’clock, Harper stood to leave. “Great, well if that’s it for the day,
I’ll see you next week.” She walked to the door and spoke without turning around. “You also have to stop staring at my ass if you want to be professional.”

  Jax swallowed. Never in a million years had he met a woman like Harper.

  “You have a good weekend,” he said, as she opened the door. Simon must have been waiting outside, because he heard his voice.

  “Hey, still on for tonight?” Simon asked.

  Harper closed the door to Jax’s office, shutting him out of the conversation.

  ***

  Harper knew Jax wanted her just as much as she wanted him. But one lesson she had learned in her short twenty-three years on this planet, was that life was fleeting, and you never knew what hand you would be dealt. Her mantra these days was living each day to the fullest and taking the opportunities that came her way.

  “Yes. Pick me up at seven?”

  Simon smiled.

  He had a handsome face; his cheek bones and jaw were chiseled to perfection. He was just as tall as Jax, but not as broad. He was funny, and most importantly, he wasn’t hesitant about what he wanted with her.

  “Can’t wait,” he said.

  Harper got into the elevator alone, with a smile on her face. How was it possible to feel happy with a tinge of sadness at the same time?

  Later that night, right on the dot of seven, she heard a knock at her door. Harper peered out the peephole of her brownstone and saw the brown eyes of her handsome date waiting patiently outside with a bouquet of flowers. She tucked a stray hair behind her ear before opening the door.

  Simon wore a simple button-down dress shirt and jeans that fit his toned and muscular body perfectly. He was attractive, but she couldn’t help but compare him to Jax.

  Harper forced her attention on the moment at hand. “Simon. You look handsome. Thank you.” She took the flowers from him and inhaled the floral bouquet.

  “Harper, you look…” He trailed off, his eyes caressing her body, running over the floral-print halter dress she wore to her black strappy sandals before meeting her gaze again. “Stunning,” he finished.

  She set the flowers on a table by the door and grabbed a bright yellow clutch that held her essentials.

  “Ready to go?”

  “Yes,” she said.

  Simon reached for her hand and she let him lead her to a waiting cab.

  He took her to a fancy upscale restaurant, where he ordered a bottle of five-hundred-dollar wine. Harper didn’t like the fact that he seemed determined to try and impress her at every turn.

  She came from money, that was no secret, but it didn’t mean she wasn’t a down-to-earth woman who enjoyed the simple things in life.

  Simon talked about himself and the business mostly. “I play on the same league as Jax, and River. It’s funny I haven’t met you sooner.” He smiled. Harper felt guilty that the first time she was genuinely interested in what Simon had to say was when he mentioned Jax.

  “Oh, really?”

  “Yeah. We have a game tomorrow evening at six. Do you want to come watch?”

  Harper thought it over for half a second before blurting out, “I would love to.”

  After dinner, Simon brought her back to her house. He led her up to her front door, and said, “I had a really nice time tonight with you.”

  “Me too,” she half-lied.

  “I’ll see you tomorrow night then?”

  “Tomorrow,” she agreed.

  “I’ll pick you up at five?”

  Harper nodded. Simon leaned in for a kiss, and she didn’t resist. She was curious to see if it felt similar to Jax’s.

  Simon’s lips met hers and while the kiss was nice, and there was some sizzle, it wasn’t the fireworks she had shared with Jax.

  She pulled back. “Good night, Simon.”

  “Night.”

  Harper spent the next morning sleeping in, and then running errands. She laid on her bed and called her best friend, Isa. Isa knew Harper better than anyone; she was like a big sister and best friend all mixed into one person.

  “Harps! Hey, sexy lady. How was your first week at a nine-to-five with lover boy?” Isa asked excitedly.

  Harper had called her late Friday night after the fiasco with Jax at the masquerade ball. “I talked to him, just like you suggested.”

  “Annnnd?” Isa prodded.

  “He agreed to keep things professional and take me under his wing,” Harper explained, using the exact words Jax had.

  “I bet he wants to take you,” Isa joked.

  Harper laughed. “I certainly wouldn’t mind it. But if all I can get from him is how to be the best consultant and make my father happy, prove to him I am capable, then so be it.”

  “Mmm hmmm.”

  “What?” Harper asked.

  “Do you even listen to yourself? You are still seeking your dad’s approval, and you’re lying. We both know you want a lot more from Jax than that man’s business sense.”

  “Okay, yes. But he said no and that is that.”

  “Look, Harps, you have to live your life for you. Only you can make yourself happy.” She chanted the mantra, laughing as she said it.

  “Easier said than done. And I didn’t say that I don’t ever want to be a consultant. I just don’t know what I want to do. This is as good a place as any to start figuring it all out. I never do something halfway; I’m all or nothing. So, I’m going all in with this consulting gig. I’ll try it and see if it fits. You know better than anyone what it’s like to try to please parents who don’t seem to pay much attention to you.”

  “Yeah, that’s true. So how did your date go with Semen?”

  Harper burst into laughter. “Oh, my god! Isa! That is all I am going to think about now when I hear his name. You are such a bitch.”

  “Yeah, but I’m your bitch.” Isa laughed.

  “Simon was a perfect gentleman. He took me to the Hightower restaurant for a very expensive dinner during which he talked mostly about himself and work. Walked me to my door, and gave me a good, but not great, good night kiss.”

  “One to ten?” Isa pressed.

  “Umm…six or seven”

  “Oh, so not terrible then. You going to see him again?” Isa asked.

  Harper smiled and rolled over to her side. “Tonight he has a soccer game. Apparently he is in River’s league.”

  “Ohhhhh. Isn’t Jax on that team too?” Isa asked suspiciously.

  “Mmm hmm.”

  “You are one bad girl, Harper Parker. I think you need to come over here so I can give you a spanking!”

  “I wish someone would,” Harper admitted.

  “I have taught you well. Ever since I took you under my wing that semester in college, I have been training you for this day,” Isa said proudly. “Well, look, you have to call me and tell me all about it. I love a good love triangle.”

  “I will. But, don’t get your hopes up. Jax has made it clear that he only sees me as the little sister and my father’s daughter. I can’t take much more rejection.”

  “Well, you will just have to show him how much of a grown woman you really are then,” Isa said. “Love you, babe.”

  “Love you too.”

  Harper ended the call. She needed to get ready for her soccer date.

  She looked through her closet, searching for the very outfit that would scream woman. A flash of red caught her eye. Harper pulled out the sweetheart strapless dress that she would normally wear clubbing. The short little number was just the thing. She walked over to the full-length mirror in her bedroom closet, pulling the hanger against herself to check it out. She took a deep breath and said confidently, “I am woman; hear me roar.”

  Chapter 6

  Jax was one of the first of his team on the field, eager to move his body, stretch, and warm up before their game. The last thing he expect
ed to see was Simon Turner showing up with Harper on his arm. Had she spent the night with him? She was wearing a short red dress that showed off all her assets. It looked like she was headed out on the town, not a soccer match. Jax felt his blood run cold when Simon kissed her cheek before leaving her in the bleachers. Did they spend all day together? Jax ran a hand over his face and then kicked the ball harder than he needed to, sending it flying across the field. He ran to retrieve it.

  ***

  Harper sat on the cold metal bleachers feeling out of place in her red dress, where all the other wives, girlfriends, and onlookers were in T-shirts and shorts.

  She started to feel silly. Why was this the way to catch Jax’s attention and let him know just how grown-up she was again? Simon offered her a big smile every now and then, when he had a minute to look up from the game. He was a forward, so he was always searching for an opportunity to score a goal. Harper had to admit, his smiles and winks made her feel more at ease.

  Jax, however, didn’t even seem to notice her presence. He was a box-to-box midfielder, busy running from one end of the field to the other. The strength and stamina it took for him to play the entire game, constantly running, must transfer into the bedroom. Harper shook her head, trying to dispel the fantasies playing in her mind. She resigned herself. Jaxton Harris would not become anything more than her friend. He didn’t think she was worth the risk, and she didn’t need to waste time waiting around for him to come to his senses.

  Simon scored a goal, and the small crowd around her erupted in cheers. She clapped and smiled just a few seconds later than the rest.

  When the game was over, all the players gathered around as they picked up their gear. Their team, the Sparrows, had won the game by one goal in the last twenty minutes.