The Billionaire's Assistant: A Billionaire Romance (The Hampton Billionaires Book 4)

by Erika Rose

  For the past two nights he had gotten almost no sleep because Anna wasn’t there. Her body wasn’t there to rock him to sleep and her warm curves weren’t there to settle against his body. For the first time in his life Cayden had missed a woman. He missed the way she would cuddle against him in the morning when their alarms went off, he had missed the mornings she bought him coffee in the office both remaining professional but both aware of the heated night they had shared.

  “Cayden!” Elizabeth scowled as they reached the store room. “Are you listening to me at all?”

  “Yeah, sorry Elizabeth. I didn’t get much sleep since we left.”

  “I know, hotels should really invest in better beds.” Elizabeth huffed.

  Cayden nodded, he was not about to explain to Elizabeth why he didn’t sleep, and it didn’t have anything to do with the mattress.

  As he moved towards his office his eyes searched for her. Her desk was empty. His eyes traveled through the office and as he passed the kitchen he heard her voice.

  “Larry that is hilarious.” Anna laughed as she touched the shoulder of the man standing beside her.

  Cayden had never liked Larry, the Food and Beverage Manager for Rosi’s, but he was good at his job. Now Cayden liked him even less. He was wearing a stupid grin and smiling at Anna like he knew her intimately.

  “No I’m serious Anna. I’d love to take you sometime. It’s engaging and the atmosphere is great!”

  “I’d love to. Let me know when I should diarize it.” Anna smiled back, her body angled towards Larry.

  “Anna!” Cayden hated the demand in his voice.

  Anna briskly turned around, a surprised look on her face. “Cayden, you’re back.” Cayden watched the surprise expression being replaced with a professional one.

  “Yes, my office. Now!” Cayden bit out before he glared at Larry for a second and headed to his office.

  He had barely stepped inside when Anna joined him. Her eyes were shooting daggers as she turned around after closing the door. “What the hell was that about?”

  “You tell me.” Cayden demanded, noticing her temper.

  “I was having a conversation with a colleague when you burst in and all but shouted at me?”

  “You were flirting with him.” Cayden said his voice dangerously low.

  “What? You think I was flirting with Larry F&B?” Anna asked surprised before she burst out laughing.

  “Larry F&B? Now you’ve got a pet name for him?” Cayden demanded.

  “Cayden, we have Larry F&B and Larry the designer, I distinguish between the two.” Anna watched him for a moment before placing her hands on her hips. “And if I was flirting with Larry F&B, what business is that of yours? We’re not officially dating, we’re not officially sleeping together, we’re not officially anything.”

  “That’s…” Cayden knew she was right.

  “He invited me to go to a stand-up comedy show with him. Barely a date you moron.”

  “You could at least try and be subtle about it.” Cayden mumbled.

  Anna smirked. “Subtle? Cayden you were as subtle as a bloody freight train but you’re asking me to be subtle. You don’t own me and you sure as hell have no right to tell me with who I go out with and when I should be subtle about it.”

  With that Anna turned and marched out of his office.

  Cayden wanted to call her back and apologize but he knew she was right. They hadn’t made any promises or commitments to each other; he didn’t have a claim over her.

  They hadn’t been out together in public since they had started sleeping together and Anna was new in town, Cayden understood her need for friends, for getting out. But why did it bother him that she wasn’t making plans with him. Why did it bother him that she made plans with Larry F&B?

  Cayden had never dated anyone before; he always went in hot and left while they were still shuddering. He had never had the need to stay behind, to cuddle or even make conversation. But with Anna things were different. He couldn’t get himself to leave after they made love, he wanted to hear her opinions and he sure as hell liked cuddling with her in the mornings.

  All the warring emotions were circling in his head like wreckage in a tornado; if only the storm would pass he could start sorting through it.

  He watched her through the door; she flicked her ebony hair over her one shoulder as she opened up her mails, giving him the ultimate cold shoulder. She was pissed at him.

  Cayden smiled to himself, she might be pissed now, but as soon as the work day ended, she was going to be begging.

  CHAPTER 12

  Anna was still pissed with Cayden as she stepped into her apartment. Her phone jingled as she kicked off her shoes. She ignored it, knowing it was probably Cayden wanting to come over.

  She poured herself a glass of Aussie chardonnay despite the chilly breeze outside when it rang again. Knowing she couldn’t ignore him forever she hunted for the phone in her bag and was surprised to see Callie’s caller identification.

  “Callie? How are you?” Anna said excitedly. She hadn’t spoken to Callie in a few weeks.

  “I’m fine, I’m actually in the main road, but I have no idea where you live?”

  “What? You’re here?” Anna jumped in place at the thought of friend visiting.

  “Just for tonight, but yes. So give me the damn directions so we can start drinking wine.” Callie demanded laughingly.

  Anna briskly gave her directions and switched off the phone. She turned around and assessed her apartment. A laundry basket stood in the living room, a few dishes were piled in the sink and her discarded shoes lay on the floor. She thought for a moment about clearing up before Callie arrived, then decided against it. They had lived together for years, a bit of laundry and dishes won’t scare Callie off.

  Anna took out another glass for Callie when there was a knock at her door.

  She opened the door with a wide smile that instantly settled into a firm line when she noticed it was Cayden. He looked hot as ever, his hair slightly windblown and the hunger in his eyes were clear.

  “Cayden?”

  “Can I come in?” He asked with his arrogant grin in place. Anna felt her groin heating up but ignored it.

  “Not tonight, I have a friend coming over.” Anna said with a poker face.

  “A friend?” Cayden asked stepping closer.

  “Yes, Cayden. A friend. You know someone that isn’t you is coming over to drink wine with me.”

  Anna noticed the brief flash of anger in his eyes as she heard heels hurrying towards them.

  “Annie!” Callie called out as she rushed towards them. Completely ignorant of Cayden, she drew Anna into a bear hug. Anna embraced her friend smiling at the old nickname from college. “God I’ve missed you!”

  “I know, I’ve missed you too.”

  Callie stepped back and noticed Cayden still standing there. Callie’s eyes ran over him assessing. “Am I interrupting something?” She asked Cayden directly.

  “No uh…” Cayden faltered. Anna couldn’t help but smile. Callie could be ruthless when she wanted.

  “Callie, this is Cayden Lee. Cayden, this is Callie my friend from Manhattan.” Anna said watching Cayden. The anger she briefly noticed in his eyes before now changed to surprise.

  “A friend…” He trailed off.

  “Yes.” Anna said sternly before turning to Callie, “and no you weren’t interrupting, Cayden was just leaving.”

  Cayden gave Anna a look making it clear their conversation wasn’t over. Turning to Callie he smiled. “Nice to meet you. Enjoy your wine.”

  With that he turned back to Anna, holding her gaze. Anna blushed at the intent in his eyes. When he finally broke the glance he turned and walked away from them.

  “Well I know its fall but you guys were heating up the atmosphere with that look. What and who is that man?” Callie said walking into the apartment.

  Anna grabbed her wine and sat down
on the sofa with her legs curled under her wondering how she was going to explain this to Callie. “He’s my boss slash lover slash worst nightmare slash dream come true.” With that she took a big sip of wine and smiled ruefully as Callie joined her on the couch.

  “Details, Anna I want details, spill it!” Callie said settling on the couch next to Anna.

  The familiarity between them didn’t make it awkward but Anna still thought for a moment before speaking. “When I went for the interview, I was instantly attracted to him and then went on to spill how I grew up in a trailer park.”

  Callie burst out laughing nearly coughing her wine all over the couch. “Nice one.”

  “Anyway he found me in the office late one night and we kissed. We both agreed it wouldn’t happen again…and then we went on a trip to L.A.”

  “Aaah, hotel, hot boss, little bit of wine…I see where this is leading.” Callie said conspiratorially.

  “Yes, well that happened…we agreed again it wouldn’t and guess what?”

  “It happened again…”

  “Yes. I don’t know Callie, I doesn’t matter how much I try to ignore the attraction between us I’m drawn to him like a moth to a flame.”

  “Anna I’m glad you like him, but doesn’t this make things awkward at work?”

  “Don’t start with that, that’s the problem. Well not the problem, he has the problem I think I have.”

  “Explain.”

  “A couple of weeks ago we decided to start seeing each other secretly, to avoid office gossip and so forth and now I feel…somehow cheated. I’m nothing more than his fuck-buddy.”

  Callie rubbed Anna’s shoulder. “You feel something for him don’t you?”

  “I do Callie. Besides the fact that he can turn my legs to foam with a single look I genuinely like him. Even after I told him about growing up in a trailer park he didn’t change towards me. He values my opinion at work and he doesn’t leave after sex.”

  Callie’s eyes widened. “Those are two major plus points Anna, so what’s the problem you want to have a public relationship with him and he doesn’t?”

  “I don’t think he knows what I want. And this afternoon I kind of flipped on him.”

  “How so?”

  “He’s been away for a couple of days and he walked in while I was making plans with Larry to see a comedy show. He basically growled at me to meet him in his office and told me to stop flirting with the help.”

  Callie nodded and gestured for Anna to go on.

  “So I go to his office and he's lecturing me and basically I told him he has no claim or say over me and I’ll do what I want. Even while we were fighting I could see him wanting me, it’s distracting to say the least.”

  “Sounds to me like the chemistry between you has both of you losing marbles.”

  Anna laughed. “I’ll say.”

  “So what was he doing here, were you supposed to see him tonight?”

  “No, we didn’t make plans after arguing in his office, but I’m sure he wanted make up sex.”

  “By the look of it you wanted it as well.”

  “I didn’t.” Anna said grouchily before sighing. “Fine I did, but I think it’ll be better if we don’t. I’m too mad at him and myself for wanting him at the moment.”

  “So what are you going to do?”

  “I don’t know, but I think I should go out with Larry to the comedy show. For one thing I’ve been staying in my apartment every night since I moved here. It’s time I made some friends.”

  “That might be good unless Larry is interested. Then it could be a shitstorm.”

  “No, Larry isn’t interested. Just friendly.”

  At that there was a knock on the door again.

  Anna got up and hoped it wasn’t Cayden again; she wouldn’t be able to resist him for the second time that evening. She opened the door hesitantly to a delivery man holding a bouquet of flowers.

  “Are you Anna-Sophia Jackson?” The man asked as he read her name off the form in his other hand.

  “Yes?”

  “This is for you, please sign here.”

  Anna frowned but took the flowers and signed the form before closing the door behind her.

  “Cayden?” Callie asked as Anna set the flowers down and pulled out a card.

  Your smile made my day, let me make yours and take you to show.

  xoxoxo

  Larry

  “Oh boy! It’s from Larry.” Anna grabbed the bottle of wine and filled up both their glasses. “This isn’t good.”

  “Well at least you know his intentions before you agreed. You’re not going right?”

  “I don’t know. Like I said I’m confused. Maybe if I told Larry I wasn’t interested that way…”

  “Honey, any guy that’s interested that way is going to stay that way unless you avoid seeing him.”

  “So what do I do?”

  “Let’s drink some more wine and think about it.” Callie said sipping on her glass. “On second thought let’s drink wine and talk about you.”

  Callie laughed. “I can only stay tonight, I knocked off early and I have a late meeting tomorrow morning but I had to see if you were okay.”

  “I’m okay.”

  “Fine you’re okay but I also wanted to get tipsy with my best friend.”

  They laughed and continued discussing mutual friends and Callie’s job as a buyer for a major department store. They only got to bed in the early morning hours, both tipsy.

  CHAPTER 13

  “Are you waiting for a call?” Garrett asked when Cayden checked his phone for the umpteenth time since arriving thirty minutes ago.

  “What? No, why?” Cayden asked confused.

  “Dude you’ve been checking your phone every few seconds. Is something wrong?”

  They were sitting on the back deck of Garrett’s house overlooking the ocean. The fall chill had lifted for the day and the evening was warm, giving them one last memory of the summer that passed too swiftly.

  “Nothing’s wrong, it’s just my assistant”

  Skye joined them with a glass of ice tea, her baby bump pushing against the soft material of her sweater. Garrett and Cayden had been friends since college. Although their close circle of friends also included Stefan, Seth and Cole; Cayden had always been closest with Garrett. It warmed his heart to see his friend now happily settled with his first baby on the way. He still struggled to wrap his head around that part.

  “Assistant? You’ve never had an assistant.” Skye said as she crossed her legs and placed her hand on Garrett’s knee out of habit.

  “Well I do now and she’s driving me mad.” Cayden said sighing.

  “If she’s not doing her job, you should fire her. I know it’s a headache with the amount of warnings you need to rack up but it can be done.”

  “She’s doing her job fantastically, that’s not the problem.”

  “I see.” Skye nodded.

  “What?” Garret asked confused. “I don’t see anything.”

  Skye giggled absently sliding her hand over the baby. “He likes his assistant, that’s the problem.”

  “So, I still don’t see a problem.” Garrett said looking from Skye to Cayden.

  “Sometimes I wonder how you ever realized I was interested in you.” Skye said shaking her head. “Now listen closely. Cayden likes his assistant but he can’t pursue it because she works for him, it would look bad.”

  “Actually I’ve already pursued her.”

  “Oh boy.”

  “Then what’s wrong?” Garrett asked, and at that moment the lights went on for him. “Oh I get it, she’s holding out on you.”

  “We’ve been kind of seeing each other now for a few weeks and all of a sudden she’s got a friend over from Manhattan and tonight she wants some time to herself. What does she want to do by herself?” Cayden asked exasperatedly.

  Skye laughed. “She’s not holding out, she’s mad.�
��

  “Is she?” Garrett asked looking at Cayden.

  “Well I don’t know, she might be.”

  “And you’re keeping an eye on your phone in case she calls, so you can ditch us and go grab a quickie?”

  “It’s not like that. Well not exactly.”

  “Then what is it like?” Skye asked more seriously.

  “I don’t know…Anna grew up in a trailer park but she’s got more dignity than any of us. She’s not shy about her upbringing, she owns it. She’s an intriguing smart woman and excels at her job.” He kept quiet for a moment contemplating his next words. “And the problem is I can’t get my mind off her.”

  “Then don’t.” Garrett said matter of factly.

  “It’s not that simple.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because if my staff found out they’d think Anna is my assistant because she is sleeping with me.”

  “Cayden you are both grown up single adults, who the fuck cares what anyone else says? Besides you’re the owner.”

  Cayden digested Garrett’s words and nodded before changing the subject. “So how’s things with the baby?”

  Skye beamed and rubbed her tummy affectionately. “Wonderful, he actually started kicking last week.”

  “He?”

  Garrett smiled as his hand joined Skye’s on her tummy. “She’s convinced it’s a boy.”

  Skye laughed. “Only a boy could have me barfing this far into the pregnancy, a girl would’ve at least considered my feelings.”

  Cayden smiled at the picture they made. First Garret had found Skye and shortly after Seth had met the superstar Fawn and fell head over heels and now even Cole had met someone. It seemed only he and Stefan were destined to be eternal bachelors. Although as he watched Skye and Garrett smile at each other he wondered if being an eternal bachelor was all it cracked up to be. He had never seen his friend happier.