Simple? Was he serious?
Driver signaled the waiter and I heard him give instructions. The waiter gave a curt nod, and I thought how great it must be to order people around like you owned them. Including how Driver had insisted that he owned me just last night. I wasn’t going to let him get away with it. Or spring that he needed my help, then heap on more responsibilities. Well I had a few new rules of my own.
“There is nothing easy about you. I’ve learned that day one. It would have been my day two, I could add a new ‘skill’ as you put it. Bullshitting. There is no way I agree to any of this. You put the moves on me, then get yourself in a stew. And now you want to be bailed out of it?”
“I don’t defend my actions to anyone. Least of all a woman who had a chance to break big in the advertising world. Then tanked because she couldn’t cut it. You work for me? You roll with everything it entails. The good, the bad—this is what makes the world go round.”
I sat turning my teacup in my hands. So he knew. “All right. Yes, I had an opportunity to make it in advertising, and I blew it. Clearly you knew that before you hired me.”
“I make it a point to know everything about who I’m with. It’s good business.”
“Like the women you sleep with?” I paused when the waiter returned with a note. Driver read it and then scrawled something down. I watched him hand it to the waiter.
Then he glanced back at me. “Have her meet me at Fox-Regency tomorrow.”
The waiter nodded and I pushed aside my tea. “You asked me here, and said you needed help. Remember? And I wanted to, but not like this.” I stood, ready to leave.
“You didn’t answer my question.” I looked at Driver, seeing his cold expression and I sat back down.
“I don’t babysit unless the money is really good. You hear people gripe about how tough the world is? They don’t get that you have to claw and scrape for every penny. The more you earn, the harder you have to work to keep it. And especially when you’re rich.” I grabbed my purse and Driver reached over and grabbed my arm.
Pulling me, he ignored the people staring. I couldn’t. “Driver, you’re creating a scene.”
“Is it exciting to you, Skye? Sit down.”
I did, curious to know why he wanted me to stay. I noticed him considering me like he would a fine wine. I bristled, but didn’t bolt—though I wanted to, for sure. You could cut the tension between us with one of the knives on our table.
“You think I’m the big bad wolf. Well, maybe I am. You’re here because you’ve got an instinct. You see how people think. I believe you see me. That’s something you can’t learn and money can’t buy at any price.”
Really? But I bet he’d try. Seemed money did well for a person when they had it.
I glanced at him, thinking how sexy his shock of blond hair over his temple looked. Then realized I must have dropped my poker face. Because Driver took a long drag from his espresso the waiter set down. Then he gazed at me, his eyes hot like fire. I knew he was thinking about the beach, just like I was. Breathless, I wondered what he was going to say next.
“You respect the hustle. I admire that. So I’ll make this easy for you. Help me clean up my so-called perverted, playboy ways. According to the media. And I’ll pay you one million.”
“One million dollars?”
I watched as Driver leaned back against his seat, cool and confidant. And I wanted to jump his bones right in public. He was so sure of himself, and it worked on me like an aphrodisiac. But, business, was business. I’d have quit right then if I hadn’t already. “Anything else?” I said instead.
He took his phone, as I stared. Driver tapped a few spaces with his finger, then showed me the screen. I counted the number of spaces to the right of the number two.
“Aimee tells me I need to keep you on the payroll. Consider this an incentive,” Driver tucked his iPhone inside of his tailored jacket. “To confirm. You’ll stay on as my executive assistant with one important change. You’re now my private handler.”
I uncrossed my arms as I stood.
“I’m around the corner from the downtown office, here at the pier.” Damn, the man was cocky, but cute. I wouldn’t admit it, but I wanted to help. There was something about Driver Fox I wasn’t ready to let go. “Do we have a deal?”
I stopped at his side. “What time shall I be at your office?”
“8:30, sharp. I’ll need you to get that wardrobe I had Jenks arrange.”
“Fine.”
Chapter Thirteen
I got to the Fox-Regency offices at seven.
I knew damn well that while Driver promised nothing had changed, he meant something else. We both knew better. Everything had changed—except the heat between us. And it was threatening to burst into a raging inferno. I had to keep my head straight. Driver was welcoming me into his world and I didn’t intend to mess it up.
Aimee met me at his side office. I recognized her from the company bios I had scanned before leaving the house this morning.
“Aimee, hi.”
“Skye?” Aimee left her desk. “Welcome.” I held out my hand and she pursed her lips. Then pulled me close and we hugged. “We’re well past formality at this point.” I looked around the twentieth-office floor, noticing the marble walls and floors. The elevator on the way up was a preview to the Roman styled interior. I bet Nero would have been proud. I noticed also there were only a few staff whittling away the morning at their computers. “You’re early. Is that a Frappuccino?”
I wanted to get a jump on the day, and to see the front lines. “Yep. Got it for you. S’mores. Was getting a coffee for myself. Thought you might want a pick me up. Seeing as you’re here hours before everyone.”
“You really do read all the interoffice mail. Not many people would take the time to do something for ‘Viking Aimee.’ Yeah, I know what the water cooler talk says about me. I’m good at what I do. A little pushback from the ranks, I expect.”
Coffee was the least I could do for Aimee. After everything she had done to make me feel like part of the team, even helping me on-board when most of the peeps at Fox-Regency worked in-office.
I got situated, thanked Aimee again, and got to hunting down the source of the attacks on Driver. Didn’t take me long to factor the hits on his social media channels were spiking just about the same time that his former personal assistant left. Could Hallie, the last “assistant,” have had something to do with this? It was possible, but I had to be sure.
In the middle of following a slew of leads, I saw people hurrying to their desks. And clearing off everything from them. I turned to see why there was so much commotion. And saw Driver entering in a three-piece Armani suit. Looking hot as ever, and scowling like a beast. A ginger-haired, smartly dressed woman pranced at his side. Both toted briefcases, and when they passed Driver nodded, and called me to his office in fifteen. The sexy red head glanced at me and I swore she’d smirked.
Aimee came over, and leaned close. “Who is the pissed off girl, half our age, and decked out like a Wilhelmina model?”
“Elise Reed. Twenty-six. Eight years younger than us. And Mr. Fox dialed her in to stave the media hounds stalking the company.”
“But I thought Driver was hiring in-house?”
Aimee leaned a hip on my desk. “He was. You were the only new hire we kept on. That’s why you only see half the staff today.”
“They were all let go?” Aimee nodded.
Aimee and I lowered our voices when the door to Driver’s office opened. He and Elise seemed deep in conversation. The staff stilled, everyone handling their work in hushed tones.
“On the advice of Miss Model,” said Aimee. “Driver told me he has brought her in to help stave the gossip. If he can’t put a lid on it." I knew Aimee could see my mind clicking.
I whispered. “Then why keep me?”
“He trusts you. But he admires your instincts more.”
We returned to our work when Elise walked to the floor. She found a de
sk, rested her lean hip against it, and dialed a number.
Aimee glanced from Elise to me as I tried not to listen to her conversation.
An hour later I’d tracked down Just Jared’s and Spy, and found several rumors posted. I cross-checked who may have worked at any of the same brand of ‘news sites’. “Well I'll be...”
Whose name showed up on one of them? Hallie Prentiss. Driver Fox’s last assistant. There was only one more lead I had to track. If I was right, Driver’s instincts about someone or a group of people indeed were trying to ruin him were real. If I could prove my theory.
And when business was the topic, my gut was never wrong.
But I had another reason for coming back. My sister.
Chapter Fourteen
After I’d gotten to Sausalito from the harbor at Princeton, I’d found my bed and crashed. When I got up to get ready I saw a message from Aimee and one from Jenks. It seemed the valet and I had unfinished business with a wardrobe maven. Somebody named Vera. I wanted to talk to him but the voicemail from my sister stole most of my attention. We hadn’t seen each other since our mother died.
“Skye, it is good to hear from you.” My sister Kris phoned me on holidays and on my birthday on occasion. This morning she sounded different than her bubbly, nosy self.
“Hi. How’s Boston?”
Kris’s dad, who was also my dad, was back east, but I’d never met the man. Nor did I want to. Kris told me he wanted to see me, but I didn’t care.
“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about,” my sister said. “Skye, Dad knows how he’s behaved. I believe he is really sincere about it.”
I did not need to know more about Westley Tremaine than I knew today. He was a shrewd businessman, according to my mother. And he kept his life so private even she knew little about him. That was the way I wanted things too. The man was never in my life.
“You said he’s rich. Can’t he pay for your treatment?”
“That isn’t why I’m calling.”
I knew why my sister kept calling, and I didn’t want to talk about it. “I said I’d chip in,” and I’d meant it. Kris was going through a second bout of cancer treatments. How could I not try and help? “I might have a new job.”
“Skye, we have more family. I’ve met him, and we’ve been in contact for years.”
“What did I say? Our mother and the father we share were barely together before he got it on with who knows how many people? Maybe you should get your rich half-brother to put some cash up for you too.”
“Why are you so angry? We have a brother together. Is that so bad?”
I tried to keep calm, but I’d spent most of my life without a father. “Kris, if you like their family, fine. But I’ve had it with men lying to me and pretending they’ll be around when they won’t. You keep with the likes of Westley and our ‘brother’, or whoever he is. I’ve done fine without leaning on a man. It might be nice to have one, but real men without feet of clay are few and far between. You can tell ‘daddy’ I’m fine without him. And keep me up on your test results. I’ll be in touch.”
I hung up, furious I had to even think about estranged family or a brother I didn’t know. When I headed in to work today, I met Elise. I couldn’t help but wonder about the feeling I had that the day was going to get worse.
Chapter Fifteen
The same morning Elise returned to Driver’s office. Driver closed the door, and I wondered if she’d made a personal call.
“You’d think she was the one who ran the penthouse floor.” Aimee said, walking from her office that was next to his.
“What is her deal?”
Aimee shook her head. “Fox has us, because we have his back. Be sure about what you say and watch yours.” I nodded then we parted when we saw the door to Driver’s office open.
I entered his office and shook Elise’s hand.
“Skye, this is Elise. She’ll be handing the PR for Fox.”
“Hello, I’ve already heard a lot about you. You were working in advertising weren’t you?”
“I didn’t know my work history was part of your job.”
Elise smiled. “It is my business to learn what everyone doesn’t. We have that in common. And it’s been a while since you and I worked together, Driver.” Elise reached across the corner of his desk and touched his hand. I saw red.
“You and Driver know each other?”
“We go way back,” Elise said. “But right now we have greater concerns. Driver has gotten me up to speed on the attacks on the company. Through print and social media. These are the verticals.” She handed folders to me and Driver. He flipped through his and looked at me.
“You were right, Skye. The company has to get rid of this trash-talking about it, before I approve any decision to the public.”
“I recommend we release a statement your company is solvent and squash the rumors.”
I noticed Driver glance at Elise. “Will that be enough?”
“You hired me to do the job. Let me get to it. The office across from Skye’s is available?”
“I’ll get you set up.”
“Thanks. Skye? Nice to be working with you. We’ll get this gossip under wraps. Then maybe you and I can get to more important matters, Hm? See you tomorrow?”
“You bet.”
I watched Elise sashay through the office like she owned it. Feeling Driver’s eyes on me the entire time.
“Well?” I turned to Driver.
“Well, what?”
He neared me and I took a step back. He frowned, and he stepped closer. “She on the level?”
“Why ask me? She’s your friend.”
“Cut the sass,” Driver held me close. “I’m putting my trust in you to tell me your instincts. We have something together. And I’m willing to stake the company on it.”
I nodded. The company, but not himself. I didn’t know why, but him not saying anything about the second notion? It frustrated me and the idea he was with any other woman started to piss me off.
“I have an appointment with your wardrobe stylist. You can expect me to dress the part from now on. I saw there is a red and a white number. Both of them should suit your rich boy tastes fine.”
He grabbed me and dragged me close. “Stop it.”
“What?”
“I’m not the enemy.”
“No. Just the man who could break my heart.” I told him I didn’t want to get involved.
He pushed me to the desk, and slung the papers and phone to the ground. “You are already involved. Damn it.”
He grabbed my skirt and hiked it to my waist. I tried to pull it down, but he was bigger, stronger. He yanked my panties aside and slipped his finger inside me. “I want you.”
“Why? Elise and her bony ass ain’t enough?”
“No,” I felt Driver’s breath against my neck. “I like my women, strong, sassy and proud.”
Driver pulled my legs around his waist. He undid his belt and dropped his pants and his underwear to expose his sword. I reached between his legs, feeling his huge manhood, and saw him smile. He looked like a blonde warrior, ready to plunder and I was the prize. “Open.” He growled.
I positioned his erection between my thighs and he thrust deeply. We locked together and began to rock. He pumped into me vigorously, as I shuddered with every thrust. His hands sought my breasts and he kneaded them. He thrashed his tongue around my nipples. And I clawed at his back, drawing him close for more.
He groaned and his body stiffened. I bit down on his shoulder and he flooded me with his seed. His long blonde body mingling his essence with mine. I lolled my head on the pillow of his arm, riding the waves of ecstasy. He filled me completely. Then he dropped his body on top of me. Dragging me with him until we tumbled to the floor, side by side.
“I’ll never be satisfied until you say you’re mine.”
“Wait for it,” I murmured and Driver laughed.
“I’m serious. I’m the wealthiest man anyone knows, and can do
pretty much anything I want. Except spend my life alone.”
I wanted to tell him how I felt. What we shared was more than familiarity. I felt like I knew him, and wanted to know him more. “Well, maybe. Though the women you’ve bedded might disagree when they see your bank accounts?”
“Having enough to do what you want, when you want can’t be all bad,” I said, and noticed he’d drawn closer. “Or is it?”
Driver held me close. “Money isn’t important to you?”
“Just because I’m not a billionaire doesn’t mean I’m not up on what’s important.”
“You’re right. There are more, important things.”
“Like being a beast in business?”
He dragged his long tongue over my breast. “Beast in the bedroom, if you prefer.”
“Driver, we barely know each other.”
“Not now.” Driver whispered into my ear. I shuddered hearing his promise. “Give me an answer.”
Chapter Sixteen
The next day, I found the lead. Hallie Prentiss had worked for one of the other competitor magazines. But she had done one better. I showed Driver and Aimee my findings. And Driver sank against his chair, in a cold fury.
“Can we prove this?” He pushed my notes back to me.
“If we want to create a scandal,” said Aimee.
“Hallie is preparing to blackmail you so she can solidify a job at Stuff.”
Aimee and I watched Driver slam his fist against the wall. “And I took her out for one working dinner. She’s used it against me. And to hell with loyalty.”
I heard my phone outside Driver’s office, but ignored it. I didn’t see Elise head to his office. Or hear her say she’d get the phone, because it might be for her.
“Driver Fox is your brother?” Elise said over the phone. She had put the phone on speakerphone.
“Yes. He is my stepbrother. My sister and I are his family by a second marriage. Listen, is she there? I have some good news about my tests.”
“Your tests. Right.” Elise grabbed a paper and pen. “Get word to your stepbrother, Driver, right.” Elise repeated.
TASTE: A Stepbrother Romance Page 17
