“Kasey will blow her out of the water,” Jay waved, deciding he didn’t want to discuss Renee any further.
“Speaking of Kasey. I know I don’t have to say this, Jay, but don’t complicate things by sleeping with her. We all know how quickly you are to move on from someone.”
Jay reached for his nine iron before walking to the tee, hoping his best friend did not pick up on the change in his demeanor. He wasn’t expecting a warning from Mitchell, and didn’t want to lie to him about what had happened between him and Kasey, so instead he focused on what he would admit.
“I’m just not interested in one night stands anymore. Just having sex is a little old. I’m tired of moving from one woman to the next,” Jay shared before swinging his club, launching the golf ball high into the air.
“I have to say, I was a bit shocked to learn you were staying in again this weekend. You’ve settled down, man, no one can deny that. They say every man has his time, maybe this is yours.”
Jay couldn’t find the words to respond to Mitchell, because he was just coming to terms with the strange feelings himself. It wasn’t often that he stayed home for two weekends in a row. His old life suddenly seemed boring to him—hanging out with people he barely knew before spending the night with a woman he’d never see again.
“You need to get married, that will solve all those problems,” Mitchell shrugged, but from the look on his face, Jay knew he was serious about his suggestion.
“I don’t know that I would be good at that either,” Jay smirked, finding it difficult to even imagine himself in a committed relationship.
Since college, he hadn’t been in an exclusive relationship, choosing instead to focus on his business career. While it afforded him financial riches beyond his wildest dreams, it was never a life he envisioned for himself.
“What are you so afraid of?” Mitchell asked in mid swing, as if his question was not as serious as the words spoken.
“Is that really a question?” Jay asked, when Mitchell’s ball fell far in the distance.
“Sure, it is. Marriage is the answer you’re looking for—the security, lack of mystery, continued involvement—all signs lead to the same exit, Jay.” Mitchell was blunt, yet comforting, trying to fill in the gaps for his best friend.
“Honestly, Mitchell. Can you see me as someone’s husband?”
“Well,” Mitchell began, pausing at Jay’s eyes before continuing, “Maybe that’s all in your head. You know what you want, and what isn’t working for you, but you keep finding a way to make your current lifestyle work when clearly it doesn’t.” Mitchell said, more transparent than ever.
Jay always felt like the type of man that should deter women from falling in love with him, knowing he would consistently choose professional considerations over personal at every turn. Mitchell was the relationship type, and through the years he had found a way to accept his position as a bystander, one that would not receive the type of support someone in his partner’s position received.
“What isn’t working?” Jay raised his hand, pretending to be confused, although he completely understood Mitchell’s sentiment.
“Jay, you’re the most eligible bachelor in five states. You have your pick of the women, but always find something wrong with every candidate. What is it?”
He knew what was holding him back, but found it impossible to share his feelings on the golf course. Mitchell could never understand why Jay would ever turn down a model, or ignore the serious advances of women that seemed unattainable to the average man.
“They just want me for my money.”
It was the most vulnerable he’d ever been. Jay was never one to admit the possibility that women wanted him for anything less than the charisma that dripped from every pore whenever he encountered a stranger, male or female.
Their success made them targets, but as two different men, Jay and Mitchell found different ways to answer to the heavy burden placed upon them. Determined to stay in the position of power, Mitchell chose his path when he met his wife, knowing the security of a family was his best route.
Jay was the opposite—convincing himself that he could be the sole answer to his problems regardless of the obstacles. Needing a woman was more difficult to admit to Mitchell than the more impossible tasks as a business man.
“You can’t really think that,” Mitchell had the nerve to laugh as he packed the golf cart, preparing for what was sure to be a misunderstanding.
The two rode along in silence, Mitchell thinking about how his best friend was the most successful and sought after man he’d ever known. Jay, on the other hand, could not understand how Mitchell did not see his own value— a family who loved him, regardless of his last deal or whatever professional success he achieved.
Kasey was independent of Passion Publishing, an entity so directly connected to Jay that he was unable to separate the two. Merging the two, in many ways, was quite dangerous. What if he just wanted to gain her submission? Could they work together and find a benefit in their partnership?
“You can’t be surprised by that,” Jay huffed, pulling away from the ninth hole as Mitchell looked on in disbelief.
“Of course, I am. And you can’t act shocked when you know I’ve been out in the clubs with you.” Mitchell said, grabbing a granola bar from the center console.
“But I don’t want to marry the girl that delivers my drinks in a nightclub, Mitchell,” Jay reminded him while pulling up to the next hole.
“I thought you didn’t want to get married?”
Mitchell answered with a subliminal question of everything Jay stood for while stepping from the golf cart, looking back to a contemplating Jay. Grabbing his club, Mitchell returned his gaze, awaiting the answer from the business partner who had shown him such fearless bravery in every other life situation.
Chapter 10
Kasey
Every other weekend, Kasey met Nicole at her favorite spa for a nail treatment and to catch up on gossip. Although it was nothing special, Kasey found it to be the highlight of a long week as she pulled into the packed parking lot of a Saint Paul suburb.
After spotting her best friend’s car in the small lot, she was less than surprised to walk into the spa only to spot her bestie sipping champagne from a massage chair.
“You’re late,” Nicole revealed with a half-smile, finishing her glass.
“Five minutes!” Kasey shrieked, glancing at the Rolex watch on her left wrist. A recent client had gifted her with the fine jewelry after finding themselves atop the New York Times Best Seller list.
It was never a mission to achieve any type of selling goals, but it was quickly obvious that success gained notoriety, which was far outside her comfort zone. Honestly, Kasey found herself at a crux, believing in her artists, and fighting for their success more than her own. The success of a writer was more important than her personal career, which made her job easy—ignore yourself and focus on your clients to achieve success.
The lifestyle she deserved was only a short view away. Every day, she sat in meetings as clients confessed better offers. Kasey was never able to offer the incentives larger companies included, and when she accepted Jay Canton’s proposal, she thought it was a sign of a shift as an agent.
What she wasn’t prepared for was the reaction of her best friend, which could range from calm to hysteria, and before she opened her mouth, she decided being open was worth more than saving herself from the embarrassment.
“I’m quitting my job.”
Unable to concoct an acceptable transition into the conversation she’d been anticipating since her rooftop memory, Kasey threw her cards on the table before she could settle into her massage chair beside Nicole.
“What happened?” That was all Nicole could say in response, caught off guard by the admission.
“It’s Jay,” Kasey began, before pointing to a color on the infinite wheel of options provided by the manicurist. “I just don’t know what to do about him. He claims he wants to work to
gether, and he values my expertise, but I don’t know.”
“You mean, he wants to know how he can make money from you.” Nicole never struggled to express her feelings, and Kasey knew her initial reaction was warranted.
Life had taught her long ago that men in her industry were sharks—always out to make the most from the least, a capitalistic predatory relationship she didn’t care to simulate.
“Exactly. He offered me a significant raise, more than I’ve ever made, but there was so much more to it.”
“Like what?” Nicole sat up in her chair, turning towards Kasey, confused by her declaration.
“First of all, he’s sexy as hell. I walked into the meeting, and he had the entire conference room emptied out, for just me and him. His suit fit him like a glove, and he spoke like a master, knowing my every move before I acted. He was in command, but somehow I liked it.” Kasey shared her thoughts with the only person she trusted unconditionally.
“What did you do?” she asked.
“What do you mean?” Kasey countered so quickly, the nail technicians paused their filing to look at both girls.
“I mean, how did you respond to his offer to work together?” Nicole asked, without looking away from her fingernails.
“I went to a corporate dinner for Passions Publishing. That’s his company, and where he wants me to work.”
“And?” Nicole was stubborn in her search for answers.
“He wanted me to feel intimidated, that much I know. He walked through the conference with an esteem I’ve never felt before. Everyone looked at him like he was a God, and I understand, because he is the most successful publisher I’ve ever met, but still it was bizarre.” Kasey answered as the nail technician tapped her ankle, silently instructing her to remove her left foot from the soaking water.
“You sound like you were impressed,” Nicole said, unable to hide the shock on her face.
“I was. But not for the reason he may think. What kind of guy do you know that has an entire corporation under his thumb? Of course, it was alluring, but it wasn’t enough to silence all the doubts.”
“What doubts could you have? I’ve read ‘Passions Publishing’ in the back of enough books to know their impact on the industry,” Nicole again shocked her best friend by speaking in business terms, something she found herself to be the expert of.
“There’s something about him, Nicole. It’s not business oriented, but I could see the way he looked at me, and always knew he wanted more. It drove me crazy!”
Kasey rolled her eyes in frustration, hoping not to offend her confidant as she struggled to find words to describe her latest interaction with Jay Canton. It had all happened so fast, and true to her dreamlike fantasies, Kasey struggled to discuss the details.
“Let me see him.”
Nicole handed Kasey her cell phone with an understanding that needed no words. There was something she was missing, but she sought to get to the bottom when she asked her best friend for a physical description.
Taking the phone, Kasey giggled while looking through pictures before landing on a favorite to show Nicole. It was a photo of Jay from a red carpet event a few months back. His hair was perfectly slicked back, while his eyes pierced the lens, exceptionally highlighting the unique shade of blue.
“This is him?” Nicole sat up in her chair, ignoring the massaging chair as she looked over to Kasey.
“Yes. And that’s not even the best picture,” she giggled, retrieving the phone before tapping the screen, maximizing another picture of Jay on a boat.
“So, tell me what happened,” Nicole pleaded.
Kasey wasn’t apprehensive, because there was nothing she wouldn’t share with Nicole. The two had been through many ups and downs, and honestly was a major part in her acceptance, as far as she was concerned.
“I went to the party he was hosting, celebrating his company’s accomplishments over the past year. It was incredible,” Kasey smiled, remembering the fun of that night.
“Did he tell you how he could see you fitting into the dynamic? I mean, what happened? There’s something you aren’t saying—it’s written all over your face!” Nicole shrieked.
Kasey was overcome by giggles as she told Nicole the whole truth—starting from the introduction to agreeing to negotiate the contract by Monday. They leaned toward each other so she could whisper the illicit details away from the ears of the nail technicians.
Nicole was anything but understanding from what Kasey could see. A guy like Jay Canton was a dog in her eyes. As far as she was concerned, she’d played her hand unreasonably—revealing there wasn’t much she wasn’t willing to do to accomplish her goals.
“It was just for business,” Kasey explained, trying to justify her actions.
“And what do you think you showed him about your business?” Nicole asked, obviously irritated.
“I showed him that I have options, and that I’ll move on to the next company if necessary.”
“Is the deal already finalized?” Nicole asked with distaste.
“Yes.”
“When do you start?” Nicole asked.
“Monday.”
It was the last word they spoke to each other, before both chose to relax in the spa chair as the technicians massaged their feet.
Nicole’s response had shocked her, but she needed to hear it. Kasey had no plans of repeating the act with Jay, but seeing the disapproving look from her best friend solidified that decision.
“It was just for business?” Nicole finally asked, after their pedicure was finished.
“Yes. And it’s all settled now. There was a tension between us and I couldn’t work with him if it persisted.”
More than an admission, it was a request for approval—Kasey wanted to know that Nicole could understand why she did what she did.
“Now that you’ve done it, you’ve got to leave it out of your system. You don’t want to continue a relationship like this, Kasey, it’s anything but professional. You know how hard it is for women to become successful in any industry without being accused of sleeping their way there. He doesn’t deserve ownership of your success.” Nicole explained her distaste, and Kasey finally understood her reaction.
“What do you think I need to do?” Kasey asked, eager to hear her friend’s suggestions.
“Forget it ever happened. And kill it in this new position.” Nicole smirked as she looked at her best friend from the corner of her eye, finally giving her the acceptance and congratulatory response she had wanted so badly.
“Thanks, Nicole.”
“Don’t thank me, this isn’t going to be easy. That man is going to try to bully you—Passions Publishing is a big deal. You’ll have to fight for your spot and let him know you’re more than a pretty face.”
“I know. And I will.”
Chapter 11
Jay
It would be dishonest to pretend that he hadn’t thought of this moment the entire weekend. Jay wasn’t used to wondering what someone else was thinking, especially a woman. What happened between him and Kasey was between them only, and as he left the Mercedes on the way to the office, he felt certain the spark between them would not interfere with their professional relationship.
It wasn’t until he locked eyes on the curves of her hips as she walked through the glass doors of Passions Publishing, that Jay’s desires came rushing back. Watching the smile on the door attendant’s face transform into lust sent him into a rush as he made his way to the doorway.
“Welcome to Passions Publishing,” Mitchell welcomed Kasey just as Jay entered the building.
“Thank you,” Kasey responded, stepping through the glass door in a tight fitting black shift dress. Her hair flowed over her shoulder when she looked back to Jay as he greeted her from behind.
“Good morning,” Jay spoke, watching her turn around in what seemed to be slow motion.
“Oh, good morning to you, too,” she blushed.
Jay smiled while walking to the elevator wit
h both Kasey and Mitchell, reminding himself that she did not want a relationship. It was a weird revelation since he’d usually been the one warding off women, but the awkwardness buzzed so loudly, the elevator ride seemed unbearable.
“This is your floor,” Mitchell announced, as they reached the top level.
“Are you her tour guide?” Jay joked, looking over at Kasey. Despite his attempt at amusement, she kept her eyes trained on Mitchell while smiling with enthusiasm.
Could she be mad at him? The thought bugged him as he struggled to comprehend why she would ignore him without warning or explanation.
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