Resisting the Billionaire

by C. C. Snow

  “And you trust people too easily.” His jaw clenched. “Or maybe you’re too easily charmed by the younger Richards.”

  I mentally threw up my arms in defeat. “Believe what you will, Jake. I’m going to finish these notes.” I stalked out of the room.

  Chapter 4

  “So what’s it like?” Jamie’s blue eyes looked huge as she leaned over the table at our favorite deli. “Working for the big boss, what’s it like?” She was practically vibrating with curiosity.

  After news of my promotion came out, Jamie was the only one from my old department to reach out to congratulate me. She didn’t seem to resent me for getting the job and I was grateful for her support because many of my previously nice co-workers, now treated me like a pariah. According to Jamie, they were jealous of my “good fortune,” and rumors abounded about how I didn’t deserve the promotion. They’d be shocked to realize I agreed wholeheartedly with them.

  The situation made me realize how loyal Jamie was. After my mom’s death, I had kept to myself and lost touch with my friends. I kept everyone I met at arm’s length. Deciding it was time to start reconnecting with some old friends and making some new ones, I invited Jamie to have lunch with me.

  I sucked on the insides of my cheeks, trying to find the right words. As much as I was beginning to like Jamie, I wasn’t confident she could keep any secrets so I had to choose my words carefully.

  I had been Jake’s assistant for a little over three weeks and my head was still dizzy from how fast everything moved. I hardly had a moment to breathe. Jake Weston’s schedule was more than one mortal man could handle. Which made me think he was some kind of robot because I didn’t think the man slept or rested.

  “Um…busy,” I said.

  Jamie’s made a face at my vague answer. “Come on. You can do better than that!”

  “Well, every day is different. It’s actually pretty interesting stuff. In my first week, we visited a construction site because Jake wanted to check on the project’s progress. Last week, we went to a robotics firm to look at the new products they will offer next year. And yesterday, a software firm came to do a demo on a new technology that could revolutionize our electronics division.”

  I found I loved the challenge of having new things thrown at me. After the episode with the Emerson project, I was reluctant to share my opinions, but Jake insisted. Sometimes he dismissed my arguments, but sometimes I was able to give new insight. Gradually, I was getting more comfortable voicing my thoughts.

  “And is he as unreasonable as they say he is?”

  I pursed my lips, weighing her question.

  The man behind the counter called out our order and Jamie jumped out of her seat to pick it up.

  I took the few seconds to collect my thoughts about my boss. Jake Weston baffled me more than ever. As expected, he was dynamic and confident– and yes, even arrogant– but in the last few weeks I had seen many other aspects of him.

  He was respectful of his staff. He was blunt when someone screwed up, but he was never demeaning. It was revealing that his executives were not afraid to voice their opinions, even when Jake disagreed with them. It forced me to revise my initial impression of him as a tyrant.

  His relationship with his family was also an eye-opener. He clearly worshipped his mom and respected Troy. The two brothers consulted with each other throughout the day.

  But his ruthlessness in business still made me uncomfortable. In the boardroom, he transformed into a distant and unfeeling man. He was never outright rude, but he did not let any sentiment seep into his decision-making process. The Richards meeting was the worst example of his coldness and I still seethed with anger when I thought about how he treated Leon and Dale.

  Jamie set my turkey club in front of me and took her seat. For a few minutes, we busied ourselves with our food, but she was soon back on the hunt for information.

  “So?”

  “He’s demanding, but I wouldn’t call him unreasonable. I guess he’s like any other high-power CEO. I haven’t been yelled at so far,” I joked.

  “Hmm…doesn’t sound too bad.” She seemed let down by the lack of drama.

  I decided to throw her a tidbit. “The office manager is a pain in the patootie.”

  Perking up, she propped her chin in her palm. “Really? Is she the pretty blonde with the skinny body?”

  “Yeah. Alana Latham. She hates me.” I got a visceral chill when I walked by her desk.

  Rearing back in offense, Jamie demanded, “Why the hell would she hate you?” Her indignation on my behalf made me smile.

  I shrugged, truly puzzled by the other woman’s animosity. “I have no idea. I tried to be nice.” I described the incident with the pastry.

  Jamie made a clicking sound in the back of her throat. “Ugh. Rude! Besides, you have a sexpot body going for you. Men find curves irresistible on a woman.”

  Making a face to show my skepticism, I brushed her compliment aside. “I’m willing to put up with a lot of things, but that was the last straw. Anyone who throws away a chocolate croissant has no redeeming qualities as far as I’m concerned.”

  Jamie laughed and nodded in agreement with my assessment.

  “We’re at an icy stalemate. We only deal with each other when absolutely necessary. Unfortunately for me, I have to interact with her more than I would like since she essentially runs the executive floor.”

  “Talk about the snake in your paradise! She’s probably just jealous she didn’t get the job. I’d bet she applied for the EA position.”

  “I didn’t even think of that!” It certainly would explain a lot.

  “Girl, if I didn’t like you so much, I’d be pea green with envy too! As it is, I’m merely seasick green.” She grinned to show she wasn’t serious. “Spending the day next to dreamy Jake Weston is every girl’s fantasy. Is he as hot in person as he is in the tabloids?”

  I fought the blush threatening to paint my cheeks.

  Yes! Sizzling hot. Hot enough to melt a girl’s panties. Hot enough to fry my brain cells.

  To my dismay, the attraction I felt during our first meeting was only growing. The more time I spent with Jake, the more my body rebelled against my brain. I buzzed with energy whenever he was in the vicinity. I had never had this type of physical reaction to a man. It was unnerving, especially since I wasn’t sure I even liked him.

  And it galled me that I now understood how his ex-EAs felt. But I was determined to hide my errant feelings at all costs. There was more at stake than just my job. There were my future plans and most of all, my dignity. The image of Jake firing me for having a crush on him made my stomach turn.

  I dropped my eyes. “He’s pretty good looking. There are some good genes in his family. Have you seen his brother, Troy?”

  My diversionary tactic worked because Jamie eyes glazed over as she stared dreamily off into space.

  “Yes, Troy Weston is a hunk too.” She sighed gustily before she blinked and came out of her trance. “Too bad they’re both players. Troy just broke up with some Broadway star and I heard Jake is dating the Brazilian supermodel, Carolina Oliveira. Have you seen her yet?”

  Something pinched inside my chest. “Not yet. Is she the one on the cover of Sports Illustrated this year?” I asked, aiming for a casual tone. If I remembered correctly, Carolina was a sultry dark-haired, dark-eyed beauty.

  Jamie nodded as she sipped her soda. “Yeah, she’s gorgeous. I heard she’s a bit of a diva, but if you’re as beautiful as she is, you could afford to be. And he’s obviously willing to put up with her. She must do some amazing tricks in the sack.”

  The image of Jake’s body entwined with the supermodel’s induced a sharp pang. I firmly ignored it and smiled weakly at Jamie. “I love your perspective on things.”

  Her smile was dazzling. “It’s a gift.”

  “Do you know how long they’ve been dating?” Instantly, I hated myself for asking, but the question came out without conscious thought.

  Sc
runching up her brow, Jamie said, “Two months, I think. I haven’t seen him date anyone for longer than three months so he may be ready to move on. Although this relationship might last longer since she’s been away on so many photo shoots. They do say distance makes the heart fonder.”

  “Yes they do,” I said softly.

  “She’s supposed to be back in town anytime. As his EA, you’ll probably see her soon.”

  The prospect of meeting Jake’s perfect girlfriend did not excite me. I felt an insistent throb of pain in my chest. “Shit. I think I have heartburn. I must have eaten too fast. Do you have an antacid?”

  Jamie frowned. “Sorry, never had a need for them. Do you want to drop by the drugstore to get some?”

  I massaged the tight spot and felt it ease. “No, I should be fine. So what’s going on with you?”

  Jamie proceeded to tell me about her last three dates with men she met on a popular dating site. I was guffawing in no time as she recounted each disastrous date to me.

  “Maybe you should try another site and be more specific about what you want,” I suggested. “Although, I’m not qualified to give any advice since I don’t date.”

  “Ooh… we should make a profile for you!”

  “So I too could meet a man who wears culottes on a first date?”

  Giggling, Jamie smacked me playfully. “That was one in million! You wouldn’t be so lucky.”

  The rest of lunch was fun and light-hearted. It felt nice to talk to another woman and Jamie and I made plans to have lunch together again.

  When I returned to the office, Jake’s door was closed, indicating he had a private meeting. I spied a stack of papers on my desk. There was a brief note on top.

  Review and let me know what you think.

  I rolled my eyes. The man definitely did not know the word “please.” I sat down and started reading. It was a report on a local real estate company called Bauen. I didn’t know what I was supposed to review since there was no context, but I slogged through the pages. A lot of it was business jargon that didn’t mean much to me.

  I was relieved when I came to the financial report. Numbers I understood. I skimmed through the figures and frowned. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but something felt off. I slowed down and went through each line, but I still couldn’t pinpoint the problem.

  “What do you make of the report, Cora?” A deep voice came from above.

  I jerked my head up to meet Jake’s gaze and my heart gave a recalcitrant jump. No matter how often I saw him, his gorgeous looks were always jarring to my senses– those piercing aquamarine eyes, the strong jawline, the sensual lips. It was more temptation than any girl could take.

  Private school for Marcus, Cora.

  Thank god for the voice of common sense. I stiffened my spine and tightened my grip on the pages. “Um…well… I haven’t read the whole thing yet.”

  He smiled at me and I cursed that damn dimple. It was such overkill for the man to be this beautiful and have that adorable dent at the corner of his mouth. Science said that dimples were deformities, but it sure as hell didn’t look like a defect on his face.

  “Come on. I value your judgment. What does your gut say about Bauen?” His tone was soft and cajoling.

  He leaned over my desk, almost invading my personal space and I couldn’t look away from his gaze. My pulse sped up as my nose picked up a hint of his cologne and underneath the expensive scent, his own unique musk. His eyes roamed over my face and seemed to hone in on my mouth. Automatically I licked my lower lip and his pupils dilated. His eyes darkened to a deep ocean blue and his face tightened with some strong emotion.

  The moment became charged with electricity and my breaths became little pants. My eyes dropped to his mouth. His lips were slightly parted. I wondered if they felt as soft as they looked.

  Ring. Ring.

  I blinked. Jake stood upright, looking intently at me. Trying to clear the fuzz from my brain, I inhaled deeply a few times before picking up the phone.

  “Weston Enterprises. Jake Weston’s office. How may I help you?”

  A contralto voice purred on the other end, “Yes. I’d like to talk to Jake.”

  “Can I tell him who’s calling?”

  “Si. Tell him it’s his querida, Carolina.”

  I knew enough Portuguese to know the word for darling. I swallowed against the lump in my throat. It was as if my talk with Jamie conjured her up. “Let me check if he’s available.” Putting her on hold, I looked up at Jake. “It’s Carolina. Do you want to take the call?”

  I didn’t know what reaction I expected, but the look of alacrity on his face made my heart sink.

  Stupid girl, I chastised myself. Whatever you imagined was happening before her call was just in your head.

  He nodded. “Yes. I need to talk to her. Put her through to line one.” Without another word, he strode into his office and closed the door.

  I pressed the button to transfer her to his line and stood up from my desk. Suddenly, I was desperate for a moment of privacy and I skedaddled to the bathroom. It was fortuitously empty. I braced my hands on the sink and looked in the mirror. My eyes were too bright and my cheeks too pink. To my shame, heat coursed through my body, concentrating in my core. I squeezed my thighs together and felt the slickness at the apex of my legs.

  “This will not do, Cora girl.” I spoke to my reflection sternly. “He’s got a supermodel girlfriend and you can’t jeopardize your plans with your foolish thoughts. You should be thankful the phone call saved you from doing something you’ll regret.” I nodded with satisfaction at my logical reasoning and splashed cold water on my face. The last thing I wanted to be was another assistant who didn’t know her place. I needed to keep my mental distance from Jake Weston.

  I patted my face dry with a paper towel and took a few deep breaths. Armed with new resolve, I returned to my desk and picked up the report. When the numbers danced before my eyes, I gave up and stuffed it into my purse. Maybe I’d have better luck at home.

  Stupid me– I decided to look up Carolina Oliveira. Pictures of the Brazilian beauty filled my screen. With every click, an even more beautiful version of her came up. Bronzed skin. Dramatic, passionate eyes. Perfect body.

  To make sure I drove the point home, I searched for images of her with Jake. Immediately, a photo popped up of them standing on the red carpet at a film festival. He looked amazing in a tux, with his arms wrapped around the model’s tiny waist. She was dressed in a burnt orange gown few women could pull off. They looked like the quintessential power couple. Tall, beautiful and rich.

  The taste of bile on my tongue prompted me to close the browser. There was a burning at the back of my eyes and I closed my eyes to relieve the pressure.

  “You needed a reality check, Cora. No more daydreams,” I admonished myself.

  An hour later, Jake’s door opened.

  “Cora, come into my office. We didn’t finish our conversation.” His whole demeanor had lightened and I wondered if the talk with his girlfriend had cheered him up.

  Unaccountably depressed by the thought, I pretended to look for something on my desk. “I’ll be there in a sec.” When I was myself again, I walked into his office.

  He grinned at me and I wanted to glower at his good mood, but I kept my face neutral.

  He must have sensed my mood because he sobered quickly. “Is something the matter?”

  “No, of course not.” I looked down at the report and spoke briskly. “I couldn’t tell you exactly what it is, but something seems wrong with Bauen’s financial statements. I need a bit more time to find the cause though.”

  “Very good, Cora. You have excellent instincts.” There was a note of pride in his voice and I raised my gaze in time to catch his look of approval. “There’s no need to look any deeper. I already know what’s wrong.”

  “What is it?”

  “Someone’s embezzling money and is very good at hiding it.”

  “What? How could you tell?
”

  “Experience. Look at the operating budget. There’s no way they could have spent that much on marketing on a company this size. They’re cooking the books to hide their incompetency. Bauen has been suffering for the last few years.”

  “Is it one of our companies?”

  He shook his head. “No. One of our rivals. Their headquarters is in New York, but they have a local office. They just outbid us for a billion dollar project on the North Side. Do you remember the bid you typed up a couple of weeks ago?”

  “Yes, but if they are doing so poorly, how could they outbid us?”

  “That’s the million dollar question. My guess is that either they have someone from City Hall in their pockets or they found out about Weston’s bid ahead of time. And I doubt it’s the former. I know the administrator in charge of this particular project.”

  The implications hit me between the eyes and my mouth rounded. “You think someone is leaking information from the inside? But who?” It felt unreal that Jake and I were talking about corporate espionage. Didn’t that only happen in the movies?

  His face hardened. “I don’t know. But when I find out someone is betraying me, they’re going to pay.”

  I shivered at the unforgiving note in his voice and felt sorry for whoever dared to cross this man. “How are you going to find out?”

  “First, I’ll have the tech department make sure the system had not been hacked. Then they’ll sweep the email correspondences. But whoever had access might have been smart enough to do this the old-fashioned way and not have left a digital trail.”

  “If they don’t find anything, then what?”

  “It has to be someone on this floor. I’d hate to think that someone on the executive team betrayed me, but bids for projects this large would only have come across a few people’s desks. I’ll have my head of cyber security look into this further.”

  “Is there anything I should be doing?”

  “Just make sure you lock up sensitive documents and log out of your computer when you leave your desk.”

  Since I already took those precautions, I just nodded. This job was certainly shaping up to be a lot more exciting than I had expected.