CURVES ENVY
Book 3—Claimed by An Alpha
Scarlett Avery
Copyright © 2015 by Scarlett Avery
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, without prior written permission.
Scarlett Avery / Absolutely Naughty Publishing
Edited by RJ Locksley
Proofread by Chrissy Becker
Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental. This book is for sale to adults over 18.
Curves Envy / Scarlett Avery
ISBN 978-1-987943-02-3
Foreword
I can't thank you enough for purchasing this sizzling read.
I’m absolutely passionate about what I do. Once I start writing, I just can't stop.
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The captivating stories and the enigmatic characters live with me throughout the writing process. I think you'll quickly notice how much care and attention I put into each one of my romance novels.
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***
Curves Envy Series
Book 1—Alphas Love Curves
Book 2—Curvy Girls Do It Better
Book 3—Claimed by An Alpha
Book 4—Curvy Conquest
***
BOOK 3—CLAIMED BY AN ALPHA
Chapter One
I try my best to take a nap during the flight to Miami to make up for the lack of sleep, but it’s been impossible for me to find my equilibrium in the last forty-eight hours. I usually never have any difficulties passing out cold on a plane, and I’ve been tossing and turning in my bed for the last two nights, but today it’s impossible to even shut my eyes for a few seconds. I think I’m still quite shaken by my good luck.
What a surreal view. As I look out from my window seat, I can never get over how flying feels like you’re able to touch the sky just by reaching out your arm. It’s a perfect day to be this high up—the sun is shining and there are thousands of fluffy white clouds dispersed throughout the blue sky. I’m lost in the serene view when Deidra’s voice brings me back to reality.
“You seem so far away.”
Max’s right-hand person is my travel companion, but I have to confess I’ve been as quiet as a mousse for the last hour, consumed by reliving every single scene since I overheard Stella’s and Carl’s voice in the hallway as I knelt in front of Max with his nectar drizzling down my chin. Stella Cavill, the executive assistant to one of the VPs, would have opened the door and spoiled our raunchy sexcapade had she not been accosted by my colleague Carl Applegate right before she busted open the door to the Fashion Archive room.
“I’m sorry. I’m such a bad travel companion because there’s so much on my mind.”
“I know. Max told me about your close call.”
“What?” I’m shocked by her revelation. How can he share something so personal with someone who’s practically a stranger to me?
“Don’t worry. Your secret is safe with me. Max asked me to make sure you have everything you need while you’ll be with us in Miami. He trusts me implicitly because we go way back.”
If her words were supposed to be comforting, they only make my insecurities flare up. Since the first day I laid eyes on the sultry Deidra Summers, one of Max’s top executives, I’ve always wondered if there is a steamy history between the two of them. I mean, who could blame him for not being able to resist her charms? “I didn’t think he was going to talk to anyone about the embarrassing situation we found ourselves in a few days ago.”
“Max is like the brother I’ve never had. We’ve known each other for so long and although things never worked out between me and his older brother after I came out, Max and I remained the best of friends.”
“Oh.” I’m surprised by her revelation.
“Gabriel was a wonderful man. In fact, he was one of the best boyfriends I ever had, but during our twelve-month relationship, it became obvious I was running away from who I truly was and it wasn’t fair to lead him to believe our story would have a happy ending. I’ve had conflicting feelings about women since I was fifteen years old and I kept dating men thinking if I could only find the right one, my feelings for women would dissolve. Gabe was everything a woman could ever dream of and then some, but he still wasn’t able to fulfill a deep void inside me––I needed to be with a woman.”
“I didn’t know you were…” She’s gay?
“You’re not the first person to react that way. I think so many people have preconceived notions and stereotypes about lesbians, they’re always taken aback when they find out.”
We both laugh. Her comment calms the uneasiness that’s taken permanent residence in the pit of my stomach since Stella jiggled the doorknob of the Fashion Archive room.
“Are you still on good terms with Max’s brother?”
“It took a while for him to come around. I think he was hurt when I came out because he thought he wasn’t man enough to please me. We didn’t speak much for about a year, but my burgeoning friendship with Max allowed us to bump into each other and in time Gabe accepted the fact he was absolutely, irrefutably not responsible for my coming out to the world.”
“It’s amazing he was able to come around in the end.”
“I value our friendship so much. I was willing to let him go had he not been able to accept who I truly was, but things turned out far better than I’d hoped. I’m lucky to still have him in my life.”
“I understand about surrounding yourself with people who accept you for who you are. I’m blessed enough to have some amazing friends in my life. I really don’t know where I would be without them.”
The night after my second incident inside the Fashion Archive room wasn’t supposed to be an intervention per se. We planned to meet at Devin’s home for a relaxing evening where I was to entertain Lia, Dev and Lexi by spilling my guts about the best sex I’ve ever had in my life. The theme of the evening changed dramatically after I nearly got caught doing things I had no business doing at work. After escaping, I texted my three best friends to let them know I was in urgent need of love and support.
As usual, they came to my rescue and lifted my spirits. For a few hours, I was able to blank out the embarrassing event from my mind.
“I hope we might be able to be friends.”
Deidra’s confession takes me aback. I didn’t think she saw me this way since we haven’t known each other for very long.
“I’m a little younger than Max, but I’m still a bit older than you are and he thought you might need a guardian angel while you’re away from New York. Since we’ll be roommates over the next three days, in order to ensure no one suspects anything is going on between you and the CEO of my company, I figured maybe we’d get to know each other a little better before we land in Miami.”
“I can’t believe Max forced you to take on this responsibility.”
“Let’s get one thing straight, Candy. Max might be the boss at the office, but he’s not the one who makes up my mind on such th
ings. I willingly took this on after he shared how the two of you were spared public humiliation. I can’t believe how lucky the two of you were.”
“Tell me about it. One extra second and it would’ve been a disaster.”
“I guess in your case, the wedding really did save the day.”
“I love your perspective on this, Deidra. It’s a good thing women love to gush all over their wedding day or else I most likely wouldn’t be sitting next to you right now on my way to sunny Miami.”
“Max told me you nearly turned as white as a ghost. But then again, who can blame you given the eerily close call? He said a photography assistant came to your rescue? We got interrupted as he was telling me the amusing details of your story and that part still remains a little fuzzy to me.”
“Yeah. Stone Emerson’s big fat Greek wedding saved my ass.”
“Why don’t we get the flight attendant to bring us a few drinks and you can tell me all about it.”
“I’ll be honest, a drink would help to calm me down.”
“You don’t have anything to worry about anymore. I scolded Max about his carefree behavior.”
“You did?”
“Of course. When Max wants something or someone, it’s like he has blinders on. It works well in the world of business, but when it comes to people, he forgets he can get them in trouble.”
We both laugh.
Fifteen minutes later, Deidra and I are sipping on two gin and tonics as I spill my guts.
“Stone Emerson, a photography assistant on Sassy’s skinny side, happened to be waltzing by as Stella was about to walk in and catch us red-handed.”
“Stone’s your lucky charm.” Deidra’s giggle surprises me. She looks so put together, I’d never expect her to giggle like this.
“Yes. Thank God for her six-carat stone that shines brighter than the sun. Stella hadn’t seen Stone since her wedding a month ago and as she was about to open the door, I heard her gasp at the sight of Stone’s impressive ring. The next thing I knew, the two were commiserating in the hallway before deciding to go back to Stone’s desk to look at her wedding album she kept on a personalized website. Since wedding blogs were still buzzing about the over-the-top wedding, Stella couldn’t resist the invitation and temporarily forgot about her quest for archived wedding magazines. Max and I waited for a few minutes and when we didn’t hear voices in the hallway, I quickly made my exit and he followed soon after.”
“Wow. Talk about a timely encounter.”
“More than you can imagine. I’ve never been more grateful to a man’s wealth than I was trembling with fear on my knees in the Fashion Archive room.”
“What do you mean?”
“Stone married big when she tied the knot with Dean Catsimatides.”
“The Dean Catsimatides?”
“Yup. The one and only. Stone’s new husband took over the presidency of Motor Oil Matides after his father Yiannis stepped down a few years ago. The company still operates in Greece, but the Catsimatideses hold several US base companies, including a network of gas stations and another very profitable division that sells fuel for airplanes. Apart from petroleum, Dean’s family business has also invested in publishing, television and radio industries in America and in Europe, as well as a ferry company that serves the island of Crete. All these business interests have contributed to making Dean one of the richest men in Greece and in New York with an estimated net worth of thirty million. The downturn in the Greek economy eroded their fortune by seven million dollars and after a few challenging years, the patriarch of the family handed over the reins of his dynasty to his eldest son. Stone doesn’t have to work, but she shows up at the magazine every day before most of us because she loves the fashion world so much.”
“News of the wedding was everywhere in the media, but I didn’t connect your Stone to the one who married Dean because I never imagined the Greek magnate’s new wife would still be a working woman. Frankly, I became quite tired of it. Everything leading up to the big day seemed more like a circus than anything else.” Deidra chugs down the last sip of her drink before smiling warmly at me. “It’s all behind you now,” she says, squeezing my hand in hers. “I hope you’re ready to enjoy three days of sun-filled fun?”
“After the last few stressful days, I’m sure looking forward to enjoying a lot of cocktails by the poolside.”
“I want to give you a fair warning, there will be quite a lot of work, but I think you know by now Max works hard and plays even harder.”
BOOK 3—CLAIMED BY AN ALPHA
Chapter Two
I slowly open my eyes, blinded by the early-morning sun filling the hotel room. I sit up to see if Deidra is still sleeping, but the rumpled blankets indicate she’s already up and about.
“I haven’t slept this well in two days,” I tell myself aloud. I stretch my arms in the air like Sleeping Beauty awakening from her spell, feeling rejuvenated and excited to take on the day. “I wonder what time it is.” I reach out to the nightstand to grab my iPhone and when I turn on my phone, I gasp. How can it be eighty-thirty already? Crap. I’m going to be late. I need to skedaddle if I want to make it to the photoshoot by nine o’clock.
I pull the sheets away from my body and jump to my feet, sprinting to the bathroom like an Olympian. I take a two-minute shower, put on a five-minute face, sleek back my hair into a low ponytail, grab the first outfit that catches my attention, slip into a pair of ballerina flat shoes, grab my bag and head for the door. I only allow myself to breathe when the elevator doors close behind me. I’ve been collecting a string of faux-pas like others collect trophies lately and I don’t want to screw up this important day.
When I glance at my reflection in the mirror, I realize my understated look is quite pleasing. Not bad for a woman who only had twenty minutes to get ready.
When I arrive at the lobby, my phone flashes Deidra’s number and I immediately accept her call. “Good morning, Deidra.”
“Someone sounds quite chipper this morning. You looked like you needed the rest so I didn’t want to wake you up this morning, since I was up before the roosters.”
“I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your gesture. I needed to sleep off the last few days. I must say, this morning, I feel like a new woman. What time did you get up?”
“I got up at six and I’ve been at the photoshoot since seven. I didn’t think you wanted to wake up as early as I did.”
“Yikes. You’re right. If I had gotten up as early as you did, I most likely would be dozing off underneath a palm tree right now.”
We both laugh.
“I’m going to send a car to pick you up to drive you to the mansion where we’ll spend the majority of the day. We’ve rented an exquisite home and it will be the perfect backdrop for our next swimsuit collection. The chauffeured Benz should be there within fifteen minutes. I hope you don’t mind waiting a bit?”
“The timing couldn’t be better. It will allow me to grab a quick breakfast and a much-needed latte.”
“If I were you, I’d keep it to the coffee only. As delicious as the food is at our boutique hotel, the spread here on location is outrageous. I’ve been stuffing my face since we got here and I can’t stop.”
“Oh, I’m really excited now. I’m starved. The last time we ate was when you and I snuck out of the hotel in search of local Miami delicacies.”
“You’re right. Even more reason for you to hold off until you get here. I can’t promise the same exotic experience as last night, but the food here is simply sinful.”
Deidra made reservations before leaving New York and she couldn’t wait to whisk me to one of her favorite spots. CVI.CHE 105 serves the most exquisite traditional Peruvian dishes in a modern presentation. I loved everything about this Miami eatery, from the pleasant environment to the friendly staff, the excellent food and the kill-me-with-decadence desserts.
I’m usually not very adventurous when it comes to international foods, but something about Deidra gave me the c
onfidence to dive into uncharted culinary territory. It was my first time trying ceviche, but to my surprise I thoroughly enjoyed the fish marinated in fresh lime juice, mixed with onions and a dash of cilantro, as an appetizer. We both opted for the arroz con pollo—an iconic Peruvian dish consisting of rice with chicken fragrant with touches of fresh coriander. If I could have licked my plate clean, I would have.
I was going to pass on dessert, but Deidra insisted on ordering the lúcuma cheesecake. She said it was an experience not to be missed and she was right. Deidra had to enlighten me on her selection because I had never heard of this exotic fruit before. It turns out the lúcuma is a Peruvian fruit. Although it’s prevalent in Peru, only a handful of people grow it in California and in Hawaii. It was hard for me to pinpoint the taste, but I’d say it’s a bit like caramel custard. The only thing I know is I could live off of this sweet creation.
The pastry chef at CVI.CHE 105 integrated the exotic fruit in a classic cheesecake over a base of chocolate cookies and with a fudge topping. I gripped the table when the first bite melted in my mouth—it was truly worthy of being featured on my list of food-porn faves.
“Since we finished dinner at nine o’clock last night, I’ve been fasting for the past twelve hours, but you’ve convinced me to be a little bit more patient.” I laugh.
“Did you get Max’s text messages?” Her question puts a dead stop to my giggling.
Shit. I was so preoccupied with not being late, I didn’t even take the time to check my messages. “Shoot. I only got up thirty minutes ago and I was rushing to make it to the photoshoot on time. I didn’t have the good sense to check and see if Max had been in touch.”
“I most likely won’t have an opportunity to speak openly to you because the set will be swarming with people and it will be nearly impossible to keep this conversation private.”
Claimed By An Alpha Page 1
