“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 desk, 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 hug
e 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.
“No, my sister, Skye. Who is this?”
“I work with your brother—and sister, is it? My name’s Elise,” Elise said, writing down the name of the specialist Kris said she was seeing. “And what is the family name? Matthews, right.” I saw Elise hang up, and then she joined Driver, Aimee, and me in his office.
“Well. That’s that,” she said as she dropped the paper she had on the desk. Driver read it along with Aimee and me.
“You have a sister,” said Aimee.
“Not just any. I can put a stop to any gossip, but not this!” The trio of us saw Elise pull a file from her briefcase. “Read it and believe.”
Driver read the Photostats and handed them to me. I froze, seeing my name, beside his—and my sisters. I handed Aimee the file, sitting down in shock. “I don’t believe it,” I said and glanced at Driver. I saw him just stare back.
Aimee looked at both of us. “This can’t be true. These documents say you and Mr. Fox share the same name.”
“That’s not all. Read the deceased,” Elise said.
Aimee did, and her mouth dropped. “You mean, Skye and Driver—”
“Are stepbrother and stepsister. Driver, your father married Skye and her sister’s mother!”
“Sonuva—,” said Driver.
I held my face in my hands. “That’s about the gist of it,” I said, in disbelief.
Driver looked stunned from the news. “Yea, exactly what I thought when I found out too,” I told him.
“What are the chances that this could happen,” he said, still not comprehending what he just heard.
“Very slim,” I replied. “So crazy it would sound like a joke. Except, it’s not.”
Epilogue
I glanced at my boss looking handsome while we Skyped. We proved that Hallie had set him up. She had an axe to grind when he promoted outside of the company. “She expected to be the one I hired when I needed to get Aimee a better assistant. I had no idea I’d find and get to know you.”
Not only had Hallie Prentiss said Driver had used her, she had planted a lie in the online gossip sites stating that Driver tried to get her pregnant. “When she was the one who tried to trap you. Bitch,” I said. She’d been outfoxed.
“She is going down in court now that we have the evidence,” Driver said. “You really held the line for me.”
I sent the next schedules for Driver’s press conferences to Aimee and to Elise. The weekend was coming up, and we’d all had quite a row. “I suppose I can work for any magazine I want now?” I teased.
“Hey, now, Sparky. You work two years for me, then you get my John Hancock.” I didn’t say anything, enjoying his flirting. “Check your account.”
“I see.” The deposit I saw was for a cool two million dollars.
“You didn’t answer my question.”
Driver had insisted I be his handler. Seeing how Hallie fared, I told him I wasn’t sure I would give in, or do the job. Though he did offer me stock in the company.
“My offer still stands?”
“Which one? Stock in your company, or your John Hancock?” I heard him chuckle, then realized I enjoyed the sound.
“Not stock. I’m offering you a seat on the board. Once I take the company public. If you agree, and also agree to meet at my house tonight.”
“It is not a house. It is a mansion.” I said.
“But would you mind playing house?” I paused, thinking about the beach.
“Maybe.”
“I’ll have Jenks send a car. Wear that little red number I saw come across my desk.”
“The sleeveless one with the low cut front?”
“That is the one.”
I didn’t dress up for men. I liked to believe I looked good for myself. “I’m not some doll you can play with.” I said.
“I agree. Let’s say, I have an important question to ask.”
“Really. What is it?” I watched my boss ease his long legs on top of his desk.
“The one you didn’t answer.”
I unfolded my arms, grinning, seeing the love in his eyes. And the promise of many nights I would be thrilled by his love. “What time?”
BONUS: Forbidden Prescription
A Stepbrother Romance
Chapter One
Isabella opened her eyes again and looked over at her alarm clock, hoping the numbers had magically changed while she wasn’t looking. They hadn’t. She had slept a total of four hours off and on the night before her first day as a surgical intern.
Around four thirty in the morning, she decided there was no point in trying to sleep anymore. She got up, turned on the coffee maker, laced up her shoes, and went for a quick run to shake out the nerves.
It was still dark, and most of the world was still tucked into bed, preparing for the new week. As she traversed the streets around her new one-bedroom apartment, she tried to create some sort of mental image of her day to put herself at ease. How
ever, this was difficult because she didn’t know what to expect.
Sure, they tell you all about residency programs in medical school. She knew the different programs and ranks she would have to go through to finally become a real surgeon.
Despite being the top of her class in medical school, Isabella felt extremely unprepared for this next challenge. She would have more responsibilities, and she was terrified of making a mistake.
As long as she could remember, Isabella Carter was always the know-it-all. Since the first day of kindergarten when she’d picked up the most challenging book in the classroom and read it aloud to a group of envious peers, she had the reputation of being a try-hard. She was naturally gifted, but she also worked hard in school. This combination propelled her to the top of the class year after year.
Medical school was no different. The class schedule and rotations were exponentially more demanding, but she did little else besides study medicine. When her classmates were going to the bar after class and commiserating about their dismal test scores, Isabella was in the library, studying for the next test.
As she rounded the corner to turn around and go back home, the dread that had momentarily dissipated crept back up. The first day of school was always nerve-wracking, but in an exciting way. This was more like the first day of work, something she didn’t have much experience with.
Because of the constant stream of alimony checks coming in from her mother’s former husbands, there was never a need to work. While her peers were working in retail shops or serving coffees to housewives, Isabella was studying for assignments that hadn’t even been given yet. In fact, Husband #4 had generously contributed a large sum of money to her education fund. She never needed to worry about working nights just to pay rent. While her contemporaries were deep in debt with student loans, she was able to pocket all of her meager salary.
She did her best to hide that she had ample funds to pay her way through school. If one resentful poor student discovered her secret, they would all know. If they weren’t annoyed at her for consistently getting the highest scores on their exams, knowing that she didn’t have to work would set them over the edge. She didn’t require a lot of friends, but it was best not to have a hundred or so enemies.
Forbidden Prescription 2: MFM Ménage Stepbrother Romance (Medical Romance) Page 29
