He snatches the folder and opens his top desk drawer.
My hands are still in a holding position when he drops the folder inside and locks it.
“All I’m saying is that I don’t think dinner and drinks will get us anywhere with this company?”
He’s ignoring me. Picking up a pen, he flicks through some paperwork and starts to jot something down. The arrogant bastard is worse than a toddler throwing a tantrum to get their way.
“Look, maybe we need to rethink you working here. It may not be such a good idea. I can give you a letter of recommendation and you can find work elsewhere.”
After all I’ve done for him, he’s ready to get rid of me because I’m asking questions. At this point, I wish I could walk away, but I have too much invested. I need to put up with his shit a little while longer.
“I apologize. Maybe I stepped out of line. Tell me what you want me to do.”
"I need you to get inside. Regarding the Turner project, I happen to know it’s down to us and them. We’ve knocked out the rest of the competition and have a good chance at getting it, but I want it to be a definite thing. Can you make this happen?”
“And how do you suppose I do this? Even if I was able to get my foot in the door, don’t you think he’ll do his own background check?”
He leans forward and pushes an envelope toward me.
“New identity which gives you a clean background; a letter of recommendation from Martin and Martin, and a polished resume. As long as you go along with everything inside here, you’ll do just fine. And, I happen to know there’s a position open. It’s nothing fancy but it’ll get you in the door.” He leans back in his seat and drops the pen. “From there, well, I’m sure you can get in deep enough for us to secure the Turner contract.”
“So, we’re going after their bid sheet.”
“And anything else you can get your hands on. You never know, we may need it for another project. It’s called having leverage.”
“I see. And what if he doesn’t hire me? Do we have a backup plan?”
“You’re an attractive woman. I’m sure you can get creative with your approach.”
I guess nothing’s off the table now, not even fucking the competition.
2
One year earlier
The Rapture—on the outside, it looks like any other club but on the inside, that’s where the real difference lies.
There’s a huge crowd. Alexander gave me specific instructions. I’m to take the elevator to the third floor, which is the VIP section, and someone would be there to greet me.
When the doors open, I’m met by a long-legged, thin brunette, wearing a red slinky dress.
“Hello. Are you Ms. Collins?”
“I am.”
If you would follow me, I’ll take you to your companion.” I fall in stride behind her. The mood is mellow and sexy, the lighting specific to each area.
The upper level has more of an intimate feel. Over to the right are some private rooms. Curious, I try to sneak a peek inside and get one when a hostess opens the door to take in a tray of drinks. There’s a card game going on. To the left are seating areas with lounge chairs and tables. We pass it all up, and I’m escorted to the outside balcony.
“Your companion will be right out. Can I get you anything?”
“I’ll have a Campari-Fennel aperitif.”
She nods. “Coming right up.”
Once alone, I walk to the edge and place my hands on the railing. The sky is clear, and the view of downtown Dallas is beautiful from here. But had I known we would be outdoors, I would have worn a jacket or at least, a longer dress. I rub my arms, hoping to warm up a little.
The blowing of the wind announces Alexander’s presence. Closing my eyes, I inhale deeply, taking in the fresh, woody fragrance that trails him. Moving my hair to one side, he kisses my shoulder. As always, his touch is slow, soft, and passionate. Warmness from his breath sends chills through me.
I’m wearing a halter style, low cut, black mini dress, with a V-neck, and it’s hugging my curves in all the right places. Because I know the way he thinks, I know he’s taking his time, admiring the view from behind.
Carefully, he drapes his jacket over me. I adjust it, so it covers my exposed parts. It does more than warm me, it comforts me, and in a way, it makes me feel safe.
From our initial meeting, the chemistry was insane. We met a month back, when I went to interview for a position with his company. I was desperate for employment and, though, it was never said, he wanted to desperately sleep with me. The feeling was mutual.
Later that day, he’d called and made an offer too good to pass up. And one month later, we’re on our fourth date. I didn’t get the job, well, not exactly, but I did get the man.
“If I were to get caught with you, I would lose my job,” I say softly.
“Perhaps you should find another one,” he replies, tugging and nibbling on my earlobe.
“I tried that, remember?”
“That’s right…you did.”
“The purpose of us meeting here was to extend our relationship beyond the bedroom, not for this.” I grab his cock.
“We could have gone to the living room, or the guestroom, or any other room?”
“That’s already been done.” My words come out just above a whisper. “Is this supposed to be foreplay?”
Slowly, he moves his hand up my thigh, while whispering in my ear, “Maybe. Tell me what you want.”
I didn’t spend an hour getting ready, just so he could have his way with me outside on the balcony. But it’s hard to resist him, especially when the bulge in his pants is getting bigger and pressing against my ass.
“What I want is for you to slide down my panties, hike up my dress, and fuck me. But perhaps we should take this elsewhere after we do what we came to do.”
“What if I can’t wait?”
“You can. I sense you’re a patient man.”
“But I can’t control myself around you. You’re fucking beautiful.” His finger traces the scar on my shoulder and I flinch. “If it bothers you, I won’t touch it again.”
We’re interrupted by a subtle throat clearing before I can respond, and I’m relieved.
“Your drinks.”
She sits them on the table and wastes no time leaving.
I turn around so that we’re face to face. His gaze lands on the opening of the jacket. I don’t try to close it. It’s an invitation for him to do as he please and he does. He starts by running a finger over the curve of my breast. Then he slips his hand through the V-neck opening and cups one, massaging them gently. I release a soft whimper. Every move he makes gets me hotter and causes my sensibility to diminish.
Soon, he’s backing me against the wall and using his knee to nudge my legs apart. His hand finds its way to my pussy. It’s throbbing, begging for him to do more. My breath hitches when his finger slides between my folds and flicks my clit.
He groans against me. “How long do you think it’ll take for me to make you come?”
“I…I don’t…” Before I have a chance to finish, his tongue is back inside my mouth, massaging mine.
With one hand he cushions the back of my head. The jacket draped over my shoulders, falls to the ground. He rubs my heated flesh before inserting one finger into my moistness and then another. My breath hitches. There’s a glimmer in his eyes. He’s enjoying this as much as I am. I grab his wrist and hold on as if I’m on my favorite ride—rocking and rotating.
This wasn’t what I had in mind for our night out, but nevertheless, it feels so damn good. Erotic breathing and soft moans mask all other sounds, and in the moment, I don’t care that we’re outside, I only want him to continue with what he’s doing.
His lips barely touch mine as I’m taken into ecstasy. Reaching my peak, I use both hands to hold his in place, squirming as he digs deeper.
I can barely stand when Alexander slides out of my moistness and covers my throbbing flesh as if to pr
otect it. His embrace is comforting and being in his arms makes me feel safe. Burying my head in his chest, I stay there until I catch my breath.
His grip tightens, and I sink deeper into his arms. Even if what we have is only sexual, I’m grateful for his tenderness. Afraid to move, I stay still until I’m certain I can stand without falling. He brushes my hair back and rocks me gently.
We’ve been locked together for long enough.
“Where’s the ladies room?”
He chuckles and shakes his head as if I’m doing what he knew I would, and I am.
“What, is this too much for you?”
Smiling seems like the way to go when I want to avoid a question, so that’s what I do. It’s better than lying. I think he gets it but men like Alexander never stop until they get what they want. Giving in would change everything, since the challenge is what gets them off.
“Inside, down the hall, and first door on the right.”
I’m walking away when he reaches for my hand and kisses it.
“I’ll meet you inside.”
Once I’m done, I spot him just as he’s closing a door. I assume he was in the men’s room. None of the doors are labeled, so I’m not sure.
He grabs my hand and takes the lead. We pass up the elevator and walk down a long hall into an isolated loft area. Lanterns are strategically placed around the room, to offer just enough lighting.
“Are you kidnapping me?”
“Not tonight, my dear.”
We take some stairs up one level to an open room and are the only ones there. Two lit candles grace a table in the middle of the room, with two chairs opposite each other. It’s very intimate and romantic. Ahead, a crackling fire burns.
He pulls out my chair, then takes his own seat. A few seconds later, a woman comes in and starts to place different dishes on the table.
These people are so on cue, it’s like their robots trained to move a certain way and capable of sensing when they’re needed.
The main dish is steaming shrimp pad thai, which is my favorite. Alexander knows this. There’s also lobster tails, fragrant butter sauce, and grilled asparagus with prosciutto and cheese.
It’s a lovely assortment but way too much food.
“Can I get you or the lady anything else?”
Alexander turns to me. “Are you okay with the selection?”
“Of course. It looks great.”
“That’ll be all. Thank you,” he says to our server.
Soon we’re alone, and Alexander reaches across the table for my hands.
“Are you happy?”
I don’t know how to respond because it’s such a vague question. It’s sort of an unspoken rule—we don’t talk about feelings, family, or anything that isn’t about pleasuring each other sexually.
“I’m enjoying myself if that’s what you’re asking.”
“In life, not just with me, here, in the moment.”
I clear my throat and swallow hard. I’m not sure if he’s making general conversation or if he’s actually going somewhere with this. But I’m uncomfortable talking about my life with him or anyone. With feeling comes vulnerability and weakness.
It could be, my request for a night out was interpreted as something more. I was looking to expand our foreplay, but it seems he had something else in mind. I grip his hand.
“Maybe this was a bad idea. I like what we have, and I don’t want to jeopardize it by allowing feelings to get in the way.”
“I like what we have as well, and I enjoy spending time with you, which is why I want to get to know you better,” he says smoothly.
My response is a simple smile. “Can we eat now and maybe talk later?”
“I tell you what, you eat now, and I’ll hold off until later for dessert.”
I raise my fork. “Bon appétit.”
3
Present day
Junior Director of Logistics Sales and Marketing…that’s my title. With it comes a lot of responsibility but I’m loving every minute of it. I get to apply my skills and my opinions really do matter, although the senior director gets the final say.
I’ve been at Jackson and Lennox for two months now. Things are going smoothly and of course, sleeping with the boss has its perks.
My only problem is Karen, my co-worker. The bitch has it in for me. She’s the employee relations manager, and she’s been gunning for me from the beginning.
With regards to rank, we’re equals. I don’t want to stir up any trouble or else I would tell her where to go. It’s not like this is a permanent gig for me but still, I don’t need her getting in my way. I swear everywhere I turn, she’s there.
Someone knocks but before I can respond, they’re already walking in.
It’s Alexander. He enters and locks the door behind him. I stop what I’m doing to give him my attention.
Pushing the chair away from the desk, I make room for him to come around and kiss me. “I take it you miss me.”
“Something like that,” he says.
He undoes his belt and wastes no time getting his pants down. I’m surprised, he’s usually more cautious. It’s a little past lunchtime and even with the door locked, someone can knock any minute.
“Stand up.”
I do as he says.
He turns me around and bends me over my desk. Before I have a chance to blink, he reaches his hand between my legs and pushes aside my panties.
Although, I’ve taken it for granted in the past, I’ve become accustomed to his gentleness and our foreplay. However, we’re in the middle of a workday. Usually when this type of thing goes down, we’re the only two here.
I look over my shoulder. He licks his fingers and pushes them inside me. But he’s not doing it for my comfort or to offer me pleasure, he’s doing it for easy access. Less than a minute later, he’s thrusting inside me, his hand tangled in my hair, and my face pressed into the desk. I manage to push aside what I was working on, but not before crumpling my notes.
He never says a word. His heavy breathing and my soft wincing, are the only sounds that can be heard. I try not to take offense at his coldness. I’m not that girl, the one who catches feelings, the one who needs foreplay, or the one who needs to be held. But that was his way, and I’ve come to expect it.
He’s thrusting harder and deeper. I just want it to be over; I want him to finish. Not because he’s hurting me physically, but because this isn’t the man who held me in his arms last night while I slept.
I tighten around him, hoping it will speed up his release. And it does. He lets out a low, throaty groan.
Once he’s done, he backs away and pulls up his pants. I pull up my underwear and adjust my clothing, while waiting for a kiss, hug, or any sign of affection but it never comes. This is the first time he’s put his own needs before mine. Still facing him, I lean against the desk still waiting for a tender display. For a second when he reaches behind me, I think my wish is about to come true. But instead, he picks up the presentation I’ve been working on.
“Are you almost done with this?”
“Yes.”
“Good. I need it by Tuesday.”
He drops the worksheet back on the desk and heads to the door. I rush behind him and grab his arm.
“What was that about?”
“Me giving you what you want.”
I’m working on the speech for my presentation when the phone beeps. It’s one of the internal lines.
“Yes.” It’s Nadine, my secretary.
“Judy from compliance wants to see you. She said to meet her in conference room B.”
“Okay, thanks, Nadine.”
They’ve been doing random drug checks, but I should be good. I was cleared by security and compliance two months ago so I’m not sure why they would need to speak with me. Frustrated, I get to a stopping point and put everything on pause. The sooner I meet with her, the sooner I can get back to more important business matters.
The wall is made of glass, and Alexander is t
here, sitting across from Judy. This can’t be good. “Shit.”
I wish I could buy myself some time to try and figure out what this is about, but I’ve already been spotted. Judy’s eyes follow me to the door.
When I enter, Alexander is just finishing up a call.
“Hey, what’s going on?”
“Have a seat, Samantha.” Alexander picks up the folder marked compliance and opens it.
Judy avoids my gaze by turning away but her body language speaks volumes. She twists about in her seat, tugging at her collar, and brushing off invisible lint.
“Judy found a discrepancy or rather gap in your work history.”
“I’m sorry, I don’t understand. I’ve been here two months already, why are you checking references now?”
Judy shifts in her seat to face me. “Actually, we can check references anytime at our discretion. You should know this. You signed off on it when you were hired.”
So she wants to be a smart ass. “What type of discrepancies did you find, Judy?”
“On your resume, it says you worked for Martin and Martin from 2012 up until the time you came here.”
“And you did call to verify, everything checked out. So, what’s the problem?” She’s wasting my time. We both know what this is really about…Karen.
“Yes, everything did check out because their human resources department confirmed you worked there as Chief Operator of Logistics Marketing. But, we received an application from a Nancy Brooks today. Nancy’s resume has the same position listed from 2008 to 2013. So, you can see how this could be a problem.”
This can’t be happening. He listed a real position without verifying his facts? Robert was supposed to take care of it. I’m here because of him, the very least he could have done was made sure everything checked out.
Alexander is good at maintaining a neutral expression but right now, because I’ve gotten to know him on a personal level, I can tell he’s angry. He won’t even look at me.
“So, what are you saying?”
“We’re not accusing you of anything. It’s just that the facts check out for this Ms. Brooks as well. We simply need an explanation.”
Seduction in a Suit: An Office Romance Collection Page 2
