The Morning After: Starting from Zero Box Set

by Dallen, Maggie

  Lacey struggled to keep calm in the face of the other woman’s condescending tone. “Surely his case isn’t so dire.”

  Jess leaned back in her seat, a knowing smile on her face. “You and I both know that Alex is a great guy. And he’ll make a great company president some day. But he’s just not there yet.”

  At Lacey’s lack of a response, Jess continued. “I’m sure that by now you know that Alex’s grandfather had been grooming his father to take over as president for the last decade. And Alex was supposed to follow the same path. He was supposed to have years to become the kind of leader a global corporation needs.”

  Lacey felt a stab of pain on Alex’s behalf. Hearing it put that way, it was no wonder Alex felt as though he’d never live up to his father’s legacy.

  “So you don’t think Alex is up to the challenge?”

  Jess’s smile was smug. “Of course I do—with a little help from his friends.”

  “And that’s where you come in,” Lacey said.

  “That’s where we come in. It’s obvious that Alex listens to you. It’s understandable. I mean, you’re an objective outsider. It’s no wonder he values your perspective.”

  “Thanks.”

  Jess continued uninterrupted. “Which is why he’ll listen to you if you tell him he should let me help him.”

  Lacey nearly choked on her drink. “And how exactly would you help him?”

  “Daddy listens to me and the board listens to Daddy.” Jess gave a helpless shrug. “With a little assistance from me and my father, we could turn this risky election into a sure thing.”

  Lacey tried not to let her disgust show. “You could do that anyway, couldn’t you? I mean, you said it yourself. Your father listens to you. Why not put in a good word for Alex right now? No strings attached.”

  Jess’s smile never faltered, but some of the chumminess was gone when she answered. “Alex and I have known each other since we were little kids. Did you know that?”

  Lacey shook her head. Where was this going?

  “We were always close, and our fathers were the best of friends. It was understood that we would get together, even at a young age. Everyone was so happy when we became an official couple in high school.”

  And then you dumped him when he went off to serve his country. But Jess skipped over that part.

  “I want to get us on track,” Jess continued. “I want Alex to take his rightful place as the head of the company ...”

  Her voice trailed off and Lacey filled in the blanks. “And you want to take your rightful place by his side.”

  Jess’s eyes narrowed at the sharp tone. “Exactly.”

  There was a brief silence as Lacey tried to figure out what sort of response was expected after such a blatant confession of her selfish motives.

  Jess sighed and let the pleasant façade slip. “Look, I don’t care if you like me or not. I don’t need your approval. But I do need your help.”

  Lacey’s eyes widened in surprise at that. “I’m here to help Alex get this position on his own merit. I’m not here to meddle in his personal life.”

  Jess’s laugh was humorless and ugly. “No, you’re here to help Alex win the presidency. Period. No one cares how you do it. If you’re smart and have any ambition, you’ll do whatever it takes to ensure Alex’s success. And whether you like it or not, I am his best bet.”

  Jess beckoned to the waiter for her check and turned to Lacey with a brilliant smile, as though the last several moments had never occurred. “It was so inconsiderate of me to keep you here. You must have tons to do on your day off.”

  “That’s all right; I have to wait for Alex—”

  “There’s no need.” Jess tilted her head and smiled graciously. “My father and I can give Alex a ride when they’re done. You go on and take the company car back to the hotel. You deserve a little downtime; no one expects you to work around the clock.” When Lacey hesitated, she added, “I insist.”

  A little while later, she found herself in the town car heading to the city. Alone.

  * * *

  Lacey had been right. Alex threw his towel into the laundry bin and headed toward the club’s main lobby. He couldn’t wait to tell her that she had been one hundred percent correct. About everything, from the pudgy pastiness of the majority of the board members to the fact that being in that bizarre environment would help his self-esteem.

  That hot little box of a room had leveled the playing field. Wingate and two other board members were in there when Alex walked in and though they’d been surprised to see him, they were happy he’d decided to join them. They all knew him since he was a kid and he’d always thought of them as untouchable. Powerful, high-class men who deserved the utmost respect. But those titans of industry were hard to be scared of sitting there with a little white towel covering them. Even Arthur Wingate, who was normally so cool and collected—the epitome of debonair sophistication with his slicked back blond hair and tailor-made suits. In the cloying hot air of the steam room he’d looked like a buffoon with his red face, disheveled hair and pasty, flabby exposed body.

  Oh sure, they’d still called him “son” and ”kiddo” but in this context it didn’t so much make him feel young as it made them seem old.

  Alex wasn’t naïve enough to think that this would cure all of his problems. He still had a long way to go. But the image of those men sitting there half-naked would be in his head forever. Whether he liked it or not.

  Lacey was nowhere to be found in the lobby. He was about to check the bar or the pool area when Jess called out to him. After giving him a kiss on each cheek, she explained that she’d sent Lacey back to the office and that she would be giving him a ride to the city.

  Trying to dismiss his disappointment that Lacey had left without him, he thanked Jess for the ride.

  “Oh, it’s no trouble at all. Daddy should be out at any moment. I’m sure you’re both starving. What do you say we all grab a bite to eat first?”

  “That’s a fine idea.” Arthur Wingate came strolling out of the dressing room at that exact moment and beamed at his daughter. “Why, this will give the three of us a great chance to catch up a bit. Don’t you think, son?”

  Alex scrambled to think of a reason why he couldn’t possibly stay for dinner but was at a loss. The only thing left to do was make the most of an unpleasant situation. And he’d heard the restaurant at the club made a killer steak. “Sure. Sounds good.”

  Jess insisted that the dinner be purely sociable and refused to allow either man to discuss business, which helped Alex to relax during the first course. At least he wouldn’t be grilled on first quarter earnings revenues or the next shareholders meeting. Although that didn’t stop father or daughter from gossiping about the other board members. Alex made sure to keep his mouth shut and his ears open as they aired their friends’ dirty laundry.

  “…but of course Marcus’s new wife— Alex, you remember Marcus don’t you?” Jess asked.

  Alex shook his head. “I haven’t had the pleasure.”

  Wingate looked concerned. “That’s right. I believe he was elected to the board while you were overseas. And then he was away when your father passed. It’s a shame you haven’t gotten to know him; I have a feeling the two of you would get along like gangbusters. Don’t you think so, Jess?”

  Jess still seemed to be recovering from shock after learning he didn’t already know this legendary Marcus.

  “I have a brilliant idea.” Eyes sparkling with excitement, she announced, “I’m throwing you a party.”

  “What? Why? No. I mean no, thank you.” But Alex’s refusal was drowned out by her father’s booming voice which was praising her wonderful plan.

  “That’s a great idea, sweetheart. It’ll give all the board members a chance to get to know the prodigal son—er, no offense, son—in a nice, casual environment.”

  Jess was nodding excitedly, and Alex sat and watched in bewilderment as the father and daughter went into a whirlwind of party plan
ning, railroading him every time he tried to utter a protest.

  It was settled. Jess would host a cocktail party at her father’s house that Friday. Alex, scrambling to come up with a conflict, blurted out the first thing that came to mind. “I can’t make it on Friday.”

  They both turned to him with a look of surprise. Alex was fairly certain they’d forgotten he was at the table until that moment.

  “Why not?” Jess asked.

  “Er, Friday night the employees have a happy hour.” He saw the Wingates share an amused look and barreled on. “I think it’s important at this point to show the employees that I’m part of the team. Get to know them outside of work.”

  Jess gave him a blank look and then shrugged. “Fine. Invite them. Invite whoever you want. The more the merrier, right Daddy?”

  And just like that, Alex’s last, and most feeble, line of defense was effectively shot down.

  Alex bid father and daughter goodbye and ran into the hotel lobby. He didn’t stop to overanalyze his actions before stepping into the elevator and pressing the button for the sixteenth floor. Lacey’s floor.

  His heart was racing with adrenaline and a newfound optimism. For the first time since he’d discovered he was expected to take his father’s place, he was beginning to feel confident. Maybe he could pull this off after all ... with Lacey’s help.

  He knocked on her hotel room door, practically bouncing on his toes as he mentally rehearsed how he would thank her for what she’d done for him. But when she opened the door, clad in a robe and her damp curls loose around her shoulders—all words got caught in his throat.

  She was staring up at him in surprise. She wore no makeup, just a rosy glow from the shower—and Alex was certain she’d never been more beautiful.

  The silence stretched on for a moment too long, and she raised her eyebrows expectantly. “Did you want something?”

  “I-uh-I—”

  Lacey’s look of surprise turned to amusement as she watched him flounder for words. “Do you want to come in?”

  He shut his mouth and nodded. Once inside, he turned to face her. “I just wanted to say thank you. For everything.”

  Her sudden smile knocked the air straight out of his lungs and left his brain an addled mess for the second time in as many minutes.

  “So I take it the steam room was a success?”

  He returned the smile and did his best to avoid looking down. He was willing to bet she was naked beneath that robe. He took a deep breath and willed his mind to focus on anything else.

  His agony must have shown on his face because Lacey was watching him with concern. “Alex, are you all right?”

  “Yeah, I uh—I just need some air.”

  She took a step closer, and he smelled the warm, clean scent of her skin. It was his undoing.

  “Oh God, Lace, you are so beautiful.” It came out in a rush of air and was met with stunned silence.

  He saw her cheeks flush at the compliment, and she seemed unsure of how to respond. “Thank you.”

  Alex ran a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have come here.” But he made no move to leave. He couldn’t bring himself to turn away, not when she was standing there, so close he could reach out and touch her.

  Her breathing was ragged. She licked her lips and pulled her robe closer around her body. She felt it too.

  “Lacey, do you want me to leave?”

  If she said yes, he would leave without argument, without protest. Please don’t say yes.

  “No. Yes.” She shook her head in frustration and threw up her hands. “I don’t know.”

  Alex resisted the urge to reach out to her and pull her into his arms. He tried to command his rational mind to work. “Is it because of Sam?” he asked. The thought that she was in love with another man was enough to make Alex’s fists clench in rage. But he wouldn’t push her if she truly was committed to Sam. He would not be that guy.

  Now it was Lacey’s turn to fumble for words. “No, it’s not that. Sam is not—I mean, Sam and I, we’re not—”

  “I swear to God, Lace, if you say ‘it’s complicated—‘” he started.

  Lacey let out a rush of air. “We’re not together.”

  He stared at her as she paced back and forth in front of him. “What do you mean? Did you call it off? When did this happen?”

  Lacey raised a hand to stop his questions. “I don’t want to talk about that right now. Just know that Sam and I are never going to be married.”

  He had to stop a torrent of questions that were dying to escape. The details could wait. Just knowing that she wasn’t going to marry another man was enough. The relief was overwhelming. She was free to be his. Elation rose in his chest at the very thought.

  “What about you and Jess?”

  Her question put a momentary pause on his joy. He knew what Jess wanted. And what his grandfather and her father wanted. His gaze swept over the sweet, caring, stunning woman before him.

  Well too bad for them, because Alex knew what he wanted.

  “There is nothing between us.” He grinned at the look of relief on her face.

  “But today at the club she said—”

  “I can only imagine what she said,” Alex interrupted. “But it doesn’t matter. I don’t want to be with her again. When I was young, I was an idiot. I couldn’t see how selfish she was or how fickle. But now, after everything I’ve been through, I can’t not see that side of her. You know?”

  Lacey nodded. “She could be useful for the election, though. She made it clear that she could ensure your victory.”

  He took a step closer until she was mere inches away and studied her face. “Do you think I need her help?”

  The insulted look on her face was more heartening than any pep talk. “Of course not. I know you’ll win this election. You deserve this position, and you’ll prove that to the board.”

  “With your help,” he added.

  Her grin was cocky as she planted a hand on her hip. “Well, of course with my help. You’d be hopeless without me.”

  He laughed as he pulled her into his arms and cupped her cheek with his palm. “You know that’s true.”

  She was soft and warm pressed against his chest, filling a void he hadn’t known existed. He traced a forefinger down her cheekbone and over her lips, watching as her eyes grew heavy with desire.

  He let one hand slide down her back to press her bottom closer against him as his lips found hers in a kiss that made him forget his name. Her tongue flickered against his lips, and he groaned in sweet agony as he captured her mouth with his own and slid his tongue along hers.

  The feel of her pressing against him, trying to burrow closer against him was almost enough to push him over the edge. His mouth trailed along her neck, and he heard her gasp for breath when he parted the robe, baring her beautiful round breasts.

  She moaned his name when his lips followed his fingers down to her rosy nipples. He nipped and suckled as she writhed against him, her hands burrowed into his hair.

  The hotel telephone ringing brought them to a jarring halt. Lacey wriggled out of his grasp and pulled her robe tightly across herself, covering her naked body. They were both panting and Alex ached to pull her into his arms but the ill-timed phone call had brought them both into reality.

  “We can’t do this,” Lacey said. Her voice was breathy and her expression pleading as she faced him.

  Alex cursed under his breath and turned to pace the room, hoping the movement would help to alleviate the desire that was still pumping through his body.

  “Why not?” he challenged. “We’re two consenting adults. Neither of us in a committed relationship, at the moment at least,” he added with a nod toward her ring finger.

  “That’s not the only thing standing in our way and you know it.” Lacey had turned away from him and was rifling through a drawer looking for clothes.

  “If it’s Jess you’re worried about, I thought you agreed I could win this thing on my own.
” Alex hated the insecurity he heard in his voice. He hated how much he needed Lacey to believe in him. But he did. He could face Wingate and the rest of the board with confidence if he knew that Lacey trusted him to do this. He needed her by his side.

  He let his breath out in a rush of relief when she spun around with a look of impatience. “I know you can do this on your own.” She stalked toward him, impatience clear in every movement. “Listen to me, Lawrence Alexander Newsom. You are more than qualified to lead this company and to take responsibility for the employees and their future. Understood?”

  He nodded meekly in the face of her drill sergeant pose and the rude pointer finger that was shoved in his face.

  “Then what’s the problem?” He watched with regret as she slipped a pair of panties on beneath her robe and reached for a pair of jeans.

  “The problem is, you can win this election on your own, but you can’t afford to make any enemies. You can’t afford to alienate your biggest ally or turn this into some competition where Arthur Wingate and his daughter are out to sabotage you.”

  Alex opened his mouth to protest, but she held up a hand to silence him. “Let’s face it. Jess wants you. And while I don’t think you should play along with her game, I also think it would be incredibly stupid to piss her off. Hell hath no fury and all that.”

  Alex walked toward her, but she had turned so she could slip into a bra and T-shirt.

  “I can handle Jess.”

  Fully clothed, she turned to face him, and the sad look in her eyes was enough to assure him that this was just as difficult for her. “Jess isn’t the only problem,” she said. “My job and my reputation are at stake. I can’t afford to risk it all over some physical attraction.”

  Her words stung as though she’d slapped him across the face. “Is that all this is for you?” he asked. “You think this is just physical?”

  Lacey looked away and had the good grace to look embarrassed. “I don’t know what this is. And neither do you.”