Callie agreed when she called Maya during lunch. Her best friend was happy she was getting back into the saddle and dating again. Maya knew Callie thought she was hopeless when it came to Ayden, but she was over him. Or that’s the white lie she told Callie. If Ayden hadn’t stopped that kiss, the heat between them would have consumed them. Maya refused to admit Ayden still held any power over her. She would sweep what happened under the rug just as he was doing.
After finishing lunch, she called her mother to check in. As usual, Sophia was saying everything was fine, but Maya knew better. True to her word, Raven had emailed her copies of her mother’s outstanding medical bills, and since Raven had been authorized on the account, Maya had been able to pay the clinic directly without her mother being the wiser. She’d also set up a payment plan for future bills. In addition, Raven had sent her mother’s schedule, so Maya knew her chemo treatments were every three weeks, but hadn’t yet mustered the courage to make one.
When she finally came back from her lunch break, she found Ayden sequestered in his office with the door shut. Maya continued working and filtering calls like she always did. When he was ready, he would come out and talk to her.
Eventually, her intercom buzzed. “Maya, can you make reservations tomorrow for a late lunch with my sister, Fallon, at two p.m.”
The line went dead.
Ayden was lunching with his estranged sister, Fallon? How could he just drop a bomb like that and not expect her to ask questions?
One day, years ago, when Ayden had just won a lucrative client that would put Stewart Investments on the map, he’d confided in her about his past and how it had shaped him into the man he was today. Everyone was lauding him as the man with the Midas touch. All except one—his father.
Ayden had shared that deep down, he’d thought he might hear from Henry to say how proud he was of his accomplishments even though he’d done nothing to help him achieve them. Ayden told her that he knew he’d never get his father’s love, but he’d wanted his acknowledgment. Despite all his successes, that day never came. And year after year, as Stewart Investments had grown, Maya had watched Ayden’s heart grow harder where the Stewarts were concerned, which was why it was surprising he would agree to lunch with Fallon.
Maya worried about him and his well-being. She wanted to know if he’d be okay, but Ayden was shutting her out. Would he ever let anyone in?
Six
The next afternoon, Ayden walked purposefully through the restaurant. He’d made sure to dress for the occasion of meeting his estranged sister, choosing a custom-made suit, red tie and Italian loafers. He’d even gone to the barber to ensure his scalp was smooth as a baby’s bottom and his five-o’clock shadow was well-groomed. If the princess of the Stewart family was deigning to meet with him, he had to look his best.
Fallon rose from her chair as he approached, and Ayden was reminded of just how beautiful his sister truly was. With her dark brown hair with honey blond streaks and her smooth café au lait skin, his sister was a knockout. A designer dress revealed her slender but curvy figure.
“Ayden, I’m so happy you agreed to meet me.” His sister stared at him through hazel-gray eyes, the same as his. It was a family trait.
“Did I have a choice?” he asked, coming toward her and pushing her chair in as she sat down. If nothing else, his mother had raised a gentleman.
“I guess I didn’t give you much of one,” Fallon said after he sat across from her, “but given our relationship I wasn’t sure you’d come.”
“Curiosity brought me here,” Ayden returned, placing his napkin in his lap. “I wondered why you would need anything from me, the black sheep of the family. The son our father can’t be bothered to claim.”
Sadness crossed her face and Fallon lowered her head. When she looked up again, tears were in the corners of her eyes. “I’m sorry Father has treated you this way, Ayden.”
He shrugged. “What’s it to you, anyway? You’re his heir.”
“And you’re still my brother,” she responded with a ferocity that shocked him.
“Now you want to claim me?” He smiled sardonically. “Why, Fallon? It’s never been that important to you before.”
“That’s not fair, Ayden. I reached out to you when I went off to college, and you shot me down. You weren’t interested in a little sister then.”
“And I’m not interested in one now.”
“Ouch.” Fallon took that one on the chin, but bounced back, her eyes narrowing as she looked in his direction. “Despite having grown up away from Father, you’re just like him. You know how to hit below the belt.”
Ayden sucked in a deep breath. He deserved that. He hadn’t meant to be unkind, but it was a little late to play brother and sister. That time had come and gone. But, at the very least, she deserved to be treated with respect like any human being. “I’m sorry.”
She raised a brow.
“I am,” he insisted. “This is all a bit disconcerting.”
Fallon gave him a half smile, and Ayden felt a kick in the gut because it warmed his cold heart to see it. “It is for me, as well. It wasn’t easy calling you for help, but I did.”
“Help?”
“I’m in trouble, Ayden.”
Ayden sat upright in his seat, training his gaze on her beautiful facial bones. “What kind of trouble? What can I do to help?”
“Careful, Ayden,” Fallon said with humor to her tone. “You almost sounded like a big brother there.”
His eyes narrowed. “What do you need, Fallon?”
“I don’t know if you knew, but I’m CFO of Stewart Technologies. Have been a few years now.”
“I’d heard.”
“Have you also heard that the company isn’t doing well? We’ve been in trouble for several quarters now. I’ve been doing my best to contain the damage, but bad investments and poor project planning have crippled the company. I’ve tried my best to turn it around, but there’s little hope of saving it now.”
Ayden frowned. He didn’t like the direction this conversation was heading, but he was here now and he had no choice but to listen. It would be rude of him to get up and walk away, even though that’s exactly what he wanted to do.
“For years, I tried to get Father to listen to me, but he’s stubborn and pigheaded. Determined to do things his way, and now we’re in a bind. We need a bailout.”
And there it was, Ayden thought. The catch that had brought Fallon to contact him out of the blue. She needed money. “And what is it you expect me to do?”
“Ayden.” Fallon reached across the table, which seemed as wide as an ocean, and took his hand. “I’ve heard great things about you. Everyone’s calling you the miracle worker. If anyone can help turn this around it’s you. And...” She paused as if searching for her words. “With some of your financial backing we could save the company.”
Ayden stared at Fallon in disbelief. He glanced around the room to see if anyone had heard, because he wasn’t sure he’d heard right. Fallon, Nora’s daughter with Henry, was asking him, the son Henry had cast aside, to save her father’s company. Surely, she had lost her mind. “And why would I want to do a thing like that?”
“Because it’s our family business.”
“No, Fallon. It’s your family business. Stewart Investments is my business.”
“But...”
“There’s no buts. Henry chose to divorce my mother and walk away from us, and that’s fine. That’s his choice, but when he did, he washed his hands of me and subsequently any allegiance I had to this—” he made air quotes with his hands “—family.”
“Ayden, I know you’re upset with Father.”
“Upset?” His voice rose and when it did, several patrons looked in his direction. “Upset is acting as if we had a minor disagreement, Fallon. I’m not upset. I hate him. I hate him for how he treated me, but mos
t of all for how he treated my mother. He left her with nothing, even though she helped him start that damn company.”
Tears sprang to her beautiful eyes—so like his own. “Wh-what? I thought—but my mother said...”
“Your mother lied, Fallon. Lillian Stewart was the woman behind the man, working two jobs to get Henry through college so he could work on his degree, helping build the capital necessary to open Stewart Technologies. And when he became successful, he kicked her to the curb for a younger model and cheated her out of her rightful share of the company. So Fallon, there’s not a snowball’s chance in hell I would ever help that man or his company and, unfortunately, that affects you.” Ayden rose to his feet.
“Ayden,” Fallon rushed out of her seat and placed a firm hand on his arm, stopping him before he’d taken two steps past her. “Please don’t leave this way. I had no idea about what happened to you and your mother. I wasn’t even born. Surely, you can’t blame me?”
“I know that, Fallon, and I don’t blame you. Henry’s mistakes are his and his alone. I came here today out of respect for you even when I didn’t have to. I heard you out, but there’s nothing left to say.” He glanced down at her hand on his sleeve, but she held on firmer.
Her eyes implored his and he saw the fear in them. “I need your help.”
“I’m sorry, but the answer is no. Let the company crash and burn because, quite frankly, that’s exactly what Henry so richly deserves.” Ayden wrenched his arm away and spun on his heel. His heart was thudding loudly in his chest and his pulse was racing. He quickly threaded his way through the tables until he made it to the door. Once he was outside, he leaned against the building’s facade and inhaled deeply.
Rage was coursing through his veins. Not at Fallon, but at Henry for ruining the company his mother helped build. Ayden wanted to punch something, someone, but instead he walked. And walked. He would walk back to the office so he could cool off and let calmer heads prevail.
* * *
Maya glanced down at her watch. It was well after five o’clock and the office was starting to clear out, but Maya couldn’t leave. She hadn’t heard from Ayden all afternoon and she was worried. He hadn’t returned from his lunch with his half sister. Maya was dying to know how it went and if he was okay, but he hadn’t so much as called to check in for messages.
It was nearly six when she finally gave up and began packing up her belongings. She was turning off the lights when she saw Ayden walking toward her from the reception area. Instead of his usual long and confident stride, his shoulders were hunched over. As he drew closer, Maya could see anguish etched across his face.
“Ayden?”
He glanced up, but looked straight through her and walked into his office. Maya was rooted to the spot as conflicting emotions tore through her. Should she go after him? He appeared so forlorn. Lost even, if she had to put a name on it. Or she should she go home and let him figure it out alone? They’d agreed to have a purely business relationship. Getting involved would complicate things.
But she couldn’t leave him like that, could she?
Making a split decision, Maya threw down her things and headed for his door. She was surprised to find it ajar. He was sitting on the couch with his head hung low, a bottle of liquor on the table in front of him. A glass of dark liquid was in his hands. Maya suspected it was the aged cognac he kept on hand for celebrating a victory or sweet deal. But today was different. He was drowning his sorrows, whatever they may be.
She walked toward him quietly. He didn’t say a word when she sat beside him. Instead, he continued drinking. When he’d finished the first glass, he poured himself another. They sat in silence for an eternity before Maya spoke. She was dying to know what happened. “Ayden?”
“Hmm...?”
“Are you okay?”
“No.” He took another sip of his drink.
Ayden wasn’t talkative by nature, but when he was in this mood, he would be even less forthcoming. “Did something happen at your lunch with Fallon?”
He turned to glare at her. The full force of his piercing hazel stare rested solely on her, and Maya squirmed in her seat at the intensity. “What do you think?”
Maya swallowed. She had to push and break through the barrier Ayden had erected to protect himself. She understood because she’d done the same thing herself. “What happened?”
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Perhaps if you didn’t hold it inside, you might feel better,” Maya offered.
“Feel?” Ayden huffed. “I don’t want to feel anything.”
Maya blinked several times, but tried again. “Ayden...” She touched his arm and he shrank away from her. Jumping to his feet, he made for the window on the far side of the room.
“Don’t touch me, Maya. Not right now. You should go home.” He turned away from her to face the window.
“I can’t go home and leave you like this. You’re hurting and I want to help.”
He spun to face her. “You can’t help me, Maya. No one can. Unless you can erase the last thirty years and make my father love me, want me—” he beat his chest with his fist “—acknowledge me as his son. His firstborn. The rightful heir to Stewart Technologies.”
“Oh, Ayden.”
“Don’t!” He pointed his finger at her, tumbler still in hand. “Don’t you dare feel sorry for me! I won’t have it.”
“Okay, okay.” Maya held up her hands in surrender as she walked toward him. She took the glass out of his hand and placed it on a nearby table. He watched her with keen eyes, his chest rising and falling. “You don’t have my pity. But I’m here for you, Ayden.”
Heavy awareness surged through her as she locked gazes with him. Maya swallowed, but her mouth felt dry and parched. She inched forward until they were standing a breath away from each other. Something fundamental changed as they stared at each other, something that electrified the airspace. Maya was afraid to speak, afraid to break the interlude.
Maya touched his arm and when she glanced up, Ayden’s gaze had turned from tortured to hot and burning. She should move away and get out of the office fast, but she couldn’t seem to stop herself. There was so much tension inside him. Tension she wanted to help relieve. As if pulled by some imperceptible thread, her body moved closer to his. Maya felt the heat of him in her lower half as their bodies brushed once, twice. Then Ayden’s hand flew to the small of her back and pressed her forward, clamping her tight against him.
Air whooshed out of Maya’s lungs, but that didn’t stop her from tipping her head upward and peeking up at him from beneath her lashes. She shouldn’t have done that because with that movement, she swayed into his space. Ayden leaned forward until they were chest to chest, and then he kissed her. Their lips touched slowly, hesitantly at first, as if they were both unsure of whether they should continue, but then Ayden shifted, and Maya felt the strain of his erection against her middle and the kiss erupted.
Her mouth opened under his and he swept her into his embrace, kissing her deeply. Before she knew it, Maya’s back was hitting the window, but she scarcely noticed because she was coming alive under Ayden’s skillful mouth. His hands were threading through her hair and his mouth was devouring hers. Hunger coursed through her, and she thrust her hips involuntarily against his as an ache began to claim her lower region.
Ayden grasped her hips and tightened his arms around her, tipping her head to just the right angle so he could stroke his tongue with hers. Over and over again, he stroked her, deeper, harder and faster until he had Maya moaning in pleasure. She cupped the back of his neck and his hands roamed over her. When he found her breasts, he molded and kneaded them with his palm. He was luring her into a dark pit of need and Maya was drowning. She felt his hands snake under her dress, felt him touch her thigh.
Please, oh God, she wanted him to touch her there. She tilted her hips in silent inv
itation, begging him to do whatever he desired.
And just as his hands began inching to the damp place between her thighs, a knock sounded on the door. “Housekeeping.”
Maya jumped back as if a bucket of cold water had been thrown on them. She glanced at the door and then back at Ayden. His face was a storm of desire and Maya licked her lips.
“Do that again and I’ll have you on the desk and to hell who sees us.”
Maya blushed and, without saying a word, rushed for the door, swung it open and fled from the room. She ran past the stunned cleaner standing just outside the door, grabbed her purse and made for the elevator. She didn’t dare look behind her because she couldn’t look at Ayden. Not after what had just happened between them. If that cleaner hadn’t knocked on the door when she had, who knew what would have happened.
Maya knew exactly what would have happened.
She would have allowed Ayden to make love to her again. And then where would she be? Back at square one.
* * *
Ayden slammed his fists down on his desk. He hadn’t meant for that to happen, but Maya had gotten too close to the sun. And if she wasn’t careful, she would get burned. That was exactly how he felt right now. Like scorched earth. Seeing Fallon had resurrected his demons. Ayden didn’t talk about his family ever except the one time with Maya. She was the only person who knew he’d been abandoned by the great technical genius Henry Stewart.
But it wasn’t exactly true. Ayden could remember a time when he was younger, before the divorce, when his father had been in his life. He’d been about five years old. He recalled his parents together, happy, but then Nora had come into the picture. Ayden had vague recollections of his mother and Henry arguing. His mother accusing Henry of being unfaithful. Ayden remembered finding Lillian crying in her bedroom because his father had asked her to leave.
Leave her house. And she had. She hadn’t fought for what was hers—what was due her after she’d helped him build the company. Instead, she’d allowed that evil witch Nora to play lady of the manor in their home while he and his mother had been kicked out. Ayden blamed Henry for all the hardships they’d endured, the mental and physical abuse at Jack’s hands. So there was no way in hell he would bail that man out of trouble. Let the company crumble. It was what Henry had coming. He was sorry Fallon was caught in the crossfire, but she was a grown woman and it was her decision to run the company. She would have to figure her own way out.
At the CEO's Pleasure Page 7
