The Island

by Alice Ward

  “I want to know everything about you, Miss Baxter. For instance, do you have a boyfriend you left behind at…” I looked at her resume for the information, “the University of North Carolina?”

  She narrowed her eyes, her arms folding across her chest. “I don’t have a boyfriend, Mr. Reed.”

  This was odd. And refreshing. Women didn’t normally act pissed when I talked to them. This young lady seemed as if she’d like to be anywhere but with me.

  “You don’t?” I had a hard time imagining that to be true. The woman was gorgeous.

  “No.” She looked past me at the table the others had gathered around. “Is there any bottled water?”

  “There is. Come on.” I put my hand on the small of her back and steered her to the table. The warmth of her body seeped through her blouse and my heartbeat throbbed in my fingers, urging them to drop lower, to the fine ass just inches away. Water. She wanted water. Now I needed water. “We have all kinds of bottled water. If you have a preference, just let my secretary—”

  Lola interjected rapidly, “Administrative assistant.” We stopped our progression as Lola got up and came around her desk, eyeing my new intern. She extended her hand. “Lola Sandoval, Mr. Reed’s right hand.”

  With an effort, I didn’t roll my eyes. “Miss Sandoval is in charge of my business day and this office. If you have any specific needs, she is who you’ll go to.”

  Kendra shook Lola’s hand as their eyes met, Lola trying desperately to dominate the young beauty. But it was to no avail. Kendra Baxter had confidence built right into her. It was a thing that had me perplexed.

  How could such a young woman, not even through with college, gain that magnitude of self-assurance in such a small amount of time? Kendra was only in her very early twenties. Hell, even I didn’t have the volume of wherewithal she seemed to have when I was her age.

  Kendra gave Lola a smile, and my heart did a weird little twist at just how genuine and brilliant it was. “Miss Sandoval, I won’t be bothering you for anything other than what’s available. I’m not a spoiled brat. I can deal with things just the way they are. Don’t worry about me.” The smile faded as she looked in my direction. “Mr. Reed, it’s not a certainty that I will be your intern, is it? I mean, I was told we would meet all the executives, and they would make the final decision on who gets who. Did I hear that wrong, sir?”

  “You don’t want me?” To say I was shocked was a bit of an understatement. I mean, I was the man women wanted. Or at least I always had been. This woman wanted to shop around for her mentor.

  Was she crazy or was it me?

  Lola smiled, and I could see she was holding back a guffaw. “If you don’t want to be Mr. Reed’s intern, you don’t have to.”

  My mind was speeding to assumptions as I wondered what Kendra’s particular problem with me might be. “Miss Baxter, are you into women?”

  Holy. Shit.

  The words were out of my mouth before I had a chance to reign them in. Her brows raised nearly to her hairline, and I found myself scrambling for an explanation. “Not that there’s anything wrong with that. I just like to know my employees’ preferences is all.” I snapped my mouth shut before I made an even bigger idiot of myself.

  Her beautifully full lips fell open in a surprised “O” before she cleared her throat. “To answer your highly inappropriate and possibly illegal question, I’m heterosexual.”

  Was it wrong of me to find myself elated by her answer?

  Janine came up behind me, her eyes wide as she pulled me to the side. “Mr. Reed, you can’t ask questions like that. You know better.”

  She was right. I did know better. At least, my normal brain knew better. I didn’t know if it was the woman who looked at me in a way most women didn’t, or what, but I was out of my element.

  “Sorry. Not sure what I was thinking.” I turned to Kendra. “Apologies for being so forward. I think I need another cup of coffee.”

  Kendra didn’t look impressed at she glanced at Janine. “Am I handed over to anyone who wants me?”

  Janine licked her lips, looking wildly uncomfortable. “You’ll certainly have a say in your placement, but please let me add that Mr. Reed is one of the youngest self-made billionaires in the world. Anyone would be grateful to be mentored by him.”

  My ears grew hot as my employee went to bat for me, and I felt like shit that I’d forced her to do so. “Miss Baxter, if you think you’ll find anyone in this company who’s better suited to teach you about the world of business, be my guest. But what I have to offer you is more than any of the others will give. I’ll expose you to things the others have no experience with. Things like learning to talk to people who don’t want to be spoken to. How to wine and dine a potential client and why it’s necessary. One does not simply reel in a multibillionaire without knowing what will spur them on. That’s a thing I have in-depth knowledge about.”

  Her body language changed, her crossed arms dropped, and she looked at me — actually looked at me — green eyes dancing. “Mr. Reed, I’m here to learn about business, nothing more than that. If Mrs. Peterson thinks so highly of you, then I’d be a fool not to accept you as my mentor. But I’d also be a fool to accept you if you have ulterior motives where I’m concerned.”

  The lady was tough as nails. She was one of those take-no-shit kind of girls. I’d heard there were females like this on the planet, I’d just never met one before. It was pretty hot to know she respected herself so much that she’d risk pissing me off.

  “You can trust me, Miss Baxter. Now, come with me and let me show you around. If you accept my invitation, that is.”

  Janine stepped in. “You need to sign her paperwork, Mr. Reed.” She placed a paper on Lola’s desk, and I gave Kendra a do you accept my challenge? look. She narrowed her eyes and gave me a challenge accepted nod. With a flourish, I signed my name at the bottom of the page, becoming her mentor for the summer.

  Challenge accepted, indeed.

  Turning back to the other interns, I shook hands and sent them on their way. Janine shot me a warning look as she wrangled them out the door.

  Alone with Kendra and Lola, I turned my attention to the younger woman, stepping around her to pick up a couple bottles of water. “How do you like New York so far?”

  “It’s very busy here.” Her eyes shot to my office door. “Is that your office?”

  “It is.” I was kind of happy she’d noticed. Maybe the way she acted was some sort of a ploy. Maybe she was actually worried about just how attracted she was to me. “Let me show you yours.”

  Bypassing the small desk in the corner that had been earmarked for my intern when she wasn’t in cubicle hell, I led Kendra down a short hall. As I reached a door, I glanced back and caught a glimpse of Lola, whose mouth was wide with stupor.

  I shot her an I’m the boss frown and she snapped it shut, a look of mutinous fury replacing her amazement. Damn, I would probably end up swapping her for an old woman after all.

  “This is an empty office,” I said to Kendra, opening the door to a suite of rooms no intern should have deigned enter without a mug of coffee for the boss in their hand.

  I didn’t want to examine why I so badly wanted to impress this particular woman. I should have sat her ass down at the intern desk and let it alone. But no, here I was giving her the nicest office in the building next to mine. An office that would house the new COO when I located someone I could tolerate for the position.

  Kendra stepped into the gorgeous office with a window that looked out at the New York skyline. The cherrywood desk looked inviting in the middle of the large room. “This is gorgeous.”

  “Uh-huh.” I walked in and gestured to the door to the right. “That’s the private lavatory. Only the nicest offices have those attached. Have a seat in that chair. I had the one in my office and this one made to my specifications. I think it’s important to have a good chair to work in. Don’t you?”

  With a dazed nod, she took a seat and leaned back a
s I once again clamped my rambling mouth shut. The seat was too high, so I went to her, leaning down to adjust the height. It was a mistake. She was too close, and her scent filled my senses. She smelled like cheap flowery shampoo and baby-powder-scented deodorant, nothing like the expensive perfumes I was used to. And I loved it.

  Pushing the button to lower the chair, she yelped before she quickly regained her composure as she realized what I was doing. “Thank you. This is a beautiful and comfortable chair, and the view is fantastic. In my wildest dreams, I never imagined anything like this.”

  I stood slowly, reluctant to move too far away from her. But I had to, much longer and I would give in to the urge to loosen that prim bun and bury my nose in her fresh-smelling hair. “One could get a lot of great work done in a place like this. That’s how I designed it. I wanted this office to look as good as mine does.” I pointed to the door that joined our offices. “My office is just on the other side. It remains locked on my side of it, though. A man does need his privacy.”

  “Of course.” She pulled open the top drawer and discovered a neat row of pens and pencils. “Ready to get right to work, isn’t it?”

  “Almost.” I walked around to the cabinet that ran along the far wall and pulled out a laptop computer. She watched me as I brought it to her. “Here you go. You can have IT set it up.”

  “Yes, sir.” She was smiling and happy as I placed it on the desk.

  “I have to go grab something. Wait right here.” I left the room, leaving her alone to look around at what could be hers permanently one day. If she played her cards right.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Kendra

  I was in awe of this office. The scenic view was exactly what I’d thought of whenever I imagined working in a New York building. I could see the busy street below, complete with people moving in clusters and more yellow taxi cabs than seemed possible on a single block. And that was just one of the many downtown streets.

  It was thrilling to be here. Taking out my cell, I snapped picture after picture, sending them to my parents. The bathroom even made the pic roll. Granite countertops, brass fixtures, and a toilet that flushed itself made up the bathroom that was nicer than any I’d ever used before. I checked my makeup and made sure my bun was nice and neat in the full-length mirror before I left.

  I didn’t usually wear my long hair in a bun, but I thought it would look more professional than having it hang in loose curls to my waist — the way I wore it when I wasn’t trying to impress bigwigs.

  Mr. Reed had been interested in me right from the start. I knew he was looking at me as a woman, not a person who wanted to succeed in the business realm. But I’d figure out how to make him take me seriously. Mrs. Peterson was right for pointing out how he’d made something magnificent of himself at a young age and I was happy with my decision.

  I booted up the laptop and searched his name only to find one handsome picture after another, most with a beautiful lady on his arm. Never the same one, I realized. Mr. Reed was a true ladies’ man. Though it didn’t matter, as he was my boss, I chalked up my overreaction to Don Juan to first day nerves.

  My cell rang, and I smiled at the screen. “Hey, Dad. I might have to hang up on you if my new boss comes in. What did you think about the pictures I sent you?”

  “They were great, Scout. But you need to keep that head of yours on straight. That’s a lot of glitter. You know what I’m talking about?”

  I did know what he was talking about because he said it often. “All that glitters is not gold. I know.”

  “Good. Who’s your new boss?”

  “Eli Reed. He’s thirty-three, one of the youngest CEOs in the financial industry. He’s already been on the Forbes list of top one hundred richest men in America.”

  “I’ve already googled the company,” Dad grunted. “What do you think of him?”

  “He’s gorg—” I slammed my hand over my mouth.

  “Gorgeous? Scout, what are you in New York to do?”

  I leaned back in my chair, remembering how close Eli was only moments before. The heat radiating off him. His smell — manly and citrusy mixed with something that made me want to slip into a fantasy with him as the star. I shook my head to dispel the memory. “Learn about business, Dad.”

  “Right. Does it matter what the person looks like who helps you on your way to be a successful businessperson?”

  I forced myself not to sigh. “No, sir.”

  “That’s right. Don’t look at the man with any kind of attraction, Kendra. He’s a tool for you to use to get where you’re going. Got it?”

  “I do. He’s a tool.” And he has a tool. Considering his size, it would have to be huge. Gigantic. Dad cleared his throat on the other end of the line, thankfully snapping me back. Looking down, I saw that I had doodled a large penis on my notepad. I sat straight quickly and began frantically scribbling over it, glancing at the door. “You don’t have to worry about me. I’m not some bimbo, remember? I have a brain, and I like to use it.” I nodded in agreement with myself as the cartoon cock disappeared beneath the ever-darkening blob of ink.

  “That’s my girl. I’m damn proud of you. Don’t you think for one moment that I’m not. I believe in you, honey. I do. Daddy just worries about his girls, is all. If I say anything that makes you think I don’t trust you, let me know. I think you’re the smartest, strongest, and most reliable kid a man could have.”

  “Thanks, Dad. Mr. Reed seems to be a man who gets what he wants.”

  “It’s important to stand your ground when you need to. But this man has to know what he’s talking about. He’d never have gotten as far as he has without knowing a hell of a lot. You listen when he has something to say. But don’t get run over by him.”

  “I won’t.”

  “He’s a robust and powerful man, like so many of the people in that town. He’ll chew you up and spit you out if you let him. You do recall all our talks about Mr. Right and Mr. Right Now, don’t you?”

  I laid down the pen and pressed my fingertips to my temple. “I do, Dad. And I agree with you. Mr. Reed is more than capable of taking advantage of me. But he can only do that if I allow him to. I promise that I’ll make the best of this opportunity and leave all men the hell alone.” To seal the deal, I quietly ripped off the scribbled-out penis, crumpled it up, and threw it in the trash can with a silent raised fist of celebration.

  “Right on!” Dad could get so excited when he heard his daughters agreeing to anything he told us. “That’s my oldest baby girl. I’ll report to Mom what you’ve said so far, and you give us a call after work. Love you bunches.”

  “Love you too.”

  Just as I swiped my screen to end the call, the door opened and Mr. Reed came in. Getting up, I made it as far as the trash can. The thought of my subconscious drawing of his penis — the overlarge dick may as well have jumped off the page and reached out and grabbed me by the ankle. I stopped abruptly and just stood there, unsure of what I should do next. “Mr. Reed—”

  “Take your seat, Miss Baxter.”

  I did as he said and went back to the chair that seemed custom-made for me. He took the seat across from me, once again looking me over. I could smell the wolf in him as it seeped out of every pore of his sculpted body. The big-dicked wolf. But I would never be his meat of the day.

  He reached into his breast pocket and pulled out what looked like a business card then slid it toward me, face down. I waited as his large hand moved away from it, leaving it there. I wasn’t about to get into a game of pass the note with him — what it looked like he wanted as he smiled at me. His smile was devastating. It was easy to see why women fell all over themselves for him.

  That reminded me of the woman he’d come out of his office with. “Mr. Reed, the woman from earlier… does she work here? You forgot to introduce her to us.”

  He scoffed. “That woman doesn’t work here or anywhere else. She’s a friend, nothing more than that. Don’t worry about her.”

  I
licked my lips, and his eyes followed the movement. “I wasn’t worried.” I wondered if the words felt as false to his ears as they did to my own.

  He leaned forward, his thick fingers moving to the laptop, closing it. “You go to college in North Carolina.” His eyes moved to mine. “Do you come from there, originally?”

  I smiled as I thought of my family. “My father grew up in Southern Pines, North Carolina. Mom grew up in a small town in Texas called Canton. They met when they enlisted in the Navy, both fresh out of high school. They dated for a couple of years then got married, and when Mom got pregnant with me, Dad decided it was time to build a home for his wife and kids. He settled us in the place he’d always called home, Southern Pines.” Pressing my nail into my palm, I reminded myself this man wasn’t my friend and didn’t need my life story.

  “Is your father one of those hands-on dads?”

  I laughed at the understatement. “Completely. I’m the oldest of three girls, so Dad had his work cut out for him.”

  The dimple made another appearance, causing my stomach to do a little dance. “Three sisters, huh? I bet keeping the boys at bay was his number one job.”

  I raised my chin. “He instilled in us the need for self-respect. With it, you can rule your life with a steady hand. Without it, you’ll find yourself often lost and in dire straits.”

  “He sounds like a smart man. I bet he’s proud of you, his little businesswoman.”

  I wondered if he realized how condescending he sounded. “He is. And I plan on keeping him proud of me.” I turned my chair around to look out the window. “Coming to New York has been a dream of mine for quite some time. If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere,” I quoted and spun back around to look at him. “Do you think that’s true?”

  The way he looked at me with those deep blue pools had my heart skipping around like a kid on the playground. “I’ve lived here all my life. I’ve seen a lot. This town can eat you alive, or you can work hard and figure out how to ride the waves that seem to move through on occasion. If you want financial success, this is the place to be. And I’m the man who can show you just how to get to where you’ve dreamed.” He looked at the card that was still sitting on the desk. “You going to read that?”