“Oh, he is hot.”
Becca turned at the sound of Stacy’s voice. “What did you say?”
Stacy tapped her phone a few more times before walking over to Becca. “Have you seen the photos online of Joshua DeLong? I Googled him while you were on the phone.”
“You can’t do any work, but you can eavesdrop on my calls?”
Stacy didn’t respond, but instead passed her phone to Becca. Mercy. His deep blue eyes were the first feature she noticed. They were striking against his toasted-caramel complexion and curly cocoa-brown hair.
“Hot, right?” Stacy asked. Becca stared at the photo a little longer before passing Stacy back her phone.
“Listen, I have to meet Mr. DeLong and I don’t trust you to be here by yourself, so I’m locking up the office. Why don’t you just come back tomorrow.”
“I still get paid for today, right?”
Becca glared at Stacy. Note to self: call the temp agency after my meeting with Mr. DeLong.
“Stacy, just pack your things so I can lock up.” Becca needed to be fresh and alert for her meeting with Mr. DeLong and the only good thing Stacy had done since arriving was showing her that photo.
On the drive to the marina, Becca recalled everything she’d read about Joshua DeLong. Thirty-five. Never been married. No kids. Recently named one of the most influential black men in America. Built his fortune from the ground up as a corporate raider. Despite his accomplishments, she also recalled another article that named him one of the most ruthless men in America. Judging by what she knew about corporate raiders, she had to agree with some of the statements in the second article. Building your career on the misfortune of others was hardly admirable. Especially since Becca had spent the majority of her life on the opposite end of the spectrum by trying to provide fortune to the misfortunate.
As she neared the yacht club, she noticed a tall male figure standing just outside the main gate wearing basketball shorts and a white tee. Hardly the outfit one would wear for a business meeting.
She parked her car in an open spot and made her way to Joshua DeLong. The closer she got, the more nervous she got. Oh, come on, Becca, you’ve seen attractive men before. She couldn’t even make out all of his facial features since he was wearing Ray-Bans and a baseball cap, but just the way he was standing was enough to make her take notice. His posture was confident. Self-assured. He may have looked casual in his clothing, but his aura seemed anything but.
“Hello, I’m Becca Wright,” she said as she approached. “It’s nice to meet you in person, Mr. DeLong.”
“Please, call me Joshua or Josh.” He extended his hand.
“Only if you call me Becca.” She accepted his warm handshake and was rewarded by a smile that displayed a brilliant set of white teeth.
“Please follow me, Becca.” Becca had assumed they were meeting inside the clubhouse, until Josh walked past the building and began leading her down a ramp toward the boats.
“Where are we going?” she asked after several minutes.
“To my yacht.”
She quirked an eyebrow even though he couldn’t see her. “Your yacht? As in your own private yacht?”
His head slightly turned over his shoulder in her direction. “Yes, my own private yacht.”
She frowned. “Wouldn’t it be better if we conducted business in a more public place like the clubhouse?”
“No.” Josh continued to walk, offering her no additional explanation.
“No? That’s it?”
She was so busy trying to keep up with him, she hadn’t noticed that he’d slowed his stride. “We’re here.” He motioned for her to walk up a ramp that led to a beautiful three-story white yacht. There wasn’t much that left Becca speechless, but the sight before her hijacked her words. The yacht was grand and one of the larger vessels in the marina.
When she arrived on the first level, she noticed two packets placed on a sleek wooden table.
“Please, have a seat,” Josh said as he pointed to an L-shaped timber sofa with black cushions and white pillows.
She didn’t hesitate to take a seat, secretly eager to feel if the cushions were as lush as they appeared. Even more lush, she thought, adjusting herself in her seat. Josh took a seat adjacent to her.
As Becca was relishing her comfort, Josh removed his baseball cap and ran his fingers through his brown curls. I wonder if they’re as soft as they look.
“Okay, shall we get down to business?” Josh shuffled through some papers before he removed his Ray-Bans and glanced at her. Oh my. He smiled in a way that she assumed made women drop their panties instantly. Of course, she didn’t feel the effects of his smile, but she could see how many women would.
“Yes, let’s get started.” She tried her best to focus on the packet in front of her instead of his stunning eyes. If Becca were the type to swoon over a pretty face, Joshua’s would have had her in a puddle on the floor. Fortunately, she’d met plenty of handsome men who were gorgeous on the outside but ugly on the inside. The verdict was still out as to whether that described Joshua DeLong.
Chapter 2
Josh smiled as he watched Becca concentrate on the packet he’d given her. He got the feeling that she was the type to never act too affected by a man, but he hadn’t missed the hint of appreciation reflected in her eyes.
“I apologize if you had to change any plans to see me today. As I stated over the phone, I wanted to meet before I head out of town. I have big plans for the benefit, but I want to make sure my ideas work for Aunt Penny.”
“I guess I should explain the foundation in a little more detail,” Becca said, turning toward Josh. “Unless you prefer to dive right into the plans.”
“No, please continue. I’d like to hear more about the foundation.”
“Well, as you know, I’m the director of public relations for The Aunt Penny Foundation, which was founded by Haley Adams. Haley and I aren’t just colleagues, but friends who share the same vision. And while Aunt Penny is a real person, she doesn’t actually work at the foundation or oversee its activities.”
“But Aunt Penny contributes financially, right?” Josh asked. “I believe I read an article about her being a key sponsor for the foundation.” Josh reached for the water bottles he’d placed on the table before Becca had arrived and offered her one.
“Thank you,” she said, opening the water bottle and taking a sip. “Yes, Aunt Penny is definitely a key supporter and the reason the foundation exists in the first place. Aunt Penny was Haley’s next-door neighbor when she was growing up and although Aunt Penny isn’t actually Haley’s blood relative, she became somewhat of a surrogate grandmother to her. Aunt Penny’s emotional encouragement and financial support are the reason Haley earned an Ivy League diploma.”
“Aunt Penny sounds pretty special.” Josh hadn’t had the benefit of meeting his paternal grandmother, but he imagined that she would have been like Aunt Penny. Unfortunately, he couldn’t say the same for his mom’s mother, who didn’t have a nurturing bone in her body.
“She is.” Becca nodded her head in agreement. “There will always be a special place for Aunt Penny in my heart, too. One day, Haley came to me and said that she wished every girl could have an Aunt Penny, and thus, the foundation was born. Our nonprofit organization helps students who otherwise couldn’t afford it raise money for college. We provide mentoring, as well.”
Josh knew what the foundation did and had researched them at length, but it was nice to hear the words from Becca directly. “That’s a great story and one that I believe should be shared at our upcoming Prescott George meeting. The history of the foundation is also one that the media would truly love.”
Becca squinted. “Haley and I would be happy to share the foundation’s story with the organization, but I’m confused. I don’t recall any of the previou
sly chosen charity recipients receiving media coverage.”
“That’s because they haven’t. But I’ve thought at length about your foundation and the increased number of donations you would receive if we invite celebrities to the gala. Celebrities will not only be willing to break out their checkbooks, but also speak with the media about the event and your organization.”
Josh vaguely thought about the fact that the Prescott George board had yet to understand his vision for the gala. However, in due time he was hoping a few key members would begin to see things his way.
“I’m all for increased revenue, but I don’t want The Aunt Penny Foundation to be subject to a paparazzi circus, either.”
“More paparazzi mean more donations.”
“I’m surprised this is the route Prescott George wants to take.” She was studying him carefully, but Josh didn’t care. He was confident that publicizing the gala was the right move and getting Becca to agree would only help him pitch his argument to the board.
“Sometimes, in order to get the larger population to donate to a cause, you’ve got to take risks.”
“Sometimes the risk isn’t worth the reward.”
“And other times it is.” Josh sat up straighter in his seat. “We have less than two months before the gala, so we need to act fast on a few of the ideas I have if we’re going to solidify the appearance of celebrities.”
Seeing the skepticism on her face, Josh thought she’d probably get along with Ashton extremely well. Both were afraid to take chances. Ashton Rollins was the current president of Prescott George and Josh had no doubt that Rollins would host operations out of a dark cave if he could. Ashton lived and breathed boring traditions and was never willing to take risks that could potentially benefit the organization.
Becca pushed her packet aside and turned her entire body toward Josh. “Would I be correct if I assumed you’re one of those people who believe that there is no such thing as bad publicity?”
“You’d be correct,” Josh said with a smile. “As long as you’re leading an honest life, you should have nothing to fear from the media. Photos and articles about me pop up on newsfeeds all the time. Something about me is constantly floating around on some form of media, whether it be false or true information. Yet, instead of letting what’s portrayed define me, I use the media to my advantage. The publicity only fuels my success.”
Becca was already shaking her head in disagreement. “I can’t imagine every part of my life surfacing on newsfeeds. Especially if it’s depicted in a negative or false manner. If I wanted to be in the media all the time, I would have taken up acting.”
Josh laughed. “In today’s connected world, you have to be willing to put yourself out there. In regards to the gala, we would control media coverage as opposed to the media controlling us.”
“I understand your point, but I’d much rather be known for what I accomplish, and based on coverage I’ve seen where celebrities attend fundraisers, it’s more about who they may be dating or what they’re wearing rather than the cause.”
A quick glance at the time let him know that he needed to wrap up the meeting. He should have ended it ten minutes prior, yet strangely enough, he was enjoying his debate with Becca too much to end the conversation there.
“Becca, I can promise you that Prescott George has The Aunt Penny Foundation’s best interests in mind.” He leaned a little closer to her. “What you and Haley are doing for less fortunate students is admirable and I appreciate the vision and history behind your organization. I only want to help others see the amazing work you’re doing. You don’t just have the support of Prescott George for the gala. You have our support in all your efforts for the future.
“If you allow me to implement some of my publicity ideas for your foundation, I promise that you will not be disappointed. So what do you say? Are you on board?”
For a few seconds, he wondered if she’d been listening to what he’d said. She was looking directly at him, but her mind seemed to be miles away. The silence gave him the chance to observe her a little more closely. She looked a lot better in person than she did in her pictures.
“Okay,” she finally said. “If you think that having the media present will result in additional donations for the foundation, then I’m willing to give it a try. I’m sure you have to leave for your flight soon, so I’ll review the rest of the packet and discuss it with Haley before getting back to you.”
“Sounds good. I’ll also send you the information electronically before my flight.” Josh extended his hand to her.
Becca glanced at his hand, but didn’t shake it. “If I disagree with any of your ideas, then we’ll rework the plan before you take action, right?”
“I’ll agree to that.”
“Good. Then we have a deal.” She finally shook his hand and when she did, he briefly relished how soft it was.
After he led her off his yacht and back through the gate, he smiled as he watched her walk away. You surprised me, Becca Wright. He couldn’t quite place his reasoning, but he had a feeling he’d just met his next big challenge.
* * *
Becca glanced at the clock on the wall. 9:00 p.m. She should have left the office hours ago, but she still had a mountain of paperwork to enter into the intranet and loads of mail to organize before she could call it a night.
“I think I’ve zapped all my brain cells for one day,” Haley said, standing near the doorway of Becca’s office. “I think you should tackle the rest of your to-do list tomorrow.”
Becca ran her fingers down her face. “I wish I could, but I forgot to call the temp agency about Stacy and I really want to get some more work done.”
“I figured you’d say that.” Haley walked to the front desk and came back with two cupcakes and two coffees.
“You read my mind,” Becca said accepting her coffee and cupcake. “Is this from the new bakery down the street?”
“Sure is. I asked Leanna to get it for us before she left.”
“For this, I can take a break.” Becca cleared a small space on her desk as Haley took a seat across from her. As usual, they were the last two in the office. In the span of one year, The Aunt Penny Foundation had gone from twelve dedicated employees to five, including Becca and Haley and the part-timers. In a way, Becca couldn’t even blame their receptionist for abruptly quitting. To say that the foundation had seen better times would be an understatement.
Becca took a bite of the cupcake. “Oh my God, this tastes so good.”
“It does,” Haley agreed. “Gooey red velvet goodness. The perfect carbs for a long day. Which reminds me... The temp, Stacy, showed me a picture of Joshua DeLong this morning. Does he look as sexy in person as he does in the photos online?”
Becca frowned. “We can’t get the temp to do actual work, but she shows off Josh’s picture with the same amount of dedication that we wished she’d put into her job?”
“Oh, so you’re already on a first-name basis with the Millionaire Mogul?”
Becca laughed. It was a well-known fact that the Prescott George organization was often referred to as the Millionaire Moguls. “Have you read the articles online about Josh?”
“Of course I have.” Haley took a sip of her coffee. “Stacy was eager to have me read a couple articles, as well.”
“Tomorrow I’m calling the temp agency for sure,” Becca said, shaking her head. “Anyway, most of the articles portray him as a cocky, arrogant corporate raider who can somehow ease the worries of even the most skeptical client. Those qualities—combined with his charm—are what make him a force to be reckoned with.”
“Did you get a different impression?” Haley asked. “Was he less impressive than what the articles say?”
Becca thought about the meeting she’d had with Josh, from the moment she introduced herself to him all the way to the moment
he walked her back to the gate. “I wouldn’t exactly call the articles false.”
Haley raised an eyebrow. “Okay, bestie, what aren’t you telling me?”
Even now, Becca could feel those vibrant blue eyes watching her walk to her car. “He was exactly how one would imagine Joshua DeLong to be...cocky, arrogant and charming. He spent the majority of the meeting trying to convince me that inviting celebrities to the gala would give our foundation an opportunity to receive even more donations and offer unprecedented media coverage.”
“That sounds awesome,” Haley said enthusiastically. “I knew I had a good feeling about working with the moguls.”
“You would be okay with all the publicity? What if all the media coverage doesn’t truly capture the essence of The Aunt Penny Foundation?”
Haley shrugged. “Isn’t it better to give ourselves the free publicity and take every chance we can to try to save the foundation?”
That was exactly what Josh had said. “If you’re okay with it, then I’ll email you the information he sent me so that you can review it, as well. I’ll admit he has some pretty good ideas. I just want to make sure I understand his angle.”
“I know that look,” Haley said. “You don’t trust him.”
“I barely know him.”
“Exactly. So you don’t trust him?”
Becca thought about his perfect white teeth, soft-looking curly hair and grand yacht. “I’m just skeptical, and Josh is a smooth talker. By the end of our conversation, he almost had me convinced that I should just hand over the reins and let him drive the entire time.”
Haley’s eyes softened. “Listen, Becca, we both know that the past couple years have been difficult for the foundation. We aren’t getting the sponsorships and donations we were before. Economically, we’re facing a crisis, and you and I didn’t both get Ivy League educations and quit our corporate jobs to see The Aunt Penny Foundation fail.”
A Miami Affair Page 2
