An awkward silence descended, and Parker busied himself unpacking his briefcase in an effort to keep his calm. They’d completed the handover already. Not to mention the fact that Parker had been catching up on the state of the family business since before he’d left Boston.
There was no reason for his father to be here. Parker was in charge now, and he wasn’t going to run this company with his father hovering over him like some helicopter stage mother.
“I can take it from here.” He stopped himself from adding “Dad” at the end. It had been a long time since Parker had openly called Arthur Wentworth by that title, but the impulse was still there. A leftover fragment of his childhood. One that his subconscious clung to because it reminded him of happier times. Before his father’s infidelity shattered their family and Parker’s belief that the old man could do no wrong.
Turns out Arthur had sampled every type of wrong at the Shitty Father Buffet.
“Are we going to carry on like this forever?” Arthur sighed, and for a moment he looked every one of his sixty-five years. Parker clicked his laptop into the fancy docking station on his desk without responding. “You’re acting like I’m a stranger.”
“This is work.” He looked up and cursed himself internally for the pain that kindled in his chest. Perhaps it made him a horrible person, but he hadn’t forgiven Arthur…and he couldn’t see it happening any time soon. “I don’t bring my issues to the office because this company is more important than my personal problems.”
His father nodded stiffly. “You’re a chip off the old block.”
Parker wasn’t sure if that was a compliment or an insult. “Is there anything else you want to discuss? I believe the head of HR is going to take me on an official tour this morning.”
“No, I just wanted to ensure that you settled in.” He remained in the center of the room, his chest puffed out beneath a double-breasted bespoke Zegna suit. “I’ll see you at the board meeting next week.”
There was no mention of the invitation for Parker to attend a family dinner with Arthur and his wife at their sprawling Brighton mansion at the end of the month. An invitation he’d studiously ignored. Having spent the last five years living on another continent with little to no contact from the old man, he wasn’t sure why the olive branch was being extended now.
Whatever the reason, he wasn’t interested.
As the door clicked softly, Parker sagged into the oxblood leather desk chair. His head pounded, and he rubbed at his temples with his fingertips. Who knew it was possible to crash so low after starting the day off on a cloud of euphoria?
Sarah flittered across his mind. Memories of her long legs and cascading golden hair eased the tension in his body. He should have convinced her to stay a little longer this morning. Another round between the sheets—or in the shower—would have made him doubly relaxed.
“Mr. Wentworth?” Mercy opened the door and poked her head in. “The Human Resources director is ready to take you on your tour now.”
He struggled to place the woman’s name. They’d met briefly when he came in to sign his outstanding paperwork last week.
“Her name is Linda,” Mercy said as if reading his mind.
He pushed up from his desk and grabbed his phone, slipping it into the inside pocket of his jacket. There was so much to be done, including getting up to speed on some of the latest problems they’d encountered due to the bankruptcy of one of their major freight resources. But Parker had made himself a promise when he agreed to take on the reins of the family business.
For once in their working lives, the employees of the Wentworth Group would be put first. Gone were the days of the absent CEO, of massive staff cuts, of contestant restructures and redundancies. They were lean as it was, and he’d find other ways to cut the fat. People, he believed, were the key factor in determining the success of a business. A point that had often been forgotten—or ignored—in the past. That meant, he’d be putting the pressure on his most senior executives—like his CIO—rather than taking it out on the front line.
“Linda,” he said warmly, offering his hand to the conservatively dressed woman sitting in the waiting area. “It’s a pleasure to see you again.”
As they completed his tour, Linda got him up to speed on everything that her department did. The words “best in class” and “talent culture” and “thought leadership” were lobbed at him like buzzword grenades. All in the interest of self-preservation, he presumed. Something told him that his father wouldn’t have had much time for Linda or her team.
By the time it rolled around to ten a.m., Parker had smiled at so many people his face felt like it was going to crack. Everyone wanted to meet the new CEO. He could feel the weight of their hope on his shoulders. People wanted a new era for the company, a change from the stodgy old way of doing things.
“We’ve got one more item on our list before we’re done,” Linda said looking over the leather diary in her hand. “We’re hosting a morning tea for our first-round ASTAR applicants. I’m sure our staff would love to meet you.”
He was well aware of the ASTAR—Accelerating Special Talent And Resources—program. Staff who were top performers in the company could apply to be placed on a fast-track program. In other words, the people who’d been pushing hard and making a difference even when the environment wasn’t optimum. The cream of the crop. Those were the people he wanted to meet.
In fact, the ASTAR program was one of the things he was most interested in becoming involved in as part of his plans to invest more in the staff of Wentworth Group.
“Absolutely,” he said. “Lead the way.”
…
The uneven click, click, click of her heels rang out as Emmaline rushed through the foyer of the Wentworth Group’s corporate office building. One night in these dastardly shoes had not given her enough practice to move steadily with any kind of speed, but that didn’t stop her from trying. She’d only been wearing the damn things for a few hours this morning but running back and forth between meetings meant her feet were already protesting the extra height. She nodded to the security guard sitting behind a big, black desk and shifted her phone from one ear to the other.
“It was incredible, Gracie. I never thought it could be like that.” Her voice was hushed enough that it wouldn’t be clear to anyone that she was talking about her sexual exploits.
“Do you think you’ll see him again?” Gracie asked.
“I have no idea and, you know what, I’m not going to make that decision now.” She stifled a delirious giggle. “I feel like a new woman, and I’m not even wearing any underwear to work.”
She said the last part with her hand cupped over her mouth, and Gracie shrieked. “Em! You didn’t even go home first?”
“I couldn’t. I had this stupidly early meeting. The new CEO started today, and HR wanted to make a good impression.” She rolled her eyes as she jabbed the up button for the elevator. “Not that he’d even be likely to grace the plebian floors with his godly presence.”
“Ugh. Is he one of those types?”
“I can only assume. None of the Wentworth family members make much of an effort to get to know the people who put money into their pockets every day.” She huffed. “I’m assuming the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”
“Wow. You’re Little Miss Brutal Honesty this morning. This is so unlike you.”
“I am a changed woman, Gracie Chapman.” She frowned. “That still sounds weird.”
“You’ll get used to it,” Gracie replied. “And don’t try to divert my attention. So, what now? You’re just going to walk away from a night of incredible sex and continue running at the Tan?”
“It might be my new pickup spot. I’ll keep finding new ways to lock myself out of my car,” she joked. The elevator arrived and she stepped in, pushing the button for the Human Resources floor. “In all seriousness, I feel a million times better…about everything.”
“Endorphins will do that to you.”
; She leaned back against the wall and bit down on her lip, trying not to grin like a fool. Although it was only her and the security cameras who would see it. Still, she had to get her head on straight for work…if only her body would cooperate.
“He did this thing with his tongue—”
“Imma stop you right there,” Gracie said.
“Thanks, Kanye.”
“Seriously, I’m glad you’re feeling good. You totally deserve it but I do not need a play-by-play.”
“I feel like I’m walking on a cloud,” Emmaline said with a blissful sigh. The elevator pinged and she stepped out, waving to one of her colleagues. “I gotta run. Work calls.”
“Just remember, bend with your knees. The last thing you need is for anyone at work to see your hoo-ha.”
“Got it.” She hung up the phone as she walked up to her desk.
A blue Post-it note was on her laptop screen with a time and a little drawing of a takeaway coffee cup. Grinning, she peeled it off and stuck it to the front of her notebook. Mark McKinney, the HRIS specialist, had been hanging around more and more lately. They’d taken to grabbing coffee together each morning, and this was his way of letting her know what time he was free.
After being home alone day after day for her entire marriage because she couldn’t get into the “ladies who lunch” scene, it was good to have friends at work.
“Got another date with Mark?” Her desk buddy, Elena, swiveled around on her chair and arched a perfectly shaped dark brow.
“It’s just coffee.” Emmaline reached down and rubbed at her ankles, grimacing.
“It wouldn’t be ‘just coffee’ if he had his way,” Elena said. “He’s got a thing for you.”
“Stop it.” He was cute, sure, but she’d tasted pure unadulterated lust, and Mark didn’t come close to that. No butterflies started up when he was around, no zing of electricity. He couldn’t compare to Parker. “We’re friends.”
“And he wants some of your benefits.”
Rolling her eyes, Emmaline smoothed her hands down the front of her body. The white lace dress was definitely more exciting than what she normally wore. But working for a retail company with a fashion focus meant many employees bent traditional office dress rules. Bare shoulders weren’t unusual, and her hemline was modest enough. Although she’d completely forgotten about the ASTAR morning tea when she’d hustled to work in last night’s outfit. Hopefully she didn’t look out of place among the other applicants.
Emmaline scanned her emails to make sure nothing had blown up while she was at her last meeting and then checked the location of the morning tea. As far as she was aware, she was the only one from her team who’d applied for the ASTAR program this year. She’d only been at the company for six months, which meant her application had needed special sign-off. But her boss was thrilled with her performance.
For once in her life, people were praising Emmaline for something that required real skill. For something that she’d worked hard for. The feeling was addictive.
“Don’t think I didn’t notice your shoes, either.” Elena’s cheeky tone interrupted her thoughts. “Those were not walking-to-work shoes.”
Crap.
“I stayed at my sister’s place last night. We had a few too many cocktails.” The lie slid off her tongue. “Vodka doesn’t agree with me.”
This lying thing was starting to become a little too easy, and it wasn’t something to be proud of. Quashing her internal critic, Emmaline waved good-bye and headed for the morning tea. She’d had one night of passion, and that was nothing to feel guilty about. But it wasn’t going to be the start of her losing her morals, either. The lying would stop now…well, unless anyone asked her where she was last night, of course.
…
The ASTAR morning tea was being held in the Wentworth Group conference center at the bottom of their head office building. The huge room was dotted with places to sit and mingle, and a long bar cut right through the middle. Trays of cakes and pastries were laid out, and there were several push-button coffee machines dotted around along with jugs of fruit juice and water.
“I can get everyone’s attention,” Linda offered as they hovered at the edge. “Or would you rather make a stealth entrance?”
“Let people continue their conversations,” Parker said. “I’m capable of introducing myself.”
He scanned the room, invigorated by the buzzing excitement of his staff. Since he was a kid, he’d known that one day the empire built by his great-grandfather would be his to command. It wasn’t something Parker took lightly. As the eldest child, responsibility had been his constant companion from an early age. It had all been training for this. For the moment, he stood at the helm, prepared to steer his family’s company.
Parker stepped into the room, fully aware that his presence had a ripple-like effect through the small crowd. Heads turned, eyes darted, and whispers were exchanged. But he took his time, working his way around and shaking hands with the people who were his best and brightest. People were eager to meet him, though anxious. He knew his father had been renowned for his intimidating presence—caring more about motivating through fear than through leadership. But those dinosaur ways were going to be buried here and now.
He didn’t have long to spend at the morning tea because the needs of the business were already nipping at his heels, but he wanted to meet as many of the applicants as possible. While he was talking to two men from his cyber security team, a flash of white caught his attention. A woman stood across the room, facing away from him. Her long, blond hair tumbled down the back of a white lace dress.
Sarah?
He almost laughed out loud. Ridiculous. Clearly he’d gotten a little too worked up over the amazing sex he’d had last night. There’s no way his schoolteacher date would turn up at his work.
But something pulled his eyes down. The bottoms of her legs were obscured by the end of a metal stool. “Excuse me,” he said to the men in front of him. He moved toward another group, switching up his position so that he’d be able to see past the furniture.
You’re crazy. You think there’s only one blonde wearing a white dress today? Why the hell would she be here?
He was losing his mind. But Parker was the kind of person who couldn’t shuck a thought once it burrowed into his head. Besides, a quick peek at her shoes would confirm what he already knew: that he really needed another coffee.
Except that one look made his blood run cold. A pair of incredible, sexy, light blue shoes made his head pound as he remembered the way they’d looked on her when she wore nothing else. Leave them on…
Holy fucking hell. Either he’d stepped into a parallel universe or something about last night wasn’t as it had seemed.
“Sarah?”
She didn’t turn. But her hand raked through her hair as she laughed at a comment made by one of her companions. The movement sent a shot of pure arousal straight through him. In one night, he’d come to know those hands so well, to relish inviting those hands to become confident touching him. To crave the rake of her nails against his scalp while he kneeled in front of her.
“Sarah?”
A brunette girl turned, a nervous smile pulling up the corners of her mouth. “Hello. You’re Mr. Wentworth, right? Are you looking for someone?”
The group’s conversation halted as they turned to him. Sarah’s smile disappeared faster than a rock thrown from the edge of a cliff. Her skin turned chalk white as her eyes blinked—once, twice, three times. Disbelief was painted in the part of her glossy pink lips. An olive speared on a toothpick hovered midair, her hand frozen on its way to her mouth.
“These are our applicants from the Shared Services division,” Linda said. Parker had almost forgotten that she was shadowing him this whole time. “This is Ariel from Operations, Kimberly from Corporate Communications, and Emmaline from Human Resources.”
Emmaline.
Not Sarah, the sweet, slightly inexperienced woman who’d crashed into his life and his
head. Not Sarah, who’d been coy and shy and delightfully awkward. Not Sarah, the schoolteacher who’d teased him about not wearing any panties to work.
“Emmaline.” The name sounded strange on his tongue.
The other women stuck their hands out to shake his. One by one he responded, until it was her turn. His heart hammered against his rib cage, anger filling his head like a fog. He’d been duped by this pretty face, tricked into believing a false name and false story. Taken for a fool.
What in the hell had he done? More importantly, why on earth would one of his employees have lied to him to get him into bed?
Chapter Seven
It couldn’t be him. Their CEO was Edward Wentworth, not Parker. Surely, this was a mistake. Her boss couldn’t be the man with liquid brown eyes, a sexily angled jaw, and lips made for slow, languid make-out sessions. Lips that had brought her earth-shattering orgasms last night. Emmaline’s eyes were playing tricks on her, that was it.
She gripped her drink, forcing her morning tea to stay in her stomach.
Just keep it together. Maybe you’ll wake up tomorrow and the CEO will be some ugly, balding guy with three chins.
“This is our new CEO, Edward Parker Wentworth,” Linda said.
“Just Parker,” he corrected. “The Edward part is purely a formality. No one calls me that.”
“Of course. Parker.” Emmaline’s big boss, Linda, looked like a proud mother hen. “I’m so pleased you’re able to meet Emmaline. She’s one of the best employees in my department.”
His gaze was trained on her, as though he could see into the jumbled mess that was her brain.
“Nice to meet you,” she said. The words came out as little more than a mouse-like squeak.
He stuck his hand out, which felt like a challenge more than a gesture of politeness. She had a glass of orange juice in one hand and an olive hors d’oeuvre in the other. Her brain spun, trying to figure out how to extract her from this living hell and get her to a place where she could think. One of the other girls cleared her throat and jerked her head toward Parker.
Taken by the CEO (The Scandalous Wentworths) Page 5