“Yes, please.”
“Thank you for your assistance.”
“Thank you.”
I hit End and returned to the table. Seth looked at me, so I smiled to let him know everything was okay.
When we were finally finished with our meal, Mr. Ainsworth brought up when we would meet again. “Seth, I like what I’m hearing. I would like to set up a meeting with you at our office. You can meet the others and maybe show us what you have to offer. Does that work for you?”
Seth beamed, and I was happy for him. Despite how gross Mr. Ainsworth seemed, he hadn’t done anything more than look at me. And since he lived in California and I lived in Minnesota, I hoped that after this week, I’d never have to see him again.
“That sounds great,” Seth said.
“How does Thursday sound?” Mr. Ainsworth said. “We are meeting with another agency from Washington tomorrow.”
This guy was an asshole. He hadn’t needed to bring that up. He only wanted Seth to know he had competition. I wanted to blurt out that Seth had a meeting with Ryan Jackman tomorrow, so we couldn’t have done it anyway.
But that choice was up to Seth, and he didn’t say a word.
“Thursday works for us.”
Mr. Ainsworth smiled, but it was a look that said his suggestion had better work for us or else we’d lose out. I turned away, so I could roll my eyes. He was so full of himself. He was the kind of rich person I had disliked all my life. He had money, and he abused his power with it.
“What time works best?” Seth asked.
Crap. I should have probably been the one to ask that.
I quickly lifted my phone and pretended to check the calendar. “Sorry. Yes, what time would you like us there?”
“Can you come at two in the afternoon?” Gwyneth asked.
I paused a minute before saying, “We can make that work.”
Gwyneth’s smile was genuine, but Gene’s was slightly strained.
“We shall see you then,” he said. He directed his eyes at me. “And, Tessa, if you’d like some company while you’re sightseeing, please just let me know.”
Gross.
I wanted to lean into Seth for comfort, but he wasn’t my boyfriend, and it would look very bad for me to do that to my boss.
“Thanks,” I muttered through my revulsion.
We said good-bye to the father-daughter pair and went outside to wait for our Uber.
Seth scanned the area behind us before asking, “What do you think that was about?”
“Which part?” I asked dryly. It was good to know Seth wasn’t completely clueless.
“Gene Ainsworth offering to take you sightseeing.” He shuddered. “It was kind of creepy.”
Here was where I had to make a decision. Seth and his company could make a lot of money with Paragon, and I was only going to be with the company for a few months. I didn’t want to leave Seth with a bad taste in his mouth because of me.
So, I opted to play it off.
I laughed awkwardly. “He’s old, and his generation thinks they’re being polite, but I think they forget that women are more independent than they were in their day.”
Seth studied me. “If you say so. It still rubbed me the wrong way.”
I waved off his concern. “Just think of all the dollar signs that are coming your way.”
He frowned and turned toward me. He was about to say something when his phone beeped to let us know our ride was approaching.
I hoped that meant we were done with this conversation because I really hated lying to him even if it was for his own good and only by omission. Thankfully, I had other news to deliver.
“Ryan Jackman can’t make the meeting tomorrow, so you’re going to do it over the phone. I hope that’s okay. I wasn’t really given a choice.”
“No, that works great. We don’t have to get up early to drive down to LA. But I bet you’re bummed about not meeting him, right?”
I sighed. “I guess my dreams of him falling in love with me and whisking me off to marry him are over,” I joked.
Seth put his arm around my neck and pressed his mouth near my ear. “Is it wrong that hearing you talk like that makes me jealous?”
Butterflies fluttered in my stomach. “No, not at all.”
Chapter Twenty
Tessa
When we got back to the hotel, I was still feeling uneasy, and since I didn’t want to talk about Gene Ainsworth anymore, I went to my room to change into my pajamas.
I was about to head to the bathroom to brush my teeth and wash my face when the bag from the cat café caught my eye. I hadn’t brought up the idea to Alexis yet, but I could definitely share the mug with my friends.
I took a picture, making sure they could read the My Bookshelf Is My Boyfriend on the side, and sent it to our message group.
Me: Look what I found. I thought it was perfect, considering I’m a founding member of United She-Woman Single Ladies with Our Vibrators So We Never Have Another Bad Date or Experience Romance Again Because Men Suck Club.
Pru: LOL. That is perfect.
Bree: I agree.
Alexis: Except she might not need her bookshelf anymore.
Bree: What does that mean?
I sighed. Alexis had done so well until now.
Alexis: When you Googled Tessa’s new boss, you forgot to look at pictures of him.
I needed to stop this before it got too far.
Me: When Alexis came to work and brought me cupcakes, she met my boss.
Alexis: Yeah, and he’s hot.
I opened up a message thread that went to just Alexis.
Me: You promised you wouldn’t say anything. Do not tell them I had sex with Seth!
I set my phone down to wrap my mug back up in the paper, so it would be safe in my suitcase when I traveled back home, and my phone started beeping nonstop.
I unlocked the screen and cursed.
Pru: You had sex with your boss?!
Bree: Oh my God! That’s so not like you!
Paisley: I’m just catching up, but I agree!
Isabelle: I just got here, too, but you go, girl.
Elizabeth: Same here. I agree with Isabelle.
I fell back on my bed and groaned. I had opened the other message thread with Alexis but accidentally clicked back to the group one and just told everyone I’d had sex with Seth.
Bree: Tessa, are you still there?
Paisley: Damn, girl. I just looked up your boss. Holy hell, he is hot. I’m so jealous you’re getting some and not me. P.S. Cool mug, btw.
Paisley was the queen of one-night stands, but she also had a habit of falling in love. So, while the rest of us had decided to give up dating, Paisley had pretty much had to include sex too.
Alexis: I would just like to note that all I said was, your boss was hot. You told everyone you had sex with him.
She didn’t have to include my name. I knew she was talking to me.
Me: I know it was all me. But since I already said something, all I can say is, don’t judge me. He’s hot and nice. And I’m kind of on vacation.
Paisley: You don’t have to justify getting laid to me.
Me: Thank you.
Paisley: I am a little irked you only told Alexis and not me though.
Pru: Yeah, what Paisley said.
Bree: I agree. I mean, I’m going to be your future sister-in-law.
Me: I thought you and Zack weren’t talking about marriage?
Bree: Don’t turn this around on me, young lady.
Me: LOL. You’ll just have to wait until our next dinner together to get any juicy details.
Bree: Fine. It is getting late anyway.
Paisley: I will try to make time.
Pru: Me too.
Isabelle: Me three.
Elizabeth: I’ll make time too.
Me: Sounds good. When I get back, we’ll talk.
Me: I love you all. And have a good night.
Despite exposing myself to my friends, I had a big smile on my f
ace after saying good night. I really loved all of them and was lucky to have them in my life. Not everyone stayed close with their high school friends.
My phone rang, and I saw it was Bree video-calling me.
I rolled onto my stomach, moved to the center of the bed to get more comfortable, and answered. “Yes?” I said in way of a greeting.
I could see that Bree was in bed, lying on her side with the covers tucked under her arms. The light was low, and I remembered she was two hours later than me. The sun was going down here in California, which meant it was already dark there.
“Crap, I completely forgot about the time change when I texted you all. I can’t believe you’re still awake.”
“It’s just after ten, not three in the morning.”
“On a work night,” I added.
“I’m in bed already.”
“I see that. What’s up?”
“You know why I’m calling. You’re on my shit list.”
“I’m sorry, okay? I wouldn’t have even told Alexis, but she came to my work. And I’ve been trying to resist him. Trust me.”
“Trying to resist who?” a deep voice asked behind me.
I looked over my shoulder to see a half-naked Seth before he crawled on top of me. He pushed my hair off one shoulder and kissed my neck.
“Oh my God, is that him?”
Seth lifted his head, and his body stiffened. “I didn’t know you were on video,” he whispered to me.
“Sorry,” I whispered back.
“Hello,” he said to Bree.
But before she could say hi back, my brother popped up from behind Bree. He was also naked from the waist up. At least, I hoped he was, except he was in bed with my friend so he was probably completely nude. I absolutely did not want to think about that.
“Who the fuck is that?” Zack asked.
Seth stiffened again, but I could tell it was for a different reason.
“Seth, this is my friend Bree and my brother, Zack. Guys, this is Seth.”
Bree looked over at my brother and said something that I couldn’t make out.
“Yeah, well, I don’t like it,” Zack muttered.
“Zack, mind your own business. You were literally sleeping with one of my closest friends behind my back. You have no room to talk or play big brother.”
He frowned. “Play big brother? I am your big brother.”
“You know what I mean.”
The two of us had never been that close, but our relationship had improved since he started dating Bree. But if he thought he was going to be all protective over me, he could forget about it.
“Fine,” Zack said with a sigh and dropped back down on the bed. I couldn’t see him anymore, except for the arm that snaked around Bree’s waist.
“Since it’s no longer just the two of us, we’ll talk later,” Bree said.
“Tomorrow?” I offered.
“Tomorrow,” she said. Then, she grinned and winked at me. “Have a fun night,” she said in a singsong voice.
“I’d tell you the same, but I’d be too grossed out at even the notion,” I replied in the same tone.
Bree laughed and said, “Night.”
I grinned back. “Night.”
I hung up my phone and threw it in front of me as Seth slid off my back.
“So, that was your brother?”
“Yeah.”
“And your friend?”
“Yeah.”
He seemed to be concentrating, and I realized what was probably bothering him.
I put my hand on his arm. “Don’t worry. They won’t tell anyone about us.”
“Us?”
Shit. I’d made it sound like we were in a relationship.
“I mean, they won’t say anything about you and me looking cozy and intimate.” I didn’t want him to worry anymore, so I crawled closer and kissed him. “They can keep a secret.” I scoffed. Boy, can they keep a secret. “Trust me.”
He surprised me by lifting a shoulder and saying, “I’m not even a little worried.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Seth
Tessa walked to the bathroom, saying she was going to wash her face and brush her teeth, and I pushed myself off her bed and went into the main area.
Dinner wasn’t sitting right with me, and I wanted to check on something on my computer.
It wasn’t that I thought I wouldn’t be prepared for the presentation meeting. It was that I didn’t like Gene Ainsworth. I couldn’t put my finger on why, but I felt my instincts were part of the reason I’d achieved as much as I had in my career. I wasn’t going to ignore them now.
I pulled up a search engine and typed in Gene Ainsworth and Spark Advertising to see if anything came up. When I’d heard he’d dropped his old advertising agency, I could admit, all I had seen was the money Paragon would bring in. I hadn’t looked into what had happened.
There were a few tech articles listed first, but they didn’t give any details, just the basics. But I didn’t expect things like this to be front page news. Gene Ainsworth was rich. He had way more money than me, and he owned one of the biggest tech companies in the world. The man had a lot of power to keep information on the down-low.
It took some digging, but I finally saw something that caught my eye as a reason I might be concerned about working with the man, but it wasn’t a news article. It was a tweet on Twitter.
It was on the day that the news had broken about Paragon leaving Spark behind.
Take note. The news is reporting that #paragon fired #sparkadvertising, but it is Spark that told Paragon—and more importantly, #geneainsworth—that they no longer wanted to work with him.
I did more digging but found nothing more than the single Twitter post, but that didn’t stop me from having a sick feeling in my gut. I clenched and unclenched my hands. I had no proof that Gene Ainsworth had done anything out of line, but it didn’t matter. If that man ever did one thing remotely questionable to Tessa, I would kill him.
I was thankful that I had never left her alone with him.
I slumped down in my seat and rubbed my forehead. I needed to decide if I was going to bring her to the Paragon building on Thursday. I needed to figure out if I even wanted to go to the meeting at all.
By securing this new account, I could afford to give all my employees a raise, and with a vague post like that, I didn’t know what had happened. I was only speculating.
I opened my email and found the CEO of Spark Advertising. Maybe if I contacted him—one CEO to another—I would get some information on Gene Ainsworth and Paragon.
There was a chance that someone might email me back tonight, but I doubted it, so I tried to put it out of my mind.
I opened a new tab in my browser and searched Functional Bean Coffee Company. And since this was a company and an owner I had heard nothing but good things about, I threw myself into preparing for tomorrow morning’s phone meeting.
I ended up losing track of time until I suddenly looked at the corner of my computer and realized how late it was.
I was feeling good about the call in the morning and figured I could pack it in for the night. I could get up early if I thought of more information to add.
I shut off my laptop and closed the lid before heading to Tessa’s room. I was hoping she was up, reading, so I could convince her to come to my room and get naked, but she was already sleeping. I wished I had thought to tell her to come to my bed earlier, as I had a king and she had a queen, but I had already slept in there once the first night we were here.
I stripped off my clothes and got down to my boxers before climbing into bed next to her. I wasn’t going to cuddle with her, afraid I’d wake her up. I simply wanted to be close to her, but she made small whimpers in her sleep.
My heart broke for her because she was having a bad dream. Again.
Since it didn’t seem to be as bad as it had been the other night, I wrapped my arm around her and pulled her close but did not attempt to wake her.
&nb
sp; Her body relaxed at first, and I was feeling hopeful my presence was calming, but then she cried out and stiffened.
“Tessa,” I said, squeezing her close. “Tessa, it’s okay. I’m here.”
Her body jolted once, and then it was like she let every muscle go. She turned in my arms and tentatively touched my face. “Seth?”
“Yeah. I’m here now. I’ve got you.”
She cupped my face and attacked my mouth with her kisses. Her tongue was like fire and full of impatience, as if she couldn’t get enough of me.
I wasn’t sure if it was the right thing to do after a bad dream, but I’d also had my share of nightmares, and wanting to feel good and in control of something after waking up from one seemed normal to me.
I held her close as she threw a leg over my hips and rubbed her pussy against my dick. She whimpered for a whole other reason this time.
She trailed one of her hands from my face down to my boxers. She wasted no time, slipping her hand underneath the band and grabbing my shaft.
I groaned into her mouth, and she bit my lip.
“Fuck,” I muttered.
She removed her leg from my hip and pushed down at my boxers. I helped her by kicking them off while she went to work on her own pajama bottoms.
I was ready for a few more minutes of foreplay before we moved to the main event, but Tessa had other plans. She whipped her leg back over mine, grabbed my dick, and sank her sweet, incredibly hot, and wet pussy on it.
I had given myself a minute last night of feeling her bare pussy while she orgasmed, but I had immediately pulled out and put a condom on before we did anything else. So, I was a little bit of a hypocrite when it dawned on me that I should really stop us from going any further.
Except she felt so good, and I told myself, Just a few more seconds, just a few more seconds, several times.
God. She felt amazing, and knowing she wanted me this badly made it hard to say no.
Not Another Billionaire (Not Another Romance) Page 10