The Driven Series

by Bromberg, K.

  After a short elevator ride, where I’m able to touch up my lip-gloss and pinch my cheeks for color, I arrive on the floor of the main office. I walk past my office, nod to several people, and exchange pleasantries on my way to Teddy’s receptionist. I note that the shutters on the conference room windows are closed and wonder what’s going on in there.

  “Hi, Sandy.”

  “Hey, Rylee. I’ll let him know you’re here. He’s expecting you.”

  I smile. “Thanks.” I walk toward the wall of windows that extends throughout the office and watch a line of cars on the freeway heading home. The ants go marching one by one.

  “That was quick!” I turn to face my boss, a broad grin on his face. “I can’t wait to bring you up to speed.”

  “I can’t wait to hear what’s going on,” I say as I follow him into his office.

  I sit down across from him in the black leather chair, happy to be off my feet.

  Teddy sits across from me, unable to contain his enthusiasm. “I got a call earlier today and have been in a meeting all afternoon hammering out a deal. Get this,” he says as he leans toward me, placing his hands on his desk, “CD Enterprises has come forward wanting to put up half of the remaining cash for the facilities as well as raise the remainder of the money by getting other companies to match or sponsor them.” His words come out in a rush of air, excitement in his eyes.

  I process his words, trying to formulate a coherent thought. I can’t believe this is really happening. “What? How? Wow!” I laugh, caught up in Teddy’s whirlwind.

  “I am still fine-tuning the finishing details of it. Colton’s in the conference room right now.” He motions with his hand toward the hallway. “I’ll bring you in there in a second to reintroduce you.”

  “We’ve met?”

  “Yes, I introduced you to him on Saturday at the benefit.”

  “You introduced me to a lot of people at the benefit,” I tell him, laughing. “So many I couldn’t keep their names and faces straight. Let’s hope I remember what conversation I had with him so I don’t look like an ass.”

  He laughs at me, the reassuring sound booming off the walls of his office. “I’m sure you’ll be fine! Anyway, this could be it, kid! All your hard work finally coming to fruition!”

  “This is so great, Teddy!” Relief overtakes me. We’d been told earlier in the week that without the complete funding, the project might be delayed for another eight months to a year.

  “Almost too good to be true, really.” He shakes his head. “I have to tell you though, Ry, I’m gonna have to depend on you to help me with this. They want a dedicated person from our office to work side-by-side with theirs, and they requested you.”

  I nod despite being confused by why or how the company knows me. It doesn’t matter. What matters is getting the funding. “Sure, I’ll do anything. You know that.” I put my hand up to my chest, covering my heart. “I can’t believe it! Whatever you need, I’ll do, to get this funding—to keep this ball rolling.”

  “That’s my girl! I knew I could count on you!” He rises from his desk. “C’mon, I can’t wait for you and Colton to reacquaint yourselves and go over the fine print on the agreement.”

  I follow him down the hallway, feeling a little insecure about my attire. I’m underdressed for a business meeting, but if Teddy doesn’t care, neither should I.

  “Here she is, Colton,” Teddy announces as he enters the conference room ahead of me.

  I turn the corner, walk through the doorway and come to a dead stop. Donavan is sitting in a chair at the other end of the conference table, a stack of papers in front of him. His arms are crossed casually over his chest, and his biceps pull noticeably at the sleeves of his polo shirt. His eyes meet mine and his mouth spreads into a slow, smug smile.

  What the hell? I stop in the doorway looking at Teddy and back to Donavan. “I—I don’t under—understand?” I stammer.

  The appalled look on Teddy’s face tells me that I’ve made a serious blunder in my reaction. “Rylee?” he questions as he looks at Donavan quickly, making sure I haven’t offended him, and then back at me, a warning on his face. “Rylee, what are you talking about? This is Colton Donavan, among other things, the CEO of CD Enterprises—I introduced you to him the other night?”

  All at once, my world turns and tilts on its axis. My head is reeling from the fact that the man across from me—the man who reduced me to a puddle of sensation the other night—is none other than Colton Donavan. The Colton Donavan—hot and upcoming racecar driver extraordinaire, son of a mega-Hollywood-movie director, and the serial philanderer who provides the tabloids constant fodder for their gossip columns.

  The Colton Donavan who left me with salacious dreams and a carnal, unrequited craving since last Saturday. Fuck me!

  I can’t believe that I didn’t put it together sooner. I knew he seemed familiar when I met him, but I realize I wasn’t thinking rationally either. I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around this. All of the air has been punched out of my lungs.

  My head swivels from Teddy to Dona-er-Colton and back to Teddy. From the way Teddy is staring at me, the look on my face must be quite unpleasant. I look down, take a deep breath, and try to compose myself and quiet the emotions rioting through my head. I can’t screw up this donation regardless of my feelings—there is too much at stake.

  “Um—I apologize,” I say softly, “I just—I thought your name was Donavan.” I walk further into the room, gaining confidence, telling myself I can do this. “I misunderstood when we met the other night …” The quick flash of Colton’s grin stops me cold.

  You can do this, I repeat to myself like a mantra. I refuse to let him know that he has this effect on me.

  I hold my head up and walk with purpose to where he sits, holding out my hand and plastering a smile to my face. “Nice to see you again, Mr. Donavan.”

  I can hear the deep breath Teddy has been holding—afraid my reaction has possibly hampered this deal—release. The tension in his face ebbs.

  “Colton, please,” Donavan says as he unfolds himself gracefully from his chair and rises, taking my hand in his, holding it a beat longer than necessary. “Nice to see you again too.” A spark flashes through his emerald eyes.

  “Please, let’s all sit,” Teddy says enthusiastically. “Colton, I’ll let you fill Rylee in on your company’s proposal.”

  “I’d be glad to, Teddy.” Colton says professionally, all business, as he shifts his chair to face me, placing a packet of paper in front of me. “CD Enterprises is invested in giving back to our community. On a yearly basis, my team and I choose an organization and devote time, connections, and funds to create awareness for their cause. After unexpectedly attending your function last weekend in my mother’s place when she fell ill, I found your organization to be inspiring.”

  I observe him while he continues on with facts and figures of past organizations that CD Enterprises has supported. I’m having a hard time understanding how this professional, put-together man is the same person who reduced me to tremors and whimpers.

  This is the type of man I usually fall for. Black and white, no grey area. Knowledgeable and passionate. This is what I find sexy. Not the arrogant, self-serving bastard from the other night who was reckless and uninhibited. Thank goodness I know the truth so I won’t fall for his act.

  At least this is what I’m telling myself when I hear my name pass from his lips.

  “What?” I ask as I shake myself from my thoughts.

  “Do you have any questions?” Colton asks, cocking his head to the side thoughfully. I can tell he knows exactly what I’m thinking about—him.

  “First of all, let me say that I hope your mother is feeling better,” I say, letting my manners override my contempt for him. When he nods, I continue, “What exactly does CD Enterprises do, Mr. Donavan?” I ask.

  “My mother is doing better, thank you. As for CDE, the company’s primary function is ownership and management of a race t
eam. My race team,” he says, exuding pride. “Among other things, our biggest venture is a cutting edge technology that will help increase the safety quotient for drivers. It is currently patent pending.”

  “Hmmmm,” I contemplate, trying to figure out how this can all tie in. “And how exactly are you going to tie a race car or team, per se, into raising funds for orphaned kids and Corporate Cares?” I am back in business mode, my intellect unaffected by his charm. For the most part. But I have a feeling there’s a catch here.

  Once bitten, twice shy.

  “Thank you for the segue,” he says. “On Monday, I brought your organization to my team’s attention. After some research, discussions, and brainstorming, we created the following proposal.” He flips open the packet in front of me and looks at me, pleasure softening his hard features as he announces, “CD Enterprises proposes that up front, we donate one and a half million dollars to Corporate Cares.”

  Holy shit! I try to stifle the words from tumbling out of my mouth. Pride is evident in his eyes as he watches me pensively, quietly gauging my reaction before continuing.

  “In addition to the immediate funds, we plan to devote a portion of my car’s graphics in the upcoming season to promote your cause or mission, if you will.” He sees the confusion on my face and puts his hand up so he can finish. “We plan on using this advertising spot to entice other companies and race teams to add to the sponsorship. My team will get them to commit to paying a set dollar amount per lap that my car completes or a blanket sponsorship.”

  I widen my eyes in disbelief; this could bring in a staggering amount of money for the company. I glance over to Teddy, who is so excited he is fidgeting, a huge grin on his face. I look back to Colton and my eyes meet his, emerald to amethyst, warring between gratitude and confusion. Why us? Why our company?

  He smiles softly at me as if he knows what I’m thinking and acknowledges my dilemma. Accepting the donation means I have to accept his date. He continues, “We’re still figuring out whether we offer the sponsorship per race or over the whole season. My team is working on that as we speak, seeing as we only have a little under three months until the first race to get as many corporate sponsors as possible.”

  “Isn’t that unbelievable?” Teddy bellows from beside me.

  I turn to him and smile sincerely before turning back to face Colton. “It’s very generous of you and your company; I’m just a little baffled about why. Why Corporate Cares?”

  The corners of his mouth turn up. “Let’s just say that you can be very persuasive, Ms. Thomas.” He holds my stare as I inhale a sharp breath. “I think I’ll enjoy working with someone as passionate and...” he looks away, finding the word before bringing his eyes back to mine “...responsive as I found you to be on Saturday night.” He keeps his face impassive, although his eyes are anything but, as his tongue darts out to lick his lower lip.

  Despite the blood draining from my head at his words, I can feel a flush spread over my cheeks and down my neck. The corners of his eyes crinkle. I squirm under his gaze, wishing to be anywhere but here.

  Like in his bed, under him, with his fingers dancing across my skin and his lips possessing mine. What the fuck? It’s bad enough he’s in my face, now he’s corrupting my thoughts. This is not good. Definitely not good.

  I suppress my anger at the nerve of Colton. I can’t believe he’s just said this. Is referring to my indiscretion in front of my boss really that necessary? How dare he come in my office and provoke me, remind me of something I’m not proud of. Something I’m not going to forget anytime soon.

  “Responsive,” Teddy says, rolling the word over his tongue in thought. “That is a great way to describe my Rylee here!” He pats me on the back and pride fills his voice. He is completely oblivious. “Always going above and beyond.”

  Colton shifts his eyes to Teddy, who is unaware of our sexual tension. “It is, indeed. And a very hard quality to find in someone.” He nods, agreeing with Teddy. “I watched her in action on Saturday night and was quite impressed.”

  I’ve had enough of this, yet I don’t want to give him the satisfaction of knowing he’s agitated me. I don’t want to work with this man, but let’s face it, Corporate Cares has no other option to make all my blood, sweat, and tears over the past two years come to fruition. He’s stepping up to the plate, even if his motives aren’t completely wholesome.

  I have to think of this collaboration as a means to an end. My boys and the many others who can benefit from this new facility.

  “So Mr. Donavan—”

  “Colton, please,” he reiterates.

  “Colton, I understand the premise,” I state primly, wanting to get this conversation back on track. “What exactly is my involvement in this collaboration?”

  “Well, Ms. Thomas, I won’t need much from you from a business standpoint. I have a team that is very experienced in this type of thing. Obviously though, I’ll need you to be the point of contact for their questions and other miscellaneous things.”

  These “other miscellaneous things” have me worried. “So why—”

  Colton holds up a hand again, and I am getting rather annoyed by this habit. “As I discussed with Teddy, the contract between our companies for the donation is contingent on several factors.” He pauses, organizing the papers on the table before him. He looks up, his attention focused solely on me. “For the next several months and into the season, I will need a representative of Corporate Cares with me for numerous occasions.”

  He stops as I purse my lips, my eyes growing large as I hope my assumptions are incorrect. “Me?” I question, already knowing the answer.

  “Yes. You.” He mouths. I watch his eyes narrow as I lick my lips. All of a sudden, I feel hot. His lips part just a bit as he watches me, and I have to shake the inappropriate thoughts of them out of my head as he continues. “In conjunction with the announcement of our joining forces, there will be several events—some locally, some out of town—black tie affairs, press junkets, et cetera,” he says, casually waving his fingers, “that I will need you to escort me to.”

  “What?” I stand up, pushing my chair back with force and look between Colton and Teddy in bewilderment. How dare he? I turn down a date, turn down going beyond second base backstage, and he schemes up a way to tie me to him with a contract? What an immature prick! His ego must really be bruised from my rejection.

  I’m dumbfounded. No way. This is not happening. Words I’d love to say to him, to call him, run through my head as I seethe with anger.

  “Is there something the matter, Rylee?” Teddy asks, breaking through my haze of frustration. “I think it’s a brilliant idea.” I turn my head to him, opening my mouth to respond but nothing comes out. “If Colton’s willing to use his name, his connections, and popularity by standing beside you at a press filled event to get the word out about Corporate Cares, then—”

  “Why not take advantage of it?” Colton finishes for him, a smug smile spreading across his face.

  I’m starting to feel dizzy, my head spinning from the turn of events. I place my hand on the table to brace myself as I slowly sink into the chair, my eyes focusing on an imaginary spot on the papers in front of me.

  “Ry? You okay?” Teddy asks, concerned.

  “Huh?” I raise my head up to meet his empathetic eyes.

  “You look a little flushed. Are you feeling okay?”

  “Yeah. Yes,” I answer, taking a deep breath. “I’m just—it was a long shift. That’s all,” I say, gathering myself. It’s a means to an end. “Sorry,” I apologize. “I’m just overwhelmed that the new project is going to be a reality.” Colton sits silently, analyzing me. I shift uncomfortably under his scrutiny.

  “Look, Rylee,” Teddy says, “I know you have a lot on your plate right now and this is just adding to it, but it’s so close now we can taste it. There is no one I’d rather have be the face of this organization. You’re the one, kiddo.”

  His high praise warms me despite the pani
c I feel from being trapped. From being forced into a situation that I know will be beneficial for Corporate Cares but no doubt devastating for me.

  Teddy glances at his watch and reaches over to pat my hand. “I have a conference call in five minutes.” He rises from his seat as does Colton. “I trust that I can leave you two in here to fine-tune the remaining details.”

  He reaches his hand out to Colton, sealing the agreement with a handshake. “Thank you, for your unexpected generosity. You have no idea how many lives you are helping to change with this gift.”

  An unexplained darkness flickers across Colton’s face. “I understand more than most people might think,” he says before releasing Teddy’s hand. “Thank you for your warm reception to the idea. My lawyer will be contacting you in the morning to draw up the paperwork.”

  With that, Teddy nods and exits the conference room. I stand watching the empty doorway, my back toward Colton as I contemplate my next move.

  I’m overwhelmed by his generosity. At his attempt to make my dreams come true, so why can I not feel gratitude toward him? Why do I just want to turn around and throttle him? I hate being forced into anything. It’s not that I have to be in control—well, maybe just a little bit. But at least I want to make my own decisions, not be treated like some compliant woman who submits without question.

  Why does he irritate me so much? Is it because every time I look at his lips or watch his fingers rub over his jaw, my body tightens in anticipation of how they felt on me? Or is it because I can hear his rasp of a voice in my dreams telling me how much he wants me? Shit! My life was perfectly fine until last weekend. And then I meet him and now I’m a flustered mess.

  I shouldn’t care that he was making out and doing God knows what with Bailey, but I do. I’m embarrassed that he probably thinks I let any guy I meet put his hands on me. I’m irritated that I know the only reason for his pursuit is because I’m not falling for his smooth lines and eloquent bullshit. I’m confused why a man who is like a Pied Piper to women much prettier, sexier—everything—than me is even glancing twice in my direction.