The Chauffeur

  It’s the perfect win-some–lose-some. I win because I know she wants it, and I lose because I can’t have it.

  After taking a rather long shower, I walk onto my balcony. It overlooks the pools and, unfortunately, the back of April’s apartment. I could see into her bedroom if the drapes were open and the lights were on. The same goes for the French doors that lead into her living room. I’m certain she doesn’t know that she can see into my rooms just as easily. I’m not quite ready to divulge that little secret just yet. I rush back in, close the doors and look out the window. Dickhead is still there, as are Adam, Emily, and Kyle.

  I take the towel from my waist and run it over my wet hair while watching her unpack. I’m sure Sam’s checking out her ass as she bends over. I feel myself going hard again, and I’m pissed. I’m angry that I can’t control this shit. As I stand here, naked, watching her bend over, innocently digging through a box, I envision her cheeks peeking out of her khaki shorts. My hand wraps around my shaft, stroking it, imagining sliding into her hot, wet sex. Closing my eyes, I dream of holding her by her hips, moving inside her, hearing her moan my name as I fuck her. I’d bring us both to our knees as we come together. Then, I release a primal growl as I explode, shooting long ropes of semen all over the sheer curtains in front of me.

  “Aw, fuck,” I yell, taking my damp towel and wiping my shit off them before Rita sees it. I look over my shoulder as if someone could walk into my room any minute. Geez, now I’m a peeping Tom.

  I need a telescope.

  ~.~

  “Good morning, Jason. Are you going to the office today?” Rita asks while pouring me my customary cup of coffee. I need it before I go out for my morning run.

  “Yes.” I take her offered cup and bend to kiss her cheek.

  “Here,” she says holding out bottled waters. “One for you and one for your running mate.”

  I shoot her a questioning glare.

  “April. She’s outside doing her stretches. I can see there’s no room in that outfit for a water bottle.” Rita grins as she turns back to the sink.

  I’m already at the window before she finishes the sentence. April is stretching in a sports bra and spandex shorts. Setting my coffee cup down, I take the bottles Rita placed on the counter. April is already running down the drive. I’m not far behind her, watching the finery that had me jizzing all over my curtains.

  As we reach the end of the driveway, I notice she’s about to turn left.

  “Hey,” I yell. Jogging in place, she turns. I toss the bottle to her and head in the opposite direction. I glance over my shoulder to find her looking back at me over hers.

  After running five miles, I check my watch and am surprised I’ve been out so long. I could run for another three, but I need to make an appearance in the office this morning. Sue mentioned that some rumblings are going around regarding Kathryn, and I need to keep myself in the loop. I hate surprises, and I think Kate might be whipping one up for me.

  Just as I crest the hill, almost to the driveway, I see April coming at me from the opposite direction. I’m not sure whether I want to reach the house before she does, or stop and walk the rest of the way so that she can get there before me. I opt to be a gentleman and allow her to jog ahead of me. She enters the gate first, giving me a view of her very feminine bottom. I smile the entire way to the back door.

  “See you in an hour, April?”

  “Yes, Mr. Rowe.”

  Ah, it’s professional-April today.

  I down another bottle of water, then take a quick shower and shave. After I hurry and dress, I head downstairs, joining Mother and Kyle for breakfast. Spying the Denver omelet on the buffet, I pick up the glass of orange juice at my plate and drain it.

  “Where’s Nicole?” Mom asks, looking at her empty chair.

  “She’s not here, Mother,” Kyle quips. We grin at each other.

  “Kyle, don’t be flippant. Why isn’t she here?”

  “Mother, Nicole has a man in her life now. I wouldn’t expect her at the table for every meal anymore,” I say while buttering a piece of toast.

  “I didn’t know they were that serious.” There’s a hint of sadness in her voice.

  “One morning, you’ll enter this room to find him sitting next to her after having spent the night.” I take her hand. She wants her children to marry and provide her with grandchildren. “Then it will be Kyle’s turn to be missing from our daily meals. Sadly, you will be stuck with only me.” I chuckle, stuffing a slice of toast in my mouth.

  “Yeah, that’s because your next conquest lives only a few yards away. If she didn’t, you wouldn’t be around much either, Romeo.”

  I want to jump across the table and break Kyle’s nose, but Mom stops me with her sharp glare.

  “Don’t tease, Kyle.”

  I swear I hear her giggle as she pretends to read the morning paper.

  “Your father comes home on Thursday, thank goodness. Also, next Saturday is the Literary Guild’s annual fundraiser and award ceremony. As usual, I have reserved a table for us. Let me know if you will be bringing anyone, Jason. Will you and Nicole be bringing your significant others, Kyle?”

  My mother’s face lights up knowing both my brother and sister have someone in their lives now. I know she’s worried about me finding someone, and has been for nearly ten years.

  “I’ll ask Emily today and let you know this afternoon.”

  “Let me know who you will be bringing, Jason. I assume Kate’s out of the question since she has a hit out on you right now,” she says with humor.

  “I’ll ask Francine and let you know,” I reply, finishing off my omelet.

  “I bet your Juliet would love to go. Why don’t you ask her, Romeo?” Kyle yells over his shoulder as he makes a dash out of the room.

  Dick.

  “Mom, I’ve been thinking.” I look at her across the table, and she puts the paper down to listen.

  “As you know, MileHigh is ramping up. I have meetings all this week, in and out of the office. I’m also going to be running back and forth between the plant and the office. I’m going to need April around a lot more than usual. Unless, of course, you want me to hire an outside service—”

  “What are you asking, Jason?”

  “I think rather than have April based out of the house for the next few months, we should provide her with space at the office so she can be readily available.”

  “I think that’s a good idea. Have Sue coordinate your meeting schedule with Robin, so there won’t be any conflicts as far as April is concerned.”

  I knew she’d agree with me, and thank God for that because I’d already emailed Sue to start making arrangements. I cringe at the idea of speaking to Robin, though. She’s worked for my mother for five years, but she has never hidden the fact that she wants me. I shudder at the thought.

  “Okay, do you want to tell April, or should I?”

  “You tell her. I’m staying home the rest of the week to prepare for your father’s return. I want things perfect when he arrives.”

  In other words, she’s going to primp herself.

  Just as I’m walking across the foyer, Garrett meets me. “Chocolate Chip today,” he says, handing me my briefcase.

  “My favorite. Kiss Rita for me.” I wink as I walk through the door and almost stumble over my feet when I see April waiting at the car with the passenger door open. She’s wearing a gold-buttoned, double-breasted black jacket that just covers her sweet, little bottom. The black leggings with knee-high black riding boots send a message straight to my cock. Thank God my mother insisted that she throw away the cap. She has her hair in a loose French braid and has finished off her outfit with gold-rimmed aviators. She looks totally fuckable.

  If I’ve given away any of my thoughts, she isn’t showing signs of noticing because she’s in her professional mode. She waits placidly beside the open door for me to get inside. Once I climb in, I open my briefcase, remove my laptop and lower the tray to begin reading my ema
il. It doesn’t take long for my phone to start ringing.

  “Good morning, Susan,” I say after putting the call on speaker.

  “Good morning, Jason. SpiritCAD phoned this morning at seven. They have the plans for the new wing design ready. They’re going to have a hard copy and a CD of the prints delivered to you today. They would like to meet with you and the engineer on Thursday at two o’clock. Your schedule is open at that time but only for forty minutes. Book it?”

  “Yes, but tell them we’ll meet at my office. Next.”

  “I’ve also scheduled a conference call with Spirit’s shipping department at twelve-thirty today regarding the transportation of the wings. That’s the soonest I could book the call. They’re busy with the Dreamliner right now, so I’ll have lunch delivered in from the dining room.”

  “Okay,” I answer as I scan my emails.

  “I received your email last night about the guest office. I’ve had it set up this morning for Ms. Sanders. Maintenance has put in a table and chair, a stocked refrigerator, TV and a computer with Internet.”

  “Excellent. Ms. Sanders is going to be running her ass off for me over the next couple of months.” Although she’s wearing her sunglasses, I know those beautiful eyes are glaring at me in the mirror.

  “Yes, sir. Is there anything else?”

  “Yes, call Francine. Tell her I need a date next Saturday. Formal. Six thirty.”

  “Yes, Jason. As usual, no one can beat you in the romance department,” she drones sarcastically.

  “Sue, I’m not looking for love, I just need some—” I cringe, regretting the words immediately.

  When I open my right eye a mere slit, April has lowered her glasses, and I see wide, shocked, eyes looking back at me in the mirror.

  “Sir,” she begins in a voice so calm it’s spooky. “Pardon me for overhearing your conversation, but I need to let you know that I’m not available to drive you next Saturday. Shall I arrange for another driver?”

  “Yes, please.” She nods, and I kick myself in the ass. But in reality, I don’t owe April an explanation about my relationship with Francine, or anyone.

  “I’ll get the details from Sue.”

  “Good.” I go back to my laptop but then remember that I need to tell her about my plans.

  “April, over the course of the next two to three months, I am going to be very busy with meetings in and out of my office. I’ve spoken with my mother, and she’s agreed that you should be close, so I’ve arranged to have an office set up for you. You will continue to drive my mother and father, but you will primarily be driving me while I launch our next project.” I look up to see her nod. “You will have a computer to use and full access to the dining room. If you want to get away from the office, Sue can show you where to go.”

  “Yes, sir. Thank you.”

  That’s her response? She sure doesn’t mince words. I feel the corner of my mouth tug into a smile and chuckle before my cell vibrates across the lap tray.

  “Jason Rowe.”

  “Hello, Jason.”

  “Kate. How are you? Are you done being mad at me?”

  “I’m going to ruin you, remember? My plan hasn’t changed, and it’s coming together nicely. It’s just a matter of time.”

  “Then why are you calling?”

  “I hear you’re lusting after your driver. I’m going to steal her out from under you. Be prepared.”

  “And where would you hear something like that that?” I ask, sitting up in my seat, listening to her devious laugh.

  “Oh, Jason, you don’t set out to destroy someone without discovering everything that’s going on, do you?” The line goes dead.

  “April?”

  “Yes, Mr. Rowe?”

  “Has Kathryn Walsh contacted you since you last picked us up?”

  She looked over her shoulder at me, then in the mirror. “No. Should I have?”

  “Would you have told me if you had?”

  “Not as a rule—unless you asked. I talk to a lot of people. I have no need to trouble you with those conversations. That’s silly if you think about it.”

  “I’m asking you to let me know if she approaches you for anything, all right?”

  “All right.”

  “April?”

  “Yes, Mr. Rowe?”

  “May I hear you say it?” I ask, needing to hear it from her lips.

  “Yes … Jason.”

  “Thank you.”

  April pulls in front of the building to let me out, and I instruct her to park in the garage. I also request that she come to the twenty-fifth-floor lobby so that Sue can show her around.

  After I get off the elevator, I call Sue into my office.

  “I have April coming to meet you at the reception desk. Will you show her where her office is and help her get acclimated? Also show her around, including the dining room and the atrium.”

  “Yes, Jason. Anything else?”

  “Yes. I received another threatening phone call from Kathryn. She insists she’s going to destroy me. She also said that she’s going to steal April from me and—”

  “Wait. What did you just say?” Sue asks with a frown.

  “Kathryn called with her threat to destroy me again,” I repeat myself as I flip through the papers on my desk.

  “No, not that part, that other thing you said.”

  “That Kathryn threatened to steal April from us.”

  “That isn’t what you said the first time, but I’ll make a note of it,” she says, scribbling on her notepad.

  “What did you think I said, Sue?”

  “It’s not what I think you said—it’s what I know you said. You said that Kathryn was threatening to steal April from me—meaning you,” she reminds me, pointing her pencil at me for emphasis.

  “No, I didn’t, but it’s all semantics. We just need to make sure that doesn’t happen, all right?” She gives me her precious bitch-face as she gets up from her chair.

  “Yes, you did. And I’ll keep my ear open for any gossip.”

  I enter my password and log into my desktop when Sue interrupts my thoughts through the intercom.

  “Jason, Francine is on line seven.”

  I look at my desk phone and see the light blinking.

  “Hello, Francine. How are you?” I ask. I’ve known Francine for a long time, and it has never been more for us but a date.

  “I’m perfect as usual, handsome. It's been so long, and I can’t wait to see you. What time will you pick me up, and will it be your place or mine?”

  “Mine. I’ll pick you up at six-thirty, and you’re right, it has been too long. I’m looking forward to it, Francine. Oh, it’s formal.”

  “Yes, Sue told me. I’m looking forward to it.”

  “Me too. I’ll see you then,” I say before hanging up the phone. Something tells me this isn’t a good idea.

  The wing designs are here, and a decision needs to be made. I upload the CD Sue left on my desk and got to work reviewing the notes SpiritCAD forwarded to me.

  “Knock, knock,” Kyle says before coming into my office.

  “Hey, Kyle, what’s up? I haven’t seen your smart ass since breakfast. Are you here to piss me off some more?”

  “Naw, not today. Hey, what’s up with all the guys hovering around Sue’s desk?”

  “What do you mean?” I ask, breaking my concentration from my computer screen.

  “It’s probably just the new girl on the floor. You know how guys get when a new girl is around. They’ll get tired of her soon enough.”

  “Who?” I ask, my head snapping up to look at him.

  “Why, April of course. It’s that outfit she has on I’m sure. It’s kind of hot. I guess I better tell her to stick to her office, so she doesn’t disrupt their work.”

  My instinct is to jump up and see what the fuck is going on out there, but I need to chill out where she’s concerned.

  “So, Emily, Nicole and I are going to the club that Adam manages on Friday. Do you w
ant to join us?”

  “It’s been a while since I’ve gone to a club. I tend to run into too many people I used to know if you know what I mean.”

  “April’s coming too, I think. Man, can she dance! Sexy as shit.”

  He opens the door, looks out, steps back in and shakes his head.

  “You should see this mess out here, Jason. It looks like the sixth grade all over again, with all the boys pulling the pigtails of the new girl. I’ll shoo them back to their offices.”

  That does it. I pick up my phone and call Sue.

  “Yes, Jason.”

  “Send April in here, please.”

  “Yes, Jason.”

  Shortly after I hang up, April knocks on my door.

  “Come in. Have a seat.” I motion for her to sit in front of my desk.

  I can’t keep my eyes off those skin-tight pants and knee-high boots and with my head down; I discreetly watch her walk across the floor to the chair in front of me. I divert my eyes back to my computer.

  “Did you need something, Mr. Rowe?” she asks, prompting me to think of something to cover up my real reason for calling her in here.

  “Yes. Do you find your office suitable?”

  “Yes,” she replies. “Very suitable. Is there something wrong?”

  “No. Did Sue show you around all right?”

  “Not yet. She was going over the blueprints with the crew that’s remodeling the bathroom when you called for me. I think she’s going to give me a tour when she’s finished, though.”

  Fucking Kyle

  “Well, follow me. I’ll show you Mother’s office and introduce you to my parents’ assistants.” I escort her to the door and let Sue know that I’m showing April around before we head down the hall.