by Sandi Lynn
“Well, you’ve only worked for me for one day, and to be honest, I forgot about it until Christopher reminded me this morning. But I’m not worried. I know if anyone can put it together quickly, you can.” He smirked.
“Damn right I can. Is that all?”
“Yes. Hold all my calls until further notice. I’m buried in paperwork I need to go over.”
“Of course. By the way, do you want to grab some dinner tonight after work?”
“No. I can’t. I already have plans,” he spoke.
I walked out of his office and pulled opened the file cabinet, searching for the file Chrissy supposedly had. Found it. I pulled it out and took a seat behind my desk. Damn it. I wasn’t the one who did this shit when I worked for my father. I always delegated this type of task. Picking up the phone, I dialed Franco.
“Hello, sweet cheeks,” he answered.
“Franco, I need the person you use to organize your events.”
“His name is Bernard. What do you need him for?”
“Wes is having me organize a business event and it’s in two weeks. You know I don’t really organize things myself.”
“Ah, okay. Don’t worry. I’ll give him a ring right now and give him your number. I got you, babe.”
“Thanks, Franco. I owe you big time. Oh, by the way, if Wes asks you to make him a cheesecake, tell him you’re busy.”
“What?” He chuckled into the phone.
“I’ll explain later. Call Bernard now.”
Chapter 14
Wes
She walked out of my office and I felt nothing but confliction. I felt like she was a woman I could get caught up in. A woman that I could fall instantly for. The woman I had already fallen for. And also a woman who had a lot of issues. Issues I wasn’t about to take on. I needed to keep my distance from her and keep things professional for as long as she was my personal assistant. It was going to be hard and my cock wasn’t going to like it, but I had no choice. I couldn’t stand people who lied. I’d been burned before, and I would never let it happen again.
“Wes, you got a second?” Christopher asked as he popped his head in the door.
“Sure. Come on in.”
“I have those reports you were looking for.”
“Thanks, Christopher,” I said as I held out my hand and he handed them to me.
He took a seat in the chair across from my desk and crossed his legs.
“Anna looks great sitting outside your office. She’s one hell of a looker. How did dinner go last night?”
“It was good. She used to work at Young Vine Enterprises in California.”
“The wine company?”
“Yeah. She was the chief operating officer and her father fired her after she ran off.”
“No fucking way! What the hell is she doing being your personal assistant? Jesus Christ, she’s probably more qualified to run this place than you or me.”
“Apparently, she gets bored easily.” I rolled my eyes. “I need to keep my distance from her.”
“Why? I can tell you like her.”
“I do, but I’m afraid I can’t trust her.”
“Why? Because she lied on a stupid resume? Big deal.”
“I believe she’s more trouble than it’s worth. She left her fiancé at the altar. Her father fired her from the family business that she was supposed to take over, and her mother isn’t in her life at all. What does that tell you about her?”
“It tells me that she comes from a shitty family,” he spoke.
“Or it could be that she’s the problem. I mean, I’m all for her knowing what she wants, but leaving that guy standing at the altar the way she did just isn’t sitting right with me. If she didn’t love him or was unsure, she should have called off the wedding. I just think she has some major problems and I’m not getting involved with someone like that.”
“Is this because of Alexa?”
“No. This has nothing to do with her.”
“I think you’re wrong, man. I think this has everything to do with her and with what happened. Everyone has issues and nobody’s perfect.”
“I know that, and as much as I like Anna, I can’t get involved with someone like her. It’s too much. I’m at a good place in my life and I don’t need any drama.”
Anna
I stood at the door and heard every word he said. My heart broke in half and I couldn’t listen anymore. He didn’t know me. He only knew what I chose to tell him. He didn’t know anything about me or how I grew up. I walked back to my desk as I tried to hold back the tears that formed in my eyes. Picking up my phone, I sent Franco a text message telling him to cancel Bernard. I’d handle this event on my own and then I’d quit, and he’d never have to see me again.
I went through the file and the place where the event usually was held was booked. So I started calling around. I found a place, the Hudson Terrace, had an opening for the night of the event. Grabbing my coat and purse, I walked past Tori’s desk.
“Mr. Carter is in a meeting. If he’s looking for me, tell him I went to check out a space for the small business event.”
“He isn’t going to like that,” she spewed.
“And I don’t really give a shit.” I kept walking.
As I was checking out the Hudson Terrace and speaking with the event manager, my phone dinged with a text message from Wes.
“I don’t understand why you had to leave. We have the event at the same place every year. All you had to do was make a simple phone call.”
I sighed as I rolled my eyes.
“Excuse me a moment,” I spoke to Laurinda, the event manager. “My boss is being a dick head.”
“That place was booked already because you failed to plan this event more than two weeks ahead of time. I had to find somewhere else.”
“Where are you?”
“Don’t worry about it. You wanted me to plan this and that’s what I’m doing. I’ll give you all the details tomorrow.”
“What’s with the attitude?”
“I don’t have an attitude. I’m simply doing my job and you’re interfering. Good bye, Mr. Carter.”
I shoved my phone in my purse and continued talking to Laurinda. Once I signed the contract and picked the menu, I headed home, since my workday was already over an hour ago. Walking into my apartment, I set my purse down and fell onto the couch.
“Hey, welcome home. What’s wrong?” Franco asked as he sat down next to me.
I slowly turned my head and looked at him with a look of sadness in my eyes.
“I overheard Wes talking to Christopher and he said some things about me.”
“Like what?” He grabbed my hand.
“He said he thinks I have a lot of major issues because of my parents and the fact that I left Matthew at the altar, and he’s not getting involved with someone like me. He said he’s at a good place in his life and he doesn’t need the drama.”
“Aw, Anna. I’m sorry.” He gently squeezed my hand and I laid my head on his shoulder.
“Christopher asked him if this had anything to do with Alexa.”
“Who’s Alexa?”
“I have no idea. I’m assuming an ex-girlfriend. She may be the reason why he doesn’t trust women. The thing that sucks is I found myself falling for him. I mean, really falling for him. Like for real.”
“You don’t even know him, Anna.”
“I know that. So explain to me why I couldn’t stop thinking about him since Paris? We have this chemistry and I know he feels it too. I’ve never in my life felt like this about anyone.”
“Not even Conrad Baines back in college? Because you were really into him.”
“No. Not even Conrad. Like I said, this is different, and to be honest, it scares me. But I guess I don’t have to worry about it anymore. He wants nothing to do with me.”
“I don’t think that’s true. I saw the way he looked at you last night when you walked down the stairs and the way his eyes lit up. He just doesn’t understand y
ou, darling. He doesn’t know what you’ve been through.”
“You didn’t hear what he said. So, it is true. I’m putting on this event and then I’m quitting.
“You’ll figure it out.” He kissed the side of my head. “You always do, and as for Wes Carter, I don’t think this is over.”
“Yes, it is. It’s so over.”
Chapter 15
Wes
I sat in my study with my phone in my hand debating whether or not to text Anna. I didn’t like our last conversation and her attitude bothered me.
“How was the venue you checked out?”
An hour later, a response from her came through.
“It was nice. I booked it. We’ll discuss it tomorrow during office hours.”
What the fuck did she mean ‘during office hours’? Something was up with her and I wanted to know what it was.
“Need I remind you that you are my personal assistant and it’s always business hours where I’m concerned?”
“LOL.”
Did she seriously just laugh at me? I grabbed my coat and scarf and hailed a cab to her apartment.
“Wes,” Franco spoke with surprise as he opened the door.
“Is she here?”
“Yeah. She’s upstairs taking a bath. But—”
I pushed past him and walked up the stairs and into the bathroom that was connected to her room.
“Excuse me!” she yelled as I walked through the door.
“I’ve seen you naked, remember? What is going on with you?” I asked as I placed my hand in my pocket to tame my rising cock.
“Oh my god. Get out of here! Do you do this to all of your personal assistants?”
“Fine. I’ll be waiting for you on the bed so we can talk about the event.”
“I already told you that we’ll talk about it tomorrow,” she spat.
“No. I’m not waiting until tomorrow. So hurry it up.”
I walked out of the bathroom, and as soon as I shut the door, I heard something hit it. To be honest, this wasn’t me. I would never in a million years behave this way, but she got under my skin and I wanted answers. I sat down on the edge of the bed and waited for her. A few moments later, the bathroom door opened, and Anna emerged wearing her short black silk robe.
“Okay, you psycho. I booked a room at the Hudson Terrace. It can accommodate three hundred people, which is more than enough space. I arranged the appetizers and dinner will be served buffet style. It’ll be easier that way and less formal. The less formal, the less nervous these small potential business owners will be. There’s an area in the corner where I’ve arranged for a table to be set up for the owners to hand you their business portfolios and talk to you for a few minutes so you can get a feel for their character.”
“I don’t do it that way. I collect all the business portfolios and then me and Christopher go over them the next day. Whichever one we feel is the best fit is when we contact them and bring them into the office.”
“Oh. Well, I like my way better. It’s important to speak to each business owner directly.”
“It’s a waste of time if I’m not interested in their company.”
“No. What’s a waste of time is finding a business to help out and then finding out after the fact the guy is a dick head. That is a waste of time. You don’t want to invest in a business if the owner is an asshole. This way, you can get a feel for someone and I’ll be right there taking notes.”
I sat and narrowed my eyes at her as she stood there looking sexy as fuck in that robe and her hair up in a messy bun.
“Fine. We’ll do it your way,” I hesitantly spoke. “Now tell me what’s up with the attitude?”
“I don’t have an attitude,” she innocently spoke as she cocked her head.
“You do. I could sense it in your text message.”
“Well, your senses are off, Mr. Carter. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have things to do.”
She started to walk past me, and I grabbed her hand and pulled her onto my lap.
“You have me to do,” I spoke as I placed my hand between her legs.
“I don’t think so.”
“I do.” I reached up and pulled the clip out of her hair and softly brushed my lips against hers.
“We can’t,” she moaned as my fingers stroked her.
“But we can. You’re already wet because you can’t stop thinking about my hard cock inside you.”
Our lips locked and our tongues greeted each other with excitement. I broke our passionate kiss and looked at her just to be sure.
“Are you saying yes?” I asked.
“Just shut up and kiss me,” she said as she pushed me down, straddled me, and removed her robe.
Chapter 16
Anna
Even while we were making love, I never once forgot what I’d overheard. My heart was still broken no matter how good he made my body feel. I needed to keep my heart out of it and let my body take over all the feelings. But it was hard. He was just another person in my life that thought I was more trouble than what it was worth. I could tell you that I was the love of Matthew’s life, but I knew I wasn’t. There were things Franco didn’t even know. At first, I did believe he truly loved me, but as time went on, I knew he only wanted to marry me to get his hands into my family’s company. Another reason why I left him standing at the altar. That was something I could never tell my father because he wouldn’t believe it. He never believed anything I said, and as much as I tried to get proof, Matthew was very careful. Was I being paranoid because I believed no one could ever love me? No. There was something shady about Matthew.
“Oh my god,” Wes moaned as he halted and exploded inside me.
He leaned down and kissed my lips before climbing off me and disposing of the condom. I sat up and slipped on my robe. As soon as he emerged from the bathroom, he slipped on his clothes.
“I’d stay, but you know I have that early meeting in the morning,” he said as he gently swept the back of his hand down my cheek.
“It’s fine. I didn’t want you to stay anyway,” I spoke as I got up from the bed.
“Oh. Okay.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” I spoke, deadpan.
I followed him down the stairs and opened the door. He leaned in and gently brushed his lips against mine.
“Enjoy the rest of your night.” He smiled. “See ya, Franco.” He waved.
“Bye, Wes.”
As soon as he walked out, I shut the door and walked to the kitchen.
“So much for it being over,” Franco spoke as he followed me.
“It is. It’s just sex.”
“Not for you it isn’t. You’re emotionally involved.”
“Not anymore. Not after what I heard.”
“I’m confused as to why he came over here in the first place,” he said.
“Because he wanted to know the details about the event and I wouldn’t tell him. He’s really OCD.”
“Sounds to me like it was an excuse to see you.”
“Just stop, Franco. I don’t want to talk about Wes Carter anymore.”
The next morning, I went into the office and took a seat behind my desk to start working on the ad for the business event. Wes was in a meeting and I hadn’t seen him yet, which was fine with me. Last night was the last booty call he was going to get. I needed to distance myself from him and keep things strictly professional. If I hadn’t started putting this event together, I would have already walked out, but I felt this was important, especially for small business owners who were looking to make it big.
“Good morning. I’m back from my meeting,” Wes spoke as he walked past my desk.
“Morning,” I replied without even looking at him.
He stopped and I could feel his eyes staring down at me.
“Can I help you?” I asked as I looked up into his smoldering eyes.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. I’m working on the ad for the event. Because you forgot and gave such s
hort notice, it has to be in today.”
“Sorry about that. When you’re done, bring it in so I can check it over and then I need your opinion on something.”
About an hour later, I finished the ad and handed it to him.
“This looks great.” He grinned. “Have a seat.”
I sat down in one of the chairs across from his desk and he handed me a file folder.
“What’s this?”
“I want to know your thoughts about this company. Something isn’t sitting right with me and I can’t pinpoint what it is.”
I opened the file and studied the proposal and numbers. After a few moments, I closed the file and handed it back to him.
“It’s a lose/lose situation for you. I don’t see where you would gain anything by investing in this company.”
“That’s what I’m thinking. Thanks.” He smiled.
I got up from my chair and began to walk to the door. As I placed my hand on the handle, I turned and looked at him.
“By the way, about last night.”
“What about it?”
“I asked you if you wanted to grab dinner after work, but you told me you already had plans. Then you show up at my place. Who’s the liar now?” I arched my brow before walking out and closing the door behind me.
I took a seat behind my desk and my cellphone rang from a number I wasn’t familiar with.
“Hello,” I answered.
“Anna, it’s Becca.”
“Becca? How are you?”
“I’m fine. Listen, I need to talk to you,” she spoke in a low voice.
“Okay. What’s going on?”
“First of all, I wanted to give you a heads up. Your father is planning on buying back your shares of the company and giving them to Matthew, which would make him a forty-nine percent shareholder and partner.”
“I’m not surprised. The two of them can do whatever they want. I want nothing to do with the company anymore or my father. If Matthew wants to buy my shares, then he can have them.”
“Anna, you can’t let that happen. Listen, I put in for a few days off. I need to see you. I told your father that I was going to visit my parents in Maine, which I am, but I need to see you first.”