Come Fly with Me: A Collection
Page 62
“Too long already.”
“What’s that?”
“A little over three weeks.”
“Ah,” he said, still shaking my hand, slowly caressing the back of it with his thumb. “Well, if you ever want to learn a few things from someone with some experience, I’m always available. Mr. Greywood has told me that you’re quite ambitious.”
I damn near vomited as I jerked my hand away. “If you think that I’m willing to fuck you to get a leg up in this industry, you’re sadly mistaken,” I said. “I’ve already worked with the best brand in the business, and I’m just here to take notes and see why businesses like yours never catch up.”
“Excuse me?”
“I thought it would take me a year, but it’s only taken three weeks.”
“Well, then.” He narrowed his eyes at me. “I can see exactly why Preston Parker let you go. You don’t know your place. Typical of women in this industry anyway.”
I rolled my eyes.
“Don’t be surprised if Mr. Greywood has a long talk with you Monday.”
“Don’t be surprised if I no longer work there Monday.”
Unable to come up with something else to say, he cleared his throat and walked away.
I pulled up my two weeks’ notice again, redrafting it from the very beginning. I was three paragraphs into my thoughts, when I felt a familiar set of hands wrap around my waist. All of a sudden, I remembered those hands owning me in front of a mirror, holding me against a desk, and pinning me against a glass table.
“I’m really starting to think that you do hate me,” Preston whispered, setting every nerve in my body on fire in seconds. “How else can you explain making me come to some sad shit like this, just to catch a glimpse of you?”
He spun me around, and my words stalled on my lips as I looked him over. Dressed in the immaculate grey suit and sparkling cufflinks he was wearing on the first day we met, he was making every woman on the roof stare in his direction.
His green eyes were rendering me speechless all over again, and my heart was racing a mile a minute.
“I hope you’re not here to say that you’re sorry,” I said. “You’re wasting your time because I don’t forgive you.”
He raised his eyebrow, not saying anything.
“I don’t appreciate the way you talked to me in your office the last time we spoke or the way you tossed me out like it was nothing,” I said. “I also don’t appreciate the fact that you can’t go one day—like one day, without texting and calling me nonstop, like I’m still your assistant.”
“I texted and called you far more when you were my assistant.”
“That’s not the point. You’ve said everything in those hundreds of messages and emails except the two words I highly doubt you’ll ever say. So, as sexy as you are, and as much as I do miss feeling you inside of me and hanging out with Violet—”
“I’m sorry.” He interrupted me, tightening his grip on my waist. “I’m sorry, Tara.”
“For not giving me a chance to tell you my side of the story?”
“For not telling you how much I cared about you sooner.” He looked into my eyes. “I should’ve said it a long time ago.”
“Weeks ago?”
“Years ago,” he said. “The first two months you worked for me.”
“You had a hell of a way of showing it.”
“Come back, and I’ll do it better.”
“You have Taylor now.”
“I have my fifth Taylor now.” He smiled and held me even closer. “I’ll do whatever it takes to get you back. I just want you back.”
“Are you not sorry for kicking me out of your office as well?”
“I am,” he said, looking genuine. “And I’m even sorrier for the past few weeks, since a certain someone has done the one thing that always gets to me. The one thing I more than deserved.”
“Hating you?”
“Ignoring me.” He smiled. “I can’t take it anymore.”
“Well, I’ve moved on to someone else, so you may want to let go of me before he gets back.”
“I’m not even going to entertain that line of conversation,” he said, smirking. “It’s one thing to downgrade your job, but you wouldn’t dare downgrade me.”
“It’s not a downgrade just because he doesn’t have a billion dollars.”
“It’s a downgrade because he doesn’t exist.” He rubbed his hands against my back. “I’m not leaving until you tell me that we can pick up where we left off.”
“And if I say that we can’t?”
“You’d be lying, but I’d just show up at your job Monday and ask you again.”
“I won’t be there Monday,” I said, smiling. “I’ve learned all that I’m going to learn there, and I’m going to pre-date my two weeks’ notice.”
He looked stunned. “Does that mean you’re coming back?”
“Hell no,” I said, feeling his lips brush against mine. “I’ll never work for you again.”
“I’m a much better boss now.”
“No, the hell you’re not.” I laughed. “I only took this job, so I could learn how to be in a different role, so when I have my own company, I’ll have a good understanding of what each C-level executive does. It wasn’t personal, Preston.”
“I know that now,” he said. “What do I have to do to get you back?”
“You can start by kissing me,” I said. “I’ll have to create a short-list and put it on your desk for the rest.”
His lips immediately met mine, and my back hit the roof’s railing as he slipped his tongue between my lips, as he took his time exploring every inch of my mouth. He caressed my sides as he kissed me harder, and I completely forgot that we were in public.
For several minutes, it was just us, and it was like we were in his office all over again.
When he finally tore away from me, I was struggling to catch my breath, and everyone on the roof was staring at us.
Completely unfazed by the attention, Preston smiled and clasped my hand. “I think we need to finish this elsewhere,” he said, leading me right through a crowd of open-mouthed Marriott executives. “We should also compromise on the idea of you working for me again.”
“I just told you that I'd never work for you again.”
“Did you hear the word compromise?”
“Did you hear the word never?”
He laughed and trailed a finger against my lips as we stepped onto the elevator. “I think you’ll like this deal. In fact, I’m currently in the middle of drawing up the contract, and I think the terms are beyond fair.”
“Is there any fine print?”
“Of course,” he said, kissing me. “There always will be.”
--The End--
Epilogue
Tara
One Year Later
At Disney World
“Are you finished with this, Violet?” Preston held out a Mickey Mouse lollipop.
“Yep!” She nodded and rushed away, returning to the Mad Tea Cups ride for the umpteenth time. “Come watch me!”
Thanks to Preston, the entire park was exclusively ours for the day, and Violet was enjoying her birthday with five of her newest friends. Although she was now fully adjusted to living with us in his over the top condo, she still woke up from time to time asking about her parents, and we made sure to hold her every time.
I watched Preston snap pictures of her spinning around in a pink cup, and felt my phone buzzing in my pocket.
“Yes, Nicole?” I answered.
“Um. Hi, Miss Lauren.” My newest executive assistant said. “I mean, Parker? Is your last name Parker yet?”
“It won’t be until the fall, Nicole.” I smiled. “Is something wrong?”
“No, I was just calling to let you know that the Day deal is officially done and your senior attorney has finalized all of the paperwork,” she said. “Would you like me to email it to you from your account or mine?”
“You can do mine.”
“Okay, great! This is the last call during your vacation, I swear!” She ended the call and my phone buzzed with an email.
* * *
Subject: The Day Deal (Messaged through your main business account)
Everything is attached--
Tara Lauren
CEO of Von Strum Hotels,
Division of Parker International
* * *
“I thought we said no work on vacation,” Preston said, walking over to me.
“We did, but you’ve answered ten calls already today.”
“Those ten calls are about interviews for my latest Taylor.” He smiled. “That’s not work.”
“What number are you on since I’ve been gone now? Twenty-five?”
“Twenty-seven.” He kissed my lips. “I’d love to make it twenty-eight forever, if a certain someone is getting tired of being a CEO.”
“Never.” I laughed, looking over at Violet again. “Can I ask you something?”
“Anything.”
“Did you ever read your brother’s letter?”
“I did.”
“Are you ever going to tell me what he said?”
“I will in the fall.” He smiled. “But I will say that it looks like we’re going to have three hoteliers in this family.”
“What do you mean?”
“He left The W Hotels to Violet,” he said. “The entire chain is hers, but something tells me we should wait until she’s long past five to let her know.”
“So, you’ll eventually have three number one hotel chains in separate divisions?”
“No.” He kissed me again. “We will.”
* * *
--THE END.
AGAIN--
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On a Tuesday, a steamy, second chance romance.
Get ready to meet the cockiest quarterback at the university and a tutor who can’t help but fall for him.
* * *
* * *
Sincerely, Carter, a swoon-worthy friends to lovers romance.
Carter and Arizona have been best friends since fourth grade until one night changes everything…
* * *
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Forget You, Ethan, a steamy, enemies to lovers romance.
Lifelong enemies, Ethan and Rachel, have vowed to never talk to each other, until one night in college changes everything.
On A Tuesday (& Other Kindle Unlimited Titles):
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If you’re in the mood for a swoon-worthy second chance romance, be sure to check out On a Tuesday! Available on amazon & Kindle Unlimited! I’m also including the links to my other KU titles!
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* * *
On a Tuesday, a steamy, second chance romance.
Get ready to meet the cockiest quarterback at the university and a tutor who can’t help but fall for him.
* * *
* * *
Sincerely, Carter, a swoon-worthy friends to lovers romance.
Carter and Arizona have been best friends since fourth grade until one night changes everything…
* * *
* * *
Forget You, Ethan, a steamy, enemies to lovers romance.
Lifelong enemies, Ethan and Rachel, have vowed to never talk to each other, until one night in college changes everything.
Author’s Confession + Thank You
Dear Reader,
Several years ago, in 2011 to be exact, I was living my worst life. I was broke (like $2.15 in my bank account broke) and stubbornly living in Pittsburgh, trying to make a way for myself instead of admitting defeat and going back home. I had to resort to “stealing” in a way that the heroine did in this book. My hotels of choice weren’t Parker Brands with a super sexy hotel CEO, though. They were the SpringHill Suites in Bakery Square, the Hampton Inn, and occasionally, The Homewood Suites.
Whenever I think about those days, I break down and cry because the mere memory of sitting in my car and eating stolen food is one I wish I could forget.
I also wish I could bring myself to forget all the rejections I received from employers, that each one didn’t sting like it was super personal, but alas, those memories are still as vivid as ever. I can also say that on those awful days, the writing was what always kept me going …
I can’t tell you how grateful I am that you took a chance on my book, and whether you hated it or loved it, I’m honored you took the time to read it.
I know I’m not the most “professional” author in the world, but thank you for making me a lucky one.
If you met me through Mid Life Love, thank you.
If you met me through the Jilted Bride Series, thank you.
If you met me through Reasonable Doubt, thank you.
Sincerely, Carter, On a Tuesday, Thirty Day Boyfriend, Naughty Boss (& the Steamy Coffee Reads Collection), Turbulence, Over Us/Over You, Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU.
F.L.Y. (Effin Love You),
Whitney G.
Also By Whitney G.
Series & Standalones:
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Steamy Coffee Reads Collection
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Naughty Boss
Dirty Doctor
Cocky Client
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Reasonable Doubt Series
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Reasonable Doubt #1
Reasonable Doubt #2
Reasonable Doubt #3
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Falling for Mr. Statham Series
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Resisting the Boss
Loving the Boss
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The One Week Series
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On a Tuesday
On a Wednesday
On a Thursday
On a Friday
On a Saturday
On a Sunday
On a Monday
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Sincerely, Carter
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Forget You, Ethan
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Turbulence
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Over Us, Over You
* * *
Two Weeks’ Notice
* * *
The Layover
* * *
Late Night Kisses