NON-NEGOTIABLE

by RENATA BARBER

  "I was just coming around to it, Nina. She's new, so we don't want to scare, I mean, overwhelm her.” Jared turned his attention back to Elizabeth. “Elizabeth, this is Nina Vanderfhoff, the other CEO of Bentley Industries."

  Elizabeth stood up and extended her palm. When no handshake ensued she awkwardly sank back into her chair.

  "Why wasn't I consulted on this? And, since when do you need a public relations assistant?"

  "Since I founded this company and it was built on my image, my dear, not yours."

  "That might have been true a while ago..."

  Elizabeth's eyes shifted from side to side as she watched the repartee between them. She could see Nina wasn't pleased with the answers Jared provided; a satirical response seemed to make her rant on endlessly. He was more than capable of holding his own against her. And, yet, there was something unspoken, a kind of understanding between them that prevented him from going too far in his attack. If anything, he seemed to be on the defense during the argument. Whatever it was, it mysteriously held him firmly in check, allowing her the upper hand.

  "Are we going to start this meeting on time for a change or continue to waste more company productivity?"

  Nina snorted at the insinuation and flounced off, offended. Jared grinned as he watched her go.

  When she was sure Jared was settled again, Elizabeth turned to him when no attempt at conversation resumed.

  "She seems like a real go-getter,” she politely offered, baiting him. She knew it was the farthest thing from the truth. She wanted to get Jared's real opinion on his ex-wife.

  "Hardly the case. She's a woman who's been given everything she'd desired since the day she was born. She has never struggled for anything or accomplished anything, for that matter."

  So, Nina had been born with a silver spoon, like Jared. That was the connection, the attraction and the missing piece that drew them together in the first place: a marriage of convenience where both families would ultimately profit from their union.

  When it was clear a divorce was imminent; both sides of the family fully engaged their attorneys, hoping for a peaceful settlement. In the end, Jared's generosity and kindness cost him the majority of stock at Bentley Industries; a fact that irritated his family to no end, as well as himself.

  "Not to worry, though. You'll be only having minimal contact."

  Elizabeth simply nodded before adding, “May I ask you a personal question?"

  "I'd be delighted to hear something personal from you"

  "Why did you marry her? Did you even love her?"

  Jared took a few moments to address the subject. Sure, in the beginning there was a physical attraction. Nina's voluptuous curves were notoriously tempting, hard even for him to resist. No, it was more a case of logistics, where he was heading with his company's business plan and the incredible value she brought to the partnership; good old capital funding. In the beginning, Jared had to admit he thought of her only as an asset; one he had to acquire to attain a certain stature.

  "She had certain qualities that deserved my serious consideration and we fit together, well. I admired her and her family and I knew we could grow together."

  "I see. So, love didn't figure anywhere into the plan."

  "Not exactly. But, eventually I did come to care for her. “There it was, the plain truth; the essence behind Jared Bentley's relationship with women before and after the divorce: a heart that wouldn't likely be touched by anyone, not then, not now, Elizabeth thought to herself. No wonder the marriage had failed. It never had the right ingredients needed for keeping a satisfying relationship going.

  Suddenly, Nina was standing at the front of the conference room demanding everyone's full attention as she unveiled several flow-charts and rattled off percentages of the company's recent quarterly profit report. According to the data, there were early signs of a growth spurt in the latest digital technology markets they had invested in

  "That's too, bad."

  "What's too bad?” Jared whispered.

  "You don't put love as a priority."

  "Who says I don't? My image is changing, remember? That was then, this is now...” Beneath the table his warm fingers lightly traced a path along her lap and came to rest on the inside of her slender thigh. Moments later, she was gasping, the need excruciating as she squeezed her legs together in muffled amazement. A transformation was taking place during the meeting, one that confounded and mesmerized her. It felt too good to ask him to stop.

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  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  One later week, Elizabeth was still chastising herself. No logical or rational explanation for her behavior would soothe her conscience; the staunch morals she usually cloaked herself with, the security and validation of who she was and what she was capable of fell quickly by the wayside. In retrospect, it was a mistake on her part, all of it, plain and simple, and she vowed never to let it happen, never to forget herself again whenever Jared Bentley was around. It had been nearly two years since those feelings had been partially satisfied by a man, a blind date Madeline had arranged for her that held no special significance whatsoever, except for the act itself. But, in time, Elizabeth learned to cope with an array of other methods to subdue those urges, and sadly she'd grown used to those alternatives since that time.

  But just who did she think she was fooling, now? Certainly not Jared Bentley, who watched her pent-up sexual tension and anguish, like a viper waiting to strike at any moment. His prowess was activated during the meeting and he wanted nothing more than to escape the confines of corporate chitchat and meandering niceties and get some privacy.

  After the meeting he made a number of excuses why he had to leave and then rushed Elizabeth out of the conference room and back to his suite, where he found Emily eagerly waiting to give him a stack of messages. He told her to take the rest of the afternoon off and put the phones on voicemail when she left. For a moment, she looked at him askance: the implication slowly dawning on her as she glared at Elizabeth. Obviously not pleased with the situation, she jabbed two buttons on her console, rand left without saying goodbye to either of them.

  Jared offered no explanation for Emily's reaction. Instead, he gently took Elizabeth's hand and led her towards his office where he shut the door and locked it: no one would bother them and no one would be able to hear them.

  Those almond hazel eyes, so innocent and yet aware of what was about to happen, glanced up at him and Jared was filled with a new kind of passion, a longing that was unbridled. He captured her mouth at once and drove his tongue deep into her while he pressed her body against the oak wall panels.

  Elizabeth felt his powerful, hard toned muscles against her soft flesh, and the heat generated from his body to hers. A flood was beginning to rise again as his hands slid lower, outlining her hips, his fingers finding the exact location of the zipper on the side. Instantly, the skirt slid down her legs in a puddle on the floor around her ankles. Drawing breath, she broke their thirsty union and quickly stepped out of the garment and her bikini underwear. Hungry, Jared gazed at the neatly manicured fur, at last, exposed to his delighted pleasure.

  Before she knew it, his hand was resting on her abdomen and it caught her by surprise. When it slid lower, she gasped.

  "How long has it been?” Jared whispered in her ear seductively, nibbling on the lobe

  The gesture tickled and she was about to turn away from him when he stopped her, his hand suddenly resting beneath her chin.

  "Look at me,” he commanded roughly.

  Her gaze slightly shifted and she caught of glimpse of what he had to offer. “You tell me,” Elizabeth said boldly, parting her thighs wide enough for him to slip two fingers inside her moist heat.

  The invitation to finally explore the secret place that had teased and taunted him set him ablaze. Inside his pants, his own hardness bulged to point of almost bursting as he felt for the first time the tightness of her slick core.

  As Jared slowly and thoroughly str
oked her, Elizabeth found herself adjusting her position against the wall, accepting all of him, until her legs formed a v-shape. She was moaning now, as the pace quickened.

  Jared could feel her muscles grip as her head rolled to the side and they both slid to the floor.

  "Stay with me."

  He quickly reached inside his pocket for a condom, then maneuvered himself so his trousers and briefs were removed in no time. Elizabeth was on fire and tore open the package. Then, slowly she pressed his manhood so that it was encased, and then held it erect at the entrance of her core. Jared shifted his position so that he was hovering above her.

  "So, it has been a while."

  Elizabeth nodded, no longer shy or embarrassed by her nakedness in front of him. The sheer warmth of his touch was enough to reassure her fears. He was god-like, masculine and sent by the heavens to offer her the gift of pleasure, poised by the gates, waiting for her command.

  When Jared's finger began lightly stroking her clit, she gave in readily. In that instant the struggle to hold back became unbearable. Jared plunged headlong into her tumultuous sea, mindful and filled with singular purpose: to offer her ecstasy, extraordinary pleasure and a soft landing among the heavens and stars. Torrents of desire collided with a pulsating motion that sent shivery sensations through both their bodies, each powerful surge sustained, determined and more sublime than the previous thrust. Spiraling upwards, the tension was increasing, reaching out into infinity. Elizabeth clung to him tightly, her arms around his back, her nails digging into his expansive flesh while her thighs squeezed with all their might, hugging him for dear life.

  Jared was gasping as the pace quickened. She was tight, excruciatingly so, and the sensation of burrowing his manhood deeper into her ignited his will and determination. Soon, Elizabeth Lowell would be pleading for more, begging for release. He spread her legs even further so that her thighs formed a vice between his shoulders.

  "Oh, God!"

  "He heard her cries, but Jared showed no mercy; he wasn't deterred by her pleasure. It made him grip her buttocks hard and thrust deeper into her slick core, the pulsating need growing stronger by the minute. Jared knew she needed to feel the full length of his manhood, a vessel that could sustain and prolong her pleasure until she finally toppled over in full exhaustion. Jared continued his passionate assault thrusting, slamming her with force until she was whimpering, the muscles in her core gradually tightening and surrounding him.

  That's when it hit him like a rocket. All sense of the earth's gravity was left behind. Jared let loose with a deep guttural moan, his seed pouring into her as Elizabeth cried out and bucked several times, the wild pleasure and ecstasy lifting them higher and higher to another realm, the glorious land of total abandonment.

  That was how it began between them; each day that transpired made their encounters flourish in a feverish manner to point where it was silly to deny her feelings. For the past two years, she'd done just that, ignoring what was human nature, natural; her own body's needs. But now, regardless of her disapproval or questioning the wisdom of her actions, Elizabeth simply had no choice but to accept the fact that somewhere along the line she'd completely lost control. Overnight, it seemed something fundamentally about her had changed.

  And Jared loved Elizabeth's transformation. He'd cherished the power he exerted over her body, the way she looked at him when he wanted her late at night, anxious, willing, compliant, the flood of desire leading to long, sensuous sessions of lovemaking, leaving him completely exhausted and satisfied. As they lay there naked in his king size bed panting from exertion, Jared rolled to the side to get a good look at her. She was glowing and he felt pride at having a hand in unleashing the lusty side of her.

  "What?"

  "You look different, that's all."

  "So, do you without clothes on,” she teased. But Elizabeth was well aware of the difference taking place in her world.

  For starters, she no longer felt the need to hide her desire or cover up her figure. From that day forward her wardrobe included subtle and seductive outfits meant to tease and taunt him throughout the day with the promise of a nocturnal feast later on that night. During the process of her ardent sexual exploration, Elizabeth also steadily grew more efficient at her duties as Jared's public relations assistant. Two weeks after she'd been hired, his name was now included on every major corporation's illustrious guest list in the city, as well as a big, municipal fund raising event sponsored by local city officials; folks who had made it an annual ritual to leave Bentley Industry's ‘bad boy’ CEO off their guest list.

  Because of her persistence and refusal to take no for an answer, she made a favorable impression on those who might never have considered reversing their attitude about Jared Bentley, but nonetheless couldn't resist the woman in charge of his image. She was utterly charming, her personality radiant and irresistible. Most of all, she was intelligent; a trait the movers and shakers admired greatly, in comparison to Nina Vanderhoff who had failed to impress as far as they were concerned.

  But it was the day of the meeting scheduled between Mr. Brauwer and Jared that actually opened the floodgates, his reputation finally on the upswing right with a little help from Clara, who had instantly taken a liking to Elizabeth.

  It was a blustery day. A snowstorm and strong winds threatened everything from Internet access, to power or the grind of traffic to arrive on time for work that morning.

  Aware of the weather and the importance of the day, Elizabeth rose early that morning and left her suite two hours ahead of time for work. She was dressed a little more conservatively knowing that the Brauwers were scheduled to meet with Jared that day and chose the exact same navy blue suit she'd worn when she first interviewed at Bentley Industries; the only addition was pearls.

  Jared had been so impressed with her first conquest that he ordered his limousine to drive her to work prior to his arrival. As Elizabeth stepped outside the entrance doors of Remington Plaza and witnessed the weather firsthand, she was grateful for the accommodation. She could feel the searing cold blast through her lined trench coat and hurried inside the rear of the vehicle as the driver opened the passenger door.

  Once in the vehicle, Elizabeth requested an update on traffic.

  "How long do you think, Peter?"

  "It's difficult to tell if we'll run into traffic. I'd say maybe an hour if we're lucky."

  That would still leave her time to set up the conference room and double-check on the luncheon she'd ordered. With a day like this, she wasn't willing to leave anything to chance.

  As it turned out, the limousine arrived at the entrance of Bentley Industries exactly forty-five minutes later. As Peter opened the passenger door for Elizabeth she thanked him and then scooted inside the entrance doors where it was warm.

  Although it was on her mind to confirm the food delivery with the chefs in the commissary, she also needed to confirm the availability of the conference room she'd requested.

  From the moment she'd entered Jared's suite, Elizabeth could tell Emily wasn't in a cordial mood. In fact, ever since that day when she'd been asked to leave early, Emily seemed rather standoffish whenever Elizabeth asked for her assistance. This time wasn't any different.

  Elizabeth smiled politely as she greeted her.

  "Good Morning Emily. The Brauwers are coming today and I wanted to make sure there's a conference room available at noon."

  "You asked me that yesterday and I reserved one for that time."

  "I'm sorry, I forgot. Just wanted to make sure everything goes according to schedule. “

  "Oh, I wouldn't worry about that. Even, if you do mess up you'll be forgiven because you're screwing the boss. The entire company knows by now."

  The truth slapped her in the face and stopped her cold. Elizabeth held Emily's cold stare. She should have known better and taken better precautions to guard her affair with Jared. Now, it was too late and this was the result: a reputation along with the inevitable disrespect. She ans
wered with an even tone, despite knowing that all the speculation and rumors had been started by the woman.

  "It's not like that between us."

  "If you think a man like Jared Bentley is suddenly going to change spots and become monogamous, then you're even more naive than I thought. He's just using you, like all the others."

  "There's a difference; I'm not a whore."

  "Then, why is he's treating you like one?"

  Elizabeth had heard enough and simply turned around and walked out of Jared's suite. Somewhere in her mind she'd had to know there was bound to be a lot of animosity and jealously directed towards her. Underneath the attack Elizabeth detected an unidentified source. Emily wasn't the cause of the outburst; no, she was simply the messenger.

  Nina Vanderhoff had probably been behind the attack when she first learned of the affair from Emily, of course. Luckily, Elizabeth had had no contact with her since the board meeting and Nina wasn't involved with her position's duties. Still, Emily's message was a warning. Trouble was brewing and would rear its ugly head, soon, if she wasn't careful. So, from that day forward, Elizabeth decided it would be wise to curtail her numerous questions about administrative procedures and office duties to one person only: her boss.

  Around noon, the conference room was set-up and ready to. As the Brauwers entered, Clare's attention was instantly drawn to the delicious spread on the banquet table: crudités', dips, organic tropical fruits, gourmet sandwiches, European fine roasted coffee and juices enticed her senses.

  "Oh my word, I should've known you'd be able to accommodate our finicky taste buds. Do you mind, dear?” Clare sighed, reaching for one of the petite-fours.

  "Of course, not. Help yourself."

  Clare took several bites, humming to herself, obviously pleased with the delectable spread, and then began filling her plate. As she strode over to a seat at the conference table, she glanced at Jared, slyly adding, “I hope you realize how fortunate you are to have Elizabeth as your PR assistant, Mr. Bentley. Without her this meeting certainly wouldn't be taking place."