by ZN Willett
“Is everything alright?” One of our security men asked over the intercom.
“We’re fine. Shut the camera’s off,” Christopher ordered.
“Yes, Mr. Colby.”
We both waited for a minute until the red camera light stopped flashing. “I don’t know what more to make here, Quinn. I almost destroyed this company, now you want me to step down.”
“That’s not what I want.” I stepped closer to him. “I don’t want to be handed the company by default, and certainly not by my fiancé who feels sorry for me.”
“I don’t . . . we both earned the position; and we knew there could only be one CEO.” He stepped closer to me as he reached out brushing his thumb over my bottom lip. “You keep telling me that if it were you, I wouldn’t be able to handle it. But you would have been wrong.”
I grabbed hold of his wrist, leaning my face into his hand, both of us focused on the other. “I thought that I could let go. But it’s a part of me.”
“And now, you’re a part of me.”
I focused deeply into his eyes before placing my lips on his. Exhaling what breath I had left. “I do love you.”
“Is that enough?” He wrapped his arm around my waist pulling me into him.
“I wish it were.”
He kissed me again, passionately before leaning back and said accusatorily, “Don’t hide from me, and don’t tiptoe around this. I know you’re up to something.” I pulled away; shocked that he would have thought I would have tried anything so soon. Well, that he had figured it out that soon. “Don’t play innocent.”
I stepped back, hands on hips, glaring. “You would have tried to take me down.”
He grabbed onto my waist pulling me back into him. “No, I would have taken you down.”
“Is that what you think? I’ll try to take the company from you?”
He thought for a moment, about to say something, but stopped. I narrowed my eyes, and he answered. “You will always do what is best for the company.”
“See, that’s where you’re wrong. I will now do what’s best for us. Both of us.”
He leaned in. “Mmm . . . well, bring it on, Quinn.” Then captured my mouth in his.
He didn’t have to wait long.
The following week, I heard a knock, and saw the expression on his face as he walked into my office. “Should I act surprised that Asher served me with a hearing notice?” Christopher said, before kissing me, and walked to my sofa and sat down.
“You can do whatever you want, however things have to change. Doesn’t it bother you that there are only two female executives in a pool of fifty-five?”
“You know it does, but since one of them will be my wife—”
“Christopher!”
He lifted the summons in his hand. “You’re telling me this is all about equality and not your ego?” He cocked a brow.
I cocked my own brow. “I was the better person for the job, are we speaking about your ego?” I stated.
“I’ve grossed as much as you. You, yourself said we were equal? Nonetheless, you’re calling foul play?”
“I did say that we were equals, but we weren’t playing on an equal field. The odds were stacked against me from the beginning, and you know why?”
“Porter,” he said without a thought.
“Single-handedly, he has been the decision maker since the merger. The man rivals you in the technique of persuasion. Even at sucking your mother’s breast.”
“Quinn!”
We all knew it was clear that Millicent and Porter were in bed together.
“Christopher, Porter has too much power and must go.”
“Making a claim that the vote was tainted is going to do it?”
“Proving that he influenced the vote will.”
He unbuttoned his suit coat and relaxed farther back into the sofa. “I’ll bite. How are you going to prove it?”
“Asher helped me.”
“Oh really?” That piqued his interest further.
“He’s one of the few people who can be in a room in which nobody knows he’s there. That’s what a superior assistant does. I gave him a raise by the way.”
“They can say that you bribed him.”
“It goes into effect after the hearing. Prorated, of course.”
“Of course.”
“Asher was able to collect enough information during Porter’s member ‘briefings’ to call for another vote.”
“That’s not happening.” We both had stared at the other before Christopher stated, “They’ll still come to the same conclusion.” He looked away.
I knew what that meant.
“Now you know how it feels.” He looked back over at me. “How does it feel to know that they would choose me? Take away the negative influence and lay out the portfolio, it would be me.”
I felt his hard stare down to my soul. I hadn’t seen that look for a while. He sat up. “I’m impressed. Now the only thing you need to ask yourself is will you go through with it?”
“I will bring Porter down.”
“Yet, what about me? Do you want me on my knees as well?”
“It depends on what you would do while on them.” My brow rose. “I’m insulted by your accusation, Mr. Colby. I am only exposing the ugly truth.”
“Well, the saying goes behind every great man, there’s a great woman.”
“Greater.” I emphasized.
“Hmm.” He walked over to the door and yelled out to Asher to bring him the papers. Asher came in with a large file and laid it open on top of my desk and left. “I have a proposition I think you might be interested in.”
I took a quick look at the documents. My heart had dropped for a split second before I turned to look at him. “Now should I be surprised?”
He walked up to me. “Not that it hadn’t crossed your mind,” he leaned in and whispered in my ear. A chill ran up my spine. “This way, you won’t divorce me for it.”
“I have better lawyers; and I would have gotten it all. You, on the other hand . . .”
“That may be the case, but wouldn’t you rather come to an agreement than spend years battling this out.”
“I would still win, Colby.”
“I’m sure our children would appreciate a compromise.”
“You keep speaking of children. You know that’s not happening for a very long time.”
“Constance is not getting any younger and my child won’t be raised by anyone else.”
“Is that so? She doesn’t have a say?”
“She’s the one that said it.”
“You know we will be the child’s parents.”
“Exactly my point.”
I chuckled at the ass. “Do you know what this would mean?”
“It’s the best thing for the company . . . and us.”
Our eyes locked, and I thought he could never surprise me again, but he has. “I’ll need to look at the figures, and have my attorneys look over these.”
“They’re already at their office.”
I leaned in. “When did you decide on this? Be honest?”
Without skipping a beat he stated. “The moment your father said he would rather die than see a Colby take his company when he was in the hospital.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I wasn’t sure if it was possible. We did spend millions to combine our companies. We made a strong financial case for the merger, which seemed impossible to state otherwise. When Evan mentioned that you requested the same reports again, I knew it had to be done. Just like you.” He stressed.
I reviewed the same proposals Christopher had looked over, and I hadn’t planned to share that information until I knew they could be successfully implemented. It was a stretch; nevertheless to make it work could solve everything. What I hadn’t realized then was that Christopher would have supported it. Of course he would have, but then it meant that his feelings for me were genuine. At that time, that was something I wasn’t prepared for.
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nbsp; “We could have never been able to share, Colby.” I smirked.
“This will make things more interesting, I think. Not only will the competition benefit the company, although I love whipping that ass with my success.”
“It seems like I do most of the ass whipping around here.”
He pulled his bottom lip into that sexy mouth and placed that smirk on his face. “Look it over, you’ll find it’s all in order.” He nodded at the file.
“You know I will; then triple check it. You can’t trust a Colby.” I smirked back.
“You did.”
“There’s always an exception.”
It took three brutal weeks to present all the evidence against Porter, but we were able to get him to step down. He received a large settlement, although I’d take the loss any time. The company could make that up in a week.
Now that the dust had settled, we had to deal with the proposal. Our work force would be heavily affected, but it was time to downsize and get leaner. The Colbys ran the company in excess, even though I tightened up the books; more cost cutting was needed in order to secure our sustainability. Sadly, my first act as CEO of the Resort Division at Cordell-Colby was to announce cuts.
Christopher laid out a plan to separate the hotel chains into two brands. Luxury and resorts. He would oversee the luxury brands, and I would control the resorts. The company would be split in two divisions, to allow a more direct focus on each brand. That was something I had suggested during the merger. The ass used the original proposal I presented several years ago along with other plans for a compromise.
Our stock rating had taken a hit during “Millicent Gate,” although the rebranding and split brought a boost to our numbers. A leaner, more efficient brand increased the value of our stocks. The figures Evan predicted showed a substantial growth in our profitability.
When we presented all the information in front of the Board, the only concern they had was their bottom line profit. That spoke for itself. They all would stay on as one Board, overseeing both divisions, but I would add additional members of my own.
Six months later, the papers were signed and approved.
One year later the divisions were almost fully operational to run on their own. The merger had taken a little over sixteen months. We were able to accomplish the division split in thirteen.
Even though we were still technically under one corporate umbrella, Cordell-Colby. The Cordell and The Colby were now separate, yet equal.
“Keep the condo. It works,” I said to Christopher over the phone.
“We will eventually need to look for something else. I was thinking upstate.”
Mia came into my office and handed me the reports we were scheduled to go over. “Whatever you want, but a condo in the city, close to the office makes more sense. Anyway, my house here will work fine during down times.”
“Quinn, we will need something larger.”
I turned my chair and looked out the window into the hazy California morning. “Whatever. I’m not fighting you on this.”
“That’s a first. Maybe we’re getting somewhere.” He chuckled.
We had looked at homes for over a month, only to come to the conclusion that what we had worked. I was still commuting back and forth between LA and New York; the home office would remain permanently in New York. We were selling off the California real estate, and moving everything to New York. That was a difficult decision for me but a financially sound one for the company.
Christopher and I had to personally oversee a few aspects of the office move. Even though our schedules had filled up, we saw each other more than we had before. One-half of headquarters housed my division, the other his. We decided to use the top floor as a joint office. We weren’t always being able to see each other during normal times in the week; it made it easier to see each other in the office. It also made it easier to do some other things as well. Something we both weren’t ready to sacrifice for the sake of business.
“Asher, is this a joke?”
“No, Mr. Colby gave it to me this morning to give to you.”
I held the envelope in my hand and picked up my cell. “Did you send me an invitation to my own party?”
“It’s technically my party. I took over Chicago remember?”
“Yeah, yeah, but I’m already scheduled to go. With you, asshole.”
“Quinn, what does it say?”
I turned it over. “That you request my presence at the gala, and it gives me a suite number . . . why is there a suite number?”
“Because there was something that wasn’t quite finished the last time we were there. Oh, and Quinn, wear the dress.”
“Shut the door,” he said, as I walked in. It was dark, yet some light from the windows illuminated the familiar room. I stood, heart pounding through my chest. It felt like the first time all over again. “Come closer.” He ordered in that honey coated voice.
I took a few steps toward the desk until his hand came up signaling me to stop. He circled one finger in the air, and I stood there a bit annoyed as I placed my hand on my hip. “I don’t have all day. Let me see, now!” I glared. “Please.”
I rotated as his eyes perused my body. When our eyes locked, he leaned forward.
“You shortened the dress?”
I did. “I found it wasn’t very . . . accessible.”
He stood, and examined my legs before he stepped in front of me. “I thought the length was quite accessible. However, we never had a chance to test it out.” He whispered the latter into my ear, and spoke directly to my aching and extended nubs. “We shall rectify that a bit later.”
He was so close that I could taste the essence of him on the tip of my tongue as it darted out to moisten my lips. Christopher’s eyes lowered, watching my movement, as a low hum rattled from his core. The man wasn’t even touching me, yet at any second I could have erupted with one of the many anticipated orgasms.
The space between us was charged, and I was sure our week long separation fueled it. But at that moment, the energy and connectivity surrounding us weren’t being rushed. We both stood there, ogling the other, and neither one of us wanted it to end. Still, I heard it, several times before mine went off. He leaned slightly closer, his mouth gently brushing my lips as he hovered and said, “Shall we finish this later?” I didn’t want to, but duty called. The way our cells were going off, it was obvious that it was time for Christopher and me to greet our guests.
The ballroom was breathtaking, and I wouldn’t expect anything less from the hotel. When we first remodeled the historical building no expense had been spared; courtesy of the Colbys. The room looked more elegant. “Did you remodel again in here?” I asked Christopher.
“Just a few add-ons,” he said, greeting people as the lower hand on my back guided me through the crowd. When we reached the dance floor, he gracefully spun me, grabbing hold of my hand, as we began to dance.
“Always smooth, Colby.” He spun me again, although this time his hand lowered to my ass. “Ah ah ah, not in front of the guests.”
He pulled me closer. “I don’t care about them. If I want to tear off those panties and bury myself inside you right here, I will.”
I chuckled, and leaned in and whispered, “I’m not wearing panties.”
He stopped dancing, and that devilish gleam glazed over his eyes. Instantly, I found myself being pulled through the crowd and straight into the kitchen pantry. He shoved me against the shelf, before picking up a box and setting it against the door. Then another and another, until he turned around stalking toward me.
I instinctually wrapped one leg around his waist as he pushed me up against the shelf capturing my exhaled gasp into his mouth. His tongue explored every inch of my mouth along with the finger that was exploring me.
“Always wet,” he breathed out, in-between the tongue lashes.
His finger swept through a few more times and two entered inside me.
My head flew back. I grabbed each side of his face, pull
ing it back to look into his hooded eyes. “I love the feel of . . . mmm . . .” I took several breaths as he twisted both fingers touching places that. . . . “Your fingers . . . feel . . . oh . . . so good.”
Feeling every inch of his fingers while he stared into my eyes was explosive. Our eyes stayed locked as my mouth wordlessly opened while my legs trembled.
Following the aftershock, one would have thought that I needed a moment to recoup. But it was the switch that triggered the fuel of my desire for him.
“Quinn.” Christopher moaned, as he forced my back against the shelf while he pounded into me. With each thrust, the sound of the rattling ingredients overhead echoed in the room. I reached up above me, gripping the metal shelf as he rocked me harder.
“My dirty girl has nothing underneath?” he stated, darkly.
“You said to wear the dress. So, I wore only the dress.” Saying as I gasped for breath.
He growled.
“Room service has improved.” I sat the tray down next to Christopher, climbing back into bed.
He sat up, grabbed a pastry, and placed it to my mouth. I took a bite and poured him a cup of coffee. “I thought we could set a date,” he said, before taking a large bite.
I looked over at him. “So soon?” I asked handing him the cup.
“Do you want a long engagement?”
“I hadn’t thought about it.”
He took a few sips and leaned back against the headboard. “Have you thought about where?”
I smiled. “Actually, I have.”
He sat the cup down and pulled me against his chest as he wrapped his arms around me. “Is this a place you thought about as a little girl?”
“Why . . . would that surprise you?”
“Nothing you do surprises me.”
“Right. I always wanted a wedding in the countryside, or in another country perhaps? Florence would make a beautiful background, or Malta has several quaint little chapels.”
“We can hire someone to help plan this.”
“A wedding planner, Christopher?”
“Yes. We have them why not use one of ours.”