The Unmasked CEO (Captured by Love Book 7)

by Miranda P. Charles

  Geri nodded, having no words for such a sensitive topic.

  “And I can’t believe Simon lied to us,” Ingrid continued. “But when he explained it to me on video call, I understood. I’m truly very happy for the two of you, Geri. I think it’s so romantic.”

  “Thank you, Mrs. Lawrence. What do you plan to do now?”

  Ingrid sighed, her features clouding. “I feel responsible for how Justin turned out, just like I still feel responsible for how my son turned out. I keep thinking that maybe it was all my fault, that if I’d paid more attention to them when they were kids—if I’d given them more guidance—things would have been different.”

  Geri grasped her former employer’s hand. “Oh, Mrs. Lawrence. I’m sure you did the best that you could at the time. But all is not lost. There’s still time to repair your relationships. Who knows how the future will turn out if you start making changes today? I didn’t think my sister and I would ever become friendly with each other, but now, we’ve grown very close.”

  Ingrid smiled. “Thank you. I’ve been thinking of reconnecting with my son again—see what happens.”

  “That’s great! And if you ever need my help for anything, Mrs. Lawrence, even for just a girly chat, I’m only a phone call away.”

  “Oh, don’t you worry. I’ll take you up on that.”

  Geri laughed, content with the knowledge that Ingrid would be well looked after by her previous PA, who was happy to work with the kind, generous woman again since Ingrid would be staying put in Hobart indefinitely.

  She took a deep, shaky breath before getting down on the floor. “Bye, Rolf,” she said, tears instantly falling. “I’ll miss you so much.”

  Rolf whined, licking her hands. She picked up the dog and kissed his face as she cried softly. “I love you, Rolfie. I’ll visit you and Mrs. Lawrence soon, okay?”

  “You better, Geri,” Ingrid said, sniffling.

  Geri gave Rolf another kiss before standing up and giving Ingrid another hug. “Take care, Mrs. Lawrence. It has been a real pleasure working with you.”

  “The pleasure’s all mine, Geri,” Ingrid whispered. “The pleasure’s all mine.”

  Geri wiped her eyes and nose as she walked towards the plane that would take her to Sydney and her new life.

  Geri thanked Nadia, the pretty flight attendant who welcomed her into an Alexander Jets plane. She gasped in delight when she found the owner himself standing in the middle of the lounge room-like interior.

  “What are you doing here? I thought I’d be meeting you in Sydney,” she exclaimed, her face splitting into a wide grin. Oh, she was more than glad to see him. It had only been a week since he’d gone back to Sydney—the day after the drama with Maya—but she’d already missed him so.

  “I wanted to surprise you,” Simon said. “Besides, I wanted to make sure you boarded this plane.”

  “Why wouldn’t I board this plane?” she asked in surprise.

  “I thought Rolf might make you want to stay.”

  She smiled ruefully. “I’ll miss him so much, Simon.”

  “I know, babe. But you can visit him anytime, or Mrs. Lawrence can come to Sydney and visit us with Rolf.”

  Geri sighed and kissed him thoroughly on the lips. Simon had already told her she was free to use any one of the jets anytime she needed to. She wouldn’t even think of abusing the privilege, but she wouldn’t mind taking up the offer maybe once or twice a year to visit Rolf and Mrs. Lawrence. Luckily, Tricia and Maddie would be moving to Sydney too after Maddie’s current school term finished. Otherwise, she’d have to make more frequent trips to Hobart.

  She and Tricia would be putting their apartment up for sale so they’d have funds for a new life in a new city. And even though Geri was nervous about the job situation for Tricia, she was confident her sister would do well, now that Tricia had put her mind to earning a stable income for Maddie’s sake. Tricia herself was keen to start afresh and put the past behind her; that was why she wanted to join Geri in Sydney.

  As for Geri, Simon had assured her there were already a couple of people waiting to interview her for a PA role.

  How could she be so lucky?

  “Mr. Alexander, Miss Blaine, we’ll be ready to take off in a minute,” Nadia said.

  Geri pulled back from kissing Simon, blushing.

  “Thank you, Nadia,” Simon said, motioning for Geri to take one of the plush cream-coloured seats.

  When Nadia disappeared at the front of the plane, Geri said in a low voice, “I bet she’s seen you smooch many women, huh?”

  Simon reddened. He actually reddened.

  Geri pouted. Argh, she shouldn’t have made that comment. Now she was jealous.

  “That was the old Simon, babe,” Simon said quietly.

  She put her seat belt on before looking at him. “Well, this new Simon just got caught kissing a girl on this particular jet,” she said impishly.

  Simon grinned. “This new Simon will get caught again and again kissing the same girl on his jets. Because this new Simon has a serious girlfriend now, and her name’s Geri Blaine.”

  Geri’s lips tugged up. Her boyfriend was really sweet. How could she resist him?

  “And,” Simon said as they started to taxi, a heated look in his gaze, “this new Simon really wants to give his one and only love her first mile-high experience.”

  It was Geri’s turn to blush. Gosh, just the thought of it was making her moist. She bit her lip, glancing at the door Nadia had disappeared behind.

  “We won’t see Nadia again until we buzz for her,” Simon said, reading her mind.

  “Oh.” That was a relief.

  “But we can’t start anything until the seat belt sign goes off.”

  She sat back on her seat. Okay, she could wait a few minutes.

  She looked out the window, marvelling at how her life had changed in such a short span of time. Not in her wildest dreams had she imagined this—except that deep inside, she’d always held a staunch belief that something magical could happen for her, Tricia and Maddie if only she kept turning up and doing what she knew in her heart she had to do.

  And here she was.

  She inhaled deeply, saying a silent prayer of thanks as they climbed past some clouds.

  Ting!

  Her heart jumped at the telltale sound. She turned to Simon and found him staring at her and already taking off his seat belt. She watched, smiling coquettishly, as he went to her and undid hers.

  “Come,” he said, taking her hand and pulling her up.

  To her surprise, Simon led her to a closed door instead of the comfy-looking sofa. She gasped when she discovered what was behind it.

  “I think you’ll be more comfortable here,” Simon said.

  “Oh, yes,” she said, taking off her shoes and climbing onto the queen bed positioned against the wall of the plane. Wow, imagine having a snooze, then waking up with the view of the sky, the clouds and the earth below.

  Simon laughed, closing the door and joining her. “Horny much?” he said against her ear as he ran his hand over her hips.

  “I’m so tired,” she said with a fake groan, closing her eyes.

  “That’s okay,” Simon said. “You can rest while I enjoy myself.”

  Geri’s breath hitched when Simon started unbuttoning her blouse, but she remained still, eager to see what he was going to do next.

  With her top parted all the way in the middle, Simon pushed her bra aside to reveal her rosy buds to him. “Love these boobs,” he whispered as he kissed around the valley before capturing a nipple between his lips.

  She bit her lip, trying not to react even as fresh moisture rushed to her core. She was loving this game. They hadn’t done it before.

  After paying attention to her nipples until they were hardened peaks, Simon undid the fly of her jeans and tried to tug them down. She raised her hips to help him, but pretended she was merely shifting positions. She ended up on her stomach.

  Simon chuckled, divesting he
r of her remaining clothing by pulling one sleeve at a time from her “sleepy” arms and unhooking her bra.

  Then he was gone.

  From the sounds she could hear, he was stripping off his clothes.

  Ooh, she wanted to watch him, but she didn’t want to spoil this game. She couldn’t wait for Simon’s next steps.

  She didn’t have to wait long. Simon was back on the bed, placing soft kisses on her back.

  He crawled lower and lower, his lips hot and moist on her sensitised skin. When he got to her legs, he licked the back of her knee, making her jerk around with a short yelp.

  Not fair. He knew she was ticklish there. But then again, he’d succeeded in making her lie on her back again.

  She placed her arm over her eyes, making a leave-me-alone-I’m-sleepy sound.

  But of course she couldn’t fool Simon; he simply parted her legs and inspected the apex between them.

  “Mmm, so wet already,” he murmured, running a finger lightly down her slit.

  Her breathing shallowed.

  “And look how swollen this is,” Simon said, rubbing her clit.

  She gasped. Oh, that felt good.

  “Are you awake, baby?”

  She didn’t answer, remaining motionless.

  “I’m really hungry,” he said, his tongue following what his finger had just done.

  A moan came out of her, unbidden.

  “If you’re not awake, then you must be dreaming,” Simon teased. He continued to flick his tongue on her clit, then inserted a finger inside her.

  “Oh, God,” she cried.

  Simon groaned, his mouth becoming more avid.

  Geri abandoned herself to the incredible sensations evoked by Simon’s expertise. Soon her body was clenching with her release.

  But Simon didn’t let up. While he’d gone back to gentler licking and stroking, he continued his ministrations, his other hand creeping up her breast to play with a nipple. She wasn’t surprised when she got horny again. Simon knew his way around her body and could arouse her without fail.

  But she was keen to pleasure him too. She sat up so Simon would stop.

  “Oh, hi, honey. You’re awake,” he said with a devilish grin.

  “I had the most wonderful dream,” she said, grasping his erection.

  Simon’s breath hitched as she started to stroke. “Yeah? What did you dream about?”

  She kissed his lips. “You took me to the heavens.”

  Simon smiled, caressing her face.

  “And I rewarded you by giving you the most delicious dessert you ever had,” she said with a giggle at her naughtiness.

  Simon laughed out loud. “Ah, babe, you are indeed the most delicious anything I’ve ever had.”

  “We’re not done yet.” She swiped the moisture at the tip of his hard-on with her thumb.

  “Most definitely not. Wanna try a new position?”

  She nodded eagerly. There was nothing Simon had suggested that she hadn’t enjoyed.

  “On your knees and face the window,” Simon said, his tone lower and toe-curling.

  With heart hammering in excitement, she did so. The sun had started setting, and her vista was a brilliant painting of sky blue, yellow, orange and grey.

  She moaned when she felt the tip of Simon’s erection probing her wetness from behind.

  “Hold on, baby,” he hissed as he pushed in.

  Geri braced herself with an arm against the side of the window, her breath coming out in loud gasps as Simon drove in and out of her.

  “So good,” she cried softly as she revelled in the feel of him moving inside her—hard and big and over and over.

  “Fuck, yeah,” Simon grunted, reaching around and putting a hand between her legs. He played with her clit while he continued his delicious thrusting from behind.

  “Simon,” she keened, her knees trembling from the pleasure of it all.

  Simon groaned, pumping faster, his fingers rubbing her nub harder.

  And she couldn’t hold on. She screamed in sheer ecstasy as a powerful climax rocked her whole body.

  She heard Simon yell out her name as she felt him explode inside of her, the hot jets of his come prolonging her incredible orgasm.

  They dropped to the bed, catching their breath as they wrapped their arms around each other.

  “I think I saw stars,” she said.

  Simon chuckled. “I think I did too. I love you.”

  She sighed in contentment. “I love you too.”

  “When we land, I have another surprise for you.”

  She looked at him. “Really?”

  “Yes. But it comes with a condition.”

  “What?”

  “It stays in my house. So when you find your own apartment and move out of my place, you can’t take it with you.”

  “What is it, then?” she asked, getting excited. She usually didn’t like surprises, but she always loved Simon’s.

  “You’ll find out soon,” her incredible boyfriend said mysteriously.

  Geri’s mouth formed an O, just as her eyes did.

  “Surprise!” Simon said, taking the Yorkshire terrier puppy being carried by one of his staff and bringing it to her.

  “Simon…” Her eyes watered as she reached for the adorable little thing, which instantly tried to lick her face.

  “He’s ours,” Simon said softly.

  “But I can’t take him with me when I find my new place?” she asked in a whining tone. Wasn’t that unfair if the puppy was equally theirs?

  Simon shook his head. “You can always visit him… or you can just live with me.”

  She gawked at him.

  “No pressure, sweetheart. But you know how I’ll be away a lot in the next six months because the business is in expansion mode? Well, I thought, what’s the point of you living somewhere else? It would just mean we’d see each other even less, and I don’t want that. Besides, you living with me would be better for Tricia and Maddie. They can pick and choose the right place for them without having to compromise with you. I know it seems too soon, but so what? We’ve lived with each other twenty-four seven for a whole month already, anyway. And if it doesn’t work, then we’ll adjust. We’ll talk. We’ll work it out. It’s just that, all things considered, and with everything we’ve been through, I think living together is a great idea.”

  Her lips twitched at her boyfriend’s speech. Clearly, he’d prepared for this.

  “You know,” she said, giving him a chiding look, “you didn’t need a puppy to make me agree with you.”

  Simon’s face broke into a wide grin.

  “But I’m still glad you got him anyway.” She petted her new baby’s head.

  “I would have let you take him if you’d decided it was too early to live together. But I’m glad my strategy worked.”

  She laughed, kissing him on the lips.

  “What shall we call him?” Simon asked.

  She thought for a moment, and the perfect name came to her.

  “James.”

  Chapter 21

  Ten months later…

  Geri took Simon’s hand as they walked towards the newest nightclub in Sydney.

  “Oh, wow, look at all the people,” she said, spying the throng that were gathered outside the latest addition to Tristan’s slew of entertainment venues.

  “Sticky-beakers,” Simon said. “Or they probably think the place opens tonight, not realising it’s a private pre-opening party.”

  They walked past the crowd, most of them standing excitedly with phones in their hands, as if waiting for celebrities to take pictures of. Well, knowing Tristan, he probably did have a few A-listers on tonight’s guest list. Luckily, no one was taking a photo of her and Simon.

  Geri noticed a long-haired brunette standing near the venue’s door. She was standing stiffly, arms folded across her chest. Geri wondered why she chose to hang around when she’d clearly rather be somewhere else. The woman didn’t look bored, but she most definitely wasn’t happy to
be there.

  Geri and Simon got to the entrance, and Geri turned her head towards the direction of the brunette. Their eyes met and Geri flashed her a friendly smile. The woman smiled back and took a couple of steps forward, her expression… hopeful?

  But one of the security personnel held an arm in front of the pretty stranger, silently warning her off.

  Geri’s brows furrowed as she and Simon entered the venue. That was strange. It was as if Pretty Brunette had wanted to say something to her.

  She shrugged it off. Maybe the woman was looking for a way to get into this invitation-only event.

  They milled around, with Simon introducing her to some people she was seeing for the first time.

  “Hey,” Tristan said, spotting them.

  “Congratulations, Tristan. The place looks great,” Geri said as he kissed her on the cheek.

  “Thanks. The refurbishment of the old restaurant that used to be here went over budget, but I’m very happy with how it turned out.”

  “You’ll be making it back in no time, judging by the crowd wanting to get in,” Simon said as he man-hugged Tristan.

  Tristan chuckled. “Yeah. Anyway, enjoy yourselves, okay? Once the gang’s complete, we’ll…” Tristan clapped Simon’s shoulder before heading off.

  “We’ll what?” she asked.

  “What?” Simon said.

  “Tristan said once the gang’s complete, we’ll… what?”

  “Eat?” Simon said with a shrug.

  “I guess it’s only Marilyn and Jarryd that are missing,” she said, spotting the rest of their friends across the room.

  “Hey, guys!”

  Geri gasped, recognising the voice. “Hello, you two,” she said, greeting Marilyn and Jarryd with a hug. “How was the honeymoon?”

  “Heavenly,” Marilyn said, grinning widely. Too widely.

  “You look very happy, Marilyn,” Geri said with a laugh. “Is there something you want to tell us?”

  “What? No. Nothing at all. Just good to be back.”

  “Really?” Jarryd said. “So you couldn’t wait for our honeymoon to finish?”

  Marilyn tapped her new husband’s chest. “That’s not what I mean and you know it.”