Corporate Cowboy

by Bella Masters

  Gage glared at him head on. “And who made you the expert on women all of a sudden?”

  Cole shook his head. “It’s a no-brainer boss. Some pretty little pussy somewhere has got you whipped. You can’t think of anything but her. And that’s got you flustered to no end. You have no clue how to handle this.”

  “Bullshit.”

  “Not bullshit. This woman, whoever she is, is messing with your head.”

  “Fuck you. Seen my briefcase?”

  “I imagine it’s still in your truck.”

  It would be. “Right.”

  “You’re ignoring me.”

  Gage turned and laid a hand on the door handle. “See you on Friday, Cole. Call me if you need anything.”

  ****

  The solitude of his office and a pile of work helped quell Gage’s anger and frustration after a few hours. Gage left Chad with strict do not disturb orders after they had lined out the day during their scheduled Monday morning meeting. He needed to quiet his brain and focus, at least for the morning, and only after one o’clock in the afternoon was Chad to approach him with anything urgent.

  Gage was unavailable. Unattached. Emotionally.

  Today and always. He had to remind himself of that. Life was better that way.

  Just after one o’clock, the light on Gage’s desk phone flashed, and he saw Chad’s extension pop up. He pushed the speaker button.

  “Yes.”

  “Are you available to meet with HR and Ms. Lavender this afternoon concerning her promotion? I see you have the two o’clock hour open on your calendar. Should I book it?”

  Emma. Suddenly his brain started chattering up again.

  Chapter Seven

  Since I am unsure whether I actually have been promoted to front desk supervisor—or for that matter if I still have a job—I go about business as usual this morning. Glancing at my watch, I see I have eighteen minutes to clock in and be at my station by eight o’clock. Plenty of time. I hustle around the desk to the back room, find my time card and punch in, then check to see who else is working today.

  I’ve been assigned to the day shift while training, knowing later on I could be transferred to an evening or night shift. All of which makes getting the supervisor position seem all the more unlikely. Gage Parker was just priming the pump to get into my panties. Why else would someone like me, a new hire still in training, be promoted?

  Ridiculous. I wipe the idea of the promotion out of my head.

  While I’m there, I wipe the idea of having sex with Gage out of my head too. Nothing good will come of it. While I stand looking at the schedule, noticing that James from New York is off today, I hear someone step up behind me.

  “There you are. I was worried about you, Emma. You didn’t answer a single text or call all weekend!”

  Candy. I turn toward her. “I’m so sorry.” I shrug, wondering exactly what to tell her. “It was a weird weekend. Complicated.”

  “Oh? Want to talk about it? I was going to show you around town, take you out for a drink.”

  “I know. Maybe…” Should I confide in her what happened with Gage? I’m not sure, though it would be nice to talk this over… “Could we can have lunch today? Or drinks after work? I’d like to…chat about something.”

  Maybe.

  Candy pulls out her cell phone and scrolls. She looks up. “I’m free for lunch if you can do it early. Maybe eleven-thirty?”

  I glance back at the schedule. “I don’t know.” I run my finger down my day. “Looks like I get a break at eleven.” I turn back. “Is that too early for you? And I think I have to stay in the hotel. Do you mind the restaurant here?”

  Then I think. How can I talk about Gage with her here? Goodness, he probably has the place bugged!

  Certainly not. My brain is playing tricks on me. Totally paranoid.

  Candy smiles and nods. “That is actually better. I have a meeting at twelve-thirty. I didn’t eat breakfast and I’m already starved.”

  “Great.”

  Candy leans in and touches her cheek to mine. “I gotta run. Glad you are okay. I’ll meet you at the Bistro at eleven.”

  ****

  The morning sails by smoothly and without incident. Being Monday, there are a lot of departures and, of course, a million people checking their bills, getting charges removed, and the like. Three of us are working the desk, and I barely have time to say a word to either of my co-workers. That is okay. I’m not here to make friends, just some money. I really just want to work and get my mind off other things.

  Still, I’m thinking about going back to Charlotte. I suppose the next few days will help me decide.

  I look up to see Chad, Mr. Parker’s assistant, standing in front of me.

  “Miss Lavender, may I speak with you please?”

  “Of course.” Puzzled, I move away from the computer station, taking a moment to log out. I glance to my watch and notice it’s almost eleven.

  “Over here.” He motions toward a conversation pit in the center of the lobby. I leave the desk area and join him. We stand instead of sit, and I realize this is likely going to be a short conversation.

  Shit. I’m fired.

  “Miss Lavender,” he begins, “I’m here to talk about your position.”

  I knew it.

  “We need to set up a time to go over the details of your promotion with the Human Resources department. We have tentatively scheduled the meeting for two o’clock this afternoon, pending Mr. Parker’s schedule.

  Holy crickets. The job is for real? But—

  “Mr. Parker needs to be there?” I query.

  He nods. “Yes, of course. He insists.”

  I bet he does.

  “It seems you have a break at two, so there should not be an issue. Correct?”

  “I, uh… I haven’t checked the afternoon schedule. I’m sure it will be fine though.”

  Chad stares. “Of course it will be fine. We’ll expect you at corporate headquarters at two o’clock sharp unless you hear differently in the meantime. Ask for me when you arrive. Good day, Miss Lavender.”

  He turns and leaves. I stand watching him go, feeling like I am slowly being sucked into something out of my control. The promotion is for real.

  Which means, perhaps, I should stick it out in Billings a little longer. I do have the student loans to pay off. At least this is a job, and a promotion would mean more money….

  It all seemed rather surreal though. A promotion?

  And what does this promotion have to do with the fact that Gage Parker wants to fuck me?

  “Emma?”

  Slowly, I turn to see Candy walking toward me. She stops and cocks her head sideways. “You don’t look well. What just happened?”

  “I… I just got a promotion,” I tell her.

  Candy’s face breaks into a grin. “All right! Lunch is on me. Let’s go.” She hooks her arm in mine and leads me off toward the restaurant.

  ****

  I keep looking over my shoulder while talking to Candy, making sure there is absolutely no one within earshot who can hear our discussion.

  Her eyes widen. “He what?”

  “He wants me.”

  “Like, in what way? For a one-night stand? A permanent relationship? What did he say?”

  I exhale. “Well, his actual words were something like, ‘I want to make arrangements to fuck you.’”

  Candy shakes her head. “Don’t do it, Emma. I’m telling you. Don’t.”

  I simply stare at her.

  “Oh shit. You did already.”

  I shake my head. “No. Of course not. There are details to be worked out.”

  “Huh?”

  “A contract. An NDA. Ah, crap!” I’ve just violated an NDA I haven’t even signed yet.

  “You’re shitting me.”

  “No.”

  “He wants contract sex? And what do you get in return?”

  Wow. That was a good question. I had not even thought about that. “I… I don’t know.
Crazy good sex?”

  She shakes her head. “No, you want more than that.”

  “Isn’t that, perhaps, just a step removed from prostitution? No. Not going there…”

  “Maybe you should think about it. I mean, if he wants you bad enough. God. I can’t even believe I’m saying this. Forget I said that.”

  “I can’t believe I’m considering it.”

  Her eyes widen more. “You are?”

  I bite my lip. “Yeah, maybe. But now I’m not so sure. After yesterday…”

  “Yesterday?”

  Suddenly I feel like I’ve talked way too much. I blow out a breath. “Never mind. I saw him. We talked and, well, did a little more than talking but…”

  Candy reached out and grasped my hand. “Look. Emma. Please forget what I just said a minute ago. It’s not worth it, whatever he offers you. He’s bigger than life. There have been rumors of women who worked here who got involved. I told you that in the gym. Remember? I’m not saying that he did anything illegal, but no one ever heard from those women again.”

  Panic stabbed my checks. “What are you saying, Candy?”

  “I’m just saying they are gone.”

  “Gone. As in…dead?”

  “As in gone. Hell, who knows?”

  “Oh God, Candy. Surely not. He can’t get away with something like that. He’s too visible. He’s not a murderer….”

  Or is he?

  Candy shrugs. “Then how do you explain their disappearances?”

  I look past her, staring. How do I explain any of this?

  ****

  At five minutes before two o’clock this afternoon, I once again take the elevator to the twenty-second floor. I step into the now familiar lobby and weave my way toward Chad’s outer office. He glances up as I approach and then rises, taking a quick look at his watch.

  “Miss Lavender. This way.”

  We face the double doors to Gage’s office. Something queasy lands in my stomach. I’m not sure I want to step forward, but the doors swing open and I do.

  Head down, I look at the floor as I approach his desk. I purposely do not look at Gage. Chad directs me to a chair, and I glance to the one beside me, where Christina Long sits. Christina is the HR manager who hired me and conducted my initial orientation session.

  She nods my way. “Good morning, Emma. Only here one week and a promotion. Imagine that.” Her grin is saccharin. Sweet and fake. Immediately I realize she is not gung-ho for my new position.

  Who can blame her? Has she been down this road before with personnel Gage wants to promote? And fuck?

  I smile, because that is what I do, and give her my hand. “So nice to see you again, Ms. Long.” She gives my hand a limp shake and I sit. Only then do I turn to look at the man behind the desk.

  His eyes, dark and steely, and showing no form of emotion, glare at me.

  “Mr. Parker.” I dip my head and lower my gaze. I notice a stack of papers on the desk in front of me.

  Christina begins. “Emma, we are promoting you to the front desk supervisor position. We feel you are a good match for the job and have already shown promise as a leader.”

  I turn toward her and give her my attention. I feel Gage’s stare on my cheek. I almost have to question her statement. How have I shown leadership in five short days, two of those in training? Her words feel canned and staged.

  I glance at Gage, who remains businesslike and indifferent.

  She continues. “You’ll see an offer letter there on the stack of papers in front of you. Salary, hours, and a job description are included. We know this is the first time you have seen the offer, so if you need to think about it, that is fine with us.”

  Gage interrupts. “I would like a response today though, Miss Lavender.”

  I glance up from the letter. “If you don’t mind, I’ll read it now, and then let you know, Mr. Parker.”

  Christina clears her throat, and I wonder if that is a warning. For what? Don’t cross Mr. Parker? I think I have already done that, more than once.

  I look her way. “If you will give me a moment.”

  “Of course.”

  I read the letter. The salary is decent. The hours are nothing out of the ordinary. The job description is easy enough to understand but a bit vague in areas. I look up to Gage. “I don’t see the usual job description disclaimer here.”

  His brows arch. “And that is…?”

  “You know, the one that reads, ‘and other duties as assigned,’ generally under the discretion of the supervisor.”

  Gage stares. His mouth twitches.

  “By the way, who will be my supervisor?”

  He clears his throat. “That is to be worked out. We are restructuring our org chart this week.”

  Sure. Of course. I’m not buying that.

  Abruptly, I turn to Christina. “Will there be other duties assigned, or is this it?”

  “Those are the general duties, Emma. Of course, they are very broad, in some respects, on purpose, because tasks often change.”

  “I see.” I ponder that, and then look back to Gage. “I may need to have them lined out a little more specifically. I want to be certain, if I accept this position, of the duties expected of me.”

  Again, his gaze sears through me. I can feel the heat. Or maybe that’s something else.

  Christina breathes deep beside me and exhales. “Emma, this is our standard offer. If you are not interested in the position….”

  Gage interrupts. “Whatever Miss Lavender needs spelled out more specifically, Ms. Long, please make it happen. As I look this over,” for the first time he actually picks up his copy of the letter and peruses it, “I can see where there are areas of vagueness.”

  He stands. Christina and I follow suit. I see her fists clench and unclench at her sides. She’s agitated and annoyed. Damn, has he screwed her, too?

  “Ms. Long?”

  “I will take care of it, sir.”

  He turns to me. “Miss Lavender, please review the offer thoroughly and get with Ms. Long within the hour with your questions. I’m sure that you both will come to an agreement, and we can get this wrapped up today.”

  “Yes. Sir.” Then I catch myself. Although calling him sir was not in any way inappropriate, it felt a little decadent saying it in front of someone else. My mind flashed back to the day before.

  I glance up to see Gage’s stoic face staring back. I turn to Christina. “This really shouldn’t take long,” I tell her.

  “I’ll be in my office.” Turning, she heads for the door.

  I glance quickly at Gage, gather up the papers in front of me, and turn to follow her.

  “Miss Lavender. There is one more thing.”

  I swivel back and when I do, hear the office door click closed behind me.

  For a moment, we stand there staring. Finally, I break the silence.

  “Yes?”

  “Yes, what?”

  “The one more thing.”

  “Of course.” He motions back to the chair I was sitting in. “Have a seat.”

  I don’t hesitate and sit. He settles himself behind the desk and picks up his phone. After a moment, he says into the device, “Chad, no calls.”

  I hear another series of clicks behind me and my stomach jolts. I arch a brow, but Gage doesn’t seem to notice. Locked? Is “no calls” code for lock the doors and leave me alone? I guess we are finally getting down to business.

  I exhale slowly and grip the armrests. No backing out now.

  Chapter Eight

  Gage stole a moment to gather his thoughts. The time was now or never.

  He’d spent the morning doing anything and everything to push Emma out of his head so he could work, and then the instant she stepped across the threshold of his office, her eyes downcast as she crossed the room, every ounce of adrenalin inside him raced through his body and straight to his dick.

  Get a grip.

  She was just another fuck. The chase with this one was a bit different but th
e outcome would be the same. He’d enjoy toying with her for a while, finally take her, possess her, and send her on her way.

  “Emma,” he began, “look at me.”

  Slowly, she lifted her gaze. Her doe-eyed innocence never failed to make his gut clutch in desire. Her softness was edged with a spunk he’d not anticipated, but enjoyed. More than once, he had wanted to burst out in laughter at something she’d said. For some reason she made him smile.

  All of that was foreign. No woman ever made him smile.

  Yes, get a grip.

  “First, I want you to know that your promotion has nothing to do with my proposition to you. That is separate. They are in no way connected. If you do not agree to the terms of our personal contract, your job and your promotion remain intact.”

  She thought about that a moment then tilted her head. “Okay. Thank you.”

  “Second, neither of us are leaving this room until we have come to an agreement about our personal business.”

  She nodded. “Or not.”

  “I would prefer that we come to terms.”

  “That remains to be seen. Sir.” Her eyes sparkled and he wondered if she realized how sexy she was when they did.

  “Do you still have the contract?”

  “Yes.”

  “Have you read it, Emma?”

  “No.”

  That surprised him. “All right. Then let’s get to it.” He pushed another folder across the desk.

  “I have the one in my bag.”

  “That’s a boilerplate. No names, no negotiation points. Do you think I’d let you leave here with my name on anything? This one is a bit more specific. Since you appear to like things spelled out succinctly, I think it will meet your expectations.”

  She eyed him, the twinkle gone, then slowly reached for the folder and dragged it toward her. She opened it and picked up the single page. “This is it?”