by Rye Hart
I got in my car and put the key in the ignition. “How do I get to White Linen from my side of town?” “I’ll text you the address, and you can use your GPS. Good luck, honey. Selena’s office is in the front, so you’ll have no problems finding them when you go in.”
“Thank you gorgeous! You’re the best!” I hung up, typed in the address, and then I was on my way.
Arriving at White Linen, I was relieved to find a nice parking lot close to the building’s main entrance. I’d had enough exercise and didn’t want to go in sweaty and out of breath.
“Don’t tell me how to run my fucking business, Lenny. You get my glassware back, or I’m coming down there to make a scene.” Selena’s voice filled the entire room as I walked in the door. Despite her boss’ shouting, the secretary glanced up over the tall counter with a wide smile.
“May I help you?” She kept the smile plastered on as Selena shouted a few more obscenities.
“I’m here to see Selena White. I don’t have an appointment, but—”
“Are you Patrick’s friend?” The woman asked, her brows raising even further to the top of her forehead.
“Yes, that’s me. I’m Cindy Peterson. I can come back if this is a bad time or day, or—”
“No, it’s fine. Have a seat, and I’ll go tell her that you’re here.” She didn’t wait for Selena to finish cracking skulls before she got up and went to the back where Selena’s door was open, and she stuck her head in.
After a moment, she came back and motioned me to follow her.
Luckily, the tirade had ended by the time I got to the back, and the secretary held the door open for me as I stepped into Selena’s office. I hadn’t expected her, but Emily White was there too. Everyone knew the White sisters. They’d been doing parties in the New York area for decades and had been part of high society since their childhood.
“Hello,” the two said in unison, as I walked in and took a seat. Emily, who sat next to me, extended her hand.
“You’re Patrick’s friend, Cindy?” She gave her sister an encouraging smile.
“Yes, I heard you need a new coordinator. I’d love the opportunity.”
“We have three weeks of galas coming,” said Selena with a much deeper voice than I’d expected. “We’re not usually in the habit of hiring someone without first putting them through the test and proper training, but since you’re so eager and you used to be employed at Gold Standard, I think we can give you a shot. You know, my sister and I started out at Gold Standard back in the day.”
“I wasn’t aware of that, how interesting. You have done very well for yourselves.” I didn’t know what to say and hoped I wouldn’t slip up and say something that might offend, so I decided it was best to say as little as possible.
“Were you there when they downsized?” Gold Standard had taken a big hit when White Linen became the first competitors to break their monopoly over the events industry, and I had been a casualty.
“Yes, I was in the last round of layoffs.” I had been one of the last cut because I was not making as much as the older coordinators.
Emily gave me a sideward glance. “You lasted a long time. Most were cut right away. You must have been a very good worker.”
“I did my best, and I’ll do my best for you.” I kept a smile on my face and breathed a sigh of relief once Selena passed me my employment papers.
“Sign these, and we’ll get you in the system. You’ll be coming in over a few heads, so I hope you know how to handle that kind of situation. Since you’re new, you’ll also be on a probation period. You screw up or piss me off in any way, and you’re out.”
Emily leaned forward and put a reassuring hand on my arm. “She means it, but you’ll do fine.”
I breathed a sigh of relief and was grateful for the job, but something told me Selena would not make things easy.
CHAPTER THREE - ENZO
My father was going to renounce his throne in a month, and until then I had some charity commitments to take care of in his absence. Luckily the largest charity gala series was taking place in New York where I kept one of my private estates. I could stay there, attend the events, and Esme would be out of the dull castle scene and away from mother’s scrutiny.
I’d had to get away from my mother, who after my father’s talk had made a point of inviting Bella Lora Rosa over for a visit. She wasn’t going to stop pushing her on me unless I found another woman that she approved of.
I hated leaving my daughter with the nanny to go out, but after a week of father daughter activities back home I gave myself permission to break away for an evening.
Lucas was in New York with me, and I’d promised him a guy’s night out. Besides, I knew the guy had an itch, and he’d do better getting it scratched at the club than cooped up in the house with me and Esme and the nanny.
“Are you ready?” Lucas strolled in as I was straightening my cuffs and sat in the chair beside my dressing mirror. “I want to get there before all the hot ladies are taken.”
I fought back the twitches at the corner of my mouth that were sure to turn into a smile. “Almost. I want to say goodbye to Esme before we go. She and Margarite are going to watch movies.”
“They’re already in the theater. I passed by on the way up. Looks like a chick flick fest is lined up and they even had out the nail polish.”
“At least Margarite will entertain her.”
“I would love to entertain Margarite.” Lucas took a deep breath that puffed up his chest like a strutting peacock.
I shook my head and grabbed my wallet. “I’ve told you, no banging the help, especially the nanny.”
“Yeah, but we wouldn’t have to go out. I’d bang Margarite, and you could spend quality time with you daughter in New York. It would be a win/win.”
I headed for the door with him behind me, and we went down to the theater room where I found Esme behind the snack counter, and the smell of the popcorn popping filled the air making my mouth water.
“Don’t eat a lot of junk, sweetheart.” I walked around the counter where Margarite was getting their drinks.
“I won’t. We need a restock of Junior Mints.” Those were her favorites and Lucas’ too.
“Sorry about that kiddo,” he said from behind me. “I got bored the last time I was here and watched a few movies; ate a few boxes.” She giggled and shook the last box in his face.
“Thanks for saving me some.” She took her drink from Margarite who went down to the middle of the small theater.
“Have a good time, sweetheart. I promise we’ll hangout again tomorrow; just the two of us.” I leaned down and hugged her, and she gave me a kiss and ran down to sit with Margarite.
“Have fun, Daddy. Please don’t make much noise on the way out.” She flashed me a big smile and a wink from her seat as Lucas cleared his throat.
I turned and gave him a narrowed glance as we headed to the car. “It seems the farther we get from Aramis, the more you forget that I’m in charge.” I’d never liked him to treat me like I was Prince of Aramis when it was just the two of us, and a teasing grin played around my mouth. The driver opened the door for us, giving me a graceful bow.
“I’m aware, Your Royal Pain in the Ass.” He belted a laugh as he slid into the seat.
I noticed the driver’s eyes widened at the seemingly disrespectful remark. “You should be drawn and quartered for that, you know.” I let out a long breath. “I’m not sure I’m ready for this. Especially with my mother breathing down my neck. She’s already been on the hunt for a wife, and I’m not sure I want to get married.”
“It might not be so bad, man. It could be good for Esme.” I couldn’t believe he was on my mother’s side and I gave him a withering look of disappointment. “Hear me out, I’m not saying you have to do what your mother wants and marry someone like Bella Lora, but you know how the public would prefer a king that’s settled down and not on the club scene every other night.”
“We’re going out for you, remem
ber? I was content either way.” I gave him a casual shrug of indifference.
“Well, some of us don’t have the luxury of fucking our mother’s handmaidens.” He raked his hand through his hair and then checked himself in the reflection of the tinted glass.
He had a point, but if I were married, that would have to stop. “It’s not that I don’t want a committed relationship, but you’ve seen the type of women my mother wants me to marry. I can’t see myself with that for the rest of my life and you know that’s what it will be. King’s don’t get divorced; they endure. I’m not about to endure a spoiled trust-funder like Bella Lora.”
“What else is there? You can’t expect your mother to allow anyone else from the common class. Not after what happened with Esme’s mother. That would be a nightmare, and you know it.”
The car lurched to a stop, and I glanced up to see the driver had narrowly missed a pedestrian. He pulled up to the door of the club, and we got out without any fanfare. We were let inside and led to the VIP lounge where we usually sat and ordered a few drinks. Lucas looked around the area and eye-fucked a few women as they passed, and a couple of blondes stopped and said hello. Lucas offered them a seat, and I said a polite hello.
“I’m Lucas, and this is my buddy Enzo.”
“I’m Daphne and this Katie.” The two girls leaned in close to one another and whispered.
With everything happening with my father and the royal duties I needed to prepare for in New York, my mind wasn’t on it, and my heart wasn’t in it.
“You know,” he said, leaning close. “This would be a hell of a lot more fun if you were into it too. How about at least play along?”
“Sorry, man. I’ve got a lot on my mind.” At that time, I spotted a familiar face in the crowd, and he was fast approaching.
“Shit. There’s Greg Levinas.” I tucked my chin and glared down at my feet, hoping he’d go away, but instead, he strolled right up to the table and made a scene.
“Hey, Prince Enzo, how about a fifteen-minute interview?” The man’s phone was turned on me, and I was sure it was recording everything so he could pull the most unflattering stills from it later.
Lucas stood up and tried to block me while the girls went crazy. “You’re a real prince!?”
Sure enough, there was a crowd forming, and then several cameras began flashing my direction. I was practically blind from all the damn lights pouring my way.
I could make out Levinas stepping back, bumping into someone and cursing like a mad man. Apparently the person he bumped into was a woman because she was telling him off like there was no tomorrow.
Still blind sighted by the cameras, I could only make out her sexy silhouette and the delicate scent of her perfume; I was immediately turned on by that combination and her voice alone. It was a fine balance of a elusive sweetness and an unwavering confidence. I was getting harder by the minute standing there. Based on the insults she was throwing back at Levinas, she was clearly educated and the type of girl who didn’t take crap from anyone.
That type of temperament was something I’d rarely witnessed in members of society. Women had always bowed downed to my family and me. It actually was a bore to experience. I’d often wondered if all the women I’d ever meet would worship the ground I walked on and that thought scared the crap out of me.
What man doesn’t want a girl with confidence, who isn’t afraid to speak her mind? Something told me I needed to find out more about her. Maybe it was the increasing size of the bulge in my pants.
She’s got me hard as a rock and I don’t even know what she looks like! I have to meet this woman.
This was certainly a first for me.
I could make out that this remarkable woman had thrown something at Levinas before she was pulled away.
“Hey! Wait –.”
I tried to move in but was whisked away when the VIP security grabbed me and led me to a back room.
Lucas was so caught up in the drama, that it was a couple of minutes before we were able to speak.
I grabbed him by the arm. “Could you see that woman?”
He shrugged. “Which?”
“The one who told off Levinas. I have to go get her number.” I pushed past him and hurried out, but by that time the crowd was gone. On the table was the object she’d thrown at Levinas. I couldn’t make out what it was in the dark, but I grabbed it and stuffed it into my pocket as Lucas pulled me toward the back.
“Are you crazy? I’m not letting you end up in the press over some bar fight. Let’s get you home.” I knew he was right and I gave up hope of seeing that woman tonight. Hell, I didn’t even know what she looked like outside of her hourglass silhouette.
I got to the car and plopped down in my seat as Lucas rushed in behind me. Greg Levinas was running across the lot and on his way to get more of me. “Does that guy ever quit?” Lucas slammed the door as I pulled the object out of my pocket hoping for some kind of clue.
“Is that a heel?” Lucas wiped his brow and took a deep, calming breath.
“Yeah. I think that asshole made her trip and lose her heel. A lot of good that’s going to do me.” I tossed the thing on the seat next to me.
On the way home, I couldn’t get strange woman out of my head.
It was a strange feeling to be so turned on and infringed by someone I’d barely even seen.
Who was she?
What would it be like to make her scream my name, in my bed, under me?
Will I ever get to meet her to find out?
CHAPTER FOUR - CINDY
I paced the back room of the event center where the Azure Blue event was taking place. It was the first of our galas and my big debut as coordinator for White Linen.
“What do you mean by sick? There’s no way you can tough it out?” I hated to push Arlene, but she was the third person to call out and she was one of my best servers. I needed her to work the tables and see to it that everything went smoothly. Patrick walked up and gave me a wide-eyed stare as she gave me her excuse and diagnosis.
“It’s okay, Arlene. Get better.” I hung up the phone and let out a deep breath as Patrick patted me on the back. “Well, that makes three now. Arlene is out, so that looks like I’m going to be on the floor all night.”
“Oh, honey. It’s a bad night for you to be so busy. The Sister’s Grim need to see you in action hosting not serving. And if one thing goes wrong, what would you do? You won’t have the manpower to take care of everything.”
“They’ll just see both. I don’t have a choice. And as for problems, I will have to make sure that everything goes smoothly. No room for mistakes.”
“Now you’re talking sister! I can always see if I have an extra hand in the kitchen, and if so, I’ll send them out. Make sure you have a shirt.”
“Thanks.” I walked to the door and peeked out into the main room. Things were already underway out on the floor, and the guests were arriving. I had my staff tending their needs and, so far, there were no issues. “I better get out there. Wish me luck.”
“Luck,” Patrick said, with a sympathetic smile.
I stepped out, making my way around the room to greet the guests and kept my eye on the others. Selena and Emily sat in the corner of the room at their own private table and Selena’s eyes burned on me as I crossed the room. I checked to see if all of the tables had been arranged properly as I asked them to be before my parade of phone calls, and that the entire place had been adorned in blue decor, per the theme.
The crowd picked up, and things had managed to go smoothly until the end of the night. As I walked around making sure the guests had everything they needed, a couple of men at a table began laughing. “Hey, baby, why don’t you bring us a pitcher of beer.” The men were dressed in all black and stayed back from the party as if they were there on official business.
I knew some of the guests were important and had security, and by the sounds of this pair, that’s what they had to be. They had no manners.
“I’d be h
appy to serve you another round, but we aren’t serving pitchers. I’m sure there’s a bar around if you’d like to go somewhere else.” I started to walk away, and the mouthy one grabbed my arm and pulled me down onto his lap. His sweat-soaked face brushed against my hair as it got caught in his stubble. I jumped up, jerked away and hoped that no one saw me as he laughed.
“Come on, sweetheart. Why don’t you join me for a while? I’m sure your boss won’t mind.” He nudged his friend, and they laughed. “You don’t even have to pull up a chair. I got something you can sit on right here.” Their laughter rose to a new level as I backed away and straightened my clothes.
“I am the boss. So, do I need to get security or will you behave yourselves?” My heart raced as they both got the strangest looks on their faces.
“Is there a problem here?”
I turned and found a pair of men standing behind me, both were incredibly handsome, and the tall, fair-haired one stood there with a wicked half grin on his face. He had the look of a European GQ model.
My breath caught in my throat when I found myself eyeing him up and down, well-built with blond hair and an air of confidence about him.
His broad shoulders were outlined by the tailor fitted suite he wore, and I couldn’t help but notice the bulge in the front of his pants. It seemed like his shoulders weren’t the only thing he was working out. I wanted to snort at my joke, but had to remember I was on a job.
His eyes, a deep ocean blue color, penetrated me into the depths of my soul. He was tall, and would easily tower over most people I knew. There was something irresistible about him. I couldn’t pinpoint it besides that my stomach fluttered when he looked at me the way he did.
“Ahem. Are these friends of yours?” I asked.
“Don’t I know you from somewhere?” Mr. GQ eyed me up and down and then turned to his friend. “Where do we know her from?”
Surely these men either had one too many to drink or mistook me for some dumb bimbo. I remembered that I needed to tend to the event and avoid causing any more of a scene on my first real day on the job.