The Valentines Day Proposal

by Bella Winters

  The next week started with a ton of projects. Brent was stressed as he entered one order after another, along with myself and the rest of the staff. There was another room where everything as being packaged and shipped several times a day. This was the competitive time for shipping companies, the time when publicity could be good or bad. I grew up with that saying in my head and worked harder. I knew that it would slow down after the first of the year, at least back down to the normal flow of business that was consistently steady at best.

  Brent grumbled about missing Veronica one day as he looked over another order. “Do you want another assistant?” I asked him as he glanced at me. “We could place another ad.”

  “I don’t think that now is the time to hire anybody. We’ll just pay out the overtime to everyone else’s assistants and deal with it after that,” he mumbled as I shook my head. I remembered Dad being a little salty this time of year and Brent mirrored that as I got back to the computer.

  “I saw her at a club. She looked happy,” I said as he looked at me. “Veronica. She was in rehab, you know.”

  “Did you talk to her?” He asked as I shook my head. “Rehab, huh? For what?”

  “I just found out that’s where she went. I don’t know what for,” I told him as he nodded.

  “I guess that explains a lot. She was a little crazy.” Brent chuckled as I laughed with him. “I hope that she’s okay.”

  “I think so. She looked good,” I assured him as I looked at another order. “How the fuck did Dad do this every day?”

  “A great staff. They’re busting their asses off just like we are. I think we need to do something for them. Didn’t he throw a party?” Brent looked at me.

  “Mom is already planning that,” I said as he laughed weakly. “It’s going to be at one of the restaurants nearby. We’re closing it down and letting loose. It’s on the fifteenth, a Saturday. Everyone is taking that day off.”

  “I forgot that she did that each year. It’s been so busy, but she always did that. Dad was a lucky man…hell, we’re fortunate to have her.” His stomach growled, and he ran a hand through his hair and sighed. “Take out?”

  “Yeah, sure. I’m starving.”

  CHAPTER 15

  Brent

  The days started to run into the nights as we ate at the office, going home to sleep. Mom always kept some dinner in the fridge in case we were hungry when we got home, just like she did for Dad. I still took her out to dinner on Sundays, making a point of leaving early to do so. Brandon joined me, and we made a good night of it, seeing that she needed us to be around. It also gave us a break.

  I had Brandon take Mom home, getting away to see Nina. We’d met a few months ago, at a bar with friends and hit it off, spending the night together. I was at home every night for I don’t know how long and I needed some release.

  I thought about Cecile and Veronica as I parked on the curb. I missed having a woman around the office, and I got out of the car, and I mulled over Brandon’s suggestion. Another assistant. We could use the help, and I could use the sex since I was twenty-two and not fifty. It was slammed right now, and we could use another warm body, but there was no time for an interview.

  I knocked on the door and grinned as the pretty raven-haired woman opened it. “Brent, I’m so glad that you came.”

  “Hello, beautiful,” I greeted her, stepping inside, and closing the door behind me. The brownstone was lit up by strings of Christmas lights and I glanced around as she pressed her body against mine. “Miss me?”

  Her lips against mine were my answer, and I pulled her closer. We had a great thing going as little as we saw each other, and I lifted her up to carry her back to the bedroom. I suppose we were getting right to the point. I dropped her onto her bed and moved to kiss her, slipping a hand up her thigh. Nina was gorgeous and willing as she unbuttoned my shirt and slipped if from my body.

  We were naked within moments after several deep, long kisses and I moved down to her hard nipples to suck one into my mouth. My cock was straining towards her as she arched her back and spread her legs for me. “Fuck me, Brent.”

  I cocked my head at her as she reached for the box on the nightstand. I sheathed my cock and slid inside of her, groaning at the tight feel of her body around me. Her green eyes shimmered as she looked at me, inviting me to go harder as I dropped over her mouth and kissed her. The release felt fucking fantastic as I jerked inside of her with it as she flooded me with her warmth. “I needed that.”

  “You’re working too hard, baby. Why don’t you just pay someone to run the place?” She asked as I frowned.

  “I have managers that could run it, but it’s my Dad’s business. He wanted it to stay in the family.” Nadine watched as I rolled beside her and propped myself up on one arm. “I like working there.”

  “You used to party, Brent.” I saw the look in her eyes, seeing the woman that didn’t work or earn a dime of her money. She was hot as hell and easy to get along with, but she didn’t understand who I was. She didn’t know me.

  “I did, but I was forced to grow up.” Most of the families in my social circle weren’t close to one another, so a lot of the people that I hung out with didn’t know my father the way that I did. Some of their parents did, but my close friends are the ones that spent valuable time with us. They knew the man that I missed and worked hard for, but most of the women didn’t.

  I stayed until the early morning pleasing her since she was beautiful and I was a man, a young man. I needed to take care of my needs, but I knew that I wouldn’t end up with Nina. I wouldn’t end up staying with her or anybody like her, but I could fuck her. I left and went home, finding the house dark as I walked up to my room. It looked like everyone was home and I took in the feel of the place for a moment as I started up the stairs, pausing for a moment.

  I thought about Cecile and Veronica, who were beautiful women that were involved with my job. They understood the office, and we managed to mix it up, and I wondered what the chances are we would have of getting another good worker. Hell, I wondered if I’d find a woman that could handle my work schedule, assuming I ever wanted a woman.

  It would have to wait, whatever the case. I had a lot of work to do. I looked around the house, remembering how hard Dad worked for all of this. He was lucky that he had Mom, who understood his schedule and worked with it.

  In the morning, on the way to work, I felt Brandon’s eyes on me. “So, how’s Nina?” He asked as I stopped at a light and sipped my coffee.

  “She’s fine. Hot as always, but I realized something.” I took off, and he leaned back in the seat.

  “What’s that?” Brandon sounded amused as he pressed me for more information.

  “She doesn’t get it. None of those girls do.” I looked at him as I stopped at another light. “They don’t work and never have.”

  “We were that way once, Brent. We partied the day away as well as the nights. No responsibilities at all.” He shrugged. “This is a new thing to us, as much as it is our…friends.”

  “Yeah, I just saw it a different way last night. Maybe all of these hours are making me crazy or something.” I pulled into the garage and parked, stepping out of the car as he opened his door.

  “I think we’ll both be in a padded room come January,” Brandon clapped me on the shoulder, making me laugh.

  We had another long day, but it was good. I was growing to enjoy working over the empty life that we were living before, finding it interesting that he built this from nothing. I got a close look at his work over the years through paperwork and the computer. I got a look at the steps that failed and the ones that worked, hearing stories about Dad from everybody. We had Mom taking care of the party and only had to show up, finding the bar ready and the restaurant looking great. I grinned and looked at the staff that was gathering around the bar, laughing, and talking as I glanced at Brandon. We walked in to join them, smiling at Mom as she came in from the kitchen in a bright green dress. She was always at these event
s, and I was happy to see her since I wasn’t sure that she’d come.

  The buffet was soon ready for all of us, and we lined up to fill our plates with the Mediterranean and American food before taking seats at the tables set up around the room. I joined Mom, seeing the blush to her cheeks as she looked at me with tears in her eyes. “They’re all so kind. They gave me presents and told me how sorry they were…they did that at the church already.”

  “Mom, this is your company as much as it was his. You worked hard back in the beginning too, with the books and taking care of these parties. They all love you.” She smiled and nodded, wiping her cheeks.

  “Remember when they used to call you Mom and then their kids called you Grandma, making us jealous?” Brandon laughed as she nodded. “Then Ash became that to them. It’s a circle, Mom. We’re going to keep this extended family just that, a family.”

  “You two are making me so proud. I know that he’s looking down as well, beaming at the job that you are doing. Your father is proud of you.” Mom told us with a nod and shimmering eyes.

  I exchanged a look with my brother, knowing we both hoped that he didn’t see everything. We were tainting the company with some of our past behavior, in ways that might harm others. I don’t know how much of a part I played in Veronica’s issues, but I felt some lingering guilt every now and then. We were doing things that Dad wouldn’t approve of.

  CHAPTER 16

  Brandon

  I pushed back from the desk, rubbing my temples. “Now I know why Dad always had an assistant this time of year. It’s so fucking busy.” I glanced up at my brother who looked as tired as I felt. He nodded. “Can we borrow someone else’s for a while?”

  “They’re trained for that manager and I don’t want to do that. Let’s get through the next couple of weeks and we’ll get someone to clean everything up, okay?” We were working so much and so quickly that there would be a shit ton of spreadsheets to finalize. “Let’s make it a working situation this time.”

  “You didn’t like the other ones?” I challenged as Brent gazed at me.

  “I did, but neither seemed to end well and now we’re here working all goddamn day. I just want to be more responsible in the future.” He returned to his work on the computer and I stood to get some more coffee. I made him a cup as well, knowing how tired he was. We were doing dinner out with Mom later tonight with some friends and I didn’t know how I was going to get through that when all I wanted to do was sleep.

  The Christmas party had been a great event. The food was good and everyone hit the open bar and enjoyed themselves, talking in groups and dancing once they felt their inhibitions slip. I realized just how beautiful the women on the staff were when they were dressed in their little cocktail dresses and wasted, their flirtations much more obvious when they got me alone. Fuck, it was hard to turn them away. I could easily take one down the hall and into a bathroom or storage closet and fuck her so fast, releasing the stress from work.

  I didn’t. I knew where I was and even more than that, who I was. I’d never disrespect Mom that way after all the work that she put into this night. It wasn’t easy, though, and I looked at Brent as I set the coffee down in front of him. “Here, Brent.”

  “Thanks,” he smiled weakly at me as he leaned back. “I should get someone in here to massage everyone. Wasn’t that in a movie that Mom liked?” I laughed, knowing which one he was thinking of.

  “She said the same thing to Dad.” We shared a long glance and I looked at the clock. “Want to get one before dinner?”

  “We have so much to do that I don’t know if we should take an extra few hours on top of dinner,” he replied thoughtfully as I sighed. “I’ll consider bringing someone in next week, since everyone has been working so hard. It would be a nice break.”

  We stayed in the office until five, leaving to take Mom and Ashley to the restaurant with our friends. They asked Brandon and I everything about the company and we answered, faking enthusiasm through the exhaustion that we were both feeling. I didn’t know how Dad did it year after year with a smile on his face, but it kept me going. There were times I thought he was crazy for giving us the run of the company so quickly but it was safe to assume that he thought he had years left with us.

  We talked about Dad over the meal, sharing memories and laughter as I made sure that Mom was okay through it. She seemed to enjoy talking about it with everyone and I felt guilty for working so hard and not being home. Jesus, life was difficult. I missed the days of travel and parties, where the hardest decision was what girl I was going to pick for the night.

  We took them home just before ten, ready to drop. Our day started at eight the following morning and I personally knew that I could sleep for a day right now. I didn’t know just how Brent felt but it was probably similar. We hugged Mom and Ashley before heading upstairs and changing into something to sleep in, not talking at all.

  I told a friend I would meet them Saturday night, needing something other than the office in my world. They chose a popular nightclub and I pulled on some black slacks and a button up shirt as I thought about Brent back at the office. He’d chosen to stay at work while I skipped out. Mom was out with a friend and I left the house, taking one of the cars as I headed into Manhattan.

  The club was crowded and brightly lit in the blue and pink lights all over the building. I got right in, knowing every bouncer in town and clapped Marvin on the shoulder as I headed towards the bar. The guys were there, drinking beer and chatting up some girls as I walked up, and they all greeted me with sarcasm and humor about being a working man now. I shook my head and ordered from the pretty bartender before I turned my attention to the girls gathered around. “Hello, ladies. I’m Brandon.”

  The night passed with dances and drinking as I let myself relax. There was a lot of women there tonight and I found myself off in the corner making out with a platinum blonde with great tits. She said that she was a paralegal assistant when we were dancing but that thought skipped my mind as her tongue slipped into my mouth, igniting my desire for her touch.

  We made plans to leave and go to her place, and I sent a quick text to friends telling them I was leaving. I needed a night with a woman in her room, reminding myself what sex was since we lost Veronica. I couldn’t believe that I hadn’t touched anyone since then and we walked down the street to an impressive brownstone before she unlocked the door and led me into a large foyer. I locked my lips back on hers and pressed her hard against the wall before kissing her neck and asking where her room was.

  Brittany led me down a hallway and through a door, and I glanced around to see a big bed in a very lavender room. Jesus, it was girly in here but I looked back at the girl lifting off her dress and decided that I could get over it quickly. She had a body to die for. I stepped forward, unbuttoning my shirt, and letting it slip from my shoulders as her bright blue eyes shimmered with desire. “You’re so hot,” Brittany breathed out as I reached forward to unclasp her bra before kissing her deeply. We stumbled back to the bed where I kissed her lips senselessly before moving down her neck. Brittany gasped and clawed at me while I teased her, pushing my leg against her core. Fuck, she was so wet.

  I sucked her nipple hard as she screamed for more, holding my head in place. I moved down her flat abdomen, slipping off the barely there thong before licking her glistening pussy gently. She ripped my clothes off after I made her come and her mouth was locked around my needy cock before I could blink. I slipped my hands into her thick hair and fought the urge to fuck her mouth.

  I took her from behind, slapping her ass in between hard thrusts as Brittany cried out my name. She wasn’t as tight as I liked but it was better than the times I’d used my hand recently when I wasn’t too tired. I pumped into her, feeling her come before I shot deep into the condom that sheathed me. I dropped on the bed beside her and looked around the room again. It was the epitome of feminine and I took a deep breath. “You felt great, baby.” I fed her the words that I knew girls liked, though
I wasn’t lying. Not entirely. She did feel great but I knew I’d never see her again.

  That point hit me in the gut when I dressed and left after a second round, feeling her behind me in the hallway as I headed towards the living room. It was brightly lit and I glanced in, freezing as Brittany bumped into me. One of the assistants was sitting there with a couple other girls and her dark brow raised at the sight of me. “Mr. Moyen,” she said slowly as I ran a hand through my hair.

  “You know him?” Brittany asked behind me as the girl laughed.

  “He owns the company that I work for, Bri,” she replied as I felt my skin heat up. The sex had not been quiet and I wondered how much they heard. I wondered how much talk there would be Monday about my sexual prowess after working on taming the rumors. Jesus, this wasn’t good.

  “You own a company?” Brittany asked as her arms slipped around my waist. Great. I didn’t tell her that on purpose so I could avoid her being clingy, since she seemed to think I was just a guy that worked for a shipping company. We didn’t talk that much before coming here, fueled by alcohol and lust.

  “Yes,” I replied shortly as I stepped out of her embrace. I turned to look at her and forced a smile. “Thank you, Brittany. It was a great night.” I kissed her cheek chastely and headed towards the door, needing to be out of the line of vision of all the mouthy girls currently staring at me.