Tempt you...not! (Reckless in Love Book 3)

by Lark Anderson

  My phone buzzes with a message from an unknown number, and my eyes light in surprise when I see who it is.

  Unknown: It’s Slate Bastion. We need to talk.

  Alysanne

  News of Chadwick’s and my indiscretion has reached the tabloids. It may not seem newsworthy, but any time the progenies of two ridiculously rich families hook up, the world is eager to find out any details.

  I’ve ignored all messages from Rachel.

  Slate and I aren’t talking.

  My father is recovering well and should arrive home soon. I’m not going to burden him with my brother’s coup. Not with his health issues.

  Instead, I’ve been quietly reaching out to people, establishing connection and launching a PR makeover to rehabilitate my image. I may have to leave the industry, but that doesn’t mean my life will stop.

  I’m not going to be ashamed of my past. I’m going to own it.

  Which will send Slate into a panic because ‘a Bastion doesn’t have to explain themself, and shouldn’t.’

  Then, I’ll laugh in his face.

  My biggest revenge, however, will be against Chadwick. A man who gained my trust only to betray me.

  A man who visits my dreams, tantalizing me. Making me feel things I don’t want to, that he has not earned from me.

  I really was sleeping with the enemy.

  Why did it have to be so good?

  I grab my caramel latte and book it over to the animal shelter so I can walk a few of my favorite mutts.

  “There you are!” Rachel appears out of nowhere, making me spill my latte on my yellow shirt.

  “Jesus!” I shout, casting her an angry glare.

  “I’m sorry, you just haven’t been answering my calls.”

  “For good reason,” I snap.

  She studies me, feigning confusion.

  “Don’t fucking look at me like that. I know what you did.”

  Her eyes downcast. “I’m sorry—”

  “Save your apologies for someone who will believe you.”

  “I couldn’t help myself. Your brother is just—”

  “So you throw twenty years of friendship away? What did he promise you?”

  “Promise me?”

  Rachel’s look of confusion almost convinces me.

  Almost.

  “We’re done, Rach.” I walk past her and continue on to Paws N’ Pets, but before I reach the door, my phone buzzes with an alert.

  It’s a notification that that I’ve appeared in an article. It’s not uncommon, and usually it’s irrelevant things, like a particular purse I’m carrying or where I like to dine.

  I quickly find out that this is not about fashion or food.

  I should be so lucky.

  It’s an article written by Irene McCabe titled: Who is Alysanne Bastion?

  A quick peruse of the article shows an image from my infamous spring break video, all the naughty bits blurred, but it’s something further down is what really captures my attention.

  It’s an embedded video of Chadwick and me in the elevator on the way up to my room right after we met at the club. I press play and watch as I pull him down into a deep kiss.

  Every effort I’ve made to rehabilitate my image over the years is undone with this one article.

  And that video makes it look like I’m seducing the enemy.

  But the humiliation and horror does not end there. Irene promises a sit-down interview with none other than Chadwick Archibald himself.

  Apparently, they’re going live on YouTube.

  Fuck Rachel.

  Fuck Slate.

  And Fuck Chadwick Archibald straight to hell!

  Chadwick

  “This is great news?” Father says with a Cheshire grin.

  “I don’t think it’s so great,” I shoot back, staring at the video of Alysanne Bastion pulling me in for a kiss.

  “Are you kidding me? You’re the picture of politeness. A man standing idly by, respectful of who he’s with. While Alysanne looks like a salacious nymph.”

  “Forgive me for not calling that a win,” I say dryly.

  “You got a hot piece of ass and kept your nose clean in what could have been a scandal. That’s a win.”

  I shake my head in disgust. “Is that all you have for me?”

  “I’ve arranged for you to interview with Irene McCabe tomorrow.”

  “The trashy reporter?”

  “She’s going to ask you about your intimate night with Alysanne, and you’re going to deliver.”

  I scoff. “Like hell, I will.”

  Father blinks back at me like my defiance is beyond comprehension.

  “What happened between Alysanne and I stays between the two of us.”

  His face reddens, a purple vein bulging on his giant forehead. “If you don’t take that interview, I swear to God and Satan himself that you will be out on the streets, not a penny to your name.”

  It may seem extreme that he’d be willing to disinherit his own son over an interview, but no one says no to my father. Not ever.

  Not even his children. Especially not his son.

  I have no doubt that he’ll make good on his promise because anything less than following through would wound his pride.

  If I don’t agree to this interview, I might as well be homeless.

  People already know we’ve been intimate, so it’s not like I’d be saying anything they don’t know. Plus, I could make Alysanne look good.

  Disgust churns in my gut at the thought of betraying Alysanne. I haven’t stopped thinking about her since I left her hotel room, playing various scenes in my head of how we could be together. How we could make it work.

  But Alysanne and I can never be. Not with our parents being who they are. Not if we want to keep our places within our respective companies.

  And if I don’t do this interview, I’m out of a job, and Father will make sure no one will hire me.

  “Tomorrow. Your place. 2 p.m. Business casual. Be there.” Father looks at me stoically, daring me to challenge him.

  What choice do I have?

  “Alright.”

  Without saying goodbye, I leave my father’s office, pulling out my phone and bringing up Slate Bastion’s text box.

  Chadwick: Meet me in an hour at the ImPressed on the corner by the dock.

  Slate: You changed your mind?

  Chadwick: Be there.

  Alysanne

  “Take a seat,” Father says, and I’m forced into a chair next to my brother’s.

  Father doesn’t look weak, but that doesn’t mean one wrong word won’t send him into a cardiac situation he might not recover from, so I have to hold my tongue.

  “I’m sorry about the presentation,” I say quietly.

  “Fuck Major Hutton,” he growls. “He’s always been sleazy.”

  Father has always hated putting any direct blame on me for things, acting as though I can’t foresee the consequences of my actions because I’m female.

  He never even blamed me for the spring break video.

  Looking at his dour face, I already know what he’s going to ask of me, so I jump the gun.

  “I’m leaving Bastion Communications,” I say, handing over my formal resignation.

  Slate’s head snaps in my direction. “Sis, nobody wants you to—”

  “Shove it,” I snap. “And don’t think for a second that I don’t know what you did.”

  I shouldn’t have said that, not with Father here, but I can’t stop my rage from boiling over.

  My brother’s eyes go to his watch. “Ah, it’s 1:57. Just in time.”

  He turns on Father’s television, toggling to YouTube. “The Chadwick Archibald interview will be on in a minute.”

  “Oh, screw this!” I jump from my chair, mad as hell and no longer thinking of my father’s weak heart. “I’m trying to tender my resignation, which is what you wanted—”

  “Alysanne.” Father’s whisper quiets the room. A weird smile plays on his lips. One
I haven’t seen before. “You will sit your ass down, and you will look at that screen.”

  My jaw gapes, but I dare not defy him.

  A knock sounds on the door.

  Slate opens it, allowing Rachel in. “Just in time.”

  What the actual FUCK!

  Her face looks meek, anxious. In a way, her betrayal was far worse than Slate’s. She was my best friend, whereas Slate and I had merely occupied the same womb at different times. We’ve never been close, not like I was with Rachel.

  Grin. Bear it. Make no apologies. Move on.

  Irene McCabe comes into focus on the screen. The shot pans out, and I see Chadwick sitting beside her.

  Relaxed. Casual. Handsome as hell.

  The biggest asshole of our time.

  Why do I still want him so badly?

  Irene and Chadwick exchange witty banter as tears threaten to spill down my cheeks. It doesn’t take long to get to the heart of the interview, though.

  “Chadwick,” Irene says. “Would you care to elaborate on your relationship with Alysanne Bastion? Daughter to communications rival Raymond Bastion.”

  Inhale. Exhale. Repeat. Don’t die.

  “Well, Alysanne and I met at a club in Idaho, of all places.”

  “So I’ve seen,” Irene says excitedly. “The world was quite taken by that elevator kiss.”

  Chadwick smirks, his handsome face both sexy and mischievous and wholly fuckable.

  Too bad he’s a corporate snake.

  “I haven’t just seen the elevator video; I’ve lived it, and let me say, it’s so much different in person.”

  “I imagine so.”

  “The video does nothing to capture Alysanne’s brilliance or her genuine dedication to professionalism. You see, she didn’t know who I was when we went home together, and the moment she found out, she booted me from her room.”

  At least he’s not lying. Still a snake, though.

  Irene’s brow quirks upward. “So, you’re telling me that nothing happened between you and Alysanne Bastion?”

  “It’s more like, I hope that something will happen. Alysanne and I had instant chemistry, but we knew we were star-crossed lovers. Alysanne is too dedicated to her work to give up her position, and I’d never expect her to. That leaves me.”

  What?

  “Oh…” Irene says carefully. “So you’re saying that you’re leaving Archibald Tech?”

  “I’m saying that if the only way I can be with Alysanne Bastion is if I were to quit my job and give up all my belonging and inheritance, I’d be poor and happy.”

  “That’s…wow…insane…” Irene’s voice trails off.

  “It wouldn’t sound insane if you knew Alysanne.” Chadwick rises from his seat. “Who I’m about to go meet.”

  Slate turns off the television, and the room falls silent.

  Did Chadwick just quit Archibald Tech for a chance to be with me?

  I’m confused, scared as hell, and a little hopeful, all at once.

  Father looks to Slate, Rachel, and me, donning a smirk. “This is what happens when my ticker goes kaput?”

  “I’m a little confused myself,” I confess.

  “Let me fill you in,” Slate says. “But first, I’d like to apologize to Rachel.”

  Rachel’s biting her lower lip, and if I’m not mistaken, she’s looking at Slate with gross adoration.

  My brother takes her hand and smiles down at her. “I love Rachel. We were dating for six months, and I was stupid enough to hide her away. After you came back, we reconciled. One day, I’ll ask her to marry me.”

  My eyes dart between the two. “Oh…”

  “I’m so sorry, Alyce,” Rachel says with pleading eyes. “I didn’t want to keep it from you.”

  “Is that’s why you went back to see him after we came back from the trip?” I ask Rachel.

  “When you told me how much you liked Chadwick, I pleaded with Slate to be more understanding.”

  I exhale sharply, trying to process the unexpected revelation.

  “Anything else?” I finally say, not entirely sure I can handle more.

  Slate drops Rachel’s hand and looks to me. “Chadwick and I met up, and he warned me about the interview. We schemed, figuring out the best way he could piss his father off while landing him the girl of his dreams.”

  Panic surging as I think of what he did. “And now, he’s unemployed and—”

  “I’ll hire him in a heartbeat just to piss his father off,” Dad cuts in.

  “Maybe I can retract my resignation?”

  Father smiles. “Nope. Empire Exploration contacted me and they want to hire you on full-time to assist with platform integration. And that’s too big to pass up.”

  I blink back at my father as though he’s speaking some foreign language.

  Father’s eyes grow serious. “This is a big deal. They’re the most promising private space firm ever. They’re talking about sending people to Mars, Alysanne, and want you to be a part of it.”

  “Why me?”

  “It was obvious to him with the way you answered his questions that you had detailed knowledge of the system.”

  “Well, looks like you got what you wanted,” I tell Slate sardonically.

  “Happy to take your position, Sis.”

  I turn to Rachel. “I wish you had told me, but I understand why you didn’t.”

  We hug each other, happy tears spilling down our cheeks.

  “So, are you going to give it a go with Chadwick?” Rachel asks. “Or did he just throw away his future for nothing?

  “Of course I am.”

  Slate holds his phone up. “Well, he’s downstairs right now. Waiting for you.”

  Chadwick

  I wait in the lobby for Alysanne, excited by new possibilities.

  As soon as the elevator door opens, she comes rushing out, flying into my arms.

  I lift and twirl her around, relishing the feeling of contentness blooming inside my soul.

  “I can’t believe what you did!” Alysanne says excitedly.

  I set her down, unable to stop myself from kissing her full on the mouth as security watches.

  When we finally break, I say, “So, think your father might be interested in hiring me? I’ll scrub toilets if it means I get to work near you.”

  “My father has already agreed to hire you, but…you won’t be working with me.”

  My brow furrows, hoping that he hasn’t decided to move me to some remote hub in Alaska to distance me from his daughter.

  “I’m taking a job with Empire Explorations!”

  My jaw gapes open. “That’s…that’s amazing!”

  “And to celebrate, I was hoping we could go out on our first official date.”

  “I’d love to, but we need to make it quick, before my father cuts off my credit cards.”

  We link hands, her touch causing my heart to quicken.

  I don’t know what the future holds for us, or even if we have one together, but any amount of risk taken for Alysanne Bastion is completely worth it.

  My phone buzzes with a text from my father.

  Father: Ratings went through the room. Get Alysanne over here for dinner ASAP.

  “My father wants to host you for dinner.”

  “I guess we probably should, but does it have to be now?” she says.

  I scoff. “Hell, no. I’m going to make his sweat a bit.

  A moment later, my phone buzzes again with a text from my sister.

  Olivia: You little Punk! How dare you think you can weasel your way ahead of me with your PR bullshit.

  “You know, on second thought, there are some advantages to eating with the fam. Most notably, pissing my sister right the hell off.”

  “Count me in!”

  Alysanne - Three Years Later

  “It’s not going to fit, is it?”Rachel sobs.

  “Ummm…we may have to go with plan b,” I say gently.

  “Isn’t it a little late for that?” Olivia japes
. “She’s already six months in.”

  I glare at Chadwick’s sister. “The dress, not the morning after pill.”

  As insensitive as the comment was, Rachel starts giggling, and even I find it hard to stifle my laughter.

  “I promise you, Slate isn’t going to care what you wear as long as it’s you that’s meeting him at the altar.”

  “She’s right,” Olivia agrees. “The dress isn’t going to matter. What matters is with that growing basketball, you’ve snagged yourself a big mountain of cash.”

  Rachel shoots Olivia a dark look. “I love Slate!”

  “Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Olivia says dismissively. “Honestly, I’d have loads more respect for you if were actually in it for the money. I mean, who falls in love with Slate Bastion?”

  My phone vibrates, and I look down to see a text from Chadwick asking me to meet him outside.

  “I’ll be back in a few,” I say, knowing Olivia will take care of any issues.

  Ironically, over the last three years, our families have gotten along well. Even our fathers.

  After the call to collaborate, our families went down different paths in the industry, no longer competing as aggressively as they once had.

  Our fathers golf together, keeping a bit of a rivalry going. But it’s not longer laced with anger.

  Olivia led the charge in getting Major Hutton dishonorably discharges based on the gross sexual harassment he exacted upon me.

  And now, Rachel, her, and I are friends.

  Chadwick is flipping coins into a fountain, looking dapper as hell in the groomsman tux.

  “Goddamn.” I whistle in appreciation. “How long has it been again?”

  He looks at me with reverence. “Ninety-two days, but who’s counting?”

  I was called away by Barton to a top-secret base where he’s building a ‘space yacht.’ Chadwick has been supportive the entire time, but I’ve grown anxious with how much we’ve been apart.

  “You look absolutely beautiful,” he says, his eyes drinking me in.