by Ellie Danes
"Sorry you don't understand the word 'peace' or sorry you're such a pain in my ass?" I snarled.
He grinned. "I wasn't sure where you were, but hungover is definitely something I planned for."
He began to pull out salt-laden and life-saving food. He then cracked open an electrolyte drink and knelt down to hand it to me.
I sprawled back on the floor. "It's not what you think. Lots of mega-successful business people need crazy benders to clear their heads."
"Sure," he said. "But they don't have to be present at graduation. Did I remind you again that the university president says your attendance is mandatory?"
"Or what? He's not going to let me teach next year? Students wait in line all day just for the chance to register for my class." I dragged myself to my feet and grabbed the electrolyte drink from his outstretched hand.
"I'm not sure it's the impression you want to give," he said. "To the university, your students, and, ah, her."
He backed away and put the kitchen island between us. I stalked to the counter and stood tortured by memories of Hannah's hot skin on the cool marble. He was right. I couldn't hide from Hannah. I couldn't let her think her abrupt ending of our affair bothered me.
"Yes, can't have her thinking bad of me," I snapped. Then I laid my forehead down on the cool marble of the kitchen island and groaned again. "She used me."
Jake took a few deep breaths while deciding what to say. He had learned long ago that the secret to being an amazing assistant was to follow and, if possible, anticipate my thought process no matter what was on my mind.
"It was bound to happen, sir," he finally said. "Successful people are always targeted by the greedy."
I liked how he completely avoiding using her name. He nursed my hangover, packed my things, and finally got me to the private air strip. A few days later, he even walked me onto campus for graduation.
"You can go now, Jake," I snapped. We walked past a dozen families snapping proud photographs. "I can handle this."
"I'm glad, sir. I'll just stick around." He faded into the background.
I immediately wished I could call him back but he'd cleared my schedule for the day and we had no more business to discuss. After the debacle of scraping my drunk ass out of the ski lodge, Jake deserved a definite raise. So, I straightened my own tie and set about enduring graduation.
It was easy because Hannah didn't appear until the last minute. When they announced her name, it felt like a shot through my chest. All the air in my lungs escaped. I was just struggling to inhale when I noticed the program. Hannah had gotten the California job, it was announced under a heart-stompingly beautiful photograph of her.
On Albert's yacht.
My stomach roiled and I reached for the flask I had tucked under my robes. I thought again about telling my colleague, but Hannah had been deadly serious about blackmailing me. If I said anything, I would lose everything.
Though it felt like I had already lost the only thing that had meant anything to me, anyway.
In that moment, my stomach gurgling and my heart broken, I made a decision. If all I had left was my company and my teaching, I would throw myself into work and make the best of it.
Chapter 8
Any time I thought of Hannah, I made sure to remember how she'd walked away after graduation without ever looking back. I made it my discipline to remember every detail of what she looked like the day she left. My entire life was about discipline now.
I got up early and ran to campus. I answered emails during my cool-down. I showered at the athletic center, grabbed a coffee from the student-run cafe, and walked across campus to my office. And every day, I forced myself to think about Hannah less and less.
I thought about work more, especially the large number of new ventures I had begun. Some were too risky and I was working almost around the clock to make my investments secure.
"If I can convince the market, the investment will take off," I muttered to myself. Hannah flashed through my mind again and I barked, "Just walk away! Keep walking!"
"Are you talking to me?" A slender co-ed appeared on the sidewalk in front of me. "Because I think the answer is public support. Public support takes a strategic campaign."
I stopped. "Did you just quote me to me?"
"That's the answer, isn't it?" The student tipped her beautiful face and frowned at me.
"Yes, actually. You're right. I mean, I'm right." I shook my head and finally held out my hand. "I'm Professor Kerns."
"I'm Summer Farris." She smiled brightly. "I hope to get into your class this fall."
I looked around the abandoned campus. "Well, you're early."
She laughed. "I'm just that motivated."
I could feel it, her ambition almost pouring off her in waves of energy. Summer was, in a word, stunning. I found myself stumbling back, making muttered excuses, and running to hide in my office.
A beautiful woman was just the antidote I needed, but I was smarter now. Stronger. And I would never get involved with a student again.
Chosen by Him
The Chosen Series, Book One
(An Alpha Billionaire Romance)
By
Ellie Danes
www.Ellie Danes.com
Book Description
Twenty-four year old MBA student Summer Farris works hard at everything she does and has the background, grades and ambition to prove it. But when she's snubbed for the coveted internship with billionaire business mogul and professor Chase Kerns, Summer is devastated.
Chase Kerns can have anything or any woman he wants and he knows his limits, or does he? The tall, dark and handsome billionaire is running from his mistakes of the past and now, a new temptation hangs in front of him. Will he make the right choice, or will desire and passion cloud his judgment and leave his life hanging in the balance.
Chapter One
Summer
I wanted to throw the alarm clock out of the window as it blared at six o’clock in the morning.
It was way too early to start the day, especially after such a long winter break. I had been tossing and turning in bed for the last hour, ever since my roommate Alyssa had woke to start primping for class. Once the hair dryer finally turned off, I took in the peacefulness of the morning, shaking my head and laughing to myself. I didn’t understand why she felt the need to get all dolled up for class.
Last semester, Alyssa and I had stood in line all day waiting to register for classes. Actually, it was one class, specifically: Professor Kerns’ Business Negotiations and Strategy course. His class was more difficult to get into than any other, and not just because he was a good—no, great—professor.
Professor Kerns was a business mogul who had gotten rich from his business tactics and strategies. He ran one of the largest business-consulting firms on the east coast and each semester chose five interns to work with him. Rumor had it that those interns went on to make tons of money after getting jobs with his firm and other top-notch firms across the country. I’d submitted my application for the internship over three weeks ago, after having spent weeks preparing it.
I was hoping my efforts would pay off, big time.
“Hey, roomie! You had better get up and get going. Class is in two hours!” Alyssa yelled from the adjoining bathroom as she banged on the wall.
“It only takes me thirty minutes to get ready!” I yelled back through the closed door. A second later, Alyssa flung the door open. She stood wrapped in a silk robe, her hair half in curlers.
I sat up in bed and stared at her. “Seriously? I was planning on hitting snooze for at least another hour.”
“Not today. You have got to do something with that hair and you need the perfect outfit.”
“I have it all taken care of…hair in a ponytail, my normal leggings and a long sweater.” I plopped my head back on the pillow.
Professor Kerns’ class wasn’t only one of the most in-demand classes for what he taught and the opportunity to win a coveted internship. It wa
s one of the most sought after classes by just about every female MBA student, and a few select guys, because Professor Kerns was by far one of the hottest men in at least two thousand square miles—maybe more.
“Hell, no. Summer, you need to stand out. Today is first impression day. You need to be memorable. This isn’t just a class, it’s an interview.” Alyssa acted like I didn’t know the importance of getting an internship with Professor Kerns’ company, Velocity Capital.
I rolled out of bed and joined Alyssa in the cramped bathroom, staring at myself in the mirror. My golden blonde hair was a tangled mess, piled on top of my head, making me just as tall as Alyssa’s five-foot-seven frame.
“Fine, I’ll primp, but if this guy is as smart as everyone says, he’ll be making his decision on everything I’ve accomplished, not how much skin I show. I hope, at least,” I joked as I tried to squeeze my small B-cup breasts together, faking a cleavage I didn’t have.
Alyssa giggled as she pushed me out of the way and finished rolling the curlers into her hair. “Come on. Shower and get dressed. We need to be there early to get good seat.”
I could only shake my head and think just how crazy this was.
After a hot shower and a cup of coffee, I slipped into exactly what I had planned: my black leggings, cream sweater, and knee-high leather boots. I had taken the time to flatten my hair so it fell straight down the middle of my back and had even applied a little makeup—not something I would normally worry about before going to class at eight in the morning.
I could hear Alyssa’s shoes clomping on the wooden floors of our apartment. She appeared in the doorway to my room in a tight dress and boots. She looked stunning.
“Wow, are you sure you aren’t going to a club?” I laughed.
“That’s what you’re wearing? Really? Show off those legs! Why don’t you put on that black skirt you have?” Alyssa almost sounded as if she were ordering me to change.
“Seriously, it’s class, not a party.” Alyssa’s stare told me I shouldn’t argue with her. “Fine, give me five minutes.”
“Three! We have to get going. Front seats!”
I quickly changed, and we made our way to Franklin Hall, which housed most of the business classes. Kerns’ class was in one of the auditoriums that seated about a hundred people. As we walked into the building, I was glad Alyssa had convinced me to wear the skirt. I would have been more comfortable in my black leggings, but seeing the crowd ahead put me at ease.
The main hallway opened up to three adjoining auditoriums, and I could immediately tell which one was Professor Kerns’. In my five years at college, including this last year of graduate school, I had never seen girls get dressed up for class. It looked more like we were walking into an elaborate party than a business class.
Alyssa grabbed my arm and pushed her way through the crowd of high heels, short skirts and low-cut tops as we made our way down the stairs to the front row, snagging two seats on the end. “You can thank me later.” She laughed.
I watched as the classroom slowly filled, mostly with girls dressed as though they were waiting for a Vogue photo shoot. I imagined they were all likely vying for Kerns’ attention for reasons other than the coveted internship slots.
Eventually the remainder of the class filled in; a mix of men and girls who didn’t really care about their appearance and were hoping to make an impression based on grades and smarts alone. That’s where I should have been.
At eight sharp, a side door opened and the room fell completely silent, as if a performance were about to begin. In he walked. Tall and handsome, with perfect brown hair and emerald green eyes. His face was covered with just the right amount of stubble to be incredibly sexy without looking like he was lazy and didn’t shave.
“I told you. He’s so fucking hot!” Alyssa whispered.
“Eh, he’s okay.” I smirked. I thought he was hot, but I didn’t want her to know she was right.
Chapter Two
Chase
I took a deep breath and walked into the auditorium. If this semester was anything like the last one, I knew it would be packed. I wasn’t sure why I kept coming back to teach; it definitely wasn’t for the money. I had enough of that already. I was already too busy running the company and consulting with clients.
I took a second to scan the room. I chuckled to myself as I looked at the college co-eds, all dressed up. Some of them looked as if they were heading to a party or to work on street corners. A few of the guys were in suits, ready for an interview.
The clunky old desk had been a fixture in this room since well before I started. I hated it, but it also held a few fond memories for me. I smiled to myself as I made my way over to it and finished scanning the room. The smart ones usually sat in the front row, and I took another casual scan of the room.
I felt my heart stop for a moment. She was gorgeous. And likely smart. A deadly combination.
I could feel my pants tightening against my growing lower regions as I fixed my gaze on her for just a moment. I took all of her in, but her mesmerizing blue eyes held me there for longer than I would have liked. Thankfully, the crash of a notebook caught my attention before things got out of hand.
I had learned my lesson before. Keep your distance.
Chapter Three
Summer
The room filled with the whispers of the girls in the class. They played with their hair and sat up straight, hoping to be noticed. Professor Kerns took it all in, looking over the large auditorium once before making his way to the front and center of the room.
He quickly scanned the front row and momentarily locked eyes with me. I felt my stomach do flips, and I quickly managed a smile. One of the girls sitting a few seats to the left of us casually dropped her notebook, catching his attention as she bent over to pick it up. Her huge, probably fake breasts were barely contained by her low-cut blouse—her actions were a feeble attempt at getting his attention in my opinion, but it seemed to work.
“Morning, everyone.” He smiled. His perfectly straight and white teeth complemented his chiseled face and rugged good looks. “It’s a full class again this semester, so if for some reason you find this isn’t the class for you, drop it quickly so others can get in…but I’m sure that’s unlikely to happen.”
The classroom echoed with tittering laughter as he took a deep breath and began to look over the classroom once more, taking time to look at each person and sitting on the edge of his desk.
I imagined all of the dirty thoughts that were probably racing through every girl’s mind right now. I knew what was racing through mine as my eyes inadvertently wandered down Professor Kerns’ body, falling on his tight black suit pants, which hugged his body. My eyes focused on the bulge that I could just barely see in the crotch of his pants, as he finally looked to me and stopped.
I’m not sure how long he had stared at me before I looked up, embarrassed that I had just been caught staring at his package. I could feel the blood rush to my face, and I immediately turned my focus to the syllabus that had been distributed as we walked in.
“Did you see that? He was staring at you. I told you that skirt would work.” Alyssa elbowed me as she whispered. I didn’t even acknowledge her.
“As most of you are probably aware, I select five students from this class to intern with my company. Some of you are already on my radar, and I’ve already read through each of your personal records and resumes. I’ve also spoken to previous professors and reviewed your applications. Today is your opportunity to make me notice you.”
I watched as the classroom shifted and the more confident students sat up, ready for the challenge. He walked behind the desk and removed his jacket, revealing strong, rounded shoulders and a broad chest beneath his dress shirt. I wondered how someone who was so successful in business found time to work out. It was obvious he spent hours in the gym.
He pulled out a tablet from his briefcase and tapped it. He quickly began rattling off questions and hands flew into the air, so
me people not even waiting to be called on before blurting out the answer.
“You, blue shirt. What’s your name?”
“Chris Miller.”
“Good job, Chris. Okay, when is a Win-Lose approach to negotiation better, and give me an example.”
Without even thinking, I raised my hand and began to blurt out the answer like everyone else in the class. I felt my heart pumping as nervousness filled my body. “When the win, or outcome in the negotiation, is more important than the relationship. It’s a power position.” I held my breath as he looked at me.
“Correct. What’s your name?”
“Summer, Summer Farris,” I gasped.
He gave me a small smile but didn’t say anything else and turned his attention to the other side of the auditorium, continuing to fire off questions. I managed to answer three or four more and held my own with the others who were answering.
Alyssa answered two and seemed extremely happy that she received a, “Good answer,” compliment from him, based on the huge smile on her face. It was a hell of a lot more than I had received.
The barrage of questions continued for the next fifty minutes until he abruptly stopped and jotted down notes. “All right, everyone check your emails tonight. If you’re selected, you’ll receive an email and we’ll discuss everything in the next class. Everyone else, I promise you’ll still learn a lot.”
He packed up his things and dismissed everyone, escaping through the same side door he had entered through, avoiding the mass of students trying to get a moment to speak with him.
* * * * *
The screen of my laptop created a blue-white glow in my dark room. I sat on my bed, bundled up in my down comforter with the laptop balanced precariously on my knees. I kept hitting refresh on the inbox button of my email.
Nothing.