A chorus of agreement rang out around the boardroom. The grey haired man smiled at Alex, “Welcome back, Alex.”
I watched Alex’s face carefully, but he wasn’t smiling. He just nodded slightly and said, “Thank you all for your faith in me,” he paused before continuing, “but before I can accept my position back. I do have one condition.”
They listened intently.
“Ms. Samantha Dubois must be appointed as a board member.”
I looked at him, wide eyed. What was he doing? Me, a board member? I couldn’t do that! There was no way that the rest of the board would agree to that! Weeks ago, I had only been a temp, and most of the board members were at least 40 years older than me. Why was Alex risking everything for this?
Alex didn’t stop, he continued addressing the board, “Without her, we would have all been ruined. Not only was she critical to the success of our operation to reveal Henderson’s betrayal of us, she was instrumental in securing our deal with Sun Industries for production of the BR36 prototype. The cornerstone of our new strategy is based on access to that unit. Though she is still young and inexperienced, I believe that her crucial contributions to the company during this crisis can attest to her loyalty and talent.”
The board members looked around at each other. The grey haired man spoke up. “All in favor, say aye.”
I was shocked. I was left speechless. No words would come. The rest of the board actually believed that I was capable enough to join them?
It was unanimous. I was now a board member of Strauss Engines. I had gone from temporary office worker to personal assistant to board member in the span of less than a few weeks.
Alex turned to me. “Congratulations, Samantha.”
I may have managed to say thank you, but I was overcome with the gravity of everything and I had no recollection of saying anything afterwards. I floated down the elevator with Alex and one of the officers. Another stayed behind to begin escorting the board members down the elevator in groups.
Chapter Twenty-seven
We rode in the limousine to the police station. Alex’s lawyer was waiting for us there. We gave statements to the police and told them again our account of what happened. The cops asked us about the kidnapping, and Alex’s lawyer interjected that I was going to make no statement regarding any kidnapping. Eventually, they dropped it.
After two hours, we were released. With the recording sent over by Michelle, it was a closed case. Henderson, caught admitting his crimes, acted like the snake he was and ran away from facing the music.
We drove back to the Strauss Engines building. Alexander refused to go to the hospital, but he had at least let a paramedic stitch him up at the police station. There was a bandage over his face. The bullet wound would leave a scar.
When we returned to the building, a security guard led us up to Alex’s office. We got off the elevator, and Alex opened up the big double doors to his office. He looked around, seeming satisfied.
“I’m not glad he’s dead,” Alex said suddenly. “Yes, he turned out to be a vile man, but there was a long time in my life when he was like family. I didn’t want things to end this way.”
I took Alex’s hand in mine. He looked at me and I saw a tear in his eye.
“I’m so glad that you weren’t hurt. I’d be lost without you,” Alex said. “There is no other woman that I want to be with. Ever. I love you.”
He grasped my hand in his, leading me over to his desk. He opened a drawer and pulled out a small black box. “Samantha, I believed everything I said back in the boardroom. You are much more capable than you know. I knew I saw something in you the day I overheard you calling me an arrogant prick in the cafeteria.” He smiled at that memory.
Alex’s voice was trembling and it was making me tear up. He really believed what he was saying. I let out a small sob of laughter when he brought up the day we had met. I kissed him softly on the cheek.
He gently pushed me back and dropped to one knee.
“This is my mother’s ring. I want you to take it and be my wife,” Alex said, opening the box. The most beautiful diamond ring that I had ever seen was inside. “You’re everything I need and that I could want. Through my biggest crisis, you came through in ways that I couldn’t have asked of anybody. You taught me the true meaning of caring for others, not just the abstract concept, but real people, our employees and their families. Without you, everything would have been lost.”
A wave of delirium washed over me. This could not be happening. I began breathing rapidly and I could feel my skin tingling.
I began to cry. I couldn’t help it. Tears were rolling down my cheeks. I was happier than I had ever been in this moment.
“Yes,” I said through a choked voice. “A million times yes! I want to be with you forever.”
Alex slipped the ring on my finger. He rose up and kissed me fully on the mouth. I was weightless, floating through the air, the highest I had ever felt in my life.
I was lifted off my feet and Alex placed me down on the desk. He continued leaving a trail of soft butterfly kisses down the side of my face, my exposed neck. Without his lips ever leaving my skin, he unbuttoned my blouse, working his kisses down the front of my chest. He unzipped his pants and pulled mine off. His hand slid in between my legs and began to rub at the damp heat there. I breathed heavily, tears still wet on my face. Alex began to kiss them off, breathing heavily as he did so.
Alex pushed inside of me. I let out a loud cry. He moved in and out of me, thrusting his hips. Soon, he slowed down so much that it was as though he wasn’t moving at all, but his cock was expanding by itself. When he was completely inside me, he looked me in the eyes and it seemed like the entire world was vibrating.
We made love slowly. We stared into each other’s eyes. The pace picked up as more of our clothes came off until we were in a tornado of love and lust.
Our tongues danced together as he thrust into me on his desk. Alex whispered into my ear that I was beautiful and he loved me, and I came, screaming his name. I clawed at his back as the waves of pleasure passed through me.
I pushed him back and he slid out of me. I stood up and turned around, showing him my bare ass.
“Take me like you did the first time,” I said.
I felt Alex’s cock, wet and dripping with my fluids, push against my wet pussy. I relaxed my muscles and pushed back, feeling him slide into me. He pulled my arms back and my whole body was taut as he made love to me. I reached back with my hand and gripped the base of his cock, working it up and down as I pushed more and more of him deeper inside me.
Alex thrust inside of me and he began to rock his hips against me. I clenched and he reached over and pulled my hands behind my back. His cock moved in and out of me, gathering speed and then slowing down.
I heard him moan loudly and then I felt the cum convulse out of his cock. I timed myself with his spurts and pushed back against every one.
When he finished coming, he fell over my back, panting heavily. His cock was still inside me. He kissed my ear and whispered the most beautiful words I’ve ever heard a man say to me in my ear. The desk was cold against my breasts, but it felt nice with how sweaty I was.
Alex whispered in my ear, “My love, we’re going to make an entire life together.”
“That’s all I want,” I whispered back.
We moved over to the couch and laid there for what seemed like hours. I held Alex and he held me. We were naked and we smelled like sex, but it was wonderful. I rubbed my hands along his abs and I knew that soon enough, we would have sex again soon. I grew giddy at the thought of a lifetime of sex with the man of my dreams.
“You know, in a couple of years, if you work really hard and play your cards right, you may be able to work your way up to COO. There’s an opening now,” Alex said. “But just don’t try to take over the company, wife or not.”
I kissed Alex and my hand began to work its way down his abs towards the prize in between his legs.
“I’ll be loyal to you until the end, Mr. Strauss. How about I prove just how loyal I can be?”
Alex closed his eyes and smiled. It was a wide, honest smile. He was gorgeous and he was mine.
Epilogue
Emily stood before me in my office. She was marveling at the mere fact that I had an office.
“Samantha, what the hell has happened in your life? I mean, Jesus! You’re the talk of the entire building, you know, aside from the COO eating a bullet for dinner yesterday,” Emily exclaimed.
I looked at my friend who had led me to this brand new life. Without her, I would still be the person I was a few weeks ago. Maybe it was time to pay it forward.
“Emily, I’ll tell you everything, I promise. Every single crazy, dirty, and wild detail. I owe you everything,” I said. “But first, how would you like a job.”
Emily looked at me skeptically. “Hmm, what kind of job?”
“It’ll come with a raise and a rent-free apartment. I was going to live there, but it looks like I’ll be living with Alexander Strauss.”
Emily’s mouth gaped open. She still hadn’t seen my ring yet. “Do you mean...”
I beamed at her, holding up my hand to show her the ring.
“Holy spaghetti and meatballs! That’s the biggest diamond I’ve ever seen! Forget about the job, girl. Tell me what all this is about, ‘Miss Alexander Strauss is an Arrogant Prick’.”
I laughed. It was good to be talking to Emily again, just like the old days.
“I will! I will! Let’s wait until we’re out of the building first though, I’ve gotten into trouble before by running my mouth off at work.”
Emily raised an eyebrow at me, clearly disappointed that I wasn’t ready to spill every detail on the spot. “You’d better! I’m always the one telling you about my wild dates, now you owe me a juicy story, big time!”
“I know I owe you, that’s why I’m offering you a job! Are you ready to hear it?”
She nodded.
“Since I’m a board member now, I figured I would need an assistant, so what do you say?”
Emily thought for a moment and then shrugged, “It sounds great and all, but it also sounds like a lot of responsibility, I don’t know if I can handle it.”
“Come on Emily, I need you! Besides it’ll be a lot of fun,” I urged her.
She looked at me, unconvinced. “It’s not that I wouldn’t like working with you, but I’m just afraid that I’ll botch it up.”
I tried one last time, “I know you can do it Emily. You know, if you take this job, you’ll be meeting a lot of the executives of the company. There are quite a few lookers, not to mention that they’re all classy and rich. Also, I heard that our VP of Manufacturing is newly single...”
Emily’s eyes brightened immediately and a wide smile stretched across her face.
“Sign me up!”
The End
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Forbidden Surrender
by Priscilla West
"What gives you a thrill Kristen?"
The minute I saw Vincent Sorenson, I knew he was trouble. Billionaire. Bad boy. And dangerously sexy. He was everything I craved, and nothing I needed.
Unfortunately, I couldn't just avoid him. The higher ups at my company decided they needed his business, and I was on the team to bring him in. Vincent Sorenson didn't seem as interested in business as he was in me, but I knew that was a door better left unopened. If I got involved with him, it would only unearth the pain I spent years trying to bury.
I thought I had it under control, but I seriously underestimated Vincent's seductive charm and silver-tongue. I would soon find out how delicious it would feel to let myself fall into this forbidden surrender.
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Chapter One
“Leaving already?”
I’d tried my best not to wake my roommate as I collected the pile of client documents laying on the hotel room table. Riley Hewitt was a heavy sleeper, especially when she’d been out drinking the night before, her favorite vacation pastime. So I was surprised when she popped her strawberry-blonde head out from beneath the covers. Apparently, I hadn’t been quiet enough.
“Sorry I woke you. I have to meet Richard downstairs in a few minutes so I’m just packing up.” I’d been poring over the client strategy the previous night with my supervisor, Richard Hamm, in his hotel room, as if we hadn’t already gone over it dozens of times this past week.
When I’d gotten back to my room, I went over the materials again, memorizing every detail, replaying in my mind the sequence of events that would lead to landing this client for our company. Closing this deal would mean a lot for my career: prestigious wealth management firms weren’t in the habit of letting analysts with only three years of experience fly to Cape Town, South Africa to woo billion dollar clients. It was only through a series of fortunate events—a group of senior employees leaving to start their own firm, my recent promotion, and a chance encounter with one of the directors in the cafeteria—that I was in this position. To say this was big would be an understatement.
“No worries.” She yawned and rubbed one sleepy eye while making a noise somewhere between a groan and a gurgle. “I wanted to get up anyway. Get some breakfast, catch some foreign television. It’s not every day you get to see Big Bird speaking Afrikaans. You ready for your meeting?”
God, I hope so. I’d better be after all the practice and preparation. Thankfully the butterflies fluttering in my stomach did more to energize me than a cup of coffee ever could. “I think I’m ready. Besides, Richard’s going to do most of the talking. He’s got years of experience doing this. I’m just there for backup.”
She flashed her winning smile. “And to be a pretty face. You’ll do great, Miss Harvard grad.”
I stuck out my tongue playfully. Riley was from Staten Island and went to NYU for college. Although we both ended up working in the finance world, Riley was a corporate tax accountant thanks to her parents’ guidance, and often reminded me how her job was less exciting than mine. She generated plenty of her own excitement in her downtime, though. Her permanently revolving bedroom door guaranteed that she always had a juicy story to tell at our weekly mojito-and-Mexican “date nights.” Watching her pore over a room service menu, I reflected for the millionth time that I was unbelievably lucky to have her in my life. We had met at a work-mandated, soul-deadening seminar on Expanding Corporate Productivity at the NYU Stern School of Business, where we learned absolutely nothing about expanding corporate productivity and almost everything about each other over the space of three hours.
Since then, she had been the yin to my yang, the weekend warrior to my librarian. We often joked about sending NYU a nice fruit basket to say thanks, though Riley always countered that “the two hundred thousand I dropped there for a Philosophy degree is thanks enough.” Still, I couldn’t suppress a surge of gladness every time I walked past the imposing steel-and-glass business school on my way to the gym; I knew that without Riley, my time in Manhattan would have been just as cold and lonely as my years at Harvard.
When I’d told her I was taking a business trip to Cape Town for a week, she insisted on using her vacation time to join me, much to my delight. Hanging out with her on the beach would be much more fun than tanning by myself or--god forbid--with Richard.
I packed the last of my files, zipped my shoulder bag, and smoothed my light blue blouse and black pencil skirt. The outfit had been painstakingly put together to blend professionalism and style. It was part of the strategy. “How do I look?”
“I’d trust you with my million dollars—if I had it.”
“Hopefully bad boy billiona
ire Vincent Sorenson thinks the same way.”
“I’ve seen you working nonstop for this meeting for a month now. You’re more than ready, girl. Either way, we’re going to have fun tonight. Don’t forget about that.”
Of course, a full afternoon and evening of adventure with Riley—a sweet reward for waking up at ass o’clock to woo a client who was, according to my research, notoriously difficult. With a wave, I left the hotel room and took the elevator down to the lobby to meet Richard. As I stepped onto the marble tile, heels clacking, I checked my watch. 7:30 a.m. on the dot. We’d agreed to meet an hour before the meeting, giving us plenty of time to walk the few blocks from the hotel to the client’s office building and to go over any last minute details should they arise in our sleep. God knows I’d had dreams about this moment. Well, more like nightmares. And for some funny reason, all of them ended with me in my underwear.
I spotted Richard seated on the edge of a cozy lounge chair, eyes glued to his Blackberry. His slate-gray suit and cerulean tie knocked years off his age. Only a few strands of gray hair would betray that he was pushing forty.
“Morning,” I greeted him.
“Have you eaten breakfast yet, Kristen?” he asked without looking up from his Blackberry. Though his dismissive manner had irritated me in the beginning, the last six months of working with him had taught me to hold entire conversations without once making eye contact. Unless, of course, the subject was money. Then Richard was all ears.
“I had an orange juice and a granola bar. I could go for some coffee though.”
“Let’s get going then. We can stop for a cup.” He gathered his briefcase and I followed him as he left the hotel.
As we stepped out from beneath the overhang of the valet area, the view of the ocean in the distance helped calm my nerves. An early morning breeze ruffled my hair, and the mid-June sun streamed gold. As we continued strolling the busy Cape Town streets, I relished the sights, smells and sounds I had been too busy prepping to notice yesterday. Tall corporate buildings piercing the sky, honking cars, an eclectic mix of people commuting to work, a McDonald’s on seemingly every corner—in a lot of ways, it reminded me of Manhattan. Still, the mix of bright colors, unfamiliar languages, and dreadlocked surfers streaming towards the beach to catch an early-morning wave gave this place its own charm.
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