by Alison Mello
And that was how I ended up looking the way I did as I headed to work the next day. Kacey had gotten up way before me and came barging into my room shouting for me to wake up. Being the she-devil she was, she shoved me off the bed and ignored the dagger glares I sent her. Not even waiting for me to get up by myself, she gripped my upper arm and hauled me up and into her room. Shoving what looked to be a small piece of fabric into my hands, she almost stripped me out of my own clothes. When Kacey was like this, I couldn’t help but feel scared. I knew if I didn’t comply she would rip my head off and keep it as her trophy.
I grabbed what I realized was a dress and started slipping it on. I had to tug on the material and finally got it in the right place. Thankfully, the dress was kind of stretchable so it fit my frame but it clung to my body almost like a second skin. I felt like my boobs were up to my ears and that my butt was on display. I turned and looked in the mirror and had to admit the dress was really pretty. It was a dark gray color and had a small brown belt around the waist. The dress was just the right amount of professionalism.
“Man, Layla, if I was a dude I’d so do you,” Kacey said behind me. I raised an eyebrow at her. “Anyways, let’s get to work on your hair.” With that, she pushed me onto her chair and got to work. About twenty minutes later I was staring at someone else in the mirror. My long brown hair was curled and hung down my back. My gray eyes popped as Kacey did a dark sultry look on my eyes. My cheeks were thankfully lightly caked with makeup, just enough to make it look natural. She handed me the same pair of heels I’d been wearing the past couple of days.
I slipped those on and stood up. As I stared in the mirror, I couldn’t help but feel excited to see Ashton’s face. Kacey made me look hot and I was surprisingly happy with the look. I was going to show Ashton he messed with the wrong girl, and that I was nothing like what he said I was. With a determined look, I hugged Kacey and thanked her before grabbing stuff and heading to the office.
Watch out, Ashton Miller, Layla Kingston is about to show you up.
***
I walked into work, shot Neena a hi, and walked to the elevator. The moment I stepped out onto my floor, I felt like everyone’s eyes were on me. I kept my head up and ignored everyone as I walked to my office. I was not going to let Ashton know he had hurt me. If he wanted to play a game then I was going to play, but on my own terms. Saying hi to Judy, I went to my office and opened up my phone and computer to see what I had to do today. I didn’t even bother to see if Ashton was here before I got to work.
Soon enough noon hit, and I hadn’t seen Ashton all day. A little part of me was bummed that I didn’t because I wanted to show off but the other part of me was glad. I didn’t know how I was going to react seeing him. I headed downstairs to the small cafeteria the company had. I hadn’t been down there yet and thought might as well check it out. Just as I stepped out of the elevator, Neena came into view. She was just leaving the front counter and seemed to be headed to where I think the cafeteria was located.
“Neena!” I called out and picked up my pace. Thankfully she heard me, as did almost everyone else. Ignoring all the weird looks I got from people, I came to a stop next to her. “Hey,” I said with a smile.
“Wow, Layla, you look very hot today,” she commented and wiggled her eyebrows at me. I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Thank you. I love your outfit as well,” I said noticing that she was wearing a dress like mine but less form-fitting and a little more professional. “I was wondering if I could eat with you today?”
“Of course! I could always use someone to sit with. Usually, I just sit by myself in the cafeteria.”
“Well, from now on consider me your new lunch buddy,” I said with a smile. She smiled back and we headed to get something to eat. Apparently, the cafeteria was at the back of the building and in a pretty big room. As we walked in, I saw the place had basically everything. It almost looked like a buffet. I followed Neena to one of the counters and saw salads, sandwiches, and even full plates of food with spaghetti.
“I like the salads here but basically everything is good. They sure know how to feed us right here,” she joked as she grabbed a good-looking salad. I looked around and saw a place that had slices of pizza and immediately went over to it. I grabbed two slices of pepperoni and turned around. I spotted Neena over by a machine that looked like one of those where you put ice cream in it and it stirs it for you.
“What is this?” I asked.
“A coffee machine. Well, more like a Frappuccino machine. Pick whatever you want from here.” She pointed to a big freezer on the side. “And put it in here and it blends it for you. It is honestly the best thing ever invented.” Her drink was finished in a matter of seconds. I looked at all the kinds and my eyes landed on my favorite flavor. I quickly grabbed the hazelnut and put it in the machine. Clicking thick, I waited almost impatiently for it. I’d been a while since I had a Frappuccino, and my mouth was actually watering. Once it was finished, Neena led me to a table in the corner and sat down.
“You’re having pizza?” she asked, surprised.
“Yeah.” I shrugged and took a sip of my coffee. I almost moaned but stopped myself. Wow, was it good! I forced myself to set it down, instead of sucking the whole thing down in minutes. Grabbing one slice of my pizza, I bit into it. Okay, this place had amazing food!
“Good, huh?” She took a bite of her salad.
“Yes, it is. Wow. I wouldn’t have thought the cafeteria here would be this good.”
“Well, being a multi-million-dollar company has its perks.” I nodded and continued to stuff my face.
We spent the rest of our lunch hour talking and getting to know one another. Neena and I had a lot in common and I knew Kacey would like her too. I learned that her parents were both professors at NYU, I actually had one of her parents as my History professor, she had just graduated around the same time as me, that she had a younger brother who was in his second year at Yale University, and that she wanted to become a magazine editor or anything to do with stuff like that. She would definitely get along with Kacey just fine. I told her the basics of my life, not going into much detail. It was a little after one when we decided we better get back to work. After inviting her to do something this weekend, I headed back to my office.
The rest of the afternoon passed fairly quickly and I hadn’t seen Ashton all day. As four o’clock passed, I figured he hadn’t come in today and I couldn’t help but sigh. A good outfit went to waste. I was finishing up a few last things before heading home when my work phone buzzed. Looking over at it, I saw Ashton’s name on the screen.
To: Layla
From: Mr. Miller
Need you in my office ASAP.
That was all it said. I didn’t let myself think that he wanted to apologize to me. I knew he wouldn’t. He was not that kind of guy; others apologized, but not Ashton. Knowing I better not keep him waiting, I left my office and headed to his. I didn’t even bother to knock and walked right in. Ashton sat at his desk writing something down and didn’t even look up.
“You needed me, Mr. Miller?” I said, keeping my voice neutral.
“Yes. Anything important happen today while I was gone?” he asked, still keeping his head down. I stared him down and tried to make him look up at me.
“No, sir. Is that all you needed?” Just staring at him made his words come screaming back in my mind. I forced them down and kept my face blank. I was good at hiding being hurt. I’d been doing it since I was thirteen, so it wouldn’t be a problem now.
“No, Ms. Kingston. Every year we host a benefit party and everyone who is anyone attends. Things are auctioned off, toasts are made, and business is discussed. This benefit will take place in two weeks. It is your job to get everything ready.” Ashton sat up and finally looked at me. I saw his blue eyes widen as he stared at me but as soon as I blinked, they were back to normal. “That includes invitations, booking a venue, drinks delivered, things to be auctioned off, and to make sure it
all runs smoothly. It should start about seven the latest.” He stared at me almost like he was bored.
“In two weeks?” I sputtered out. How in god’s name would I get everything done in two weeks!?
“Yes. It will be held on September twenty-fifth.” Today was the tenth, so tomorrow it would be two weeks. I had to try very hard not to glare at his stupid face as he stared at me blankly. He was only doing this to get under my skin. Fine. If that’s what he wanted, then he would get it. If he wanted to see if I would fail, he was going to be sadly mistaken.
“Okay, sir. I will get right on that. Anything else?” I barely controlled my anger. He seemed almost surprised when I didn’t give him a reaction.
HA! Layla: 1 Ashton: 0.
“No, nothing else.” I gave him a nod and turned to leave. “Oh yeah, did you make my reservation tonight?” he called before I made it through the door and out to safety.
“Yes, I did. Serventino’s at seven.” I shut the door behind me.
Well, your plan didn’t work, Kacey. I headed back to my office. Ashton didn’t even spare me a second glance. I was starting to wonder if I even did see that flicker of something in his eyes. I shook my head at myself, feeling pathetic at how I wanted Ashton to react to my slutty outfit.
Not having anything else to do today, I grabbed my stuff and left the office. I hailed a taxi and headed home. Well, Layla, today didn’t turn out as planned. Ashton didn’t even notice the way you dressed today, and you got even more work to do even though you just started two days ago. I sighed and stared at the buildings as we passed them. If this was how things were going to be from now on, I wasn’t so sure I wanted to keep doing it.
About the Author
Currently lives in a small town called Mesquite, Nevada. She is going to college to be an English teacher and writes on the side. When she isn’t busy with school work or writing new books she likes to hang out with her family, do things outdoors, and read whatever she can get her hands on.
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/kenadee.bryant
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/kendoll350
Goodreads:
https://www.wattpad.com/user/OutOfMyLimit17
Author’s Note:
Chloe and her brother, Carter, are the adopted children of Ian and Garrett. I decided to have them refer to their dad, Ian, as Dad and refer to Garrett as Pops. They share a lot of scenes together, and I knew it could get real confusing real quick.
Prologue
Joe
I take a sip of my beer while I watch my cousin/best friend, Violet, be danced around the floor by her new husband. Shit, I can’t believe she’s married. Hell, I can’t believe she’s married to someone twelve years older, but he makes her happy and seems like a good guy. As long as she’s happy, I’ll keep my trap shut.
I reach up and loosen up my tie. Violet’s lucky. I love her and said yes when she asked me to be her Man of Honor. I figured she would’ve had one of her sisters or Abby or Carrington, but I’m only days older than her, and growing up, she and I were more like brother and sister than cousins.
I feel someone standing next to me and turn to find my mom as she wraps her arms around my waist, so I wrap my arm around her shoulders.
“You look so handsome in your tux. It was a beautiful ceremony, wasn’t it?”
“Thanks, Mom. Yeah it was, and it was the kind I like—short and sweet.” I bend down to kiss her forehead. My mom is a shorty, and I’m tall like my dad—hell, I’m taller than him now.
“That Chloe sure is a beautiful singer.” Yes, she is, and there’s nothing like fighting a hard on standing up in front of a bunch of people, but shit, I’ve been fighting one since the first time I saw Chloe in a long time. It was after Violet’s grandpa passed away and we were at her parents’ house. I’ve never in my life had that kind of reaction to the opposite sex before. I had a body buzz to end all body buzzes, and I knew she felt it too, but I never got the chance to see if anything could happen. She went back to Atlanta before I could make a move.
Yes, Chloe and I share Violet as a cousin, but we’re not related. Chloe’s my aunt Stacy’s cousin on her dad’s family’s side. I’m related on my dad’s side. Over the years, we’ve seen each other at some of Aunt Stacy and Uncle Dustin’s family parties, but we’ve never really spent any time together.
“Yeah, she’s great.” My eyes scan the room, and I find her. She’s with both of her dads standing by the bar. Her hair is so dark it’s almost black; her skin’s like porcelain, but it’s her eyes that truly suck me in. They’re a cerulean blue and surrounded by dark, thick lashes. I would’ve thought they were contacts, but her younger brother, Carter, has the same eyes. Chloe must feel my stare, because she turns and looks right at me.
It gives me a thrill that even from across the room, I see her cheeks turn a light shade of pink before she walks away from her parents. I don’t know why, but she’s been avoiding me all day. I know I can be a little intimidating. Since joining the police force, I’ve put on quite a bit of muscle and have tattoos on both arms. Add in my height and it makes an intimidating package.
My mom kisses my cheek and then goes to my dad. My feet start carrying me toward Chloe when my nephew Dalton comes running toward me. “Hey, little man.” I pick him up and kiss his chubby cheek.
He starts babbling in his secret toddler language that I don’t understand at all. My eyes find her again, and she’s watching us with a small smile on her lips. We head right to her, and this time she doesn’t run. Of course, she acknowledges little man first. “Hey buddy. Aren’t you just the cutest?”
“Thanks,” I tell her with a smirk.
“Haha. You’re such a funny guy.” Dalton squirms in my arms, so I set him down and he runs right to my mom. I shake my head because my parents spoil Abby’s kids rotten, but I love it—I love how happy my sister is. It’s hard to believe that it was so long ago that we almost lost Abby, but now she’s married with three kids and so incredibly happy. Her husband and I work together on the police force, and he’s become a good friend.
I grab her hand. “Dance with me?”
She wants to say no, I can tell, but I don’t give her the chance. I pull her out to the dance floor and begin swaying to the music. Her body feels so good pressed up against mine. In her heels she comes up to my nose, but without them I know she barely comes to my chin. Her tits are high and firm, and in the dress she’s wearing, I’m getting a prime view of her cleavage. She’s thin but soft, with enough curves highlighted in her silky blue dress to make my dick hard.
She smells like flowers and sunshine, and her skin looks so soft and smooth. “You look beautiful.”
“You’re not so bad yourself. The toast you gave was really sweet.”
“I don’t think anything I’ve ever done has been classified as sweet.” I pull her a little closer, not even caring that she can probably tell my cock’s half hard, but it’s her fault.
“Please, I saw you with your nephews earlier. They use you like their own personal jungle gym. You just smiled and let them do it. Last night during the rehearsal dinner, it wasn’t lost on me that your niece sat with you and you guys were coloring for a while.” Her pearly white smile puts an ache in my chest that is completely unfamiliar to me.
“It’s nice to know that you’ve noticed me.”
***
I strip out of my shirt and throw it on the chair in my hotel room. My brother, Parker, wanted to share a room with me, but in the off chance I brought a woman back to my room, I told him to fuck off and to room with our cousin Luke. Unfortunately, I’m here alone with only the images of Chloe to keep me company. I could’ve gone to a bar to pick up a woman for the night if I wanted to—I’ve never had trouble finding a willing woman—but I just don’t feel like it. Strange.
A knock on the door pulls me out of my thoughts. I look through the peephole and find the last person I expected to see on the other side of my door: Chloe. When I o
pen it, she stands there in that fucking dress that turns me on like nothing else.
“Hey.” Fuck, I love her sexy, raspy voice.
“What are you doing here?” I stand back and watch her as she steps inside my room. Her sweet scent follows her in. My eyes drift to the back of her dress, and my dick immediately gets hard. The fabric hugs her heart-shaped ass, and all I want to do is grab it.
She stops in the middle of my room, and I let the door shut with a quiet snick. Silence surrounds us, and I’m wondering what’s happening. When Chloe finally turns around, she stuns me. She slips her dress off, and I watch in utter fascination as it slides down her delicious body. She saunters toward me until we’re almost touching.
My mouth salivates as my eyes rake over her body. It’s even better in just teeny, tiny panties. Her hands slide up my chest until they wind around my neck. “I want you to fuck me.”
“You want me to fuck you?” She doesn’t know how badly I want to.
“Yes. I want you to use,” she palms my hard cock through my dress pants, “this. I want you to make me come.”
I don’t think she knows what she’s asking. I have a tendency to be a little rough, a little intense. I’m not sure if I can rein it in, not with her, and that is what I tell her. “Baby, I don’t think you could handle this ride.”
Her lips quirk, and she trails her hand to the button of my pants. With a quick flick of her fingers, they’re undone and my zipper is down. I should stop her, but I’m dying to know what she is going to do next. Chloe doesn’t disappoint when she reaches inside my pants, wrapping her hand around my cock…or at least trying to. My size can sometimes be a problem.