Revenge Is Best Served Hot: 3 Novella Bundle (Revenge Is Best Served Hot (Powerful Women Series))

by C. C. Morian

  And in more ways than one, she thought. I just had really good sex. And so did he. And best of all, Patricia would never touch Andrew now. As Patricia had always said, she didn’t take seconds.

  Kris had finally won.

  She thought about that, knew it was maybe a little superficial, but it didn’t bother her. If she wanted to feel good about it, that was just fine, nothing wrong with enjoying this. No one had gotten hurt here, certainly not Patricia, who only wanted Andrew to show up Kris. And not Andrew, he was certainly feeling pretty good. And Brin. . .

  At the reunion, Andrew had been looking at Brin first, Kris was sure of it. But Brin wasn’t the one to try to compete for a guy. Even though. . .

  “Andrew?” said Kris gently. “This may sound kind of weird, given what we just did, but . . .”

  “I know what you are going to say,” he prompted. “It was fun, but we aren’t a long term thing, I shouldn’t get any thoughts about doing this again.”

  Kris laughed. “Well, yes, but that’s kind of what the guy usually says.”

  “I don’t think guys you sleep with usually say that.”

  Kris leaned on her elbow so she could look at him. “You are very sweet. And very considerate. So since we seem to be thinking alike, will you answer something truthfully? And I promise I won’t be upset.”

  “Right now, after what we did, you could get me to do anything.”

  “Okay. When we were at the dinner? I thought I saw you checking Brin out. Before I even spoke to you.”

  Andrew shrugged. “Guilty. She’s—cute. And even though I didn’t talk to her that much, I really liked her. She seems great.”

  “I think so too. And though I’m biased because she’s such a good friend, she’s an amazing woman. I think you two would get along great.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Kris slapped him playfully on the chest. “You know what I mean. You saw Brin with me and Patricia, and you only had eyes for Brin. This thing between me and Patricia got in the way. Otherwise you might be lying here with Brin right now.” She paused. “Well, maybe not right now, things take a little longer with Brin. But you could easily have ended up with her.”

  “Why didn’t she say anything? Or stay up with us last night?”

  “It’s like she said, it’s not her. And I get the sense you don’t do that kind of thing often, we kind of roped you into it.”

  “I didn’t take much convincing,” said Andrew.

  “You’re a guy. In that respect, Patricia and I were both cheating. Brin never would have.”

  Andrew looked thoughtful. “Well, what’s done is done.”

  “Not necessarily. This could be—our little secret.”

  “Really?” Andrew sounded doubtful.

  “Sure,” said Kris, becoming more convinced of it herself. “I don’t live anywhere near here or near you. There’s no reason you can’t get to know Brin. Talk to her on the phone. Go slow. She’ll love it. She’ll love you.”

  “But. . .”

  “Think about it. In the meantime, get dressed and get yourself out into the living room.” Kris got up, her new plan driving her, urging Andrew on. “Lay down on the couch, grab that blanket that’s on the chair, that’s what Brin had left for me to use.”

  “What about you?”

  “I’ll clean up in here, take a shower, and we can say I used Patricia’s bed after she left.” She laughed. “Which is actually the truth, if you think about it.”

  “I wouldn’t want to lie to Brin,” said Andrew.

  “I know. And maybe if things work out with you two, you can tell her, or choose not to. It will be up to you. But for today, just don’t mention it, okay?”

  Andrew nodded. “Uh, man, this sounds weird, asking you about Brin after we just had sex. What does she like?”

  “You should find out for yourself. But I’ll tell you one little thing. I remember one time, back in college, all the girls were talking about their romantic fantasies, you know, girl stuff, the sexy stranger, a midnight tryst, sex on the beach. You know what Brin’s idea was? She wanted to have a man surprise her with something romantic, something simple. Like breakfast in bed.”

  Andrew thought about it. “That’s not the kind of fantasy I thought women had.”

  “That’s the kind Brin has.”

  “I could like someone like that.”

  “I guessed right. And just so you know, there are fresh muffins in the kitchen.”

  Andrew smiled. “Hmm.”

  “And she likes tea instead of coffee.” Kris guided Andrew to the door. “Quick, before she wakes up.”

  Andrew turned to her. “Kris? You’re an amazing woman.”

  Kris kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you. Sometimes, I think so too. Now get.”

  Kris closed the door and leaned against it, smiling, feeling as good about this as she had with the sex. No, this was actually better.

  She looked around the room. The bed was a mess. There was a huge wet spot on the sheets, and Kris couldn’t keep from giggling. Boy, if Patricia found that. . .it would dry, but the marks would be obvious.

  Kris went to the bed, pulling at the duvet, her eyes drawn to the thick round globs of cum that Andrew had shot. She really had turned him on, the proof of it was right there. That would leave quite a stain, sure evidence of their sex.

  Kris started for the bathroom, thinking she’d get a wet washcloth, clean up the bed. But then she stopped, smiling. Fuck it. This was better than Patricia suspecting, better even than Kris dropping a hint, or coming right out and telling Patricia she had slept with Andrew. The wet spot on the sheets and the stains on the duvet would be like a neon sign, beckoning Patricia, taunting her.

  Patricia would realize what had happened, but would never tell Brin, because that would mean she’d have to admit she lost Andrew to Kris, that she lost the kissing contest. Even if Andrew and Brin ended up together, Patricia could never say anything.

  And Patricia would never touch Andrew. She always insisted she didn’t take seconds, she would never dream of taking thirds. Brin and Andrew would be safe.

  Kris left the bed as it was. She took a shower, taking her time, she had a few hours before her flight, and she wanted to give Andrew a chance to make his move with Brin.

  When Kris was done she peeked out into the living room. No one there. The door to Brin’s bedroom was cracked open, and she could hear a murmur of voices. Kris smiled.

  She dashed into the living room to retrieve the rest of her luggage. In Patricia’s room she changed and packed. Something was missing. . .

  Her new Louboutin shoes. Brin had been wearing them. Kris went back to the living room, and now noticed they were outside Brin’s door. Brin, always thoughtful, remembering. She must have left them there before going to bed the night before.

  Kris started to pick them up, then stopped. They really had looked great on Brin.

  The shoes had made Kris feel good when she had tried them on, as new shoes always did. But Kris hadn’t needed them last night to feel good, to feel confident, to feel powerful. It wasn’t the shoes, it was her attitude.

  In the kitchen she had noticed a notepad by the phone. She scribbled a note, tore off the page, and tiptoed to Brin’s door, not wanting to disturb whatever was going on inside the bedroom. Knowing Brin, they were just talking, but still.

  She left the note next to the shoes. It read:

  Andrew first noticed you, in these, and thought you looked great. So do I. Feel good when you wear them, they are yours!

  As Kris walked to the door, she realized she herself would never need an expensive pair of shoes ever again to get out of a funk, to feel better. To feel powerful.

  To be powerful.

  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

  REVERSING ROLES

  A POWERFUL WOMAN REVENGE STORY

  by

  Blaise Quin

  “Kathie, where the hell are you? Get in here!” roared Pierce.

  Kathie rolled her eyes but hastened t
o comply. She’d only had this job one month, but already had learned that when Mr. Michaels didn’t use the intercom and just screamed from his office, he was in an even worse mood than usual.

  Kathie wasn’t actually Mr. Michaels’ secretary—his regular secretary, Melinda, was on maternity leave, something else that pissed him off. “Can’t see why they get automatic leave,” he had said. “It’s not like the work stops.” So Kathie, even though a senior manager, had to not only do her own job, but be his personal assistant as well. Not that she had anything against secretaries, they had tough jobs. But Kathie had her own work to do, and Mr. Michaels didn’t cut her any slack on that.

  Kathie waited in the doorway. Mr. Michaels was leaning forward on his thick leather chair—which she knew had been raised to the highest level to hide the fact that he was quite short—as if he had been waiting for an hour for her instead of a few seconds. Michaels had what Kathie suspected was his idea of a tough look on his face, his thin jaw set, his eyes squinty. Instead of appearing tough he looked like a little kid trying to not cry. That is, if a little kid would be getting hair implants, something else Kathie knew, because she had seen the bill in his inbox.

  “Get me what’s her name, that new blonde,” Michaels ordered.

  “You mean Lynn?”

  Mr. Michaels waved his hand dismissively, “Whatever.”

  “Anything else?” she asked.

  Michaels squinted so hard that his eyes almost closed. “If was something else, I’d tell you.”

  He was an asshole, but Kathie reddened anyway. He treated her like shit, but she needed the job. She quickly turned away and went to her desk.

  He could have just picked up the phone and called her, thought Kathie. He just wanted to boss me around. Little Napoleon-complex prick.

  She started to pick up the phone to call Lynn, one of the newly appointed Vice Presidents who had an office on another floor. Thought better of it, she’d go in person, it would get her away from Mr. Michaels, so he couldn’t make her do something else.

  Just as she was about to head downstairs, the phone rang on Melinda’s desk. Kathie picked it up. “Kathie Green, Melissa’s line.”

  “Oh, hi Ms. Green, this is actually Melissa.”

  Kathie had never actually met Melissa, who had started her maternity leave before Kathie was hired. “Hi, Melissa, congratulations on your baby. A girl, right?”

  “Yes, thank you. I know who you are, I handled your paperwork with HR. I hope the job is going okay for you.” There was a pause. “Uh, just wondering, why are you answering my phone? I was expecting to get the temp.”

  “There is no temp,” explained Kathie. “I’m kind of filling in for you.”

  “That’s—you are a senior manager. You can’t be doing my job and yours.”

  Kathie laughed. “I doubt I could do your job. I’m just trying to keep Mr. Michaels happy.”

  Melissa’s voice grew secretive. “Let me warn you, that’s just about impossible.”

  “I already figured that out. What can I do for you?”

  “I just wanted to see how things were going, if the temp needed any help. I’d hate to have to come back to chaos.”

  “Well, I doubt things will get done anywhere near as well as if you were here, but, well, actually, Mr. Michaels hasn’t asked for much. Not yet, anyway.”

  Melissa sounded relieved. “Probably because I mostly handle personal stuff for him, and he doesn’t want to share it with you. That’s why he didn’t get a temp, I bet. Besides, if he bossed her around, the temp agency would just pull her out and send him someone terrible.” She paused. “Still, if things get backed up. . .”

  “I’ll take care of it,” promised Kathie. “Plus, there is a temp in my department, she can help too. We’ll hold the fort until you get back. You have enough to do with the baby.”

  “Wow, thanks. I’ll make it up to you.”

  “No need, believe me.” Kathie wished someone had helped her along on her first job, and she wanted to help Melissa out, she sounded nice.

  “One last thing,” asked Melissa, tentatively. “What does your temp look like?”

  “Look like?”

  “Never, mind, I shouldn’t have asked. You’ll find out soon enough.”

  Kathie frowned. Maybe Melissa didn’t want to share something with her, since they didn’t really know each other, and Kathie was technically an executive. “Okay, bye then.”

  “Bye. And Ms. Green? Thank you. I mean it.”

  Kathie hung up and shrugged. Why would it matter what the temp looked like? She headed for Lynn’s office, detouring toward the break room. Since this was the executive floor, there was a high end coffee machine here; she’d pick up a good coffee for Lynn, it wouldn’t hurt to make a good impression on her. Kathie had only seen Lynn a few times around the office, and when she had been introduced to the managers in a big meeting. Lynn was smart, quick witted, and beautiful, and like many other attractive businesswomen Kathie had worked with, Lynn didn’t flaunt her good looks, she actually toned them down. Kathie herself wasn’t bad looking, above average she’d been told, but a little flat chested. She dressed very conservatively, tending toward pant suits. The company was almost all men, she wanted to fit in, not appear too different. Stupid, maybe, but that’s the way it was.

  In the break room, two male executives were seated in the corner, having coffee. They gave her the once over as she came in, and she was about to say hello, but they went back to their conversation. The coffee maker was empty, so Kathie tried to figure out how to refill the complicated machine. Neither of the execs moved to help her. After a minute she got it decoded and as she was making the coffees, she couldn’t help but overhear the conversation in the corner.

  “That new VP, Lynn, she’s got a set on her,” said one of the men.

  “Nice ass, too,” said the other. “I wonder if she’s a natural blonde?”

  “I know one way to find out.”

  Both men laughed. They were talking as if Kathie wasn’t there. She wondered if they had talked about her that way, or would after she left. On the other hand, she didn’t have big tits, and while she thought her ass was okay, she wouldn’t want it to be talked about by two creeps like this. She thought about saying something, she should have, but it would be her word against theirs. Maybe she’d report it. But that would be hard to do, she had just started working there, she didn’t want to get a reputation as a troublemaker. Maybe these were the two company sexist jerks.

  Kathie finished getting the coffees and left without looking at the men, who were still talking about Lynn. By the time she got to Lynn’s office she was livid, feeling helpless. She wondered if she should tell Lynn. She decided no, she wouldn’t want to sound like a gossip, or worse, that she was making it up to get in Lynn’s good graces.

  Lynn was at her desk and Kathie knocked on the open door. Keeping her voice flat and businesslike, she said, “I bring coffee, and a request from Mr. Michaels to go to his office.”

  “You’re Kathie Green, aren’t you?” said Lynn, accepting the coffee. “Thanks.”

  “Yes, I’m pretty new, I’m the manager of Marketing for International.”

  “We may be working together at some point. I just found out they are going to give me a part of International.”

  This was the first time Kathie had seen Lynn up close. She really was beautiful, with sparkling blue eyes and wonderful, and fully natural, blond hair. Lynn wore a nicely tailored suit, her jacket on, even in the office. Kathie thought of the comment made by the men in the break room and couldn’t help but glance at Lynn’s chest. She was certainly well endowed, and Kathie wondered if Lynn wore the jacket to deflect attention away from her breasts, so she’d appear more professional. Not that a woman with breasts couldn’t be professional, but that was the way some men seemed to think. Lynn’s skirt was nice but not too short, no pleats, dark, very corporate.

  “Since you brought coffee and came to me in person, I assume that Mr. Mic
haels was making more of a demand than a request,” said Lynn.

  “Well, it was a little direct.”

  Lynn shrugged. “He’s the divisional President. He’s the boss.”

  “He doesn’t have to be so directorial about it,” said Kathie, immediately sorry she had spoken. “I mean—.”

  Lynn smiled. “Don’t worry about it. It’s a power thing. Some people have the title and still think they need to add something extra to get respect. And it’s not just a man thing, women do it too. Although not as much.” She took a sip of her coffee. “Definitely better coffee than what we get down here. Come on, let’s go see what he wants.”

  As they walked to the stairway, Kathie chatted with Lynn and found her to be very personable and accessible. This is what I want to be like when I’m a VP, Kathie thought.

  Kathie led the way into Mr. Michaels’ office and announced, “Lynn Seymore is here.” She turned to go.

  “About time,” grumbled Mr. Michaels, who looked like he hadn’t moved a muscle since Kathie had left him. “Don’t go, I need you in here too.”

  Kathie was a little surprised. She and Lynn sat in the two diminutive chairs in front of Mr. Michaels’ desk.

  Without any preamble, Michaels said, “We have a meeting tomorrow with the President of Meltex, a company we are negotiating to buy.” Michaels frowned. “That’s confidential, by the way, so don’t go do any gossiping about it to your girlfriends at the hairdresser.” Michaels picked up a letter opener in the shape of a sword and pointed it at Lynn as he spoke. “Meltex has a big international component, so that will give me an excuse to have you there. Not that I need you, if it were up to me you wouldn’t be here, either one of you.”

  Lynn stared at him. “What do you mean by that?”

  “You know very well what I mean.”

  Her voice very level, Lynn said, “No, I don’t. You’re the President, if you don’t want us here, then why are we?”

  “Because even I have a boss,” said Michaels. “Corporate. They shoved both of you down my throat. Said we didn’t have enough diversity.” He said the word like it made his mouth hurt.