by Claire Adams
We both dissolved into giggles.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Austin
I spent a good part of the night tossing and turning, thinking about why Emily had rejected me and feeling foolish for not seeing the signs before she'd said no. Making it even more frustrating was the fact that the analysis was interrupted by the replaying of our kiss and my memories of what it felt like to hold her body in my hands.
The natural progression of these images steered my imagination down the path that led to me running my hands over Emily's naked body and hearing her moan as I teased her nipples with my tongue and let my hands roam lower. I closed my eyes and let myself sink into the image of what I imagined she would look like writhing beneath me as I drove her to the edge of desire. In my imagination, she was soft and beautiful as she looked up into my eyes and I imagined myself poised above her ready to-
A knock on the door pulled me out of my fantasy. Completely irritated, I got up out of bed, walked to the door and yanked it open.
"What do you want?"
"I've got your breakfast, sir," said the nervous room server from behind a cart loaded with covered dishes.
"Oh, well, come in then," I muttered as I stepped back and let him enter.
"Would you like me to set the table, sir?" he asked, nervously looking around the room.
"No, just take it over to the couch and set it up," I replied, waving my hand in the direction of the couch. He wheeled the cart over and set everything up before moving back toward the door.
"Is there anything else, sir?" he asked.
"No, that's good. Thank you," I said, then looked over and added, "Sorry about before."
"No worries, sir, it's early and I've dealt with much worse." He smiled then bowed and exited the room.
I dug into my breakfast as I skimmed the morning news for information about the pending strike. It seemed that the crew was angry about the rumor that Marks Enterprises might be importing workers from the United States in order to circumvent the 2009 Fair Work Act and lower the cost of labor on the project. We had no intention of doing this, and I wasn't sure where the workers had gotten their information from, but I was going to do my best to allay fears and stop the rumors. I knew that if I didn't, it would be disastrous for the new hotel and casino and even worse for the company. My phone rang just as I was about to hop in the shower.
"Morning, boss," said Bax. "Or should I say g'day mate?"
"Oh God, not you, too," I groaned. "Spare me the fake Aussie crap and get to the point. I've got to be out the door in thirty minutes."
"Very well, I've tried to track down the origin of the rumors and have had zero luck," he began. "I'll keep working on it."
"Good. What about Daniel and his henchmen?" I asked as I poured another cup of coffee and carried it into the bathroom.
"That's getting interesting," he said. "There is something going on in Berlin, but I can't quite put my finger on it. I sent a couple of our guys to poke around and see if they could dig up any dirt."
"I hope you didn't send members of the young executive club to do that," I said. "Daniel would smell them a mile away and pull up shop."
"How dumb do you think I am?" Bax asked. "Wait, don't answer that."
"Bax, my friend, I have never once in the entire time I've known you thought you were dumb," I laughed. "A total jackass, maybe, but never dumb."
He laughed loudly on the other end before saying, "Well, thank you, I think. What time do you meet with the labor reps?"
"An hour from now," I replied as I looked at my watch lying on the bathroom counter. "I need to get moving."
"Austin, don't get dressed up to meet with them," Bax warned. "It won't win you any favor."
"There you go acting like a jackass again," I chided him. "Seriously, Bax, we grew up with guys like these, I know what I need to do to talk with them."
"My bad," he replied. "I just don't want to take any chances, you know? We can't lose this company to Daniel, Austin."
"I know, I know," I muttered. "Nothing like adding a little pressure is there, Bax?"
"Fine, I'm just reminding you what we have at stake here," he said.
"Thanks, I've got it under control," I replied.
"Good luck, man," he said before disconnecting.
I knew Bax was right, but I didn't need him reminding me of how much we had riding on this one meeting and how much we stood to lose if I couldn't get the laborers to see that we weren't out to screw them over.
I leaned over and turned the shower knobs on full blast and stepped under the water, letting it pound the top of my head as I thought about how to approach this meeting. Once I was done, I dried off and decided not to shave. I pulled on a pair of jeans, a t-shirt followed by a navy blue hoodie and a pair of well-worn work boots. I wanted the guys to see I was one of them, even if I was the guy in charge of a billion-dollar empire.
But for how long? I wondered as I grabbed my wallet and sunglasses and headed out the door.
As I headed across the lobby toward a waiting car, I heard a familiar drawl, "Well, if it isn't Austin who people call Austin."
"Hi, Honey," I smiled. "You look lovely this morning."
"Well, aren't you a charmer!" she laughed. Her hair was pulled up off her face in a soft ponytail with her sunglasses perched on top of her head and her face looked fresh and clean, not like the glamour queen she'd been the night before. She was wearing a coral-colored shift dress that covered everything but her shoulders and was cut high up her thighs with a deep v in the front and back. She looked young and beautiful.
"No, I just speak the truth," I laughed. "What are you up to this morning?"
"I'm off to meet Granny Vanny for breakfast and then a little shopping," she told me as she glanced at the screen of her phone. "Except that I don't think Granny is up yet!"
"She must be quite the partier," I said, secretly wondering how Honey was up and looking so fresh after last night's drinking when I still felt woozy and tired.
"Oh, we girls have a strong constitution," she drawled. "But Granny is usually up bright and early. She must be adjusting to the time change. But enough about me, darlin'. Did you have a talk with your young lady?"
"No, not yet," I admitted sheepishly. "I've got some business to take care of before I address that issue."
"Darlin', I'm going to give you a piece of advice Granny gave me," she said as she reached up to take my face in her hands and raise my chin so that I was looking her straight in the eyes. "Do not put off saying the things you want to say, you never know when time will run out and you don't want to live with the regrets."
I nodded solemnly as I looked at her. She smiled warmly, stroked my cheek, and then stood on tiptoe to lightly kiss my lips. "You're such a good boy," she said. "Now go take care of your business, darlin'! I have to find Granny and get her up and ready to shop!"
"Thank you, Honey," I said before turning toward the door, and I'll be damned if the woman didn't smack my ass and laugh.
#
I arrived at the job site just as the crew was starting to pull their tools and materials together. I waved down the foreman and asked if I could meet with the crew before they headed off to their individual assignments.
"Austin Marks," I said as I offered my hand.
"Good to meet you, Mr. Marks. Buck Tucker," he said. Buck was a tall man with a white-blond crew cut and skin like tanned leather. He hadn't been the first choice as foreman when we'd hired him for the job, but after the original foreman wound up in ICU after having heart attack during the first week, we'd tapped Buck as his successor. He'd been working construction for over thirty years, and there wasn't much he hadn't seen – or done – in that time.
Buck nodded and then put two fingers in his mouth and loudly whistled at his assistant. The younger man nodded and went to gather the guys.
"What's the main problem, Mr. Tucker?" I asked, fairly sure I'd hear the answer I already knew was coming.
"The men are u
p in arms about the fact that they think they're going to lose their jobs, Mr. Marks," Buck replied. "There's been a good deal of talk about replacing them with an American crew who will work for less money and not be beholden to the rules and regulations set forth in the Fair Work Act."
"Any idea where this information is coming from?" I asked.
"Not a clue," he said as he shook his head. "Though, there's something telling me that it's a plant."
"What makes you say that, Mr. Tucker?"
"Well, I've been in this business for a long time, and I know the difference between a furphy with teeth and one that's nothing but gums," he scoffed.
"Do you think the crew will identify where they hear the rumor?" I asked.
"Buckley's chance," he said. "These are working men, Mr. Marks. They've got families to feed and they need to make a quid."
"I understand," I nodded.
"Do you now?" he smiled. I stared back at him feeling like he was issuing a challenge I knew nothing about.
"Actually, I do, Mr. Tucker," I said evenly. I wasn't going to challenge him, but I also wasn't going to back down. I knew from growing up in Brooklyn that there was a difference between being the boss and having the respect of the crew. I was the former, but didn't yet have the latter – and Tucker knew it.
"Well, then, give it a burl and see what the boys say," he said, still smiling.
I nodded and stepped forward to address the crowd of men standing in front of me holding coffee cups and wearing bright yellow helmets.
"Gentlemen, I'm Austin Marks, CEO of Marks Enterprises, and I'm here to address your concerns about the rumors that have been flying on this site," I began. I raised my voice to make sure that even the guys in the back could hear me. "I want to assure you that we are not – I repeat, not – bringing in replacement crews from the States or anywhere else, for that matter. Whoever started the rumor has knowingly passed along false information and isn't affiliated with Marks Enterprises."
A murmur ran through the crowd as I spoke. One of the guys in back yelled, "Pig's arse! You come in here spouting your corporate line and expect us to buy it? Rack off!"
"Boys," Tucker warned with a look and the guys settled down for a moment.
"Look, I know you're skeptical and you have every reason to be," I said. "But I swear we are not going to import any new work crews, and I will do everything within my power to ensure that you feel safe and secure as you work on this site with this crew."
The crew milled about grumbling under their breath as Tucker stepped forward and said, "Look, mates, the man has said his piece and he's got some good oil, I believe, so let's give him a chance to come good, okay?"
"Right," came the smattering of responses as the men walked away toward their crews.
"Don't take it too hard, Mr. Marks," Tucker said as he watched his men get to work. "They're a tough group, but if you do them right, they'll be loyal to you."
"Austin," I said. "Call me Austin, Mr. Tucker."
"Then I guess you can call me Buck." He smiled as he held out his hand.
"I'm going to do everything I can to make sure I deliver exactly what Marks Enterprises promised, Buck," I said solemnly. "None of these men will lose their job, I can promise that."
"I have no doubt, Austin," Tucker said with a smile. "You seem like a man of your word."
"Will you let me know if anyone hears anything about where the rumors started?" I asked.
"I reckon," he replied.
"Thank you, Buck," I said then walked back to the car and headed back to the hotel, wondering how I was going to staunch a rumor that seemed to have no origin.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Emily
Trish and I had talked for hours before we looked at the clock and realized hwo late it was. She went back to her room to get a few hours of sleep, and I curled up in the king-sized bed wondering how much space Austin would claim in a bed like this.
I quickly fell into a deep sleep and found myself back in first class setting up a tray for a passenger. I looked around for Trish, but I was all alone in the galley. I walked into the cabin with the tray and noticed that the lights had been dimmed and the cabin was silent. I noticed light streaming through a crack in one of the pod doors. Carrying the loaded tray, I walked toward it and balancing it on one arm, I tapped lightly on the door.
"Come in," called a voice from inside.
"Oh, I'm sorry, sir – Austin," I said when I realized who my solitary passenger was. "I've got your tray, would you like it set up on the table?"
"Yes, Emily, I would," he smiled and I turned to set the tray on the ottoman so that I could pull out the table. As I stood up, I felt him standing right behind me, the warmth of his body against my back as he wrapped his arms around my waist as he bent down and lightly kissed my neck, sending chills up and down my spine.
"You are so beautiful," he whispered softly before gently kissing my ear. "You know that, don't you?"
"I...I...oh," I moaned softly as he spread his fingers out across my abdomen and pulled me tightly against his body. I could feel his fingers slowly sliding up my stomach until he was cupping each of my breasts and gently pinching my nipples. "Austin, no..."
"But don't you want me to touch you?" he whispered as he dragged his tongue across the back of my neck making me shiver. I felt light-headed as the blood in my veins coursed its way down between my legs. "You like it when I touch you, Emily, don't you?"
"Oh yes," I moaned as I felt one of his hands let of my breast and slide down to the hem of my skirt. He slipped it between my thighs and began stroking the soft skin so lightly that I couldn't hold back, I wanted to turn around and kiss him. I wanted to feel his lips on mine. I wanted him to strip me naked and caress every inch of my bare skin. I wanted to feel his skin against mine.
"Oh, Austin..." I sighed and as I shifted in his arms and turned to kiss him, the emergency alarm in the aircraft blared out a warning that the plane was descending too rapidly. The air masks dropped from their hidden compartments and the pilot's voice came over the intercom, "Good morning, Ms. Warner. It's 7:45 and this is your wakeup call! The temperature outside is 20 degrees Celsius with no clouds in sight! Have a beautiful day!"
I groaned as I opened my eyes and realized I was holding the phone receiver to my ear. I looked around the room, both disappointed and relieved to find that I was alone in my bed and marveling at how close I'd come to having had sex with Austin in my dream and at how good it had felt to have him paying attention to me and my desires.
I climbed out of bed and wrapped myself in the thick terrycloth robe and walked out into the main room to find that room service had anticipated my wakeup call and delivered breakfast. I sat down and pulled the silver cover off of the plate to find a steaming hot plate of creamy scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, and home fried potatoes underneath. I lifted the cover on the second plate and found a stack of sourdough toast dripping in butter and a pot of jam just behind it. I sighed as I poured myself a cup of strong coffee and added some cream, then I dug into the meal, knowing that it would probably be at least twenty-four hours before I had anything this substantial again.
Just as I was finishing breakfast, the elevator buzzed and when I checked the security screen I found Trish, dressed, packed and ready to go, standing there. I buzzed her up, and waited for the elevator doors to slide open before I began peppering her with questions.
"What are you doing? We don't leave for another four hours," I said. "Why are you so early?"
"I know, but I wanted to stop by the grocery store and then check out the duty free shop at the airport," she explained. "My mother gave me a list of things she wanted me to pick up while I was here."
"One of these days, you're going to get caught exporting goods, you know," I laughed. Trish's mother was always giving her long lists of things she wanted her to find while in foreign ports. Trish dutifully bought what she could, never asking her mother what she did with them once they were handed over.
"Whatever," she shrugged as she looked past me toward the table. "Oooh, breakfast! Can I have some?"
"Sure, there's a ton left," I said. "I'm going to go pack and get ready, you eat."
"Mmmrf," Trish nodded with her mouth already full of toast.
"You're impossible!" I laughed as I walked back to the bedroom.
#
Forty minutes later, Trish and I stepped into the elevator and waved goodbye to the penthouse.
"I'll never see anything that fancy again," I sighed longingly as I watched the view being cut off by the closing doors.
"Oh, don't say that," Trish scolded. "You've got a billionaire who's after you, so you never know!"
"Trish, you're crazy," I said rolling my eyes.
A few moments later we stepped off the elevator and as we were crossing out of the corner of my eye, I saw Austin standing close to an older blonde woman dressed in an outfit that probably cost more than my entire wardrobe. She was holding his face in her hands as they looked deeply into each other's eyes.
I tried not to stare, but I couldn't help it. She was stunning and as I watched she stood on her toes and kissed him! He gave her a serious look and then as he turned to head out the door, she smacked his butt and laughed. I looked away as I felt the tears welling up in my eyes.
What a fool I was! Austin Marks was a billionaire playboy who had wanted a quick roll in the hay with a young employee, and when I hadn't given in, he'd found greener pastures elsewhere. I felt foolish and ashamed for falling for his act and angry at myself for believing that it might be more than just a quick hook up. I was a game to him, nothing more.
As I watched him walk out the door, I squared my jaw and reminded myself that I had a husband to go home to – a husband who loved me and who I shared a life with. I didn't need affirmation from a self-absorbed rich boy who played with people's feelings. As I donned my self-righteous mantle of defense, I lifted my chin and marched toward the front door.