Gloria's Revenge (Gloria Book 2)

by Nelle L'Amour

  As I packed my briefcase with paperwork I needed to catch up on, my cell phone rang. I pressed answer.

  “Gloria…”

  My heart leapt into my throat. Jaime!

  “I’m busy.”

  “Bullshit.”

  Damn him!

  Hang up the phone and activate your Skype.”

  “No.”

  “Do it.” A stern command. “I need to see if we can work this way together.”

  I submitted. Damn it! I submitted. The effect this powerful sex god could have on me was nothing to be proud of.

  I clicked onto Skype, and my eyes almost jumped out of their sockets. Facing me on my large computer screen was Jaime Zander, kneeling on his duvet-covered bed in his hotel suite. His sculpted torso was bare, and a pair of white sweats hung dangerously low on his hips. A sizeable tent bulged between his legs. The air escaped my lungs. I was speechless.

  A bemused smile flickered on his drop-dead gorgeous face. “Gloria, you look stressed.”

  That was the understatement of all times. “I think we should end this.”

  “Be my guest. You just have to click onto the little red terminate button.”

  My heart palpitating, I stared at my computer screen. The terminate icon was one touch away. I raised my trembling hand, moved my middle finger to my mouse, and then froze. The sparkling toi et moi ring beamed in my face. I couldn’t do it.

  This was insane. There was so much on my mind. Victor’s threat. The fate of the company. My pending doom. But all I could focus on was Jaime Zander’s ripped body on my computer screen. I couldn’t take my eyes off his chiseled pecs, washboard abs, and that perfect pelvic V. I ran my fingers over his body and could virtually feel every honed muscled…and the rigid length between his thighs.

  He shot me a cocky, triumphant smile. “Have you ever role played, Gloria?”

  “No.” Warmth bloomed between my legs. Now where was his creativity taking us?

  He smiled sheepishly. “By the way, Gloria, you look stunning on my iPad. Is that a red Chanel suit you’re wearing?”

  “Yes,” I murmured.

  “So powerful. I assume the lace underwear beneath your suit is red too. Red becomes you.”

  “Yes…and thank you.” My voice was small.

  “Gloria, listen to me carefully. I want you to lock your door and then take off your suit—the jacket, the blouse, the skirt. When you’re done, I want you to crawl onto your desk.”

  I stunned myself and did as he asked. After shedding my clothes, I scrambled onto my desk and sat back on my heels.

  He scanned my body. “You’re so fucking hot, Gloria. If I were there, I would bite off all those sweet bows on that sexy underwear of yours and pull down those red-hot panties.”

  My heated body quivered at his words. “Do you want me to take them off?”

  His eyes lowered. I could tell he was gazing at my pussy, pondering how wet it already was. The truth…I was drenched.

  “No. That little bow in the center is too cute. It’s like your pussy is in a gift-wrapped package.”

  Tingles zapped the area as another rush of moisture settled between my thighs. My already rapid heartbeat accelerated. My breathing grew shallow.

  “Gloria, massage those glorious breasts of yours.”

  Trance-like, I cupped my bountiful mounds in my hands and squeezed them, languidly circling them together and apart. My thumbs rolled around my sensitive nipples. They hardened beneath the delicate lace of my underwire bra as awareness of my aroused core filled me. I could feel another layer of wetness permeating the crotch of my panties. I closed my eyes as the tingling in my core radiated through me. I was beginning to think I could make myself come just from stimulating my breasts.

  “Open your eyes, Gloria, and look at your computer screen.”

  My eyes almost popped out of their sockets one more time. Jaime was now stark naked, and his huge, erect cock was pointed at me. I was having a heart attack, but not the 911 kind that sent you to the hospital. Although that could very well happen.

  He curled his long fingers around his enormous erection, sliding his grip up and down the thick shaft. His hips undulated with the movement of his hand.

  “Gloria, I’m on fire.” A rapturous expression washed over his gorgeous face. His eyes were smoldering, and his lush mouth parted as he arched his head back and thrust his hips forward.

  Flames of desire licked at my core. I, too, was on fire. I let out a moan as my hands continued to massage my heavy breasts.

  “Put out my fire, Gloria,” he moaned back.

  “How?”

  “You’re a firefighter, Gloria. Extinguish the fire with that wet mouth of yours.”

  I automatically opened my mouth wide. Leaning into the computer screen, I started bopping my head up and down in tandem with his hand movements. Oh my God! His blazing cock was filling my mouth! I could taste it, feel it inside, the hot thickness expanding into the hallows of my cheeks.

  “Faster, angel, before I burn up.”

  I picked up speed, panting with every cyber intake of his incendiary cock. I massaged my breasts harder, sending sparks to my core. A sizzling fire of my own was raging inside me; it was out of control, the flames consuming every fiber of my being. I lowered one hand to the epicenter, my fingertips burning as they stroked the fiery folds. I didn’t know how much longer I could hold on before imploding.

  “Oh, Gloria!”

  I didn’t take my eyes off him as his cock jerked, spurting cum all over his beautiful hand. My mouth remained wide open.

  “Did you feel me?”

  “Yes!” I gasped. I could actually feel him come in my mouth, the spasms of his cock vibrating against my tongue and palate. The hot sensation of his release filled my mouth. I gulped.

  “Can you taste me?”

  “Yes!” It was true! The sweet salty taste invaded my taste buds.

  “Now, Gloria!”

  As he shouted my name, I squeezed my eyes shut and combusted with a pinch of my clit. Hot embers shot through my body. Oh. My. God.

  “Angel, you deserve a medal for that.”

  His sultry voice brought awareness back into me. Blinking my eyes open, it took me a few seconds to remember where I was. I took in my surroundings. Fuck. I was in my office, sitting half-naked on my desk and shaking from having oral cyber sex with a man I didn’t trust. The riot of emotions I felt made my heart race. I glanced at my computer screen. Jaime Zander, now back in his sweats, bare-chested and barefooted, was sitting cross-legged on his bed. There was still a tent, though smaller, between his thighs. That cocky smile of his played on his face and his blue eyes twinkled.

  “I think Skyping will be a very effective form of long distance communication.” He blew me a kiss.

  The tangle of emotions I was feeling dissolved into rage. He just wanted to prove once again that he could make me fall apart. Control me. I climbed off my desk and scrambled to put my suit back on.

  “Gloria, where are you going?”

  “I’m going home,” I snapped back at him as I zipped up my skirt. I quickly donned my silk blouse and jacket, not bothering to button it. Damn him! The rogue had rendered me powerless. I just didn’t need this in my life when the future of Gloria’s Secret and its leader was at stake. I needed, more than ever, to be in control. What was wrong with me?

  “Why don’t you stop by Shutters before you go home.” His voice was seductive.

  His words dug a hole in the pit of my stomach. To warm him up before his hot date? “I have a previous commitment.” I coldly repeated his own earlier words.

  He raised his brows. “Oh, with a friend?”

  My thumb unconsciously twisted his ring. “A man. So, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go. Enjoy your dinner.”

  “Gloria—”

  I ended the Skype session. I hastily grabbed my purse and my briefcase and dashed out of my office.

  To my relief, Vivien wasn’t at her desk; she was long gone. An unset
tling dark thought flashed into my head. The possibility existed that she might be working with Jaime Zander while I was out on the streets on my ass. Jobless and heartsick. I shuddered.

  I was happy to be back in my apartment. As soon as I unlocked the door, I tossed my purse and briefcase onto the entryway console and wound up the marble stairs to my bedroom. Plopping down on my bed, I wearily shed my suit and undergarments, glad to be free of my soaking wet bikini panties. The throbbing between my legs had died down, but I couldn’t get the image of Jaime Zander, naked on his bed, out of my mind, or forget the feeling of his cock exploding in my mouth.

  Today’s events whooshed around in my head like a roller coaster—the plane ride, Victor’s assault, the stock crisis, Vivien’s audacious behavior, Jaime’s cyber sex. They were all too much for one human being. I truthfully couldn’t think straight. My mind was mush.

  Draping a thick fluffy Egyptian cotton robe on my battered body, I ambled to the state-of-the-art bathroom that was adjacent to my bedroom. Perhaps a shower would wash away the mess in my head and bring me some clarity.

  Shrugging off the robe, I stepped into my large stall shower, pulled out the faucet knobs, and let the multiple jets of water bombard me. Wasted, I sagged down the travertine wall and buried my head between my bent knees, wishing the memories away. It was futile. My life was spinning out of control, and there was nothing I could do to stop it. Slowly, I lifted my heavy head, my eyes passing over my shiny white scar. As if I didn’t have enough going on in my head, the memory of that fateful night flickered inside it. Regardless of how evil Boris Borofsky was, I had committed a crime. Robbed him blind. I was not a religious person, but I believed in karma. Clarity hit me like a thunderstorm’s first sting of rain. There was no doubt. All the terrible things that were happening to me were the result of my terrible secret. There was a power higher than Victor Holden, and He was bringing me down.

  I was already in comfy sweats when my cell phone rang. Revitalized a little from the shower, I sprinted downstairs to my purse to answer it. My heart skittered. I hoped it wasn’t Jaime. Or Victor. Reaching into my monstrous bag, I sighed with relief when I saw on the caller ID screen that it was Kevin. I pressed answer.

  “Glorious, I have to cancel the pity party. All hell is breaking loose. The Associated Press picked up on the Times story, and it’s going to be everywhere.”

  “Fuck.” Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

  “I’m going to be glued to my phone and computer all night dealing with this.”

  “Kev, did you know that Victor was the first to sell off a shitload of shares?”

  Kevin was as surprised as I was and was even more surprised that the press hadn’t jumped on it. He agreed with me that we should keep it our little secret until I knew more; right now, the less the press knew, the better.

  Kevin heaved a sigh. “I’ve got to go. I’ve got three calls coming in.”

  “I’m so sorry, Kev. No worries about tonight. And besides, I’m zonked and should go to sleep early. Tomorrow’s going to be a living nightmare.”

  “Do you want me to stay with you tonight? I can work from your place.”

  “No, I’ll be okay.” Oh, my Kev! Always there for me.

  “Well, if you change your mind, you know where to find me.”

  A faint smile played on my face. “I’ll call you if I need you. Good luck with everything, and let me know of anything major.”

  After exchanging good-byes, I took my cell phone with me and wandered over to my kitchen. I yanked opened the refrigerator door. Having been away for over a week, it was almost bare. Tilda, my beloved housekeeper, had done a thorough sweep of all my leftover business meals and minimal groceries. There wasn’t even any milk for my morning coffee. All that remained was a half-drunk bottle of wine from my last pity party with Kevin and a small chunk of brie cheese. I bit into the cheese and washed it down with a gulp of wine, straight from the bottle. I polished off the rest of it and then headed back upstairs.

  I was wiped out. Usually, I had a nighttime beauty routine that consisted of washing my face and slathering my body with Gloria’s Secret moisturizer. Not tonight. Not even bothering to take off my sweats, I sunk into my delicious bed and snuggled under the thick duvet. I placed my cell phone, a quick arm’s reach away from me on the night table, and then turned off the light. The twinkling lights of the city flickered on the walls. I didn’t use blackout shades or blinds because I was afraid to sleep in total darkness by myself.

  But tonight, I was also afraid to go to sleep because I dreaded waking up in the morning. I was going to have to deal with all the negative press and the wondering looks of my beloved employees. And then there would be a bombardment of e-mails coming in from store managers and vendors from around the world, inquiring about the future of the company and my own.

  Sleep finally claimed me, but not for long. I descended into another kind of darkness.

  The song “Gloria” is blasting. Sky-high flames engulf a long runway. Familiar faces flicker in the flames. Once supermodel angels, they’re now monsters, their red lipstick-smeared faces distorted and deformed, horns sprouting from their heads. Like a Greek chorus, they chant Gloria over and over.

  “Take your final bow, Gloria.” The voice is sinister. I recognize it. Victor!

  Naked, I hesitantly step onto the runway. The flames surround me, licking at my flesh.

  An apparition appears before me. Vivien! She’s clad in a black leather corset, fishnet stockings, mile high black boots, and wielding a whip. “Soon, they’ll be singing my name!” She snaps her whip at me and cackles.

  I cry out in pain. My flesh burns. I run away from her before she strikes again.

  In the distance, ahead of me, a God rises from the flames. Jaime! The flames lick at his bare sculpted body, but he’s immune to their lethal flicks.

  “Gloria, come for me,” he calls out, his voice a deep rasp.

  I want to run into his arms. Run to safety!

  I pick up my pace, propelling my legs to run as fast as they can. My limbs are burning and so are my lungs. No matter how far or fast I run, I cannot reach Jaime.

  “Suffer, Gloria!” another voice from behind me calls out.

  I steal a glance over my shoulder. Another hideous monster! Crimson blood pours out from two apertures bracketing his snarling mouth. His eyes glow pink.

  “Nobody steals from Boris Borofsky!”

  He’s after me. Oh, God, why can’t I run faster?

  My punishment: just like the lyrics of the song, I’m always on the run now.

  Running away from Victor. From Vivien. From Boris.

  Running after Jaime. But no matter how much I run, I never get closer to him. The runway from hell never ends.

  Oh the pain! My legs, my lungs, they hurt so much!

  But not as much as my heart, that aches for the man of my dreams. “Oh, Jaime!”

  “Gloria!” he calls out to me, his arms open wide.

  The choir: “Gloria, Gloria, Gloria, Gloria…”

  Writhing, I snapped my eyes open and clapped my hands to my ears. The voices in my head wouldn’t stop. “Stop it!” I screamed. At last, they faded. My breathing was harsh, and I was bathed in cold sweat. Fear sent shudders rippling through me. My dream…it was symbolically telling me something. I had to face the reality that the world was coming down upon me. Hell awaited me.

  CHAPTER 8

  My nightmare had just given way to sleep when my cell phone rang. My eyes glued shut, I flung my arm out from under the duvet and fumbled for it on the nightstand. I put it to my ear. My eyes flew open. Kevin! I glanced at my alarm clock; it was just a little after 6:00 a.m. Kevin calling me at this still dark hour signaled bad news. My brain snapped awake, and I bolted to an upright position.

  “Glorious, all hell has broken loose. The stock market opened, and there was another big sell-off. Shares have dropped another ten points…and it could get worse as the day goes on.”

  “God fucking damm it!” The
word “fuck” was going to be on the tip of my tongue all day long.

  “The Wall Street Journal wants to do an interview with you later this morning.”

  “Tell them NO!” My voice was harsh.

  “What about Forbes? Business Week? Or the Financial Times?”

  “Tell them all NO!” I shouted each word.

  There was a moment of silence on Kevin’s end before he said, “Glorious, you’re going to have to issue a statement.”

  My eyes narrowed with rage. “Simply tell them that Gloria Long assures all her stockholders that Gloria’s Secret is poised for growth. She will not be stepping down as CEO any time soon.”

  Kevin sighed into the phone. “Got it. I’m heading into the office now.”

  “I’ll see you soon.” Nausea rose to my chest. “One last thing, Kev…could you please set up a company-wide meeting in the theater at eleven o’clock. Our employees need to hear what’s going on from me. And let’s be sure it can be streamed live to stores around the world.”

  “Will do. I love you, Glorious.”

  “I love you too.” I ended the phone call and mentally picked out the black power suit and shoes I was going to wear today. Armor was what I really needed for the battle ahead.

  Before showering, I quickly checked my iPhone calendar. My breath hitched. I had one other major meeting in the afternoon. Fuck. How could I forget? Jaime Zander was coming by at two. Not only did I need armor to get through the day; I also needed a chastity belt. Unfortunately, that was the one item you’d never find in a Gloria’s Secret catalogue.

  The air in the office was thick with tension; a knife couldn’t cut through it. Glum-looking employees avoided eye contact with me as I passed through the halls to my office. I held my head high and greeted them with casual hellos as if it were just another normal day at work.

  To my surprise, Vivien was already at her desk. She never came in before me. Never. When I asked her once, “What time do you aim for?”, Miss Bitchy and Entitled replied, “You’re lucky I even show up.” She had no appreciation for the first-hand executive training I was giving her. Absolutely none.