Take Me Down (Suits in Pursuit)

by Lauren H. Kelley

  Ashley frowned. “Well, no. I... I’ve been out of town.” The truth was she’d been trudging up nine flights of stairs and sneaking through the back alley, like a criminal lurking in the shadows. A month since her return from Key West, she couldn’t get that night, or Sebastian Stone, off her mind. She regretted carrying out her plan to humiliate him. The damage done, she gave him reason to hold a grudge. Thus the reason for her back-alley antics.

  Cassie didn’t miss a beat. “Then isn’t this a nice welcome-home surprise? I’m sure you haven’t opened your welcome letter yet.”

  Ashley shook her head. She vaguely remembered the letter slipped under her door. She’d tossed the envelope into her junk-mail basket on the kitchen counter.

  “Everything I’m going to share with you is inside that mailing.” Ashley’s lips twisted into a smile. “I’d love to tell you about the exciting changes coming and the really fantastic discounts available to current residents. Do you have a few minutes?”

  By the end of their conversation, not only did Ashley decide to stay at the Carlisle for the remainder of her lease, but she also signed a twenty-four-month contract. Somehow, she forgot her reason for wanting to move in the first place, worries about Sebastian muffled.

  She could move into a newly renovated luxury apartment double the size of her current space, complete with all new stainless-steel appliances and hardwoods, while paying her current rate for the next two years. When Cassie said her new apartment would be ready in six months, Ashley signed the dotted line.

  The faces around the conference table were drained of life. The Monday morning meeting always dragged on too long. When Kerrigan married their boss Axel and then left the company to start her own business, Ashley was promoted to Kerrigan’s former account manager position. Ambitious, Ashley wanted to take the next step to senior account manager.

  Axel cracked his knuckles. “All right. Last item of business. We have a new client, and I need to assign someone to the account. The account is…”

  Before he could finish, “I’d like this account,” Ashley said, nearly bouncing out of her seat with excitement.

  She ignored a few eye rolls and gestures from the usual suspects in the room. Megan shifted in her seat, faking a cough. Ryan rolled his eyes and cleared his throat, shoving a finger to the bridge of his nose to push up thick-ass coke-bottle lens. Ashley straightened her posture, waiting for Axel’s reaction.

  He smiled and gave an affirming head nod. “Very good. Thank you, Ashley. This will be good for your growth. The job is a big one and will last for the next 18 months. I’ll give you details later this week.”

  “Thank you.”

  Axel leaned in close and whispered. “I’m sorry we still haven’t been able to find Copper.”

  “I appreciate your help. Copper will turn up. This isn’t his first escape.”

  Ashley forced a smile. Copper was going to be found. Until then, she would throw all her energy and effort into the account and land the promotion. An added bonus, the project would keep her thoughts off Sebastian and what might have been.

  Sebastian peeled off his jacket. Prickly hairs on his forearm stood on end, the crisp morning air the culprit. His jog slowed to a complete stop. Hands placed on both knees, he waited until his heart rate returned to normal. He collapsed onto the green metal park bench.

  Across from where he rested, an attractive woman wearing a gray tracksuit and whose hair had been pulled up into a ponytail caught his eye. Eyes averted, his head fell to his chin. The thought of his stolen glance being found out made his stomach ache. Instead, he ignored her and tied the laces on his right shoe. Before he could finish the task, his phone buzzed in his pocket.

  Sebastian glanced at the number. He leaned back and relaxed against the backrest, his foot colliding with the earth, twigs crunching beneath his Nikes with a loud crunch. “Hello,” he said, still winded.

  “Hey, man. I haven’t heard from you in weeks. How’s it going?” Daniel asked, sounding as he usually did, without a care in the world.

  He leaned forward, resting sweaty forearms on his knees. “I don’t know where to begin. So much has happened since we last spoke.”

  “I bet it has,” Daniel said, a smile clinging to his words. “You never replied to my text. Did you ever bang that black chick?”

  The ache in his stomach ignited, flared into a burning sensation. “Why do you have to refer to her that way?” Sebastian tried to shrug off the warm feeling in his gut.

  “Sorry! I didn’t know you’d be offended.”

  “When the only reference you make is about the color of Ashley’s skin, yeah, that’s offensive.”

  “Sorry. I didn’t mean anything by it. Well, did you bang her?”

  “Yeah, I did. Turned out to be the worst mistake I’ve ever made. I mean, the sex was amazing. The aftermath…” He paused, nodding his head. He told Daniel the entire story, from being trapped in the Keys to losing his job. Sebastian omitted the fact that, despite his seething anger, he couldn’t stop fantasizing about that night or thinking about Ashley. “She’s going to wish she never fucked me over.”

  “Damn!” Daniel said. “That’s rough. What are you planning to do for work? You gonna fight back?”

  The woman across from him jogged off. “Why fight back? I don’t want to spend the next year and a half or more in a courtroom broadcast to every home in America. The best revenge is success. I built that company, and I can build another one. In fact, I already have irons in the fire. Stephen Holman is in for a world of trouble, all his own doing.”

  “My friend, I’m glad you’re confident and not defeated. Word of caution, may I?”

  “Sure. What?” He tuned in attentively.

  “Let go of your anger. I mean with that woman. Move on. You’re Goliath. She’s nobody. With her attitude and actions, undoubtedly she’ll bring a reign of terror to herself without your aiding or abetting. You don’t need anger rotting your soul.”

  A hearty laugh burst from his lips. “Hmm. You’re right. She has brought a reign of terror to herself, and his name is Sebastian Stone. She just doesn’t know it yet. No one tramples on me. No one.”

  Daniel grew silent. Sebastian knew what that meant. Daniel didn’t approve, but the choice wasn’t Daniel’s to make. He would have his revenge on Ashley. And his revenge would be sweet.

  “Right or wrong, that poor girl had her reasons for what she did to you. I’m your friend and you know I love you, man, but I’ve seen how you treat women since…” Daniel paused. He knew where to draw the line. He didn’t dare say Ellie’s name. “All I’m saying is that you should dig deep and own up to any actions that may have caused her to do what she did. Forget about revenge. Revenge isn’t worth the cost.”

  Sebastian rolled his eyes. Cocked his head to the side. “Thank you, righteous sir. I’ll consider myself advised.”

  “But you won’t listen, will you?”

  “Probably not. Well, I’ve got to go. I have an appointment later this afternoon, and I have some errands to run first. Later, man.”

  Ashley sat in the executive suite lobby, waiting for Axel to invite her inside. She eagerly awaited details on her new client and the project she volunteered to take. She waited for nearly fifteen minutes. Brenda didn’t know how much longer Axel and his guest would be.

  Brenda’s phone rang. “Yes. Yes, sir. I’ll let her know.”

  Ashley knew that Axel called to invite her into his office. She stood and headed toward the large oak double doors. Brenda nodded. Nervous excitement flowed in her veins. Ashley couldn’t wait to hear the project details.

  She pushed open the large doors, lifting her gaze across the room to the conference table. Those eyes. Those eyes stared at her. Angry bluish-gray eyes leered at her from the other side of the table.

  A searing pang gripped her insides, made her instantly nauseous. Ashley’s stomach twisted and knotted as heat spread through every limb and steam rose from every pore.

  Axel frow
ned. “Ashley, please come on over. I’d like to introduce you to our new client and your new account.”

  She walked the plank, heading for certain death. That’s what seeing Sebastian Stone’s foreboding grin felt like as she lined one foot in front of the other. Somehow she found her way to the table and managed to collapse into one of the chairs, her actions like thrusting her head into a guillotine and awaiting the blade to drop.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Ashley’s porcelain mask, the one smart brown girls wore to hide their emotions, shattered the instant Sebastian’s eyes found hers. She had never been more grateful for her rich mocha pigmentation.

  Leaned across the table. Hand extended. He made the first move. “Hello, Miss Turner.” The brevity of his three words, though professional and unassuming, held an undercurrent of hostility matched to the fire blazing behind a searing gaze.

  Her head pounded. Her chest tightened. She stared at him, motionless. Speechless.

  “Miss Turner,” he snapped, the boom of his voice jostling her. “You look as though you’ve seen a ghost.” He jeered, an unmasked chortle exposing his satisfaction. “I don’t believe we’ve met, have we? Stone. Sebastian Stone.” He tilted his head to the side, and smiled. His patronizing tone as hard as his surname made her flinch. His proffered hand, like being courted by the grim reaper.

  A long blink. She inhaled and then released a breath. Her heaving chest returned to a steady calm. Peeling her eyes open slowly, she won the fight. She picked up the porcelain pieces and reassembled the mask. Game face on.

  She reached out and took his hand, giving him a firm shake in return. “Mr. Stone. Pleasure to meet you.” His eyes bore a hole into her soul, and she fought the urge to cower.

  Axel folded his arms across his chest, silenced in the crosshairs. His eyes darted back and forth between them. She could almost see the cogs in Axel’s mind turning.

  Sebastian held her hand, squeezing her fingers until she grimaced. “Oh, no. The pleasure is all mine. Please, call me Sebastian.” She tried to pry her hand away, but he squeezed tighter. “I asked to work with you specifically. Your reputation precedes you, Miss Turner. May I call you Ashley?”

  She nodded, granting permission at his request and remained quiet, resisting the pain of his grip.

  “Ashley, I need an aggressive marketing plan, and your savvy comes highly recommended. I want a bold thinker on my team who can get results. Don’t worry, I won’t handcuff or shackle your creativity. I need someone who can weather the storm. I understand that person is you. Am I wrong?” Sebastian relinquished his grip.

  Ashley pulled her throbbing hand away. She met his scowl with fluttering eyes. “That’s me.” Inside, her stomach flip-flopped and her heart hammered in her chest.

  “I thought so. Knowing your promotion rests on the success of this project, I know you’ll do whatever is necessary to get the job done. One account goes sour, and your whole career is up in smoke.” He shook his head and sighed as though he gave a damn. “This is a big account for A.C. Advertising. Three million dollars is riding on your shoulders. You have a tough job. No pressure, right?” He chuckled.

  Fuck that porcelain mask. By this time, Ashley was upset. No longer able to hide her emotions, she lowered her head to regain composure.

  Axel cleared his throat. He studied her for a moment and then turned his attention to Sebastian. “Sebastian, I can assure you Ashley is the right person for the account. She always gets the job done.”

  Sebastian smiled and relaxed in his seat. “So, I’ve been told. Well, I’m eager to get started. Renovations to the Carlisle have already begun, and I need a marketing plan. Yesterday.”

  Ashley’s head shot up. “The Carlisle?” The words choked in her throat, barely came out. She glanced at Axel and then at Sebastian.

  “Oh, didn’t you know?” Ashley met Sebastian’s smug gaze. The Carlisle is the project you’ll be managing. I own the building. There’s a major renovation going on. Is this a problem for you?”

  Ashley bit her bottom lip. She swallowed hard. “No. Um, no! Of course not. No problem,” she stammered, trying to mask the faint quaver in her voice with an invisible confidence and a wax smile.

  Axel narrowed his eyes and fixed his gaze on her. Axel chimed in. “Ashley, don’t you live in that building?”

  “Yes, I do. I learned about the construction earlier this week.”

  Sebastian shook his head. “But construction has been going on for weeks. You sound surprised to hear about the renovation.” Sebastian puckered his lips. “I guess, in all fairness, some residents don’t use the main entrance at the front of the building.”

  Ashley nodded in affirmation.

  Sebastian jerked his head back, mocking surprise. “Don’t tell me. You’re one of those tenants who prefers alley rats and the stench of a pissy stairwell?”

  “I take the stairs on occasion.” Ashley said, without making eye contact with either of the men. If Sebastian thought he could goad her into making a scene by insulting her, he would need a new strategy. She’d dealt with every sort of client, from a sexist jerk who seemed more interested in the contents of her blouse than her work to an asshole who spewed racially insensitive remarks throughout an entire meeting.

  Sebastian gasped. “I’m shocked!” He shrugged his shoulders. “I guess it’s a matter of comfort, I suppose.”

  Ashley kept her head down, salty puddles pooled in her eyes, threatening to spill. “Excuse me,” she muttered, her lips pulled taut. “I need to use the ladies room.” She couldn’t escape the office fast enough. Not waiting for a response, she stood and headed for her rescue.

  “Great. Then it’s settled.” Sebastian called out as she sprinted toward the massive doors to exit. “I’ll be in touch, Ashley. I’m looking forward to working with you.”

  She ran down the hall and ducked into the restroom. Sebastian had been cruel and relentless. He wanted blood. Ashley refused to shed tears, blinking damp eyes until the moisture retreated. She knew what she had to do.

  Later that night when Ashley arrived home, she decided to walk through the main entrance. There was no point to hiding in the shadows. Apparently Sebastian had been watching. At least she knew his plan of attack would take place on the corporate battlefield.

  Ashley mashed the elevator’s call button with her knuckle and the doors opened. She stepped inside, kept her head hung, eyes to the ground. Releasing a yawn, she jabbed the illuminated number nine. The doors began to close when a hand reached in, forced the doors to part. She lifted tired eyes. There stood Sebastian.

  Ashley gasped and stepped back into the corner. His impassive stare chilled her. He followed her retreat, his scowling mug within inches of her face. She swallowed hard, stared into cold, expressionless eyes that once held warmth and passion.

  Instinctively Ashley’s arms rose in defense. A sinewy hand took hold of her left wrist and pinned her arm to the cool, reflective surface beside her head. His other hand held her right arm steady at her side. Her heart beat like a drum. She turned away from his menacing stare, staring at the mirrored back wall.

  His breath brushed her cheek as he spoke. “Surprised to see me today, darlin’?” Thin lips pressed against her neck, grazed her supple flesh.

  Her mouth dropped open, teary eyes fastened to the ceiling. She wanted to scream, but no sound came out.

  She fought the panic. “I’m sorry. Tell me what you want.”

  He glared at her. Rage burned behind his eyes. “I own this building, and I own your job, yet you think you have something to offer me.” The eerie sound of his voice forced a whimper. He leaned in, whispered in her ear, “I. Own. You.”

  Her chest heaved. Her heartbeat echoed in the small car. Boom. Boom. Boom. Boom. Amplified terror. Ashley’s eyes shut. “Please don’t hurt me. Don’t hit me. I’m sorry,” she cowered.

  The fingers tightly wrapped around her wrists released. Sebastian’s overpowering presence dissipated like vapors into thin air. With a
scuffling gait, he distanced himself. His back molded to the wall on the opposite side of the elevator. Slowly Ashley opened her eyes.

  Sebastian ran both hands through his hair. “Ashley, I’m not going to hit you.” He stared at her, lips sagging into a frown.

  “What?” She blinked rapidly, peering at him through the defense of shielded arms covering her face. She lowered her defense, eyes stretched wide, eyebrows raised.

  “You begged me not to hit you,” he said. Sebastian realized at that moment he had gone too far. He had only meant to unnerve her.

  The doors opened, and Ashley whizzed past him. He ran after her, heavy steps overtaking her hasty tread. Sebastian eclipsed her doorway at the other end of the hall.

  Arms folded across his heaving chest, he blocked her entry. “I’m furious about what you did to me.” Sebastian’s baritone bounced off the walls. Ashley’s eyes darted to the left and right, seeking an alternate escape. Sebastian’s tone softened. He stepped to the side, granting her access. “But I’d never hit you or any woman,” he said. To Sebastian, there was nothing worse than a man who hit a woman. “I didn’t mean to frighten you in that way.”

  Ashley’s arms encircled her waist. She turned her face down, refusing to find his eyes.

  “What you did to me…” he started.

  Her eyes centered on him. “What I did to you was wrong. Sebastian, I’m sorry.” Her remorse streaked down her cheeks in irrepressible waves.

  His jaw set tight, clenched. He watched the lines of her sullen face contort. Tears washed her face in shame. Her tears, the anecdote to his rage. His jaw loosened. “You have no idea how much pain and trouble your little stunt has caused me.” Seeing Ashley again, like this, should have infuriated him. He should have felt anything other than the lusty hunger that pumped through his veins, awakening his arousal.

  Giving in to an overwhelming urge to feel her body constrained by his, Sebastian stepped behind her and weaved his arms around her waist. He held her close, persuading her surrender. “I promise, I’m not here to hurt you,” he whispered softly. “We need to talk.”