“You’re the best. What’s on the agenda for today?”
“Not too much other than a meeting at eleven.”
“Oh yes, I have a few items I want to discuss with the team. I plan to increase our sales goals for next year.” I lean in closer. “Anything going on in the office I should know about?”
“Nope. All is well. No rumors. The only thing I’ve heard recently is about Mackenzie.”
“What have you heard?”
“Everyone says she is fiercely ambitious.”
“I can see that. Anything else?”
“Yes. She doesn’t go out to happy hour with work people or mingle personally at all. The only way anyone will see her socially is if it’s business. Otherwise, she keeps the two separated.”
“Yeah, she told me that. Do people like her?”
“I’m not sure. So far people respect her work, but I don’t think anyone really knows her.”
“Interesting.” Especially since we accidentally mixed business and pleasure. “All I can say is that she is a hard worker.”
“I guess that’s all that matters.”
“Yep.” I take a swig of my coffee. “Thanks for this.” I lift my cup to her then go in my office. Last night’s kiss pops into my head and my dick immediately twitches in response. Dammit.
I sit down and get to work signing the many contracts on my desk. It should take me right up to my meeting to get all of this done. At least I have something productive to do.
On my way back from my meeting, I pass Mackenzie in the hall as she speaks with an intern. She’s in business mode, with a serious look on her face. Her eye catches mine and there is that moment that feels like time stopped and it’s just her and me. I want to walk over there and touch her- anywhere and everywhere. An alluring smile spreads across her lips as she returns her attention to her work. It’s becoming abundantly clear that somehow I’m going to have to have sex with Mackenzie. If I don’t I’ll never get any work done.
I press the elevator button and then hear Mackenzie call my name. Looking back, I wait as she walks towards me.
“Got a sec?” she asks.
“Sure, what’s up?”
“I got a call from an account I had at Christiansen this morning. They aren’t happy anymore and they want to see what I can do for them now that I’m here.”
“That’s great. Who is it?”
“Majestic.”
“Really? They’re huge.”
“I know. I’m really excited, but I’m stuck on ideas. Maybe you and I could brainstorm.”
I narrow my eyes. “You need me to brainstorm?”
“I do. Don’t you believe me?”
“Not entirely.” We step on the elevator together.
Mackenzie laughs and throws back her mane of red hair. “Are you afraid to be alone with me?”
Absofuckinglutely. “No.”
“You sure?”
Glancing at her as we step off the elevator, I say, “I’m sure.”
“That’s good. I thought of our kiss all night. It’s still on my mind.”
Mine, too. “I don’t think we should talk about that.”
We walk past Macy just as she’s going to lunch. Inside my office, Mackenzie sits in the chair in front of my desk.
“I can’t help it.” She smiles. “This is unusual for me to crush on my boss.”
“Is that what’s happening here?”
“I think so. I guess I just want you to know that if you want to explore something with me, I’d be open to it. I know there’s a lot on the line, but I think we could manage it. I believe there could be something special here.”
“I don’t know about this.”
“You must have felt what I did last night. It was honestly amazing.”
I sigh. “I did, Mac. I’m just not ready to go there with you. I don’t know if I ever will be. My job is the most important thing in my life and I would hate for anyone to think our relationship is inappropriate.”
“I get that. I just wanted you to know where I stand. In case you change your mind.”
“Noted.”
“I can be very aggressive when I want something.”
The simple delivery of her words makes my entire body heat up.
“I know that,” I reply.
“Oh, I almost forgot. I have something for you.”
“What?”
Mackenzie stands and walks towards me, pulling something black and lacy from inside her bra. “Just a little something to remember me by.”
I take the item and holding it up, realize they are her panties. I fight back the grin rising to the surface. She gave me her fucking panties. For once, I am almost at a loss for words. “These are very nice.”
She moves just a little closer to me and I hold my breath. “Well, I was wearing them until about an hour ago, right before I fingered myself in the ladies room.”
“Fuck, Mackenzie.”
“I hope we do fuck. You have no idea what-”
A soft knock on the door startles us and Mackenzie quickly moves away from me.
“Excuse us?” Ariel’s voice calls out as she and Stacey peer in my office. Stuffing the panties in my pocket, I hurriedly greet them.
“Hey,” I say, walking towards them. “What are you guys doing here?”
The women smile and eye Mackenzie. Especially Stacey. Ariel speaks first. “We were shopping, so we stopped by for lunch.”
“Oh, I was in a meeting.” Holy shit, that was close. “Ariel, you remember Mackenzie?”
“I do.” She smiles and shakes her hand.
“This is my sister’s friend, Stacey,” I say.
Mackenzie smiles. “So nice to meet you.”
“You as well,” Stacey replies.
“Well, I’ll get out of your way. We can finish talking about Majestic later.”
“Great. Thanks.”
She walks out and Stacey and Ariel stand awkwardly before me.
“Mackenzie is pretty,” Stacey says.
“Is she?” I turn around and get my keys, then discreetly shove the panties in my desk drawer. “I haven’t noticed.”
“You’d have to be blind not to.”
“Well, what I mean is I don’t think of her in that way. She works for me and I see her as just another team member. Where do you want to go for lunch?”
“How about the burger place down the street you like?” Ariel suggests.
“Sounds good.”
We head out and I have to hold back the smirk that threatens to appear. I can only imagine what words were about come out of Mackenzie’s mouth before we were interrupted. I have her fucking panties in my drawer. How hot is that? I need to stay away from her, though. It’s getting to be unbearable.
We enter the restaurant and are seated. While looking at the menu, I glance over at Stacey as she picks something to eat, pointing things out to my sister. She really is pretty. I wonder if I just haven’t given her enough of a chance to see if there could be a connection there. Maybe she is precisely the distraction I need. Based on what Ariel says, she likes me. I could blow off some of this physical energy with her at least.
“What are you getting?” Stacey asks, looking at me with her big blue eyes.
“Bacon cheeseburger. I get it every time.”
“Creature of habit?” she asks.
“Something like that.”
She smiles and tucks some hair behind her ear. “How is work?”
“Good. Busy. It’s nice to see you both, though.”
“Yeah, hope we weren’t interrupting anything important,” Ariel says, curiosity revealed in her tone.
“Nope, just work. Mackenzie is working on a proposal for a large company and needed some guidance.”
“That sounds interesting,” Stacey adds.
“It is.”
Our food comes and I listen to updates about Ariel’s job and then Stacey’s. We are interrupted more than once by coworkers of mine.
“Everyone you wo
rk with is kind of glamorous,” Stacey says.
“Glamorous?” I repeat. “I don’t think so. We’re just business people.”
“I guess so. It’s just different than what I’m used to.”
“I bet,” Ariel says. “You don’t have to get dressed up and all that.”
“No, never.”
“That’s too bad,” I say. “You should find a reason to wear nice clothes.”
“I guess.”
“Have you seen much of San Diego since you’ve been here?”
“No. I’ve gone to the beach a few times and now shopping today with Ariel.”
“You’re missing out. Why don’t I take you to dinner and show you some of what San Diego has to offer?”
Stacey’s face lights up while Ariel’s does the exact opposite. She shoots me a look that suggests she really didn’t want me to do that. Frankly, I don’t know why I did. I must be more desperate than I thought.
“That would be great.”
“Cool. Does Friday work?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll pick you up at seven. Wear something nice.”
“Okay.” Stacey grins while she eats and I feel a sharp kick in the shin courtesy of Ariel. I smile in response.
We finish lunch and I grab the bill, paying it before either girl can argue. Walking out, we stop on the sidewalk for a moment and I hug both women.
“I’ll get your number from Ariel,” I say to Stacey.
“Sounds good.”
“I’ll call you later,” I say to my sister, whose disapproval is barely veiled.
“Yeah, okay,” she says.
Based on her response, I think a text will go a lot better. I cross the street and head back into my office. Walking past Macy, I go in my office and shut my door. My emotions are all over the place. I have no idea what made me ask Stacey out. I’m not even attracted to her and Ariel is going to kick my ass. I just need someone to get Mackenzie out of my head.
There’s only one girl who does it for me sexually right now and that’s Mac. She’s dangerous, though. I need something non-committal and easy. I hope Stacey can be that for me.
Remembering my busy afternoon, I run downstairs to grab a quick coffee. As I’m paying, I see Mackenzie standing near a column talking on her cell phone. She’s turned sideways to me, facing the doors. Whoever she’s talking to makes her laugh and I feel a slight pang of jealousy, even though, clearly, I have no right. The green wrap dress she wears looks great on her skin. It clings to her body like it was made just for her and I smile when I remember she isn’t wearing any panties under it. As she speaks, she runs her fingers through her hair, tousling it around. She is so crazy beautiful. She hangs up and starts to walk towards the elevators and without thinking I hurry to catch up with her, my dick leading the way.
“Hey, Brayden,” she says when she sees me.
“Oh, hey,” I say, trying to act casual.
“How was lunch?”
“Just fine.”
“That blond girl was sure making eyes at you. Are you seeing her? Should I be jealous?”
“Who were you talking to? Should I be jealous?”
She raises her eyebrows. “Were you watching me?”
“No, I saw you while I was buying my coffee.”
“I suppose you could be jealous of my friend, Leah, but that would be silly.”
“The blond girl is just a friend, too.”
“I’m surprised you aren’t dating anyone. Seems to me like you would have women lined up.”
“I took a break.”
“Why?”
“Long story.”
“I have time to listen.” The elevator doors open and we step on. “Why don’t you come over tonight and we’ll talk. You can tell me all about it.”
“I’m not sure talking is what you have in mind.”
“You might have me there.”
“I don’t know about this, Mac. We have a lot to lose if things go south.”
“We have a lot to gain if it doesn’t. Listen, it will be our secret. I don’t want anyone to know about it. My private life is mine and I won’t be the subject of office gossip, especially fucking the boss. I’m sure we’re both capable of being discreet.”
“I just need a little time. If we do this, I want us both to think it through completely.”
“Do you need a reminder of the chemistry between us? I can make you forget about everything else in a matter of minutes.” She presses her body against me and runs her hand across my hardening cock. “Give me a chance, Brayden. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll go away quietly. No drama.”
“Jesus, Mackenzie. What do you want from me?”
“Everything. We could be great together. You could be the Caesar to my Cleopatra.”
“Interesting analogy.” The elevator gets to her floor and she steps off.
“Think about it.”
“Bye, Mackenzie.”
The doors shut and I lean against the back wall. That woman is sexy dynamite. She has more than got me interested in what she can do in bed. I have a feeling it would rock my world. My body wants her bad, but my brain is sending all kinds of warning signals. I don’t know when I started thinking before fucking, but something about Mac scares the shit out of me.
I attempt to get my head back in work mode and stop thinking about the woman who wants me. It’s a new feeling for me to be so preoccupied with a female, but I think Mackenzie is really getting to me.
An hour later, Macy buzzes me.
“Brayden, are you available? Mackenzie and Matt are here to see you.”
Oh, fuck. I have to see her again. At least she’s not alone this time. “Sure. Send them in.”
Mackenzie appears in the doorway first and I’m actually startled by her professional demeanor. Not even a hint of the woman who attacked me in the elevator earlier today. Matt follows and I motion for them both to take a seat.
“What’s up?” I ask.
“Well,” Matt starts. “Mackenzie got a call from her former client, Majestic.”
“Yes, she mentioned that.”
“They want her to do an ad campaign for an upcoming product, but there’s a catch. They don’t want me to come along to the presentation. They want you.”
“Me?” I ask. “Why?”
Mackenzie sits back in her chair. “They know your reputation and they’ve seen your work. They think the two of us combining forces would yield the best results. They say if we come up with something amazing, they are willing to sign an exclusivity contract with us for three years.”
“Seriously?” I ask.
“Yes,” she replies.
Matt continues. “I know it’s not normal for the boss to come along, but they are really insistent. That’s why we’re here.”
“Majestic is a major player in the cosmetics industry. If we get them exclusively…” I pause for a minute. “Well, let’s just say it will do a lot for this agency and all three of our careers.”
“Exactly,” Mackenzie says. “So are you in?”
“There is no question about that,” I say. “Set it up and I’ll be there. Do you have a plan yet?”
“I know that they’re looking for something very edgy and modern, yet classy. For this new line, they are targeting a much younger demographic. They want something that when the ad is over, people are talking about what they just saw. I have a few ideas in my head, but I don’t know if you’ll think they’re too scandalous.”
Matt grins. “I think it’s fucking terrific. Tell him, Mackenzie.”
“Okay, so I happen to know that the first product they are launching in their new line is lipstick. I was thinking that we could show a woman, naked, and the camera starting at her feet. It follows the length of her body, obviously avoiding the parts that can’t be on television. Maybe she’s even sitting in a chair or something. The camera pans up and she’s looking in a compact mirror, applying the lipstick. She smiles and puckers and then says, ‘A great shade of lipstick i
s all a girl needs.’”
I grin. “I really like that. It’s very sexy and it makes a great point. I have an idea. I think we should propose that it air the first time during the Super Bowl next year.”
“The Super Bowl?!” Matt exclaims. “That will cost an arm and a leg.”
“Yes, it will, but the ad itself won’t. Remember the commercial for the underwear that aired a few years ago? They just showed the guy in them and the camera crawling up his body? Women went nuts and ran out in droves to buy those for their men. It will work.”
“Plus a lot of women watch that game for the commercials. Captive audience,” Mackenzie adds.
“Right.” I stand and walk across the room. “We need a follow up ad, too. I have a thought.”
“I’m all ears,” Mackenzie says.
“I’m imagining a couple in bed. The room is a mess like they had a really good night. We see his face—he’s asleep but he has some red kiss marks on him. The camera pans behind him to the girl who sits on the edge of the bed, reapplying the lipstick. She smiles at the camera and the same tagline appears on the screen. The innuendo is that she seduced him because of how hot she looks with the lipstick on and she’s reapplying before he wakes up.”
“I like it,” Mackenzie says. “I think we should get a variety of women and run a series like that. We should show women who age in the different settings of their lives. We need an ad for work and maybe when she’s out at night, too.”
“What do you think about this for something a little more subdued?” Matt asks. “Since we’re going with the theme of how a good lipstick can make things better, we should show a woman getting ready for work. She can’t find anything to wear so we show clothes flying out of her closet, then she’s in the bathroom and can’t get her hair right. She’s frustrated staring in the mirror, but then she spots her new lipstick. She puts it on and smiles at her reflection. Then the tagline appears.”
“It’s great,” I say. “Let’s start putting together the storyboards and our proposal. How much time did they give you, Mackenzie?”
“I don’t know yet. They are waiting to hear if you’ll be joining us before they commit to a date.”
“Tell them I wouldn’t miss it and that we have something very exciting planned for them.”
“I will do just that. Thanks, Brayden.”
Chasing Desire Page 13