by Violet Paige
A life that promised a future of happiness. A beautiful wedding. The chance to have her own beautiful baby and create a family full of love, she had to do what Uncle Gino wanted. She had to fight for her freedom, but submitting to his demands.
God, she hated that man.
The blast of cold air kicked up from the sidewalk, smacking her face. She tucked the scarf closer to her chest. Chicago was bitter cold this time of year. She walked through the revolving doors, hating every step she took. She resented all of this. The fact that she was here. The fact that she was being used.
Lily sighed, approaching the reception desk. Everything was covered in marble. If she didn’t hate where she was so much, she might stop and marvel at the architecture and artwork. It might be a corporate tower of global business, but it was decorated like an Italian museum with fine art and furniture.
“I’m here to see Mr. Kincaid and Mr. Rivers.” She smiled at the receptionist. Did she know why she was here? Did everyone who worked for the company realize what was about to happen?
The woman pulled her glasses to the brim of her nose. “Do you have an appointment? That’s the top floor. They are quite busy. I don’t handle their schedule. They each have a personal assistant who informs me of any visitors.”
Lily sighed. She wondered if they had made it difficult on purpose. If this was just part of the humiliation. Did they want her to turn beet red in the lobby?
“They…they are expecting me,” she explained.
The truth was she didn’t know if they were as anxious about this meeting as she was. Her stomach churned with nervousness. She could feel the stickiness on her palms.
“I don’t see anything on the daily guest log for any appointments today.” The assistant scrolled through the screen on her computer. “However, you can wait over there.” She pointed to a set of leather chairs. “I’ll try to get one of the assistants on the phone. What was your name?”
“It’s Lily. Lily Francini.”
“Fran-cee-nee?” Her mouth made a funny shape when she pronounced the last name.
“Yes. That’s it.” Maybe that was the problem. She knew what her name meant in this town. It brought with it a look of suspicion. Sometimes fear. She hated it. She wished her name was anything but Francini.
“I’ll see what I can do.”
“Thank you.” Lily walked to the sitting area and perched on the edge of the couch. The leather was cool and soft against the back of her thighs.
She had worn a short skirt with her jacket. It was part of the dress requirement. That had been made clear. Uncle Gino was specific about everything. She had to impress Kincaid and Rivers or he’d never forgive her. She tugged at the hem, but it didn’t make a difference. She scooted her high heels closer, tapping the seams together.
People walked in and out of the lobby. She watched them, wondering if they had some sneaking suspicion of why she was here. If they had any clue what had brought her to the Kincaid-Rivers Organization.
They stared at their phones and ran with their messenger bags. She was the only one who was a bundle of nerves. She was the only one who was embarrassed. There was no way these busy executives would put this together, but it didn’t mean she didn’t feel like a whore walking through the lobby.
At twenty-eight, she was getting ready to take on the most important role of her life. Everything was dependent on this meeting.
She picked up a magazine resting on the coffee table and stared at the glossy front. There was an article about the irregularity of the markets. There was another article about international trade. She didn’t have the attention span to read either of them right now. She was dreading the next hour of her life.
Lily tossed the magazine on the table. She was here to work. She was fighting for her freedom. She had to keep reminding herself that.
This meeting was a means to an end.
A means to end a family debt.
And she was going to pay it whatever it took. Even if it meant losing her soul and body in the process.
Three
Sawyer
Penny knocked on the door. “Annette phoned from the lobby. Are you expecting someone named Lily Francini? Apparently, she’s downstairs.”
Sawyer looked up from his laptop. “Francini?” He pressed his lips together. He didn’t know she would be here so quickly. “Yes. I am expecting her. We are,” he corrected. “Send her up and let Jack know that we have a meeting together.”
“I will take care of it. Not a problem.” She smiled.
“Good. Tell him we can meet in here.” He slammed the screen shut and pushed back from his desk. “Clear my schedule for the next hour at least.”
“Anything else?” she asked.
“We don’t want to be disturbed.” He eyed her with a dark stare.
“Understood, sir.” She closed the double doors behind her.
Sawyer leaned in his seat. This wasn’t the arrangement he wanted, but he didn’t see what options there were. He had always been logical and pragmatic in his approach to business deals. This one made him color outside the lines more than he ever had before. He didn’t want to admit it made him uneasy.
Five minutes later his business partner waltzed into office, cocky and arrogant as usual.
“You mind telling me what the fuck this is all about? Who is this girl and why is she here?” Jack Rivers’s voice was deep and boisterous as he slammed the door behind him.
Sawyer walked around to the front of his desk. Jack was already busy pouring a drink. Bourbon straight.
He didn’t have much time to talk Jack into this. It was rare he made a decision like this without him, but it had happened late last night. Jack had gotten in from an east coast tech conference.
“How was L.A.?” he asked.
Jack rolled his eyes. “I ate sushi, fucked an actress, and made us a five-million dollar acquisition. Ok I guess.” He shrugged.
“Glad you enjoyed yourself.” Sawyer leaned on the edge of the couch.
“I was hungover as hell after the wedding,” he admitted.
“Me too. Still can’t believe Ben got married. That bastard shocked everyone on Saturday by actually going through with it.”
Jack laughed. “He’s not exactly the husband type, but I guess Rachel will figure that out eventually.”
“Penny returned our tuxes for us.”
“Damn it. I forgot about that before I flew out to L.A.”
Sawyer shook his head. “Don’t worry about it. That’s taken care of. No more weddings for us for a while. We’re done with the penguin suits. Ben’s on his honeymoon.” He paused. “Listen. I need you to hear me out for a minute.”
“Sure. Anything brother.” Jack grinned.
“Remember Jill Banks?” Sawyer prodded.
“Of course. She left six months ago. Advertising hasn’t been the same since. That department is a revolving door. We can’t keep anyone in there. I don’t have any idea why.”
“Well, while you were gone I found her replacement.”
“I was gone for two days. You work quickly.”
Sawyer lowered his eyes. “I’m not sure what you’re going to think about this.”
“Hell, Sawyer. I don’t give a shit who gets hired to run advertising. I want it taken care of. Leave me out of the hiring process. You know I don’t get involved in those details.”
The dark brooder eyed his friend. “That might be, but I think I need to bring you in on this hire. It’s different. She’s different.”
“I’m listening.” He slung the drink back.
“The Francinis backed out of the resort deal yesterday.”
“What? That’s a hell of a Monday for you to handle on your own.”
Sawyer knew he finally had Jack’s attention.
“Yeah, they royally fucked us over. They pulled everyone off the job. It’s a ghost town.”
“I don’t believe it. We never should have gotten into business with them. I knew it.” Jack’s brow furrow
ed.
Sawyer tried to calm it. “I paid Gino Francini a visit. He’s broke. In debt up to his eyeballs.”
“I don’t give a shit. We aren’t shelling out more money.”
“Hold on.” Sawyer held his hand up. “It turns out Gino has a niece. A niece who happens to have a degree in advertising.”
“And you swapped her for a ten-million-dollar land deal? Does she have a ten-million-dollar brain?”
Sawyer grinned. “Something like that. It’s up to her, but she has a chance to erase her uncle’s debt if she can grow our global presence by ten percent in the next year.”
“Can she do that? Have you seen her resume?”
Sawyer braced himself for what was coming next. “I only know what Gino told me. But it’s on her. On him to deliver. We either have a ten percent growth, or we will find a way to collect what he owes us.”
Jack chuckled. “Fucking unbelievable. You think this will work?”
“I had him by the balls. It was the only offer he made. She works for us until the profit grows with the campaigns she produces.” Sawyer smirked.
“Have you seen her?” Jack waggled his eyebrows.
“No.”
“Hmm.” Jack looked interested. He poured a second drink. “So that’s the meeting? We size her up and see if she’s up for the challenge? You couldn’t have told me this earlier like maybe over coffee this morning?”
Sawyer nodded. “I like surprising you when I can. But I can handle it from here if you prefer.”
He shook his head. “Hell no. I want in on the interview.”
“Good, because she should be here—”
Penny walked through the door. “Miss Francini is here.”
They smiled at each other.
“Send her in.”
Four
Lily
Lily followed the thin assistant into the opulent office. She noticed she was wearing a pencil skirt with a fitted blouse. It was hard not to stare at her chest. Her breasts were enormous. The bosses had spared no expense to update every square inch of the entire building—all the way to the top floor.
She had waited almost twenty minutes before she was allowed in the elevator. Security had escorted her the entire way. Lily wondered what made the security so intense inside the building. She was used to her uncle’s goons hanging around the estate, but he was in a different line of work. A line of work that often involved bad business deals, drugs, and smuggling.
As soon as she entered the CEO’s office she heard her name. “Miss Francini.” She was greeted by Sawyer Kincaid first.
She stared at him, unable to hold the glare she had intended to use.
Holy hell. It was one of the groomsmen from Rachel’s wedding. She tried not to let her jaw hang open.
He was a freaking work of art. Sexy as hell. His fitted suit outlined exactly how athletically fit he was. His chest was broad and his arms were well-toned. He was gorgeous.
And then she turned her head when she heard Jack Rivers’s voice. It sent chills down her spine and along the backs of her thighs. He was tall and equally as handsome as his partner. She couldn’t stop staring at his eyes. He was the other mystery man at the alter next to Ben on Saturday.
“Thanks for coming in,” he added. “Especially on such short notice.”
“You-you were at Rachel’s wedding. You’re Ben’s groomsmen.” She gaped. She couldn’t help it. She never thought she would see either of them again, and now she was standing in front of them for a humiliating job interview.
The two looked at each other. “You were at the wedding? And the reception?” Sawyer asked. They sounded just as surprised.
She was embarrassed to admit she had rushed out because of her Uncle Gino. She was even more mortified to recall the fantasy she had about these two men in the ballroom lounge. She immediately blushed.
“I-I had to leave the reception early for a family situation,” she explained.
Jack smiled. “Friends of the bride or groom?”
She couldn’t believe this was happening. Every second of this encounter was surreal. “The bride,” she blurted. “Rachel and I went to high school together.”
Jack nodded. “We were at USC with Ben. Fraternity brothers, years ago,” he explained.
“I guess that makes sense. He is from California.”
She saw the devilish look on Sawyer’s face. He had the kind of eyes that would make women beg to go to bed with him with no coaxing. “Too bad we didn’t meet at the wedding. Could have really turned that night around.”
Oh God, it was as if he knew exactly what her fantasy was.
Jack’s eyes pinched together. “Let’s talk about why you’re here, Lily. Did you have a presentation for us?”
She pulled her shoulders back and tried to shake the nerves away. “Umm. Yes. Well, my uncle said this was an opportunity to put my advertising degree to use.” She didn’t know how long she could sugar coat the meeting. The sexual overtones weren’t hidden. She knew this had more to do with sex and less to do with how she would design a page layout for an ad.
“Why don’t you sit? Let’s get comfortable and get to know each other since we missed the chance at Rachel and Ben’s wedding,” Jack offered. “Can I get you a drink?”
She shook her head. “I don’t drink alcohol during job interviews.”
He chuckled. “This is anything but a standard interview, but suit yourself. Can I get you one, man?” He turned to Sawyer.
“You know I’ll drink with you.”
Sawyer sat across from Lily. She couldn’t help but notice how he looked at her. His dark eyes seemed to follow the lines of her mouth. She could feel the gaze trace her throat and to the dip between her breasts. The attention made her warm. There was a smolder that emanated from him.
Jack joined them. “I still can’t believe this fucking coincidence. I told you we should have gone to one of those damn wedding cocktail parties.” He glanced sideways at his business partner.
Sawyer chuckled. “Let’s see what Lily has to say now.”
“Oh, ok.” Lily shifted in her seat.
“Your uncle seemed to think your advertising background would be an asset to Kincaid-Rivers.”
She nodded. “Yes. I do too.” She wanted to answer the questions the way they wanted. If she let this position slip through her fingers, she knew things would go from bad to worse. These answers were everything.
Despite the fact that her uncle was the only family she had left, she despised that he had put her in this position. She had to push down the anger that was under the surface. Sawyer and Jack were holding something over him. She knew that. She just didn’t know what. She wouldn’t be here otherwise. She didn’t know who to blame: her uncle, or the god-like men in front of her.
“I assume he told you we are in need of a new advertising director?” Sawyer was direct.
“Yes. He did.” She fidgeted in her seat. “I brought my resume if you’d like to see it. I have a degree from Brown and I’ve worked for three years as an advertising project manager. I didn’t break into advertising right away. I had to work smaller jobs, mostly online freelance work, but I worked hard and I think my resume shows what I can do.”
The men exchanged looks. Jack spoke up. “I don’t think we need to see it. You’re practically family, right?.” He rose from the couch. “Ben married Rachel. We already have a connection.”
“We do?” she whispered.
“Of course. And in our business, nothing matters more than connections. When can you start?”
Sawyer interrupted. “You’re satisfied?” he asked his friend.
Jack nodded. “Most definitely. You handle the details. I’m looking forward to seeing how this unfolds.” He winked.
Lily didn’t know whether to be elated or not. “I-I don’t understand,” she stammered. “I have the job just like that?”
Sawyer smiled. It made her knees go weak. She almost lost her breath. Why was she reacting like this? She was s
upposed to hate this man, not react like a teenager. But it was hard not to picture him the way she did when he was standing at the alter.
He had stolen her breath then, just like he did now.
“Just like that.”
When he winked, she had to put her hand on the couch to steady herself. These men had her completely undone and there was no explanation for it.
“Thank you. I know you’re doing this as a favor to my uncle. The entire arrangement. I know you don’t really need me at Kincaid-Rivers.”
Sawyer laughed. “After meeting you, I might see it as the other way around.” He stepped toward her. She felt the heat rise between her legs. He had an unreal effect on her. “We absolutely need you, Lily.”
“When do you need me to start Mr. Kincaid?” She was afraid her voice sounded breathy. Her heart beat erratically. What in the hell was going on?
“Jack, should we talk for a minute?”
“I think that’s a good idea.”
“Wait.” She felt panicked. “Did I lose the job?”
“Of course not. You start today, Lily. But Jack and I might want to consider a second offer. Something more detailed. We’ll discuss it and call you back in. And please. Call me Sawyer.”
Five
Jack
When Sawyer had first mentioned the Gino land deal, he sounded insane. But after meeting Lily, he knew Sawyer had never had a better idea in his life.
It was as if something had happened to him at Ben’s wedding. He was standing up on that alter with his best friend. And what did they have to go home to? No one. Not even a damn dog. It got old fucking bridesmaids, and random women. Jack knew in that church, the minute he watched Ben take his vows that he was missing something in his life. Was it possible it was a woman like Lily?
It had been a long time since he and Sawyer had shared someone. And to bring someone into the arrangement like this seemed like a bad idea, but one look at Lily and he knew she was the one.