Within seconds, he pushed himself inside of her, a small gasp escaping her lips as he did, her hips inching upwards, allowing him better access. She tilted her head backwards and moaned, his slow thrusts doing strange things to her body.
Using the tips of her fingers, she traced his face, moved down his chest then stopped and threaded her fingers through his hair, pulling slightly. A slow fire burned in the pit of her belly, gaining momentum, her heart hammering loudly against her chest until finally she exploded, her body writhing and squirming.
Hank followed soon after, the two of them collapsing against the bed, a thin layer of sweat covering their skin.
Chapter 3
Hank.
“How the hell did this happen?” Hank slammed his hands against the desk, rattling the glass and jar of water kept there. He took a deep breath, squeezed his eyes shut and counted backwards from ten, trying his best not to imagine wrapping his fingers around his general manager’s throat and throttling him.
Being the CEO meant stepping back from certain responsibilities, but at the end of the day, he was still the face of the company, and while he may not be in charge of the day to day operations, delegating that responsibility to several experienced managers, he still liked to keep his finger where the pulse was, ensuring that nothing happened in his company that he didn’t know about.
After all, his father had dedicated his entire life to the company, and Hank had no intention of seeing it fail on his watch, even if it hadn’t been the path he would’ve chosen for himself.
To his surprise, he had a knack for it, the uncanny ability to turn it into an international corporation, and one of the leading tech companies in the world, no easy feat by any stretch of the imagination.
Some magazines called it the Midas touch, he thought of it as hard work, persistence, and a whole lot of luck thrown in for good measure, but right now, it was all about to get to hell in a handbasket if he couldn’t get ahead of it.
“One of the lower level managers fired him,” Richard explained, his voice strained even on the phone. “I have no idea how or why, and I was in a meeting that day, and I wasn’t informed, so this is surprising to me too, sir.”
Hank sucked in a harsh breath and angrily pushed away from the desk. “Richard, you are the general manager. You should know about everything! Lana Fitzgibbons has been with the company for years, and we’ve always prided ourselves on our policies especially when it comes to our employees.”
Yes, Lana sat on a wheelchair, and it was far more difficult for her to move around, but she also had one of the fastest and brightest minds he had ever seen. In fact, he was the one who insisted they hire her when everyone else had looked at her with pity and dismissal.
Since then, he’d made sure that opportunities were provided to people from across the board without fail, and it had worked until some moron decided that Lana needing a longer break than others didn’t suit him.
“Yes, sir. I’ve already called the man in question in for an emergency meeting, and I do intend to fire him immediately. Also, I’ve reached out to Lana’s legal team to see if we can reach some kind of agreement, away from the press and outside of court.”
Shit.
Hank had completely forgotten about the press, the swarm of vultures flapping their wings and circling their prey, waiting for the perfect moment to swoop down and strike, and boy were they going to eat him alive for this.
Mistakes were not forgiven as easily when it was someone as powerful as Hank.
Yes, he was well aware he needed to set the example, but it wasn’t always easy putting out a fire without casualties, especially if he was doing so in the background. More to the point, he genuinely liked Lana, but he doubted she’d agree to come back and work for them after the whole debacle was over.
“I want you to send me Lana’s contact information,” Hank instructed, tersely. He pressed his fingers to his temples, rubbing in slow circular motions, the slight throb in the back of his head threatening to erupt, a dormant volcano. “Also, I’m stopping by the office to issue a statement regarding the entire situation.”
“Are you sure, sir? We have things well in hand,” Richard replied, a hint of panic creeping into his tone. No doubt he was wondering if part of the statement included his own resignation, effective immediately. “I have cleared my schedule for the day, and I can assure you that I will see to that the matter is handled with the utmost discretion.”
“Call Lawson,” Hank added. “He’ll need to be informed as well.”
While Hank didn’t particularly like the company lawyer, something about the man’s general attitude practically oozed sleaze, but he couldn’t deny that the man knew what he was doing, and had a reputation for being a shark at court.
Besides, he’d been around for years, having worked for his father’s legal team before rising through the ranks and becoming the head of their team. Unfortunately, Lawson was a necessary evil, but at least Hank held the reins, and he knew exactly what to do to keep Lawson in check.
Seconds later, he ended the call and tossed the phone onto the desk, an undercurrent of rage coursing through him, blinding him to reason. Of course he knew that it wasn’t entirely Richard’s fault, what with the amount of work he had on his plate, but he needed to understand the gravity too, and how Hank wasn’t always going to be able to fly in and clean up his messes.
“Knock knock.”
Hank glanced up, his lips curving into a half smile at the sight of Madeleine in her capri shorts and loose top accentuating her curves. “Sorry to interrupt. I just wanted to check in before I head out.”
“Head out?” Hank repeated, his brows drawn together.
“It’s my day off,” Madeleine reminded him. “I’m not sure what I’m going to do yet, but I’ll be back tomorrow.”
“I hope you enjoy it,” Hank expressed, straightening his back. “I know everyone will miss you.”
Madeleine raised an eyebrow. “William in particular ever since we asked him to play monopoly with us, but he still seems sour after Gerry beat him yesterday.”
Hank chuckled. “Oh, he’ll get over it.”
“I’m not sure about that,” Madeleine joked. “You look like you’re about to murder someone. Is everything okay?”
Hank exhaled. “Work stuff. Nothing to worry about.”
“Alright.” Madeleine shifted from one foot to the other. “Good luck.”
Without warning, Hank stepped out from behind his desk and covered the space between them, wrapping his arms around her and drawing her in, inhaling the sweet smell of vanilla and peaches; her smell.
She stiffened for a few seconds before she relaxed, her arms going up around his shoulders. He wanted to stay there with her, to forget all about the lawsuit, and everything else that was making his mind race at a million miles a minute.
Just him, Geraldine and Madeleine.
The three musketeers, but he knew it wasn’t possible. As much as he wanted to pretend otherwise, he couldn’t just ignore everything and pretend he wasn’t the CEO of a company.
Boxing themselves in would just have to wait for another time. She stirred against him, her warm breath tickling the exposed skin on his neck. “I’m enjoying this, I really am, but I do have to go.”
Hank looked down at her. “Eager to get rid of us already?”
Madeleine shook her head. “No, of course not. I’m just meeting up with a few friends who are in town for a few days. Most of my friends moved away after college, you see.”
Hank smiled and pulled away, placing a kiss atop her head. “I think it’s great that you’re going out, and I hope you enjoy some much needed time off.”
Madeleine gave him a confused look. “Yeah, I will.”
Before he could do something else, like lock the door to the study and lure her onto the couch, he took a step back and drew himself up to his full height, forcing his hands into his pockets. “Good. I’ll see you tomorrow then.”
“I’ll see
you tomorrow then,” Madeleine echoed, hiking her purse up her shoulder. She opened her mouth then closed it again before she gave a slight shake of the head, offered him a small wave, leaving nothing behind in her wake, save for the subtle scent of her perfume.
He breathed and walked back toward his desk, arranging then rearranging the papers in no particular order. It didn’t stop his mind from churning forward, a relentless machine, but it did make sure his hands weren’t idle.
Before long, his desk was immaculate, far more organized than he’d seen it in a while, given that the cleaning lady was under strict instructions not to move anything on his desk, not even to dust.
Everything else was fair game.
Afterwards, he dropped into his chair, propped his legs up on the edge of the desk and leaned back, wondering what to do next. Without the call from his attorney, he felt useless, like a sitting duck waiting to be shot at.
And shots were already fired.
Hank was just lucky enough to have been far away from the debris, but now he needed to figure out a way to keep his company from collapsing into ruin, a pile of rubble and ashes from which there was no return.
Finally, his phone buzzed, and he jerked, fumbling to switch on. “Lawson. What’s the news?”
“I managed to talk to Lana,” Lawson informed him. “But she said she’ll only talk to you, Mr. Lorum. Somewhere public, no offices. What do you want to do?”
Hank glanced down at his watch. “I can meet her somewhere close by in an hour. I trust you’ll have the necessary paperwork in order.”
“I’ll take care of it, Sir. I’ll pass by in half an hour, and we’ll set up the meeting somewhere else,” Lawson assured him.
With Madeleine out for the day, and Geraldine with her school friends for the next few hours, he found the silence in the house oddly stifling, missing the sound of peals of laughter, and the quiet cadence of Madeleine’s voice as she read a story.
All at once, he rose to his feet and stepped outside the study, taking the stairs two at a time until he reached the top and smiled. He was fairly certain he could convince Lana to drop the suit, but God help him if he couldn’t.
She was capable of single handedly undoing them, and he wondered if she knew that, or had some inkling at least.
No, he suspected it was about more than that.
“WELL DONE.” LAWSON clinked his glass against Hank’s. “I didn’t think you were going to be able to do that.”
Hank shrugged and set his glass down on the counter. “Lana wasn’t interested in money, Lawson. Her pride was just hurt.”
“Yes, but insisting that she will always have room in the company was a nice touch,” Lawson conceded, holding his glass up. “Well done.”
“Thanks, but I meant it,” Hank pointed out.
“Hank!”
Startled, he turned around, nearly spilling his drink all over himself, only to come face to face with Cheryl, dressed to kill in a black dress, with her nails painted a deep shade of red, the same color as her lips.
“I thought that was you,” Cheryl said, offering him a row of pearly white teeth. “How are you?”
Hank set down his drink. “I’m fine. This is my attorney, Lawson.”
“Yes, I know Lawson,” Cheryl replied, giving him a polite smile. “He’s worked with my family before. It’s nice to see you again, Lawson.”
“You too, Cheryl.” Lawson inclined his head in her direction. He downed his drink and stood up, burping as he did. “I have to get back to work now. I’ll call you later, Hank.”
Left to his own devices, Hank focused studiously on his glass, wishing he could find the answers at the bottom, but left with nothing but an upscale bar next to the café they were at, complete with high chairs and overpriced drinks.
“Now, we can finally have dinner,” Cheryl decided, signaling for a waiter as she did.
“Cheryl, I really—“ Hank began, a protest forming on the edge of his lips.
“Come now. It’s a dinner between old friends. There’s no harm in that.”
“No, I suppose not.”
“Alright. It’s settled then. Let’s get something to eat.”
Chapter 4
Madeleine.
Madeleine threw her head back and laughed. “I remember that. God, college was crazy, wasn’t it?”
Natalie giggled. “Tell me about it. I miss rooming with you.”
“I don’t miss either of you,” Jacob teased, jumping to avoid Natalie’s incoming swat.
Just like old times.
Although it had been almost a year since the three of them had gotten together, it was as if no time had passed at all, with the trio picking up where they left off, falling back into old habits easily, an easy repertoire moving back and forth between them.
Man, she’d missed them.
Natalie Wong had been the first person she met in college. Back then, her friend had platinum blonde hair with the tips dyed pink, and a nose ring. In all honesty, Madeleine had been terrified, worried that her new roommate was going to eat her alive, but as it turned out, underneath the edgy exterior and racy clothing, Natalie was a complete and total sweetheart.
From that day on, the two became fast friends, with Jacob joining the mix later on during sophomore year after they met him at a party, trying to recite Walt Whitman poetry.
As the three of them wandered the streets of San Francisco, Madeleine’s grin never wavered, the wine in her system sloshing around pleasantly, and her ears ringing from the music pounding through the speakers at the last club they were in.
Unable to bear the noise, the smell of smoke wafting through the air, and the stench of hundreds of bodies tightly packed together, she’d insisted they leave, and so they did, spilling out onto the streets, the sound of their laughter echoing back to her.
She clutched her sides as tears of mirth slid down her cheeks, the pleasant and balmy evening air tickling the hair on the back of her neck. Natalie hooked her hand through Madeleine’s arms and rested her head on her shoulders.
“You really should come out to visit,” Natalie started. “I know you’ve been busy, but we both miss you.”
“I know, but I only get a day off a week, and I like this job, so I don’t know if I’ll be able to get that much time off,” Madeleine replied, averting her gaze.
She wasn’t lying, not technically.
It wasn’t professional nor responsible of her to take off just to visit her old college friends, but she was also reluctant to leave Hank, the thought of being away from her leaving with a hollow feeling where her heart was.
“Working for the formidable Hank Lorum. That must be difficult,” Jacob commented, flicking an errant lock of shaggy black hair out of his eyes.
“It actually isn’t,” Madeleine realized. “He’s a pretty chill boss, and I adore his daughter.”
“Really?” Natalie raised an eyebrow, the light from the lamp catching the streaks of caramel in her blonde hair. “I know you said it before, but I don’t understand how you can take care of someone else’s kids.”
Madeleine lifted her shoulders up then let them fall down. “It’s because I like working with kids. That’s all.”
“Are you sure it has nothing to do with checking your boss out all day?” Jacob teased, waggling his eyebrows at her suggestively. “I’ve seen his picture. I could probably be gay for him.”
Madeleine rolled her eyes. “It’s not like that.”
“Then why are the tips of your ears red?”
“They aren’t,” Madeleine replied, defensively, her hands flying up to her ears of their own accord. “Look, he’s attractive, I won’t lie about that, but he’s also my boss, and it wouldn’t be professional of me to be lusting after him.”
“You wouldn’t be hurting anyone,” Natalie reminded her. “Not if it’s from afar.”
Instantly, she felt the familiar twinge of guilt, the realization that she wasn’t the person she wanted to be, nor the person her friends thought
she was. Madeleine had always tried to be a decent and honest person, but all the lying and sneaking around was taking a toll on its conscience and weighing heavily on her especially as she grew more and more attached to Geraldine.
The little girl had stolen her heart.
“Don’t worry, Mads. We’re only teasing you,” Jacob continued. “Come on, I heard about this bar a few blocks down that has the best cocktails.”
“How would you know? You don’t even live here.”
“Research,” Natalie whispered. “You should’ve seen how many hours he spent up, looking at restaurants and their reviews.”
“It doesn’t hurt to be prepared,” Jacob interrupted, puffing out his chest. “I got us a nice deal at a hotel, didn’t I? And now we know where to go instead of wandering around aimlessly.”
“Show off,” Natalie said.
Jacob flipped her off, earning him a dirty look from an older lady walking past who lifted her chin up and hurried past them, clutching her purse. Madeleine shook her head at the gesture and patted Natalie’s hand, the slow burn of alcohol wearing off, much to her dismay.
“It’s nice to see you that you two haven’t changed a bit,” Madeleine pointed out. “It feels like we’re back in college again with the two of you arguing about whether JRR Tolkien or JK Rowling was better.”
“JK Rowling is superior,” Jacob protested. “She is the queen.”
“Tolkien was better,” Natalie argued, shooting him an annoyed look.
With their feet slapping against the pavement, and shops lined up on either side of them, Madeleine was content to let her mind wander, allowing her friends to lead the way through the old familiar streets, weaving in and out of throngs of people, with music spilling out of certain doors, and the occasional pulsing light.
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