by ChaShiree M.
Four of my best friends and I started a journey five years ago not knowing where it would take us. We built an empire from the bottom up and now we are successful businesswomen. But one thing has been missing: Love.
My name is Cinnamon Raye. I am the President and CEO of ScentSations and I am a Brad-a-holic.
Bradley O’Donnell has been an obsession of mine for over a year. Just when I have resigned myself to moving on from my unhealthy need for him, he surprises me with a confession of his own.
Will my humble beginnings prove too much of an obstacle for us? Or will it be my own insecurities that destroy my heart’s desire?
Brad says he can tear down my walls. I hope so.
Because the alternative is too painful to imagine.
Cinnamon
Copyright © 2018 by ChaShiree M.
All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Synopsis
Copyright
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Coming Soon
Other Books by ChaShiree M.
Acknowledgements
About the Author
Dedicated to everyone who has ever followed their dream, with no guarantees and no safety net. Know that your courage and sacrifice even if it didn’t work out, is another opportunity to teach the lessons to someone else. Pass on the knowledge.
“ARRGH! LILY YOU ARE NO help. Why do I even bother calling you?” I say with a giggle as I talk to one of my best friends over Bluetooth. But, I am sort of serious too. She knows today is one of those nerve wrecking days. It’s funny, because as the CEO of a million-dollar corporation, which I run with my four best friends, you would think every day would be hectic, full, or nerve inducing days. We have eight floors of operation, 105 employees, and numerous businesses we rent space to in the lobby, as well as a five-star restaurant on the second floor. However, the truth is, No. This life, I could do in my sleep. We started the business, or at least the concept for it our last year of college. By the time we graduated, we had the startup money and a warehouse to start it.
We all met our first day of freshman year of college and have been attached at the hip ever since. When we thought of what we wanted to do with our lives, though we had all similar and dissimilar majors alike, we knew we wanted to be our own boss. The one thing we all love, just as much as shoes and purses is smelling good when we go out. And, that is how we came up with the idea to start our own fragrance empire. With a lot of hard work, no sleep, coffee, and lots of alcohol on Friday night girl nights, we did it. Being able to do what I love has never been an issue.
But, dealing with something as simple as Bradley Sampson O’Donnell III can get me worked up like nothing you have ever seen. I mean seriously, I come totally unglued around this man. I literally don’t know my ass from my nose when he is within ten feet of me. One time, as I was walking away from him, I was so worried about what my ass looked like from his angle that I spent the whole walk clenching my butt cheeks. I ended up looking behind me, and tripped over a rug in the lobby, and fell forward landing with said ass in the air. Well, at least I had on sexy underwear. Such a dork.
My friends all make fun of me at this point, because I have been lusting on this beautiful Adonis looking statue of David man for the past three years, since he took over for his father. See, Brad’s father was the first investor to give us the startup funds that got our feet off the ground. For some reason we all still cannot ascertain, he took a chance on five, wet behind the ear’s young girls, and believed in us. We didn’t let him down though. We paid him back two years early and kept him on as an investor and part of our board. He has since then taken a step back from some duties and in his stead, he sends his son. Where he is making his yearly tour around our growing headquarters. As the CEO it is my responsibility to lead the tour, answer any questions, deal with any comments, and concerns, etc.
The first year he sent Brad put me in a tailspin and I have been pining ever since. But realistically, I know he would never want something with me. I know I am successful, and I am in no way negating all I have accomplished. But, I am like 25-lbs. overweight, nine years younger than him, and he comes from money. I am what they call in the south ‘nouveau riche’, and that is frowned upon out here. His parents probably have his perfect mate picked out, and she too will come from money. Maybe, even the daughter of a politician or something that will bring him more prestige and clout.
But, a girl can dream right?
“Earth to Cinn. I have been talking to you for like five minutes. Where did you go girl?” Shit!
“Sorry. Just zoned out for a second. It’s cool Lily. I have decided I am going to stop wasting my time on him and be professional. It is time that I move on and I need to start dating. Maybe I am lonely now and in need of someone. Ya know?”
“Don’t I ever girl. Ok, well I have to meet Dahl at the lab. We are testing out a new hybrid scent. Love you.”
“Love you too, Lil. Bye.”
Deciding to stop torturing myself, I go into my closet and pull out a suit I would normally wear. I am the damn CEO of one of the hottest companies around. Screw it. With that thought in my head, I dress in my Georgina Chapman power dress and look at myself in the mirror.
I love myself in this suit. It’s dark grey, which I find to be one of the most powerful colors ever made. It is lined down the spine with button pearls. But, my favorite feature is that the front of the dress is a scoop neck. Low enough to need some dainty accessory, but high enough to be professional. Did I mention it molds to my ass like a second skin? Oh yea. This is my favorite outfit.
Walking into my shoe closet I look around at the hundreds of shoes I have color coordinated and wrapped in cellophane, every one of them with a nameplate, brand description, and age on them. After making the rounds to make sure all of them still look pristine, I decide this is a Jimmy Choo type of day. Walking over to the power suit section of my shoe closet, I grab the white and grey suede peep toe stilettos with the silver heel and sigh. Yes. Just what the doctor ordered.
After throwing on my shoes and pinning my hair in a sleek yet soft chignon, I grab my purse and out the door I go.
Thank God I live in the building we run our company from, because I am going to need some time to fortify myself for this meeting. As much as I can tell myself I can get through it without imagining him with no clothes and what his hands would feel like all over me; I cannot promise I won’t be squirming the whole time and I r
eally don’t want to. I want to be able to handle this with an air of indifference and move on.
So, yea. It’s extremely satisfying to get in my private elevator and go downstairs and sit in my office for a bit. We all decided early on, that as soon as could be arranged we wanted to sleep where we work. Understandably, we all live on the top floor of headquarters. Each of our condos takes up two floors on all corners of the building. Essentially, we are the ninth and tenth floor. Floor eight holds the executive offices for Jazz and I. The next floor down is seven and it’s our marketing floor, which is where Lavenders office is. Floor six is PR, five is IT, four is accounting, three is our conference floor, and the second as I said earlier houses our restaurant.
After getting off the elevator, I take a deep breath and look around the floor my office is housed on. I take a second to take-in the fact that this is mine. Five young women from various backgrounds and diverse talents did all of this. I am grateful every day for the life I have been given, taken, and built with my best friends; that I find myself looking around often in awe, even five years later. We conceptualized a perfume brand and catering to women of all ages and nationalities. We have all natural, cruelty free, and vegan friendly products. But, never in our wildest dreams did we expect ScentSations to take off. We ‘definitely’ did not expect it to give birth to Five Dames Incorporated. But the necessity for a Parent Company with which ScentSations falls under, became important when we realized we would be expanding to include other brands and items.
I look to the left and see Azalea, my executive assistant has yet to make it in. As I begin to make my way towards my office, what should my beating heart hear?
“Good morning beautiful. Sorry I’m early.”
I instantly stop dead in my stride, suck in my stomach, and tighten my thighs; so, the desire that is no doubt building in me right this second doesn’t leave a trail on the floor. That voice. Have I told you he has the vice of Barry White with Justin Timberlake… swag.
Fuck.
I am so screwed.
WALKING INTO SCENTSATIONS HEADQUARTERS, I can only feel admiration for what these ladies have built and pride being a part of it. Their building is a portrait of sleekness and sophistication. The interior of the building is very clean and minimal, but with touches of chrome and silver that make it understatedly elegant. The best feature in my opinion is the see-through floors. The floor of the lobby is see-through shatterproof plexiglass. This allows all visitors to see down into the lab, but only the machinery and certain areas. The sensitive areas are hidden. However, no one from the lab can see up because it is a one-way glass. This lends to their companies’ motto of being transparent and upfront.
Aside from pride, the overwhelming feeling I have is stubborn possessiveness. See, Cinn, the CEO is the single most exquisite creature I have ever seen, and she has no idea how very mine she is.
I met her for the first time two years ago when my dad sent me here in his stead to check on the company he calls his biggest glory. Now, don’t get me wrong. He is in no way taking credit for the success these ladies have had. That is them and them alone. He is merely bragging about the fact that he had the forethought to fund them fresh out of college, when no one else would. I have often asked him why. I would really like to know what made him say yes to them, when he has said no to so many others. Instead of answering me however, he gets this far off look in his eyes like the weight of some long-ago tragedy is weighing on him. Then, he looks at me and simply says, “somebody had to believe in them” and then he changes the subject. I don’t get it, but whatever. He made the right choice obviously, and now here I am about to gaze upon the woman that has starred in my dreams ever since we met.
I have wanted her since that first meeting, but I thought I would give her time. Two years ago, though they had already paid off my father and had met their five-year projection twice over and two years in advance; I knew she was getting her bearings in the Forbes World and didn’t want to add my demanding ass to the picture right away. So patiently I waited. But this time, I am done waiting. I have had a man on her since we first met. Especially, once I knew I had to give her more time. But, what I wouldn’t abide is someone else swooping in and putting their hands on something that belongs to me.
And make no mistake, Cinnamon Raye, belongs to me. I might have given her a bit more time if it wasn’t for the fact that my guy told me he knows the IT guy has his mind set on my woman, and she seems to be responding to him.
Fuck that shit!!! All done!!! Time to get my girl.
I am early for our meeting, but I am anxious, impatient, and decided I will not wait a second longer. So, I figure I’ll show up early to corner her in her office and let her know in no uncertain terms that this is happening. And then, we can get on with our meeting so, I can take her out and end the night with her under me.
Standing in the corridor of her executive floor, I am facing her window view from the secretary desk when I hear the ding of the elevator and before it opens I know it’s her. When she is near me, my whole body goes on alert. Like it knows I need to protect, possess, and claim her.
I watch her from off to the side as she vacates the elevator and looks around at all she has achieved. That is the other thing about her that calls to me. She does not take all of this for granted. Coming from a medium class background and working hard to get where she is, she is not snobby, entitled, nor does she act like the Queen that she is.
“Good morning beautiful. Sorry I’m early.” I really am not sorry, but hey, I can be a gentleman. She stops mid stride and I can see her fortifying herself, though I am not sure why. And I ‘definitely’ don’t like it. It’s almost as if she is trying to put up barriers between us, before she greets me, and I am not having that shit.
“Are you going to turn around and speak to me Cinn.” I want nothing more than to have her green eyes on me, even though the view from the back is not bad. The dress she is wearing, though professional should be banned in the workplace. The pearl buttons that line the spine of the dress bring insane attention to her round tight lush ass; and though I am enjoying it, no other man should be looking at my woman’s ass. As I take in the rest of her, I notice she has another pair of shoes that I mentally put into my checklist to fuck her in. She wears the sexiest shoes and all I can imagine is my cock balls deep between her tight wet heat. Her shoes are digging into my hip or I’m holding the heels up in the air as I deep fuck the shit out of her.
Fuck.
I look up to make sure her back is still to me, before I adjust my cock in my slacks. I can feel him begging to be let loose. Not to mention the weepy little faucet he is being right now. Shit. She is my own kryptonite.
“Cinn?” She finally turns around, and I can see by the tilt of her head and the cool gaze she has succeeded in erecting the wall. That’s fine. I am going to have fun, fucking taking them down.
“To what do I owe the pleasure of you being two hours early Mr. O’Donnell?” Oh, so now I am Mr. O’Donnell. OK. Challenge accepted sweetheart.
“It has been entirely too long since I have seen your beautiful face and thought I might come and entice you to have breakfast with me, before we proceed with business today.”
I can see the glint in her eye, which is quickly overshadowed by professionalism and feigned indifference.
“Unfortunately, Mr. O’Donnell, I had breakfast this morning and I really must get to work. Our tour does not start for another two hours at best. So, if you would excuse me.”
She makes to turn and walk away from me, and acting on instinct only I reach out, grab her arm, and pull her into me. There is no way I can let her walk away thinking whatever it is she is thinking.
“Cinn, I don’t know what has gotten into you since we last saw one another, but this facade you are trying so hard to maintain is not working. I see right through it and I think you want me too. We have been doing this dance long enough, don’t you think my beauty?” I stare straight into her mesmerizing eyes as
I say this, while holding her against me so tight there is no way she cannot feel how fucking hard I am for her. I don’t give a shit. Let her see what she does to me.
“Do you feel that, baby? That is all from you. I have been picturing nothing but this moment since I first laid eyes on you. Now, it is up to you. You can either get mouthed fucked right here in the corridor of your office where everyone can see. Which is fine by me, because I want all the men on your floor to know you are mine. Or, we can walk into your office and I can finally taste those beautiful pink plump lips. Your choice.”
She is visibly shaking, and I can hear a slight moan in her chest vibrating through me. Her legs begin to rub together, and I know I have her. She tries to right herself and I give her a little space to do so. But, very little.
“Very well. Right this way, Mr. O’Donnell.” She says with a cheeky little smirk. Ah this is going to be so much fun.
HOW THE HELL DOES HE do that? One minute I am feeling so proud to have put that barrier in place as I try to move on from him, and then within two seconds he tears it down like Tarzan. WTF! How is a girl supposed to move on when he goes all caveman on me and it makes my girlie bits all gooey? Asshole.
The truth is though, I am literally doing a happy dance on the inside. Hearing him say that he has been wanting me as much as I have been wanting him is like my every dream come true. As he is following me to my office, I put a little extra away in my hips. Might as well give him a show. And it is ‘definitely’ a show. Because, as much as I am so excited…literally…for whatever is about to happen, I am also very nervous. I have been a nerd, if you will, my whole life. I always knew I was going to do great things, because I knew I was going to work for it and not let anything stop me. So, I have not had time to date much through high school or college. I had a goal and I would not be stopped. The one guy I did date in college was so not my type, but I felt like I had to. I needed to try and be normal like everyone else.