Chapter 3
~ Cassey ~

I slip my stiletto heels off, reveling in the relief the soft carpeting in my office provides the balls of my feet. It’s been another long day in the office, but my work day isn’t quite over yet. The majority of my co-workers went home an hour ago, and in their absence the space surrounding my office is quiet, and lacks the usual buzz of activity. But I don’t mind the quiet. In fact, it’s when I’m afforded to chance to wind down, and be alone with my thoughts. Unfortunately, it’s my impending work that will need to distract me from my thoughts. My incessant thoughts about Kyler, to be more specific.
My ‘meeting’ with him yesterday, if I can even call it that, could’ve gone better, and I could’ve handled myself better too, but something about the way he spoke to me, like I’m a subordinate - which technically I am - made my blood boil. So much so that I denied his request to help me with my presentation when I had no right to do so.
Before Kyler arrived, it was his father, Robert, who took me under his wing, and now it seems Kyler would be taking his place. I don’t want Kyler to take me under his anything. Liar.
Ever since I had that dream, I’ve been thinking about him in ways I shouldn’t be, and the combination of seeing him yesterday and being so angry with him only fueled my lust-filled thoughts. Today was challenging enough without the visuals of being bent over his desk, or mine, swirling around in my head. Not to mention that it has me more sexually frustrated than I was before that stupid dream. Even after taking ‘care of it myself ’, the constant throb between my legs still comes to life every time I think about him. I barely know the man, and yet I’ve envisioned being fucked in every position, on every surface at least a hundred times today.
Sheesh, what is wrong with me?
I shake my head, as if it will dislodge the thoughts fogging up my ability to think rationally, and take a walk to my windows. My view of the city is quite spectacular, especially at dusk when the lights of the city start to flicker to life. Night time in this city is beautiful, and creates a different kind of atmosphere for the bustling metropolis that has become my home. I like it here, and I like my life here too, but every now and then I’ll find myself thinking about where exactly it is I come from. Georgia, or rather the small cardboard box of a town I grew up in, is the exact opposite of this thriving city, as is the shitty trailer where I lived most of my young life. I worked hard, and despite being told by my parents that I would never amount to more than white trash, I never wavered from pursuing my dream. And it payed off. I not only showed myself I could do it, but I disproved my parents’ belief that I would end up just like them. I haven’t thought about them in a while, but I know the inevitable phone call is coming soon.
It has started becoming more regular, and the amounts they want are increasing, to the point where I can’t give it without dipping into my small savings. My college scholarship came in handy, but I’m still living from pay check to pay check. Thankfully, I don’t pay rent, so the money I would’ve spent on that gets deposited into a savings account, a little nest egg I’m growing for myself. I learned many years ago that nothing in life comes easy, and that means I don’t have the luxury of a trust fund like Quinn, and I suspect Kyler and Jarred too, has. Not that I begrudge them the privilege.
I just wish my life started out differently, and that not everything was a hardship.
The sudden chill, and strange spark, in the air makes me shiver, which is odd considering it’s late May, and the temperatures are rising. I rub up and down my arms, hoping to stop my skin from breaking out into goosebumps.The tiny hairs on the nape of my neck rise, and I have the feeling I’m being watched. That’s when I notice Kyler’s reflection in the window. I spin around and find him staring at me, the whisper of a smile making its way across his lips. His dark hair looks mussed, like he’s pulled his fingers through it several times already, and his blue eyes are locked on me. The light blue shirt that clings to his broad chest is unbuttoned at the top, giving my a slight sneak of the smooth, bronzed skin underneath. The sleeves are rolled up to his elbows, and it shows off a very impressive set of forearms. With arms like his, he must go to the gym regularly. Not to mention his legs, and those muscular thighs. It was yesterday, that I noticed he’s taller than I thought, but now, standing in the doorway to my smallish office, he looks… bigger, longer. Snap out of it Cass! You’re eye fucking him, and it’s obvious!
Kyler smirks, and I wonder if he can somehow hear my internal dialogue. Wouldn’t that be interesting, especially when I think about him and all the dirty things I want him to do to me. Wait, what?
“What are you doing here?”
Kyler takes a few steps into my office and narrows the gap between us before replying, “It’s nice to see you too Miss Emerson.”
He places a bag on my small work table in the corner, and a delicious smell floats past me.
My stomach growls. I’m starving, and it would be appear that Kyler brought dinner.
“As I told you yesterday,” he continues, watching me.
“I’m helping you with your presentation, and since you failed to tell me where we would be working, I took the initiative and came and found you.” His eyes travel the length of my body, appraising it, making me feel hot and flustered yet again. The hunger in his eyes has no nothing to do with the food on the table, I’m sure, and while it should make me feel uncomfortable, it doesn’t. All it does is the stoke the fire deep in my belly, making my attraction to him so intense that it’s uncomfortable. I find myself crossing my legs, hoping the friction between my thighs will help soothe the persistent purr I feel down there.
Clearing my throat, I straighten my stance and raise my chin in defiance. “I already told you, Mr. Knight, I won’t need your help.” I’m being a total brat and I know it, which seems to be amusing Kyler when it should piss him off. But I know I’m a challenge to him, which is why he hasn’t fired me for blatant insubordination. That, and I suspect his father wouldn’t be impressed if Kyler were to let me go.
Kyler approaches, slowly closing the space between us and I’m forced to look up at him. The vision of him towering above me in my dream flashes through my mind and I have to fight my body’s instinct to lean in to him. I mentally swat at the desire I feel simmering between us as if it’s a fly buzzing around my head. This. Can’t. Happen.
“Well, Miss Emerson,” he breathes in a low, bedroom voice. “I wasn’t aware that you had any choice in the matter. So either you accept it and let me help you, or I can use more…forceful…methods to get you to comply.” A shiver races through my body before I can stop it and I curse myself for being so weak, for resounding so readily to the arrogant asshole in front of me. I think about it for a minute, reasoning that the sooner I accept his help, the sooner we can be done and he can go back to leaving me alone. Because that’s all this is isn’t it? A game?
“Fine,” I acquiesce. “But no funny business, Kyler.” Saying his name feels strange, it sounds foreign coming from my mouth. I imagine what it would should like if I were to scream it in the throws of passion. The thought makes my cheeks warm and my thighs, and my pussy, clench. Sweet baby Jesus, reign it in! Control yourself for pity’s sake!
“No funny business,” he agrees, a mischievous gleam in his eyes. “Until you decide you want me.”
I snort, rather unladylike, and roll my eyes as I take a step back from him. The distance is needed. “As if. We’re working together, and that’s it.” Kyler shakes his head, chuckling. “When my father asked me to help you, he didn’t mention what a little hellcat you are. Must be those Georgia roots.” He turns around and starts taking out the food he bought. I stare at the back of his head.
“What? You father asked you to help me?” Until now, I thought Kyler only wanted to help me to get closer to me. Why I thought that I don’t know, considering we barely know anything about each other. But I was wrong. This wasn’t his choice.
Something akin to disappointment burrows its way into my chest, but I push it down in the hopes that it will be smothered. I’m being ridiculous. “Yes, he - ”
“And how did you know I’m from Georgia?”
This should have ben my biggest concern, but as always, I’m more worried about impressing my boss than having Kyler find out I come from nothing. Not that I’m ashamed. It’s just not something I want people to know about me. It doesn’t define who I am, but it certainly influences what people think about me, and I’m in no way inclined to have people think I’m a hick. Kyler holds my gaze, and I catch but a glimpse of the power he exudes. It’s the kind of gaze that would make anyone shrink and cower on the spot. But I refuse to give him the satisfaction. Because the way his eyes hold mine, turns me on. “I read your employee file.”
“Why?”
There’s a pregnant pause, and at first I don’t think he’ll give me an answer. He doesn’t have to. He is after all taking over this company from his father, from what I’ve assumed, and it;s only natural for him to want to get to know his employees.
But something about it tells me that’s not that case.
“I was curious,” he finally replies, turning to face me.
“About what? Did you go through anyone’s else’s files?”
A flicker of embarrassment flits across Kyler’s face and I’m almost sure his cheeks are hue faintest shade of red. He’s blushing?
With a shrug of his shoulder, he simply says, “You.”
When he leaves the remainder of my question unanswered, my conclusion hangs between us. He didn’t read up on anyone else. Just me.
My curiosity burns, and I ache to ask him what else he found out about me. I have nothing to hide, but knowing he was curious about me sends a scorching thrill through my entire body. Not helping, I tell myself.
The silence is broken by the sound of my stomach rumbling. Kyler and I both chuckle, the seriousness of the moment broken. The tension between us simmers down, and I relax for the first time since Kyler walked into my office. “Are you hungry?” he asks, his deep husky voice full of mirth. “I hope you like Chinese.”
Tucking a piece of hair behind my ear, I smile. “I’m starving, and I love Chinese.”
I step up to his side and look down. “Is that Beef Chow Mein?” He shrugs. “I believe it is.”
“It’s my favorite,” I tell him. I pick up a plastic fork and put a piece of the delicious meat in my mouth.
“I know.”
My eyebrows shoot up. “That’s definitely not in my employee file.” This time he looks sheepish. “I called Quinn, and asked her what you liked. I knew if I called you, you wouldn’t have told me.”
I have no response to that. Because he’s right. I wouldn’t have told him had he asked me.
“Thank you,” I say quietly.
He smiles at me, and I can tell he means it. “You’re welcome.”
Kyler dishes up our food and we take a seat on the carpet, our backs against the small sofa I have in the corner.
We eat in a comfortable silence for a while, and I can feel Kyler’s eyes on me. But I’m feeling too confused, and perhaps a little bashful, to meet his inquisitive stare.
To be honest, I feel a little silly, for behaving the way I did yesterday, and more so for thinking was anything more than what it is. Work. The realization has a mixture of relief and something I can’t name colliding in my chest. As soon as we’re done eating, we get to work. I open up the presentation on my laptop and give Kyler a run down of what I’m going to be proposing to the board. The idea is to introduce Knight Media to the new sphere of digital publishing. It entails the introduction of eBooks, and the implementation of a self-publishing platform which will allow aspiring writers to publish and sell their work independently. According to my research, eBook sales have increased significantly over the past year and have overtaken traditional trade paperback sales. This presents Knight Media with an opportunity to tap into a previously unexplored market, while opening itself up to new potential clients. Kyler gives me a few suggestions here and there and I find his opinions and insights helpful. He’s smart, and it’s just another item on a long list of things that I kind of like about him. I’m starting to realize that the old adage “Don’t judge a book by it’s cover” actually holds true. He listens attentively, and aside from a few accidental brushes against my arm and my hands, he takes our working together seriously.
I’m in the middle of explaining the forecasted sales for the next year, should the board of directors agree to go ahead with my proposal, when my phone rings. I jump up quickly and fish it out my bag, apologizing to Kyler for having to interrupt our work. I frown when I don’t recognize the number. “Hello?”
“Hi, Cassey. It’s Drew.”
I cringe. So not the person I want to be talking to now. I walk to the window, aware that Kyler can probably hear my conversation anyway. Should I care that he can hear?
“Oh,” I pause. “Hi, Drew.”
“I got your number from Quinn, I hope it’s okay that I’m calling.” I turn to look at Kyler. He’s scowling, and I can’t tell if it’s directed at me, or Drew.
“Uh, now’s not actually a good time, I’m still - ”
“Listen,” Drew interrupts me. Irritation blooms and I grip my phone a little tighter. He’s being rude. “I was wondering if you’d be my date for my parents anniversary party next weekend. I need a date and Quinn said you’re available.” Well, fuck. If he puts it like that, how can a girl say no?
“Don’t worry,” he continues, not allowing me to respond. “I know you can’t afford a fancy dress or anything. Quinn said you can just borrow something of hers for the night.”
What the…? Is this guy being serious?
I remain silent, unable to get the angry words past the lump in my throat. “Hello? Cassey? Are you there?”
“I, uh..” I stutter. “Yes, I’m sill here.”
“Then why don’t you answer me?”
“No.”
“No what?” he asks.
“No, I won’t be your date.”
“Well, why not? I thought we had a connection?”
“You just called me poor, Drew.That’s rude. I might not be able to afford a fancy dress, but at least I have something money will never buy, and that’s class.” “Cassey, wait, I - ”
Before he has a chance to finish his sentence I finish the call. I glare at my phone as if it’s Drew’s face and resist the urge to throw it against the wall. Or even better, out the window and int the sprawling streets far down below. “Are you okay?”
I spin around, and stumble into Kyler’s chest. He must’ve come and stood closer to me at some point during my conversation with Drew. The anger on his face and in his eyes has me wondering how much of that conversation he’s heard.
“Yes,” I reply meekly. “I’m fine.”
“You don’t look fine,” he remarks. “What did Blake say to you?” It takes me a minute to recognize Drew’s surname. “How do know Drew?” “We went to college together. He’s a complete dog. Now tell me what he said to upset you?”
With a slow, relaxing exhalation, I reply, “Nothing, it’s not important. Let’s get back to work, okay?”
I brush past him and sit back down in front of my desk. Kyler sits back down next to me, and I startle when I feel him squeeze my hand. I stare down at where his hand engulfs mine, feeling that familiar, intense pull between us. It wasn’t Drew who I had this crazy, ridiculous attraction to. It’s Kyler. I don’t understand it, and it scares me.

∞

The apartment is quiet when I walk in. I’m beyond exhausted after my first late night working late with Kyler and in desperate need of a big glass of red wine. A delicious smell catches my attention and I drop my purse and laptop bag in the small entryway on the way to the kitchen. Quinn has her back to me, and she’s wearing her black sweats and a navy blue tank top.
Not a good sign.The source of the mouthwatering smell is a batch of red velvet cupcakes sitting on the counter.
“Quinn?”
She spins around, pulling earphones out of her ears. Her eyes are red and puffy, and her lips are swollen from nibbling on them. I know these signs too well. They only surface when Quinn and Jarred fight.
“Are you okay?” I ask her, walking to where she stands on the other side of our kitchen island.
“No,” she sniffs.
“Do you want to talk about it?”
She shakes her head, mumbling a “no” and decide to drop it. But I don’t quite like the alarm bell it raises in my mind. Quinn tells me everything. We have no secrets.
“But I should apologize to you,” she adds.
I frown. “For what?”
“Drew.”
Ah. Yes. The asshole who called me poor, and then expected me to accompany him to his parents anniversary party.
Expelling a heavy breathe from my lungs, I sit down on one of the bar chairs surrounding the kitchen island. Quinn’s heads finally comes up and she looks at me. Her expression is one of both apology and guilt.
“Giving him my number was a shitty thing to do,” I admit. “But I’m more pissed that he called me poor. And the only way he could know that is if you told him where I come from.”
“I didn’t tell him,” she replies, hiccuping. “Jarred did. I would have never told him you don’t come from money, and I told him he shouldn’t have done that. I’m sorry for giving Drew your number,especially without asking,but I thought I was doing you a favor.”
“Why? Because I don’t get laid as often you do?” My voice is angrier than I intend and Quinn flinches.
“I just… I just…” she stutters. “I’m just tired of seeing you alone, Cass. You don’t think I see the way you look at couples when we pass them on the street, but I do. You want that, and you’ve been so caught up with work that you never take the time to meet people. I thought it would be good idea to see if you and Drew have a connection. But I see now that he’s not worth it. You deserve so much more.”
Looking at Quinn, and how this has clearly upset her, I can’t be angry.

It doesn’t mean I’m happy about what she did, but it means that she gets away with more than anyone in my life because she’s my best friend, and pretty much the only real family I have. I smile inside, knowing that she really does want the best for me and her heart was in the right place. Her observations aren’t far off though, and I’m beginning to see what it is she’s talking about. “You can’t play matchmaker, Quinny.”
“I know,”she sniffles again.“And I’m sorry. I just want you to be happy, and find someone who will love you, and treat you the way you deserve to be treated.” I stand up and walk over to her, pulling her into a hug. “It’s fine, I get it. But promise me you won’t do it again, please?”
With a weak smile she nods. “Promise.”

~ Kyler

After the first night Cassey and I work on her presentation, we settle into a routine and work late most nights of the week. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but after the firs night I understood why my father feels she has a bright future here at Knight Media. She’s intelligent, and while I shouldn’t be thinking of her in any other way other than professionally, I can’t help being attracted to her and her smarts. It’s rare to find the full package, but she’s it. Gorgeous and smart with a spitfire attitude.Three very dangerously sexy qualities in a woman. Before I know it, a week passes, and it’s the night before her presentation. She’s sitting in my office, looking sexy as fuck in a tight black skirt and dark blue top that makes her tits look bigger. It’s a little difficult to concentrate on anything else with her looking like that. My phone vibrates in my pocket an I force myself to drag my gaze away from Cassey, and check who’s contacting me. It’s a text from Jessa. I’ve been avoiding her, or rather ditching her, for the last few nights so that I can work with Cassey. And now she’s pissed.

Am I going to see you tonight baby? I miss you…

 

Even her text message is whiney. Sighing, I type out my response.

 

Working late. Will call you tomorrow.

 

My phone vibrates again before I can slip it back into my pocket.

 

Are you being serious? I haven’t seen you in over a week Kyler.

I ignore it and slip my phone into my pocket. I’m not in the mood to talk to her, especially not about this. I haven’t seen her since the first night Cassey and I worked late, and my right hand is starting to cramp from all the times I’ve had to jack off this week. Usually I’m happy to have Jessa on speed dial to help relieve some sexual frustrations, but something about it seems unappealing now. And I have no doubt it’s because every sexual fantasy I’ve had lately has involved me, my desk and Cassey.
I lean against my desk and watch Cassey on the other side of the room. She’s staring at her laptop, her nose is scrunched and she’s biting her pencil. I can almost hear her thinking from here. She looks fucking sexy when she does that. It’s almost eleven p.m and as much as I hate having to send her home, she needs to sleep and be rested for tomorrow. It’s a big day for her, but I know she’ll nail it.The Board would be idiots not to accept her proposal. It’s the next logical step in bringing Knight Media into the future.
“Cass, I think it’s time we hit the road,” I tell her. “It’s pretty late.” Her head whips in my direction. “Huh?”
I chuckle. She’s so lost in her own head that she didn’t even hear me talking to her.
“It’s late, we should probably call it a night so that you can get some sleep.” “Okay,” she replies, stretching her arms above her head. She makes a slight noise, almost like a moan, and my cock stirs behind the zipper of my slacks. She bends to slip her heels back onto her feet and I get the most magnificent view of her ass. Holy fuck. My mouth goes a little dry, and my body freezes. It feels like she’s teasing me, flaunting her curves. I want nothing more than to slide that skirt over her hips and take her from behind while she’s leaning on the arm of my sofa for support.
I shake the vision from my mind. She’ll take one look at the bulge in my pants and know what I’m thinking.
Within ten minutes she’s ready to go. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” she says, giving me small smile.
“Wait, let me take you home.”
“No, that’s okay, thank you. It’s out of your way.”
I frown. “You’re not walking home, Cassey. I’ll have my driver drop you off.” “I’ll get a cab,” she says adamantly. “I don’t want to inconvenience you.” Is this girl insane? What kind of man would I be if I allowed her to hail a cab and travel home alone at this time of night? My mother would skin me alive. “No, you won’t. You’ll let my driver take you home. It’s not up for negotiation, nor is it an inconvenience.”
Cassey bites her lip, and I can tell she’s fighting the urge to argue with me. We’ve done that a lot this past week, and every time she argues with me, I envision what the angry hate sex would be like between us. I’ve wondered if she would like having her hair pulled, and if she’ll bite me. I imagine she would, despite giving off the innocent vibe.
“If you’re sure,” she relents.
I smile, and do a mental fist pump. Small victories and all that. “Let’s go then.” I switch everything off and we walk out, making our way to the elevators. The air between us crackles in the small enclosed space and I clench my fist to stop myself from pushing the emergency stop button, just so that I can have her up against the wall of the elevator, moaning into my mouth. My cock hardens and I shift. Being in a car with her is suddenly a very bad idea. But it’s too late now. The elevator dings and we walk in silence until I lead her to the black town car waiting at the curb.
I open the door or her and she slides in, moving a little further away from me than I would like. As the car pulls way, Cassey gives Charles, my driver, her address. It’s only a ten minute drive, but those minutes feel longer. She fidgets with her hands and I love closer, wrapping both her hands in one of mine. She startles, and I don’t if it’s because she’s surprised or if it’s because she also felt the zing of electricity that passed from my hand to hers.
“You’re going to be great tomorrow, don’t worry,” I reassure her. Her smile is nervous. “I hope so.”
Just then, the car comes to a stop outside her apartment building. My hand holds hers for a while longer, my desire to maintain contact winning out over the need to let her leave. “Um…” Cassey shifts, looking a little uncomfortable. “Thank you, for all your help.”
Her eyes drop to our hands and I see the indecision on her face. She can’t decide if this is okay or not, if this kind of contact between an employee and her boss - although I don’t see her as my employee - is acceptable or stepping over that imaginary line. I make the decision for her, and slowly remove my hand from hers.
“I’m glad I could help,” I reply, moving away. “You’ll have to let me know how it goes.”
Her head bobs, her features tight. “I will. See you tomorrow.”
I’m about to say goodnight, but she’s out the door in a flash, like she can’t wait to escape. I sag back into the seat and watch her retreating figure disappear into the building. She doesn’t look back, and I have no idea why but I wish she would. Instead of over-analyzing our strange interaction, I tell Charles to drive me home. I’m in need of yet another cold shower, and another night alone in my bed.