Long honey blonde hair cascading down her back, luscious, full breasts, tiny waist, and firm ass, this unbelievably gorgeous woman sat at her mahogany desk oblivious to what she was doing to me. As I watched her stand up from her desk, she bent forward to collect some papers from her desk. Her pink blouse spilled open at the neckline revealing her amazing cleavage. When she moved out from behind her desk, I could see her long, lean legs.

I had an excellent view of her from my office.

As if she were aware of my eyes upon her, the gorgeous creature looked up at me and caught my eye. I winked at her and I watched as she subtly squirmed beneath my gaze.

She wanted me to fuck her. I could feel it.

Smiling, she strolled into my office.

“Ash, I have the papers you requested on S & G. Are you going ahead with the buyout plans?”

Reaching out, I took the papers from her hand. As our hands touched, I felt the electricity flowing between us. I studied the shape of her large breasts through her blouse. I imagined cupping them in my hands. Feeling their weight in my hands, I’d drag my thumbs across her hard nipples. She would moan as I then tore the blouse off of her bending her over my desk. I would kneel down and push her skirt up her delicious long legs revealing her fine, firm ass. Once her ass was ready and waiting for me I would raise my hand bringing it down firmly down onto her flesh. Over and over again, I would spank her thoroughly until she confessed me as her one and only dom. My cock, rock hard, would be pressed up against her wet opening….

“Ash, did you hear me?” The sound of her beautiful voice snapped me out of my reverie.

“Of course, Amber,” I willed my hard cock to go down.

“Well, what do you think we should do about S & G? With all the political instability, I think S & G is ripe for a possible takeover, don’t you?” Amber ran her hands through her long hair.

I studied the documents for a moment.

“From what I see here, I would think so, but I need some more time with these.” I laid the papers aside.

“Oh, Ash, here’s your coffee.” Amber rushed from my office over to her desk. She returned with a brand new black mug in her hand.

Blackthorne International, LLC.

“What do you think?” She beamed at me.

“I love it!”

Amber and I had recently departed from my old firm, Goldstein and Blackthorne. I was now my own company, with Amber as my executive assistant. We had just had our grand opening last month. I had my sights set on acquiring the world’s largest traditional publisher of fiction books, S & G Publishing.

“This is starting to look quite promising, Amber.” I nodded my approval at the mug and the documents she’d prepared.

“I think so too, Ash. But there was something in there that concerned me.” Amber sat down across from me crossing her long legs.

“What’s that?”

“Turn to page nine.”

Quickly, I flipped through the papers.

Not again, I thought.

“Shit, Amber, this isn’t good news for us. Looks like S & G has a new major stockholder as of last month.” I slammed the papers down on my desk.

She nodded biting her lip.

“You don’t think it’s—“

I shook my head.

“Veronica? No, it can’t be. With her father gone, management at the company is chaotic, to say the least.”

“But you broke up again.”

Sighing, I rested my forehead in my hands.

“Yes, but Veronica isn’t up to this.”

At least I don’t think she is.

“Still, Ash, it may be worth looking into,” Amber prompted.

I shoved my chair back and stood up.

“I don’t want to talk about Veronica now. I need some air.” Quickly, I walked past Amber racing to the elevator.

* * *

I knew it sounded cliché, but the day I left Goldstein and Blackthorne was the first day of the rest of my life. I had my beautiful secretary, Amber, by my side, and all seemed right with the world.

We had moved the office of Blackthorne International into a suite I leased in the bank bldg. My stated purpose of the company was acquisitions, but my true desire was to buy two of the world’s biggest publishing giants. First on the list was S & G Publishing, the largest traditional publisher of fiction books in the world.

With a staff of the finest finance gurus in the business, I had gotten off to an excellent start.

Or so it seemed, until today.

Who would’ve been interested in becoming a major stockholder in S & G seemingly overnight?

It couldn’t have been Veronica this time.

After the way we’d left things a few months ago, I didn’t think that was a likely possibility.

Still, I found myself wondering….

After the death of Veronica’s father, my own world was shattered when I discovered she’d been lying to me. Veronica had been engaged to another man when we rekindled our relationship. With my heart obliterated, I ordered her out of my sight, out of my life.

With Veronica gone, I found myself as restless as ever. Work was going well, but I found myself working over sixty hours a week.

Out of the blue one day my former partner’s son, Jeremy, called me requesting a lunch meeting that afternoon. I couldn’t fathom why Jeremy wanted to see me. He and I had always had a tenuous relationship at best. We had worked together for a number of years and he’d always tried to ‘pal around’ with me, but I found him to be quite odd to say the least.

Arriving at the restaurant at precisely noon, I waited for Jeremy. He was always late.

At 12:15, as I was sipping my one and only glass of scotch before 5 pm, he came racing in the door. His hair was styled in an attempt to cover his ever expanding bald spot.

“You’re late.” I said, eying him. As usual, he looked frantic and disheveled, but there was something different about him.

“I’m sorry, Ash. Dad wanted me to look at something before I left. Have you ordered yet?” Jeremy removed his suit jacket.

“Not yet. The crab and lobster roll is fabulous here.”

Jeremy motioned to the waiter.

“Can you take my jacket please? Hang it up and take care not to wrinkle it.” The waiter rolled his eyes, but took Jeremy’s jacket. I could guarantee he’d likely toss it onto the floor of the coat room.

After we ordered, I tapped my fingers on the table as Jeremy made casual conversation.

Finally, after our drinks had arrived, I decided to get down to business.

“Jeremy, why exactly are we here? You didn’t call me down here in the middle of a work day just for a casual lunch. Let’s cut the crap.”

Tossing his napkin down, he refused to meet my eyes. He looked all around the restaurant before leaning toward me.

“Okay, Ash, you’re right. I did ask you here for more than just a casual lunch. I needed someone to talk to. I’m in serious trouble.” Jeremy looked at me anxiously.

Studying him closely, I finished my scotch. I had no idea how he could be in trouble.

“What’s going on, Jeremy?”

He placed his tightened fist over his mouth.

“It’s Terri. She had a child.”

I cocked an eyebrow at him. Terri was his old girlfriend. They had broken up several years ago.

“So? What does that have to do with you?”

“Everything, Ash. She contacted me a few weeks ago. She’s suing me for back child support.”

“How can she do that? How does she know it’s yours?” I twisted the cloth napkin in my lap. Leave it to Jeremy to get wrapped up in something like this.

He shrugged.

“Yes, it’s mine. She called me last week asking if I would take a paternity test. At first, I said no. She’s been gone for four years and I know she slept with other guys while we were together.”

I nodded remembering their turbulent relationship well.

“So what made you change your mind?”

Jeremy pulled his phone out of his pocket. He flipped it to a picture of an adorable child. The little boy had a mop of dark hair and the same dark brown eyes as Jeremy.

“This. She sent it to me. He looks just like me, Ash.”

I sighed handing the phone back to him.

“There’s no denying that one.”

“So, I decided to get the paternity test. It came back with a ninety nine percent chance the boy is mine.”

Signaling the waiter for another drink, I continued to listen to his tale of woe.

“So, why is she suing for child support? Didn’t you offer to help take care of the child--”

“—Colton. His name is Colton.”

“So take care of Colton.” I sipped my drink. It was getting later in the afternoon and I had an important meeting with S & G.

Jeremy tossed his napkin onto the table.

“You don’t get it, Ash. I want to take care of my son, but I can’t let Allison know about him or Terri.”

Oh God, not again. Jeremy was infamous for getting himself involved in long, drawn out dramatic relationships. Allison was his latest girlfriend.

“That’s right. You’re with Allison now. How long has it been?” Since Jeremy and I no longer worked together, I’d fallen out of touch with his turbulent world.

“It’s been nine months, Ash. Nine months. And we’re engaged. I can’t tell her about Terri though, can I?”

Rubbing my forehead with my palms, I groaned.

“Look, Jeremy, I assume that for whatever reason Allison loves you. God knows why..”

“Thanks, Ash.”

“Anyway, if she loves you, she’ll understand. I know that Terri was an unfaithful bitch, but it’s not about Terri, it’s about Colton, your son.”

Jeremy nodded.

“Have you even met Colton?” I asked.

“Yes, and he’s the sweetest, smartest little boy I’ve ever met,” Jeremy said, a huge grin spreading across his face.

“Then you owe it to him to be involved in his life and not just financially. Be there for him in any way you can.”

“But what about Allison?”

I looked at my phone. Damn, I was going to be late.

“Look, Jeremy, I know we haven’t always gotten along, but you have to do the right thing here. You and I both know you can afford whatever payments that Terri is requesting. So that’s not an issue. The real issue is being involved in your son’s life. Even if he doesn’t want you there, you need to be there on the sidelines cheering him on in whatever he’s doing. One day Colton will thank you for it. Although, being that it’s you--”

“—thanks, Ash. I get it.” Jeremy waved his hand at me.

“Go home and talk to Allison. She’ll likely be upset that you have a child you didn’t tell her about, but if she loves you she’ll accept it. Talk to Terri and work out a way to see your son.”

“But what if it’s too late, Ash? What if he doesn’t want me as his dad?”

I pulled a wad of bills out of my wallet and tossed them down on the table.

“It’s never too late, Jeremy.” I pulled my suit jacket on as Jeremy sat staring at me.

“Ash, before you go—“

“—yes, Jeremy?” I tapped my foot impatiently.

“Thanks. I know we’ve had a tenuous relationship at best, but believe it or not, you were the only person I wanted to share this with.” Jeremy stood up extending his hand.

I took his hand shaking it firmly.

“No problem, Jeremy. It was good seeing you. I hope business is doing well.”

He nodded.

“It’s doing better than I expected. Dad still wishes you were there though.”

I shook my head as I waited for Jeremy to pull on his coat.

“No, he doesn’t.”

Jeremy laughed.

“Yes, Ash, he does. I know I could never do what you did for him.”

I sighed watching Jeremy’s eyes flinch with pain.

“Jeremy, your dad is proud of you. The only reason he wanted me there is because I’m not impulsive. I don’t make major decisions based on a feeling like you do. I’m patient and weigh all the pros and cons. That’s all he’s ever wanted you to do. Be patient. Don’t be led by your feelings. Do that and watch what he does.” I slapped him on the shoulder.

“You’re right, Ash.” He nodded.

“Look, Jeremy, I’m late for a very important meeting. Let me know how it goes.”

“Ash, there’s something different about you. How’s Amber?”

“She’s good as always.”

“You know what, Ash? You need to go get laid. You look tense.”

Shocked at his odd assertion that I looked tense, I merely nodded.

He smiled back as we walked out to the street.

“Don’t be a stranger, Blackthorne.”

“I couldn’t be as strange as you even if I tried, Goldstein,” I laughed as I opened my car door.

Looking back at him briefly, I noticed a different look in Jeremy’s eyes. He looked wiser, more mature. As I drove away, I thought about what I’d said. Before this latest break up with Veronica, I would’ve never advised Jeremy like that. I would’ve just told him to pay Terri what he owed her and not bothered sticking around to be a father to his son.

I was softening inside.

That was the last thing I wanted. I thought that Veronica’s revelation had made my heart even icier, but quite the opposite had happened. Opening myself up to her had made me feel more.

And was that a good thing?