Chapter 22

Max

One thing I didn’t consider before having copious amounts of filthy sex with my personal assistant, was how tempting it would be to call her into my office in the middle of the day to make more tawdry memories. It was like I could feel her presence, not twenty feet from where I sat. Just knowing that made my cock stiffen, and I shifted in my chair as I went through my emails and tried to ignore it.

I wasn’t sure if I was ready to cross that line yet, the line between having a relationship outside of the office and taking advantage of that relationship while we were both at work. It wasn’t appropriate, but I wasn’t sure how much longer that was going to put me off.

Emma was wearing a tight blouse today that showed off more cleavage than normal, and the thought of lowering my face to suck on those swollen globes made me too horny to stand. It wouldn’t have to take long. I could call her in here right now, open her blouse and have my way with her. Within ten minutes I could have her fucked and sent back on her way. Nobody would be the wiser. And if someone did suspect? Who fucking cared. I was the boss, and if I wanted to fuck my assistant in my office then I was going to.

My hand hovered over the intercom button. Was thinking with my dick a good idea in this situation?

Just as I was about to press the button and call Emma in, she buzzed me.

“Max, Jeremy is here to see you.”

I was nearly about to ask her to send him in, resettling in my chair to hide my erection, when he burst through the door. Emma trailed behind him, her pretty face marred by a scowl.

“I’m sorry, I tried to stop him.” She glared sourly at Jeremy. “He would not be stopped.”

“Not a very good gatekeeper, are you?” Jeremy joked, ruffling her hair.

Since Emma and I had officially become a couple, Jeremy had started treating her less like a member of my staff and more like a little sister. I could tell it vexed Emma to no end. Jeremy was a dick of a brother.

“You know the drill. I shouldn’t have to physically stop you from coming in,” she complained.

Jeremy winked slyly at her. “Hey, how’s Willow doing?”

Emma groaned and turned on her heel, closing the door behind her with just a bit more force than necessary. I laughed at the exchange.

“One of these days she’s going to punch you.”

“And one of these days I’m going to be very surprised and impressed,” he replied tartly, folding himself onto the chair in front of my desk.

Excitement shone like sunbeams from his face. Whatever had brought him barging in here must have been big, because he’d been sitting for a few seconds now and so far hadn’t touched a single thing on my desk.

“So, go on.” I waved a hand in his direction. “You have my undivided attention.”

Jeremy wiggled his eyebrows. “You know the Bertrand Group?”

“Can’t say I’m familiar.”

“Well you should be.” Jeremy picked up a pencil and started rolling it between his fingers. “They’re one of the largest luxury hotel chains in the Caribbean. Or at least they were.”

I cocked a brow. “What happened?”

“Life happened.” He snapped the pencil in two, evidently to add to the drama of the charade. “They’re downsizing and selling off some of their properties. It’s a huge opportunity for Goodman-Westfield.”

I didn’t need Jeremy to tell me that. I’d been looking at branching out our assets into hotels and resorts for some time now. It was the next logical step in my desire to expand the company rather than simply maintaining my father’s empire. Expanding profits was one thing, but I wanted to grow capital. This could be big.

“Much as I wish you would leave my office supplies unscathed when you come visit,” I said, sending a pointed look at the broken pencil pieces he was now fiddling with. “I do appreciate the news. How soon are they looking to sell?”

Jeremy grinned. “As soon as possible.”

“Then I’d better get moving. Can you forward me the details and I’ll get Emma to start making travel arrangements?”

Jeremy nodded, but made no move to leave. Seeing that he clearly wasn’t finished, I leaned back in my chair and waited.

“You’re going to have to charm the current owner, Baldric Hammond,” he told me.

“That’s why I’m going myself and not sending you to do it for me.” The hint of irritation in my voice was more than enough to let him know I didn’t appreciate being told how to run my business.

He chuckled. “Just trying to help. The competition for the properties is going to be fierce. I know of at least two large firms considering them right now, though nobody has actually met with Hammond yet to talk details.”

“Then I’ll be the first to do so.” I waved him off. “Go send me the details. If I’m dropping everything to head to the Caribbean, I’m going to need all the time I have to prepare.”

Jeremy was evidently dissatisfied with this. All he wanted to do when he was in a good mood was hang out, which was fun after we’d won a case in court, but frustrating when I still had other things I needed to do. He set the broken pencil pieces down on my desk and stood, adjusting his tie.

“Well, you know where I am if you need me.”

“Indeed I do.” I grabbed the pencil pieces and tossed them in the trash.

Just as Jeremy reached the door I called out to him, and he paused before he opened it, looking at me expectantly.

“Thank you,” I said. “I appreciate you keeping an eye out for stuff like this.”

Jeremy gave a solemn nod. He knew how much it meant to me, and he also knew how hard I worked to pursue my goals. It was just one of the many things I liked about him, though sometimes the list of things I didn’t like seemed much longer. Case in point, him stealing a glass paperweight from my bookcase on his way out the door. I would get it back eventually. Probably.

“Emma,” I called through the intercom. “Could you come into my office, please.”

Emma arrived in the doorway a moment later, smiling pleasantly. “Jeremy sure seemed excited. What’s up?”

“An opportunity,” I said, standing.

She closed the door and walked toward the desk. “What kind of opportunity?”

“The opportunistic kind.”

I grinned and walked around the desk to pull her into my arms before she could protest. She tried to wiggle free, but I was stronger, and soon she gave into the hug and leaned her head against my chest.

Emma was always so funny about how we acted at work, even though it was common knowledge we were together. She thought it was unwise to be so open about our relationship, but I knew better. Half the people in this building weren’t people at all, but vipers poised to strike as soon as they got the next juicy bit of gossip. It was better to be up front with it, even if it was awkward at times.

I pulled back from Emma and pecked her on the lips. She smiled.

“We’re going on a business trip,” I said. “Do you have a bikini?”

Emma flushed. “As my boss, I don’t think you’re allowed to ask that.”

I chuckled. “I’m not asking as your boss.” I nuzzled my face back in her hair, kissing her crown. “I’m asking as the man who’s taking you out tonight and fucking you within an inch of your life when we get home.”

She gasped and automatically looked behind her, as if someone could walk in at any moment. I was sure this anxiety would wear off eventually, but it was good to know that any sordid encounters in the office would take some building up to.

When she turned back, Emma’s eyes were dark and her lips were parted just a little, like she was waiting for my kiss. There was way too much to accomplish today for me to take them right now, though Lord knows I wanted to.

“So, baby, do you have a bikini?”

She shook her head.

I pulled my wallet out of my back pocket and grabbed a few bills, pressing them into her palm. Her eyes widened and she tried to give the money back, but I put my hands up and stepped away.

“It’s just a bathing suit,” I told her.

She frowned. “There’s like three hundred dollars here. That’s way too much to buy a swimsuit.”

I sank back down behind my desk and clicked into my email. Jeremy’s message with the details of the company had already arrived, and I opened it with a small smile. The resort we needed to visit in order to meet with Baldric Hammond was in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Nice.

“Then buy some new clothes, too,” I said.

She put a defiant hand on her hip. “I don’t need any new clothes.”

I caught her gaze, all traces of humor gone from my face. “You will after I rip yours off you tonight for being so bad at taking direction.”

Emma’s face flashed bright red and she swallowed hard. I could see how aroused she was just from the way her fist tightened around the wad of cash, and how her thighs reflexively clenched. My cock was instantly hard again, but this time I really did need to work.

“If you need anything else, you know where to find me,” Emma said, spinning on her heel and making a hasty retreat.

This was a good day. If my mother and I weren’t fighting, she’d be happy with this too. Soon enough, the Goodman-Westfield brand would be bigger than ever, and the only thing standing in my way was a spot of competition and a couple thousand miles of ocean.

I could do that. I could win this. In many ways, I was not my father’s son, but in this way, I always would be.