4
Madeline
I felt a rush in my body that had no ending. Everything was on fire, especially my emotions.
I had spent so much time worrying about what was after graduation that I didn’t even think of the possibility of everything being taken care of. All the late nights, the researching, and putting together my presentation were worth it. They were impressed, and they wanted me. For their company, I thought.
Holy hell, they were the most beautiful men I had ever seen. Logan had the darker hair, the piercing blue eyes, and the brains to go with it. All my research pointed back to him, he did all the coding and designed the entire company’s interface. While Jake…with his light brown, wavy hair and cool gray eyes could swoon anyone into doing anything. And he knew it.
I felt something way too intense for words the entire time I was in that room. The energy, the tension…it made me crazy. I was focused on the work of course, but their eyes kept telling me something else. They darkened the longer I looked into them
What was crazier was I had to go through a normal day of classes before I could go home and freak out, and probably pleasure myself in the shower because I hadn’t felt this much sexual tension in God knows how long.
I thought on the way home, that it should have occurred to me who Logan was. Professor Moyer was the talk of the school since he arrived here last spring. He had only been here two semesters and his class had a three semester long waiting list. Seriously, people were extending their degree progress and picking up minors to wait and take his class.
I didn’t need Principles of Information Systems since it had nothing to do with my marketing degree, but I was sure now that all the people signed up didn’t need it either. He was well respected in the business program, but for some reason, anytime he had an event I never went. So today was the first day I saw the enigmatic Logan Moyer and his partner, Jake Sawyer.
The two of them were such a gift to my eyes. And to think I would be working with them? Insane.
I found myself foolishly smiling as I waded through the aisles of the grocery store to pick up dinner. There was a ready meal section, so I grabbed a helping of spaghetti to last two nights, and made a big salad to eat while I studied. I still had three weeks left to be a regular college student. Even though I had the biggest business deal people my age could ever hope to get.
I would be running my own business and not worrying about overhead or preliminary profits. Because I had such a big company and investors to back me, of course. I couldn’t wait to tell Sarai all about this. She would have a fit if she knew I met Logan.
She was always in tune with the school gossip, so if I told her about this she would lose it. She wasn’t one of those people on the waitlist, but she had put herself in his way. She studied fashion management, so it wouldn’t seem to awry if she was hanging around the business building. His office always had a line of people during his office hours. It wasn’t just the girls trying to talk to him, men wanted to see him too.
He was known on campus as well for his mergers and acquisitions. Ten minutes of advice from him would put you ahead of everyone else trying to do the same thing.
I arrived home and put my food in the oven while I took a hot shower. I felt stuffy being in those work clothes all day. I hoped they had a more casual dress code, that skirt was way too tight. It was only because of my curves though, anything I wore was tight.
So, I dressed in comfortable, baggy sweats and an oversized tee shirt so I could eat my dinner. I deserved a break before hitting the books. I turned the television on and settled for HGTV. After about a half hour, Sarai was finally home.
“How did it go?” She shouted as soon as she was inside.
She dropped her things on the side table by the door, and then sat in the living room. She kicked off a very uncomfortable looking pair of high heels and looked at me pointedly.
“I got the CEO Mentorship offer.” She squealed and about attacked me with a bunch of questions.
I was about to tell her all the dirty details before there was a knock at the door. A simple letter was on the ground when I opened it. The card stock was thick and the front side had the logo of their company on it, Moyer & Sawyer with the ‘&’ splitting their names before the ‘er’ that was shared, and Associates on the side. Pretty creative if you ask me.
I took it to the living room and opened it, thinking it was a congratulatory message.
Miss Jackson,
We were so delighted to meet with you this afternoon. Please join us for dinner at 7 PM; we have sent a car for you. We look forward to seeing you.
-Jake and Logan
When I showed Sarai the letter, all she had to say was, “Why couldn’t they just call? And that’s the logo for The Lagoon.”
I shrugged. “I guess this letter is more their style.”
But shit! It was already six!
“What will you wear? The Lagoon is the nicest place in town.” Her brows drew in thought.
“I don’t know.” I stood up, glad I had barely eaten my spaghetti since I already had butterflies in my stomach. Now I had tons, the whole lot.
How else should I react to being invited to dinner with two, deliciously attractive billionaires? Who are drop dead gorgeous with eyes that weaken my knees? Yeah, anyone would be freaking out. Luckily, I had a fashion mogul as a friend to help me find something.
I had an old cocktail dress I wore once to a mixer with the business association at school. It was a nude, pink color and pretty modest at the top, while the back had crossing lines. It stopped at my knees, and cinched my small waist to make my already ample hips look bigger. I had washed my hair in the shower, so once I applied some mouse it dried into thick waves.
“You look awesome. Don’t even worry. Just be yourself—well, less of a bitch.” Sarai was putting my lipstick on for me and I rolled my eyes.
I had a few people tell me I was a bitch, or had a chip on my shoulder. But I just spoke my mind when people would rather I stayed silent. That doesn’t work for me. So, I just keep my head up and out of the gutter, and I don’t let people step on me. Being a woman in the business world would be hard enough, being a pushover or accepting defeat definitely wouldn’t work in my favor.
‘See? You look awesome!”
I stared back in the mirror. My eyeshadow was a lighter color to match the dress, and my cleavage looked amazing. And I finished it off with black, strappy heels. They gave me a few inches, so I felt less plumpy.
I don’t think I was ever ashamed of my body, but when everyone else is lithe and athletic, or looked like Sarai, I couldn’t help but wish my thighs were smaller, my hips not as wide or my breasts smaller. The only men in my life had come after me because of my T&A. It got really old.
“Thanks. What time is it?”
“Six-fifty.”
My heart skipped fifty-four beats before it tried to settle, and I felt it in my stomach. I knew this wasn’t a date, of course. They would both be there…but I can’t say the thought hadn’t crossed my mind. The two of them, together…I shook it from my head.
It was just a business meeting. A business dinner, rather.
If they were older, had graying hair and looked like the accomplishments before them, then I wouldn’t be so worried. But they didn’t. They were drop dead gorgeous.
Jake was ribbed with muscle, and they looked like they don’t come from conventional workouts. He was rough, and raw on the edges. Logan had that darkness to him, but it was contained and soft in a way. A very attractive way. Gosh, they are both so attractive. I felt every nerve in my body coming alive at the thought of them.
It had been four months since I last had sex. That had to be the problem, why I was acting so crazy.
Five minutes until seven, I descended the stairs with a go ahead from Sarai, and a promise to divulge all the secrets from the night.
I expected an older man and a town car, but outside stood a young man with low cut hair and a suit hugging every inch of his muscles. Do they only employ pretty people? Had I made that cut? I shivered at the thought.
“Miss Jackson?” He leaned off of the car, I couldn’t tell where he was looking because of his Aviators.
“Yes.” I tried to say confidently, but it came out like more of a question.
“Good evening.” He opened the door to the sleek, black luxury car. I think I caught the logo as a Lexus.
That was another thing about Logan and Jake. They weren’t too flashy, or overly conspicuous. You would never know if they were around you, or in your general vicinity because they didn’t make themselves seen like nearly everyone else of their status. It made me feel that much more at ease about dinner with them. There wouldn’t be a bunch of cameras or attention on us.
Their driver was quiet and kept his eyes on the road while I twiddled my thumbs in the back. I wished I could be studying, it sure would be a lot more relaxing. The drive was easy, twenty minutes later he was in the valet lane letting me out.
“Thank you.” I said, he simply nodded in response. I looked closer and knew I recognized him from somewhere. When Jake did promo work for his gym, he was one of the fighters. I should have known that’s why Jake looked the way he did, he still trains like a fighter.
The thought sent a swell of warmth right to my core. I entered the restaurant, unsure of where to go. The inside was calm, dim lights with dark table settings and cloths. I told the hostess what I was there for, and she led me to a back room.
Up the steps and to the right was a sort of private section, and I saw their figures sitting down.
“Your guest is here.” The hostess was a chipper young woman, eyeing them very indiscreetly. I don’t know why I suddenly felt jealous. After all, I was the one having dinner with them.
They both stood and turned to face me. I was weak in the knees, the only thing holding me up was my dignity and the fear of fainting. They both wore suits; Logan an ink black and Jake a cold gray. My goodness.
It wrapped every inch of their muscles, their powerful arms and heavy thighs. I was short of breath, but I composed myself to mutter a, “Hello.”
They both smiled kindly, and I shook their hands innocently. Though it felt more like an initiation to even more sexual feelings coursing through my body.
“Thank you for joining us. I know the notice was late,” Logan said. And Jake just stared.
It seemed Logan did a lot of the talking, and Jake did all the staring. I sat between them, on the inner side of the circular table while they were on the sides. We weren’t close enough to touch, but I could feel their eyes touching every inch of my body.
“That’s alright.” I smiled nervously, struggling to simply swallow.
Thankfully, the hot air was cut by the server arriving with some wine. I nearly downed the glass, but calmed myself after a few sips.
“How was the remainder of your day?” Logan asked.
My eyes glinted to Jake, who was fiddling with the strap of his watch. His jaw was tight, and gritted. I wondered what was wrong with him.
“Good. I still had class to go to.”
Jake joined the conversation then.
“How much longer do you have left?” He asked me.
“Three weeks. Well, I have finals in two weeks.” I felt uneasy at the thought of finals but I quickly dismissed it.
“Are you excited to be done?” He sipped his wine, and I couldn’t tear my eyes away from his full lips curling under the glass.
“Sort of. I have to face the real world afterwards.” They both chuckled.
It was the type of place where the courses were set, so we just waited for the food to come. We started off with a salad, and then a soup that might as well have been liquid gold.
“Hmm. I’m sure you want to talk about our business arrangement.”
Logan leaned forward. They had both shed their jackets halfway through the meal, and loosened their ties. I was not sure which look I liked better. I think I would fawn over them if they wore sacks.
“Yes. Well, I am excited about it.” I smiled nervously, my eyes darting between them. It was confusing. Who do I look at? Who do I drool over?
“We were thinking about it today. Would you be open to us buying your idea? Of course, you would get a share of the profits. But you wouldn’t be…”
“No.” I rudely interrupted, and they both stared at me like they had never heard such a word. “With all due respect, I want to be me mentored by you both. And learn from you. It isn’t about the money for me.” I explained myself.
They gave each other a look, smug smiles finding their faces. I could tell they were both surprised and impressed by my response.
“Okay then. Maybe we should continue this at a more private place.”