Chapter 2

Hudson

I woke up the next morning with a long groan on my lips. My dream the night before had been so far beyond good. Why in the fuck was Mia on my mind so much lately? It was like the fucking universe was trying to push her on me.

My cock throbbed against my stomach under the covers, the big bastard urging me to take the dream sequences and make it last. I ran my hand down and gripped the wet head of my hard dick, lifting my hips and pushing against the tension. Pleasure rolled through the center of my chest, and a long groan left me.

Mia. I could see her in my mind’s eye. Her back bare and stretched out before me, her sweet ass in the air, pussy wet and ready for a long, hard fuck. I moaned again and stroked my cock as I let my mind go wild.

I wanted to pull her hair and sink my cock deep into her hot pussy, to press my forearm into her back and force her to arch as she made more room for me inside of her. She’d cry out my name and beg to clean up the mess she’d made on my shaft after I finished fucking her.

And I’d let her.

There’s nothing I wanted more than to break my own rules and bring the pretty girl to my bed for a long night of show-and-tell. Something told me she had an innocent streak, which made my balls tighten and desire to swell deep inside of me.

I gripped the sheet with my free hand and pumped my hips, tightening my ass and fucking my hand for the next half hour. I groaned her name because it felt appropriate as hot come pumped from the tip of my prick, covering my stomach and leaving me feeling a sense of relief for the first time in a long time.

“Yeah. There’s not going to be any of that nonsense. Not with Mia.” I got out of bed and glanced down at my dick as I made my way to the shower. “Get over it. Now.”

***

A half hour later, my feet pounded the treadmill. Sweat dripped from my brow and slid down my neck, but I wasn’t giving an inch. I had three more miles to go before I moved on to the free weights section of my upscale gym.

It took only a couple of beats for the song blaring into my ears through my earphones to change, but it was enough for nearby laughter to filter through.

The sound grated on my nerves. Two girls giggled nearby, pawing at some personal trainer who basked in their attention.

For fuck’s sake. Is there nowhere sacred anymore?

I understood a good workout got the blood flowing everywhere, but was it absolutely necessary to use the goddamn gym floor as a pickup spot? Had these people never heard of clubs or, better yet, the anonymity of the never-ending variety of dating apps out there?

More than enough women in the greater Portland area were down for a vigorous fuck without the tedious pickup process. I would’ve imparted that wisdom to the personal trainer in question, but I couldn’t be bothered.

I wasn’t that guy. I was alone in the gym for a reason, as I always was. I wanted it that way. I had no desire to be the guy who laughed and chatted and flirted in the gym. Or anywhere else for that matter. Solitude fitted me like a glove.

Not that I didn’t understand their desire to connect. I wanted that stuff as well. Where Mia got on my last fucking nerve like everyone else, she was a beautiful woman to look at. Her body screamed, ‘fuck me’ and yet, I knew better. No playing with the help. It wasn’t right.

The treadmill beeped, and I jogged through the cool down period. One of my newest artists crooned in my ears. I diverted my attention from the would-be threesome and effectively shut the world out as I finished my routine.

An hour later, the elevator doors slid open to my office. People hurried away from one another, busying themselves with God knew what as they pretended they hadn’t been wasting valuable company time before I’d arrived.

I knew I wasn’t well liked in the office. I scared the shit out of some of my employees. It didn’t bother me in the least. Being respected and being liked wasn’t the same thing. I needed my people to respect me, not to love me. They were more efficient that way, more pliable.

Instead of turning to my office, I headed to Mia’s cubicle. The woman had a golden touch, and it didn’t hurt that she was easy on the eyes. I was pretty sure that was why half of her clients had signed with us. The other half recognized her undeniable talent. I’d fucked her a few different ways, a few different times—all in the confines of my head. I couldn’t help but wonder if she were a moaner. Or did she scream? Did she come without effort, or would I have to beat her g-spot with vigor to get her sweet little slit to tighten up and douse me with her sweet juices? My cock twitched in my slacks, begging for the opportunity to find out.

Mia’s eyebrows shot up in surprise when I stopped next to her cubicle. She pulled her earphones out and straightened up in one fluid movement. “What can I do for you, Hudson?”

Lots of things. Let’s start with a blowjob.

“I need you to look over these contracts. They’re new clients we’re adding to our roster, and I need to know what we’re potentially signing up for.” My eyes appraised from her freshly polished toes peeking out of her pumps to the top of her head. She was impossibly beautiful up close. I wondered if she was seeing someone. Fucking him? I bet she had a tight velvety pussy.

Her jaw tightened. “When do you need these by?” Mia asked, gritting her teeth.

I shrugged. “Close of business tomorrow, at the very latest. Thanks, Mia.”

Her navy-blue eyes flared. She was less than thrilled with the extra work. And the timeline. But it wasn’t like she’d say no.

She regarded me with widened eyes and nodded slowly. “Sure, Hudson. I’m not sure when I’ll get time to get into this, but I’ll make it happen within the next few days. I have all those renewals on my plate right now, but I’ll get to this the first chance I get.”

Not. Good. Enough. She was one of my best, and I needed this done immediately. “Tomorrow will be just fine.”

I didn’t wait for an answer. I spun on my heel and left her fuming in my wake. Not my problem. She’d get it done. That was all that mattered.

A familiar head of graying hair was visible in my office.

Fucking Jenny.

I couldn’t exactly keep Henry Carson out since he’d funded this whole enterprise years ago, but Jenny had strict instructions to keep any visitors in her seating area until I gave her the okay to let them in. Knowing Henry, he’d simply shrugged past her. Given he was the co-founder of the label, she wouldn’t refuse him. Even at the risk of not following my explicit instructions.

My sense of people had yet to disappoint me, and I had the distinct feeling Jenny wanted to fuck me. Then, either marry me or hang around long enough for me to recognize her musical talents.

None of which was happening. Most of my assistants wanted one or the other when they started working for me. Then, they quit when they realized I wasn’t interested in either. She was a pretty decent assistant in the meantime though.

I didn’t fuck where I worked, and I didn’t sign mediocre talent to my label who could barely carry a tune. And the idea of marriage? That was fucking laughable. Jenny was shit out of luck.

My lips curled into a smile as I entered my office. Unannounced as it was, a visit from the old man wasn’t entirely unwelcome. It was simply something I had to tolerate, and then, he’d leave me alone for the next few weeks.

“Henry,” I said. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

Henry slapped my back in an overly familiar gesture. It still made my skin crawl, even though he greeted me that way every time I saw him. I made few indulgences for few people.

I indulged Henry’s unexpected visits and back slaps for the sake of efficiency. No need to prolong our meetings more than necessary. He would say whatever he needed to and leave me to run our company. My company.

I fixed the grin to my face and motioned for him to take the seat he’d already been occupying.

“I’ve been contacted by some concerned parties.” His lips pressed together. “Word on the floor is that you’ve fired another one?”

I gauged his reaction. He didn’t seem pissed, exactly. Not that I would ‘ve given a shit if he was. He seemed more worried. Why he would be, I had no idea. He trusted me to make the tough decisions, and he never second guessed me. I’d never given him a reason to. “Word on the floor is correct.”

“Apparently, the young woman was one of our best assistants.” He leaned back in his seat, comfortable with me in a way very few people were. Understandable really, given our history, but it annoyed the living hell out of me nevertheless.

“That’s debatable. She nearly cost us four million dollars on a new contract. I had to call in some serious favors to get the deal back on track.” I lifted my chin at him, silently daring him to challenge me.

He wouldn’t. He had no idea what I did all day, only that he cashed million dollar checks on a fairly regular basis and I was the one who made it happen.

“Even so, Hudson. Was firing her the only option? She’s a bright young woman by all accounts. Perhaps we could have simply repurposed her? Especially since her mother had taken ill.”

That was exactly why I made most of the decisions. Henry was weak. Too compassionate. Too empathetic. “Yes, her mother was ill, but she left without making the necessary arrangements, nearly costing us a huge client because she was incapable of following simple procedure.”

He considered my answer. “We can’t get careless with our employees. The lawyers don’t think we’ll have any problems with this one, but all it takes is one. Please bear that in mind when you face the next challenge.”

My jaw clenched. I knew what I was doing. I didn’t need a fucking babysitter. “I know the law, Henry. I don’t arbitrarily fire people. The woman fucked up. She had to go. That’s the end of it.”

Henry stayed silent, observing me with sharp cold eyes. The years had been kind to him, but the wrinkles on his forehead and lines around his eyes were deeper. More pronounced than they’d been when those same eyes had set with determination and promised me the capital to start BC Records.

He’d taken a chance on me. I would never take that for granted, but I didn’t appreciate him getting in my face about the way I chose to run my company.

“Very well. The other matter we need to discuss is Mr. Maxwell’s resignation. Have you started interviewing candidates to replace him yet? It’s vital the transition goes smoothly.”

“I have not, nor do I intend to. I will take over his duties myself. I’m not going to pay someone else what we pay Maxwell when I’m perfectly capable of doing his job myself.”

Henry sighed. “You can’t take on more work, Hudson. You practically live here as it is. I worry about you.”

“I assure you, Henry, you have nothing to be worried about. I will take care of it. I always do, don’t I?”

He rose gracefully from his seat, fastening the button on his gray morning suit. Clearly, he’d said his piece. “That you do, son. I don’t know what we’d do without you.”

I took the hand he extended to me and gave it a firm shake. “Good thing you’ll never have to find out.”

***

Henry appeared at my door once again the following afternoon, his face ashen and his eyes tight with worry.

I stiffened. Henry didn’t rattle easily, despite his compassion and empathy. Something was very wrong.

“What is it?” I asked. He clicked the door to my office shut and leaned against it, taking a deep breath and letting his eyes close momentarily.

I braced myself for the hit I knew was coming in my direction as soon as Henry had composed himself.

“Anderson just called,” he started.

The news was unsettling all on its own. Anderson was one of the senior partners at the law firm that handled all of our business. Anderson usually dealt with me directly. If he’d called Henry, something was definitely wrong.

“The Department of Homeland Security contacted him. Hudson, they think you’re here illegally. Someone ratted you out.” My blood froze in my veins. My stomach dropped and twisted in a way that made me feel sick.

“They’re on their way here now to come talk to you.” Henry’s shoulders sagged, and he sank into the couch in the corner.

His words hit me harder than I cared to admit, but I set my jaw in determination and jutted my chin into the air. “Let them come. I’ll take care of it.”

“This is serious, Hudson. I trust you, and I’m not going to get in your business, but if you get in to some kind of trouble—deported—or lose your right to work here, I’m going to have to take you off the business. At least until the dust settles.” His eyes pleaded with me not to let that happen.

“Thank you for coming to warn me in person.” My tone was deceptively cool, calm even. I gave no outward sign of the storm raging in my gut. “I will deal with them, I have no intention of getting into any kind of trouble.”

Henry visibly relaxed. Apparently, my confident demeanor had set his mind at ease.

“Very well. I’ll leave the matter in your capable hands. If there is anything I can do to assist, you will call?” It wasn’t truly a question.

“Of course. Thank you again.” We shook hands, and Henry left, leaving me to watch his retreating back, my fists clenched in my pockets.

Two men in cheap, ill-fitting suits stepped off the elevator car that Henry stepped into. My stomach twisted again.

That was faster than I expected. My eyes followed them as they approached the reception desk. My mind raced. They’d caught me completely off guard.

I knew two things for sure as they strode with purpose to my office. I was not going back to Santo Via Island, to my useless family and shithole of a childhood home. And I was definitely not giving up my fucking company.