Chapter 11

Mick

I had lasted three weeks. I should’ve been given a fucking medal because she was three doors down from me and I stayed away. I stayed pissed that she maneuvered her way into my company by chatting up my client. I could still hear her sexy laugh, though. And last week, I hadn’t fucked her—even though it took everything in me not to. Originally, the plan was to pick her brain about World of Legends, get a crash course in how to play the stupid game, and then I could outshine her ideas with the client. Only, something happened in her cute little house in the Bronx. I felt at home. I never felt at home. Even when I was at home. My condo was full of all the top-end electronics and toys I could buy. I slept on a ten-thousand-dollar mattress, for fuck’s sake.

Yet I almost drifted off on Terri’s lumpy couch, filled up on pizza and wine.

Of course, all it took was a few sultry looks and a pervy computer game and all of a sudden all was forgiven and I forgot that I was her boss instead of the guy who really fucking enjoyed seeing her play with herself in my car.

I spent the rest of the week reminding myself why it would be a bad fucking idea to have an office affair. And yet when we were alone, all I wanted to do was take off her clothes and lose myself in her sweetness.

I couldn’t risk it. My mother had spies all over the office looking to keep me from sliding into that CEO position over Simon. It was petty revenge and I told her that, but there was no reasoning with her. Simon was her stooge and would love to take over the business and drive it right into bankruptcy. Right now, the only leverage I had over him was that Janet was willing to keep quiet about who the father of her baby was. When she decided to go after him for child support, I’d be in the stronger position. Then, with my father in prison, my mother fired, and my brother caught with his pants down, all the decisions the Wentworth Agency made would finally be mine and mine alone.

I just had to get through this year, this client, and keep my fucking hands off the delectable Terri Cooke.

Janet slammed a desk drawer in the other room and I rolled my eyes. Taking two ibuprofen as a precautionary measure, I focused my attention on GameCon. We had a booth, an autographing session with the game designers and voice actors, and a play test bank of computers in the game room. Lemmingware was footing the bill and staffing each spot, but it was up to me to drive the traffic there.

I ignored the “quiet” sounds of weeping. Oh, for fuck’s sake. Last time it was a baby sloth video on Facebook that drove Janet to tears. However, when her sobs got louder I saved what I was working on and checked on her.

“What’s the matter?” I asked, leaning against the doorjamb. I hoped I didn’t sound as annoyed as I felt.

“Oh, Mick.” She ran to me and wrapped her arms around my waist. I staggered back into my office and closed the door.

“Uh, there, there,” I said. I hate this shit. I didn’t know what to do with a crying woman. “You want a tissue?”

I think she said yes. I unwound her from me and deposited her on the couch. What did you give a hysterical pregnant woman? I didn’t think whiskey was a good idea. I passed her the box of tissues and waited for the storm to pass. Shifting uneasily, I wondered if it would be considered bad form to put on headphones and go back to work.

I was easing back over to my desk when she said, “I can’t work here anymore.”

Oh, shit.

“Sure, I understand. You can start your maternity leave early.”

Janet gave me a nasty look. “I’m only at eight months.”

“Oh, right.”

“I don’t want to waste my leave before the baby comes.”

I wasn’t sure what the correct answer she was looking for was. “So you’re not quitting?”

“No.” She clasped her hand to her chest. “I need the medical benefits.”

“Is it my office that you can’t work in anymore? Did you want to go back to Simon’s?”

Janet started to bawl again.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake.”

She cried louder.

“I’m sorry. Please. Why don’t you go compose yourself in my bathroom?” I led her by the arm into my adjoining bathroom and left her alone. I heard the water running as I took a shot of whiskey for my own nerves. I was settled back behind my desk when she came out.

“I’m sorry for that,” Janet said in a soft voice. She sat across from me with the box of tissues on her lap.

“Think nothing of it.” I was glad that the waterworks were over and Janet was calm again.

“It’s just so difficult seeing him move on.” She dabbed the corner of her eyes.

“Who?”

“Simon, with the new girl. The caterer.”

I blinked. “Terri?”

She sniffed.

“What do you mean moved on?”

“He took her to lunch again today and they were behind closed doors all morning.”

My gut twisted. There wasn’t anything that required Terri to see Simon. He wasn’t on the Lemmingware account.

“What were they talking about?” I tried to sound casual.

“I couldn’t tell. I only caught the sounds of laughter and other things.”

My temper did a slow burn. “Other things?”

Janet nodded. “I couldn’t put my ear to the door, obviously, but I passed by several times on my way to the copier and sometimes it was too quiet. Other times I heard furniture being moved.”

That could be anything. Terri knew Simon was married so I didn’t think she’d fool around with him. On the other hand, she was a pretty hot chick and Simon could be charming when he wanted to be. And if he thought she was my ex for some reason, my words came back to me:

You can fuck all my exes, if it makes you feel better.

Or worse, she could be a spy. Hell, for all I knew she was a plant my family put in the office to catch me with my hands in the honeypot. Maybe that was the reason Terri invited me back to her place last week.

It all made my head spin.

“Do you want me to talk to Terri?” I asked.

Janet shook her head. “I don’t want her to know. I don’t want anyone to know who the father is. What’s going to happen to me?” She started to cry again.

“You’ll be taken care of. You’re the mother of my niece or nephew, after all.”

“Oh, Mick, why couldn’t the baby be yours?”

Probably because I don’t fuck my secretaries. But then the image of Terri riding me on the black couch over there short-circuited my brain for a moment. I amended the thought to because I always use a condom.

“Do you think he’ll leave Laila?” Janet tearfully asked.

“I don’t know,” I said because it was kinder than the truth. “Have you talked to him about his responsibilities?”

“I was hoping you would. I don’t want him to be angry with me.”

“I’ll see what I can do.” I stood up and helped her to her feet and escorted her out of my office.

“Thank you for making me feel better,” she said when we were by her desk, and before she sat down, Janet hugged me again.

Of course, Terri and Simon took that moment to walk in.

“Are we interrupting something?” Simon asked.

Janet blushed and sat back down at her desk. I opened my mouth to say something cutting, but Janet shot me a pleading look. “Not at all.” I glanced at Terri, who was looking at Janet and me thoughtfully. “What can I do for you?”

“I need to borrow Terri for a project.”

“Absolutely not.”

Terri blinked at me. “It’s okay. I’m caught up on the Lemmingware in-game stuff. I cc’d you on the report I gave Curtis about the beta version equipment promos.”

“Good. I saw the email, but I didn’t get a chance to read it. If you have time, I need your help with GameCon. Are you able to travel for the conference next month?”

Her whole face lit up and then dimmed. “No, I can’t leave my brother.”

“What about for the weekend? Saturday and Sunday will be the big days anyway.”

Terri looked thoughtful. “I think I can swing that.”

“Excellent. Book yourself a hotel, flight, and tickets for the convention. I’ll send a car to take you up to and from the airport. Sorry Simon, I can’t spare Terri. But Janet may be able to help you out.”

Janet whirled her head to me. I ignored her wide, pleading eyes.

“I guess that would work out.” Simon smiled at Janet. “Can you spare her for a few hours this afternoon?”

“Janet?” I asked.

“S-sure,” she said. “Can you give me about twenty minutes?”

Simon nodded and walked out.

“Can I see you in my office?” I asked Terri.

She walked in and I closed the door behind us. I refused to look at the couch, but I saw her glance at it and she blushed. And, of course, my dick got hard.

“Have a seat.” I gestured to the chair across my desk. “Can I get you some coffee?”

“Yeah, I could use a cup.”

I went to the bar and started up the espresso machine.

“Wait,” Terri said. “You’ve got a rig like that in here and you buy coffee at the Beanery?”

“I buy Janet coffee at the Beanery. I like my coffee black.”

“Black as your soul?” she teased.

“Black as my heart,” I corrected, handing her a demitasse. “I feel like a student about to be graded on a test. How did I do?”

“Well, you didn’t tamp the beans twice and I’m pretty sure you didn’t use thirty pounds of pressure.” She took a sip. “But you’re using damn fine coffee and that’s a sweet machine. I approve.”

“I’m so glad.”

I made one for myself and perched on the corner of my desk so I could look down at her. She was wearing a V-neck sweater that showed the sweet swells of her breasts. Her pants looked like they’d slip right down her thighs. “I thought I told you to stay away from Simon.”

“You said not to fuck him.”

I almost choked on my espresso.

“I didn’t,” Terri continued as I recovered. “He wanted my advice on some social media marketing for his Brockton soap account. I had some downtime today and I got lunch out of the deal.” She gestured at me with her coffee. “Luigi’s, even. Not a cold-cut sandwich. I got spaghetti carbonara. I ate a whole basket of garlic bread. I think my breath can melt glass.” She sipped her coffee and closed her eyes. “It was worth it.”

She was worth it. I liked watching her expressions. I looked away from her pretty face. If I kissed her, I wouldn’t have a leg to stand on if I wanted to outmaneuver Simon out of the CEO spot, so I kept it businesslike. “What was he looking to do on social media?”

“Spam tweets and chat up the product on relevant pages.”

I shook my head.

“I told him he was better off making funny memes and tweeting them and buying some ads featuring them. I think that’s what he’s going to have Janet do.”

I grunted. Good. It would keep both of them out of trouble. Or in trouble. I wasn’t sure which was worse at this point.

“Have you ever met my mother?” I asked, watching her face carefully. I wanted to catch her in a lie. If she was working for my mother, I would have to be very careful. No more cozy Friday nights. And I’d keep my distance at the trade show. If she wasn’t working for my brother or mother, maybe we could be discreet. After all, what happens in Vegas…

“No, what’s she like?”

No recognition. That was good. “She’s a lot like Simon. He’s her favorite.”

She considered that for a moment. “Are you like your dad?”

I shuddered and glared, but when I studied her expression either she was an excellent poker player or she had no idea that my father was about to go to prison. “I hope not,” I said.

“Why?”

“He’s going on trial for embezzlement.”

Terri winced. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know. Simon never mentioned it.”

It bothered me that Simon and she had personal conversations. I could have had personal conversations too, except I wanted her legs wrapped around my head instead.

“You’re looking at me like that again.”

Like what? Then I remembered our conversation in the restaurant on our first date.

“Only this time,” Terri continued, “you should know the answer to the question.”

I grinned. She liked her nipples sucked hard and her pussy licked softly. “Maybe I’m thinking of something else right now?”

Terri finished her coffee and put the cup on my desk. Leaning forward, she placed her hands on my thighs. “Maybe I am too.”

She was sinking to her knees when AC/DC’s “Highway to Hell” started playing. What the fuck? I was trying to remember how to breathe and wondered if my heart had stopped when her gaze lifted to mine.

“I’m sorry. That’s my brother’s ringtone. I have to take this.”

Holy shit. What had just almost happened? Had I imagined she was about to go down on me?

Pulling the phone out of her pocket, she said, “Hi. Are you all right?” Frowning, she started walking out of my office. After adjusting myself, I followed. Janet was already gone. She probably fixed her makeup and ran into Simon’s office. I felt a bit like a hypocrite because I knew how she felt.

“Did you hurt yourself?” Terri continued. “I think you should call an ambulance. I don’t like the numbness. I can be there in a half hour, but I’d rather meet you at the hospital.”

Terri walked into her cubicle and pulled her purse out of the bottom drawer. I leaned against the desk as she searched inside for her keys. “Are you sure?” she said, just as she grabbed them. “I don’t like this. Fine. Is there anything else you want me to bring over? Okay, but if anything changes, you call the doctor first.”

She sighed and slipped her phone back in her pocket.

“Everything all right?” I asked.

Startled, Terri looked up at me in surprise. “Oh, I didn’t see you there. Not really. Billy wasn’t feeling well enough to go to his appointment today. So we rescheduled. But he just fell. He slipped in the bathroom and luckily landed on his arm and side, instead of his head. Nothing’s broken, but he’s sore and he said his arm is numb. He thinks it’s because he hit his funny bone. I think he should go to urgent care and get checked out, but he just wants me to come by after I get off work with some heating pads and over-the-counter pain meds.” She sank into her chair.

I rapidly moved away from her. The last thing I needed was that crazy attraction hitting in the middle of the department for everyone to see. “Do you want to go home now?”

She looked up at the clock. “Yeah, I’m going to be useless for the next two hours anyway.”

“Can you help me out again tonight? I want to try leveling a character in the Egyptian world. I think I’ve got the Viking one down. Jim has been on my ass looking for an opinion and I don’t feel right using secondhand knowledge.”

Terri crossed her eyes. “He’s such a prick. It’s so much easier working with Curtis. He gets it. I’ll tell Curtis to get Jim off your ass.”

“I can handle my own ass.” Then I looked around. Luckily no one was there to have heard that. I loved our ridiculous conversations, but when I said shit like that I sounded like an idiot. “Call me when you feel comfortable leaving your brother alone. I’ll bring over dinner. How does Chinese sound?”

“Like I’m going to gain fifteen pounds working here.”

“Is that a request for a salad?”

She glared at me. “Fried dumplings. Boneless spareribs.”

“Your wish is my command.”

“And I didn’t even have to rub the lamp.” Terri winked at me and slung her purse over her shoulder. I was still looking around to make sure no one heard her when she left.

When I got back to my office, I scrolled through my phone to call the director at Montefiore again.

“Chris? It’s Mick. I was wondering if you had a chance to look over William Cooke’s application for the muscle and nerve study.”

“Yeah, he’s definitely on the waitlist.”

“Are you filled up?”

“We had ten slots. They went quick.”

I tapped my fingers on my keyboard. “What would you need to open up enough slots to cover the waitlist?” I could almost hear the wheels turning in Chris’s head.

“It’s not quite that simple. I’d have to find another doctor and some more technicians. Plus, there would be more data to compile. We weren’t expecting the interest we received. Perhaps we’ll do another test in the fall.”

I made a rolling gesture with my hand, even though he couldn’t see it. Bureaucrats always had to stretch things out. “If you had to put a dollar amount on expanding the participants in the trial, what would it be?”

Chris coughed and harrumphed but eventually said, “I’d need about twenty-five thousand dollars and ethically I can’t put Mr. Cooke in the study based on your donation.”

“I understand that. But if you were to receive the money and he is on the waitlist, is it possible he’d get in?”

“I can’t say for sure, but it’s very likely.”

“I’ll wire the funds over right now.”

“Thank you. And your family’s generous contributions to the burn center have really come in handy this year. We were able to set up more beds and get in some state-of-the-art equipment.”

“I’m glad. Keep me in mind if you need anything. The Wentworth Agency is glad to help.”

“Well, now that you mentioned it we could use some help getting the word out for our annual campaign.”

And that was a win-win situation because the hospital’s high-priced donors would naturally ask who Montefiore was using for their marketing. Chris and I got down to business and worked out a plan that benefited both our needs. Not a bad way to wrap up a week. Friday game night was becoming my favorite part of the week.