Chapter 2
Violet
Cole Crayton finally showed up. Words couldn’t describe the rush of excitement that went through me. Not to mention the heat pulsating between my legs. The entire summer had passed without any sign of Cole at one of my mother’s parties, but now this was it. I had my opening. I had my chance.
I watched as Cole beelined it quickly through the crowd, but was stopped by my dad before he could reach the garden gate. The two of them were swept into a conversation with another one of my dad’s friends.
The tense expression on Cole’s strong and freshly shaven face didn’t help the fluttering in my stomach. I recognized that look in his cobalt blue colored eyes. It was the look of pure interest and lust. He had wanted to fuck me, but the second he recognized me, a cold wall had come down between us. I’d expected it, partly. Cole was a gentleman. He would never lay a hand on me, never look in my direction because I’m his best friend’s daughter.
And he had no idea that I wanted him. Since I was fifteen years old, I’ve wanted him. I wanted that fit and muscled body pushing up against mine. I wanted to be one of those women I’ve overheard my parents talking about with my mom. He was filling a bottomless void with alcohol and women from what I gathered since his divorce.
It made my plan that much easier.
“Excuse me,” I said to the couple whose name I couldn’t remember. They lived a few miles down the road in another mansion. Another one of my mother’s “good neighbor” friends that she secretly competed with all the time.
Making my way through the crowd of people gathered on the back patio, I sidled up close to where Cole stood to talk with my dad and a few other men. All summer I had pestered my father constantly about talking to Cole about securing an internship role at Crayton, Inc. They needed help with their expansion. I needed the experience, and it would put me in front of Cole every single day.
I bit the inside of my cheek in aggravation when I caught of Martha Myers also sidling up to Cole. Recently divorced too. Unfortunately, she wasn’t exactly bad looking either, with her dark hair and well-endowed breasts. Cole’s eyes fixated on her as she swept him up into a conversation that I couldn’t hear over the chatter of other people.
Jealousy smoldered in my chest. It took all my self-control not to claw Martha's greedy eyes out. I wanted to tell her that he had looked at me with much more interest than her. But I had too much riding on this to give into the urge.
My father turned to talk to someone else when he realized Martha’s intent. I was seething now, wishing Dad would broach the topic of my internship with Cole. When it came to his best friend, my dad never brought him up, besides a passing comment that he wouldn’t be at whatever party my mother was throwing. He visited Cole in the city too, but I doubted that he ever brought up what I’d asked him to.
“Dad,” I said, tugging on the edge of his shirt sleeve to gain his attention. “Can I talk to you?”
“What is it?”
He followed me away from the rest of the crowd.
“Have you asked him yet about the internship?”
A guilty expression crossed his face. “I forgot, Vi. I don’t believe he has internships open right now anyway.”
“Don’t you think it would be a great experience though?” I asked, trying to keep my voice level. This was my one and only chance to get close to Cole, which was the only place I wanted to be. “My resume would look awesome with an internship at Crayton, Inc.”
“You don’t have to worry about that sort of thing, Vi. That’s why I have worked as hard as I have—so you and your mother won’t have to worry about money.”
“I know that, dad. And I appreciate it, but--” I tried to think of the best way to describe it. I loved my family. I’d grown up with wealth, but I wanted my own life. I wanted the experiences that my parents took care to shelter me from. I’d attended prestigious to private schools. I’d even finished college online because my mother was terrified of me going wild with a little bit of freedom.
I didn’t even want to think about dating because any guy who even came close to me was scared away by the Summers name.
A soft, toned arm brushed against my shoulders. The smell of my mother’s perfume filled the air as she brushed back some of my hair. Her eyes were a bit unfocused and glossy when she looked at me.
“Maybe it wouldn’t be such a bad idea, honey, to let her go for the internship,” she said. “Think of the people she would be meeting too. She’ll be working with Cole, and he’ll keep her safe.”
My father sighed in exasperation. “It’s not Cole that I’m worried about. It’s the other billionaires that he works for that might be desperate for female companionship. That’s what I am worried about.”
“Cole wouldn’t let that happen,” I said. I hoped that he would be the one looking at me. Not someone else.
“I can’t just ask him to take Violet into his company. That’s not my call.”
“Oh, for God’s sake,” my mother muttered, handing me her glass of wine. “We’ve been friends for over twenty years. Do you think that Cole would tell us no?”
“Gloria--”
“Mom. Wait--” I reached for her elbow, but she danced away from the both of us.
“Cole,” she said, loudly enough to gain his attention. “Alan and I have a small favor to ask of you.”
Cole’s eyes flicked over to where I stood rooted next my dad. My cheeks burned hotly under his gaze. This was humiliating, but whatever it took, right? My mother knew how to get what she wanted from people.
“What is it?” he asked.
“Alan has been meaning to talk to you about your internship program,” she said and gestured towards me. “Vi here is wanting some experience in the business field. She’s been looking into your company.”
A strange light flickered in Cole’s eyes. He started to shake his head, but I stepped forward to interrupt him. My heart raced against my ribcage. No matter how many times I had practiced in front of the mirror, it was still nerve-wracking to face him. Cole was a business man. He wouldn’t take me in as an intern if he didn’t believe I would benefit the company in the long run.
“You know that I graduated from college early,” I started, thankful that my voice wasn’t shaky like my nerves. “You know that my dad has taught me everything, but I can help your company. I can help with the expansion.” I locked my eyes on Cole’s unwavering ones. “Nothing will stop me until I prove my loyalty. I’ll do anything that you tell me to do. Whatever you want me to do.”
The rest of the party continued around us. I watched as Cole’s eyes darkened at the undercurrent I hoped he would pick up on. For that wild moment, his eyes were on me, and only on me. Not Martha. Not my parents. He was seeing me for the first time as an adult—particularly as a woman.
“It won’t be easy,” Cole spoke then, the husky timbre in his voice sending a shiver down my spine. “I won’t be easy on you. Just because you’re my best friend’s daughter, I won’t make your job easy. It’ll be challenging.”
I tilted my chin up to meet his eyes bravely. The setting sun cast an orange glow on Cole’s face. I could see the beads of sweat gathered at his dark hairline. The heat between us was consuming me from the inside out.
“I’m not afraid,” I said. “I’ll do anything it takes to give you what you need.”
Cole didn’t reply. His eyes were still focused on me, scanning my face for a long moment.
“Fine,” he said, breaking eye contact finally. “I’ll take you up on your offer. Tuesday morning, you start with the other intern.” He turned to look at my mother who clapped her hands cheerfully. “Don’t ask me for any more favors, Gloria. I don’t hire random people into my company.”
“You know Violet. She’s quick to learn. I’m sure that she’ll fit right in.”
“No more business for the rest of the night,” my father said, wrapping an arm around my shoulder. “Let’s enjoy the weekend before Cole and Violet head back into the city.”
“I am actually going to retire for the night,” Cole said. “It was a long drive, after an even longer day.”
He shook hands with my father, kissed my mother’s cheek, and then stopped in front of me briefly. Sweat gathered in my palms. I could smell his cologne still clinging to his skin from earlier in the morning. Our eyes met, but it was difficult to read him. I couldn’t tell if he was happy, or irritated with the situation.
“I’ll be seeing you on Tuesday morning, then, at 8:00 am,” he said smoothly. “Not even a minute late, Violet.”
I suppressed a tremble at the way my name came off his tongue. I imagined it coming out of his mouth in a different scenario.
“I understand,” I said. “I’ll be there early.”
Cole nodded once before slipping out through the gate that was his original escape plan. Relief flooded me. After all this time, after all this planning, I finally had the opening I needed. That same delicious heat filled me just thinking about it.
I turned to look at my parents who were staring at each other, one happy, the other irritated. My father didn’t look pleased at all, but I didn’t want to stick around to hear his reasons. I already knew them.
“I think I’m going to head up to get a shower,” I said. “It’s been a long day for me too.”
Not giving them a chance to hook me into a conversation, I hurried across the back patio and into the airy living room, outfitted with high-end furniture and expensive decorations. The bottom floor was abuzz with energy, as I expected it to be. There was never a quiet moment in the house anymore with mom busy playing the Queen of the Hamptons. There was always a group of rich friends to entertain over cocktails and lunch.
My room was quiet and cool; I locked the door behind me with a shaky sigh. Every inch of my body was quivering with tension and excitement. The fabric of my panties was already soaked from that dark lustful look Cole had given me before realizing who I was.
I didn’t need a shower. I just need a release, and a quick one so that I could get through the weekend without the ache. Now that I’d landed a spot in Crayton, Inc., I needed to prove my determination.
Delicious pressure built up in me when I slid a hand down underneath my skirt to rub at the aching nub there. Letting the sensation build up, I closed my eyes to imagine that it was Cole standing right there in front of me with that look in his eyes while his hand moved in rhythmic circles. The way he would naturally know how I liked.
It wasn’t long before pleasure burst inside me. I bit my lip to keep myself from crying out too loudly. The last thing I needed was one of my mother’s snooping friends saying she’d heard me. I sagged against the door in relief before pulling my wet fingers away.
Come Tuesday morning, everything would be set in motion. It would all go according to plan because I hadn’t missed that look in Cole’s eyes. He was interested. He just needed some pushing in the right direction, and I was happy to assist with that.