As soon as I get up to my office to check in, there are at least ten emails that need an urgent response. I quickly realize that I can’t do all this from home, and a trip into town is going to be necessary again.

I dress in my normal suit, explain to Kylie that the house is hers for a few hours while I go into the office, and then head out. The snow has let up and the roads are mostly clear, so it’s pretty easy going back into town.

I hate to leave Kylie alone after our conversation, but she clearly needs some time to process. She didn’t look disgusted or upset by the offer, but she didn’t immediately accept. I could tell that she was excited, and I bet she wanted me to kiss her in that moment, but I didn’t want to rush things.

I don’t want her to think this is just about sex, because it’s far from that. I feel a strange kinship with her, although she’s much younger than I am. More than that, it excites me to think about taking care of her. I love the idea of spoiling her, giving her everything she could want and more. The idea of having a young, beautiful woman dependent on me for her money, her food, her clothing, her shelter, it drives me wild.

I like the control it suggests. I don’t want her to feel like she’s stuck with me, but I do want to feel like I’m the one who’s protecting and taking care of her. There’s something incredibly sexual about that, although there’s not technically any sex involved.

Though I do want to touch her, and I will. We both know that’s just a matter of time. I won’t rush it, because I know better than to push too hard, but she’s going to come begging for it sooner or later.

I pull into the lot and park in my spot. Our office takes up three floors in the largest building in downtown Juneau. My father actually owns the building, and we could have more space, we simply don’t need it.

I head inside and ride the elevator up. I get off at our uppermost floor and head into my corner office, nodding and saying hello to everyone I come across. I’ve made it a point to know all of my employees, and the people that don’t work directly under me, though there are very few of those. I know that I’m one of the biggest and highest ranking bosses in the company and nobody expects me to know them all by name, but I make it a point to do that anyway.

I don’t want to become like my father and like Elliot. I don’t want to be some out-of-touch rich asshole that cares about nothing but the business. This job is all about people, and people rely on our success.

And I also care about things like the environment. I know oil has a bad reputation, but it doesn’t need to. I want to innovate new, environmentally friendly ways to do business, and move our company into the future. But I’m up against stubborn and backwards thinking men like my brother.

Once I get into my office, I start making calls. A couple of hours pass quickly as I deal with a few issues related to a new well we’re planning on drilling plus a pipeline that’s being constructed through federal lands.

I need to take a break, and so I buzz my secretary and ask her to come into my office. Judy is in her forties, a few years older than me, and she’s been my assistant and secretary for years.

“What’s up, Carson?” she asks, shutting my door behind her.

“I have a task for you,” I say. “Something that has to stay between us.”

She nods, putting away her notebook. “Of course. What can I do?”

“I need you to buy some gifts for me.”

“For who?”

“A young woman.”

A little smile crosses her lips. “A special young woman?”

I nod, keeping my face composed. “Yes, a special young woman.”

“What sort of gifts?”

“Dresses,” I say. “Maybe some jewelry. Something like that.”

She nods, giving me a knowing smile. “Understood. Do you know her size?”

I pause, cocking my head. “She has a body similar to Cindy in accounting. A bit thinner.”

Judy grins. “Good for you.”

“Cut it out.”

She laughs. “When do you need them?”

“Before I leave today. Take the rest of the day for it. And get yourself something nice, too.” I hand her my card.

“I’ll be back soon,” she says, waving as she leaves my office.

I lean back in my chair and sigh. This isn’t the first time that I’ve sent Judy to buy a present for a woman, but this is the first time I’ve actually cared about it. I trust her taste though, and I know she’ll do a good job. I just hope I got my sizing right. I usually have a good eye for that sort of thing, though.

I get back to work for maybe ten minutes before there’s a knock at my office door. I lean back but before I can respond, the door opens and my brother barges in.

Elliot is tall and thin, maybe an inch taller than me, but he never works out so he’s very thin. His suit is pitch black and his hair is slicked back, just like a stereotypical eighties business man. He shuts the door behind him then faces me, a smile on his face. “Carson,” he says.

“To what do I owe this pleasure?”

He sits down in front of my desk, still grinning. “I heard you ran into Declan.”

“Of course you did.”

“Who’s the girl?”

I sigh and shake my head. “Fuck off, Elliot.”

“Oh come on. I just want to make sure you’re not going to do something to embarrass the family.” He leans back in his chair, arms crossed. “How old did you say she was?”

“I didn’t say. But I’m sure Declan guessed.”

“He said twenty by the looks of her.”

I stare at him. “Still none of your business.”

He laughs again, shaking his head. “You’re unbelievable. Seriously, Carson, do you want to hand me the CEO job? Father is going to lose his shit when he finds you with a girl half your age.”

I frown, because I know that’s likely true, but I don’t back down. “What I do at home doesn’t affect the company.”

“Of course it does and you know it. That’s why you were so annoyed to see Declan.”

“I was annoyed that you have your dogs follow me around.”

“Either way, you got caught. Now what?”

“Now you get out and I get back to work.”

“You’re going to destroy yourself,” Elliot says, standing. “And I’m going to love it.”

“Like I said earlier,” I respond, staring at him blankly. “Fuck off.”

He laughs again and leaves my office.

The rest of the day is spent trying to concentrate on the task ahead. With about an hour left before business closes, I call Judy up and tell her to head back. I know I’m finished for the day, even though I have more work to do. After my brother’s little visit I just can’t really concentrate.

As soon as Judy gets back, I get my card and the bags from her, and then I head back home.

I should be more worried about my brother’s threats. I know he’s right, at least to an extent. I think my father doesn’t care as much about what I do as Elliot seems to think he does, but I could be wrong. Things are volatile right now, and my father isn’t exactly in his normal mindset. He’s dying, and he’s drugged up, and he could do anything at any moment.

I should be playing it safe. But I don’t want to be safe. I want Kylie. And I’m going to have her.