CHAPTER NINE

HAYDEN

After dropping Lydia off at her apartment, I went home, showered and dressed for work. Sitting at my desk, I stared out the window. My thoughts were consumed with how many times I kissed Lydia’s beautiful lips. I worked a half day. The second I arrived home, I hit the bed hard. I was beyond exhausted.

I rose to relieve myself then I sent Lydia a text message.

Call me.

Momentarily, I laid in bed, then fell back to sleep. It was after midnight when I woke again. Food was what I needed. I was starving. Lydia texted me back. She tried to back out on our trip. I wasn’t going for that shit. After showering for the second time today, I dressed, then ran out to grab a meal. I had no intentions of seeing Lydia, but after she informed me she hadn’t eaten, I chose for us to eat together.

The moment I saw her face, I didn’t want to leave her presence. Our schedules are divergent. I have to creatively find ways to spend time with her. Witnessing her pain hurt my heart. The loss of her mother crushed her. She no longer cherishes happiness. I want to be her protector, her provider, her everything. I won’t push too hard. Holding her in my arms on the balcony, I never wanted to let her go. She’s managed to take hold of my ice heart which beats inside of a clear case wrapped in heavy silver chains.

I’ve hurt many women because they weren’t the woman for me. Lydia is the woman for me. Her virginity is a plus. I get to be her first and last. Taming her, desecrating her until she only longs for me is what I want and need.

This beautiful woman has managed to crack the case around my heart. Holding Lydia in my arms felt like second nature. I couldn’t leave her last night if I wanted to. I long to sleep with her every night. My beautiful woman sat sipping her tea. I wanted to toss the cup to the floor and fuck Lydia up against the wall, good. I can’t wait until she is riding my dick.

I can see in her eyes how bad she wants me. She tries hard to keep me at bay, but it isn’t working. She loved me playing with her pussy through the night. Fuck, she came so quick for me. Her wet dreams must be intense because I didn’t even have to push her buttons that hard for her dam to break. Her pussy melted under my touch. If I were to push a little harder I could have slid inside her and shattered those brick walls. I’ll wait because I want her first time to be special.

I couldn’t believe I forgot about my board meeting. My window of time was limited. I climbed into the shower and jerked off, relieving myself of the pent-up pressure.

At 9:30 a.m., I strolled into the board meeting. My eyes glanced at each of the twenty board members sitting around the table, including my father and sister.

My father wasn’t pleased.

“Thank you all for waiting this morning. I apologize for being late.” I clapped my hands together once.

“Let’s get down to business.” My secretary displayed the slides on the screen.

“Our customer base is expanding all over the globe. Our profits have increased by 30%. This company’s top performing stock brokers handle our large accounts across the globe. Even though I don’t have to have a client base, I still manage a very lucrative portfolio of some of the most influential business men and women around the world. The continuation of expanding our global reach is happening flawlessly. The California office is still under construction but is right on schedule. My sister Victoria will take over the Atlanta office and I will run the California office in six months. Any questions?”

“Is Victoria ready to handle running this office?” One of the board members asked.

I smiled at my sister. “I will let her answer.”

She stood next to me. “I assure you, my brother isn’t the only piranha in this family. My father has taught us everything he knows. We are the best possible choices to run this company. My portfolio is lucrative also. I bring in just as many new customers as my brother if not more. I’m more than ready to take control of this office.”

The board members smiled and clapped. They board voted cementing my sisters position as the second CEO to run Gaster Enterprises. After conversing with various board members at the end of the meeting, I turned my attention to my father and sister.

“Hayden, I am very proud of you.” My father pulled me into his embrace. I was nervous. I thought he was going to be upset I kept everyone waiting.

My father, Harvey Gaster, is an older version of me. He’s stands 6’2”, stocky build, tanned complexion with silver and black hair. His eyebrows are a little bushier than mine, but he’s an attractive old dude.

My sister is beautiful, standing at 5’9”. Long brown hair like my mother. Her eyes are also blue like my fathers.

Her high cheek bones and oval eyes draw various guys attention all the time. She flashed her pearly whites at me. “I’m still not ok with you running the company first. I’m the oldest. I will be twenty-eight in a month.” She folded her arms, arching her eyebrow.

“Victoria, don’t be upset with your brother. It was my decision for him to run the company first.”

“I know father. I like to give Hayden a hard time,” she laughed.

“Alright you two, I have to go. I have a golf game in an hour.”

“Tell Mr. Nelson I said hello.”

“I will son,” he said before leaving.

I stopped at my secretary’s desk.

“Marsha, get Mr. Don Webster on the line for me in thirty minutes.”

“Yes, Mr. Gaster.” I walked into my office, strolling over to the window overlooking the beautiful view of downtown Atlanta.

“What’s her name?”

I never looked back. “What?”

“What’s her name, Hayden?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Hayden, you have never been late for a meeting. I’m aware you have several women, but none of them have ever made you late. So, this new one must be special.” My sister stood at my side.

My blue eyes met hers. “She has nothing to do with the others. She is the only one I’m seeing now.”

“What’s her name?”

“No, you don’t get to pick my life apart. All you need to know is she is special.”

“You can tell me now or I will dig it up anyways. It’s just a matter of time before you’re seen out with her.”

Shit, I thought. The price of being a billionaire. The media can’t keep their noses out of my personal life.

“Lydia Carmichael. Now if you would excuse me, I have work to do.” I stepped away, taking a seat at my desk.

She leaned over my desk in her expensive navy suit. “Don’t let your dick fuck up your position in this company.”

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”

“First, you are late for one meeting then you’ll be missing major business deals.”

My eyebrows wrinkled. “Victoria, I have my life under control. Focus on your own!” I snapped.

She stood back. “Wow, she’s pretty important. You have never gotten upset about mixing business and pleasure.”

“I’m twenty-five. Fuck, don’t I get to enjoy life?”

“No.”

“Victoria, I’ll see you at dinner.”

“Ok, brother.”

I hated my sister’s words. However, she was right. I needed to keep my business and personal life in check. My career has always come first. I will find a way to make both work. There was no way I was going to break it off with Lydia. Next time, I’ll have Lydia spend the night at my house.

I’ll need to be prepared for Victoria. She is going to dig and dig until she finds out who Lydia is. If she talks to Bryce, she’ll be quick to tell my father I’m dating a stripper. His concern will solely be in regards to me bringing down his empire. Just because she is a stripper doesn’t mean she is a gold digging woman. She’s not. She’s a good woman, one who won’t let me take care of her, which has to fucking change. Lydia is going to turn my hair gray at an early age.

∞

Dinner with my family was nice. My father and mother are proud of Victoria and I. My mother still talks to me like I’m a baby. Patting, pinching my cheeks, and kissing my face telling me I’m still her little boy. Jo-Anne Gaster is one of the most caring women. I wouldn’t stop her from doting all over me, ever. She is a wonderful mother. One who fought to stay alive to be here for her family.

“Where are you off to brother?” Victoria trailed after me dressed in her perfect designer pink blazer, jeans, and nude stilettos.

I turned to her. “I’m going home.”

“On a Friday?”

“Victoria, go out with your friends. Basically, mind your business.”

She bent over laughing. “You miss her already. My brother is in love!”

I shushed her. “Be quiet. Mom is going to hear you. I don’t need all the questions. In due time, you all will meet her.”

She threw her hands in the air. “I can’t wait! Ok, run off and be with Lydia.”

I laughed. “Bye, Vickie.”

I glanced down at my cell. Bryce was calling. My eyes closed briefly before I answered.

“What’s up Bryce?”

“Finally, you answered. Bro, we’re at Ra Sushi. Join us for drinks.”

“Yeah, you know what I could use a drink. I’ll be there in twenty.”

“Bye.”

I quickly phoned my driver. “Valen, pick me up from my parents.”

“On my way.”

My parents live in Buckhead five minutes away from me. When I know I’m going to drink, I’d rather not drive. I’ll leave my truck here.