Chris
––––––––
“I’m sorry, Catherine. How was the visit from the physical therapist this morning?”
“I did bother you. I’m sorry. I’ll let you go.”
“No, you didn’t. I was saying goodbye as you called. No bother at all. Tell me how your visit went. Did you behave yourself?”
She laughs. Damn, it’s good to hear her laugh. Even since her stroke two months ago I haven’t heard it nearly often enough. “I’ll tell you how my visit went if you’ll tell me about the young woman you were saying goodbye to.”
Shit. I make a play for time. “Why do you think it’s a woman?”
I can hear her smile through the phone. “Naughty boy.” Damn, I miss her. “I know you well, Christopher. Your tone of voice for one; there was also a very clear promise in your words. Have you decided to put this old woman’s poor aching heart to rest by taking up with a woman deserving of you?”
I laugh, only Catherine thinks of me being the deserving one. “Old? Not even close.” She’s only sixty-four. “Hmm...something tells me you don’t want to tell me about your therapy for a reason. Are you going to make me call the therapist? I love you, Catherine, you know that. However, I’m not ready to discuss the woman. Yet.”
She sighs. “All right, I won’t press you, sweetheart. Today went well, if a little exhausting. I’m making progress. I stood all by myself, even managed a few steps. Although toward the end I did get frustrated. I might have lost my temper with the therapist and I might have told him to never come back.”
My chuckle draws out her own embarrassed one. “Who’s being naughty now? I’ll call him later to have a talk with him. Do you like him? Or is this the time to find someone else?”
“I rather thought I didn’t have a choice in the matter?” She humphs.
It’s my turn to sigh. “You know very well it’s your choice. I do believe Robert is the best therapist for you, much better than Connie ever was. Connie indulged you far too often. Robert is only hard on you because he knows you can do more. He would never push you beyond your limits.”
“Oh, all right. If Robert is willing, then I would prefer him. The devil I know and all that.”
I laugh as I give the cabbie a twenty outside my place. “I’ll make sure Robert knows he’s better than the unknown devil physical therapists.”
“Don’t you dare, young man.”
Unlocking my door, I take off my coat. “Have you given any more thought to what we talked about last time? I don’t like you so far away.”
“I’m still thinking about it. I believe we discussed allowing me to make up my mind after the season was over. It hasn’t even begun.”
“I know. I just don’t see what there is to think about. Melissa is in England. She’s not coming back. It’s been years since she bothered to visit you.” My jaw clenches remembering how disappointed Catherine was when Melissa didn’t even come to visit after the stroke. “I want to know you’re safe, it’s harder with you on the other side of the country.”
“Sometimes you’re so like your father, it shocks me. So bossy and demanding, and out to take care of everyone. Missy tries, she has now called me weekly since my stroke. Your sister has her reasons. I understand them, why can’t you even try?”
“Never mind Melissa, please tell me you are seriously thinking about moving to Chicago. You’ll love my house, but there are other homes in this area as well I know you’d love.”
“Of course, I’m thinking about it. It’s just my whole life has been here in Dallas. So many years to give up.”
I sigh as I plop down in my oversized chair in my office. Rolling my neck, I close my eyes. “All right. As soon as you come to a decision, whatever it is, please let me know.”
“I will. You sound stressed, sweetheart. I’m sorry.”
“It’s not you. I’m going through another bout of insomnia. I’m tired, that’s all.”
“Hmm...it’s been a while since your last bout. Are you sure you don’t want to talk to your doctor about it?”
I shrug even though she can’t see me. “It’s fine. After a week or so it will die down.”
“Sleepy?”
Her voice is so soothing. “Hm.”
“Did I ever tell you about the first time I visited Chicago?” I sigh. She’s doing it. Talking low, soothingly until I slip into sleep.
***
Chris
––––––––
From the street out front a fire truck honking yanks me out of sleep. I blink blearily. Snatching my cell off the floor, I see it’s a little after six in the morning. Muttering thanks to the asshole fire truck, I roll off the chair. My body protests, bitching about being folded up. I’ve slept in worse positions in worse places; all I care about is I feel twenty times better than I did this time yesterday when I was just getting to sleep at six. A long soak in the overpriced jetted bathtub, which has paid for itself five times over since it was installed, is what I’m needing over a shower.
I turn on the tub before I get undressed. As soon as I’m in, my mind turns to Amelia. It’s weird, usually as soon as a woman’s out of sight she’s very much out of mind, at least until I’m in the mood to fuck. Amelia is definitely the game changer Travis called her. I’m already anticipating the verbal sparring she tries so hard at.
Then I remember the moment when her eyes went wide yesterday; hell, even I was surprised by what came out of my mouth. As messed up as my parents were, I hadn’t given up on the idea of a wife, two point four kids and a dog. It was only after striking out twice in relationships I wrote the whole thing off. Babies, with Amelia...it was as crazy as it sounded. Only the second it was out I not only meant it, for a hard fucking minute I wanted it as badly as I wanted her. Little girls, with bright green eyes, sassy mouths and their mama’s smile.
The idea makes my cock hard as I put the jets in motion. I love this damn bathtub, it has everything from saved settings to a timer, and it’s big enough to fit four people in it. I can’t wait to get Amelia in it. I chuckle at the way my cock bobs in the water. Imagining her reaction when she sees me, I go limp. Something tells me not only is Amelia a good girl, she’s a good girl without much experience.
My cock isn’t easy even for women who are very experienced. At ten inches, most women are happily willing; the problem is I’m as thick as my wrist. Once I’m inside them, women love it, it just takes a lot of work for them to take me. Which is the reason I’ve learned to take my time, to enjoy bringing a woman to the point of where she isn’t afraid of my cock, she’s begging for it.
Shit, time’s up. Drying off, a glance in the mirror has me shrugging off shaving for the day. It’s too damn cold and I look good with the scruff. I go into the walk-in closet. I prefer jeans and a T-shirt, though if I have to I can do the slacks and polo shirts. I noticed I surprised Amelia with the suit I wore Wednesday.
While suits aren’t my first choice, I’m not uncomfortable in them. I have over a dozen, most of them Savile Row, the others Armani. Wednesday, I wore the suit because I was picking up eight new shirts I had made as well as three new suits. After trying them on, I stayed in my favorite. I decide to go with an Armani in black with a white shirt and sapphire-blue tie for today. I take out the diamond stud in my ear, then put in a round ball onyx stud. With a last smoothing of my tie, it’s time to go.
––––––––
When I step out of the elevator the peroxide blonde I insulted is stiff as she nods at me. “Ms. Bishop is waiting in her office for you. I’ll let her know you’re here.”
“Thanks.” I wink as I walk away.
“Hey there, gorgeous. How are you doing today?”
Mary gives me a welcoming smile. “I’m good, thank you for asking. Let me take your coat.”
I slip off my coat; is she eyeing me? The answer is clear when she blushes at my cocked eyebrow. I push open the frosted glass door to find Amelia at her desk, humming along to Eminem’s “Soldier.” Fuck, when am I going to stop going hard every time I see her or think of her? When she sees me, she clicks her mouse and the barely audible song disappears. I smile, I would never have pegged Amelia as an Eminem fan. “Good morning, sugar. Sleep well?”
It’s obvious she didn’t, I’m an asshole for twisting the knife. What? I love knowing she wants me. I never said I was a good guy. “Yes, thank you for asking.”
“That’s five, Amelia. At this rate you won’t be able to sit down on your sweet ass for days.”
Watching her blush bloom, then spread down her beautiful neck is satisfying. “Will you please behave? They’ll be here any minute.”
“Depends. Sleep well?”
She closes her eyes tightly. “No, okay? I didn’t sleep well.”
“How hard was that?”
“Mr. Baldwin, Raymond Pentonie and his attorney will be here shortly. I need to know you’ll trust me to handle this negotiation. Are you going to, or not?”
I nod. “Yes, you’re the expert here. It doesn’t matter how much I want you, this is business. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t trust you to handle this.”
Tilting her head, her relief is clear. “Good, thank you.”
Her phone beeps, and she presses a button. “Yes, Nancy.”
“Mr. Pentonie and Mr. Tyson are here.”
“Good, thank you. Please put them in the Monroe conference room.”
She stands. I see she’s wearing a black pant suit with the pants large and roomy, moving almost as it were a skirt. Her silk blouse is dark red under the long, thin, silky blazer. Her long beautiful hair is shiny as it flows down her back. I cannot wait to wrap the silky strands around my fist as I fuck into her.
Clearing her throat, she runs her hand through her silky hair, looking in the mirror. Then she turns to me, and I wonder where the hell the other Amelia went. Her eyes are different, a dark golden brown and hard. “This is how it’s going to go: they are going to insult us. I’m going to demand an amount that will make their asses go tight. They’ll come back with something a little less insulting. I go with a last final offer. They squirm because I have them by the balls, then cry uncle. It’s how these settlements go. The most basic rule is: You never take the first offer, and your first offer is never your best offer.”
Her voice has deepened, her face is smooth, not a single muscle moving. She’s about three inches taller than when I came in the room. She starts to move toward me, and without thinking, I open the door to her office then wait while she walks through it. I follow in her wake, her back straight, her shoulders back, her body sleek and agile. Goddamn, she’s making me hard.
The walk to the conference room isn’t long, it’s the large glass room along the hall near Ethan’s office. When I open the door, the jackass who sold me the building and a pasty white guy with too much self-tanner stand as Amelia enters the room. They are facing into the room, a notepad and pen are waiting for her across from them. I pull out the chair where the notepad is, and she nods her thanks as she sits. She crosses her legs then leans back in the chair like she’s a fucking queen, benevolently giving an audience to these idiots.
“Gentleman, I appreciate you agreeing to the meeting this morning.” A pause screams she doesn’t appreciate shit—of course this is happening on her schedule. “Mr. Baldwin is a busy man, as am I. It’s best we start off by making it clear this need not be a time-consuming issue for either Mr. Baldwin or Mr. Pentonie.” Her tone dares them to waste her time. “My client and I are listening.”
I bite my lip to keep from laughing at the way the smug expression leaves Raymond’s face as he looks to his lawyer. The lawyer only nods. If he hasn’t met Amelia before, it’s obvious he’s not as surprised as his client. “Ms. Bishop, Mr. Baldwin, thank you for finding the time to settle this quickly without undue inconvenience to either of you. Your client needs to take some responsibility for not doing his due diligence. However, my client is willing to own up to his error. My client is willing to offer a settlement in the amount of three hundred and fifty thousand cash, wired to Mr. Baldwin Monday. We believe the offer to be fair.”
Oh hell, no. She was right, it’s insulting. I look to Amelia, she meets my eyes without saying a word or moving a muscle in her beautiful face. Her expression is bored. “However, you left off a few zeroes. Your client needs to take some responsibility for his history in this. Pentonie Properties has paid two point nine million in fines and penalties in the last six years, with settlements totaling eleven point three million. I do believe this means your client hasn’t learned from his mistakes.
“Pentonie Properties took in over thirteen million in the last six months, not including my client’s purchase of the property at issue at six point eight million. A property your firm held for two years, purchased at four point nine million, under bankruptcy. We are willing to settle for three point eight million. Your firm has the money; give it to us, or we take it.
“You can settle now or watch your company swim in negative press, fines, and you’ll still end up paying us in court. You fucked with the wrong man—his face generates one million clicks a week worldwide in the off-season. We’ll take this into the season and your company will be synonymous with trying to fuck over a darling of Chicago sports royalty, and the fines will triple from the last time you pulled this shit. Let this be a lesson, for you to do your due diligence before selling to Mr. Baldwin under false claims, and the stupidest mistake of all, fucking with this firm’s client.”
“Three million?! Are you nuts? I’m not paying three million. Tell her, Tyson!” Raymond is so pissed he’s frothing at the mouth, and spittle flies across the table. I can’t take my eyes off her. I’m hard as a fucking rock.
Tyson grabs Raymond. “A moment if you will, to conference with my client.”
Amelia nods as the guy barely waits to drag Raymond out of the conference room. They move away from the glass wall, out of sight. I’m fighting to get my body under control when I hear Amelia gasp. I look to see her eyes locked on the table, the glass table, where she can see my cock tenting my pants. Her eyes are wide as she jerks her head away. I chuckle. “Sorry, sugar, I’m beginning to think all those men who worry about their women outshining them just never saw them in action. I’m impressed, usually it takes a woman being naked to get me in this state.”
Her face is buried in her hand, and it sounds like she’s crying. Shit. I go soft instantly, then I realize she’s laughing. Rich throaty laughter fills the room. Ah damn, she’s making me hard all over again. Those eyes of hers have turned a soft, pretty hazel. I can’t stop smiling, I could look at her all day long. She blushes as she shakes her head. “If nothing else, thank you for the confidence.”
Something about the way she says it is off; what does she mean? I don’t have time to think about it before the door opens to Raymond, still red in the face while his jaw tightens again and again. The lawyer nods as he sits. “We apologize. Pentonie Properties would like to respectfully counter with two five.”
Amelia laughs with a single shake of her head. “Three five or the offer is off the table. We’ll see you in court.”
I can hear Raymond swallow in the hushed silence as the two men look at each other. Raymond nods, but it’s the lawyer who speaks. “We accept. I trust your firm will handle the paperwork. Messenger it to us, we’ll sign then wire the money by Monday.”
With a smile, Amelia stands. “You’ll have the paperwork within the hour. Gentlemen, have a good day.”
The men smile limply before shuffling out of the room. I watch Amelia as she runs a hand through her hair, front to back, though not a hair is out of place. I’m noticing she does it to soothe herself. “When is Ethan due back again?”
She blushes. “The thirteenth.” Clearing her throat, she moves to the door. “I’ll have the paperwork sent to your home for your signature. Once I get it back from them, you should have it by noon.”
“No need, I’ll come in to sign it when I pick you up for lunch today.”
A shake of her head, she doesn’t look up. “Our business is complete.”
I’m up, taking my time to get to her, the craving for her inching up with each step. No. Not even close, sweetheart. My jaw tightens to stop me from saying it, from reaching out to touch her. “Amelia.” She shivers. Not even close, for either of us. “I’ll be here at noon to pick you up for lunch.”
Then the woman who interrupted us the first day is outside the door, her eyes intent on me before opening the door. “How did everything go?”
The change in Amelia is instant, back straight again, shoulders back as a half-smile appears. “They settled at three five.”
“Excellent, are you satisfied, Mr. Baldwin?”
I would be, if she left. “Very.”
“Amelia, if you would please join me in my office when you are done. I’m in need of your knowledge of Canton Industries from your dealings with them last year. Mr. Baldwin, have a good day.”
“Yes, Karen. I’ll be right there.”
Karen gives me a once-over before walking away. Amelia begins edging out of the open door. No. I catch her by the open blazer, holding her in place. Fuck, her breath quickens, her eyes dilate. “I’m not done with you yet, sugar.”
If only she weren’t so fucking responsive, I swear I could control myself. Don’t, it’s a whisper of a thought I ignore. Just a taste, her eyes flutter closed. “Open your eyes, Amelia.”
Green sparkles up at me, and she’s all soft against me. I inhale her scent, coconut, flowers in bloom, a trace of citrus and deeper, a hint of her body’s sweet essence. My lips begin to tingle before I even touch her. Her body melts into mine, and my cock jumps to be inside her. She gasps, pulling away. Her body stiffens, damn it. “No, Chris. I’m at work, for fuck’s sake.”
A shocked gasp sounds from behind her. An older woman averts her eyes before speed walking past us. “Fine, lunch today.”
“I have to go.” She avoids my eyes as she pulls away. I let her go because I don’t have a choice.