CHAPTER ONE
Eli
Lazy bastards.
The rush of a Monday morning always made me shake my head in wry amusement. I stood, a steaming mug of fresh coffee in hand, gazing out the floor to ceiling windows of my twenty-fifth-floor corner office, watching frustrated New Yorkers fight their way to work in a sea of cars. The street was already at a standstill, typical for eight-thirty. But the sluggish traffic didn’t affect me. I wasn’t one of those people who waited until the last minute to get where I needed to be.
After living in the Big Apple for many years, I knew the drill. Up by four, I would dress in shorts and a t-shirt after a quick brushing of my teeth. Then my driver took me, sans bumper-to-bumper traffic, to the building where my empire, Key Ventures Incorporated, was located. Lucky for me — and a few others who knew how to stay one step ahead of the pack — there was a small gym on the top floor, and I could get in a hard workout while most people still slept.
As CEO of the company, I enjoyed an office as large as most people’s apartments, with a full bathroom and closet that held a nice selection of suits. There, I’d get ready to face whatever the day held without wading through the typical NY muck.
Life was good, but I’d worked my ass off to make it so.
As a Key Ventures perk, I made sure my employees were well taken care of, even providing breakfast each morning by eight in the breakroom. My secretary always grabbed me a bagel with cream cheese and lox on her way up, then poured a fresh cup of coffee to go with it, freeing me up to eat at my desk as I looked over the morning reports. Everything ran like a well-oiled machine.
Just the way I liked it.
“The interns will be in your office in thirty minutes,” Janine Peterson said over my intercom, and I groaned at the Human Resources director’s reminder. Sure, I’d asked her to bring the group to me first, but I wasn’t in the mood to make nice right now.
“Herd them out in ten minutes,” I told her before ending the call. I wouldn’t need more than that to do a quick welcome and select which intern I wanted to add to my schedule. It would give my secretary a bit of a break, as I’d move the morning ritual of getting my breakfast to the intern, allowing Lola to slow her morning down a bit.
It wasn’t that I gave a shit about her schedule. It was because she threw herself at me every chance she got. If I didn’t have that hard and fast rule about not shitting where I eat, I’d have long ago thrown her into the pool of women I fucked. As it was, she was a highly skilled assistant, I just needed to find ways of reducing our personal interactions when I could.
As one of New York’s most eligible bachelors, I was used to women letting me know they wanted me. I’d made Forbes’ Top 100 Richest Men in America by the time I hit thirty. Three years later, I was still up there with the big boys, and things were looking bright.
Money, looks, and charisma had me beating the women off with a stick, but I wasn’t looking to settle down. Love was a four-letter word; not something I wanted in my life. Not since I’d seen firsthand how it could break a man — completely.
I picked up the last picture that was taken of us as a family. Mom, Dad, and I in front of the fireplace, laughing at something silly Dad had said. We were always laughing back then. Always.
Then Mom passed away from cancer when I was thirteen. Dad was so heartbroken, he became reclusive. It was as if I’d lost them both.
Gone was the man who’d made me laugh at breakfast each morning before he and I’d take off together. I’d ride with Dad in his chauffeur-driven limo to the private school I attended, and he’d go on to his job as the president of a large manufacturing company.
Back then, Mother would spend her days attending social engagements and volunteering to do all kinds of things for our fair city. New York had always been our home, my home. I didn’t think I’d ever want to live anyplace else. Not when everything I wanted or needed was at my fingertips.
I ran a finger over Mom’s pretty face, wishing things could be different. Mom had hidden her illness from everyone. It was quite sudden when she went into the hospital. After we found out, it took only three weeks for the cancer to take her away. I was in shock. And when my father seemed to disappear too, I felt like an orphan.
Three long years went by, and my dad never left the house. Even so, I barely saw him, as he stayed cooped up in the master suite, sometimes just laying in bed.
A few weeks after I turned sixteen, I came home after school to find Dad up and dressed to the nines. “Evening, Eli.”
I nearly lost my shit, seeing him actually dressed. From the moment we got home from Mom’s funeral, he’d only worn a robe she’d given him for Christmas. Every time I saw him, he’d have on that damn robe. But there he was, showered, shaved, hair freshly cut, and dressed. “Hi, Dad. You going somewhere?”
“Out.” That was that. The only explanation as he walked past, patting me on the shoulder. “Don’t wait up. I have a date.”
What the hell?
My jaw hung open as I thought about this complete change in behavior. I was numb, then I got pissed. Eventually, I was made of questions. How the fuck was he going on a date? When did he meet someone from the confines of his bedroom? And why was he making these moves so suddenly?
He never gave me an explanation. Dad just went out that night and the night after that, keeping up that pace for a couple years. He kept the women out of the mansion until I went off to college. But the first time I came home for a visit, I was in for a surprise. My father had women coming and going. Never more than one at a time, and never one woman more than a few times. He liked to keep a fresh supply moving in and out of his home.
After I graduated, I moved into a penthouse on Fifth Avenue. I couldn’t live under Dad’s roof any longer. It was uncomfortable for me. I didn’t quite understand it. Mom and Dad had been in love, and when she died, it nearly killed him. Then, viola… he bounced back and became a fucking playboy. All that was missing was an ascot and bunny ears.
The whole thing made me think that love was either not real or so real it hurt too much to go through. Either way, one thing I learned from him was that having a rotation of women was smart, and I found it worked for me too. Well, it worked for me most of the time.
There was the occasional woman who’d want more, try to demand more, and I’d have to cut her all the way loose. A thing I didn’t like to do. I hated to burn bridges, but burn I would if a woman became too clingy. No thank you.
My mood was a bit on the melancholy side that morning as I redirected my thoughts from Mom and Dad and how life had changed for me. I sighed as I looked out the window at the sun glistening off the high-rises that filled almost every inch of space along both sides of the street. Everything was so well packed together in the city I called home. Every space was utilized for something. It was progress, and I loved it.
After a quick knock on my office door, my secretary came in with my breakfast in hand. “Good morning, Mr. Reed. I have your usual here.” Lola placed the small paper plate and cup of coffee in the same spot on my solid oak desk that she did each morning. “How was your night?”
“Uneventful,” I lied. The truth was I’d spent a couple of hours doing the horizontal mambo with a woman I’d met in a bar. Then I went home and crashed.
Her gray eyes found me, and there was doubt in them. “Is that so?”
“It is.” I pulled my chair out and took a seat as she moved to the other side of my desk.
Her dark hair hung in loose waves. The skirt and shirt ensemble she had on was a bit on the tight side, making her round ass and plump breasts more noticeable than what I deemed professional.
Lola shimmied as she moved her hands down the sides of her short, black skirt in a deliberately exaggerated attempt to smooth her clothes. I watched a bit more closely as her hands switched directions and ran up the tucked red blouse then over the outsides of her breasts. In spite of my efforts to look away, my eyes traveled down her short legs to the six-inch heels in shiny black, fake leather. They were too high for her stubby legs. She should’ve gone with a three-inch heel and accepted the fact that she was short, but she seemed hell-bent on pretending she was tall.
Just as I rolled my chair forward, she placed both her hands on my desk and leaned over, showing me her cleavage. “Seeing that you had a lonely night, is there anything I can help you with this morning? I know a man in your position has a lot to worry about. Stress can be a real killer.” She gave her hair a little toss and made an obvious effort to give me a sultry look. “I’m more than prepared to help you relieve that stress. Any way you need help, I can do it, Mr. Reed.”
I sighed. Not this again. “Please let me know when the interns will be here. I want first pick.”
She stood up and huffed, air whistling out through her thin nose, and I had to fight myself not to laugh. “I meant something else. You do know how stress can be taken care of, right? I mean, telling you when people get here isn’t exactly what I was getting at.”
“I know.” I took a bite of my bagel and waved her away.
She wasn’t a complete fool. With a disappointed frown, she sashayed out the door of my office and closed it behind her, knowing enough to stop before she made things hairy for herself. It was my fault too. I’d never been upfront with her about not screwing women I worked with.
After her little display, that needed to end. Now.
I leapt up, strode to the door and yanked it open. “Lola, we need to talk.”
A smile was frozen on her face as she turned back to me. “Yes, Mr. Reed?”
To show her I was the one in authority, I walked over to her and stopped close enough that I towered over her and she was forced to tilt her head back to peer up at me. “I don’t date women I work with. I know you like me, that’s obvious, but I don’t want you wasting your time thinking anything will come out of that. You understand, don’t you?” I waited as her smile vanished, and her thin lips formed a straight line.
“I get it, Mr. Reed. No messing around with coworkers. Great.”
She was a little pissed, but I didn’t foresee laxatives in my coffee—what my last secretary had done when I told her the same thing. Lola had only been working for me for three months. I’d let her go on a little longer than most.
I knew I should hire some old woman, but my ego wouldn’t allow it. I wanted the people who came to my office to see a vivacious young lady here. It was kind of a trademark of mine. I kept gorgeous women on my arm at every social function I went to. It was my M.O. as an eligible bachelor. Maybe I needed to hire a lesbian.
Just as I turned to my office, the elevator dinged, and I looked back to see who it was. My heart skipped a beat, and not in a good way, as Nadine, a tall, lithe blonde I’d dabbled a few times with, swept off the elevator.
“Eli, how lucky for me that you happen to be on this side of your office door.” She glided across the reception area and slid her arm through mine. “Your little maid never lets me in when I stop by.”
Lola rolled her eyes. “Administrative assistant, Miss Snodgrass. And no one is supposed to come here without an appointment. Mr. Reed is a busy man. As a matter of fact, he has a crucial issue to attend to very soon. You should leave.”
Nadine didn’t even bat an eye as she walked toward my office. “Eli, I really need to talk to you. It’s about Saturday night.”
Lola’s huff didn’t go unnoticed by Nadine, who looked over her shoulder, shooting daggers at the other woman with her eyes. I wanted to laugh but thought better of it and stayed quiet as I took her into my office. “What is this about? I’m busy today.”
I pulled out the chair in front of my desk and she took a seat, crossing her long legs. “It’s about next Saturday night. I have a family party, and I want you to come with me.” She batted her heavily made-up lashes at me.
“No can do.” I sat down in my desk chair and pulled out a pad of paper and a pen, trying to look busy. Hell, I was busy. She needed to go.
Her lower lip jutted out in a sexy pout. “You’ll have to give me more than that, Eli sweetie. I’m not one of your bimbos.” She stood and circled my desk, then sat on my lap, wrapping her arms around my neck.
Her lips hovered close to mine. The woman wore vast amounts of makeup that seemed to ooze all over me any time we’d done so much as kiss. “No kissing, Nadine. I don’t have time to wipe your makeup off me.”
Her hand traveled down my chest, and she wiggled her ass a bit. “How about a quickie? On top of your desk. You can bend me over it and take me like you own me. I left my panties in the back seat of my limo.”
My cock twitched and I knew she felt it. “You’re frisky this Monday morning. You must’ve gotten some good news or something.” I placed my hand on a tit that wasn’t as big as I liked and watched her suck her lower lip.
“My great uncle died.”
I frowned, dropping my hand. “And that’s got you all hot and bothered?”
She nodded. “Yes, it does. He left me a nice chunk of his estate. And that’s why I need you to be my date. His funeral is on Saturday evening and there’ll be a gathering at his estate afterwards. You could come and help me decide what I should do with my part. He had no children, so everything was left to my father, his brother, and me. It would be business and pleasure combined, heavy on the pleasure.”
“Hmm. How about I let you know around Wednesday if I can do that?”
She shook her head and got up, placing her hand on the medium-sized bulge in my pants. Her bony ass hadn’t turned me on that much. “I’d like an answer now. If you don’t come with me, then I’ll invite another man. You’re not the only man who can fuck, or help me make sound investment decisions.”
“Whoa.” I moved my chair back, more than a little pissed.
After a quick tapping on my door, Lola opened it and stuck her head in. “The interns are in the building. She should go. They are impressionable young people, after all. You don’t want to make a poor impression, Mr. Reed.”
Before I could say anything, Nadine snapped, “Go back to your desk. Mr. Reed knows how to handle his business.”
“Nadine, don’t be rude.” I gave Lola a smile. “Thank you for informing me.”
She glared at Nadine before closing the door, and I didn’t blame her. Nadine was one of the snobby, rich bitches the town was famous for. I supposed living my entire life in the place had made me more tolerant of people like her. But there was a grain of anger inside me about how she had treated my secretary.
“Rude?” Nadine gave me a stern look. “Don’t worry about how I talk to the help, darling. Now, about Saturday.”
I got out of my chair and put my arm around her skinny shoulders, steering her toward the door. “Yes, about that, I’ll let you know. If you want to find another funeral date, by all means, do that.” Sarcasm found a place in my voice. “I’d hate for you to go alone to such a function.”
Just as I got her to the door, she spun around, leaning her back against the wall and looking at me coyly. “Have I made you mad? I’m sorry if I did. I had a lovely time the other night. Didn’t you?”
The woman gave a mean blow job, but everything else was just so-so. “Sure, I had a nice time. Like I said, get with me later in the week, and I’ll let you know if I can make it or not. I don’t want to get your hopes up.”
As I reached for the doorknob, she grabbed me by my tie and pulled me to her so she could plant her lips on mine. She was going to get at least a little taste of me before she left, that was evident.
Shit.