As long as I keep all of this in my imagination and out of real life, everything will be okay. You don’t get to the top by letting women get in your way. You have to be married to your work and nothing else. And that’s what I’ve been doing. It’s why I haven’t taken the plunge and started a family like my former business partner. Because it takes away from your work.
He sold his shares of the company to me not a year after he was married with kids. That’s not my style. I’m an entrepreneur. A boss. I don’t know what I’d do without my company.
I zip up my pants and take a deep breath. Now that that’s out of my system, I can get back to reality. Keeping her a fantasy is the only option. For both of us. Besides, we have some major projects coming out, risky ones, and I can’t afford to not have my head one-hundred percent in the game.
Out the window, I watch yellow cabs trail back and forth in traffic far below on Park Avenue. Everything within me realizes that saying yes to her was a bad idea. But I couldn’t help it. Something took over me, like I was possessed by her subliminal charms.
Her effortless beauty captivated me, not to mention the fact that her résumé proves her to be a capable programmer. If she’s that talented, it would be crazy to jeopardize having her be a future part of this company; this company was built on blood, sweat, and top notch talent. If I sleep with her, I jeopardize that consistency.
…Or so I’ll keep telling myself, because the other voice echoing through my head rings louder, more persistent than the logical one. It tells me that she’s special. That she’s the woman of my dreams. That I’ve been waiting for a woman like Hope Nichols to walk into my life and shake it up for the best. That once I’ve had her I won’t be able to let her go.
And that scares me more than anything.
I blow out the breath I’ve been holding, and clench my jaw. It’ll take all of my willpower, but I’ll keep this relationship purely professional. Even though it will kill me just knowing that the woman of my dreams is lingering on the other side of the wall.
Thankfully, I have the whole weekend to prepare myself for our next meeting. To get all of the dirty, filthy things I want to do to her out of my head. After all, she’s going to be my assistant, the one working closest to me, privy to company secrets and classified information. I’ll be damned if I let a little thing like my heart—and a big thing like my cock—get in the way of my work.
3
Hope
You never really know what towear on the first day of your dream job. I definitely contemplated another skirt, but only because I got the sense that Mr. Jamison…I mean, Rex, like the way I looked in it. My finger presses the elevator call button. I swallow back the butterflies tap dancing in my stomach. I exhale sharply, grateful that I got here early enough to beat the morning crowd.
Yes, Rex is hands down the hottest man I’ve ever seen in my entire life. Yes, Rex makes me feel things deep in my core that I thought were still trapped in a massive hibernation. And yes, when he looks at me it turns my knees to mush and my entire body to liquid heat. But yes, he’s also my boss. So no, I will not act on any urge—no matter how big or how small. I’ve worked to hard to let my loins screw this up for me.
Ding!
Just in time, the elevator door opens up and I step inside, alone with my thoughts. The doors begin closing and just before they meet, they swish right back open. I try not to audibly sigh, grateful to have the entire car to myself, then I spot the culprit.
Rex Jamison. And holy fucking shit does he look amazing. He’s dressed in a slate gray suit; the color enhances the brightness of his eyes which are glued on me. A small smile plays on his lips but it disappears just as quickly. He nods his head and steps into the elevator.
“Hope.”
“Mister—I mean, Rex.” My embarrassed laugh fills the space between us. “I just meant Rex.”
The elevator door closes shut. “I know.” He says. We ride the first three floors in silence, both of our gazes shifted to the left, watching the numbers rise and the temperature—seventy-six and sunny—shine on the high tech screen. As a programmer, you’d think I’d be a little more introverted than I am, but I’m one of those annoying mixes. The extrovert part of me cannot stand the silence between us. I know it’s up to me to break it, even though I’m internally begging myself to keep my mouth shut—
“Thanks again, so much for the opportunity.” I clear my throat, and continue. “I could barely sleep all weekend just thinking about you.” My brain catches up to what my mouth said. Rex’s eyes shift down to me. Before he can say anything, my big mouth keeps yapping. “I mean…Tech Magic. I’m so excited to work for you.”
“Well, you definitely have the qualifications.” His eyes bounce up and down my body. It’s only then that I realize the top button of my silk blouse has come undone, giving him a serious eyeful of my hefty cleavage.
Damn these double-D’s!
As much as I want to button it on the spot, I feel it will only make it more obvious. Instead, I stand there like a bright red tomato, while my nipples stiffen and press against the delicate silk. I guess because I’mtryingto fuck everything up on my first day? God!
Ding!
Saved by the bell. The doors open on the tenth floor and Rex insists I exit first. I smile, nod and do as I’m told. He walks behind me the entire time. My ass burns, knowing that his eyes are on it as we make our way to the double glass doors. I pull my key card out of the front pocket of my purse, but Rex is already on top of it.
“Allow me.” He says.
“Thanks.” Again, he holds open the door and I hold my head high as I walk through. Rex stands at my desk as I unload my purse.
“If you could come in here for a few notes before you start the day.” He says. His square jaw is perfectly accentuated by pristinely groomed facial hair. It’s amazing how you can see every muscle in his gigantic arms even through his suit coat. My pussy clenches a little at the thought of being alone with him in a closed off room. How what I really would want is for him to throw me on the desk and fuck me until I’m red and raw…but that’s not why I’m here.
“Of course.” I say, and follow him into his office. I shake off the unrealistic fantasy of actually getting it on with Rex. He’s a gorgeous, tech billionaire who could have any woman he wants. He probably dates models and famous actresses, not size fourteen programmers whose fashion sense is limited to mostly anything that feels comfortable when I sit down.
Speaking of which, my fingers fumble to button my blouse.