Chapter Twenty-One

Jack

Stepping into my mother’s office, I took a seat across from Coco, who was sitting at the round table with Garrett and our mother.

“What is going on?” my mother asked as she took off her glasses and glared at me. “I had a very important meeting this morning with the editorial staff, which I had to cancel due to your ‘emergency’ meeting. These two won’t tell me a thing.”

“I don’t even know what this is about, Mother,” Coco expressed as she took a sip of her coffee.

“We’re here to talk about Bradley Shaw,” I spoke.

“What about him?” my mother asked.

“He’s embezzled money from this company.”

Coco choked on her coffee as her eyes grew wide. “What?!”

“You know this for sure, Jack?” My mother glared at me but spoke with a calm tone.

“Yes. His secretary found some papers on his desk and when she asked him about it, he became very nervous and hasn’t been seen since. I have a private investigator trying to find him and we’re meeting with a lawyer from Finn, Muir, & Abernathy. I have someone upstairs right now hacking into his damn computer to try and find out where the money is.”

“How much did he take?” Coco asked.

“Over eight million dollars.”

“WHAT?!” she shouted so loud that it made my ears hurt.

I stared at my mother, who took in a deep breath and sat there with her arms folded.

“Keep me posted and keep this quiet. Make sure Lindsey doesn’t speak a word of this to anyone.” She got up from her seat and walked out of the office.

Garrett looked at me and narrowed his eye. He was thinking the same thing I was. I got up from my seat and tilted my head to the side, alerting Garrett to follow me out of the office.

“Don’t worry, Coco. We’ll get to the bottom of this.”

Garrett followed behind, and as we stepped onto the elevator, he looked at me.

“What’s up with Kit?”

“If you mean why she didn’t seem upset, I have no clue.”

“Maybe she’s in shock?” Garrett asked.

“Doubt it. I’ll talk to you later.” I placed my hand on his shoulder as I stepped out of the elevator.

“Lorelei, call accounting and have the last six months’ reports brought down,” I spoke as I scurried past her desk and went into my office.

I sighed as I sat down and turned to my computer. Cupping my face in my hands, I heard Lorelei’s voice.

“Here are your reports,” she announced as she set them on my desk.

Running my hand down my face, I looked up at her. “Thank you.”

“Are you okay?”

With a small grin, I spoke, “I will be if you give me a kiss.”

“No thanks, Jack. Been there, done that, and we saw how that turned out.”

“I think it turned out perfectly.” The corners of my mouth curved upwards.

“Really?” She stood in front of my desk with her hands on her hips, turning me on more than I already was.

I got up from my chair and slowly walked over to where she was standing. Running the back of my hand down her cheek, I spoke, “Yes. Really.”

****

Lorelei

My body was on fire at the mere touch of his hand on my cheek and the ache down below that I’d been feeling since our night together escalated. I swallowed hard as our eyes locked.

“I’ll never forget the way your body trembled under the tips of my fingers or how your eyes danced with delight when my cock thrust deep inside you.” He leaned in closer to me until his lips were millimeters from mine. “I’ll never forget the way your lips felt against mine. I want to feel that again, Lorelei.”

I was trapped in his gaze as he ran his thumb across my lips. His hand reached around to the nape of my neck as he gently kissed me and I kissed him back.

“I said something I shouldn’t have. I sent you apology flowers and you forgave me. Now I know you want to feel my cock inside you again,” he whispered.

“No I don’t,” I panted.

“Yes you do. I can tell by the way you’re trembling right now.”

My panties were soaked already and my heart was rapidly beating. He was right. I did want to feel him inside me again. When he touched me, I forgot about what an asshole he could be. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. I breathed a sigh of relief.

“Damn it. WHAT!” he shouted.

I hurried and took a seat across from his desk. He walked over to the door and when he opened it, Coco walked in.

“Why did you yell like that? Was I interrupting something?” She glared at him.

“Yes. Actually, you were. Can’t you see I’m in a meeting?”

She rolled her eyes at him and I snickered.

“Hello, Lorelei.”

“Hi, Coco.”

“Sorry to interrupt your meeting, but I need to talk to my brother.”

I got up from my chair, still trembling on the inside from his touch. “No problem.” I smiled as I walked out of his office.

It was lunchtime, so I grabbed my sketchbook and walked down the street to a café called LaRue. As I sat down at a table by the window, my business phone rang. It was Jack. I rolled my eyes as I answered it.

“Hello.”

“Where are you?”

“Lunch. You know I go to lunch every day at this time.”

“Yes, I know. But where are you having lunch?”

“Why?”

“Because I’m your boss and I want to know, damn it.”

I pulled my phone from my ear and looked at it like I couldn’t believe he just said that.

“I’m down the street at LaRue’s.”

“Good. I’m joining you. I’ll be there in a few minutes.” Click.

For fuck sake. Why the hell did he have to join me for lunch? I needed to get over the fact that my body was still craving him from earlier. Since he felt the need to ruin my lunch, I put my sketchbook in my bag and looked out the window.

“Good afternoon. Are you ready to order?” the waitress named Jennifer asked.

“Hi. I’ll have the Cobb salad, please, and I have someone joining me.”

“Cobb salad it is. I’ll grab another place setting for your guest.” She smiled.

A few moments later, Jack walked into the café and I immediately crossed my legs. The ache between them had to stop.

“Did you order yet?” he asked as he sat down across from me.

“Yes.”

“What did you order?” He picked up a menu from behind the napkin holder.

“Cobb salad.”

“Sounds good. I think I’ll get the same.” He winked.

“So why are you here, Jack?”

He narrowed his eyes at me. “To have lunch with my beautiful personal assistant and to talk about the launch party. It is in a few days.”

“Everything is all set. All you have to do is show up.” I smiled.

“I figured as much. Now that we got that out of the way, let’s discuss what almost happened earlier.”

Shit. Why can’t he drop it?

“Saved by Coco.” I grinned.

“Have dinner with me tonight and we can go back to my place after so I can make you tremble again.”

“I can’t. I’m sorry. I have plans.”

“Doing what?”

“My best friend, Stella, is coming over for dinner tonight,” I lied.

“Oh. Well, can’t you have her over for dinner another time? I’m sure you see her all the time since she’s your best friend.”

“And I see you every day.” I smirked.

The waitress walked over and set my salad down in front of me.

“What can I get you, Mr. Sutton?” she asked with a wide smile.

“I’ll have what she’s having.”

“One Cobb salad coming right up.” She winked at him.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Lorelei

“So you know our waitress?” I asked.

“Not personally. I come in here a lot. Are you jealous?” He smirked.

“Why would I be jealous?” I frowned.

“Why wouldn’t you be?”

Ugh. He was really testing me. I wasn’t feeling well as it was and he was getting on my last nerve with his cocky attitude. I leaned across the table.

“Listen, Jack. Just because we slept together doesn’t mean anything. If you have it somewhere in that thick skull of yours that I’m smitten, head-over-heels in love with you, you’re wrong. It was sex.”