“Are you sure? When I told her I loved her, she said I was just a friend to her! Can you believe it? She just wanted to travel; she didn’t care about the feelings I had. She’s such a gold digger.”
“I said I’ll sort it out, Brian. Now, go home.”
“Okay, okay. I’m sorry.”
“And, Brian. Apologize to Lisa, and don’t come back drunk again.”
“Okay, I am sorry, Con.”
“Ask my driver to drop you at home.” I didn’t want him to drive while he was too drunk.
I stood against the glass, looking down from my office onto the street. Lisa was standing there smoking a cigarette. Brian walked right past her without saying a word. It was times like these that made me a little suspicious of Brian’s character.
I was working the rest of the day, and I got a call from Kennedy in the evening. “Yes, Kennedy?”
“Deal is final. Sunlit is all yours, Conner,” Kennedy said.
“Great. Thank you.” Just like that, SunLit was mine, and I was desperate to see the girl, Erika, who had been so rude to my brother.
Chapter 4
Erika
Two days later…
“Can you believe this, Erika? There’s news floating around! They really sold this place.” Tia looked concerned and excited as she exclaimed.
She was excited because she was curious who the new boss would be, but concerned at the same time, because I was up for a promotion. That all might change now. I listened to Tia ponder over the countless possibilities of who the new boss would be and whether he would be kind or whether he would be as frugal and strict as the last one.
I was thinking about how I spent countless hours learning how to write with Java right after James switched the firm’s coding language from Python to Java.
“What if I don’t get my promotion?” I was infuriated. After all that work, after all those nights I spent alone. I was already annoyed at what happened with Brian two days ago and then his persistent messages and threats.
“The new boss is on TV, Erika!” I heard Tia’s voice echo through the entire office floor. Everyone was interested to see who it would be. “No way.” Tia gasped at the television. She and I, well, everyone in the office had their jaws on the floor as they saw that Conner Roland, the youngest self-made billionaire in New York City, was the new boss.
“OMG! He is hot,” Tia exclaimed, and she wasn’t interested in the money as much as she was in the physical specimen Conner Roland was. Every inch of his physique looked as if it were hand sculpted. We could tell through the pristine suit he had on. The grey tone of the suit contrasted with his emerald eyes fantastically.
Tia and I both got very excited knowing that Conner Roland was going to be our new boss, but the next moment I was worried because he was Brian’s elder brother. A part of me thought that he must have everything Brian lacked: drive, work ethics, and purpose.
As we all watched Conner command the media with his words and explain his interest in acquiring a software company, everyone was too busy ogling him rather than listening.
“Erika, we have a meeting with this man in a couple hours. I’m going to go get changed immediately.” I could feel Tia’s desperation, her desire for Conner.
“Alright, but try not to embarrass me in the meeting.” I won’t lie, I was thinking about how Conner’s body would feel against mine, how his arms would wrap around me, but I was more interested in the promotion. After all, I had worked so hard for it. I was hoping Brian didn’t tell him about the events of the morning. I really didn’t want that to affect all that I’d worked for. I proceeded to get back to work, to make sure everything was ready for the meeting with Mr. Roland.
Twenty minutes were left before the meeting when Tia arrived, dressed to impress. She had taken her pantsuit off and put on a skirt and a blouse, a deep red skirt that contrasted with her pale legs, and a white blouse that highlighted her tight yet voluptuous build. She was ready to meet Conner, but I was still in my normal work attire, just wearing a simple purple dress, not showing much of anything. I mean, I wasn’t ashamed of my body. I worked hard every day to keep it the way it was, but I didn’t see the need to unnecessarily flaunt it, especially in my first meeting with my boss.
Within a few minutes, there was a hush all around the office as the elevator door opened to reveal every inch of this 6’3” specimen. I would say he was so close to perfection. The way the entire staff just turned and looked at him in disbelief, it was clear everyone knew just how attractive this man was.
He stood there, observing, in the same grey suit. He looked different on television. The cameras didn’t capture every bit of his beauty. His dimples rested under his strong cheekbones, and the slight contour of his nose, the depth of his eyes, how they were so beautiful and emerald, yet filled with so much ferociousness.
I couldn’t help but begin to undress him with my eyes, and suddenly he pointed toward me and said, “Erika and Tia, in my office, now.” There was so much strength in his voice. I was wondering how he knew what Tia and I looked like. And, I hoped he didn’t notice how I was undressing him.
He was with a team of ten to twelve people, but they all left the office after the introduction. Our manager guided our new boss toward his office and he walked inside.
As soon as he got inside his office, Tia and I walked in. He was standing against the window, looking outside, almost as if he was more interested in the construction happening outside than in us.
“Yes, Mr. Roland. You asked for us?” Tia let out. She was clearly under some pressure, but she was standing with her posture as straight as possible in case he looked at her.
“Yeah, I was told you both are working on a new project.” He seemed more interested than our last boss. There was genuine consideration and curiosity in his voice.
“Do you mind if we sit?” I asked. Our project was somewhat intricate, so I didn’t want to stand the whole time, and I knew Tia couldn’t. Not with the thoughts that were brewing in her mind.
“Yes, I’m sorry. Take a seat.” He gestured toward the two chairs placed for clients in front of the mahogany desk.
Instantly my eyes caught the ring he wore on his middle finger, a plain band. “Is he married?” I thought to myself, completely disregarding that it wasn’t on his ring finger. On top of that, he was one of the billionaires in the country, and it was difficult for a successful man to hide his personal life.
Tia and I sat down, and as I began to tell him about our project, he seemed to look a bit more interested. That’s when he finally turned to us and began to unbutton his coat. It looked like it was Armani, simple yet refined. There was no need for anything else. It hugged his body, revealing each contour of his form. He pulled it off, showing off his wide chest, his strong shoulders, and his narrow waist. He was in far better shape than Brian. They were leagues apart in every regard. His crisp, pressed, white shirt stuck to his body as if it was tailored to wrap around each inch of his body. I would have preferred him without it.
After placing his coat on the rack that stood next to his desk, he stopped me as I continued on about the project. I could feel him looking right into my eyes, with no regard for Tia.
“Erika, join me for dinner tonight.” I could tell it wasn’t a question. It was more like an order.