He’s going to kiss me.
I know it is going to happen as soon as his grip on my neck tightens.
I push up on my toes, search his face for just a moment before my eyes drop closed to wait on the connection of our lips that is, without a doubt, going to be electric… but it doesn’t happen.
The sound of his phone ringing ricochets off the walls and he pushes away from me like I zapped him with a Taser.
I stay plastered to the door. I can’t move. My brain isn’t communicating with my limbs yet. I just stare at him as he runs his hands through his hair before picking up his desk phone.
“Lennox.” His voice is gruff, low, deep. His eyes are on me, holding me in place. “Gabrielle. Yes. I’m nearly ready. Just a few more words with my secretary then I’m all yours.”
He places the phone back on the receiver and sinks to sit in his chair.
“I have company in the lobby. Please go let her in. She knows where to go from there.”
He is stoic, like nothing happened between us at all, and it does nothing but piss me off.
I smooth my skirt that had somehow ended up bunching around my upper thighs, showcasing the lace tops of my stockings.
“Right away, sir.”
I see his jaw clench ever so slightly at my voice.
“And hold my calls. I don’t want this meeting to be interrupted.”
I fight every urge to roll my eyes. How can he say what he said to me, then turn around and do whatever it is he’s about to do with whoever this Gabrielle broad is?
Then I suddenly realize, I shouldn’t give two fucks, because even though he makes me weak in the knees, he is a fucking asshole.
Always remember that. Assholes are never worth your jealousy, confusion, or time.
***
Gabrielle is exactly as I expected her to be. I’ve clearly had too much time to think about this, given that she calls the office for him every other fucking day.
Blonde. Gorgeous. Professional in her high-waisted black slacks and matching suit jacket.
Her hair is piled high in this twisty thing, which I’d never in a million years know how to do, and she struts her shit into his office, wearing a pair of crisp, shiny, patent leather Louboutin pumps.
She should give off the biggest bitch vibe I’ve ever seen, but she has the kindest eyes.
I hate her instantly, even though I have no reason.
He is waiting for her at the door and they exchange a brief hug before she steps inside around him.
There isn’t anything written on his face that would give away they have any type of sexual relationship… I just know this is clearly a personal meeting, as it isn’t on his calendar and he is very kind to her, which is an anomaly.
His eyes travel toward me when she is out of sight and lock on mine.
“You’re staring, Ms. Kingston. I pay you to work, remember? Not gawk.”
And with that, he disappears back into his office and I don’t see him the rest of the day.
Nathanial
There could not have been a worse time for Gabrielle to show up. Not that I didn’t know she was coming, of course I did, but she literally stopped me from fucking Piper right there where we stood.
One second longer, one more touch, one more lick of her lips, and I would have become a feral animal taken by the need to fuck her senseless.
“You look… lost. Are you all right?” Gabrielle asks, as she takes her seat, pulling me out of my very inappropriate train of thought.
“I’m fine.” I walk over to the small cabinet by the window, pulling out a bottle of scotch and two glasses. “Join me?”
“Please. Neat.”
I twist the cap off, pour two fingers in each glass then take my seat across from her, sliding her drink across the oak desk.
“Long day?”
“To say the least. You’re quite the pain in my ass.” She plops some files on my desk. “I talked to my attorney for you, just to get some guidance on what you’re wanting to do here, and it’s not as easy as you may think.”
“But it’s not impossible, either, obviously. Companies are sold every single day.”
“And what you’re asking is to sell a very large, very successful company, in what could be considered the worst economy in recent memory, out from underneath your ailing father without his explicit permission.”
She words herself in such a way to make it a dig at my character. I’m not naïve enough to think otherwise. She’s not wrong, though, that’s the kicker of it all. I haven’t told them anything about my intentions with this company for a couple of reasons. One, my father couldn’t possibly understand, not with his state of mind deteriorating more and more every single day. Two, my mom would try to stop me, and I can’t put that added stress on her. It’s better if I just do it, and deal with the consequences. At the end of the day, this is what is best.
“I’m his power of attorney, and I’ve been appointed CEO and owner of this company. The transition of power paperwork was signed and notarized. I’m free to do as I want with this place, right or wrong?”
She sighs heavily and takes a large gulp of her drink. “Right.”
“Just say whatever it is that you need to say.”
Gabrielle has been in my life for as long as I can remember. Her parents were very close with mine, so we spent a lot of time together. There was never anything more than a pure, sibling type of relationship between us, even though many people like to claim otherwise, because apparently a man and woman cannot be friends without wanting to see each other naked.
“You know I, in no way, think what you are doing is a good idea. Your father always wanted you to take over when he wasn’t able and to continue the legacy. You’ve been in control for less than a year and you’re already selling. That looks really shitty on multiple levels, Nathanial.”
“And you know I have many reasons, the smallest of which is the last thing I want to do with the remainder of my life is work in publishing, Gabs. My father isn’t going to be able to come back to work, ever. That decision has already been made by him, and now that this shit is getting worse, it would have been made for him regardless. I plan on giving them one-hundred-percent of the profit left after selling and paying off any creditors or debt. They will live more than comfortably the rest of their lives, and I’ll get to go back to architecture and real estate. We will all live happily ever after.”
She releases a heavy sigh because she knows that nothing she can say right now will make me change my mind. Lennox Publishing needs to be in the hands of someone who will appreciate it and do what needs to be done to keep it moving upward.
And that person isn’t me.
Chapter 6
Piper
The smell of pasta sauce simmering on the stove soothes my racing mind, and intense stress level, the moment I cross the threshold into my mother’s apartment. I’ve been a bundle of many different emotions since the almost kiss in Nathanial’s office on Monday. We have been expertly avoiding each other since then. If I’m being honest with myself, I would have let him fuck me right there where I stood if he hadn’t stepped away.