“What are you doing?” She laughed.
“Helping you with the salad.”
“So we’re cooking naked now?”
“You’re not completely naked. You still have your shirt on. But I do like that idea.”
“Collin,” she whined.
“Okay. Okay.” I pulled out of her and pulled up my pants.
“Can you please finish the salad while I go and clean myself up?” She turned around with a beautiful smile splayed across her face.
“I’ll do anything for you, baby.” I pressed my lips against hers before she headed to the bedroom.
The next day, I had a meeting across town. My dad was supposed to attend with me, but something came up at the office and he needed to stay behind. I was used to handling these meetings on my own. Sometimes, I wondered if my dad bailed on purpose just to sit back and watch how well I handled things without him. After the meeting was over, I had Ralph drop me off on Broadway, where I was meeting Julia at Artie’s Deli for lunch. As I was walking down the street, two kids ran past me and bumped into a woman who was holding two brown paper grocery bags, knocking them out of her hands. Fruit and vegetables spilled all over the sidewalk. The little punks didn’t even bother to stop and help her. I shook my head as I bent down and helped her pick them up.
“Damn kids. Are you okay, ma’am?”
“I’m fine. Thank—” She stopped mid-sentence as she looked up and stared at me. “Connor?” she narrowed her eyes.
This was weird. “No. My name is Collin. My father’s name is Connor. Do you know him? Connor Black?”
There was something in her expression that seemed off. It was almost as if she was in shock or something.
“Oh. I’m sorry. I thought you were someone else. My apologies.”
“Ah, okay.” I smiled as I helped her pick up the rest of her food.
“Thank you, Collin, for your help. You’re a very nice man.”
“You’re welcome. Have a nice day.”
“You too.” She walked away and continued down the street. I couldn’t help but notice how nervous she seemed. It was strange, but I just shrugged my shoulders and made my way down to Artie’s Deli.
When I walked in, Julia was already sitting down eating and my sandwich was on the table waiting for me.
“Hey, sis.” I kissed her cheek.
“What took you so long? I went ahead and ordered your sandwich.”
“A couple of kids knocked some groceries out of a woman’s arms and her fruit and vegetables spilled everywhere, so I stopped and helped her pick them up.”
“That was sweet of you.”
“It was strange, though. When she looked at me, she called me Connor.”
“Huh?” Julia narrowed her eyes.
“I asked her if she knew Dad, but she said she thought I was someone else. She seemed really nervous.”
“That’s weird.”
“Yeah. I thought so too. Anyway, thanks for the sandwich.”
“You’re welcome.” She smiled.
“I’m thinking about hiring my own driver. Thoughts?”
She arched her eyebrow as she sipped her water. “Why?”
“Because I don’t want Amelia taking the subway. I can’t always be there to pick her up and the cab drivers are crazy here. She was telling me last night how the cab almost got into an accident.”
“What’s wrong with Ralph?”
“He’s Dad’s driver and he’s not available all the time.”
“Then hire someone. I think it’s a good idea. While you’re interviewing drivers, you might as well interview secretaries for you too.”
“I have a secretary.” I took a bite of my sandwich.
“Oops. Dad didn’t tell you yet?”
“Tell me what?”
“He’s stealing Laurinda from you and you have to find a new secretary.”
“My ass he is! Laurinda is a damn good secretary and he just can’t take her from me.”
“Yes he can. It’s his company.” She laughed.
I rolled my eyes and let out a sigh. This was shit and I’d be telling him how shit it was just as soon as I got back to the office.
When I got back to Black Enterprises, my dad wasn’t in his office.
“Laurinda, do you know where my dad is?”
“He’s in a meeting.”
I looked at her and flashed her my genuine sexy smile as I perched myself on the corner of her desk.
“You like working for me, right?”
“Of course, Collin.”
“We’ve been through a lot, you and me, right?”
She narrowed her eyes at me. “You mean all the times I had to cover for you with your dad?”
I sighed. “Yeah. Something like that.” I leaned in closer to her. “You’d never leave me, would you?”
“Does this have anything to do with me becoming your father’s secretary?”
“So he’s talked to you already?”
She laughed. “Yes and he’s your dad. He owns the company, Collin. I have no choice.”
“But you do have a choice, Laurinda. You can tell him no.”
“He’d fire me.”
“No he wouldn’t. He’d make me fire you and I would never.”
She laughed again. “Thank you for that, but I’ll still help you out until you find my replacement.”
I looked up and saw my dad walking down the hall. “Secretary stealer. We need to talk, Dad.”
“Yes, we do, son. In my office, please.” He chuckled.
I got up from Laurinda’s desk and followed my dad into his office, taking the seat across from his desk.
“You can’t have my secretary. It’s not fair, Dad. You made me fire yours and now you’re stealing mine? What happened to loyalty?”
“Collin. This is business and you’ll find a new secretary. Plus, I’ll be retiring in a couple of years and when you take over, you can have Laurinda back.”
“I’m telling Mom.”
“Your mom already knows. In fact, she suggested it.”
“Wow. This is payback for getting married in Vegas. Isn’t it?”
He sighed as he sat down in his chair. “Son, it’s not payback. Now, I have some work to do. Call human resources and tell them to start looking for candidates. Once word gets out that Collin Black needs a new secretary, women will be lining up outside the building for the job.” He smiled.
“This is the thanks I get for finding you Diana.”
“You mean the one you made move to California?”
I sighed. “Okay. Okay. I’ll go call human resources, but don’t think I’m okay with this because I’m not.” I walked out of his office and I heard him snicker.
Chapter 9
Ellery
“I’m throwing myself a birthday party,” Peyton said as I handed her a glass of wine.
“Oh. And where are you having it?”
“Tenjune. We’re going to have so much fun! Just like the good old days, Elle. It’s Saturday night so you better not have plans.”