I’m going to forget all about Asher Hawthorne, and I’m never going to let any man make a fool of me again, no matter how handsome or wealthy or clever he is.
Never again.
Chapter One
Asher
Five years later…
So we meet again.
I stare at Violet Cleary as she stands on the descending escalator in a yellow ombre dress that seems to wrap around her like a flame. Most of her black curls are gathered at the top of her head but some still cascade past her ears down to her shoulders.
I remember a woman with black curls that I dated once. Just once. She had the most beautiful blue eyes, too. Too bad I can’t remember her name—I’m terrible with names—and too bad I never got to sleep with her.
I set the memory of her aside as I prepare to greet Violet. No use dwelling on the past. I have to focus on the present, on this amazing woman I met in Switzerland who’s going to be working with me starting tomorrow.
I know what my brothers think—Asher’s going after another woman again. They think I do this just for fun. Well, it is fun. Usually. This time, it’s different. Ever since I met Violet, I just knew I had to have her. I’ve been with a lot of women, but I’ve never wanted a woman this much. And not just in my bed. I want to make her fall for me. I want her to drop her guard, to wipe that serious, snobbish expression off her face. Something tells me both are just masks, barbed wire on the fence to keep people out. I want to see the real her, to know the real her. The fact that she’s been thwarting all my efforts to get close to her so far has only made me want her more.
One way or another, I am going to get what I want.
I walk towards her after she gets off the escalator.
“Welcome to Chicago, Violet. I trust your flight was comfortable? We did put you in first class.”
Her brown eyes narrow. “What are you doing here, Mr. Hawthorne?”
In other words, she’s not happy to see me. Well, I had a feeling she wouldn’t be, but I’m still here.
“Asher, please,” I tell her. “There are three Mr. Hawthornes in the company, so it’s best if you call me Asher.”
“Or maybe I’ll just call the CEO Ethan and your younger brother Ryker and I’ll call you Mr. Hawthorne.”
I let out a breath. And here I thought coming to America would make her a little less… cold. But I guess she’s just like the Swiss Alps—covered in snow all year long. Well, in that case, I’ll just have to turn on the heat and be global warming.
I keep my smile on. “To answer your question, I’m here to give you a warm welcome to our fair, windy city and also to give you a ride to the office.”
“Wow.” She puts a hand on her hip. “I didn’t realize one of the duties of a CFO was picking up employees from the airport.”
“Not all employees,” I say. “Just the most talented one from this Zurich-based company which happens to be the newest and most promising addition to Hawthorne Holdings.”
Violet rolls her eyes. “Flattery will get you nowhere, Mr. Hawthorne. Surely I taught you that in Zurich?”
“It’s not flattery if it’s the truth.”
“It is flattery if your intention is to make me like you, which I can assure you will not happen, so you’re only wasting your time.”
“But I’ll be your boss. Weren’t you informed?”
“I was,” she answers with an expression that tells me she doesn’t like it one bit. “But I wasn’t aware I was required to like my boss. I definitely didn’t read anything like that in my contract.”
Stubborn. But somehow, that’s one of the things I happen to like about her.
I’ll make her like me. Eventually. For now, I’ll just get her out of this airport.
“How many suitcases do you have?” I ask her.
She glances at the red one next to her. “Just this one.”
“You don’t look like you have enough shoes in there,” I joke.
Violet doesn’t laugh. “You want to know what’s in my suitcase?”
I admit I’m curious. “What?”
She leans towards me to whisper in my ear. “The dead body of the asshole who tried to undress me with his eyes inside the plane. Think you know a place where I can dump it?”
I look at her. I know she’s joking, but I also know she’s trying to warn me. Ha. She thinks she can scare me off that easily? Not a chance.
I grab her suitcase. “Actually, I do. And I’m glad you took care of him, though in the future, you won’t have to. As long as you’re with me, I’ll take care of any assholes who dare to come near you.”
She gives me a sarcastic smile. “How noble.”
“Yup. I’m your knight in shining armor.” I glance at the exit. “So shall we go to your carriage, milady?”
~
“This isn’t the office,” Violet complains after we get out of the car in front of a restaurant.
“No,” I tell her. “This is one of the best restaurants in Chicago.”
“And we’re here because?”
“We’re having our first meeting over lunch, which also doubles as your welcome party.”
She pauses. “But I thought I wasn’t starting until tomorrow.”
I hear the worry in her voice so I turn to her with a grin.
“Don’t worry. It will just be a short meeting.”
She touches her hair and the front of her dress. “But I… I’m not dressed for… work. I haven’t changed yet. I…”
So Violet can get flustered, too, can she? It’s a refreshing change, but I decide not to torture her any longer.
“I’m just kidding. We’re just here to eat.”
She pouts and glares at me.
I shrug. “I thought you might want to have something to eat now that you’re on the ground. I know you were in first class but I, for one, can’t eat any airplane food. Did you?”
“I ate a little,” she answers, her voice back to being cold.
“Then you must be hungry. I know I am.”
I walk up the steps to the restaurant and the maître d’ opens the door.
“Welcome, Mr. Hawthorne. I have your table ready.”
I acknowledge him with a smile before following him.
“Wait,” Violet says. “I’m not hungry. I’ll just wait in the car.”
“Nonsense. You’re staying here with me. You don’t have to eat much. Just have something. Anything. Everything on the menu here is delicious.”
“But—”
“It’s just lunch, Violet,” I cut her off as I face her. “And the company’s paying.”
“That’s not what I’m worried about.”
“No. You’re worried I might try to seduce you, especially since there don’t seem to be any other customers around. I can explain. This restaurant usually doesn’t open until five, but for us, they’ve made an exception. It’s not the first time. Also, I can assure you that I’ll be on my best behavior.”
Violet doesn’t look convinced, so I put my hands up.
“I promise I won’t flirt. Like I said, it’s just lunch. And no, it’s not a date. Just two people eating good food.”