I throw myself dramatically onto the couch. “It was fine. I like the lady I’m replacing, but of course she won’t be there for long. She’s the only person keeping me sane at the moment.”
She arches an eyebrow at me as she takes the recliner across from me.
“What about your boss?”
“He’s still an asshole.” I throw my head back. “He’s making me go to some charity event tonight. I’m meeting Greta in an hour so she can help me get ready.”
She claps her hands in excitement. My sister loves any excuse to get dolled up.
“Oh! Can I do your makeup?”
Before she got married, she went to cosmetology school. I think sometimes she regrets never doing anything with her certificate, but she has fun giving makeovers to Taylor on occasion, and now that I’m living here, I’m the next victim.
“Why not?”
I go find my niece, knowing she’ll want her “face painted” and we make our way into Chloe’s room… which she has turned into her own little salon. She faces my back toward the mirror, so I have no idea what she’s doing to me, but I trust her. Where Greta will have me dressed like a skank, my sister is all about natural beauty.
Once she’s done, I turn to look at my reflection, and I have to say, I look damn good. She swipes some rose-colored gloss onto my lips and then hands me the tube.
“Keep that in your purse.”
I feel like I’m about to go to my senior prom, not hang out with my jerk of a boss for the evening. I’ll put on a nice front and then come home and forget this night ever happened. I need this job too much to let him stand in my way.
Five
Ian
I pace the sidewalk in front of the Shirk Center. A part of me wonders if she backed out… not caring that I threatened her job if she didn’t come tonight. Would I blame her? No, not really. But I have a feeling that she needs employment, and won’t let an asshole like me keep her from having that. The thought of her stubbornness causes my cock to go rock-hard in my pants. This is not the place to be having these thoughts… of my assistant, nonetheless.
At five after eight, Edward, my driver, finally pulls up to the curb.
“Sorry we’re late, Ian. Traffic was rough tonight.”
I open the back door, reaching my hand out to Maddison. She gives me a half smile before taking it, and I suddenly want to forget about going inside. Instead, I want to tell Edward to take us back to my place, but I’m in charge of this event, and my sister would kill me for not showing up.
Once she’s out of the car, I drink her in. Holy shit. She’s in a tight black dress that barely covers her ass. It has cap sleeves and dips right between her tits. It screams sex, but at the same time, still looks professional. I’m sure there will be women inside with less clothing on. But all I want to look at is this one. I hate myself for thinking like this.
“Ms. Monroe.” I release her hand, reluctantly. The absence of her soft skin on mine almost has me grabbing it again, but I somehow restrain. I’ve been nothing but a dick to her. Even the night we fucked, I treated her like another hookup. Technically, she was supposed to be just another notch on my bedpost, but something about Maddison Monroe has me wanting to throw caution to the wind. But I have a complicated past. This woman is a free bird and dragging her into my shit wouldn’t be good for either of us.
“Mr. Wright.” She smiles and throws in a little wink. She knows she’s teasing me, and I want nothing more than to find a bathroom and punish her for the way she’s acting. But again, I restrain, needing to get us both into the gallery.
“You can just call me Ian.” I wrap my arm around her waist as I lead her up the large flight of concrete stairs.
She tenses at first, but then quickly relaxes. She knows she fits perfectly in my embrace, and she can’t deny it, even if she wants to.
“I’m not sure how professional that is,” she says quietly, and I have to lean into her to hear her words.
“If you recall, we didn’t start out on a very professional level, Ms. Monroe,” I whisper into her ear, and I feel her shiver under my touch.
She doesn’t respond, which is fine by me. I know I’m affecting her, and that’s all that matters. I shouldn’t be playing this game with her, but when I’m around this woman, all rational thoughts fly out the window.
We reach the top of the stairs and I pull the door open for her, my arm still wrapped around her small frame.
“Do you think we should walk into a charity event with your arm around me?” She looks around to see if anyone is watching us. “Don’t you think someone will care that the boss is getting friendly with his new assistant?”
I look at my feet, feeling like an even bigger dick for not telling her this had nothing to do with Wright Enterprises. I’ll pay her for coming tonight, because she was expecting it, but my selfishness had me inviting her. Okay, so I didn’t invite her… I demanded her company, but she doesn’t seem to mind now.
“This, uh, isn’t for the company,” I mutter out as I look up at her.
“What?” she shrieks as she pulls out of my embrace. “You told me I had to come to keep my job; what the hell are you talking about?”
I run a hand through my hair, not caring that I probably now look like I just rolled out of bed right before coming.
“This is an event for my family. It’s personal and nothing to do with business.”
She shakes her head, not understanding what I’m saying.
“I just spent three hours getting ready and freaking out before getting in your driver’s car, and now you’re telling me I’m not getting paid to be here?” Her soft cheeks turn a shade of red, anger seeping out of her.
“I never said that.”
She walks through the door and I hear her mumble, “I better be getting overtime for this.” I’ll pay her an entire week’s paycheck if she stays.
As soon as we enter the gallery, we’re offered wine. She takes it without hesitation and I watch as her lips connect to the clear glass. Images of her on her knees in front of me, with those luscious, plump lips around my cock come to my mind, but they’re immediately gone when I hear my sister behind us.
“Ian, what took you so long?” Bri wraps her arms around me in a hug and I reciprocate.
“Sorry. Where’s Sam?” I ask as I pull away from her and I notice Maddison watching us out of the corner of my eye.
“Did you actually think I’d bring Taz to a place like this?”
I guess she has a point. My very active nephew would be like a bull in a china shop.
“No, I guess not.” I turn toward Maddison. “Sis, this is Maddison Monroe.” I place my arm around her waist again.
Bri reaches her hand out. “It’s so nice to meet you. My brother never brings anyone to these events.” God love her for saying that because she melts into my hold.
“Likewise. This place is incredible.”
“It really is,” Bri agrees.
They continue to talk about different pieces that line the walls, but all I can think about is the beauty in my arms.
My sister finally leaves us after hugging Maddison. “Go find Mom when you get a chance.”