Sweetness (15 page)

“Ok. I know a little bistro with al fresco seating. Its
between lunch and dinner so I am sure it will be quiet.”
He glances at me again with that same look on his face.
He is a very mysterious man. I don’t think he deals with
emotional people well. Its almost like he thinks I will
shatter if he says the wrong thing, but doesn’t care either
way.

Gabe parks the car and we walk a block to where
the bistro is. It is a quaint little place in the middle of
Manhattan with rooftop seating, on top of a two story
restaurant. It doesn’t look like much, but it’s quiet. As we
are seated Gabe pulls out my chair and its then that I
compare his Jekyll and Hyde attitude in my head. By day
a gentleman, by night the intimidating ass.

Kind of like a superhero.
“Thank you. Again, I am sorry for being such a
wreck. I didn’t expect him leaving would be this hard. In
fact I don’t know why it is this hard. We knew each other
briefly a few years ago but we just reconnected 4 days
ago. Anyway I am rambling, I’m sorry.” I blurt out like I
am trying to make sense of it in my own head.
“No need to apologize, Emma. Like I said before,
we have all been there.” His stare trails off for a second
but he quickly shakes his head, as if to clear the thought
from his mind.
I move the menu closer and open it on the table.
My Chanel sunglasses close me off from the world. At
least enough for now. I’m not hungry but I didn’t want to
be rude and refuse his invitation. He is my boss after all
and maybe if I focus on work, it will make the time go
faster.
The waiter arrives and Gabe orders for the both of
us without even consulting me. That’s weird and
certainly not what I am used to, but whatever he ordered
seems fine so I go with it.
“Emma, I think we both got off on the wrong foot.
I am willing to keep you on my team but we need to
come to some kind of an agreement if we are going to
work together amicably.” He looks at me directly in the
eye, sitting up straight with his hands folded in front of
him. This must be Mr. CEO speaking.
Welcome back arrogant ass.
I sit quietly with my head down and shoulders
slumped. His stare is intimidating and I immediately feel
very small. How the hell does he do that to me? I barely
know this man but he has the ability to make me feel like
an errant child. I get he is older and wiser when it comes
to business but he could at least not be arrogant with me,
if for nothing else then because I am his bosses daughter.
“You asked me the other day if I thought Mr. Ross
came up to your apartment because of what your name
was. I know he didn’t I discovered his band. I saw his
band play a few venues and really enjoyed not only the
music they played, but the level of professionalism that
they held themselves too. They didn’t hang about the
clubs after to drink or hit on girls, they all got along, and
they all have good heads on their shoulders. Well, Rocco
is a handful but Dominic seems to have a good handle on
him,” Gabe jokes. “I introduced them to a label that we
often do business with, in exchange for full control over
their image, PR, and promotion.”
I sit up straight and take a sip of my water.. If this
is the work I am going to be doing I need to know this
stuff. I need to focus and show Gabe and my father that I
can handle this.
“Now here you are. Just before they go on tour.
We now run the risk of the leader of the band being
sidetracked from the goal we all agreed upon. I have
spoken to Dominic and I agreed to let you join my team
in the promotion of this project. You will work directly
with me and you will assist my assistant in anything she
needs. No questions asked. My assistant Stephanie has a
family and travel has always an issue. But now that
you’re here, I expect you to join me when I travel and be
my assistant in her place. In exchange, you will be able to
spend more time with Dominic while he is on the road.”
He is giving me what I want? Am I hearing this
correctly? The tone of voice he is speaking to me in is
rude and belittling. He is starting to really piss me off.
He acts like I am someone he has to babysit in
order to keep his assets in line. I want to do this because
he thinks I can, not because him and Dominic came to
some sort of agreement. I straighten, and mirror his
image minus the intimidation. I seriously doubt I would
ever be able to frighten him.
“Mr. Hernandez. I am grateful for what you are
offering and I will work very hard for you and HMA. I
want to be on this project because I know I can handle it.
I will admit, it would be nice to see Dominic more, but if
you are giving me this opportunity because he told you
to; or if you think my father will make you and you are
trying to pacify me, than you are not giving me enough
credit. I am smart and driven. I have been taught by the
best of them to grab ahold of what I want and fight for it.
I will accept your offer but I want to be very clear that I
expect no special treatment from you or anyone else at
HMA.
I plan on taking over the company one day and I
suspect you have the same goal. I will not get in your
way and I don’t expect you to get in mine. I think we can
work side by side with no further issues as long as we are
clear that although, maybe not right now but one day, I
will be your equal. You would be wise to remember
that.”
Good for you Hill. Don’t let him push you around,
the little voice in side my head says. This subconscious of
mine is really starting to become a cheerleader of sorts.
“Emma, I am fully aware of what your long terms
plans are. I am glad to hear you are such a fighter. I
wouldn’t have pegged you as such. You have a lot to
learn along the way. After much thought I realized that if
we will be one day working side by side, equally, it
would probably be best if I got you out of bad habits now
and taught you how to be a proper employee. I was also
not aware, before I approached Mr. Ross, you had any
intentions on asking to be on this project. It is in
everyone’s best interest if Mr. Ross and the band are in
tip top condition at all times. So if that means him seeing
you more often makes him happy, than so be it.
Furthermore, I know you will work hard because
if you care for him at all you will want him to succeed
and in turn, the company succeeds. It’s a win, win, all
around. However, I will warn you that if at any time
your presence or your relationship seems to be a
distraction, or if I feel you are acting inappropriately, I
will remove you off this project and off my team
permanently. Is that clear?”
“I think that’s fair. I will work hard, I promise.
Thank you for the opportunity. I won’t be a distraction
and I won’t get in the way. I realized last night that my
dress was not acceptable for an employee to wear to an
event and it will never happen again.”
Even though I am stoic on the outside I am
jumping for joy on the inside. I can’t believe I have my
dream job and I’ll even get to visit with Dominic.
The waiter brings out our food, I am suddenly
starving. Gabe and I don’t speak much for a while.
“Mr. Hernandez, can I ask you something?”
“Sure.“ He puts his fork down and gives me his
full attention.
“How long have you worked for HMA?”
“I started working for HMA when I was twentytwo. I worked my ass off to be the youngest executive
ever in HMA. When I was twenty-eight your father gave
me a project that could make the company a lot of
money. Needless to say, I knocked it out of the park. He
told me he needed someone like me to handle most of the
day to day stuff so he could have more time off.”
“So technically YOU run the company.”
“The day to day stuff I do. You father has worked
incredulously for many years, building his company to
the level of success it has become. Now, I can take it to a
whole other level. The company is getting stale and we
need to work on younger cliental. Music, high-end
booze, technology, social media, that’s what we are
targeting. We can go over the specifics on Monday but
for now the Lost account is your only priority. The
summer is a hot time for concerts and promotion. We
have a huge show in Miami in August. You will
accompany me to that event. We will be there for about a
week so keep your calendar free. My assistant Stephanie
will set up the travel arrangements and update your
calendar with everything related to the band.”
“Great. I can’t wait. I won’t let you down Mr.
Hernandez. For the next month I will live and breath
work.”
He picks up his fork to finish his meal silently. I
am so excited. I can hardly wait to give Dominic the
news. My life is finally snapping into place. It has been a
long hard road to get to where I am. Perhaps karma has
decided I finally get a break.

We head back
to Hill Tower and into the garage. Gabe,
ever the gentleman, opens my door and takes my box
from the backseat.

“Thank you for lunch Mr. Hernandez. I am glad
we have been able to come to an understanding. I am
sure I will learn a lot from you. I am always eager to
learn new things.”

“Glad to hear it Emma.” His tone of voice is less
icy that before, but his face remains impassive. It’s
almost as if he wants to like me but is holding back. He
hands me my keys and my box in the elevator and when
the doors open to his floor I get nothing more then a curt
nod.

Once I am home and showered, I call Mark to
make the arrangements for him and Max to meet Wanda
and I at the spa tomorrow. Our appointments are at noon
but I suggest we go out for breakfast first. I also email
Mia to thank her for the clothes, and spa package,
and…everything she has done for us.

Mia and I get along as well as can be expected. She
is a gold-digger, no doubt about it. It has definably been
her life’s mission to marry well. But she loves my father
and makes him happy so I take it for what it is. An
arrangement that satisfies both parties. She has always
made an effort with Mark and I as well so I can’t
complain. I’m happy that Gabe took over some of my
fathers’ duties so he can spend more time with her. He
has worked very hard his whole life to get where he’s at
and he deserves to take a break.

I can hear him walking through the bus. The
noises in the background are changing as he walks from
room to room. A door opens and closes again.

“Hey beautiful. What’s up?” His voice echoes.
“Are you in the bathroom?” I giggle.
“Yes.” I can almost hear his smile on the other

“What about the bedroom? I seem to remember us
having privacy before.” I close my eyes and remember
his face as he lay above me staring into my soul; green
eyes, blond hair, and sexy dimples that could stop traffic
on a city street.

“I just told you I have no privacy and you are
getting me hard. I may have to do something about that.”
“DOMINIC!” I blush, and I know he knows it.
“Thank you for the box. I will sleep in my new favorite tshirt every night.”
“Did you call me to have phone sex because that is
where this is going to lead if you keep screaming my
name like that and talking about sleeping with nothing
underneath my t-shirt but your soft, naked body.” His
voice is low and dripping with sexual promises I have no
doubt he would fulfill.
“Anyway…I wanted to let you know that I will be
flying out to see you next month in Miami. I am sure
Gabe told you already but I wanted to let you know that
I will be on his team at HMA for the bands promo tour.”
“Really! Sweetness, that’s amazing. No, he didn’t
tell me. He asked me today if it would be a problem if he
put you on the project. I of course told him I would
prefer it. He also told me we need to keep our
relationship a little more discrete for your own
protection. He doesn’t want you to get bad press for
dating someone like me.”
“What do you mean someone like you? Did he say
that?”
“Millionaires’ daughter dates rock star. The
tabloids would have a field day. Lets face it Emma, I am
hardly country club material. And no, he didn’t say it. I
am saying it.”
Does he think I am some little tart trying to rebel
or something? Has the last few days not shown him how
in this I am? “Seriously! You think I’m doing this as some
kind of an act of rebellion against my rich daddy. Like
you are a phase or something? You think I would
actually use you like that? If you do, then you don’t
know me at all apparently.”
“Whoa, calm down. I’m not trying to piss you off.
I am just saying that we are not necessarily on the same
playing field. My mother is a nurse and my father is an
accountant. You father is a millionaire and he owns my
future. The bad boy rocker with the bell of the ball is
juicy news to most tabloids. We don’t’ know where this
thing between us going and I don’t want you to have to
deal with paparazzi following you. I can’t protect you on
the road. I don’t want to see you get hurt because of me.
Mr. Hernandez and I feel that keeping you out of the
spotlight is best.”
“Don’t do that. Don’t put yourself down. My stepfather stayed blue collar even after he married my
mother and her money. He still works in his garage not
because he has to but because he likes it and my mother
was never ashamed of him for it. They fought a lot when
I was a kid, because in his mind her money made her
better than him, even though she would always tell him
he was silly to believe that nonsense.
“All the money in the world can’t buy happiness.
You are well on your way to achieving your dreams. Not
many people get the opportunity to do that. You are an
amazing musician, you are handsome, and thoughtful,
and caring…the list is endless. What you are not, is an
asshole, so don’t act like one. My last name doesn’t leave
me at an advantage over you. You made it here on your
own. Long before me. And you will continue to make it
on your own merits.” The silence on the other end of the
phone is deafening.
Maybe I overstepped and he hung up. “Hello? Are
you still there.”
“Yes, Emma, I am still here. You are unpredicted
baby.” He answers and takes a deep breath. Slowly
releasing it into the phone.
“Unpredictable? How?” Unpredictable, as in
crazy? I didn’t mean to rant at him but I don’t want my
fathers money to ruin anything we could potentially
have together.
“You are just…. what you just said…it was
perfect. I don’t care what your last name is, Emma. The
fact that you think I am so unflawed is…inspirational.
Misguided, but nice all the same,” he chuckles.
“I meant it. I just wish you could see what I see.”
“I have worked so hard to get where I am and I
feel like my life is falling into place now that you are in it.
I am kind of a loner and it’s just nice to have someone
believe in me. My parents always told me what a waste
my music is. They say I should stop being silly and get a
real job. You telling me how great you think I am…no
one has ever told me how great I am. I didn’t even know
I needed to hear it until you said it.
“Every girl I have ever dated has always just
wanted to be able to say she was my girlfriend. They
didn’t care about me, myself; they just wanted a piece of
the guy on stage. I know you care because you let me
leave. You put my feeling ahead of your own. That’s
big.”
He makes my heart melt. How could he not know
how great he is? How could his parents not be proud of
the man he is? He is caring and kind. He has been
nothing but a gentleman and he makes me feel like I am
not such fucked up person. He scares me though. This
whole thing scares me. It is all moving so fast. I have
never let anyone get to me the way he does. It is scary
and exciting all at the same time. His declaration negates
me and gives me hope of a normal life. A life where I am
not looking over to see if Glen is standing in the shadows
ready to pounce on me.
“Hello?” He says, pulling me out of my own
thoughts.
“I’m here. It seems that we both need each other. I
am sorry that no one ever told you how special your
music is or how remarkably special
you
are. Your music
is what drew me to you in the first place. When you sing,
it does things to me. I’m a little embarrassed to say that
when you took me out on Thursday, I thought that you
just wanted to nail me before you left. I was willing to let
that be the beginning and the end of it. But as the night
went on, I wasn’t willing to let go so easy.”
“I know you were,” he sighed. “I really did want
to see if the girl I knew five years ago was still there. I
knew I had to kick it up a notch and not take you on
some lame date before I took you home. And what do
you mean when I sing it does things to you. What kind of
things?” He was grinning through the phone, I could tell
by his voice. The thought of telling him how his voice
alone sends shivers up my spine is completely
mortifying.
“So I was a sure thing, huh. Well, can’t argue with
that. I wanted to jump on you when I heard you doing
sound checks, Wednesday night at the bar. And you
know what your voice does to me. I told you last night.”
That last part comes out more breathy then I wanted.
“What did you tell me Emma, I don’t know what
you are talking about?” He is going to make me repeat
what I said to him? His breathing gets heavier he speaks.
“I told you that when you sing, it makes me wet.
The sound of your voice alone is enough to make me
come.” I am so turned on by the way he was making me
spell it out for him. I knew he needed to hear this so he
could finish whatever he started in the beginning of this
conversation. I just wish he were here to finish me off
too.
“You made me say it to you before you would put
dick back inside me.” Describing back to him what we
did, to get him off, is my pleasure. I have a feeling that
there will be many nights where he may need to return
the favor.
“Then you slid me up and down until you came inside
me.”
That is as brave as I get. He may need to use his
own imagination if he needed more.
“Fuck, Emma.” He hisses. Well I guess that took
care of that. “Well Sweetness, again you surprise me. I
had you pegged for a good, sweet girl but it seems like
you have a very dirty mouth. I like it.”
“And you are a dirty boy. Are you going to jack
off during all of our conversations?” He stutters
incoherent things, not able to string actual words
together. “Don’t worry baby, its ok. Anytime I can help,
you give me a call,” I giggle.
If I can manage to get him to let me do it, perhaps
he will keep his eye on the prize and not fuck some
random chick to relieve the pressure. He told me he
doesn’t do the groupie thing. I believe him but
temptation will be everywhere now.
“Uh. Well I told you, you were making me hard. I
have no self-control when it comes to you. Perhaps next
time we can do this together.”
“Good to know that I have such an effect on you.”
“Of course you do. I told you that already, but
perhaps I should’ve kept that my secret. I have a feeling
you will use it against me,” he teases.
“I will only use my powers for good. Promise. I
am going to sleep baby but if you are bored or something
text me. Anytime.”
“I guess I should get out of the bathroom before
the guys realize what I am doing in here. I will text you
before I go to bed.” I softly laughed at his comment.
“Ok, baby. Make sure you wash your hands.” I
tease.
“Good-bye Emma.” He fakes annoyance and I am
sure that comment earned me an eye roll.
“Night handsome.” I hang up and hug my phone
to my chest like a teenage girl with a crush. I guess in
many ways I am. Under different circumstances I would
have done this years ago. I suddenly feel the urge to see
his face. I hop off my bed and grab my laptop to Google
‘Dominic Ross’.
After I type his name in the search engine, pages
of press releases, and photos, and Facebook pages about
him and, Lost, pop up. I click on the most recent and read
an article about the show from last night. There is a
picture that was taken while we were kissing onstage
with the caption:

“
Dominic Ross lead singer from the band Lost, sings his new
song, Sweetness, to an unknown fan. Sure to be their first
single, Ross plays up the crowd by kissing this fan to heighten
the reaction. This act will surely be repeated at all of his future
shows.”

The hell it will. I blow up the picture and set it as
my new screensaver. I also send it to Dominic.
_________________________________________________
From:
Emma Hill
To: Dominic Ross
Subject:
My new screensaver

I have attached a photo of us from last night. If you will
refer to the caption you will see that my first job on
Monday will to make sure that that doesn’t happen. ☺
xoxo- Emma

I hear a ding on my laptop as I attempt to leave
the room to get a water bottle from the kitchen. I walk
back to check it and see Dominic has replied in record
time.
___________________________________________________
From:
Dominic Ross
To: Emma Hill
Subject:
MY new screensaver

No worries, Sweetness. I always keep my promises. You
are the only one I want to make beautiful music with.
Did you Google me? This was the first image that I saw
on my Google alert when I checked it. You distracted me
so I forgot to tell you.
-Dom
___________________________________________________
From:
Emma Hill
To: Dominic Ross
Subject: Distract you?
I did Google you, yes. Google alert is a good idea, thanks.
I am glad to hear you keep your promises. <3
Miss you,
Emma
From:
Dominic Ross
To: Emma Hill
Subject: Stalker

Why did you Google me? Don’t believe everything you
read on the Internet. I am sure there will be false stories
every now and again so don’t drive yourself crazy. I will
always be honest with you. If there is anything that you
need to know just ask. I want you to trust me, Emma. If
we can’t trust each other then any relationship we
endeavor to have will not work. I hope you feel the same
way.

From:
Emma Hill
To: Dominic Ross
Subject: Trust

I agree. We will need to trust and be honest at all times. I
know I won’t be able to control everything on the
Internet but it is my job to make sure that you and the
band are viewed in the best light possible. Not only
because of work, but because I am your friend…with
benefits. LOL.

To answer your question, I Goggle’d you to see your
face. I miss you and I wanted to see you. Even if it is just
in a photo.