Tempted by the Boss (Tempted Series Book 1) (4 page)

Frank was only a few steps behind me when I placed my racket on
the patio table.

“Are you sick of it yet?”

He took a seat next to me. “Sick of what?”

I smiled. “Getting whooped by me.”

“Yeah, actually I am. I haven’t beaten you since-”

“April I think it was?”

“We could always switch to golf.” Frank pulled his sweaty
t-shirt away from his chest. “Then I’d get to taste victory again.”

“Your tennis needs work if we’re ever going to beat those pricks
from Wesleyan.”

“Why do you care so much?”

“Cause I hate to lose, Frank. Especially to pricks.”

A young doe-eyed waitress with her hair pulled back arrived
beside our table. “What can I get you gentlemen?”

“Two Peroni and a plate of sandwiches,” I said.

“Of course, Mr. Abbott.” She tucked a wisp of hair behind her
ear.

“And an order of those fries with the Cajun spices, please.”

“Coming right up, Mr. Reynolds.”

I watched her walk away, but it did nothing for me. She had no
curves to speak of.

“Cute little ass on her, don’t you think?” Frank asked.

“She’s shaped like a little boy.”

He shrugged. “I would anyway.”

I shook my head. “How can you eat fries after you exercise?”

“I’m starving. Becky’s on a diet again, and I’ve been eating
bird seed all week.”

“Bird seed?”

“Flax. I don’t know. Some shit that gives her gas.”

“Charming.”

“Speaking of which. We’re having a dinner party next weekend-
flax free. Will you come?”

“Thanks, but no thanks.”

“Why not?”

“Cause I can’t trust you guys anymore after that last charade.”

“It wasn’t that bad.”

“Are you kidding?” I leaned back in my chair. “Becky blatantly
invited all her single friends and me. It was an ambush.”

“How was she supposed to know you’d already pissed two of them off?”

“For the record, those money grabbing maniacs pissed me off.
They were the two highest maintenance women I’ve ever taken out. I have no
reason to think the rest of your wife’s friends are any different.”

“The food was good though.”

“Yeah, it was. But I can get Viccino’s anytime I want, can’t I?
Without having to watch my wallet or my mouth?”

“Your mouth?”

“Don’t pretend you ever speak your mind in front of those women.
Becky’s friends are the unofficial gossip mill of New York. It’s not safe for a
guy like me to even be around them.”

“It’s not that bad.”

“Yes it is. I have to protect what little privacy I have which
means I’ve no interest in touching any of those social climbers with a ten foot
pole.”

He rolled his eyes.

“Honestly, if I wanted your wife to know everything about my sex
life, I’d just sleep with her myself.”

“Fuck off. You don’t have to say that just to get out of coming
to dinner.”

The waitress showed up with our drinks, our food, and a pitcher
of ice water.

“Thanks.” I checked her name tag. “Marion, is it?”

She blushed. “Yes, sir.”

“Thanks, Marion,” I said again.

“Is there anything else I can get you gentlemen?”

“No. I think we’re all set.” I didn’t bother watching her walk
away this time.

“Do you always have to flirt with the waitress?” Frank asked
when she was out of ear shot.

“I was just being polite.”

“Sure you were. She turned red as a tomato.”

“That’s because women are defenseless to my good looks. I can’t
help it. It’s a curse.”

“Whatever. If you’re all that irresistible why haven’t you gotten
back out there and started dating?”

“No one has peaked my interest.”

“Bull shit.” He grabbed a handful of fries. “Are you still
sleeping with Laura?”

I stuffed a finger sandwich in my mouth.

“Jesus, Will. Why?”

“Why not?”

“Cause you can’t move on if you’re still fucking your ex. Even
teenagers know that.”

I shrugged. “It’s easy, and there are no surprises. Plus, it
doesn’t distract me from my work cause she doesn’t want anything else from me.”

“That’s cold, man. You’re cold.”

“That’s what she said.”

He lifted his beer to his lips. “What are you talking about?”

“She said I’m incapable of love.”

“What a bitch.”

It bothered me to hear him call Laura a bitch, but I let it
slide. After all, he only ever heard about her when she was shitty to me.

I poured some ice water into our glasses. “She thinks I don’t
even know what love is and that all I do is think about myself and my work.”

“Well those things might be true.”

I set the pitcher down and looked at him. “I’m listening.”

“All you think about is yourself and your work- but as far as
not knowing what love is- I think that’s only because you haven’t found it
yet.” He leaned back in his chair. “Personally, I don’t think anyone really
knows what love is until they find it.”

I rolled my eyes.

“I’m serious.”

“So you don’t think I ever loved Laura either?”

“I think you loved Laura for the same reason you love your job.”

I raised my eyebrows.

“Because she’s challenging, and you love a challenge.”

“Hmmm.” 

“But there’s nothing challenging about fucking your sex obsessed
ex-wife. That’s why I’m surprised you’re still even interested in doing that.”

“It’s only temporary. I’m not looking for anything serious right
now. I have too much going on.”

“I’m not saying you have to get into anything serious. I’m just
saying you ought to get back out there and have a little fun.”

“I understand.”

“With someone else.”

“Right.”

“Who doesn’t have a long history of screwing you.”

“That’s enough.”

“How was the benefit last night?”

“Good. Sorry you couldn’t make it.”

“Emily got my note though, right?”

“Yeah. The time share in Napa is all yours. I’m sure Emily will
have the contracts over to you first thing next week.”

“Great. Anyone choke on any horderves this time?”

“No. We make them smaller now.”

He shook his head. “God. Some idiot always has to ruin it for
everyone else. So nothing interesting happened then?”

“Not really, but I may have met someone that might be a good
hire.”

“Oh really?”

“Yeah. Recent college grad.” I didn’t know why I was telling him
about Ella. Did I want to talk about her that badly?

“A college grad?”

“Yeah. I might bring her on if I think she’s got potential.”

“Well that explains it.”

“What?”

“It’s a chick.”

“She’s a young woman.”

“I bet she is. Fresh out of college. Probably all bright eyed
and eager to please.”

“Hopefully.”

“What a nice thing for you to do.” The sarcasm in his voice was
thick.

“It’s sort of an experiment.”  

“About how long it takes you to get in her pants?”

“No, actually.” He was annoying me now. “I want to see if she’s
easier to train because she won’t have picked up a bunch of bad habits from
previous employers.”

“Sounds like she’s going to be your new bad habit.”

“Jesus, Frank. Do you always have to be such a sexist ass?”

He shrugged. “Is it going to be a problem for you that she’s
beautiful?”

I squinted at him.

“Oh come on. She’s obviously attractive or you wouldn’t be so
interested in training her to work with you. Especially if she’s got no
experience.”

“The fact that she’s good looking is a coincidence.”

“Tell yourself whatever you want. Nothing in your world is ever
a coincidence. Your life is like a finely orchestrated symphony.”

I smiled. “That’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.”

He rolled his eyes. “It’s really a compliment for Emily.”

“Can’t argue with that.”

“Does she know you’re bringing on a new experiment?”

“No, but she’s always very supportive, and unlike you, she’ll
understand that I am just trying to do a nice thing for someone.”

“For absolutely no reason other than that you’re such a nice
guy.”

“That’s right,” I said. But I didn’t believe me any more than he
did.

When I walked into the hotel on Tuesday afternoon, the place was
as stunning as I remembered. Even without the music and the socialites in
formal dress.

Meanwhile, I was beyond intimidated and couldn’t get my palms to
stop sweating. Which was all Jackie’s fault. Meeting Will was intense enough.
It didn’t help that she’d made such a big fuss.

There was nothing more I could’ve done to prepare though. I had
followed her instructions to groom myself to within an inch of my life. I even
sprung for a manicure which was a very rare occurrence. I usually just ended up
chipping it off when I got anxious, and it had taken all my energy not to do
that on this occasion. By the time I reached the front desk, I was so on edge
that a broken nail might have caused me to have a complete meltdown.

“Hello, Miss,” the smiley front desk manager said. “How can I
help you today?”

“My name is Ella Riley.” I cleared my throat. “I’m here to meet
Mr. Abbott.”

“Why don’t you take a seat, and I’ll let him know you’re here
Miss Riley.”

“Thank you.” I took a mint from the bowl on the granite counter
top.

“Can I get you anything to drink while you’re waiting?”

“No thanks,” I said. Though a stiff drink was probably just what
I needed.

I turned towards the seating area and found a firm chair by the
window. When I reached it, I sat down with my knees together and made a point
of sitting up straight despite the fact that perfect posture wasn’t exactly my
default setting. I rolled the mint around on my tongue and took a deep breath.

It was time to not blow it. It was time to play ball. It was
time to repeat any motivational, confidence boosting cliché I could think of. At
least I looked the part even if I didn’t feel ready.

I decided a black suit would be too boring, and after everything
Jackie said I figured a skirt wouldn’t work against me. Most importantly, I was
wearing my favorite jacket. It was a bold blue color that made me feel more self-assured
than I was. Plus, blue elicited trust in people, and that’s what I was going
for. I wanted Will to trust me with whatever the job was that he had in mind.

I am the person for the job I told myself, and he’s just a
person. Just a regular guy.

But then the energy in the room shifted and when I looked up, Will
was walking across the lobby like he was moving in slow motion. I think I
actually saw the light catch on his bright smile as he waved and nodded at the
people he knew. Which seemed to be everyone.

“Miss Riley,” he said when he reached me.

I stood. “Mr. Abbo-” The mint got sucked back in my throat when
I spoke.

The smile fell from his face. “Are you all right?”

I brought my hand to my neck and my eyes started to water.

“Are you choking?”

I turned my back to him and tried to cough, but the mint
wouldn’t budge. I put one hand on the back of the chair I’d been sitting in and
smacked the other against my chest. My forehead felt so warm I thought I might
faint.

Then I felt two arms wrap around me and squeeze just below my
chest hard enough to lift my feet off the ground. My limbs hung like a rag
doll’s as the air was forced from my chest. A moment later, the mint shot out
of my mouth onto the chair in front of me.

His thick arms set me back on my feet, and I started to catch my
breath again without turning around.

“Ella?”

My face was burning up. “Yes?”

“Are you okay?”

I turned around and stared straight into Will’s chest, letting
my gaze travel up his tie until I was looking into his grey green eyes. “I am
now. Thanks.”

“Wrong pipe?”

I nodded and took a step back. “So much for first impressions.”

“Nonsense. Fresh breath makes a great impression. Plus, we’ve
already met.”

The friendly concierge appeared beside him. “Is everything okay,
Mr. Abbott?”

“Actually, Paul, would you mind removing the mints from the
front desk until they can be replaced with smaller ones?”

“Of course, sir.”

Will reached for the handkerchief in the front pocket of Paul’s
jacket. “Thank you.”

Paul smiled at me and then made his way back towards the front
desk.

Will held the handkerchief out to me and nodded at the chair
behind me.

I grabbed the cloth napkin and turned around, pinching the mint
inside it. When I turned around, he was holding out his open hand.

“You want this?”

“I think it’s safer with me.”

“Very funny.” I put the balled up hankie in his hand. “I’m very
sorry about that I-”

“There’s no need to apologize. You had a mint before a job
interview. It could’ve happened to anyone.”

“Thank you, but you don’t have to replace all the mints on my
account.”

“Yes I do. I can’t follow all the guests around when they fancy
a mint, can I?”

“No, but-”

“If anything I should be thanking you. You probably saved me a
law suit.”

“Oh.”

“Let’s put it behind us and get you something to drink.”

“That would be nice.”

“And I assume you’re hungry or that wouldn’t have happened?”

“I thought we were putting it behind us?” I asked, straightening
my shirt.

He raised his eyebrows.

“Yeah, I could eat.”

“Come on then. The restaurant’s on the fifth floor.”

I followed him to the elevator, trying to regain my composure.

He held the door open for me and I stepped inside, admiring the
mirrored tiles that decorated the elevator’s interior. Then he got on and stood
beside me, facing the door with his legs hip width apart.

“Oh- before I forget,” he said, reaching in his coat pocket. “I
have your raffle winnings.” He handed me an envelope.

“Thank you.”

“Everything is in there except dinner with me, obviously. We can
arrange that for an evening that suits both of us at a later time.”

“Okay.”

“And I’m a personal friend of the chef’s at the place we’ll be
going.”

“Wow.”

“So if you want them to cut your meal up into tiny bites for you,
that will be no problem at all.”

“You’re really hilarious.”

“One of my many gifts,” he said, smiling at me out of the corner
of his eye.

When the elevator stopped, he held the door for me again. Then
we went through to the restaurant where he greeted the hostess before walking
right by. I followed him to a private wraparound booth in the far back corner,
admiring the way his broad shoulders moved through the restaurant’s immaculate
interior. Every place setting was perfect, every napkin was folded the same
way, and every glass was sparkling in the bright space.

And in that moment I remembered why I was there: to get my dream
job. To secure an opportunity to design events and parties with big budgets. I
wanted to rub shoulders with glamorous people. Like Jackie got to do at her
job. That way I could earn enough money to pay off my loans and get my Mom and
I out of that roach infested shit hole.

I had to put the last few minutes behind me. After all, even
though I hadn’t gotten off to a great start with the choking and him needing to
give me the Heimlich within moments of me being in the building, it wasn’t too
late. I could still impress him. I had to consider the whole thing with the
mint an unconventional icebreaker and turn things around. And I could do it. I
was smart, and I was the girl for the job. I had to be.