Heat (Gimme 5)

In the past decade, I can’t remember having a single vacation. My mother reminds me of it all the damn time, along with the ever-important question of “When are you going to give me some little ones?”

Fuck if I even knew the answer to that one. I want kids, but I never met a woman I wanted to spend a lifetime with. I’m not the kind of guy to fuck around and have a baby mama without her saddled to my ass permanently. That idea disgusted me. My father had been that guy, abandoning my mother and me before she even gave birth to me. That life was out of the question for me.

“I know it is, and yet my coffee isn’t in the fucking limo.” Of all the days for her to ruin my fucking morning. What is the point of an assistant that can’t do her job? I need a break, and Miami might be the place to do it. I’m supposed to be in town for the meeting, but I’m tempted to extend my stay.

“Sorry, sir. The director at Initial Inc said they would have coffee prepared.” I’m not in the mood for her mistakes this morning. After working for me for six months, she should be well aware of what I like, at least when it came to the job. Her attempts to seduce me were becoming obvious. First she claimed her shower was broken and asked if I would let her use mine. Instead, I got her one on another floor. Then it was the accidental touches, falling in my arms twice in twenty-four fucking hours. I’ve no interest in her, but like many assistants, they all dream that the boss is going to fall in love with them.

“Is it in my limo? No. Well, then I don’t give a fuck about their coffee.” I had a damn headache, and caffeine usually did the trick in the morning. “I’m not concerned about being late.”

She checks her phone and then presses the button for my driver. “Winston, please stop at the Starbucks up ahead. Mr. Ryan would like his usual.”

“Yes, Ms. Jones.” Winston has been with me for years and is a good man. He even installed cameras in my personal limo to protect me from gold diggers.

He pulls off the main street and rushes out to get my coffee. “So, after looking over your schedule, you still haven’t given your RSVP to the Children’s Hospital Fundraising Gala,” she reminds me for the twentieth time. She thinks I’ll take her, that’s why she brings it up. The gala isn’t a big deal to me at all. It’s not why I donate to them. I don’t need to be rewarded.

“I don’t need to go. I give the foundation the money they need, so I don’t have to show up.”

“It’s better for your image.”

“My image is just fine,” I lie. I’m known for being an asshole, an unsociable asshole. The last time I spoke to a female, she walked away in tears. They come to you flaunting all their goods, and when you don’t respond, they put their damn hands on you. It pissed me off, and I let her know that I didn’t want a slut for a wife so she could go find another rich cock to hook her claws into. She might have cried that night, but two weeks later, she was married to a man twice my age who’s a billionaire as well.

I’m so fed up with my life, I want to retire. Shit, I think I might sell my company and find some other profession that’s not as demanding of my time. I don’t ever have to work again if I don’t want to, but I’m not sure I have it in me to just do nothing.

Winston opens the door and hands me my drink. “Thank you, Winston. Please let’s get moving before I’m actually late.” I try to take a sip, but the fucking coffee’s burning hot and scalding away my taste buds. Souring my mood even more. It’s funny how the little things can piss you off when you’re already on edge.

I open it to let it cool off quicker. As I’m about to put it in the cupholder, the limo screeches to a halt, sending steaming hot coffee all over me. “Son of a bitch.” My skin’s burning as I jerk my arms out of my jacket. I tear the buttons on my shirt, but the damage is done. I’m sitting in my limo, shirtless, ready to fire Winston for trying to send me to the hospital when I hear him jump out of the limo and shout.

Fuck, I hope a kid didn’t run in the damn street. I step out, forgetting that I had no shirt on when I see him freaking out on a petite beauty he helps to her feet. I’m so fucked.