It had been an incredible weekend. Kayla and I hadn't left the hotel for two whole days, and when my wake-up call came Monday morning, I had to order a fresh suit be delivered to the room from the Ralph Lauren store down the street.
"I had them bring up a new dress for you, too," I said to Kayla, and she squealed with delight.
"It's beautiful," she smiled, holding it up to her body as she stood in front of the mirror and admiring the way the blue color enhanced her eyes.
"You look even more beautiful," I complimented as I lowered the dress away from her naked body. "Especially with nothing on at all."
Kayla dropped the new dress to the ground and wrapped her arms around me in a passionate kiss. It stirred my longings again, but regretfully, I had pull myself away from her. We'd already fucked once in the bed when we first woke up and again in the shower just a few minutes ago. If this kept up, I'd never get to work and I needed to take full advantage of the momentum from Friday night's launch party. All the media outlets would be talking about it today, and the time to strike up deals with my investors and clients was now.
"You're driving me crazy, but I have to go," I apologized, and she just kept after me. Her sex-drive was insatiable and I loved it, but as CEO, I had to force myself to resist. Aggressively, I grabbed her by the wrists and pinned them behind her back. In a low, sexy growl I said, "Don't make me punish you for being a naughty girl. Get dressed and go home. Your phone will be ringing off the hook today with new job offers due to the release of the magazine Friday and all the press coverage you got at the party."
"I forgot about that." Kayla was suddenly beaming with excitement of a different kind.
I released her arms and said to her with a grin, "Make the most of this opportunity. Make me proud by letting yourself shine."
"I will." She kissed me happily and then started getting dressed. I listened as she chatted enthusiastically about the ambitions she had for her career and the jobs she hoped she got offered.
"Do you think any of them will call?" She looked suddenly worried as I straightened my tie one last time and headed for the door.
"I'm sure they will. Meet me for dinner tonight and you can tell me all about it," I said, caressing her cheek. I hated to leave her, and I couldn't wait to see her again.
"Where should I meet you?" I knew the answer immediately.
"Let's keep it quiet tonight. Meet me at the house in Beverly Hills. I'll have something special planned for us."
We kissed goodbye then, and I left instructions at the front desk to bill my credit card for the room after Miss Brandt checked out and to let her charge anything to my account that she needed.
The receptionist smiled knowingly, but I knew I could count on her to be discreet. Knowing whom I could trust with my secrets was how I had made it all the way to the top in this city of fallen angels and how I intended to stay there.
The office was buzzing with activity when I finally arrived, and I felt invigorated, not just by the ringing phones, but by the incredibly relaxing weekend I'd had.
"I hear you have a girlfriend now," Angela said to me as I approached my office door. She was blocking my entrance and there was no way to avoid her. Her voice sounded even, but her green eyes cut into me like jealous daggers.
"News travels fast," I quipped, trying to make light of it.
"Yeah, it travels even faster when you do it front of the paparazzi." Angela held up a gossip magazine with pictures of Kayla and me making out at the party and then another of us entering the hotel elevator together.
Angela tore out a page from the center of the magazine, and read it aloud with biting words. "Socialite Gwyneth Manzranni, a longtime friend of Colson, said, ‘Ethan confirmed to me that Kayla is his girlfriend. I'm so happy he finally found someone that makes him happy. They're a cute couple.’"
I flinched uncontrollably as Angela threw the magazine in my face. She reached up to slap me, but I caught her by the wrist. "Take it easy," I whispered.
"I guess I mean nothing to you, then?" she hissed.
"You mean everything to me. You're the best damn assistant I ever had, and the sex we shared was just what I needed to get through a lot of the tough days around here. You're brilliant, sexy, hardworking, and incredibly good at what you do. Don't think that just because we're not in love with each other that I don't value you."
"So, you admit it. You love her and not me."
"You can't tell me that you want there to be more between us," I said to her softly. "I'm impatient, moody, difficult to work with, and a complete asshole most of the time. We had some terrific times together fucking, but you don't love me."
"You are an asshole," she agreed with chagrin, and it broke the tension between us.
"You deserve someone far better than me to be your boyfriend. If you don't feel comfortable being my assistant anymore, I'll transfer to work somewhere else in the building or write you a recommendation letter for any other company in the country. I hate to lose you, though. A lot of the success of this company I owe to you and the incredible work you do. Just tell me what you want and I'll make sure you get to work there."
Angela looked mollified and I felt a sense of relief. I shouldn't have, though. There's a reason for the saying, “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned,” and I should have remembered that.
"Thanks, but I think I'll stay working for you." She smiled at me, and I should have noticed the malicious gleam in her eye, but at the time, I mistook it as happiness. "Oh, by the way, one of your college friends is waiting in your office. He said he ran into you at the party and he wanted to meet with you about a business proposition."
"Oh, great. Who is it?" I felt glad that we were back to business as usual.