The CEO & I

This is the point where I cut him off. “Stop speaking. Now.”

He is so shocked he stops mid-sentence.

“Now, I don’t know who the fuck you think you are, speaking to my assistant that way, but you’ve gone way over the line. If you were here in person, I would teach you a lesson in manners. And if I didn’t have better things to do with my time, I’d go down there personally to see that you never speak to a woman that way again.”

“Sir, I apologize for—”

“Did I say you could fucking talk?”

The man goes completely silent for a moment, before making the mistake of opening his trap again. “No, sir, but—”

“Here’s what’s going to happen. I’m going to hang up this phone. Then I’m going to spread the word to all my associates that your car service is blacklisted. If I were a betting man, I’d say the majority of your clients are businessmen. Well, not anymore. You might want to start looking for a new job now.” I hang up before he can say anything else.

She is staring at me wide-eyed.

I hand her phone back to her. “Too much?” I ask.

A slow smile spreads across her face. “Could be, but he was an asshole.”

“Send an email to all your friends about these guys.”

She cocks her head in confusion. “My friends?”

“Well, not your friends, exactly. But all the other assistants to my friends. The ones you deal with on a daily basis. Tell them never to use this car service again. Whatever the hell it’s called. Maybe then our friend will learn a bit of humility.”

She nods. “I will. And, Mr. Remington?”

“What is it, Mrs. Emerson?”

“Thank you,” she says.

I shoot her a tight smile. “No one treats you that way. Not while I’m around. Now go find us an ordinary cab, but make sure it’s air-conditioned.”

Chapter 2

Luke

The gap-toothed cab driver sings softly to himself as he navigates through the hellish traffic of downtown Bangkok. He has a lousy voice, but I vastly prefer it to any forced attempt at small talk. I know they’re just angling for a better tip. The joke’s on them. I tip so much better when they say nothing at all.

I look out of my window. Bangkok never changes. Tall buildings, temples, golden Buddha statues everywhere, busy sidewalks, men and women in colorful clothes. Even where we are now, stuck in traffic, there are enough glimpses into Bangkok’s Asian culture to make the place feel exotic and mysterious. At least, that’s how it felt the first time I came here.

But travel the world enough and nothing really surprises you anymore. I’ve traveled a lot, seen a lot, and done a lot. This is the first trip I am taking with my PA. I think I heard one of the managers mention that this might even been her first trip abroad. All of this must be so new to her.

I turn to look at her.

She is leaning forward and gazing out the windows, her eyes wide and shining. I follow her gaze and look at the shops passing by. For a moment, it’s like I’m seeing the world through her eyes. The city is vibrant and alive. The way it had been when I first came here. Young and starry-eyed. Yes, Bangkok has a way of making the rest of the world seem dull and gray.

My eyes stray back to her face.

She looks almost beautiful in her excitement. I find myself staring. Seeing her from the side, without her glasses in the way, is a revelation—her eyes are quite stunning. I thought they were brown, probably because I’ve never paid much attention. Now I see they’re an extraordinary hazel. The mixture of green, brown and gold glow in the sunlight, and for a timeless second, I’m captivated.

Then I disgustedly shake myself from my thoughts and remind myself this is Mrs. Emerson. My married PA. Yes, I care about her, but not like that. Never like that.

Suddenly, the silence becomes awkward for me, and I need to say something. Anything. “So I take it this is your first time in Thailand?”

She turns to look at me, a warm, open smile on her face. It transforms her. “It is,” she admits. “I never knew how beautiful it is.”

“If you think this is beautiful, you should see outside the city. It’s unlike anywhere else.”

She sighs. “I’d love to, but this isn’t a vacation, remember?”

I smile at the way she throws my words from earlier back in my face. I wouldn’t let most people get away with that, but for some weird reason I let her. “No, it’s not. But maybe you can find some time in the schedule tomorrow and the day after to look around.”

“Will you join me?” Then adds quickly, “I’d be nervous to wander around alone.”

I shake my head. “I’ll be far too busy, but you arrange for a tour guide to show you around. I’ll pick up the cost”