Forbidden Prescription: A Stepbrother Romance (34 page)

“Your breakfast, sir.”

“Thank you, Jenks.”

I watched Driver take a healthy swig from a concoction made of greens, parsley and whey powder. And some kind of vegan protein called Spiru-Tein. I caught up with Jenks to ask for coffee and saw that he had already made me an espresso.

“What is he drinking?” I whispered.

“The master has a vegan protein supplement daily. He says it counters the side effects of a vigorous workout and a low carb, high protein diet.”

Protein as in meat, I bet. I returned to my boss with my espresso and he was eyeing my bikini top and Daisy Dukes. “Get a good long look. This is all I have until I have my appointment with the stylist.”

Driver folded his newspaper into perfect quarters and gazed at me. “Morning.”

I told him I didn’t expect him to be the kind of man who repeated himself.

“Some things bear repeating. You’re beautiful.”

“How did you know I wouldn’t run the minute the sun rose?” I glanced across the table and saw Driver regard me coolly.

“You have a mighty low opinion of me, don’t you?”

What did that jibe mean?
We’d had sex, not made love. His brow tightened and I pushed my food from me while he downed the rest of his green drink without blinking.

“I’m here to do a job.”

“I don’t have sex for kicks. Let me be clear. I choose my employees for their talent. Not their oral and—other skills.”

He pushed back from the table and left me sitting there. I cut Driver off on his way to the kitchen. My breasts poked out from the sides of my bikini halter, while I felt my ass jiggle a bit as I walked.

“You think I slept with you because I needed to get my rocks off. You were good, but nobody is that good.” I pressed past him and headed to my room.

“When I’m touching you, there isn’t a nook or cranny left unsatisfied,” he said as he grabbed my arm with more force than I expected.

I shrugged out of his grasp, rubbing my arm. “I’m not one of your tarts or office sluts you can knock up, then smooth talk. We had sex. It was nice. That’s all. If I wanted to babysit, I’d hire myself out as a nanny.”

I made it to the stairs, then Driver stepped in the way. I went to the elevator instead. “And where do you think you’re going?”

“Where do you think? I took this gig because I believed you weren’t like the gossip rags said. By the way, I saw the files your previous assistant had. First look at them, I think you have a chance at taking your company IPO.”

My boss glared, his eyes dark and brooding. “What are you? Some kind of spy for my competitor rag?” I stared at him like he had grown another head. Which wasn’t a stretch to believe, given the size of his ego.

“I don’t have time for this crap,” I said hitting the button to the elevator. “I told you what I found because I believe in you. Not because I can’t keep my panties on for a pampered, manicured, hot-shot magazine mogul who wouldn’t know when a woman liked him for himself if she scrawled it across his—” I let my gaze drop to his sweatpants that were tenting with his erection as I spoke. “Tasmanian Devil.”

I returned downstairs at breakneck speed.

“I’ve messaged my resignation to Aimee. And tell Jenks he’s the man,” I said, carrying my overnight tote to the foyer.

“I asked you a question.” Driver said, standing in a tailored suit near the door.

“You’re the billionaire whiz. You figure it out. Oh, and I left my notes about how I think you can steer your company onto the NASDAQ. Wipe that dumbass look off your face. I minored in business when I was in my first years of college. And I realize I should be starting my own business, instead of hiding behind a computer. And working for somebody else. I guess I should thank you,” I said holding out my hand.

Driver took it and squeezed it, our eyes connecting. And I knew that both of us were remembering the hot night we shared.

“Send my day’s hours worked to Aimee, please? And as for the bonus?” I said. Looking him up and down this time. “You’re good, but if what the gossips sites are saying about you is true, you’re about to get in high water about the women you’ve been bouncing from New York to San Fran. And you’re going to need one heck of a PR spin,” I turned and waved to the taxi I’d called. “If the allegations I read about you seducing women and firing them are true.”

Driver stared and said I should reconsider. But he didn’t know I’d read a file the last assistant forwarded to Aimee. She’d all but busted a cap in his ass. Accusing him of offering her a job to get her between the sheets. Then she’d written she was pregnant. I wondered how many other women were waiting in the wings. All ready to name him their baby daddy.

“Thanks. It’s been real.”

C
hapter Eleven

Aimee phoned the minute after I’d flown back home.

“Hi. Thanks for everything,” I said.

“Whoa. There is a note I have here from Mr. Fox. He authorized a full month’s pay. He added I am to double it. Anything you want to tell me?

I sat down near my door, shocked.

I filled Aimee in on my day—and most of my night. Then I asked if the job as virtual assistant was still mine. I know I’d probably burnt as many bridges with Driver as there were in the state. But I couldn’t bow down to any man. Even if it meant I’d beg for crumbs. I hoped Aimee’s reply was “Yes” or I’d be up the creek.

“Yes, it is yours. But I don’t accept your resignation. Whatever happened between the two of you must have been profitable.”

I asked why.

“Because in the years I’ve been by Driver Fox’s side he has never, never, given anyone a second chance. Unless I’d intervened.”

“What are you saying, Aimee? What does he want?”

“You’ll find out yourself. You have a meeting with him tomorrow at the pier. Reservations have been made for eleven. I’ve sent them to your phone. And Skye?”

I paused from unpacking. “Yes?” I couldn’t believe Driver was asking to see me.

“I’ll support anything you decide. You’re the best damned worker we’ve had in the short history of the new company. Your wardrobe and stylist will be standing by if you stay. Cheers.”

“Thanks, Aimee.”

Driver Fox was an alpha dog I hadn’t planned on knowing. And the sexiest man I’d met in a long time. Stop it, girl. Stick to your guns. Don’t forget he is white and interracial relationships are tough enough without working together. Different colors didn’t often mix. But he seemed so damned genuine, I thought. I checked my text deciding whether I should take the meeting, or go with my plan to break out on my own. Something I’d been toying with for ages, but wondered if I could make bank.

I sat, wondering what Driver could possibly have to say after we said good-bye. I decided to start looking for new work, but after a long nap. I didn’t even bother to check voice mail. Sleep was what I needed. And time to dream.

C
hapter Twelve

The bistro at the wharf was elegant, and I found Driver waiting for me dressed in a custom suit. His hair was combed and not over his face like I was used to seeing him. He looked at home in the upscale restaurant. Which didn’t surprise me, considering the contents of the menu.

Driver stood as I sat at his table. The waiter cruised by, and Driver told him that we’d order later. I’d have commented how nice it must be to live large, but I had to play everything close to my chest. Driver wanted something, and if he summoned me back in a day? It had to be good.

“I want to do this in-house. You can come back and work for me. But you’ll have to come up with a plan to tidy up
Fox-Regency
’s latest slug from the media.”

I’d quit only eighteen hours ago. What could tip Driver’s company on its side that fast? “I’m listening,” I said.

“You’ve seen firsthand that I’m a man who lives by his own rules. That doesn’t always work well with the moral movers and shakers in this biz. I guess I’ve let myself get painted into a corner with the media and news’ portrayal of me as a playboy. By now, you know I’m—complicated. If you rejoin the company, I need you to hop on a media spin on this and you’ll start right away. Because the reputation companies I’ve had Aimee look into are all hype. I need a handler, and you’ve proved you’re not one to let yourself be tricked or played unless you allow it. With the right repositioning, I can trump these allegations.”

Did he mean the stories about him seducing women on his staff weren’t true? “You’re saying they aren’t true?”

“Of course they aren’t.” Driver struck the table with his fist, drawing stares from the guests around us. “Skye, I believe someone’s trying to take my company. My father built it from the ground up. I’m not going to let whoever is after it succeed. Do you understand?”

I nodded.

“Good. Do it, and I’ll be finished with this, once and for all.”

I picked at the hem of the two-piece suit I wore. It was in one side of my closet with my old school yearbooks. Behind my mother’s wedding dress.

But now I had a decision. Coming back to Driver’s company was one thing. How often would we be around each other was a concern. Not because we’d slept together, but because I had called him on being a philanderer, and now I think was right. He’d realized I could think fast on my feet—or off them.

A waiter set down freshly squeezed juice and a silver platter topped with croissants. Driver tasted the green health drink the waiter had sent. I asked for Earl Grey instead.

“Is it me, or don’t you still have a healthy appetite?” I looked across the table over my china cup. I hadn’t been hungry since our riff a day ago.

“What else would you expect, if I were to return?”

“Nothing has changed. I now need you to either put a stop to the gossip and rumors about my using women, or create a spin that turns attention away from Fox Regency and back onto
Fox Magazine
. Should be simple enough.”

Simple? Was he serious?

Driver signaled the waiter and I heard him give instructions. The waiter gave a curt nod, and I thought how great it must be to order people around like you owned them. Including how Driver had insisted that he owned me just last night. I wasn’t going to let him get away with it. Or spring that he needed my help, then heap on more responsibilities. Well I had a few new rules of my own.

“There is nothing easy about you. I’ve learned that day one. It would have been my day two, I could add a new ‘skill’ as you put it. Bullshitting. There is no way I agree to any of this. You put the moves on me, then get yourself in a stew. And now you want to be bailed out of it?”

“I don’t defend my actions to anyone. Least of all a woman who had a chance to break big in the advertising world. Then tanked because she couldn’t cut it. You work for me? You roll with everything it entails. The good, the bad—this is what makes the world go round.”

I sat turning my teacup in my hands. So he knew. “All right. Yes, I had an opportunity to make it in advertising, and I blew it. Clearly you knew that before you hired me.”

“I make it a point to know everything about who I’m with. It’s good business.”

“Like the women you sleep with?” I paused when the waiter returned with a note. Driver read it and then scrawled something down. I watched him hand it to the waiter.

Then he glanced back at me. “Have her meet me at
Fox-Regency
tomorrow.”

The waiter nodded and I pushed aside my tea. “You asked me here, and said you needed help. Remember? And I wanted to, but not like this.” I stood, ready to leave.

“You didn’t answer my question.” I looked at Driver, seeing his cold expression and I sat back down.

“I don’t babysit unless the money is really good. You hear people gripe about how tough the world is? They don’t get that you have to claw and scrape for every penny. The more you earn, the harder you have to work to keep it. And especially when you’re rich.” I grabbed my purse and Driver reached over and grabbed my arm.

Pulling me, he ignored the people staring. I couldn’t. “Driver, you’re creating a scene.”

“Is it exciting to you, Skye? Sit down.”

I did, curious to know why he wanted me to stay. I noticed him considering me like he would a fine wine. I bristled, but didn’t bolt—though I wanted to, for sure. You could cut the tension between us with one of the knives on our table.

“You think I’m the big bad wolf. Well, maybe I am. You’re here because you’ve got an instinct. You see how people think. I believe you see me. That’s something you can’t learn and money can’t buy at any price.”

Really? But I bet he’d try. Seemed money did well for a person when they had it.

I glanced at him, thinking how sexy his shock of blond hair over his temple looked. Then realized I must have dropped my poker face. Because Driver took a long drag from his espresso the waiter set down. Then he gazed at me, his eyes hot like fire. I knew he was thinking about the beach, just like I was. Breathless, I wondered what he was going to say next.

“You respect the hustle. I admire that. So I’ll make this easy for you. Help me clean up my so-called perverted, playboy ways. According to the media. And I’ll pay you one million.”

“One million dollars?”

I watched as Driver leaned back against his seat, cool and confidant. And I wanted to jump his bones right in public. He was so sure of himself, and it worked on me like an aphrodisiac. But, business, was business. I’d have quit right then if I hadn’t already. “Anything else?” I said instead.

He took his phone, as I stared. Driver tapped a few spaces with his finger, then showed me the screen. I counted the number of spaces to the right of the number two.

“Aimee tells me I need to keep you on the payroll. Consider this an incentive,” Driver tucked his iPhone inside of his tailored jacket. “To confirm. You’ll stay on as my executive assistant with one important change. You’re now my private handler.”

I uncrossed my arms as I stood.

“I’m around the corner from the downtown office, here at the pier.” Damn, the man was cocky, but cute. I wouldn’t admit it, but I wanted to help. There was something about Driver Fox I wasn’t ready to let go. “Do we have a deal?”