Sex with the CEO: A Billionaire Romance (The Midnight Collection Book 1) (4 page)

Chapter 9

The week progressed quickly and Annabel settled in well in her new role. She enjoyed the variety being a PA entailed and she was also surprised at how easy Jed was to work for. In her interview she had been given the exact opposite impression but he generally left her to do her own thing and she always had her work finished before lunch time so for the entire afternoon she spent it daydreaming or online shopping. She couldn’t believe her luck, she should have been doing this all along!

              She had been introduced to a lot of people around the firm and had gathered several opinions about Dexter Slade. Some people believed him to be dangerous, which made her like him even more, and some people told her he was misunderstood. Annabel was so drawn to him every time she heard his name mentioned or saw it pop up on an email bulletin she felt a twinge in her panties. She hadn’t seen him again since the first day when she had been with Laura and whilst she hadn’t forgotten him she had resigned herself to the fact that he either hadn’t recognised her or didn’t care. She spent the rest of the week working hard, doing her best and telling herself that her silly fancy of Dexter Slade was just that. A fantasy. Something that would never be fulfilled. He owned the company she worked for and according to Laura had a fiancé and a terrible reputation.
He’s not worth it,
she told herself,
he’s trouble.
And even though she knew that was the truth, he still didn’t leave her mind.

As the weekend approached and Friday came around, Annabel couldn’t believe it had been a whole week since she had been out on the West End. She had had a crazy week and although it had flown by she felt like she was a completely different person to who she had been the Friday before.

              As she was closing her drawers and filing away the last few bits of paperwork on her desk there was a light tap on the door.

              “Come in,” she called as she spun around on her chair.

As she did her eyes met with his and her heart instantly began to race. It was him. He was in her office.

              “We meet again…” he said grinning.

              Dexter Slade in all his glory. Suited and booted, hair slicked back and skin dewy and perfect like he had just spent the day at a spa. As he walked into her small room he brought with him an insane force and energy ready to turn her world upside down. He had so much presence with him, he stood tall and muscular in a perfectly tailored pinstripe suit, his dark eyes glinting.

              “Hello,” Annabel smiled shyly, “I thought you hadn’t recognised me when I saw you on Monday.”

              “Like I would ever forget you,” he said, his voice silky and rich.

              Annabel knew she was blushing but tried to breathe normally, he was the boss, she had to remain calm.

              He waited for her to speak but when she didn’t he stepped into the room and closed the door quietly behind him.

              “I just wanted to come by and say hello,” he said, “And I apologise for being so drunk when we met the first time.” He seemed genuine.

              “Thank you,” Annabel rose to her feet and reached out for her coat. She felt so intimidated by him, even though he was clearly trying to smooth things over and was not in any way obliged to come and talk to her, now she knew who he was and all that went with him, she was terrified. He had a way of looking at her that made her spine tingle.

              “Enjoyable first week?” he raised his eyebrows.

              “Very,” she smiled.

              “Glad to hear…”

              As his voice trailed off she realised her hands were shaking. Everything about him was so clean and crisp she felt like she must look like she had been dragged through a hedge backwards.

              “I’m sorry to dash out,” she said quietly, “I have to make the post,” she was telling the truth but she still felt as if she was lying saying it, like he would think she was trying to get away, her cheeks were scarlet red and burning up.

              “Have a good weekend,” he opened the door for her, the grin still fixed on his handsome face.

              “And you,” Annabel bowed her head slightly as she dipped past him. The scent of his aftershave was so incredibly sexy. She couldn’t believe he remembered her and not only that he’d wanted to come and talk to her. She rushed down the corridor without looking back. He was going to be trouble. She could tell.

Dexter couldn’t believe his luck that Monday morning when he had crossed the main office on floor twenty of Crown House. After travelling back and forth to San Francisco and helping his father with some of their more complicated business ventures, it was a welcoming place to be. He enjoyed working within their property sector more than anything. It was where his family had originally made their money and there was something very rewarding about it for him, he felt as if he was protecting their dynasty. And now Annabel was there. This girl who had slinked into his life only a week before and had somehow managed to grab his attention. He couldn’t figure out whether it was her dramatic style or the fact that she had dismissed him… but what he did know what that she drove him wild. He hit dial on his keypad and held his phone to his ear.

              “It’s me,” he said into his mobile, “I’m going to the cabin at the lakes this weekend.”

              “Quiet time?” Howard Slade, Dexter’s father said back to him.

              “No… avoiding Catherine,” he sighed, “We broke up.”

              “Oh Dexter,” his father sounded both annoyed and disappointed, “When are you going to settle down?”

              “When the time is right,” he breathed, not at all wanting to have this conversation.

              “Catherine is from good stock, she’s a dear family friend… I certainly hope there won’t be any upset.” Howard’s voice was stern and cold.

              “Of course not,” he rolled his eyes and lied, “it was a mutual agreement.”

              “Well I suppose I’ll see you on Monday? Your mother and I are flying out to the South of France this evening, sure you wouldn’t care to join us?”

              “No thank you,” Dexter laughed, “The Lakes will do me just fine for now.”

              “If you say so,” Howard sighed, “Oh and Dexter?”

              “Yes?”

              “Try not to get into any trouble.”

              Dexter ended the call and laughed to himself. His father was exactly the same as him and always had been. This was probably why he feared the potential trouble he could cause. The Slade men were wild, untamed and always up for a good time. But Dexter was the first one who hated to admit the more his mother and father drove it into him about settling down and having children, the more he was starting to want it. He looked across his apartment, Marcus was working in the office and was likely to be there all weekend. Even if he had really wanted to go to The Lakes on his own, he wouldn’t have had the energy. Even in his position all he wanted was someone he enjoyed spending time with. He kicked off his shoes and undid his tie. His mind wandering to the girl, the only thing he’d been able to focus on lately. She was driving him wild with the way she ignored him, spurned his advances and now was going to be right under his nose every day at Crown House. He ran his hand through his hair and breathed out. It would be totally unethical and wrong to view the employee directory to find out her address and telephone number. But he found himself opening up his laptop and typing in his password, scrolling down through a myriad of confidential data and settling on the name that had been music to his ears since Joy had found it out for him. Annabel Winter. He held his index fingers together under his chin. It was all there. Name. Address. Date of Birth. Sex. Telephone Number. All he had to do was pick up his mobile and dial.

              “Dex?” Marcus called through from the office, breaking his concentration. He slammed the laptop lid closed and got to his feet, there was a part of him that was glad for the interruption. He turned on his heel and walked towards the hallway, leaving the temptation on the coffee table behind him as he made his way through to see what Marcus needed.

Chapter 10

“So,” Laura began as she bit into an apple and flicked through a magazine, “I have a date this weekend… with Bill…” she rolled her eyes, waiting for Annabel to respond.

              “Bill?” she knew the name sounded familiar and that he was from the office but she was still trying to get to grips with everyone.

              “The creative director,” she whispered, “Young, hot, loaded… Remember I pointed him out on your first day?”

              Annabel did remember, but she was sure Laura had told her he was bad news.

              “I thought you said he was no good?” She said cautiously.

              “Well I’ll find out won’t I?” Laura said cockily and took another bite. The girls were sat outside at a coffee shop in the building opposite Crown House. It was a warm, sunny day and Annabel rested her head back and let the warmth spread out over her face.

              “So, anyone in the office caught your eye?” Laura butted in, ruining her tranquil moment.

              “No.”

              “Oh come on, there’s loads of guys, one of them must be just a tiny bit interesting?”

              Annabel knew but would never admit that there was only one person not just in Crown House but in the whole of London that was capturing her attention. She repressed the idea nagging away at the back of her mind and took a sip of her mineral water. There was no way she’d be telling the office gossip queen, and even less likely to tell her now she was “dating” Bill, Dexter Slade’s supposed best friend from university.

              She felt Laura’s eyes boring into her. She wasn’t going to drop it.

              “No,” Annabel finally admitted, “I’m not really looking at the moment.” And to a certain degree it was true. She didn’t mind having a little fancy of her new boss but she had been out of the relationship game for such a long time she almost felt as if she was destined to stay alone forever. Just as she lifted her glass to her lips and took another sip she saw Dexter exit Crown House from across the street. He was in another immaculate suit, complete with pocket square, his top button undone and showing a flash of his tanned chest just under his collar. She felt her heart hammer faster as she let her eyes glide over his big hands, opening the door to the Maybach that was waiting on the pavement. A driver at the wheel ready to whisk him away. Annabel kept her mouth firmly closed just to stop it from gaping open. As the car pulled away she took a deep breath, realising she hadn’t in over a minute. Her heart still pounded as she watched it disappear around the corner and into the thick London traffic.

              Laura twittered on next to her about where Bill was going to take her, but Annabel wasn’t listening. The only sound registering was her own mind replaying the very first conversation her and Dexter had had outside of the bathroom at the club. She swallowed hard and pressed her legs together. No matter how much she wanted him and how much he turned her on, she needed to focus on her job. This was an opportunity for her to start a real career and she wasn’t going to let him ruin it for her. She had met men like him week in, week out and knew he would only be after one thing. And it didn’t matter that she wanted it too… she was going to have to be strong. She would avoid him until he moved on to someone else and left her alone.

              “So if he wants to come back to my place… or even better, asks me to go back to his, what do you think I should do?” Laura’s eyes were wide and expectant. Annabel knew what answer she wanted but knew it wouldn’t be what she would do.

              “Umm,” Annabel murmured, “I’d say do whatever feels right to you.” She smiled sheepishly at Laura who rolled her eyes and took a sip of her coffee.

              “Boring,” she joked, “I just want you to tell me it’s okay to fuck him.”

              “I know you do,” Annabel laughed, “But I’m not being responsible for that,” she got to her feet and picked up her handbag, “Let’s head back, I’ve got a lot of work to get through this afternoon.”

              “Sure,” Laura rose from the table too and the girls walked side by side back across the road to the main door of the building. As she got to it, Annabel looked up and at how impressive it all was. This was just a small fraction of Dexter’s empire and she found it intimidating and exciting. And then with a crashing realisation it dawned on her that she was also incredibly flattered to have caught his attention. She smiled wryly to herself and pinched her arm,
stop thinking about him
, she thought,
remember he’s trouble. 

Annabel worked hard and the results quickly began to pay off. Jed was happy to let her work any hours that suited her as long she was there for the majority of the time when he was, he was laid back and not at all what she had feared when she had taken the job. As the days went by she found herself becoming more and more comfortable with everyone in the office and even though Laura was a gossip, at the centre of all what was going on, Annabel couldn’t deny the two girls had a connection and she was glad they had clicked. Laura had definitely helped her settle in and get to know everyone, and now it seemed there wasn’t a bit of office romance history that she hadn’t been told. One of those titbits of information was that Joy, Dexter’s PA, had been in love with him for some time.

              “She’s a complete slut,” Laura told Annabel over their afternoon break. “Of all the women in here who have fallen for his charms, she’s the one who knows what she is doing.” She shook her head.

              “What do you mean?” Annabel tried not to sound too interested.

              “Well,” Laura began, “He’s never tried to seduce her for one.”

              “Oh?”

              “She’s relentlessly gone after him, wormed her way in, I heard that just a few weeks ago she finally got what she wanted but he’s ignored her since.”

              “Embarrassing,” Annabel laughed.

              “Very,” Laura agreed, “And yet she still hasn’t been put off.”

              Annabel’s fingers lightly tapped her mug, “Even more embarrassing.”

              “It seems she is determined to get what she wants… and I’m pretty sure that isn’t Dexter.” Laura whispered, “She’s after the money, the fame, the power.”

              Annabel felt heat rising inside her, she clenched her fists.

              “She just wants a free ride and an amazing life and she is trying to fuck her way into it…” Laura leaned in closer, “Is there anything more pathetic?”

              Annabel was surprised to hear Laura so switched on, she had almost thought the only reason she had agreed to go on a date with Bill was because she was impressed by his position in the company and his swelling bank account. Maybe she had misjudged her after all.

              “I thought you said he was engaged?” Annabel took a sip of water.

              “They’re over apparently,” Laura raised her eyebrows, “I heard through the grapevine he’s left another casualty of love.” She laughed, “Catherine, the woman she was with… You could tell he was never that bothered… I mean, he wouldn’t be screwing around with gold digger Joy if he cared about his supposed girlfriend would he?”

              “I suppose,” Annabel said.

              “Joy… She’s one of the only people in this place I can’t stand, I hate the fact she has an agenda.”

              “I think a man like him will know that that is exactly what she is all about,” Annabel said, “And I think that’s probably why he’s never tried to get her and has since paid her no attention.”

              “Even the smartest of men fall for it sometimes,” Laura sat back in her chair, “I’ve seen it happen.”

              “Not him,” Annabel said shaking her head and hoped she was right, “He won’t…”

As she walked back down the corridor she let herself steal a glance down towards Dexter’s office and she could see Joy in her tiny skirt and stiletto heels, sucking on a pen and twirling her blonde curls around her finger. Annabel knew she was trash and hoped that Dexter would too, but suddenly just knowing there was a woman in her midst who had her sights on him made her blood boil. She felt a familiar feeling stir in her that she had not felt for a long time. It wasn’t jealously, but it was something close. Her head spun as she quickly made her way back to her room and closed the door. She couldn’t handle the emotions and feelings that were flooding through her. Somehow, even with all she had heard and all he had done so far that had driven her insane, she had been completely taken in by him and knew she wasn’t going to be able to resist him. She sighed loudly and her nipples stiffened. If he had walked in there right at that moment, she would have gladly taken off all of her clothes and let him do whatever he wanted with her. Her skin tingled and heat rose within her. Her breath became short and heavy and she looked towards the door that adjoined her room to Jed’s… did she dare slip a hand into her panties and take away her frustration? Just as she was about to find out her phone began to ring and she jumped, snapping herself out of her frenzy, she exhaled deeply and sat down at her desk. She couldn’t do something so naughty, what was she even thinking, Jed was just on the other side of the door and he would have heard her or could have walked in. She blushed with embarrassment even though she was the only person who knew she had even had those thoughts and as she picked up the receiver her heart slammed in her chest as she caught sight of her emails flashing up on the screen of her computer. There, right at the top and in big bold letters was one from Dexter Slade. She held the phone close to her lips but no words came out. Without saying anything she slowly slid it back down onto the cradle and took a deep breath. In the subject line it simply said;

Hello Annabel…

She stared at it, her eyes flitting from one letter to the next… Hello Annabel… She could hear his silky voice saying the words. She imagined them rolling off his tongue. Then she imagined his tongue slipping inside her mouth and then working its way down her neck, to her breasts and then further down to her underwear. She bit her lip and squeezed her eyes shut. How had he managed to do this to her? The phone started to ring again but she didn’t even consider answering it. She needed to open this email, she needed to fully concentrate… she needed to know what he wanted to say. With her trembling hand she pulled the mouse closer to her and hovered the curser over the mail page. With a slight trepidation she clicked.

Annabel,

              Jed tells me you’re making a very good impression there in finance.

              I like to hear that all employees are filling the requirements adequately and even better when our expectations are exceeded. So, well done, I am very happy to have you on board here at Crown House and I wanted to welcome you officially to the company.

              Yours sincerely,

              Dexter Slade.

              Chief Executive Officer Slade Properties

She sat back in her chair and reread it. A welcome letter? She looked at the top of the email and noticed it was sent at 15:07 and her desk clock now read 15:13. She was disappointed. She didn’t know why she had hoped for something more, she didn’t know what she was expecting… it’s not like he was going to email her and say anything other than that… they didn’t even work together on anything and he wasn’t going to abuse company email to send her flirty messages, even if he was the boss… she tapped her index finger on her keyboard and glanced over it again.
I wonder if he personally welcomes everyone
, she thought and then,
I wonder if he even sent it
… her mind wandered back to Joy and what Laura had told her. What if she had sent the email out as a matter of formality? The feeling of rejection ran through her like a wave and the phone began to ring again. She was tempted to ignore it but as she heard Jed on the other side of the door she quickly bent down and picked up the receiver.

              “Annabel Winter,” she said with a sigh.

              “Admit it, you were disappointed there wasn’t more to that email,” Dexter’s deep, smooth voice was on the other end. She froze. Unable to even construct a sentence, she was dumbstruck.

              “Your silence speaks volumes,” he whispered.

              “I, I, didn’t-“

              “You didn’t pick up on the last two calls,” he said, “That’s very naughty… not what I would expect from one of our executive PA’s… maybe I jumped the gun with the praise…”

              “I was reading your message,” she finally managed. “It’s not every day an executive PA gets such an important email.” She was grinning from ear to ear.

              “Touché,” he said, and she could tell he was smiling too.

              “Thank you for being so accommodating,” she whispered, “For a CEO you’re certainly very welcoming and personal.”

              “I’ve not even got started,” his tone changed and Annabel’s heartbeat got faster.

              “Oh?”

              “I think we should have a meeting,” he said, “I’d like to pin you down for a proper one to one…”

              “Sounds very interesting,” she couldn’t stop herself from flirting back and she bit her lip at the thought of him up there in his office thinking of her.               “It’s just my way of being extra welcoming and… personal,” he joked.               “If that’s what’s required,” she started to twirl the phone cord. She was getting wet just thinking about what a one to one with Dexter Slade would entail.