Rockin' the Boss Page 5

  “Damn her!”

  The four of us decided we’d done all we could, and that the situation was under control. Nevertheless, Lee suggested that Max not return to his home right away, if possible.

  Once the two men left, I walked over and hugged him. “Deep breath, everything is going to work out.”

  “I know. But it’s a freakin’ nuisance, and I hate to impose on you.” He pulled his cell out of his pocket. “Just look at my car!” He showed me a picture of the destruction, and I could easily understand his frustration.

  “I love you, and you’re not imposing on me. I rather enjoy your company.” Smiling, I leaned up and kissed him.

  Responding in kind, he growled into my ear, “I love you too, babe. It appears we’re going to be spending a lot of extra time together over the next week or so. Sure you won’t tire of me?”

  “Never.”

  * * * *

  The following morning, we arrived before the rest of staff. Not thinking, neither of us locked the door behind us, as it was almost nine. Everyone would be trailing in at any moment.

  Sitting in my office, Max and I were enjoying the coffee we had purchased when we heard the bell sound as the front door opened. We were immersed in some personal banter and didn’t think a thing about it. Then, we heard her voice and froze. Max’s attention shifted toward the entrance as he looked on in disbelief.

  “I sure am glad to see you, baby. We were all so worried about you, weren’t we, Ashleigh?” The blonde darted a look of contempt in my direction before she re-focused her attention on Max.

  “No, I wasn’t.” Again, Lisa flashed me a hateful look.

  “So, what’s this big, secretive meeting we’re having this morning, Max? Have you come to confirm what I already know about your naughty sex life?”

  Max flicked a glance toward me, and I in turn looked from Lisa to Max. I decided to see if I could get her attention back to reality, instead of her fixating on Max. “Max, would you excuse us for a minute? I need to talk to Lisa in private about a couple of things.” He stared back at me as though I had grown two heads. As I nodded, he started to get out of his chair.

  “No, he doesn’t need to leave. Whatever you have to say to me, you can say in front of him. We don’t keep secrets, do we, Max?” Still, she was focused only on him.

  “Very well, Lisa, your actions—” I began the canned speech I used for terminating an employee.

  “Firing me? You can’t do that, Ashleigh. I’m part of Max’s team, and you can’t fire me. What would Richard say?”

  Hearing the bell, I moved as though I wanted to check on who might be there. Max got up as well. He put himself between us. As I caught a glimpse of Misty and David, I motioned toward the front door, gesturing for them to leave again. As they did, Lisa strutted out of my office.

  The next thing I knew, Max pushed me out, following and slamming the door behind him. The four of us bailed into an arriving elevator. David hit a button, and we traveled down to the lobby, where everyone just about toppled poor Will.

  Running over to the security desk, I yelled for them to call the police and quickly told them what was going on.

  After what seemed like forever, one of the guards radioed. Lisa was nowhere to be found. Everyone was told to stay put until the floor was secured.

  Upon returning, the first thing I observed was not only white spray paint, but that my briefcase was missing as well as both of my cell phones. My Louis Vuitton purse had been dumped out, the contents strewn everywhere. Max and the others looked on in shock.

  “Thank God the information regarding our upcoming trip is locked in my desk at home, huh? The only thing in my briefcase was two files on potential clients and a couple of magazines.” I tried to make light of a bad situation. Max laughed along with the others, but I could see the concern written all over his handsome face.

  The remainder of the morning was spent doing police interviews and incident reports with building management. Exhausted by the incident, Max stepped in and offered to take the group out to eat. Everyone accepted, and during lunch, he made his announcement about the venue in Las Vegas. It turned out to be a helpful diversion.

  After a delightful meal, we all dispersed. Max and I walked arm and arm to my car.

  “You really didn’t have to do that, you know.” I squeezed his arm.

  “Yes, I did. It was because of me this entire mess happened today. Besides, I enjoyed being able to talk with everyone on a more personal level.”

  “Well, thank you. By the way, Lisa said something I thought was odd.”

  “What was that, love?”

  “Did you hear her refer to Richard in the present tense?”

  “Yes, I thought it rather bizarre, but too much was going on right then.”

  “Come on, I need to make a couple of stops before we head back to my place.”

  * * * *

  Upon landing at the private airfield in Las Vegas on Thursday, we were taken to the hotel and shown to a suite. While not hiding our affair, we had decided it best to be a bit discreet during the course of this trip.

  A note on the cocktail table, along with a bottle of champagne, welcomed us and informed us that Mr. Bell would arrive to escort us to dinner at eight. Although the actual meeting to discuss their proposal wasn’t until mid-morning the following day, the group wanted Max and me to get a feel for the facility. Afterwards, we would attend a show to give him an opportunity to observe the theater first hand.

  When the witching hour was upon us, Max turned into the alpha male everyone expected. He became outgoing and charming, not the more quiet person I had been used to seeing. That was part of what sold him, and he was well aware of it. Mr. Bell and one of his associates arrived with their wives. We all had a drink in the suite before going down to dinner. It gave everyone the opportunity to get to know each other before we descended into the chaos.

  We enjoyed our meal at one of the finer restaurants. Max was attentive, but as he had his other personality ‘on,’ I let it flow, not taking stock of the conversations. After lingering over small talk and brandies, we all headed to the theater to take in the second show. It was packed, a normal occurrence. One of the men pointed out that this show had been sold out months in advance and that he saw no reason the same wouldn’t happen with Max.

  I sat next to Max, totally engrossed, when he gently took hold of my arm. He bent over to whisper something, but the noise level was too loud to understand what. He discreetly motioned two tables over. To my utter disbelief, Lisa sat there with a man and two other couples. Snapping my head back around to Max, his face told the story. Lisa was aware that we saw her because she smiled like a Cheshire cat and waved.

  During the intermission, I was about to tell our hosts that we needed to turn in for the evening, hoping to avoid a confrontation of any kind. Lisa, however, was quickly at our side, fawning over Max and making everyone uncomfortable.

  “Max, baby, surprised? I wish you’d return my calls. I need to talk to you.” She winked at him and glared in my direction. Before either of us could explain the situation to our hosts, Lisa piped up. “I must apologize for Max’s bad manners. I’m Lisa, Max’s fiancée.”

  She made a move to shake hands with the men, when I pulled myself to my feet. “I’m sorry gentlemen. Lisa was an employee of mine.” I glared at the young woman. “Lisa, I was hoping things wouldn’t come to this, but you leave Max no choice except to take out a restraining order.” I noticed one of the men looking around for security.

  Lisa picked up on this and laughed. “Shame on you, Ashleigh! You just have to interfere, don’t you? Richard said you’d be like this. Not to worry, Max, we’ll talk later.” She pranced off, chuckling.

  Max was visibly shaken by the entire episode. Mr. Bell suggested we call it a night. He informed us that security would be heightened for our protection.

  As we entered the suite, a plain-clothes security detail made a thorough search of every room prior to leaving.


  “What the hell, Ashleigh? My fiancée? She’s nuts!”

  I poured us both a brandy and handed him the snifter, hoping to help him calm down a bit. “I’m going to call my attorneys first thing in the morning and see about that restraining order. Something has to grab her attention.”

  “I don’t know, love, nothing has so far. And what was that crap about Richard? Did you catch that?”

  “Yes, I did. That’s what makes me think she’s having a break with reality. Richard did introduce the two of you, but somehow she has that particular moment etched in her mind.”

  Neither of us slept much and finally got up close to dawn.

  “I can’t believe how much that entire deal from last night spooked me. I feel as though I’m going to be walking around looking over my shoulder.”

  “Me too,” Max added. “I considered asking you if you thought we should cut this short and fly home after the meeting. But I’m not going to let her have the upper hand. I’m sure we’ll be fine here.” He reached over and took my hand, squeezing it.

  “Let’s get through this meeting, and then we’ll decide. I don’t want to scare them off because of Lisa. I think I handled the situation perfectly last night, don’t you?”

  “Yes, but you always do, my love.” I detected a hint of lust in his voice, and his accent contained a smoldering quality.

  The conference went along like clockwork, and after two hours, we departed with all of us in basic agreement. Max was to headline their theater beginning in six months. This would allow time to redesign and redecorate, and give him time to prepare his act.

  A public announcement was made. The contract they had wanted was three years, but Max held firm to a one-year deal with renewal options after nine months. The money was spectacular.

  Jim gave us an out, in case we wanted to leave after the incident from the night before, but Max was determined not to let the spectacle with Lisa manipulate our visit. With that decided, Jim suggested the four of us go to lunch outside the hotel. Afterwards, they would take Max and me on a tour of the Vegas neighborhoods.

  Returning to our suite to change, I was not disappointed that my earlier assessment of Max proved to be true. Once alone, he pulled me tight against his body and kissed me long and hard. As he loosened his grip, he laid kisses over my face and neck before he found his way to my ear. “I think we’ve more than earned a quickie, don’t you agree, my love?” he asked huskily.

  “Yes, I do.”

  And that’s what it was—a quickie—but the pleasure which came over me was like a pure, potent aphrodisiac that ignited a deeply buried lust. When the spasms finally eased, he leaned down and brushed his lips over mine.

  “I fear we’d better get ready before our hosts arrive,” he groaned. “Have I told you I love you today, Ms. Thomas?” He kissed me again with more intensity before moving off the bed.

  While waiting for our lunch partners, I called Atlanta to check in, telling Misty the trip had been a success. “Anything else I should know about?” I asked as I noticed Max watching me.

  After a long pause, which made me uncomfortable, the young woman answered. “Umm, there is one thing, Ms. Thomas. A reporter called asking for Lisa. Evidentially, he told David that Lisa had emailed him a piece she had written regarding Max.” Shit, what else is this bitch going to do?

  “It’s okay, Misty. I need to know what it said, so I can respond correctly.” Max now eyed me curiously.

  “She basically wrote something about Max…No, she used Maxwell…Anyway, she exposed his supposed secret sexual life, that she was his fiancée, and had proof to back her claim.” The young woman stopped for a minute.

  “Did the reporter email David an actual copy of this crap?” I asked, feeling bile creep up the back of my throat.

  “Yes, he did. Should I send it to your laptop?”

  “Please, and send me any contact information either you or David might have. Don’t worry, Misty. An announcement already went out about Maxwell’s huge, new deal, so we’re one step ahead.”

  “I know! I saw it when the copy came through. You and Max must be so excited.”

  “Yes, he is. Hell, we both are! Unless there’s anything else, you go ahead and get that stuff to my laptop ASAP. Either I’ll call you at home or on your cell over the weekend, and let you know if we’re returning to Atlanta or going directly to Manhattan for Max’s appearances. Don’t hesitate to contact me if you or the guys need me before then.”

  I hung up just as Jim and his wife arrived. Max was letting them in as I put the phone in my purse. I can’t go into details right now. This will give me time to decide on a plan of action.

  “Is everything okay on the home front?” Max asked as I picked up my pocketbook.

  “Yes.” He knows I’m lying just by looking at my face.

  The restaurant we chose was away from the hustle and bustle of the strip. It was a small restaurant, featuring pub-style food. I ordered fish and chips, which I found excellent. Everyone else decided on the burger special. I was amazed when Max ate the entire plate full. There had been enough to feed two people, but he seemed to enjoy it. Afterwards, they showed Max and me a few of the more posh neighborhoods for future consideration.

  They dropped us off a couple blocks away, so we could leisurely enjoy the walk back. But not before Jim handed Max two tickets to a hugely popular show. It was late enough that if we had dinner early, we could make this one as well as another performance in the theater that would soon be Max’s home.

  Watching the Mercedes drive out of sight, Max took my hand as we strolled. When we neared the hotel’s main entrance, I swore I caught a glimpse of Lisa out of the corner of my eye. I hurried him along, citing that I needed a bathroom break, which made him chuckle.

  Tossing off my shoes, I plopped down on the sofa. Max offered me a glass of wine. Before I checked my email, I motioned for him to sit next to me and told him what Misty had revealed earlier, opening my computer to read.

  “What the fuck else is this woman going to do to me, Ashleigh?”

  I leaned over and kissed him. “I’m going to forward this on to one of my attorneys, the one who’s supposed to be looking into that restraining order for you. I know he can check his email from his phone. I’ll head it as urgent and ask him if he or I should call this reporter.”

  I took care of what needed to be done as Max rubbed my back in an attempt to soothe my nerves. As soon as I closed the laptop, he announced, “Okay, Ms. Thomas, no more business. You’re mine for the rest of the night. Hell, for the weekend.” He pulled me closer.

  Smirking, I cocked my head at him. “Oh no, I think you have it all wrong, Mr. Frazier. It is you who are mine for the rest of the night.” I stood up, grabbed him by the arm and pulled him off the couch. “Come, it’s my turn to torture you.”

  Once in the bedroom, I stripped him of all his clothing and shoved him playfully onto the bed. Then, I quickly undressed, watching him as lustfully as he was me. Lying next to each other, I rolled him onto his back. Smiling at him, I caressed his chest, grinning when he shuddered as I traced my fingers over his nipples. Leaning over, I ran my tongue over the same spot.

  He groaned, his fingers clutching convulsively at my hair as he pushed closer. I moved my hands slowly along his torso to the inside of his thighs. Deliberately, I feathered my fingers along the area between his behind and balls.

  Shuddering with pleasure, he moaned, “Damn, baby! Stop! Please!”

  “Oh no, I’m not finished with you yet, my love.” I wrapped my hand around his sack and squeezed gently. He moaned once again, stirring something mischievous within me.

  Releasing my grip, I kissed him. I started with his lips and followed with every part of his body, all the way down to his belly button, my tongue flicking his skin along the way. I could tell he was trying desperately to stay in control. His muscles twitched as I neared his erection.

  I took it in one hand and slowly began to explore, touching every inch with
my fingertips. Our eyes met for a moment. He appeared as though he was on the edge. I squeezed and stroked him as he growled from deep within. By then, his tip was weeping, and I gently ran my tongue over it, licking him clean, and then sucking him.

  His body jerked from the sensation, tensing. “Ashleigh, baby, if you don’t stop what you’re doing, I’m going to come.”

  “What is it I’m doing?”

  “You bloody well know what you’re doing, wench,” he growled. “You love torturing me like this.”

  “Mmmmm…” I teased him as I continued swirling along the tip.

  “Don’t! Stop it! Don’t! Don’t make me come.”

  “Why not, my love?”

  “Because I want to come inside you, baby,” he hoarsely uttered.

  Not wanting to stop, I squeezed him as I ran my finger over the tip one more time.

  He kept shivering. “Enough! You’ve had your way with me long enough!”

  All in one motion, he pushed me back on the bed, parted my thighs with his knees, and positioned himself above me. He kissed me as though our lives depended on it. I wrapped my legs around him and slid my arms around his neck as he reached beneath me, arching my back so that my body touched his. I felt his length press against me, wanting passage but not entering.

  He looked down at me. “I love you, wench.”

  “I love you, too.”

  Slowly, he pushed into me. There was nothing fast and hard about his thrusts this time. He let me feel every inch of him until he filled me to the core, consuming me. It felt like he was inside me so deep that he had consumed my soul. He stilled for a moment, and my body shuttered against him. He groaned in pleasure.

  I became lost in the gentle, erotic movements he made on top of me. His strokes were sensual and lazy.

  “Baby,” he whispered in my ear. “You feel so damn good.” We were coupling as two people immersed in love. A slow, all-consuming passion.

  “Oh God, Max, don’t stop.”

  At some point, frenzied desire took over and didn’t let loose until it took us both over the cliff and beyond. Never in my life had I experienced such pleasure or imagined such happiness.