The Virgin Society Collection

16. His Tycoon Attitude

16

HIS TYCOON ATTITUDE

Jules

They say life is full of surprises.

This is not the kind of surprise I wanted when Bridger offered me the gig I’d been craving. Judging from the way Finn’s brow furrows, he wasn’t expecting to see me either. My dad probably knew, though, but couldn’t say anything to me for confidentiality reasons.

Still, years of practice being the good girl kick in as I smile uber-professionally while Bridger talks. He knows my father, obviously, so with a laugh, he says, “Tate, of course you know Jules. What you might not know is she’s on The Rendezvous production team as of”—he makes a show of looking at his watch—“three hours ago.”

Excitement flickers in my dad’s eyes briefly, then he rearranges his features into his cop face—all stoic and in control. But I’ve seen him when he’s not stoic. When he’s broken and falling to pieces. I’ve seen him on the worst days of his life. I try to erase those horrible images.

“Fantastic news,” my father says. “So glad my Julia has become so invaluable.” He means well, but it makes me feel like the kid at the table. I already feel that way with these three men. It’s hard to miss the divide in age between them and me, as well as the divide in experience.

Bridger turns to Finn, the man I didn’t think I’d see again so soon. “You must be Finn Adams. Congrats on the investment. I’m excited to see what you’re going to do at Streamer.”

Finn doesn’t even need a moment to clear his throat. He shakes Bridger’s hand and answers with, “Pleasure to meet you, too, Bridger, and I’m glad we could do this before we announce the deal tomorrow morning.” He quickly explains to me, since I’m the one in the dark, that Strong Ventures just finalized an investment in Streamer for a majority stake in the upstart streaming service. “And with the buzz the show is getting, I wanted to meet the producers so my team at Strong can talk up The Rendezvous in the press coverage tomorrow.”

“Music to my ears,” Bridger says, rightfully proud of the show that hasn’t even launched yet. He turns to me. “And Jules is going to be part of that team. I’m sure you know Jules.”

He says it because my dad is Finn’s lawyer. So naturally, Bridger assumes my dad has mentioned me to his friend and client.

Little does he know Finn knows me in plenty of other ways.

“Nice to see you,” I say, taking his hand and shaking it as quickly as I can, refusing to think about how he likes to wrap those big hands around mine and pin me to the wall.

I swallow uncomfortably as we let go.

“I’ve been looking for an opportunity to move her over to The Rendezvous , and there was an opening recently,” Bridger adds. “Serendipitous, isn’t it?”

Finn gives a warm isn’t that a coincidence type of grin. But inside, I bet he’s thinking seren-fucking-dipitous indeed.

Because I am too.

I’m tempted to tug my father aside and ask why the hell he never mentioned that Finn was working on acquiring half of Streamer. He knows we pitch shows to Streamer on the reg. Alright, sure, my father’s business deals are private, bound by NDAs. But I bet that’s why he acted weird on Sunday night. Even though I hadn’t been brought onto the show yet, he must have been aware that his deal tangoed close to my work life. He’s big on ethics, as any lawyer should be, and on making sure his deals are buttoned up and done right.

This is going to be the most awkward lunch ever. As I sit, I smooth a hand over my pencil skirt, keeping my fingers busy like that, then move them to my glasses, adjusting them.

The server swings by with menus. I stare at the offerings for longer than I need to. There are only a few things I’d order anyway. But I study every item like I’m solving calculus equations.

Where do I look if not at my menu? What if I look at Finn the wrong way? What if I accidentally brush my Mary Jane pumps against his suit pants? What if I’m talking to my father and suddenly remember the way Finn spread me out on his bed and devoured me?

My cheeks will go red.

And…great. Just great. They already are.

I keep my face lowered, hoping the color drains quickly. This is so embarrassing, the way I blush so easily.

It’ll pass. It’ll pass. It will pass.

I stare forever at the lunchtime fare because Caesar versus chef’s salad is such a fascinating dilemma.

I keep reading as the men set down their menus and make idle chitchat about the New York Comets to fill the time. It’s funny because I know Bridger isn’t as into sports as my dad is. Bridger’s more of a theater guy. But he has mastered the art of small talk so he’s able to contribute a smart comment about the team’s shortstop or the winning streak they’re on.

I can BS my way through sports talk, too, but I don’t want to open my mouth at all.

Mercifully, the waiter arrives and tells us about the specials. Perhaps, he’ll stay here the whole meal. I wish.

But no, he leaves and I’m left at the table with my boss, my father, and the man who sent me pink lace panties to replace the ones he ripped off me.

Kill me now.

Bridger tees up the next round of chitchat, asking Finn what attracted him to Streamer. My Friday night lover leans back in his chair, cool and confident, speaking in that deep, sexy voice that turns me on. “I’ve been wanting Strong Ventures to make deeper inroads in the content business, and frankly, the whole media industry has been looking for an upstart streaming network to give Webflix some serious competition. I’d like to spearhead that and make Webflix squirm. Scare them a little.” His careless, cocky shrug is hotter than I’d have expected.

But then, Finn’s confidence attracted me the night I met him as a phantom.

His determination drew me closer the night he played Gatsby.

His intensity, coupled with surprising tenderness, sent me spinning into bliss this past weekend.

Now? His tycoon attitude is making me wet.

Damn my body.

“Let them feel the competition at their heels. Breathing down their necks,” Finn continues, and holy shit, my neck is on fire. My skin blazes. “And I think a hot property like The Rendezvous is just the way to launch the attack.”

I shiver then adjust my glasses again in case anyone noticed the way my body reacted.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Finn’s lips curve in the barest of grins. One he erases instantly.

He noticed the effect he had on me.

Of course he did. This man always notices me. He always sees me. It’s eerie and alluring all at once.

I refuse to look in my father’s direction.

Bridger shoots Finn a satisfied smile. “Absolutely love hearing that about an Opening Number project.”

My dad clears his throat. “You must be as well, Julia. I know you’ve been keen on the show.”

He might have gotten me the intro that led to my job, but I kept it on my own. He doesn’t need to cue me to join the conversation.

“Yes, it’s been wonderful that there’s so much excitement around the show. I’ve already jumped right into some of the scheduling Tetris,” I say. That’s my special skill.

“That’s why I put Jules on The Rendezvous . She’s a genius with logistics,” Bridger says.

“Thank you,” I say.

“Glad you’re on it,” Finn says. His gaze locks with mine, his green eyes sharp. But even in his all-business mode, those irises still make me ache between my thighs. This is definitely not like those uncomfortable intrusive sex thoughts, this is something real. I can’t stop thinking about sex with him as he sits staring across from me, especially after Friday night at his home. Nothing about these thoughts are uncomfortable, at all.

Which is another problem entirely.

“And we have big plans at Strong on how to compete with Webflix and gain new customers.” Finn pauses before he goes on. “When my brother and I devised our plan to invest, it was contingent on a clear growth strategy for Streamer. To that end, I’ll personally take an active role in the next few months in meetings with marketers, sponsors, and partners. When the show starts filming in a few weeks, my son will be off on a camping trip with his grandparents,” Finn says, and even in that brief mention of Zach, his delight and pride comes through. “So I’ll be going to Paris that first week and meeting with marketers and distribution partners myself.”

Bridger smiles. “That’s fantastic. Because I’m sending Jules to oversee the first week of shooting. Your trips should align.”

I blink.

Then swallow.

“Oh? You are?” I hope my voice didn’t squeak in shock.

“Yes. It only makes sense to have my right-hand woman there on the ground,” Bridger says.

Across the table, my father beams. He couldn’t be more thrilled with this work accomplishment of mine. “I’m glad the two of you will be able to work together. You’ll learn so much from Finn,” my father says about his best friend.

Little does he know.

This is the most uncomfortable lunch in the history of time.

Finn, to his credit, doesn’t move a telling muscle. His is the true poker face. “Paris is wonderful,” he says. He could be talking about a steak or a bottle of wine, not the city famous for enchanting lovers.

Somehow I make it through the rest of the meal, all while another loop is running through my head. I’m going to be in Paris for a week with my father’s best friend. The man who fucked me to countless orgasms the other night. The man who wants to punish me with pleasure.

When the check comes, Finn pays the bill with no questions asked. As Finn waits for his credit card, Bridger asks, “Besides the camping, how’s your son keeping himself busy this summer?”

“He has a pretty full calendar—conducting science experiments, climbing trees, and trying to devour the entire Captain Dude comic collection,” he says.

I hide a smile at the way Finn talks about his son, with such pride and affection, like he did in the yard on the weekend.

“He’s a reader, then,” Bridger says with a smile.

“Definitely. Balanced with running fast and talking a million miles a minute,” Finn says, then pauses. “I take it you were a big reader as a kid?”

“I pretty much grew up at the library,” Bridger says, then gestures to me. “Though no one’s as fast at reading as Jules. I’ve given her scripts at noon and she’s had them finished by twelve-thirty.”

I blush from the compliment.

“Speed reader?” Finn asks me, and it’s strange to have this conversation with him in front of everyone when it feels like one we could have in private, in his home, his bedroom, his courtyard.

“The faster I read, the more books I can devour,” I say.

“She’s always been like that,” my dad weighs in, and I wish he wouldn’t. “That was her motto as a kid.”

Kid. Thanks, Dad.

“And now I guess I know what to read next. Captain Dude ,” I say, wrestling back some of the conversational control from my dad.

My father looks at his watch. “I have another meeting, so I’d better take off. But I’m glad this is working out for everyone.”

Except my libido.

“I have to head uptown to meet with CTM,” Bridger says, turning to me. “But I’ll see you back at the office later, and we’ll hammer out the details.”

That’s his meeting with the talent agency we work with a lot. I’m not needed there. I am needed back at my desk, where I should dive into all things related to The Rendezvous .

But when we all leave the restaurant, and Bridger and my dad take off, I’m not feeling the desire to flee quite so much.

I want to stay because I’m standing with Finn outside the restaurant on a warm summer day in Manhattan, and he’s staring at me like I’m a puzzle he wants to solve.