Chapter 10
CHAPTER TEN
I didn’t enjoy taking orders from anyone, but letting Miss McLean give them to me heightened my intrigue.
And fuck if I didn’t find it sexy. My natural reaction to her surprised me.
I liked my women a little more…submissive.
However, Miss McLean would be fun to break.
Her pushiness grated my fucking nerves. I suspected if she really knew what she signed on for, she’d go running for the hills.
As it was, she challenged me at every opportunity.
I was used to doing what I wanted and people taking orders from me, not the other way around.
I was starting to think Miss McLean wasn’t going to work out for me.
And most of all, if I didn’t get her under me and soon, I would fucking explode.
My dick pushed against the zipper of my slacks as I followed her men into the lobby of the hotel while Donavon checked in.
I didn’t know what the big deal was. I stayed at this place for years. Used the same car service for years. And now there was a problem with it.
I marched past the loungers, chairs, and couches in the center of the lobby, occupied by several people amid various conversations. I sidled up beside Donavon, who was finishing the arrangements.
“Any issues?” I asked, taking the keycards from him.
“Nothing I didn’t handle,” he said. “It’s going to take thirty minutes for the security team’s room to be done. In the meantime, I’m going to take the two riding with me and head to the brewery ahead of you. That way, there’s less carnage.”
I grinned because Donovan was right, and he would have a deal in place by the time I arrived. If not, there wasn’t going to be hearts and hugs. Not when people fuck with my money.
“Where are they going?” Miss McLean approached me, angst pasted across her face.
“They, my dear”—I handed her the key card next to my room, holding onto the others for the time being—“are going ahead of me to one of the few reasons I flew here.”
She nodded, taking the card from me, then I handed her the extra card to my room. She stared down at it. “In case you need it for any reason,” I whispered in her ear.
I backed away, gauging her reaction. She wanted me. I saw it in her eyes and the way her breathing increased. I could almost hear her heart beating faster, then I offered her the other keys for her men.
“Disseminate your other keys to your men how you like,” I informed, heading to the elevator.
I didn’t turn around to know she and the other two—I didn’t remember their names—were following me. The lift door opened, and I stepped in, followed by Miss McLean. Before her men could follow, I held my hand up, halting them.
“You two take the next one,” I gritted out. It was one thing to have her following me around. But fuck, her whole damn team?
They looked to her for instructions. “Here are your cards, guys.” She handed them over. “We’re on the top floor.” I let the door close on us.
“You know what?” She whirled on me before I pushed the button. “I don’t appreciate how you treat my men.”
I stepped forward into her space. Anger and lust swirled in her eyes as she stared up at me. I suspect that look made others step back, but she was in for a rude awakening. No one intimidated me. She’d learn.
I smirked. “I didn’t hire them.” I leaned in. “I hired you. They are just your baggage. And I don’t want to fuck them.”
She gasped and stood as far into the corner of the car as she could get. I snickered and punched the button to our floor. It was better we go ahead and get everything out in the open than let things linger.
“There’s a gown waiting for you in your room,” I told her. “You’re going to be my date tonight at the mayor’s charity event.”
“What do you mean?” she asked from the corner of the elevator.
“The second reason I’m here. And since you are the head of my security, you will go with me.” I faced her. “The closer you are the better, correct?”
“I need my team,” she finally answered once she was over the shock.
“Your team will be there but will be arriving before you and me. If they are as good as you claim, then they can do without you.” The elevator reached our floor before she answered.
This time, I waited until she could make sure it was clear.
When she didn’t move, I glanced over my shoulder.
Her eyes were wide. In surprise, shock, or fear, I didn’t know, and I didn’t care.
I enjoyed getting what I wanted, and eventually, the woman I hired to do a job was who I was going to get.
“Clear,” she said, her voice barely audible when I stepped out of the elevator.
“I’ll see you in two hours, Miss McLean,” I said, moving toward my room.
I intended on working as soon as I left her, but I couldn’t get her off my mind. Her reaction stayed with me. We could be good together. She was used to being in charge like me.
Images of her being tied to my bed wouldn’t leave.
I was getting hard thinking about it. Tisha McLean was a beautiful distraction.
One I couldn’t afford, but it didn’t matter.
I would have her, and I could be very persuasive if I needed to.
Even my jack-off session to visuals of Miss McLean didn’t do it for me.
I’d have to select a beauty at this fucking charity thing tonight.
“I pity the woman,” I muttered, stepping into the lift.
“What was that, sir?” Miss McLean’s voice wafted around me, and I swear it was like an aphrodisiac.
“Nothing.” I pasted on a smile. “Glad to see you’re on time.”
“Most times I am,” she stated, stepping into the elevator after me. The doors closed, and she stood in front. I chuckled under my breath as I looked down on her. She was about five-seven, curvy as fuck, and thought she would protect me. I shook my head.
The car was waiting for us when we emerged from the lobby.
I shouldn’t have to leave this place until the charity event, but when Donavon left the brewery, he informed me the owner wasn’t budging.
His exact words were, “I’m not letting some city thug decide who I sell to and don’t.
” The “city thug” would have to make an appearance.
I didn’t mind getting my hands dirty. Sometimes it was required.
“Where to, sir?” the driver inquired as soon as Miss McLean closed the passenger door in the front.
“Miss McLean. In the future, you sit with me.”
Her mouth opened like she was going to debate me, but my pointed look made her stop. However, the fire in her expressive eyes reminded me I needed to show her exactly who the boss was.
My eyes connected with the driver in the mirror. “Stone Brewery.”
He nodded and pulled out into traffic.
Miss McLean joined me in front of the car. “Why are we here?”
She asked too many fucking questions. “Miss McLean. You are my security. Do your job. You don’t need to know the why.” Our eye contact lasted a few seconds too long. So long, I missed the two bulky men dressed in sweats and T-shirts coming from around the side of the storehouse.
“Can we help you?” one of them asked.
“Yes, I want to see the owner, please. Tell him Steven Smith is here.”
They shared a look, but I continued inside the opening of the storehouse.
The open space had oak barrels of my brew stacked on the far end, the fermentation and control units were in front of me, connecting to the processing and bottling unit.
I strolled through the place, aware the men were following me.
“Is there a reason you’re still here?” I faced them. “I said go get the owner.” My patience was running thin.
The one who spoke before nudged his partner. I continued through the storehouse, heading to the door leading to the lab and into the tasting room, with Miss McLean on my heels.
I sat in a chair at the bar used for guests to taste the different brews before they were bottled and sold in the connected pub. Miss McLean maneuvered herself between me and the door, keeping a watchful eye on goon number one.
“Mr. Smith,” a trembling voice greeted me from the door of the storehouse.
I nodded but remained silent. He knew why I was here.
“Your shipment is not ready yet,” he stammered as he stood in front of me. Goon Number Two joined the other one and flanked Mr. Lowery. Miss McLean didn’t move.
I smirked. “Oh really, that’s not what you told my assistant. He was here”—I checked my watch—“not even three hours ago.”
Mr. Lowery raised his hands, but there would be no reasoning today. I would get what I came for, or someone was going to pay.
“Now listen, Mr. Sm?—”
I stood abruptly. Mr. Lowery stepped back, and his goons stepped forward. I didn’t like to play games, and I wouldn’t have some coward-ass motherfucker try to play me out of my money.
“I want all that’s in the storehouse and what’s bottled ready to ship out tomorrow morning to Chicago. If not, our business will be…terminated,” I snarled.
He straightened his jacket. “You will not threaten me in my own establishment.”
This bitch forgot who I was. Before either of his men moved, I punched him in the jaw. At the same time, Miss McLean trained her gun on Mr. Lowery.
“I wouldn’t, boys,” she said, not wavering.
The shock on Lowery’s face was comical. I was sure I broke his jaw as he was holding his hand against his face, like he was trying to hold it in place.
“Fuck!” he screamed. “Get him, stupid!” He grabbed at Goon Number Two, who was closest to him. Miss McLean shot. His first step was his last as he went down like a ton of bricks. Everyone paused. It was like the air had been sucked out of the room.
Her gun remained trained on Lowery. “I said, I wouldn’t.”
I slightly faced her, smirked, and nodded. She proved she had my back, and I could trust her. If I didn’t see the blood spreading across the T-shirt of Goon Number Two, I wouldn’t have believed she had the guts. I had a new respect for Miss McLean.
“Now, get my fucking shipment ready to go out tomorrow. If me or my assistant sees any signs of anything but, I’ll be back.”
I walked out toward my waiting car with Miss McLean behind me. She opened the back door and ducked into the car. As I settled into my seat, and the driver pulled off, I faced her.
“You did good.” She snorted but didn’t say anything. “Would you like a drink?”
I found I didn’t like this side of Miss McLean. I was getting used to her constant questioning and giving me commands. Quiet meant she was thinking or scared. And that wouldn’t be good for either of us. I needed to fuck her before she decided to quit on me.
“No, I don’t want a drink,” she said. “I just killed a man.”
I didn’t expect the anger laced in her words. I expected her to be trembling and crying right now. I was a chauvinist.
“Yes, you did.” I took a sip of the whiskey I poured, staring at her over the rim of the glass. “And I expect before I fire you, you’ll kill a few more.”
A mask of resolution unexpectedly fell over her face. “I suppose I will,” she calmly stated, facing away from me, gazing out the window without uttering another word.
My sadistic self couldn’t help the stiffening of my dick at her agreement. Tonight, she’d be my date for the mayor’s charity ball. Miss McLean didn’t know it yet, but she was definitely going to come tonight.