Chapter Two #2
“You spoil me, Vee.” Rex lifted a spoonful to his lips, appreciating the flavors dancing on his tongue. The initial heat of the chilies gave way to deeper notes of cumin and garlic, perfectly balanced with a trace of lime. “Magnifique!”
Vee smiled broadly at his praise. “A Dr. Cheri Butler called while you were on the phone with Max. Let me know when you’re ready to return her call.”
Rex sighed, knowing exactly why she had called. Though Cheri, who was as brilliant as she was confident and a cousin to Luke Weston, a good varsity friend, his decision about Xia Foster remained firm. No matter how desperate she was, she wouldn’t be tending bar at Club Decadent Skies.
“Please prepare the contract packages for these candidates.” He handed over a stack of files, each one carefully annotated. “I’ve indicated the position and remuneration on the last page of each application.”
“I’ll have them ready by the end of the day.”
“Once you do, please arrange for each one to come and sign their contracts, and remind them about the mandatory medical certificate to be obtained from our club doctor. I want it done before the end of the week. Without that clearance, they won’t be boarding next weekend.”
“Any additional background checks needed?” As a lifestyle veteran of twenty years, Vee understood the unique security demands and protocols of such an exclusive club.
“No need. I personally reviewed the initial results. They were very detailed.”
“I’ll start on these straightaway. Enjoy your lunch.” She paused at the door. “Oh, yes. What about Dr. Butler?”
“Give me thirty minutes, then call her.”
Rex stared at his soup, but his appetite had diminished as thoughts of Xia Foster invaded his mind again.
The decision to reject her application wasn’t sitting well with him.
He always reached out a hand to people in need, and the desperation in her quiet voice when she had begged for a chance kept playing on repeat in his mind.
She might not have experience running modern high-end bars in exclusive clubs, but with psychology as one of her MBA subjects, and her understanding of the lifestyle’s dynamics, she was uniquely qualified for a position. .. just not aboard Club Decadent Skies.
She had portrayed a quiet confidence with sharp intelligence vivid in those remarkable topaz eyes.
She hadn’t attempted to impress him with her knowledge of BDSM protocols; instead, she had spoken about the lifestyle with a natural ease that came from genuine experience.
Adding Cheri’s testimony about her insights in handling emotional situations and maintaining professional boundaries, she had left a particularly lasting impression.
“It’s a pity I don’t have an opening at CyberTech. She’d be a formidable asset to the company.”
Running a hand over his bald head, Rex acknowledged the instant attraction he had felt.
“I can’t ignore that either,” he reminded him of his firm work ethic. “It’s too risky having her onboard as an employee, knowing how badly I want to fuck her.”
As a Dom, he understood the importance of maintaining strict control, both of himself and any situation he entered. The way his body had responded to her was a red flag in working with her.
Club Decadent Skies’ success depended on clear boundaries between staff and management.
Though he had no rule against dating club employees from sister Airbuses, his position as owner demanded a higher standard.
He couldn’t risk compromising the club’s integrity or his own principles just because he found her irresistibly sexy and fuckable.
Still, as he picked up his spoon again, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he might be making a mistake. The memory of her subtle perfume and the way her silk blouse had stretched taut over her curves secured his decision. Some risks weren’t worth taking, no matter how tempting.
“But damn it, she’s jobless,” he muttered. His eyes glimmered as a thought flashed through his mind. “Lucky for her, I have the perfect solution.” Picking up his cell phone, he made a call to Axel Sullivan, who was also the owner CEO of Aloha Hotels & Resorts globally.
“Rex,” he answered on the second ring. “I was wondering when you’d call again.”
“Axel, my friend, I have a favor to ask.”
“Shoot.”
“When are you opening that resort in New Orleans?”
“Roughly, in two years. The foundations have just been laid, but it’s a massive project. Why? You want to buy shares?”
“If you’re offering, I’m definitely interested, but I was wondering if you have any marketing exec positions available?”
“I do, but not locally. At least not until that resort opens. In the meantime, I need someone who would be able to get the ball rolling, but they’ll have to relocate for the interim period to Hawaii to work with me during the planning and executing process. Why? Do you know someone?”
“Shit... why the hell did I ask?” he muttered.
Xia moving all the way to Hawaii would solve her employment problem but put a spanner in the works for his plans—two years was a lifetime to his immediate yearning to find his other half.
He sighed heavily. Maybe it was better this way. Destiny had spoken.
“Yeah, and believe me, you’d be a fool if you passed her up.”
“Do you have her CV?”
“I’ll email it. Thanks, Axel. You’re still joining us for the opening next weekend, right?”
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world, my friend.”
They chatted about the opening agenda for a while. Rex’s thoughts kept drifting. At least Axel would offer Xia a position where her exceptional qualifications would be appreciated without the complications her presence created for him.
“Just when I thought I’d struck the jackpot,” he muttered as they ended the call a while later. Rex had been yearning to find the deep, unconditional love that Max, Jax, and Dexter had. He wasn’t getting any younger, and watching how happy his friends were, he realized there was a void in his life.
“Well, come hell or high water, I’m going to find myself a wife in the next couple of months.
It’s time to settle down and aim for the white picket fence and my own happiness ever after.
I’m not going to jinx my chance at that because I’ve got the hots for a woman who is obviously not meant for me.
Yep, fate always has a reason, and she has spoken. ”