CHAPTER 32HUGH
CHAPTER 32
HUGH
My plan had been to torture Denise, but I didn’t expect that it would be torturous for me too. Jean, one of my other founders, was giving me a progress report ahead of their board meeting. I probably looked like an asshole, my gaze bouncing down to my watch like they were wasting my time.
Tapping my watch, I navigated to the app and set the toy to five percent. A part of me wanted it to vibrate every time I thought of her. I still hadn’t forgotten that comment she made about Lucian’s dick. She’d done it to get a rise out of me. To receive a punishment that would distract her. But I knew what she’d needed was to talk, not to orgasm. But now that she was feeling better, she was going to get all that smoke she’d been begging for.
Turning my attention back to the presentation, I tried to formulate how I was going to break the news to Jean.
The numbers weren’t where I wanted them to be, but I knew the industry was still feeling the effects of some new government regulations on biosimilars, so I’d give Jean another quarter before I started asking them to reconsider funding in some of the fuller departments.
“I know you wanted to start setting funding aside for that new biologic, but now isn’t the time,” I leaned forward and watched Jean sigh.
They had big ideas but needed to be talked away from the cliff at least once a month. Talking straight with them worked well. Some of the other people I worked with often required a much lighter touch.
Almost always scientists with no business acumen, they trusted me and Foxx to lead them down the right path. Jean was different. They knew that there was far more to owning a company than growth. Sometimes scaling back was what was needed to keep some cash in reserve.
Their focus needed to be on the reserves, not on a new project.
“Hugh, if we funnel some of the funds we’d planned to—”
“Jean, I should be recommending cuts.” I cut them off. They balked and I held up my hand.
“Not labor. Not yet, anyway.”
They nodded and closed the presentation so we could talk face-to-face.
“Let’s look at the equipment. I’m giving you another quarter to adjust your lab processes to meet the new FDA regulations. See what you can do to adjust the machinery you have. If anything needs to be replaced, email me. I’ll see what I can do on my end.”
“I’ll meet with the COO today and get that list together for you by the end of the week,” Jean said.
“Great, if you give me an hour, I’ll shoot you some adjustments to the deck before you present to the board. I’ll also do some back-channeling to ensure they won’t propose any personnel cuts.”
Jean visibly relaxed and we talked about a few more things before I logged off.
As I scrolled through the deck and left comments, I thought back to where I started. My path wasn’t a straight line, it was more jagged than anyone will ever admit to your face, especially for a man of color. But I persevered.
And then I started at Foxx. My mentor made me realize the path to success was really engaging with people about their companies and learning with them as they grew. We had two biopharma clients, and no one wanted to touch them because the science was rough. Hell, it didn’t make sense to me either, but I learned. When I spoke to them in their language, I could see the relief in their eyes.
After a few modest exits, I landed a big one. Bigger than we’d expected. Big enough that they got bought out and became the biosimilar branch of one of the biggest pharma companies in the world. That’s when I purchased my condo. I gave myself permission to accept the win. And that win felt fucking good.
I shot off my email to Jean and stood up to stretch. Okay, I needed to stretch my legs and go find Denny. I opened my office door and saw Cleo leaning near the interns. I turned toward her office and saw my girl typing away. She didn’t look too distracted… I could fix that.
Tapping at my watch, I turned up the vibration to twenty-five percent.
Her hand slapped the desk, and she bent forward, resting her hands on her forehead. I could see her plump lips being gnawed by her teeth. I ramped it down a bit and then up as she shuddered against the pleasure racing through her. When she stilled, I pulled the vibration back down to ten and watched her palms cover her eyes.
That’s when I moved into the office, closing the door and leaning against it. The glare that she shot was full of so much venom that I had to fight the urge to crank it up way higher. She softened her gaze and moved to stand.
“Sit,” I ordered.
I knew my Little Menace. She was going to do anything to convince me to let her come. By the way her hands clenched, and she was squeezing her thighs tight, I knew she was close. I held her gaze with my own as I turned it up to twenty. Her eyes drifted shut as her plump lip found itself back into her mouth.
A quiet moan left her and that was all I needed. I shut it off. She was ready to cry as she took shuddering breaths. When she glared at me, I could tell she was debating throwing me through the plate glass or fucking me in front of a hundred people.
It was exactly what I’d expected, and that made me adjust my dick in my pants as I watched her. That brazen ass gaze. I knew that if she’d stood up and walked over to me, I would’ve been tempted to fuck the disobedience out of her by bending her over her desk. I’d be just as rough as we’d both liked it. But that would negate the punishment—and she’d earned this one.
She was going to beg me until her voice was hoarse and sobbing from the need to come. That flair of defiance and anger in her eyes was showing. She thought she would win our game. I could play this game all day and I knew she wouldn’t be able to hold out as long as I could.
“Lunch?” I asked.
She cleared her throat and I saw the shimmy she did with her thighs. Her pussy was dripping, and she was trying to hide it.
“Sure,” she replied with fake cheer, grabbing her badge.
That was my good girl.