Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
Adam
Bridget shows up for her first day of work, and she cometh bearing coffee.
Entering my office, she sets down a to-go cup on my desk. “No cream or sugar. You don’t seem like a sweets sort of guy.” She winks, and right away my day is off to a good start.
Bridget is wearing a light tweed pantsuit with a tasteful amount of cleavage in the form of a cream blouse with the top two buttons left open. A woman with forethought and a keen sense of aesthetics—what more could I ask for? As far as I’m concerned, I am a genius. I’ve hired the perfect assistant.
Hayden will be furious.
I rise from behind my desk, buttoning my suit jacket. “Why, thank you, Bridget. Let me show you where your office is.” I pick up the coffee and take a whiff. It’s a nutty, herbal scent. Gourmet.
Everything about my second encounter with Bridget is different.
The day I hired her, I tracked her down at Club Desire.
She’d been recommended by Paul, and was wearing a lot less.
Despite her lack of clothing during the interview, she carried herself with a professional air and seemed eager for a change of environment.
I guide Bridget out of my office and to the right, where another room resides—this one small, but efficient. “IT set up your computer and connected your phone line. Most of our correspondence will be over email. You said you’re proficient with office software?”
“Oh yes. The girls and I needed to be.” She runs a finger along the edge of her desk, her expression shielded. “You’d be surprised how much extra business is done over the computer.”
Do I want to know what she’s referring to? I have a very good imagination.
“Why don’t you log in and get the lay of the land? A default password is posted on your monitor, along with instructions on how to change it. I’ve linked my calendar to yours. I’d like you to attend and take notes at all of the meetings highlighted in green, so please check the dates and times.”
“Of course.” Bridget sets her bag beside the chair at her desk and boots up her computer. She looks over, smiling. “I’ll just get settled.”
“Excellent.” And what a fine time to gloat it is. Hayden has accused me of it before; no need to disappoint her now. “I’ll be back in a few minutes to talk about the first meeting we have this afternoon.”
I head down the hall with a spring in my step. I rap on the door that is as familiar to me as my own.
“Come in,” Hayden calls.
I enter her office and notice her desk, which is, as usual, cluttered. And then there’s Hayden across the room, perfectly groomed in a snug, lightweight belted cardigan over a navy pencil skirt that hugs her shapely hips as she reaches to tuck a folder on the top shelf of a bookcase.
One of the first things I noticed about Hayden was her incredible figure, and I’m not talking skinny waif, but curves in all the right places and a small waist.
Her honey-brown hair and golden eyes flash as she glances over. “Oh, it’s you,” she says, as though she already knew it would be.
Am I that predictable? Hmm, somehow that doesn’t bother me.
I walk over and reach above her head, gently slipping the folder from her hand and putting it in place.
“Thank you,” she mumbles, and tugs in her bottom lip with her top. It plumps back out, wet and inviting. A thrill more potent than Blondie grabbing my junk last night bolts through me.
I clear my throat and glance at her desk. “You should straighten that up so the cleaning crew can do their job.”
She squints at me, sparks firing from those beautiful eyes. “Did you come here for a reason?” She returns to her desk, shoulders tense as she drops briskly into her chair.
I can’t hold back my smile. God, I love my job.
I follow her over and run a finger along the surface. Her gaze tracks the motion as I rub my thumb and forefinger together, as if there’s dust. “Just wanted to know if you’ve had a chance to meet my new assistant?”
Bridget walked into the building only ten minutes ago, so I know Hayden hasn’t. All the more reason to let Hayden know that my assistant is here, and that the bet is on.
“She’s busy familiarizing herself with my calendar.” I raise the large to-go container in my hand. “Even brought me coffee. Bridget’s thoughtful like that.”
Hayden frowns and crosses her arms.
I turn and walk to the door. “Prepare to lose that bet, Hayden.”
“It’s not over yet,” she calls as I exit the room, beaming. A soft thump sounds on the other side of the wall and my grin widens.
I whistle as I make my way to my excellent new assistant.
Okay, so excellent was a poor choice of words. Bridget has only been at Blue a couple of hours. Of course it will take her time to adjust.
“I’m so sorry, Adam. I didn’t realize I’d be deleting the appointments from your calendar as well.” Bridget smiles sweetly, a chagrined look on her face as she stands in my office.
Everyone makes mistakes now and then, right? “It’s your first day. I don’t expect perfection. Just make sure you connect with Blackwell’s secretary and fill in the meetings that were deleted. I’ll need that by the end of the day. Stay late if you have to.”
“Oh, absolutely. I’ll take care of it.” Bridget hurries toward the door, right as Paul enters. He steps aside for her, winking and checking out her ass as she departs.
Paul hooks his thumb over his shoulder. “I told you she was the one, didn’t I?”
“She’ll do once she learns the ropes.” I pull on my glasses and look over the floor plan Paul’s secretary walked over before lunch. “So what is this?”
Paul closes the door. “That is what you’ve been asking about. It’s the new venture. As head of hospitality, your services are integral in setting up Bliss. We started with two suites, but four brand new ones are under construction.”
“So what are they for, exactly? In-room gambling, personal masseuse? I see the full bar in the schematics.”
He grins, his jaw shifting as though he’s attempting to hold back his amusement. “Those things, sure. And more.”
I set the plans on my desk and let out a deep breath. “Explain more.”
Paul drops into one of the chairs across from me and crosses his legs at the knee. “For one, there will be women—let’s call them professional dancers.”
“You’re hiring strippers?”
“Exotic dancers. And they’ll be under contract, and not actual employees of the casino.”
“So strippers. What else?” I glance at the plans again.
There are four bedrooms per suite, and what looks to be a large, elaborate communal dining area, a desk area—which is more of a reception inside the suite—and no balcony.
All of Blue’s suites have balconies. “According to these plans, the Bliss suites are larger than anything we have at the casino. Why wouldn’t they have balconies? ”
“You know how the rich and famous bring in drugs, and there’s nothing we can do about it?
” I nod. “We’re going to”—he wags his head, as if attempting to come up with the right words—“continue to turn a blind eye. Balconies and low windows are too convenient for prying eyes. We want to protect our most ardent clientele.”
“So women and drugs,” I say, making sure I’ve nailed the finer points.
Paul nods with a shrug. “Basically.”
I pull off my glasses and rub my temples. Paul’s leaving stuff out, and he’s not one to hold back. He has a tendency to share too much information, particularly when it comes to female conquests. “Do I want to know what you aren’t telling me?”
“Don’t know what you’re talking about,” he says straight-faced. “What you see is basically it. And your job,” he says slowly, as if I’m a toddler, “is to help us hire the strippers, bodyguards, and get that Bridget trained so she can support the suite concierges.”
With four brothers, I’ve learned to control my temper. But whatever Paul’s not saying about Bliss and, most especially, the condescending manner in which he’s speaking to me, have my blood rising.
I stand and face the window and the view of the lake. My view is different than Hayden’s, facing northwest toward my home and Club Tahoe instead of Heavenly and South Shore. A different shade of beautiful.
This job is my chance at freedom from the family funds.
I could find another job, but one where the financial gain means no change in lifestyle?
Not likely, with or without the Ivy League degree.
Which means I need to put up with Paul’s condescending mouth.
Can’t be worse than what I put up with working for my father.
I turn my back to the window and lean my hip against the ledge, crossing my arms. “As I said when you first proposed this venture, give me a list of employees and the attributes you want in them—since I’m sure you have something in mind if you’re hiring strippers—and I’ll take care of it.”
Paul stands and tilts his head toward Bridget’s office. “More like her. I’ll make a list of exactly what we’re looking for and have it to you first thing tomorrow.” He strides to the door and pulls it open. “Tonight, I’m going to see what plans your assistant has.”
“Paul,” I say before he’s gone. “Keep your hands off Bridget. You remember the last executive who thought he could touch?”
Paul’s face turns stony. “You weren’t here then, so I suggest you mind your own damn business.”
He exits, leaving the door open, and heads in Bridget’s direction.
I have no doubt she can handle herself against guys like Paul. Probably had to deal with them every day at her old job. But she works for me now, and I’ll keep an eye on her just the same.
I sink into my chair and stare at the schematics. “What are you, Bliss? A luxury suite built for pleasure, and what else?”