CHAPTER NINETEEN
SEBASTIAN
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I hang up the phone after speaking with Khalid and smile.
“That went well,” Brandon says from a chair in front of my desk.
“He’s buying it. Honestly, I thought Emily was going to fuck things up royally last night, but instead I think she charmed him.” I shake my head, because I could say the same thing about myself.
Maybe not charmed, definitely bewitched.
“She nearly did.” Victor frowns.
“You seemed happy enough staring at her rack.” I shove the chair back and stretch. “Where’s Amanda?”
My director of marketing walks in carrying a tablet and folder. “Did I hear my name?”
She walks to the large meeting table in my office and spreads out the contents of her folder. All three of us head over and look at the visuals we’ve been expecting.
They’re the creatives for the gala.
“How does it look?” I ask, sliding my hands into my pockets.
“Given the speed with which the agency turned it around, I think it’s great.” Amanda shuffles some images and points to two of them. “These are my recommendations. Black tie with a Middle Eastern culture threaded through. I think the sheikh will appreciate the nod to Dubai.”
“Or be offended.” Brandon glances at me in question.
I turn to Victor. He’s had more to do with the Al-Mansour’s in the past twelve months and tells me he’s an expert on Dubai culture after visiting a dozen times.
To be fair, he hasn’t led me wrong, but recently, something has been off. Or it could be how we left things after his review earlier this year.
Victor believes he is due far more than he is. After selling those shares in the earlier days, he clearly has regret. Not my problem. Several employees did, and now they would be worth ten times the value.
None of them have knocked on my door asking for another share package being gifted. They do comment occasionally about what a dumb decision it was to sell early.
Victor is the only one asking for more.
When I replied he could buy them himself, the darkness in his eyes gave me pause. It wasn’t the kind of response I would expect from a senior member of my team. Nor was the request, but I wrote it off in the moment as him being a cocky bastard.
“They were given to employees as compensation when I was unable to pay everyone their full worth. You know that,” I replied to his that’s disappointing response. “You’re paid exceptionally well and got an enormous multi-six-figure bonus at Christmas.”
Greed.
Victor stretched out his legs and shook his head. “Okay. That’s fair. But how would you feel if I got poached?”
I felt my heckles lifting.
It was a poorly hidden threat.
“No one is irreplaceable, Victor. Not even me.”
“Well, I can’t say I’m not disappointed in this conversation, but I have all the information I need.” He’d nodded and left.
I put the discussion behind us, knowing we pay top dollar. It’s one of our key pillars to attract the best people and retain them.
As the head of finance, Victor knows this.
I can’t help shake the feeling that he’s enjoying watching the Crown Plaza development wobble. Figuratively.
“Mr. Remington, your next meeting has arrived ten minutes early,” Emily says from the doorway and my entire body reacts to hearing her voice.
I glance at Amanda, then Emily, and realize she needs looping in.
“How many of your team will be attending on Wednesday night?” I ask her.
Amanda blinks, surprised by my question while appearing to ignore my PA.
“Two, possibly three. Why?” Amanda replies.
I nod.
“Take them down to the boardroom. Thank you, Emily,” I say and run my eyes over her neck. She’s put her hair up, and it looks sexy as hell.
“Okay.” Her cheeks are red, her eyes darting between me and Amanda.
“Then return,” I tell her.
Emily nods.
As she disappears, I walk over and close the door, then face my team.
“Brandon and Victor are aware of this, but I need to brief you in as well.” I tell Amanda, who is an experienced marketer, a wife, and a very honest person. I know this won’t sit well with her.
“Sebastian is engaged to his PA.” Victor spits out with zero tact.
“Excuse me?” Amanda’s eyes widen in surprise.
“Victor, Jesus. Let me explain.” I hold up a hand, then launch into the full story. Brandon shares that the idea was originally his, which I appreciate.
As predicted, Amanda looks very unimpressed.
“Is Emily okay with this? Sebastian, I think you should run it past Julie.”
HR? I probably should have, but Julie would strongly advise against this, and Brandon’s my lawyer so...
Truth is, the fewer people involved, the better.
“I’m not asking you to lie, Amanda. If Khalid asks, you can honestly say you only met Emily last week. Which is true. You are my employee, not a family member, so there’d be no expectation that you’d be intimately aware of my private life.”
Amanda crosses her arms.
“He’ll expect a man like you to have announced your engagement. An event that will be a notable New York social event of the year.”
Ugh. I think I just got hives.
“We’ve said that our families haven’t agreed on a date or location.” I walk back over to the table. “So as far as anyone is concerned, aside from you three as my closest senior team members, our engagement is being kept very low-key.”
Amanda shakes her head.
“Unless you plan on Emily contracting some contagious disease, everyone, including the astronauts on the International Space Station, is going to see her ring.” Victor leans a hand on the table.
I groan.
“You got her a ring?” Amanda gasps, glancing from face to face.
“The Oppenheimer Blue diamond.” Victor adds helpfully.
Amanda gasps at the same time Emily knocks and steps inside.
“Jesus, I have to see this.” Amanda crosses the room and grabs her hand. “My god. It’s beautiful.”
“I know.” Emily sighs, and my chest does funny things. I smile before I can stop myself and then abruptly clear my throat.
Fucking Victor sees me.
Amanda drops her hand and turns to me. I know what she’s thinking. As my marketing director, she heads up public relations and if this leaks, it could be very bad.
“Amanda, it’s fine.”
“This is too dangerous. If it leaks, you’ll have to explain yourself to both your families and decide if you continue this charade.”
I glance at Emily, who is staring at her ring. Her eyes meet mine, and when I think about her warm body against mine this morning, I feel myself get defensive.
“Brief two of your closest team members. Have a statement prepared if it leaks to say no comment. That Sebastian Remington is not sharing details on his personal life.”
“My parents cannot find out about this.” Emily looks like a deer in the headlights.
Great.
Thanks Amanda.
“No one is finding out if we all keep our mouths shut.” I snap. “The only people who need to know are the sheikh and his brother. Both know we are keeping the relationship private.”
Emily blushes, and I want to cross the room and pull her against me. To comfort her.
To touch her.
“Well, hopefully the focus will be on the fundraiser,” Amanda says. “Invites are going out this afternoon, but it’s incredibly short notice. Even for Manhattan.”
Too bad.
People will attend because it has my name attached to it.
“Although Emily’s idea was brilliant.”
I lift my brow.
“Oh.” She waves a hand in front of her, and I glance back at Amanda again in question.
“You didn’t tell him?”
For the love of God, what is going on?
“Tell me now for fuck's sake,” I demand.
“We’re raising money for the Manhattan Green Futures Fund on Wednesday. They’re a non-profit dedicated to preserving and creating green spaces in the city, making sure parks are accessible for children and families.”
“They’re amazing,” Emily pipes up. “They run community programs and teach urban gardening workshops. I might do one.”
What the fuck!
“Are you kidding me? The development is taking away space. Surely it’s going to look like a publicity stunt.”
Amanda rests her hip against the table. “Initially, I thought that too, but I spoke to their CEO and he has a nearby project that needs a cash injection.”
“It’s a bit of a walk, but at least we are seen to be trying to help these families.” Emily nods.
Christ.
“Sorry, I don’t know what I’m talking about.” Emily shoots me an apologetic glance, and I realize I’m glaring at her.
“It could backfire, I agree with Sebastian,” Brandon says. “But I’m impressed with your idea, Emily.”
She smiles, and it’s cute as hell.
I hate that I made her feel bad, but it’s not the first time she’s crossed the lines of her role. Emily has no business experience, and I need her to do as I ask.
“Everyone out. I need a few minutes with my fiancée.”
Victor snorts.
“I mean my personal assistant,” I correct, giving them all a smile, but the truth is, that was a faux pas.
Amanda gives Emily a sympathetic smile as she packs up her papers, as if she’s been sold in the sex trade, then they all file out.
When the door clicks, I slide my hands into my pockets and stare at the beautiful redhead before me.
What am I going to do with her?
“Sorry, Sebastian...Mr. Remington.”
“I think that ship has sailed, Emily.” I stalk like a predator toward her, then tug her hips hard against my stiffening cock.
“Oh,” she gasps. “Jesus. Are you going to fuck me on your desk?”
What?
“No. Fucking hell, Emily. The door is unlocked.” But god, I’ve been fantasizing about it for days. Has she? My eyes narrow. “Do you want me to?”
My cock turns granite as her teeth roll her lip between them.
“No. Maybe,” Emily says.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph , has she touched herself thinking about it? Imagining her lying in her bed or sitting at her desk with those naughty thoughts running through her head has me sliding a hand up her thigh, tugging the fabric of her black dress out of the damn way.
“Bad girl. What a bad little PA you are.”
She moans.
“Did you imagine sitting on my desk while I finger fuck you? Or kneeling under my desk while I’m on a video conference? Because let me tell you, sweetheart, in either scenario I’d last five fucking seconds before I needed to slam my cock deep inside you.”
“Okay,” Emily pants.
I cup her breast and crush my mouth to hers, not giving a shit about anyone walking in.
She opens beautifully as my tongue demands hers and hungrily, they snake around each other.
Her soft, small body melts against mine as I slide my hand through her hair and struggle to find the lie in our relationship.
“I have to get to my meeting.” I rasp against her mouth.
“Yes.” She wobbles, and I hold her upright.
I love how much I affect her. If this visitor wasn’t waiting for me, I would tear her panties off and fill her with my hot come.
“Can you get me some lunch?” I brush my thumb over her lips.
“Hmm mmm.” Emily nods, her eyes glistening with arousal.
“Sushi. The place down by the development has the best chicken teriyaki.”
After a few more blinks, she nods again. “Yes. I’ll grab it after I’ve had lunch with the girls.”
Her hand palms my chest and she gazes unconsciously at her ring. I get it; the Oppenheimerdiamond is one of the most valuable in the world. But it feels like there’s something more going on in her mind.
Did I choose blue to go with her pretty blue eyes?
I grab Emily’s hand and step back, not liking where that thought was leading.
She might be sleeping in my bed and living in my home, but none of this is real. Emily is beautiful, sweet, and having this time to sleep together, given the strength of our chemistry, is amazing.
That’s it.
I like her. I’ll admit that. I’ve always thought living with a woman would be annoying and maybe in three more days I’ll feel differently. Watching her put her makeup on in my bathroom and spread her girl stuff all over the counter triggered my ADHD, but I couldn’t bring myself to move it.
Still, how many hair ties does one girl with one head need?
Once Khalid leaves the United States, she can move back into her apartment. We should have his funding secured by then.
And I’ll find Emily a new position.
We don’t have much time together, and I need to remember I’m not interested in a relationship, nor do I want to mislead her.
We are fucking, and this is a business deal.
Hell, money has changed hands.
While she agreed to it beforehand, I don’t doubt if I hadn’t offered something, Emily may not have gone along with it.
Those big blue eyes watch me as if I’m the most wonderful man she’s ever met.
Shit.
I need to be more careful.
“Leave the food on my desk if I’m not here.” I pat her ass, then walk around her and out of my office.
Fuck.
I need to watch myself.