2. Patrick Chance Broughton
I recognized her the second she stepped foot into my office. She was sexier in this light of day. There were mixed emotions about having her in my office because I made it a practice not to fuck my employees. Technically, she wasn’t my employee when we fucked, or was she?
I tapped on my mouse to go to the personnel portal. It was after eight o’clock in the evening and I was still in the office. I had been in Europe on business and a little pleasure. The sex club scene over there was even more interesting than the one here in the states. Joston also had a heavy foot in the scene there as well. My first day back in the office after a week off was tedious for me. With the addition of a woman who I knew every crevice of her body, it was far more. Her alpha personality was something that I was not prepared for.
Once I got to the file to see her onboarding date, I noticed that she was onboarded the Thursday before we met, but her official start date was today. There were times when Marla would put the start date as the same day a person was onboarded. She used to do that because at one time you had to be with the company for a calendar month before your benefits kicked in. Since that policy changed to benefits on the start date, there was no reason to predate any longer.
When I came into the office, I knew that there would be a new executive assistant. The last bunch of assistants that Marla had hired were idiots. There was nothing that I despised more than stupid people. There were basic tasks that they couldn’t accomplish. It was a fact that they were technically Marla’s assistants; however, she rarely used them. They sat in their offices twiddling their thumbs. I’d walked in on one of them filing their nails once.
That was when I started to put them to work. Most of them folded after the first week and didn’t return for the second. When I heard her previous title, I surmised that Marla decided to hire someone who was overqualified with the hopes that they would do a better job. When she told me that Lark came highly recommended by Jacobia Christianson, I wanted to burst into laughter because her and my cousin, Joston, were with the shits I saw.
I was surprised that she didn’t recognize me. Once she laid out that gallivanting in England line, I knew I would go to her smart ass. She presented herself as a much more submissive woman when we were in Vegas. That was to be expected since she was new to the scene and needed guidance. When I sent her that email of tasks and the quip about her tapping out, I just knew she would buckle. Most of the tasks that I gave her were personal, which was against my grain, but I needed her out of the office to get myself together. Never did I think that she would complete all of those tasks before the end of the workday.
“Bro, you got to tell me something. What’s up with you and Lark?” Travis walked into my office with his whiskey carafe and two glasses. Good job! I need that!
Although Travis and I had been friends for years, he was not privy to my alternative lifestyle. There was a separation that I wanted to keep between myself and the people that I worked with. My listing in the company was senior vice president, but it was known that I was the acting president. My father had plans to step down very soon.
I waited for him to pour the glasses and give me one before I spoke. “There’s nothing up with me and Lark. She’s the new assistant and I’m treating her as such.”
He sat back in the seat, arched a brow, then took a sip of his drink. We sat there in silence as we drank our whiskey. When his glass was halfway down, he broke the silence. “Chance, I know you. I know you well enough to know that if any other person in the office talked to you like Lark did today, you would have put them out on their ass with no thought. You fired the last assistant because she called you Patrick.”
My head bucked back before I leaned forward on my desk. “I told that stupid ass girl to call me Chance or Mr. Broughton. I gave the ditzy girl two options, yet she chose to call me Patrick, which was neither. If she couldn’t follow simple instruction as to what to call me, do you really think that I would trust her with my company?”
“That’s my point. You let that girl go because she called you Patrick, which is still your damn name. Lark called you an asshole, an entitled prick, and spoiled. Her ass straight up dismissed the hell out of you at every turn,” he said with a chuckle. “On top of all of that, she was in your house looking around like Nancy Drew, and you didn’t say anything. You know that she knew there were cameras because she looked up into them at times with a damn smile. You’ve fired people for way less, yet you didn’t fire her.
“No, you gave her a raise, company Range, credit card, and cell phone. Tell me. Where in the hell does Patrick Chance Broughton do that at, man?”
Yeah, she did all of that and I not only met but surpassed all her demands. “I do it now. The fact is that she’s overqualified. Initially, I thought that would work against me, but because of her previous position, it clearly made her a master at prioritization and delegation. I gave her all of those tasks that I would normally give my housekeeper, to see how she would handle them. That woman sat in my house and got all of them completed with a call or click of a button. What do you think any of those other women that Marla previously hired would have done?”
I was extremely impressed with her delegation of the tasks. Yes, I was annoyed as hell for some reason that she didn’t fail but impressed that she lived up to the boss that she presented to me today. A part of me wanted to find a damn flaw in this perfect ass woman. When she tapped out in Vegas, I didn’t see that as a flaw. I saw it as a plus because I knew how I gave it up. She was new to the life, so if she had been able to take everything that I gave up, I would have side-eyed the hell out of her.
A lot of times people who knew nothing about my lifestyle assumed that everyone was in it to be loose or had an issue with commitment. That was not the case at all for everyone. I had no issue with commitment, and when I found the woman that was meant for me, sex clubs would be no more. I was into sex clubs because it fed my sexual desire while I was single. It was one of the safest ways to have sex rather than meeting random ass girls with messed up hidden agendas. When the woman who would be my forever came along, then she would be all I needed. It took the right woman to be with a man that had a past like I did.
Travis ticked his head from side to side. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. They would have tried to get it all done themselves. I still think something is up with y’all two. All that shit you said sounds good, but something tells me that it’s deeper than that.” He gulped down the rest of his drink before he stood. “Time is going to show, bro.”
I gave him no reaction, emotion, or insight into anything. Yeah, it was deeper than that, but I wasn’t even sure how deep this shit might get. Hell, I thought that her smart mouth would turn me off, but it seemed to make me want her even more. When I called my father about her, he thought it was comical that there was a woman who wasn’t intimidated by me.
After Travis left my office, I went back to what I was doing before he came in. Marla always left the office no later than five thirty because she had a three-year-old daughter in daycare. Once I knew that I was the only one in the office, I pressed Joston’s speed dial number before I sat back in my seat again.
“What’s up, Cuzzo?” Joston sounded like he was laid back somewhere chilling. That was like him though. He made millions from playing poker, his sex clubs, liquor endorsements, and other businesses that he had around Charleston, Vegas, as well as Phoenix. For the most part, he did live a very chill life.
I was silent for a beat. “So, you weren’t going to tell me that Jacobia’s best friend that I met at your party was the same person that she suggested for the executive assistant position at my company? Miss me with you didn’t know too.”
I went to Joston a while ago with my frustration about these dumb assistants that Marla continued to hire. He suggested that I have Marla reach out to Jacobia to leverage her network. That was what I did and here we now were. I knew that he knew exactly who she was, because regardless of how much they both pushed back, he and Jacobia were best friends who were in love.
Joston chortled. “So, how did you and Miss Lark get along today? Yeah, I knew that she was the person that was going to be working with you. No, I had no idea that you would like and smash the girl into a tap out. That was on you.”
“You didn’t think that you should have told me after I told you that we smashed? She walked in my office, and I almost lost my damn mind. Yo, her mout’ reckless as hell too! For a second, I thought I was ga box her off.” I couldn’t help but chortle myself.
Joston joined me in my laughter. Yeah, you must have lost your mind. It’s been a long time since I’ve heard you let the geechie slip out of you. What do you mean by her mouth is reckless? Did she recognize you?”
“Nah, she didn’t but that wasn’t surprising. You know they keep the lights low as hell and the alcohol in the drinks high. Plus, it was her first time there, so she was probably overwhelmed. I sent her an email of tasks and told her not to tap out again, but she still didn’t say anything about it.”
There was shifting on the other line. “You’re absolutely wild for that email, first. Maybe even that didn’t hit her like you thought it did. You still haven’t told me how her mouth was reckless.”
I took the time to tell him about her attitude and our interaction while he laughed the entire time. Joston said some of the same things that my father said to me earlier. I hesitated to tell him about the pay raise and other stuff, but I did. I wasn’t a fan of telling half of a story.
“Damn, Cuzzo, like that? I was going to ask if you planned to fire her, but I guess not after you gave her a twenty-thousand dollar raise. You gonna continue to fuck with her?” he asked.
I shook my head as if he could see me. “I don’t know about that, man. You know I don’t believe in fucking employees.”
“Get the hell out of here with that excuse. The stars that were in your eyes after that girl left your room, you know just like I do that if she gives you the opportunity, you’d fuck her on top of the company logo sign outside. That’s why your ass is on my line talking about her, because you want her.”
My cousin knew me very well. He was right about me fucking her on the logo sign because I would fuck her good ass blowout kinky then back straight. Lark Dawn Hunter was the sexiest woman that I’d ever run across. Even her middle name being Dawn, as it said on her personnel file, was sexy. The pussy, mouth, and ass were things that men would kill over. Her personality in my office made her even more desirable regardless of how I acted toward her. Like I said, I wanted to find a flaw but couldn’t.
I huffed. “Man, whatever. We’ll cross that road if we ever come to it. I still plan to come this weekend.” I was over talking about Lark for the moment.
“Cool. I figured you would. You know it’s about to be up! I’m going to beat ass in this tournament too. That six hundred thousand is going to look good in my bank account.” Joston was the number one player in the nation right now and was the man to beat.
We spoke for a few more minutes before we got off the line. I finished everything that I needed to close out for the night, then headed home. When I climbed into my car, her soft floral smell lingered in it. It was the same scent she wore the night that we met. I wouldn’t mind smelling her scent while I had her in my bed.
* * *
When I pulled up to the office this morning, Lark’s Range sat in the parking space in front of the building. The executive assistant had an assigned parking space next to my car, but I told Marla not to let them park there until we knew that they were here to stay. The Range was a nice gray which was the color of my, Travis’s, and Marla’s company Ranges. The other agents also had company vehicles, but they were sedans.
It was earlier than normal for me to be in the office. I wanted to get in before Lark’s smart-ass mouth. I sent her a text earlier with my breakfast and coffee order. I saw that she read it, but she didn’t respond back. Our receptionist and other agents were also in the office. I saw the confusion on their faces to the Range sitting on the parking lot. I wonder who would be bold enough to ask whose it was.
I stopped at the receptionist’s desk. “Good morning. Are there any calls I need to know about?”
Eve looked up from the appointment book that sat on her desk. We made sure we kept both a physical and digital appointment calendar. “Good morning, Chance. There was only one call for a property inquiry under your listing. I gave them the pricing and directed them to your link to schedule an appointment if they were interested.”
I nodded my head before I pivoted to walk away. She called out to me, causing me to turn around. “Cedric dropped off the Range and keys this morning. What did you need me to do with them?”
That was her way of indirectly asking me who it belonged to. “Put the key in an envelope, and drop them in Miss Hunter’s mail slot. Let her know that they are in there when she gets in.”
Her face scrunched. “Miss Hunter, as in the new executive assistant? Since when do the executive assistants get company vehicles?”
I tittered. “Since when does the receptionist feel comfortable enough to ask me about business that isn’t hers? Perhaps I should have Marla search for a new one that understands her role here.”
Her eyes bulged. “I apologize. It just caught me off guard. I will put them in her mail slot.”
I told her thank you as I walked off. I was not a fan of Eve because she liked to keep up mess. I was on the move so much that I never really gave it much thought. If I heard anything about this in the office, she would be looking for another job.
An hour had gone by since I’d been in the office. Lark should be arriving at any minute now. There was a knock on my door about ten minutes after that thought. I told whoever it was to come in. The woman of the hour walked in dressed to kill. Her high-waisted slacks fit her just tight enough to be appropriate for the office. The blouse she wore had an oversized collar.
“Good morning, Chance. Here is your coffee and breakfast.” She walked around my desk to set the items down.
Her scent welcomed itself into my nostrils. Damn, she smells good! “Thank you. I will send you a list of things that I need done in the next hour. Did Eve tell you that the key to your truck is in your mail slot?”
“No, she did not. Thank you for letting me know.” She walked back to the other side of the desk. “I wanted to know if we could have a personal conversation?”
My head tilted before I told her that it was fine and to close the door. She sat down after the door was closed. There was a moment of silence before she started. “This is a little uncomfortable considering that I’m your executive/personal assistant. I wanted to make sure that what happened between us wouldn’t result in our interactions to be awkward or volatile.”
My brows became uneven. “Tell me what happened between us, Lark. I’m not a man that likes to beat around the bush in any aspect of my life.” I wanted her to say it, not allude to it.
She shifted in her seat. “Really, Chance?” When I didn’t say anything, she huffed. “When we met in Vegas and had sexual intercourse.”
“Lark, we are having a personal conversation behind closed doors. You don’t have to be so formal; we fucked. As far as us working together being awkward, it won’t be for me, nor will it be volatile. I can admit that I’m intense in the office. I won’t apologize for that because a lot is required of me; therefore, I require a lot from everyone in this office. Will us having fucked be a problem for you?” I picked up my coffee and took a sip. Perfect.
Her tightened eyes didn’t match the smile on her face. “It will not be a problem at all, Chance. Us fucking is on a separate hand than me being your assistant.” She stood up. “I just wanted to make sure. I have reports to get out to you, Travis, and Marla. When I get your list, I will work on it.”
I watched her ass until she left my office. When she asked me if I wanted her to leave my door open, I told her yes. Lark being here would be hard because of the sight and smell of her. The mere sound of her voice made me want to put my dick so far in her that it suffocated her. She was blessed with skill sets in both the professional and sexual arenas.
* * *
VEGAS NIGHTS…
Joston won his competition, which wasn’t a shock to anyone. There was a time when they tried to accuse him of cheating because it was unfathomable that he could win as much as he did. Yes, he’d lost games earlier in his career, but that was a thing of the past. When you got to his mastery level of skill, he only played maybe six to eight games a year. If the payout wasn’t larger than five hundred thousand dollars, it wouldn’t be worth his time.
“Tonight was a good night, and it’s just going to get better,” he said with a bright smile.
We were on our way to his party house. He had a party about once a month. Entry was by invite only or membership. Membership was a cool one hundred thousand dollars a year. Invites were paid for by the person who invited them at five thousand dollars a pop. After five visits, they had to join or get the hell on. Joston’s parties were not for the weak or poor.
When we pulled up to the house, the valet opened our doors. Juliet met us at the bottom of the stairs. She was a beautiful woman that was referred to this job by Jacobia. She was not a part of the lifestyle, however. “Good evening, Joston. You have a full house tonight with seven VIPs on the RSVP list.”
You were considered VIP if you held a government office, CEO status, or a player of any major league sports team. “Good stuff, Juliet. Anything else that I need to know?”
She tapped on her tablet. “Yes, Jacobia RSVP’d with a guest.” When he asked with an arched brow who her guest was, she responded with a smirk. “Miss Lark Hunter. They’re actually already inside.”
Now my brow was arched. The fuck was Lark coming back here for. Joston looked at me sideways as we walked up the stairs. “You knew they were coming?” I asked him.
“Hell no! I talked to Jacobia’s ass earlier today, and she didn’t mention anything about coming to Vegas. I got something for that ass though.” He mumbled the last sentence.
The curtains were opened immediately when we went into the house so that we could walk in. My eyes roamed the room in search of one person and one person only. Like a magnet, my eyes pulled to the side of the room where the bar sat. There she is. When I took her in, my spirit started to rumble, and not in a good fucking way.
“Why the fuck is Griffin smiling in her face and she’s smiling back?” I asked myself more than I did Joston. It took me a second to get past her smiling in Griffin’s face to focus on what she had on. I glanced at Joston with tight eyes. “Oh, she got me fucked up!”