Chapter 19 – Andrea
NINETEEN
ANDREA
“In a matter of months, billionaire Harrison Cross has done it again!” an anchor announced on television. “He’s taken over Sweet Seasons and made sweeping policy changes that leave no doubt who’s in charge.”
“Sources say employees are praising his hands-on leadership. Live at the flagship store in Manhattan is Melanie Smith, speaking to a barista. Are you there, Melanie?”
I groaned and rummaged for the remote.
“I’m here, Rachel.” A red-haired woman beamed. “I’m on the scene with master barista, Stacy! How have things changed since Mr. Cross’s takeover?”
“It’s been utterly amazing!”
I refuse to listen to this.
I strained to reach the remote. It was only inches away. Close enough to mock me.
“We have designer uniforms, higher pay, and it feels like a place anyone would love to work at, you know?”
“Previously, Mr. Cross faced countless accusations of being a tyrant who is cruel to his employees, so—”
“He’s been incredible to all of us here.” Stacy couldn’t have sounded more like a suck-up if she tried. “I can’t think of a single bad thing to—”
I cut it off before she could spew any more nonsense.
Wincing as I stood, I noticed rain streaking down the windows in heavy sheets.
Ugh. Perfect.
Dave (Personal Driver )
I’m downstairs.
Be down in an hour.
LOL. Good one. You mean five minutes?
No. An hour.
Did you ask for permission from Mr. Cross?
Nope.
Feel free to drive around for a while. See you soon.
I silenced all my notifications, peeled out of my pajamas, and headed straight for the bathroom.
Turning on the hot water, I stepped beneath the spray and let the steam erase the clock. For the first time in weeks, I wasn’t rushing. I wasn’t counting minutes. I wasn’t listening for my phone.
When I finally stepped out, I tied a robe around my waist and wandered into the kitchen.
I made myself a tower of pancakes and sat at the breakfast nook like a human being. Then I picked up the romance novel I’d started months ago and finished a chapter.
Stretching, I took my time straightening up our living room before getting dressed.
Then I finally grabbed my umbrella before heading downstairs to the town car.
“Good morning, Miss Stone.” Dave shook his head at me as he opened the back door.
“Good morning.” I slid inside. “Thank you for picking me up.”
“It’s always a pleasure.” He tipped his hat before shutting the door.
As he slid behind the wheel, the other passenger door opened and Mr. Cross moved inside—glaring at me.
He was wearing his favorite dark gray coat, jaw clenched tight, eyes cutting through mine. He didn’t look the slightest bit amused, and I’d never seen him look like this before.
I glanced at the rearview mirror, hoping for Dave to throw some help my way, but he kept his gaze straight ahead and pulled onto the street.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Cross,” I said once we hit a stoplight.
“You’re sorry for what?”
“For running late.”
“Running late would’ve been five to ten minutes,” he said. “Maybe even fifteen.”
“Mr. Cross—”
“You’re two fucking hours late.”
My excuses lodged uselessly in my throat.
“My television interview was scheduled for nine,” he continued calmly. “But since my executive assistant wasn’t there with the final printed version of my speech, I pushed it back to this evening.”
“I said I’m sorry.”
“Sorry…” He tasted the words as if he’d never said them before, then he snapped. “Roll up the partition, Dave.”
The soft buzz of the metal divider was the only sound in the car for several seconds.
“Like I was saying,” he said, “My morning is off by two and a half hours, and that has never happened to me in over a decade.”
I said nothing.
“Do you have any idea what that means?”
Still, nothing.
“You know how I feel about time, Miss Stone,” he said. “And for you to blatantly attempt to screw me over—”
“If taking care of myself once every blue moon is screwing you over, then that says more about you than me.”
“I don’t like when you interrupt me.”
“You do it to me all the time.”
“I’m your boss.”
“For the next few weeks only.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Exactly what it sounds like,” I said. “I don’t care about your ridiculous 13B clause. I’m stressed the hell out, and I need relief in any way I can get it.”
“Quitting me would add to your stress, Miss Stone.”
“Want to bet?”
“You have bills, correct?”
“At this point, I’d risk being homeless for a while.”
“All because stress relief?”
“The lack of stress relief.” I rolled my eyes and took out my tablet.
I tapped the screen. “We can get your morning back on track with two tweaks. I’ll push your customer service meeting and your advisory call up by twenty minutes, and I’ll sit in on the marketing department’s proposal for the new latte campaign. Fair?”
He didn’t answer me.
He took the tablet from my hands and set it aside. Then he grabbed me and pulled me across the seat until I was in his lap.
I froze there for half a second—straddling him, breath shallow, aware of how easily he’d moved me.
His eyes dragged slowly over my face. Not rushed. Not playful. Intent.
“Am I one of the reasons why you’re stressed out?” he asked, voice low.
“You’re the only reason…”
“I doubt that…” His hand slid up my back, slower this time.
His touch sent all my nerves running wild, and without saying a word, he pressed his mouth against mine.
His kiss consumed me fast and deep, and for a second I forgot where we were.
The car. The driver. The morning.
My breathing slowed as his fingers found the first button of my blouse.
Tearing away from my mouth, he kissed a trail against my neck, down to my chest. He slipped his hand into my bra and sucked my nipple into his mouth.
“Ahhh…” I gripped his hair while he twirled his tongue over my skin. He took his time sucking, biting, and savoring while his cock stiffened beneath me.
Heat pooled between my thighs, and he slid his hand beneath my skirt like he already knew.
He pushed my panties aside and pressed his fingers between my thighs.
When he slid inside me, I bit his lip to keep from crying out.
His thrusts were long and punishing, and I shifted my hips to give him full control.
He whispered something against my mouth—something I strained to understand between his kiss and his strokes.
My clit throbbed against his touch, and my knees weakened as he controlled my body with nothing more than his fingers. As he pushed me closer and closer to the edges, staring into my eyes and daring me to let go.
I couldn’t hold back if I tried, and before I knew it, I was screaming into his chest as I came on his hand.
He rubbed my back while my body slowly settled, and I tried not to think too hard.
I just let my boss finger fuck me in the backseat...
“Feel better?” he whispered against my ear.
“Yes….”
“Good.” He gently pushed me back, making me look at him. “You’re welcome.”
What?
Without saying another word, he yanked off my panties and stuffed them in his handkerchief pocket. Then he eased me off his lap and onto the seat.
“Adjust my schedule through six o’clock so I can end my day with a re-interview session with you at my place.” He adjusted his tie and looked at me like I was just another employee. “Seven o’clock.”
“I…” I shook my head, still on a high. “I’m not sleeping with you tonight, Mr. Cross.”
“Miss Stone, this will be a highly professional meeting,” he said. “I’ll already be at home due to my monthly session with my home staff.”
That’s true.
“That said…” He paused as Dave pulled into the parking garage. “Since ‘tonight’ isn’t open on your agenda, pick any date on my calendar and I’ll happily oblige to whatever night you pick.”
He stepped out of the car and walked to my side.
Opening my door, he looked me over, adjusting my blazer and fastening the top button. Then he gestured for me to walk next to him.
We stared at each other in the elevator’s glass as it rose, but when the doors opened, we walked off in opposite directions like the past twenty minutes had never happened.