Chapter 4
Christian
“I assure you, Mr. Tempest, that you have nothing to worry about. Preparations are well under way to ensure the charity ball is everything you expect. We brought in the celebrity chef as requested to prepare his finest delicacies. He’s very honored at being asked.
The entertainment confirmed only an hour ago and I anticipate the arrival of the special Bordeaux you requested. ”
I hired mostly women for the top-level positions for a reason.
They were sharp, on the ball, tenacious with every task tossed in their direction, and rarely if ever allowed me to see them sweat. No matter how challenging my request. Gina Parker, the hotel’s director of catering and events, was no exception.
However, as of late I found the ability to exceed expectations incredibly boring and I couldn’t fathom why.
I sat with my fingers steepled, peering out the top floor window of her office toward the mountains. The late afternoon sunlight provided a stunning halo. How long had it been since I’d paid any real attention to the landscape surrounding any building?
“And the romance convention won’t interfere in any way.” I wasn’t asking. I was stating a requirement.
“No, sir. I admit our people are stretched thin, but I’ve called in everyone who’d been scheduled for days off.”
She knew what my heavy sigh meant. Extreme disappointment. “I was told the second event had been scaled back. Was that something you handled?”
Perhaps Gina’s facade was fissuring, her hesitation unusual. “Given the importance of the charity event, I assigned another employee to work directly with the coordinators of the book convention.”
“I see. Evidently, some recent improved accommodations were honored for this… other convention.”
“Yes, I believe so. From what Jordan told me, the coordinators brought in someone who was well versed in event contract negotiations.”
“Jordan,” I repeated.
“Yes, Jordan White. He’s highly qualified. An excellent employee.”
What she’d just admitted was that, per my request, they’d taken it upon themselves to cut corners with a contract in place. Ruthless and certainly I’d been involved with wordplay of contract legalities once or twice. But that was my purview, my decision. Not theirs.
While I didn’t respond, I could see by the fear in her eyes she was well aware she’d made the wrong decision.
“Then I suppose I will need to talk to Jordan. Where is his office?” I stood, buttoning my jacket. As the material of my shirt slipped across the mild burn, I was reminded once again of why I was bothering with trivial details.
“At the end of the hall.” Gina also rose to her feet. “Please rest assured that everyone employed at the hotel is eager and well versed in how to ensure our guests will enjoy themselves.”
I headed to her door before responding. “Let’s hope so, Ms. Parker, as several livelihoods are dependent on the positive feedback of those guests.” I didn’t need to belabor the point.
As I took long strides toward Jordan’s office, someone was just leaving, heading in the opposite direction. Her long hair swung back and forth across her shoulders from her furious gait. I didn’t need to see her face to realize her level of anger. Both hands were fisted, her shoulders thrown back.
The beautiful woman who’d become the subject of my interest.
She didn’t notice me, her obvious tunnel vision keeping her on pace, yet the scent of her perfume assaulted my senses in the best way.
She smelled of crushed velvet and midnight rain.
The scent hung in the space between us like a dare, heavy enough to taste and intoxicating enough to make me forget what I was thinking.
Her attire was similar to the other convention goers, recreational instead of professional, complete with tennis shoes in a bright blue. Yet even in casual attire, there was a quiet elegance to her movements, a subtle yet powerful aura of confidence that commanded attention.
She had no idea a predator stood feet away, a man whose intentions for her were anything but appropriate.
Even as she disappeared, the fragrance lingered, filling my nostrils and painting my skin. I took a deep breath before heading into Jordan’s office. The meeting had obviously been terse, his head in his hands and his chest rising and falling rapidly.
“Mr. White.” I stood in the doorway.
He didn’t lift his head, at least at first. “I’ll be right with you.”
Perhaps he sensed I had no intention of budging, finally looking up. His eyes instantly reflected my presence and he stood, albeit his body was shaking as he did. “Mr. Tempest. I didn’t know you were there.”
I wasn’t interested in groveling or pretense. “I understand you’ve been working with someone recently involved with the book convention.”
“Um, yes, sir. She’s a professional in the industry. Or at least she was.”
“Go on.”
“She used to work for a huge hotel but now owns some social media platform for books. I don’t completely understand.”
He was flustered, but I had a feeling it had more to with his past relationship with the woman instead of having the boss standing in front of him.
“Let me guess,” I interjected. “Given her knowledge and experience, she’s demanding everything promised to the event.”
His relief was almost amusing. “Yes, sir. One cold and calculating bitch who knew exactly how to push my buttons.”
Fascinating. Whatever their connection, she’d easily gotten under his skin. Daring to call her a bitch in front of me either made him brave or stupid. While I didn’t personally know the young man, we hired only those with proven tough skin. A formidable woman I also appreciated.
His face reddened. “That was rude of me, sir. I would never talk that way to a client, I promise you. It’s just that she’s…”
“Someone who knows the business well.”
“Yes.”
“What’s her name?”
“Penelope Michaels. If you don’t mind me saying, you wouldn’t like her.”
His insistence and perhaps attempt to protect me was also amusing.
“I’ll keep that in mind. Just ensure that Ms. Michaels has whatever she needs.
And I do mean anything that will ensure her conference and every guest is treated like royalty.
If there are any questions about what you’re doing, have them come to me. Is that understood?”
Jordan appeared deflated if not confused. He didn’t like catering to her request even under my orders. I had to admit I was quite curious as to their respective pasts. “Yes, sir. Absolutely.”
“One last thing. Send me a copy of their contract with the hotel and all changes or concerns as denoted by Ms. Michaels.”
His expression soured further. “Yes, sir.”
As I walked out, I thought of the reason for getting together for drinks with my old friends. Initiating the contest, including selecting potential candidates.
It would seem luck or perhaps karma had already chosen mine.
I was eager to learn more about the lovely Ms. Michaels. In fact, I would soon learn everything about her life, her desires, and her fears. Everything that made her tick. Her accomplishments. Her goals. Especially her failures.
Only then could I begin the art of seduction and dominance and become victorious.
* * *
As I pulled the glass of aged Macallan to my lips, I remained deep in thought.
I’d spent a full hour discovering details about Penelope’s life and had barely scratched the surface.
While there were benefits to my position as head of a billion-dollar corporation, even my capabilities of discovering were limited by standard rules and laws.
The fact she used to work for Covington should be a cautionary tale, especially after Jessica’s phone call. While possibly a coincidence, I didn’t believe in them. The fact she’d left a six-figure salary to deal with romance books held a story of its own not possible to learn through any dossier.
I could resort to using less questionable methods in discovering more, but I’d worked very hard to sterilize my family’s reputation. Destroying it over one woman was… questionable. Although I’d done much worse in my life.
Yes, I could eventually push every rule aside, but there was such significant joy in the process of discovery itself. Every scrap of information was useful, including aspects others would ignore.
To me, the smallest details were the most important.
The win of seduction could be twofold. One being the enjoyment of her body and her full surrender and the other?
A way of discovering insider information on Covington, although it had been a long time since I’d resorted to something so pedestrian.
It was possible I was simply craving the act itself, my life becoming boring as of late.
Leaving Brandon as fish food had been the most fun I’d had in years.
“Just how do you anticipate our contest proceeding?” Sebastian asked. He was enjoying the visuals as all four bars and the area by the pools had been flooded with guests, mostly women enjoying the camaraderie of their peers.
As well as the preening done by several of the male models depicted on the banners.
“Our boy is far too interested in the potential merchandise.” Xander laughed and sat back in his seat, also admiring the view. Several of the women had changed their attire, likely anticipating a more fruitful evening of debauchery.
The swallow was warm, smooth, and exactly what I’d craved. At least I could fulfill one need for the evening.
“Things have changed in twenty years, gentlemen. We have more to lose than our scholarships and abilities to play on sports teams.” My answer was truthful.
We were all powerful, rich men with respected careers.
Yes, the three of us also resorted to handling difficulties as necessary, but we certainly no longer compared notes.
“I’m shocked, Chris. You were always the instigator, eager to control everyone around you. What’s changed?” Sebastian was testing me as he’d always enjoyed doing.
“Nothing has changed. I’m simply more thoughtful and perhaps demanding than in the old days.”