Chapter 31 Jessica
Jessica
Longest day ever. I rush into the hotel and hit the elevator, in desperate need of a shower and having only ten minutes left to get ready before we need to leave for the gala.
People are milling around, some I recognize from the business meetings this week, and I try not to look like the harried mess that I am.
I grab my phone out of habit before I throw it back in my bag, my shoulders tightening.
It went dead hours ago. The connection was lost. At first, I thought it was due to my location.
Now that I’m back in the city and I’m still not picking up a signal, I know my international roaming just isn’t working. I smell a rat.
“I’m here.” I rush into the room, throwing my bag and jacket off immediately, not wanting to make Donovan late for this formal business event we have tonight to end our trip.
“Jessica? Where have you been?” Donovan rushes to me, looking frantic. “I was calling you.” His eyes scan me from head to toe as his hands roam over my body, ensuring I’m intact.
“I’m fine. But my phone signal was out. I couldn't make calls or receive them. I don’t think my international sim card is working very well,” I tell him, showing him my phone, and his brow furrows.
I don’t tell him my thoughts on the fact that I believe Ashley has set me up to fail this week. He doesn’t need that drama on him.
“But I called the driver, who told me he left you at the factory, and he was told you had alternative transport back?”
I’m fuming. This is all Ashley's doing. Making my first trip with Donovan utter chaos all week.
“Well, I waited for the driver who didn’t come. Luckily, Mario at the factory drove me to the train and I had some euros to buy a ticket back here. I just walked here from the station.”
He blinks at me in surprise. “Train? What?” Now I’m not the only one who’s fuming. He doesn’t like me taking public transport at the best of times, but especially here in a foreign country with no cell phone service.
“Yeah, well, this week hasn’t been smooth sailing for me, that’s for sure.”
Ashley not adding me to the hotel booking so I couldn’t enter the room when we arrived and not answering my call when I tried to get in touch with her.
I had to wait in the lobby for Donovan to turn up three hours later before I could get into the room.
Me missing a conference call and Donovan livid.
The next night Ashley failed to add me to the RSVP list for a corporate function, leaving Donovan and me standing there with no seats.
I was mortified. And while the media have been in my face all week, when they followed me from a private meeting with a supplier straight back to the hotel, it was obvious someone tipped them off. No one else knew about that meeting.
“I’ll call HR. This entire week has been chaos for you, all because of Ashley.”
I don’t have to say anything. He’s a smart man. He left Ashley to organize everything, and day after day, she set me up to fail. She could’ve covered her tracks a little better. Clearly, she isn’t smart in that department.
“She’s a bit of a thorn in my side,” I tell him, and his frown deepens, but he nods.
“Extremely unprofessional and not following confidentiality guidelines at all. I have a feeling she’s tipping off the media to our whereabouts as well,” Donovan confirms.
“I don’t understand why she would do that.” I have been nothing but pleasant to her the moment I met her. For some reason, I just seem to have a target on my head, and no matter what I do, I can’t shake it.
“To put pressure on us. Put pressure on you. She knows I hate the intrusion into my personal life. Honestly, it’s why I’ve never had a long-term partner.
They always have their phones in their face, taking footage or selfies, and that side of things just doesn’t interest me.
The public get enough of my life; I want to keep some things private. ”
“You know I’d never upload anything…” I start to tell him, because while I browse social media, I never post. I can’t take a good picture to save myself.
“I know. That makes you even sexier in my eyes.” His grin is sinful, and I can’t help but smile.
“Oomph, okay, I need to get ready. I only have about ten minutes. Let me take a shower, and we can deal with it later.” I lift onto my tiptoes and kiss him, glad to be back with him.
He cups my jaw, holding me for a moment, and both our shoulders lower, the stress level easing a little.
As we pull away, I look him over and frown.
“What happened to your hand?” His knuckles are red, and I see ice nearby.
“I punched Marcus Jasper. Probably broke his nose.”
“You what?” I can’t believe it. I’m both gobsmacked and want to smile.
“You’re not the only one who had an eventful day today.” He blows out a breath.
“He obviously deserved it.” I smile, the two of us secretly happy that Marcus got what was coming.
“He did. You should see his face.” Donovan rolls his lips, and my smile widens.
“Do I dare ask what he said to deserve it?” I hold his hand softly, inspecting it, already knowing the answer.
“He seems to think the best way to insult me is to insult you.” I nod, thinking as much.
“So you punched the bully in my honor?” My appreciation for him grows even more. Not many people have stuck up for me in my life. The fact that I have my own protector now makes me feel a certain way.
“Yeah, I punched the bully.” His hand cups my jaw, and I lean into it.
“That’s kinda hot…” I tease as I bite my lower lip, and his eyes flame.
“I’ll always protect you, baby…” His voice lowers, and I swear I feel flutters below. His hand moves from my cheek slowly down my neck, holding me tight at my nape and my breath hitches.
I grin, enjoying his touch before I kiss him again, but then rush out of his hold, hitting the shower.
Slicking my hair back into a tight low bun and donning a gorgeous slip dress that I organized myself from Mabel, I’m ready in record time.
It’s one of pure silk that flows down my body like water.
A deep red that matches my lipstick, it’s vibrant and with my hair slicked back, I feel almost unstoppable.
“So, tonight is important, right?” I swipe on my lipstick as the limo we’re in glides through the streets of Milan.
“It’s a final dinner for the industry. Everyone will be there.” Earlier on, that fact would have made me nervous, but after all this time working for York Enterprises and with Donovan taking me to many events, I’m feeling more confident than ever in my role and by his side.
“Anyone else bringing arm candy tonight?” I jest, but I worry that being Donovan’s girlfriend will pigeonhole me.
“You are more than candy… Sweet as candy, but you’re garnering your own reputation. Your career skills are unsurpassed. Everyone asks me about you. Everyone wants to poach you.”
I look at him and grin. “Well, they can’t have me. I’m happy at York Enterprises.”
“Hmmmm… did I tell you how ravishing you look tonight?” Donovan’s hand sweeps down my leg, wrapping in the soft material as he starts to gather it up.
“Yes, but you can tell me again.” Here I am, with the most amazing man, in the back of a limo driving through Milan. How did this get to be my life?
“You look positively delicious.” His lips drop to my bare shoulder as his fingers walk up the material of my long gown.
“Mmmm… I’m also not wearing any underwear,” I tease him, and his head rears back. He moves quickly, securing the privacy screen between us and the driver.
“Donovan?” I ask with a cheeky grin, and he looks at me with molten eyes.
“Relax, baby. Let me take the edge off.”
I feel his fingers again, warm against my skin, tracing my legs, gliding right up my inner thigh.
“Let me feel you. Bare… beautiful… mine…” he says, just as his fingers softly caress my naked center.
“Ohhhhh…” I succumb to his touch as he pushes my knees farther apart and teasingly touches me up and down my core.
“Oh, such a pretty pussy… It’s already wet for me…” His growl vibrates off my bare shoulder as his lips hit my neck, and I grip on to his thigh with one hand, the other probably leaving dents from my nails in the soft leather seat.
“Yeeeesss…” My back arches a little as he circles my clit, already throbbing, his hand now owning my pleasure.
I move my hand up his thigh, massaging his hardness, feeling his arousal through his pants. With his other hand, he swipes the strap from my shoulder, the front of my dress falling a little as he leans over, sucking on my bare nipple.
“Ohhhh… my… Donovan…” I pant, my body moving into the seat, grinding on his hand.
“That’s it, baby. Such a good girl.”
I swallow, barely, my mouth open and my eyes rolling into the back of my head as he slides a finger inside.
“Yes… yes…” I pant, my back arching a little more, him sucking and biting on my nipple.
I think I start to see stars. The privacy screen is fully in place, the windows black, but even if people could witness this, I wouldn’t notice.
I’m totally captivated by the man next to me.
The one working me over like he knows my body better than I do.
“Fuck… let go for me… Give me what I want, baby.” His hands move quicker as he pinches my nipple, and I let go.
“Yes… Dono—” I scream his name, his lips hitting mine at the last moment, keeping us quiet as I quiver and shake in his hold.
He pulls away a little, his forehead leaning against mine as I try to slow my breaths. Shit. I’ve never done anything like that before, and I was so in the moment I hadn’t realized we had stopped and arrived at the venue already.
“That was a first for me…” I whisper honestly as he pulls his fingers from my core, and with his eyes glued to mine, he lifts his hand and puts his finger in his mouth, sucking me from his skin.
“Sweet just like candy…” He leans forward, pecking me on the lips as he helps me fix my dress and my lipstick.
“Will you be okay?” My grin is cheeky as I see him shuffle a little in his seat.
“I might need a minute.”
I roll my lips, and he chuckles as he pours himself a whiskey.
This night is already off to a great start and a fantastic way to end our week here.
I owe a lot to this man. The confidence he gives me.
In work, in myself. I feel loved for the first time in forever, and it’s almost like it makes me bloom.
When I saw his hand today, knowing that he stood up for me, for himself, for us, it moved something inside of me. Like he fought the bully and won.
We are a force to be reckoned with.