Chapter 15 - Henry Jr.
Chapter fifteen
Staring out my office window, I watch as the sun rises, bringing life to the city below.
I’ve always marveled at the chaos that ensues on the streets.
The lives of people from every walk of life weave together to become one beating heart.
When I’m out there, minding my own business amid the chaos, I never take heed of the people around me, but from above, I notice every interaction.
It’s the only place you’ll see a homeless person, a hustling street vendor, a gossiping socialite, and an average middle-class worker all in one block.
Middle-class workers like Blanche Bedford, the enchantress who has bewildered me, mind and soul.
The secretary with perfect posture and decorum, who speaks fluent French, who used all the correct goddamn forks.
I haven’t been able to stop my imagination from thinking of what life would be like if she were by my side.
I’ve already decided I’m getting that woman pregnant regardless, but thoughts of our children running around in the privacy of her secret residence have shifted to them at my side in public, sporting my last name.
Thoughts of their mother on my arm, her womb full yet again.
I have yet to fight the fantasy of my brilliant girl giving me business advice while I rub her aching feet.
And I damn sure haven’t been able to stop thinking about all the more salacious activities the two of us could get up to.
The truth is, she’s unlike any woman I’ve ever known before.
And she had the audacity to say she went to school with women even more ruthless than her.
There’s no fucking way. The only place that could produce such a woman is Themyscira, if she’s Diana Prince herself.
I’ve clearly underestimated her, and I won’t do it again.
I need to figure out where Blanche Bedford came from…
“Henry? I would’ve knocked, but the door was open and…”
The moment her angelic voice hits my ears, I’m out of my seat, striding toward her and pulling her against me, cutting her off with my lips on hers. It’s as if I can finally breathe again with her in my arms, so I hold her with all my might as our kiss deepens.
It’s only been a day since we parted ways, but I felt every minute of her absence.
I suppose I might have to lock her in my basement after all.
That way, I can be sure to get my hit of her on the weekends, since I technically see her every day at work.
God, if I could live inside her kiss, I would, but to my dismay, she pulls away from me, her brow resting on mine.
“Henry, I didn’t know if you would want to continue being as…open with things now that we’re back in the office,” she says breathlessly.
“No offense, darling, but you’re not the first employee I’ve fucked. I never cared about keeping them hidden, and I’m damn sure not concerned about people seeing you on my arm or my cock. The people in the office know to keep their mouths shut.”
Pulling back, I see uncertainty painted on Blanche’s perfect face. I lead her toward my desk and pick her up so that she’s sitting on the edge. “Don’t worry, nobody here is going to think any less of you.”
“And your father? Is he going to buy our ruse if he gets word that the two of us are…romantic?”
“Oh, Blanche, my dear.” Cupping her chin, I gently trace my thumb across her lower lip while I lift her gaze to mine. “What you and I are going to get into has absolutely nothing to do with romance.”
My feisty girl tries and fails to hide her smirk as she levels me with her siren eyes. “Henry, seriously, after what we pulled with the McDaniel family, you don’t think he’s going to have something to say?”
“You let me handle my father,” I say, hoping my forced smile is convincing enough to fool this brilliant bombshell.
I’m leaning down to take her mouth again, but I straighten immediately when the voice that haunts my nightmares fills the room. “Hello, son. Did I hear you say something about your father?”
“Speak of the devil,” I mumble under my breath as he immediately moves to the beauty sitting on my desk.
“You must be the new secretary I’ve been hearing so much about.
It’s Blanche, right?” He shakes her hand like the gentleman he is not, giving her the soft eyes he’s spent his life perfecting in order to fool everyone he meets.
“Why, you’re a pretty little thing. I can see why my son has taken a liking to you, sweetheart.
I hear I owe you a thank you for helping the Sinclair company finally land the deal with the McDaniels.
And also an apology for having to act as the beloved of my lecherous offspring. ”
To no one’s surprise, Blanche handles herself flawlessly, accepting his counterfeit sincerity with her own faux benevolence.
She’s both powerful and meek as she recounts the events of our night with the McDaniel family.
She’s able to indulge my father’s narcissism while also managing to take up her own space in a room next to a titan.
“Well, thank you, darling, from the bottom of my heart, for all you did to help.” Father takes her hand in his once more and kisses her knuckles, flashing her a kind smile. “Now, if you don’t mind, my son and I have some business to take care of.”
“Oh, of course, sir.” Blanche gracefully stands from her seat on the desk, beaming up at my father before turning her attention to me. “If you need anything, just let me know.”
The door has hardly closed before the brute force of my father’s hand strikes my cheek. “You son of a bitch. How dare you walk into one of the most important meetings this company has ever had with a secretary tramp on your goddamn arm? Do you even understand what you’ve done, boy?”
Checking my face for blood, I look up to stare directly into my abuser’s eyes, like he’s taught me my whole life. “What I did was secure a partnership you have been trying and failing to secure for years. Father.”
A series of sucker punches to my gut breaks my gaze as I fold over in an attempt to protect myself.
“No, you idiot boy. What you’ve done is start a rumor that you have a girlfriend.
One so serious you’re already thinking of engagement.
You know goddamn well that gossip spreads like wildfire in our circles.
By the time it gets to Dmitri, you’ll already be picking out linens and naming your second child. Good god, you’re pathetic.”
Father reaches down, grabbing my collar and pulling me back to a standing position from where I’m still hunched over.
“Now you listen, and you listen good. I’ve already spoken to the Taranovs and explained that your little tryst was just for a business deal.
I suggested we go ahead and move up the engagement.
I’m not going to have some succubus fool you into straying from our mission. ”
“She’s just an employee I’m fucking around with.
You know I like to play with my secretaries.
The only reason I brought her to that dinner was because one of their fucking spies saw me carrying her to my room.
I’ll admit that I was caught with my pants down, and she really did save our asses.
But she’s just a plaything. Nothing more. ”
“Well, regardless, get rid of her. She can continue to work here for a while to avoid the hell of a battle with HR, but find another fuck toy. Your engagement announcement with the Taranov girl will be in two weeks.”
“Two weeks? That’s…that’s absurd! What about the McDaniels? How are they going to react when I’m engaged to Natalya only two weeks after charming them with Blanche?”
“The takeover will be closed by the end of this week. Their signature is final. I couldn’t give a rat's ass what they think after that contract is signed. But hear me when I say nothing, and I mean nothing, will get in the way of your engagement. I swear to you, if you mess this deal up, I’ll divorce your mother, find another bitch, and put another heir into her. Do I make myself clear?”
A lifetime of training, and I still can’t make myself look him in the eyes any longer. Hanging my head, I accept my fate. “Yes, sir.”
Father’s maniacal laugh makes me shiver as he jerks my head back up to meet his gaze, squeezing my jaw hard enough that I know I’ll have bruises as he assesses me. “God, you’re pathetic, boy.”
With one last shove, he turns and leaves the room, slamming my office door behind him. I hear him schmoozing with the employees, but I can barely make out what he’s saying as my mind spirals. Two fucking weeks. I was supposed to have at least another year.
And Blanche? It’s a miracle he didn’t make me fire her on the spot.
He’s wrong to think there’s more between us, though.
It’s just the possession I feel over a good pussy.
The best pussy I’ve ever had. That’s all it is.
But how can I pull myself to stop seeing her?
I’ll share her, sure, but the thought of not having her at all is unbearable.
She may just be a fuck toy, but she’s my toy.
She’s mine.