Page 13 of The CEO

“I had someone who came by in the afternoons and some nights to help with the dogs, but she was recently fired.” His jaw ticked, and I had a feeling someone had done something to one of the dogs or him. I couldn’t tell what, but I knew he’d been wronged.

“Did you go on a firing spree recently?” First his secretary, then the people at Titan, and now the dog walker. I wasn’t surewhat to think. Maybe he went through employees like water and I shouldn’t expect to have my job for long.

His nostrils flared as he shouldered by me over to the dogs that were patiently waiting for him by the couch. “It seems I needed to clean house. There were a few people that needed to go.”

Okay, that didn’t help me feel secure, but I’d let it go for now. He wasn’t insinuating I would need to look for a new job anytime soon.

“I don’t know much about dogs.” Or anything really. “But don’t they need to go to the bathroom more than twice a day? Is someone else coming to let them out during the daytime?”

“Normally, yes, someone would come during the day to walk them. I hadn’t thought of that.” He said the last part as if he was saying it to himself. His eyes brightened as if he’d come up with the best solution. Maybe it wasn’t me. “You can work from home. I’ll email IT when I get in the car and tell them to meet you at your office. Someone will put a program on your laptop that will make it so you can work while you’re here. It’s simple. I have it on all my computers.”

He wanted me to work from home so I could take the dogs out? He either really loved these dogs or he was crazy.

“Is that all right with you, Ms. Wang? If there’s an emergency, you can always go in and handle it. Do half days or whatever’s easiest for you, but yes they need to be taken out around lunchtime.”

“Um… I guess I can do that.”

His phone buzzed from the pocket of his slacks. Kingston pulled it out and quickly put it back. “Good.” He nodded as he made his way over to the front door. “I’ve already taken them out for the morning so they should be good until lunch.” Picking up his briefcase from the side table and grabbing his suitcase, Kingston slowly looked me up and down. The only indicationhe liked what he saw was the darkening of his eyes. With one last look, he opened the door. “My contact information is in the folder if you have any questions.” He gave me one final look over. “Nice pajamas, Ms. Wang. I hope I get the pleasure of seeing you in them again.”

I stood there for a good solid minute unable to move after I watched him walk out the door. It should be illegal how good that man looked in a suit. Did he know how good his ass looked in those pants? I wanted to find his tailor and thank him for his outstanding work.

Finally, I looked down. I’d forgotten that I only had on a small pair of sleep shorts and a tank top that did nothing to hide my erect nipples. Why hadn’t I remembered what I was wearing and put on a robe or a sweatshirt before I came out?

CHAPTER EIGHT

kingston

I tappedmy finger on the conference table in an attempt to keep myself awake. My eyes struggled to stay open with each passing minute. Jet lag was real, and it was kicking my ass. I’d been going nonstop since I landed in London early this afternoon, and my day wasn’t going to stop anytime soon it seemed. Ms. Sinclair, a leggy brunette droned on and on about the financials for her company and why they’d started to lose money in the last two years. I couldn’t wait until she got to the part where she tried to convince me that Avery Capital Holdings could turn it all around for them if I invested in them. Sadly, it wouldn’t happen today.

Looking down at my phone to check the time, I noticed I had an email from Pria. The time read it was six in the evening in London so that made it one o’clock in New York. The email was time stamped an hour ago asking about a three-headed leash. I wasn’t sure if I should have been concerned by Pria’s question or laugh. Why had I thought she could possibly handle the terrible twosome and Jimmy? Sarah and Orvy would kick her ass while Jimmy would happily hump her leg into next week.

“It seems we’ve lost Mr. Avery. I’m sure he’s tired, so why don’t we pick this up tomorrow morning after we let our guest get some rest.” Ms. Sinclair smiled thinly at me. How long did she think she could hold my attention? They moved up this meeting by a week which had left me in desperate need to find someone to watch Orvy, Sarah, and Jimmy since I’d fired their previous dog walker. The agency had assured me that their customers’ privacy was of the utmost importance and I’d believed them until I came home early one night to find Karen in my bedroom, naked, on my bed and rolling around. I’m still not sure if she meant for me to find her like that or if it was a regular thing she did after walking the dogs. Either way, Karen had to go.

Pria needing a place to stay was perfect, or it was until I saw her in her barely there sleepwear. I guess it was a good thing I was five hours away, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to keep my hands to myself. It took all my control this morning not to strip her down and lick every inch of her smooth skin and pull her pebbled nipple between my lips. Instead, I left adjusting my cock before my driver thought I’d developed a crush.

Scooting my chair back, I stood to my full height and looked down at Ms. Sinclair. She was short but not nearly as short as Pria. Slowly her gaze traveled up my body until her eyes locked onto mine. She bit down on her bottom lip while batting her eyelashes at me and I wanted to roll my eyes. I’m not sure who told her that was the way to get a man interested in her because it did the opposite. At least for me. Throughout my life, I’d had women throw themselves at me for all the wrong reasons. For my looks or my money, but never for the man I was.

Did she really think I’d sleep with her just because she licked her lips and batted her eyes at me? I didn’t mix business with pleasure. I’d learned long ago from my buddy Ty the dangers of sex and relationships in the workplace. Not that there was anychance I’d fall for the woman in front of me devouring me with her eyes. Desperation did not suit her and I needed to get out of there before she opened her mouth and I had to turn her down. That would only make the rest of my trip unnecessarily awkward. For her. I didn’t give a shit. I was already counting the days until I could head home.

Putting on my fake smile and not giving a damn if she could tell or not, I picked my briefcase up from the floor and nodded to the room at large. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

The clicking of heels followed me out of the conference room. I ignored them as I leisurely walked in the direction of the elevators. I only hoped my jet lagged brain didn’t steer me wrong to end up cornered by Ms. Sinclair. I could smell her desperation all the way from here.

“Mr. Avery, do you need a recommendation for dinner?” When I didn’t stop or turn around, she kept going. “Or anything else?” Her voice went up on the last word. I wanted to turn around and ask her when prostitution became legal in England, but I refrained. See, I could be a good boy when it was required. But if she continued to try and get in my pants, I might have to rethink taking over the company. I didn’t want to have to avoid her every time I was here on business.

“Ms. Sinclair, thank you, but I’m quite familiar with London. I’ll see you in the morning to hear the rest of your riveting pitch.” My tone let her know I did not, in fact, find anything about what she’d said today intriguing.

Her bottom lip stuck out like a child. This time I didn’t bother holding back my eye roll.

“Very well. You have my number if you need it.”

I wouldn’t but I didn’t tell her that.

Reaching the elevator, I hit the button down and didn’t look back. Once inside, I pulled my phone out and started to compose a message to Pria. It was obvious she had no prior knowledge ofdogs, but I knew she’d try her damndest to stick by all the rules I’d left for her.

Instead of finishing my email, I decided it was probably best to talk to her in case she had any questions. Luckily, I’d had the forethought to put her contact information in my phone before I’d left town. My new secretary didn’t seem to appreciate having to give me Pria’s contact information. I’d seen her looking at me, but I didn’t think she was stupid enough to act on her attraction to me. Most women found me attractive. I knew I was good-looking, but they didn’t find my attitude toward them appealing and left me alone. Did she think if I had sex with her, I wouldn’t be an asshole to her? Maybe I should have my head of HR remind the employees at Avery Capital Holdings that there was a no fraternization policy and that if someone did sleep with someone else at the company they would both be fired.

Dialing Pria, I started to walk toward my hotel. I’d been cooped up too much today and since the weather wasn’t too bad, I decided to get some fresh air.

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