Page 37 of Texting the CEO's Obsession
Nick: I’ll add a zero to the check I wrote you if you shut the hell up.
The text flood stops immediately, with one final response coming in from him.
Thomas Vale: You’re a dick. I’ll make it happen.
What a good friend. Maybe I’ll add two zeros to that check.
After all, Riley’s worth it.
I push up from my desk and head over to my closet, stepping in to pick through my suits for something that will do for tonight. The mask I always wear to The Echelon is stiff black fabric with intricate silver stitching, handmade and custom fitted. I want to match with Riley, just a bit, so I decide on an all-black suit with a silky blue pocket square, leaving the first few buttons of my shirt undone to offer just a peek at my chest.
We’ll look stunning beside each other.
And she’ll look fuckingperfectbeneath me.
My heart beats wildly in my chest, a combination of excitement and arousal pumping through my veins as I walk back out of my closet to grab my phone.
Another text from Riley waits for me.
Riley: Am I really going to get to see you again?
A smirk tugs at my lips at the obvious hope in those words, but I decide to pocket my phone instead of answering her.
After all, she’s going to find out my plans for her soon enough.
No need to spoil the surprise completely.
CHAPTER 12
RILEY
My heart isliterallygoing to beat out of my chest before we even make it through the doors. He might be here tonight.Imight actually get to see him again.
Holy shit. This is happening.
The line to get in is moving far too fast; Taylor is chatting with the people in front of us like she’s known them for years despite having met them about five seconds ago. My mask feels too tight on my face. Leave it to Taylor to forget to tell me this was amasqueradecharity auction.
I guess these things never go out of style.
We make it to the front of the line, where a man with a sharp jaw, a wicked smirk, and buzzed hair greets us easily as he walks up to the bouncer checking people in.
“And here I thoughtIhad a chance to win best dressed,” the man says, playfully as he motions for Taylor to do a little twirl.
Taylor giggles, her cheeks going pink as she plays along. Her strappy red gown flares at the base as she twirls, showing off her curves and the flow of her honey-blonde hair.
“Red’s your color, doll. Stunning, both of you.”
“Flattery will get you everywhere,” Taylor says with a lascivious wink as she hands our tickets over. “I’m not sure if transfers are okay, but a friend of mine couldn’t make it, so she gave these to us.”
The man takes the tickets, double-checking something against the tablet resting on the desk in front of the bouncer.
“Normally I’d play by the rules, but your frienddidemail us, so as long as you two have your IDs, you’re good to go.” He flicks his tongue out to wet his lips as he smirks at Taylor. “Besides, I can’t say no to a face like that.”
I’ve never seen Taylor flustered when someone flirts with her before, but this guy seems to be ticking all her boxes. If I wasn’t so anxious about being here in the first place, I might enjoy watching her blush as we hand our IDs over to him.
He takes them and taps in our information before handing them back.
“Perfect,” he says, spinning the tablet around that’s attached to the podium so that we can scroll through the document. “Just some house rules and an explanation of the auction. Sign away your life at the bottom, if you please.”
