Page 11 of Sweetest Temptation
Alright, Ms. Pierce. You got your little one-night win. But now that I know who you are, let’s see who plays who this time.
For the first time in a long time, I was intrigued. A buzz sounded from my desk intercom, breaking my focus and snapping me out of the moment.
“Mr. Carter.” Hailey, my secretary’s voice, came through, smooth and professional, “Your twelve o’clock appointment is here.”
“Send her in,” I said, straightening my tie even though I didn’t need to.
The door swung open, and in walked Zanova Pierce, looking finer than I remembered. For a split second, she froze. Her eyes widened, lips parted like she forgot how to breathe. I caught that shit, though. A slight smirk tugged at my mouth as she quickly recovered, smoothing her dress and putting on that fake professional smile like we hadn’t already crossed that line.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Carter,” she said, voice calm but not steady enough to fool me. “I’m Zanova Pierce, owner of Zanova’s Tasty Treats. Thank you for meeting with me today.”
I leaned back in my chair, fighting the smirk tugging at my lips. “Oh, the pleasure’s all mine, Ms. Pierce. Please… Have a seat.” I nodded to the chair in front of my desk.
She moved carefully, like every step was being measured, and sat across from me, crossing those thick thighs. Her hands folded neatly over the folder in her lap, but I could see the slight tremble in her fingers. I watched her as she talked business,pretending not to notice how her eyes avoided mine too long or how her breathing hitched every time I said her name.
“So…” I flipped through her photos, pretending to read but really just buying myself time. “Tell me something… What makes your idea so special? Everybody out here tryna mix liquor in their desserts like it’s somethin’ new.”
“I don’t do gimmicks, Mr. Carter. My desserts tell stories. They are bold, sexy, and have a flavor that stays on your mind. People don’t just eat them, theyfeelthem.”
The way her voice wrapped around that last two words had me thinking about shit that had nothing to do with desserts.
“You got some confidence in you, Ms. Pierce,” I said, smirking. “I like that.”
Hell, I like everything about you, I thought, but kept it to myself.
“Gotta be confident, Mr. Carter. Ain’t nobody ever handed me shit. I built Zanova’s Tasty Treats from scratch. Everything I got, I earned.”
That made me look at her differently. She wasn’t out here trying to impress anyone; she was trying to win.
“So you want exclusivity,” I said, leaning back in my chair, rubbing my beard. “That’s a big ask, ma. What’s Fuego Azul getting out of the deal?”
“It’sMs. Pierce,” she corrected me, and I smirked. “I’m offering visibility. My desserts are popular at private events, weddings… amongst other gatherings. People even order just because, even when there’s no celebration—my cakes are that good. But with your tequila, I can take my infused treats to the next level. We can create something memorable with branding that’s sensual, indulgent, and unforgettable. Create the kind of campaign that has people saying Fuego Azul isn’t just a drink… It’s an experience.”
I studied her across the desk. Most pitches were scripted, but Zanova felt lived-in. She wasn’t reading lines; she was speaking from conviction, and I fucked with that.
“Unforgettable,” I repeated. “That’s what you’re promising me, Ms. Pierce.” I licked my lips, as my eyes did a quick sweep over her body, stopping briefly at her breast that barely hid behind her silk blouse.
She cleared her throat, shifting in her seat, which caused me to grin at how I had her squirming. “That’s what I deliver, Mr. Carter.”
Silence stretched between us. I let my gaze linger on her longer than was wise. She didn’t flinch or even shrink. If anything, she leaned into it like she wanted me to know she wasn’t intimidated.
“So, these names you came up with for these desserts. How did they come about?”
Once again, she shifted in her seat. For the first time, I could see her nervousness. Her hands smoothed over her thighs, and she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
“Um… sex sells. Some say sweets are an aphrodisiac, so I wanted to play on that. Make the names catchy enough to stick, and a little provocative without being over the top, and people will eat it right up—figuratively and literally.” Her voice wavered at first, but then steadied as she spoke, like she was reminding herself she belonged here.
I caught that confidence sliding back into place, and it made me want to test her more. I leaned back in my chair, studying her, the edge of a smirk tugging at my lips. “Clever. You’re using temptation to sell temptation. I can dig that.”
She met my eyes again, this time with a spark of boldness. “Exactly. People don’t just buy cake, Mr. Carter?—”
“Samir,” I stated, cutting her off.
“Samir.Yes, they buy because of the way it makes them feel. I want every bite to taste like indulgence.”
That last word hit the space between us like a challenge. I shifted slightly in my seat, watching her lips wrap around the syllables, thick and full like they’d been carved to tease.
“Indulgence, huh? Sounds like you thought this through.”
