She rolls those magnetic, blue eyes of hers. “You’re really reaching, Alexander.”
I pound my fist on my desk, causing her to jump and release a tiny gasp. “It’s true, dammit.”
Her eyes search my face as she chews on that plump bottom lip of hers, and then she asks softly, “How is that possible? I thought your father left you this company?”
“He did, but there is a catch. A clause written in his will states the board has the power to overthrow my position as president if it is deemed that I was making reckless decisions in either my professional or private life,” I explain.
Her eyebrows draw in and there’s a flash of pity in her eyes. “Why would he do that?”
“Because I was only nineteen years old when he was diagnosed with cancer and that’s not exactly a mature age for a guy to run a Fortune 500 company without some protective measures in place.” I shrug. “I understand why he did it. Hell, I would do the same thing in order to protect the family empire and make sure it remained profitable. He was looking out for my sister, Diem, and me.”
Margo’s lips twist. “But you’re thirty years old now. Does that clause not have an expiration date?”
I nod. “It ends when I’m thirty-two. Father figured since that was the age he settled down, got married, and began building his empire that I should have my head on straight by then.” I lean in and set my elbows on my desk. “That’s why I need your cooperation. I need to convince the board that our marriage wasn’t some random drunken act so they don’t question my ability to run this company. I’ve worked my ass off since my father’s death to prove not only to the board, but also to myself, that I’m fit to fill Father’s shoes. I would want him to be proud of how well I’ve handled everything.”
Silence settles in the office. I’ve never really admitted to anyone why I’m so driven, but it feels good to say it out loud. I just hope that Margo understands why this means so much to me and agrees to help me out.
Finally, after she’s had time to process everything I’ve just told her, she launches into question mode. “So you’re saying that you want to stay married and that you want me to play along and make the world believe that we’re madly in love?”
“That’s exactly what I’m asking.”
Margo nods. “What’s in it for me?”
I flinch. “I thought I was pretty clear about how me staying in power benefits you.”
She shakes her head. “All you said was that if I wanted to save my father’s business, then I would need to help you. I’m just sitting here asking myself why I would want to do that. I know your main objective is to buy out my father’s entire company and then break it into pieces to sell off like it’s some worn-out toy at a flea market.”
I sigh, hating that what I’m about to propose goes against everything in me. “If you help me, then I promise that in return, I will not break apart your father’s company and sell it off in sections as I originally planned. Instead, King Corporation will become a financial partner with Buchanan Industries. And as a bonus, I’ll make sure Yamada Enterprises strikes up a deal with your father’s company directly.”
A wicked smile lights up Margo’s face as she stands up and sticks her hand out to me. “You’ve got yourself a deal, baby.”
Internally, I cringe, but I know I have to look at the bigger picture in this situation. Losing this deal with Buchanan Industries is going to hurt like a motherfucker, but losing control of my company will hurt a lot fucking worse.
I stand and then walk around the desk in order to take her hand in mine. Immediately, the warmth of her touch causes my heart to pound a little harder in my chest as my body craves to get my hands on more of her soft skin.
I lick my lips as my eyes flit down to her mouth. “I’ll expect you to be at my house, suitcase in hand, by seven sharp.”
“Excuse me?” Margo instantly attempts to pull away from my grasp, but I don’t let her go. “You didn’t say a thing about me living with you.”
I cock my right eyebrow as I stare down at her. “Married couples generally live together.”
“Yes, but typically those people like each other,” she growls as she pulls again to break free of me.
A smirk crosses my face. “Are you saying that you don’t like me?”
“I despise you,” she hisses.
Whenever Margo gets into bitch mode, it triggers something in me that’s so insanely attracted to her that I can barely contain myself. Before I even realize what I’m doing, I have her by the nape of the neck and am crushing my lips to hers.
At first her eyes widen, but she doesn’t fight me a bit. As a matter of fact, it seems to turn her on. Because the next thing I know, her hands are in my hair and our bodies are pressed so close I can feel the curve of her tits against my chest.
I spin Margo around and push her ass against my desk. A loud crash echoes through the room as I shove all the paperwork from my desk to the floor.
I grip her hips as she shoves my jacket off my shoulders. “I’ve thought about fucking you on this desk since the first time I saw you.” She moans into my mouth as I slide my hand between her thighs until my fingers trace the silky material of her panties. “I’ve missed the taste of this sweet pussy on my tongue. Just think about how fun this is going to be when we get to my apartment tonight.”
I’m unable to resist the urge to touch her. She tosses her head back, and I seize the opportunity to nip at her earlobe and inhale her sweet perfume. My cock jerks inside my slacks, and I want nothing more than to take her right here. Right now.
I shove the silk material of her panties out of the way and slide my index finger against her swollen clit. “Always so wet, Margo. I love that about you.”
With my free hand, I hitch her leg around my waist so I can spread her wide and work her into a frenzy.
“Oh, that’s it,” she moans as I continue my assault on her pussy. “Alexander . . .”
The way she says my name—all breathy while she’s on the verge of orgasm—nearly makes me come in my pants. This woman has no idea how much she turns me on.
“Come for me, Margo,” I order, needing to watch her as she lets go.
She lets out a cry that I’m sure the rest of the office would hear had she not buried her face into the crook of my neck. Her entire body shakes against me as I flick her click and she comes hard.
The heat of her breath warms the skin on my neck. Desperately needing my own release, I pull back and stare into her eyes. “Now, it’s time for you to get on your knees for me.”
As the words leave my mouth, a sharp pain slices through my bottom lip as Margo bites me just a little too hard. She shoves me away from her and then smacks me square in the face.
I rub my cheek, completely confused. “What the fuck was that for?”
Margo’s nostrils flare as she draws back to smack me again. This time, I catch her by the wrist before she can make contact with my face. “Stop it! Jesus!”
She yanks her arm out of my grasp and straightens her skirt. “I don’t like to be used. I thought I made it perfectly clear when we were in Vegas that I’m not going to be one of your hired hookers. If you think the deal we just made changes that, then you’re sorely mistaken. Married or not, I am not some little slut for you to use whenever you feel like it.”
She doesn’t give me a chance to say another word. She turns on her heel and storms out of my door, slamming it so hard in the process that one of the pictures falls off the wall.
I stand there with my mouth agape like a fucking idiot. For once in my life, I’m at a fucking loss for words. The thought of using her in that manner never crossed my mind, but now that she’s put it out there, having Margo Buchanan around as my live-in sex slave doesn’t sound so bad.