Acquired Asset Page 3

  “Because that’s what smart people do,” Christopher chimed in.

  I took a few hard steps toward him, and heard my dad’s chair scrape the floor before he grabbed my arm. “Why don’t we take a break? Everyone, let’s take ten.”

  They all got up and headed for the refreshments that were in the back of the room.

  My father waited until they were preoccupied to speak. “It wouldn’t hurt to look at the figures again.”

  “Christopher is doing this on purpose.”

  “We might have had our issues in the past; nevertheless, we are now on the same team. He is only looking at the bottom line.”

  “No Dad, Christopher is only looking to cause me trouble.”

  “There is no reason for that boy to personally come after you. Why don’t you take a moment and get some air to regroup your thoughts.”

  It was unseasonably warm, though the crisp breeze coming from Lake Michigan was welcoming. My skin was on fire with the rage I felt toward Christopher Colby, but I was actually more upset with myself for allowing him to get to me. I was usually a calm person and could hold my temper in any situation, yet being in his presence seemed to cause a lapse of judgment.

  The hairs on my exposed arms stood on end and it wasn’t from the breeze. It was as if I had some sick “Spidey sense” when it came to Christopher. The moment he stepped onto the balcony, I knew. “Leave me alone, Christopher.”

  “I was in need of some fresh air, and this looks big enough to share.”

  I said nothing in response.

  He leaned on the railing next to me. “Do you normally sulk when you don’t get your way?”

  Still, I said nothing.

  “You’re being childish.”

  I turned to the side and faced him. “Not speaking to you is being childish? Is there a law that states I have to talk to you? I told you I wanted to be left alone. Learn how to respect other people’s wishes.”

  He mirrored my position with that crooked grin on his face. “You’re upset over the Tokyo Seven.”

  “If I got upset every time someone disagreed with me, I would be dead. Yet, here I am.”

  “Quinn, you can’t hide the fact you were upset.”

  “You haven’t seen my ‘upset’ yet. It’s just a shame you would waste everyone’s time in order to get under me.”

  “There are other ways I can get under you.”

  “You’re embarrassing yourself, Colby. I won’t spread my legs for you, so you’re going to waste everyone’s valuable time and our money.”

  “You have it wrong. You have already spread those legs for me, and using more manpower to see if an investment is sound is worth it in my book.”

  “You know the figures add up. You’re only doing this because I won’t sleep with you!”

  “You honestly think it’s about you?” He moved in closer. “I have several pieces of ass ready and willing to be at my beck and call, sweetheart.”

  I wasn’t blind. The man was gorgeous on the outside. Inside, he was a puke filled, stinkhole, infested mess.

  I stepped in closer. Letting him get a good look at me, I rubbed my fingers back and forth over my collarbone. “That may be true . . . but you don’t have this piece of ass waiting for you, sweetheart.”

  I turned and walked away.

  “Why am I having marketing go over the reports again?” Mia groaned as she walked into my office with a pile of files.

  “Christopher Colby,” I answered.

  She set down the files on the corner of my desk. “What does Christopher have to do with this?”

  “He is challenging the project’s success.”

  “Everything lines up!”

  “We all know that. However, Dad is trying to be diplomatic.”

  She looked at me for a moment and smiled. “That’s why I love your father. He is the better man.”

  “Yeah, but the better man doesn’t always win.”

  “True, but at least he can sleep at night.” She gave me a stern look as she walked out of my office.

  Yeah, yeah.

  I couldn’t sleep, which was normal for me, so I decided to hit the hotel’s sundries store for something sweet. The store was located on the second floor and overlooked the hotel lobby, which was typically quiet at this hour. The bar and restaurant were also on the ground floor in the back corner, yet the music and voices that rose up sounded as if it was crowded.

  I grabbed a candy bar and headed back upstairs. As I waited, I heard an elevator alarm go off a few times signaling that one of the elevators had stopped, but then, nothing. When the elevator finally arrived and the door opened, I saw a couple making out in the corner.

  I took a quick peek at the floor numbers above the other elevators and all of them were already on high floors. I thought, “Why should I wait for another car?” They need to wait until they get to their room to have sex. I stepped in and the doors shut.

  That had to be the longest thirty seconds of my life.

  Stupid me, I was so into taking a bite of the delicious chocolate waiting to be eaten, I didn’t pay attention to the familiar mop of hair that had blonde Barbie pinned to the elevator wall. The pièce de résistance was the elevator was mirrored. Even though I faced the door, I had a front view of the scene behind me.

  Christopher had her pinned against the corner wall; one hand cupped her neck while the other brushed against her breast. It curved up, itching to touch it, as the defined lines of muscles demonstrated the strength of his hand. His mouth was opened wide as he leaned in and grabbed her bottom lip. She moaned out as he began to tease it with his tongue.

  Sadly, I couldn’t look away; but most importantly, I couldn’t stop looking at him. When our eyes finally met in the reflection, I saw a bit of surprise in them, a hedonistic gleam.

  I still couldn’t look away.

  As Christopher continued to kiss her, our eyes stayed locked. I could feel my skin getting red, and I wanted to yell at him for being such a damn jerkwad, though I couldn’t move. It was as if he had me in some hellish trance to torture me.

  I watched as his eyes perused my body, stopping at my breasts as they often did. My chest pounded, and I started to feel lightheaded. When I noticed his hand move inches from her nipple, everything in me wanted to pull him off her.

  I wasn’t sure what he saw in my eyes, but it was evident in his eyes that whatever he was trying to do he had succeeded.

  “Absolutely not! Christopher Colby does not need to go to Tokyo with me.”

  I sat, dumbfounded, in my dad’s suite while he continued to try to explain to me why Christopher would be coming to Japan.

  “Quinn, in order to get him onboard, it is a good idea for him to see the operations firsthand.”

  “That’s just it. We don’t need him onboard.”

  “We may have the majority of the Board willing to fund this project. Although, in order for it to be successful, everyone needs to be on the same page—and that includes the Colbys. Anyway, I think it would be a good idea for both you and Christopher to spend some time together, get to know one another. Maybe, if you two can improve your working relationship, everything else will follow.”

  “Ms. Cordell. Did you enjoy your stay?”

  I was looking over my final room bill at the front desk. “Yes, Henry. Thank you. You and your staff did a wonderful job. I am still getting emails regarding the service that was received during the re-grand opening.”

  He smiled proudly. “We’re excited about the new changes you and the Colby-Cordell group are implementing.”

  I folded the printout and placed my hand on top of his. “Make sure you mention that in the employee survey next month. We want to hear what you like, as well as what you might want to see in the future.”

  “I will, Ms. Cordell. Please, let me take your luggage.”

  Henry rushed from behind the front desk and started to pick up my carry-on.

  “That won’t be necessary,” Christopher said from behind us
. He snapped to the bellman. “Please take Ms. Cordell’s bags to my car.”

  “Excuse us, Henry.” I smiled at him, and waited for him to walk away, turning to Christopher. “That was rude! You need to respect our employees more. You would think that a Colby would have some manners, yet again we are talking about you.”

  Without answering me, Christopher took my arm and led me through the front door. The bellman opened the car door to the backseat, and I slammed my hand on top of the hood. “I am not getting in this car with you!”

  “We need to talk.” Christopher sounded annoyed.

  “I’ll take a cab!”

  “Get in the car, Quinn,” he said sternly.

  Normally, I would have walked away and straight to the next cab, though my body seemed to have its own agenda. I knew the moment I saw my chest heave, as a flood graced my expensive panties, I would not be winning this battle. I got into the car, and Christopher followed behind me.

  The driver took off, and I noticed the privacy partition was already up. I turned my body away from Christopher’s. “Now you’re in the business of kidnapping?”

  He chuckled. “You seemed to be a willing participant.”

  “What do you want?” In my peripheral vision, I saw him unbutton his sports coat, then placed his arm over the seat.

  “Did you like what you saw in the elevator last night, Quinn?”

  My heart sped up. “I’m not discussing your lack of decorum or PDA with you.”

  I felt the seat dent in as he slid closer to me. “Your eyes said otherwise. I would have never taken you for a voyeur.”

  “I’m not a voy—”

  When I swung my head to face him, he was closer than I thought. An overwhelming feeling of want and need coursed through my veins. Christopher’s eyes flickered to my lips as he moved closer. Growing desire for him to touch me intensified to the point where my chest hurt. I couldn’t breathe. I balled my hands into fists, trying to gain control, while chanting to myself to get a grip.

  When Christopher’s mouth began to open, I swallowed deeply, parched and needy. At that moment, my cell phone rang, and I thanked God above for the interruption.

  I pulled my cell out of my handbag and swung around to face the window again. “This is Quinn.”

  “Are you exercising?” Chloe asked.

  “What?”

  “You sound out of breath.” She laughed.

  “What do you want, Chloe?”

  “I just sent over the new marketing reports for your review.”

  “Thanks, I’ll look them over on the plane.”

  “Are you taking the Colbys’ plane?” she asked excitedly.

  “No, why?”

  “I hear it has a bed on it and gives the mile high club a run for its money.”

  “Is that so, and how would you know?”

  “I was at the bar last night with Mr. Colby’s girlfriend—I think.”

  “You think?”

  “She was talking about all the places they had been and what an incredible lover he is.”

  I paused, then huffed out, “Umm . . . why would she be telling you this?”

  “You know me. I sat down at the bar when he was leaving and I kind of said out loud how I wanted to hit that piece of ass.”

  It took some effort to keep my demeanor. “That—right there—is inappropriate. You know better, Chlo—”

  “Spare me the lecture. The man is a sex god, and don’t act like you don’t know it.”

  “For the record—” Hell! What could I say? “I need to go.”

  “Oh, okay. Have a safe trip, and if you get a chance to see that bedroom—”

  I hung up.

  She’d be fine. I was her boss.

  “You never answered me,” Christopher whispered.

  I closed my eyes. He even sounded like sex. Everything about the man was pure erotic.

  “Mr. Colby,” I said a bit too breathless.

  “Oh, I’m Mr. Colby now.” I could hear the humor in his voice.

  I opened my eyes, took a deep breath, and turned to face the demon head-on. “You will be Mr. Colby if you can’t handle maintaining a professional relationship with me.”

  “And, if I don’t want it to be?”

  All movement stopped. Literally, it felt as if the world had stopped spinning.

  I looked into his eyes, and for a split second, I thought I saw sincerity in them, but I was talking about Christopher Colby, so I knew that couldn’t be true. “Maybe you need to find employment elsewhere. I’m sure a man with your many talents won’t find it difficult to secure a new job.”

  It felt good to be back in my own home. It felt even better being in my own office. No Christopher Colby barging in whenever he wanted to annoy me. Everything was good in the world until I opened my email and saw that instant messaging was active.

  Are you thinking about me? Colby/Christopher

  An instant message appeared on the screen from Christopher Colby. I ignored it. Another message bubble popped up on the left-hand screen of my double monitor.

  Now, I know you’re thinking about me. Colby/Christopher

  I had to stop this, so I replied:

  If you need more things to do I will be happy to send reports for you to analyze. Cordell/Quinn

  You know I keep myself very busy. Colby/Christopher

  Obviously, not if he had time to annoy me. I continued to go over some charts until another bubble popped up.

  There’s a club in Tokyo we have to try when we are there. Colby/Christopher

  I am not going to a club with you! Cordell/Quinn

  Don’t you want to see how I move? Colby/Christopher

  No, thank you. I have already seen how you move. Cordell/Quinn

  That’s right! If memory serves me correctly, you liked the way I moved. Colby/Christopher

  I didn’t respond and ignored the other pings that continued to pop up.

  “Quinn, Christopher Colby is on the line for you,” Mia announced.

  “I’m in a meeting.”

  “He said you would say that.” She laughed.

  “Tell him I said I was in a meeting, and that I will call him back when he has actual business to discuss!”

  “Auntie Quinn is here!” Lissa yelled, as three girls came running into the foyer, grabbing my legs.

  “Did you bring us anything?” the two oldest asked.

  “Of course, look in my bag.” I dropped my handbag to the floor, and the girls started searching through it.

  Anna was eight, Becca was four, and Missy was two. My best friend since high school, Alissa Harper—Lissa—had been busy during her first few years of marriage. Actually, she started getting busy in her last year of high school. She and her high school sweetheart, Justin, conceived Anna on prom night at the ripe old age of eighteen. How typical was that? Football jock knocking up the Prom Queen.

  Lissa continued to college, finished her undergraduate degree in Economics, and received her Masters in Business, while Justin worked in construction. Lissa encouraged Justin to start his own construction company, which she now managed from their home so she could also be with the children.

  I never thought Lissa would be a stay-at-home mom. When we were younger, we would talk about jet setting across the world, making high dollar business deals, and spending a ton of money on ourselves. Now, she and her husband owned a lucrative company and she spent most of her days on the phone while changing dirty diapers—and she loved every minute of it.

  “Okay girls, go find Daddy. Auntie Quinn and I need to have grown-up talk.”

  The youngest two went straight to find Justin, while Anna lingered around to be nosy. I loved that girl. She was the spitting image of her mother and just as fiery. She was tall for her age. Her naturally curly hair had a touch of her mother’s blonde color in spiraled highlights. She had Alissa’s beautiful features, yet her father’s gorgeous brown skin. Becca and Missy looked more like their father. They had curly dark chocolate hair, with a touch
of golden highlights. Becca was short and chunky with her father’s deep dimples, and you wanted to squeeze her all day. Missy’s hair was coming in thicker; she had fat cheeks, and her daddy’s caramel coloring. All three girls had strong personalities, totally different from one another, and were cute as little buttons.

  “Anna, go with your sisters, you little nosy bee!”

  Lissa gave her a playful swat on her behind as she ran off, but not before grabbing a handful of candy from my bag.

  “Lissa, I really need to rethink the candy thing. I don’t want to be the little old maid that has candy in her purse for the youngins.”

  We walked into her kitchen. “Whatever. Red or white?”

  “What about vodka? I need something stronger.”

  “I was going to ask how work was, but now I know.”

  She walked over to the liquor cabinet in the kitchen while I planted myself down on a barstool. “What do you want in it?”

  “Cranberry juice, please.”

  She mixed the drink and placed it in front of me while pouring herself a glass of red wine. Lissa leaned on the island across from me, clinked our glasses, and I took a large gulp of the cold liquid.

  “What’s got your panties in a bunch, Cordell?”

  I looked at her through my glass. “The normal.”

  Placing her hands on her hips, she snorted. “Are you really going to lie to me?”

  “I’m not lying!”

  She narrowed her knowing eyes. “You are. What is it?”

  “It’s nothing. Only an ass I have to work with.”

  “Move him or fire him! Damn woman, do something other than look like this.” She waved her arms animatedly.

  I examined myself. “I don’t look bad!”

  “No. Although, the scowl on your face says differently. Who is this person?”

  I took another sip. “Christopher Colby.”

  She placed her glass down. “Did you just say, Christopher Colby?”

  I slumped over in resignation. “Yes. During the merger it was agreed upon that we would have two COO’s. Me and Christopher.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” she yelled.