Against the Rules by Ella Goode Page 0,3
or eleven. I huff out a small, chagrined laugh and make my way to the bathroom.
A quick shower and shave later and I’m ready for my butler slash houseman slash savior of my home life, Timothy.
“You must have a good takeover planned,” he comments as he folds a square of silk into my breast pocket.
“Why do you say that?” I ask. “The blue tie was a good choice with the suit,” I add.
“Thank you and I make mention because you were whistling. You do not whistle unless you’re about to make an acquisition. Is it the sporting goods company?”
“Damn, Timothy, can’t a man whistle for the hell of whistling?”
He doesn’t give me a reply but instead brushes some imaginary lint off my chest and steps away. “Will you be eating at home tonight or out?”
A brief vision of a pink pussy dangling above my face flashes in front of me. “Hopefully eating at home, Timothy, but I’ll take care of it myself,” I add hastily as he was about to make a note to have the chef prepare something. Tim’s idea of a good dinner tonight is probably steak. I’m hoping for something sweeter.
On the way to my office, I check out my face in the rearview mirror. My cheek still stings but I’m not certain if it’s the memory of getting slapped or if she actually bruised me. I’m hoping it’s the first one because otherwise her little hand has to hurt. First thing on my agenda is to get the guest list, find out her name, and send her a little care package. Jewelry always soothed all my mother’s pains so second item on my agenda will be to call Tiffany’s. Something gold and sparkly should help ease the pain in her hand.
The head admin, Monica, greets me at the elevator.
“You’re in a good mood,” she observes. “Your meeting with Rydell must’ve gone well. Are we taking over the sporting goods company?” she asks as the car rises swiftly.
“Am I whistling again?”
“Humming, actually. It’s the hum you give off when a deal is imminent.”
“I didn’t realize I had a tell.”
“Not during the negotiations,” she assures me. “Only after.”
“That’s only slightly reassuring.” The doors open and I step off. Monica hurries to keep up.
“No one who isn’t close to you would know this. It’s not like you hum loudly. So are we? Taking over the company?”
My phone rings before I can answer. It’s Rydell. “Are you calling to tell me my portfolio has crashed or doubled?”
“Neither. I hear you’re in a good mood today. Decided on buying into that fund I recommended last night?”
“You know why I’m in a good mood and it has nothing to do with the fund.”
“She slapped you. Twice.”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”
“I didn’t know you were into that kind of thing.”
“We learn new things about ourselves daily. And, yes, buy into the fund.”
“Will do and try not to get yourself slapped again.”
“I can’t make any promises.”
I hang up and turn to my assistant. “The party last night—I need the names of everyone in attendance. Also, get a personal jeweler from Tiffany’s on the phone. I have a purchase to make.”
She jots everything down and doesn’t ask any unnecessary questions. Monica’s a good assistant.
“You have a new employee meet and greet,” she says as we walk into the outer sanctum leading into my office. There are twelve employees lined up. We go down the row of the new hires, all decked out in varying shades of dark blue and black. I shake hands and welcome them to our company, making an effort to remember everyone’s name by repeating them in my head. I have a good handle on it until the end when my last new hire sends all my thoughts to the wind.
My prey from last night stands in front of me with her hair tied back and her curves hidden under a suit that makes her look like a gray rectangle. Her eyes are shielded by a pair of thick glasses in some kind of low-rent Clark Kent disguise.
“Lucia—“ Monica starts to say.
“Sanchez,” I finish.
Lucia’s complexion is unnaturally pale and her hand is cold when I take it in mine. Her eyes are glued to the floor and I have a feeling she wishes the ground would open up and swallow her. As for me, I must have done a very good deed in the past to be rewarded like this.
I turn to Monica. “Cancel the first agenda item and