Choice Matters (Southern Heat Book 1) (3 page)

“You…you condescending and arrogant son of a bitch!” I
blurted out before I knew what hit me. “No one speaks to me in that manner, not
even you, Mr. Choice.”

“
Apolo
, please, Caitlyn.” A deep
chuckle left the depths of his throat. Was he mocking me as well?

“And…and don’t use that word around me again. It’s
degrading!”

“What word?”

“You know exactly which word I’m talking about!”

He chuckled. “Why?”

“I just told you—it’s disgusting and degrading.”

“Ah, yes, but isn’t that what all animals do? Call it
mating, fucking, screwing. It’s all the same thing. It all boils down to making
ourselves feel good.”

“Or reproduce.”

“That, too, but with humans it’s more about the pleasure one
gets out of the act. For a man, it’s about getting a hard-on and slamming it
inside a woman’s cunt until he comes. Pleasure. For a woman, it’s all about
taking a man’s dick inside of her and getting the ultimate
satisfaction…pleasure.”

“Do you always look at sex so analytically?” I tried not to
squirm in my chair. His words, the very cadence of his silky, lustful voice had
me wet, and I’d be damned if I’d give him the satisfaction of knowing that his
little lecture had me turned on. Quite turned on.

“Always,” he replied, spearing a potato with his fork. “Now,
come on, eat up.”

Once again, we ate in relative silence. I tried my best to
not look at him, but found it extremely hard not to. The man was like a drug, a
dangerous drug. Finally finished, we moved to a small seating area. I chose the
chair rather than the sofa. I didn’t trust him…or was it me I didn’t trust?

He handed me a cup of steaming, hot coffee. I, in turn, set
it on the table next to me to cool, afraid I would spill it. Every time he got
too close, my body reacted almost violently.

Sitting on the sofa, he oozed with sex, but kept his head firmly
planted in business. “There’s a fundraiser tomorrow evening at seven o’clock.”

“What? I have nothing to wear, and why in god’s name would
you take me?”

“I’ll have my car come around to pick you up, say, around
ten tomorrow morning? That ought to give you plenty of time to find something
suitable to wear. And you’re going because you’ve been promoted, Ms. White.”

“But, but what if I don’t want the job?”

“Too late now. It’s done. The only way out is for you to
quit, and I know you won’t do that.”

“You pompous ass!” I stood up, intending to walk straight
out and back to my safe haven. But
Apolo
had it all
worked out.

“Yes, I am, thank you. You will find your office down the
hall. Renee will show you to it. As we were having lunch, all of your things
were moved upstairs.”

“I have no say in the matter?”

“Of course you do, Caitlyn. I would have expected you to be
grateful for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

“
Hmmmph
.”
I stormed towards the closed door, which was immediately opened by Renee, as
though on cue.

“Go ahead and take the afternoon off, Caitlyn. Go to a spa,
relax. Remember my driver, Jacob, will pick you up at ten sharp. He’ll take you
to Phipps Plaza or Neiman’s. Don’t worry about paying for anything, everything
will be taken care of. And Caitlyn?”

“What?” I fumed, turning around one last time. I immediately
melted at what I saw. He had removed his jacket and was rolling his sleeves up
his forearms. The damned sex god.

“Try not to go out and have too good a time this evening. We
have work to do tomorrow. I’ll see you then. I look forward to it.”

Renee led me to what was now my office. As I entered, I
noticed a small box on the desktop. Walking closer, I peered inside to find my
purse and all my personal effects from downstairs. Shaking my head, I sank into
the leather chair and drank it all in. This couldn’t be happening.

“Is there anything I can get you, Ms. White?”

“No, thanks though, Renee. I’m just going to put this stuff away
and then take Mr. Choice up on an afternoon off. I have the feeling there won’t
be many of them after today.”

I watched her walk through the door, pulling it shut behind
her. Still too stunned by what had just transpired, I sat, trying to gather my
thoughts.

Sitting up, I scooted the chair closer, grabbing the box and
setting it on the floor. I never had been one to have a lot of personal stuff
in my workspace. A photo of my dad, one of my mom, and another of
Izzie
and me on a cruise we had taken together the winter
before. Looking around, I made a mental note that this space was going to need
some T.L.C. For now, the credenza behind my desk would suffice.

As soon as everything was placed where I wanted it, I scrutinized
my new domain. I needed to see Chuck before I left for the day. Though Mr.
Choice may be a man who got his way, the way he had moved me was disrespectful
to my co-workers. Especially my partner, Chuck. Grabbing my purse off the desk,
I opened the door, deciding all this could wait until Monday.

“I’ll see you Monday, Renee. Have a good weekend.” I nodded
at the woman as I passed her desk. I assumed she was going to function as my
secretary as well. I couldn’t see where Renee would need help. She seemed quite
capable.

“Thank you. And Ms. White?”

“Please, call me Caitlyn, Renee.”

“I will, thank you. And congratulations on your promotion.”

“Thank you. I think.” I grinned at her and walked on toward
the elevator.

Punching the button for the car, I stood and waited. I dared
not look back. I was afraid
he
might
be there. Once it arrived, I stepped inside and punched the button for the acquisitions
floor. The ride down was a little too fast for me to collect my thoughts.
Getting off, I made my way to Chuck’s office and stuck my head inside the door.
He was sitting in front of his computer, fast at work on something.

Seeing me, he stood, a broad smile coming over his face. “Well
congratulations, Madam Vice President. You certainly made an impression on Mr.
Choice.”

“I don’t know what he sees in me, Chuck. And I’m sorry for
the way this came down. I had no idea he was going to have someone gather my
things like that.” There was no way I’d share the conversation that had
transpired over lunch. Not suitable for other people. Except
Izzie
. She’d get it.

“No problem. I guess once you accepted, he wanted to get you
into your new digs as soon as possible.”

“That’s just it, Chuck. He never offered me the position. He
merely told me he’d promoted me. There was no middle ground.”

“Sounds like
Apolo
Choice. Don’t
fret, Caitlyn, you’ll do fine. Just remember us little people down here in the
salt mines when you’re upstairs with the moguls.”

“I could never do that. Mergers and acquisitions is far too
important to Choice Enterprises.”

“Well, like I said, you’ll be fine. Katie said to tell you
she wants the scoop, lunch sometime, just the two of you?”

“Sounds like a plan, tell her we’re on as soon as I get
settled in. I guess I’m going to head out. I’ve got the afternoon off to goof around,
and I intend to do just that.”

Chuck came around his desk. He hugged me like you’d hug your
sister. “Congratulations again. You’ll be great, Caitlyn. Don’t ever doubt
yourself.”

“I won’t. I just need to get used to Mr. Choice and his
blunt method of speaking.”

“Go on. Get out of here before you have us both bawling.” I
looked up at him and noted that his eyes were moist. The two of us had been
through a lot over the past years. I wondered who would take my place as his
co-worker.

* * * *

Apolo

All I want is merely an assistant, with the title of
Executive Vice President attached to it. Someone who can take over and run
things when I’m out of town or occupied on complex projects. I had decided as
soon as I promoted Nick Jacobs and sent him to run the London branch that I
would promote someone from within.

The interviews have gone on now for a couple weeks. It
pleases me to no end to know the quality of people I have working at Choice
Enterprises. It’s going to be a lot harder to narrow my search down to one.

Jesus H. Christ, how could I have missed someone as
talented, and not to mention as beautiful, as Caitlyn White? Her personnel file
says she’s worked here for four years. Her latest position is co-manager of the
merger and acquisitions department. I have a vague recollection of seeing her at
a meeting there.

Damn! There would be no way a man could miss this redheaded,
green-eyed temptress. The lady had me as hard as granite the moment I laid eyes
on her photo. I’ve had Renee schedule an interview for me. I must meet this
woman. Trouble is, I’m already envisioning doing much more with Ms. White than having
a simple conversation.

I’ve never had time for a serious relationship. Not really.
Not since Delphinine, and she ran screaming away from me as fast as she could.
That was a long time ago, and I’ve learned since then not to get too close. But
Caitlyn? There’s something about her photo that brings long forgotten feelings
out of hiding.

Upon our first meeting, I knew the moment I swung my chair
around to face her that I wanted Caitlyn White in my life. My body hummed in
ways it hadn’t before when we shook hands. I had to sit back down so she didn’t
notice what she was doing to me.

Once she left my office and I had time to collect myself, I
buzzed in Renee. I had found my assistant. Caitlyn White would be my next
Executive Vice President. What I now needed to do was to put the wheels in
motion.

“Renee, I need for you to find out what Ms. White likes to
dine on. Discreetly, of course. Then, I want you to set up a lunchtime meeting
with her. Order the finest. We’ll eat in my office.”

“Of course, Mr. Choice. Anything else?”

“Yes. I’ve decided Ms. White is the one. I will need for you
to arrange to have her things moved up to her new office while we are having
lunch.”

Renee has been with me long enough that I don’t have to sit
down and explain a thing. I merely tell her what I want, and she sees that it’s
done. Or she does it on her own, without my asking.

Ah, Ms. White is going to be a formidable advisory. She is
also going to be more than worth the chase. She is quite feisty, opinionated,
and is certainly not afraid of speaking her mind with me. Something I find
highly refreshing, as most women simply agree with whatever I say.

I made it known that the job was hers. I also let her know
that I intended to have her in my bed. In spite of her protests of not sleeping
with co-workers or bosses, it was quite evident—the attraction between us is
mutual. I could tell she was as aroused as I was at the thought of the two of
us twisting the sheets.

That, however, won’t happen in the true sense of the word
for a while. I must take it slow with her, let her know I want her, lust after
her. Caitlyn White is not a woman I want to lose. I see her fulfilling much
more than my desire for a one-night stand.

Starting my company, and growing it to the size it is today,
was like an obsession to me. I had always had a plan, a roadmap if you will, of
what I intended to do with my life and career. I knew I did not want to work
for anyone else. Being my own boss, my successes and my failures were a driving
force.

I looked at some of my contemporaries—Bill Gates, Richard
Branson, Steve Jobs—some without a college education. I knew I was every bit as
smart and driven as any of them. If they could succeed and succeed so well,
then, dammit, so could I.

After my accident, I began to map out quietly what I wanted
to do, how I intended to go about making it successful and so on. Failure never
has been and never will be a word in my vocabulary. By the time I’d finished my
rehabilitation, my business plan was complete. I was ready to get started.

I could have gone to my father for some start-up capital,
but I didn’t. He would have gladly given me whatever I needed with his
blessing. Instead, I took my business plan in hand and began approaching
various banks and lending institutions. I was pleasantly surprised at how well
my ideas were received.

And so, at age twenty-six, I gave birth to Choice
Enterprises. With a lot of hard work, determination and good luck, I was a
billionaire by the time my thirtieth birthday rolled around. Not bad for a
young man who had been told he needed to face the cold, hard facts that his
life had changed and the best that could be expected would be, perhaps, a quiet
desk job in my father’s firm.

Chapter Two

Caitlyn

“He did what?” Isabel blurted out, half laughing, trying
desperately to hide her misstep. Lucky for her, she had her back turned to me,
pouring us each a glass of Cabernet.

“He promoted me to replace Nick Jacobs. What the hell is he
thinking,
Izzie
? I have no experience for that sort
of position, other than managing mergers and acquisitions. And did I mention he’s
a pompous, sexist ass?”

“Yes, you did, several times. If I were you, I’d sit back
and enjoy the ride. Do you know how many women would kill to be in your
position? A hot boss, a hot promotion, and the possibility of hot sex all
rolled into one?”

“That’s just it,
Izzie
. The man
thinks he controls everything around him, including me. His arrogance is
grounds enough to keep him out of my bed.”

“Ah, then you have considered ‘fucking’ him, as he so
eloquently refers to the act?”
Izzie
passed me some
wine across the small kitchen table we were seated at. “I believe I could get
over his arrogance and pompous ass attitude for a roll in the hay with such a hunk
of gorgeous.”