The Executive's Decision (29 page)

Zach watched her as he pleased her. It drove him mad to see the smoky change in her eyes as she gasped in pleasure.

Regan sucked in breaths, and her eyes softened in color. Then she reached for his shirt, releasing buttons as quickly as her fingers would allow while he slid his pants to the floor. She opened up to him, pulling him inside of her, urging him deeper.

He said softly as he rocked against her, “Tell me you love me.”

Her eyes fluttered up to look into his. “I love you.”

“I want to always please you, Regan. I love you.” He continued to push them both to where their bodies blended into one.

He felt the piercing of her fingernails in his back and her legs wrapping around him, pulling him tighter to her. He moved his mouth over hers, searching for the warmth of her tongue. She was moving with a rhythm that mimicked his. He felt his body tighten as she pulled him deeper.

He buried his face against her neck as he released, and she shuddered beneath him.

He wanted to take that moment and save it. He wanted to push away all plans, give her the ring he’d bought her, and convince her to marry him.

Instead, he lay there above her, catching his breath.

“I don’t ever want to move,” he said once he could speak.

“You’ll have to sooner or later.” She laughed huskily. “But for now, hold me tight.”

Zach slept for the first time in weeks. When he woke and the sun peeked through the curtains, he sighed. Regan lay beside him. Her white negligee lay discarded on the floor. Her hair fanned over her pillow, and her chest moved with the slow rhythm of her dream.

He touched her shoulder and ran his fingers slowly down her arm as he kissed the back of her neck.

She stirred, rolling slowly toward him. He pushed back her hair and gazed at her.

“God, you’re beautiful in the morning,” he said.

“You look like you finally slept.” She looked up at him, her eyes still hazy.

“Finally.” He kissed her gently. “I’m going to take a shower and then order us up some breakfast.” When she lazily closed her eyes and nodded, he added, “I’d enjoy someone washing my back if you’re up for it.”

“Ah, I think that’s something I could manage.”

When Regan emerged from the bedroom dressed in a new black suit and black sling-back pumps, she was ready for the meeting. She took in the view of the room and laughed aloud. She wasn’t sure what Zach had been thinking when he ordered breakfast.

There were plates of eggs and pastries. There were bowls of fruit and cereal. A pot of coffee and two different juices sat in the middle of the table.

Zach looked up from a piece of toast that he was picking apart. “I’m nervous.” He wore a custom-made dress shirt with his initials embroidered on the cuff in a deep blue, which made him look even more sophisticated.

Regan kissed him gently on the lips and brushed a crumb from his tie. “Zachary Benson, how many times have you gone to the table and signed contracts?” She tried to keep her calm for him, but inside her stomach fluttered like a jar full of butterflies fighting for their freedom.

“I know. It’s this investor. He’s…well, he’s a piece of work. I just don’t like the way he conducts business and the condescending way he treats his trophy wife.” He picked up his coffee and sipped. “If you don’t walk out of the room and quit today, I’ll be surprised.”

“Why would I do that?”

He set down his mug and pushed it back and forth across the table in front of him. “Because if you stay on as my assistant, you’ll have to become very involved with this man and his associates.”

“I’ll be fine and so will you.”

“When this meeting’s over, you and I are taking a long walk on the beach.”

“Now that sounds like a great idea.” Regan helped herself to a few bites of food from each plate. She too wasn’t very hungry. Seeing Zach’s reaction to meeting with the man made her nervous too. But she knew he’d be fine. He always was. Though he was worried, Zachary Benson was an exceptional businessman with an eye for detail and the skill to close any deal. Besides, she and John would be by his side. Nothing could go wrong.

The clock had ticked toward nine o’clock when there was a knock at the door. Regan stood from the table and answered it. John stood before her, smiling broadly. “Let’s make this happen!” He’d dressed casually for Tyler’s funeral; a dress shirt and a tie. But today he wore a suit with a jacket and a full Windsor knot in his tie. It was painfully obviously it wasn’t his preferred choice of clothing. She smiled as she watched him adjust his tie.

Regan grabbed her purse and bag full of notebooks and contracts. John started for the elevator, and Zach held the door until she had walked through. There were nervous smiles between them.

When the elevator door opened, Regan took one step inside, then she realized what she’d forgotten and her stomach dropped.

“I forgot the portfolio with the contracts.” She slipped her hand into the closing gap of the door. “I’ll get them and meet you downstairs in the business office.” She stepped out and smiled encouragingly at Zach as the door shut, closing her off from him.

Regan gathered the portfolio and one more sip of coffee before racing out the door. She pressed the button for the elevator and stepped in when it arrived.

She hoisted up her bag and the portfolio as the door opened. As she walked from the elevator and into the corridor, a man and a woman exited the other elevator. With her arms full and her bag slipping from her shoulder, Regan lost her balance. She bumped into the couple and dropped the bag and portfolio, scattering papers everywhere. Carlos’s joke of walking through the door and falling on her face ran through her head. Silently she cursed him as she began picking up papers.

“I’m sorry,” Regan said as the woman scurried to help her.

The man only stood looking down at them. “You are clumsy. Come on, Charity, we’re late,” he scolded as the woman rose.

Regan kept her head low. The voice. She knew that voice.

The butterflies that filled her stomach finally broke free from the jar, and now she could feel the shards of glass as they stabbed her from deep inside her. She cautiously looked up to see Alexander Hamilton and his trophy bride stride away. Her heart began to pound uncomfortably in her chest as she sat back on her heels. Instantly her palms grew damp and tears stung her eyes. Every fear she’d ever had surfaced, and her breath caught when she tried to form a plan that would get her out of the hotel.

Regan gathered the papers and ran toward the office. She burst through the door, causing John and Zach to jump from their chairs. She dropped the papers onto the table. Her breath was short and sweat beaded on the back of her neck.

Zach reached for her. “Sweetheart, what’s wrong?”

Regan’s entire body shook, and her heart was pounding so hard in her chest it was painful. Zach’s eyes scanned her but she couldn’t answer. She tried to suck in a breath and calm herself. She just had to get out of the room as calmly as she could, and it would all be okay. Alexander Hamilton didn’t have control over her—not anymore.

“Is this
your
assistant?” Alexander asked from across the room, tapping his pen on the table. “She’s a wreck. I don’t think we can…” When Regan lifted her head, he stopped. “Oh, God, Regan?”

Regan didn’t move and made sure to keep her eyes from looking right at him. She couldn’t. Every muscle in her body had frozen.

“Regan?” Alexander’s voice softened malevolently as he walked toward her.

She shifted her eyes to Zach, and he met her stare with confusion. She couldn’t do this. “Zach, I have to go.” Regan dropped her bags and the portfolio and swung her purse over her shoulder as she ran for the door.

Zach let the papers and the portfolio Regan had dropped fall to the floor. His investor had scared the hell out of Regan and was chasing her out the door, and Zack intended to put an end to whatever had frightened the woman he loved.

By the time Zach made it into the hallway, Hamilton had grabbed her by the arm. “Regan, don’t run from me.”

“Alexander, leave me alone.” Her words were short and sharp, but muffled under a blanket of fear that Zach didn’t understand.

“You’re alive.” He yanked her toward him. “Damn it, you’re alive.”

“Yes, I’m alive. No thanks to you!” Regan’s face had flushed red with anger.

Zach sprinted toward them with a need to pull her from the grasp of the lunatic that was holding her so tightly she couldn’t move. “Regan, what’s going on?”

Alexander Hamilton didn’t release his stare or his hand from Regan. “Mr. Benson, this has nothing to do with you. Please dismiss yourself.”

“Like hell it doesn’t.” Zach took another step, but Regan pulled herself up straight and glared at Hamilton.

She pulled against him. “Let me go. You have no right to hold me like this.”

“Where do you get off being alive?” he growled. “Your brother told me you died. You and that damn baby!” His words were bitter and hateful.

She wrenched her arm, unable to free herself from his cruel grasp. “Go to hell!”

“Regan, what is he talking about?” Zach inched closer. He wanted to grab the man and throw him against the wall and kill him for causing her pain, but the negotiator in him cautioned him to keep her safe. He noticed John behind him, and was silently thankful for the support. “Is this the man Curtis said put you in the hospital?”

“Zach, go in the office. Please…” She was sobbing now, and Alexander’s eyes grew angrier.

Zach had to keep calm. Had to know what was going on so he could make the right decisions. “Sweetheart, tell me…”

“Sweetheart?” Alexander shifted his eyes to Regan. “Stupid slut. Are you sleeping with your new boss?”

“This has nothing to do with you.” She sobbed harder, and he yanked her closer to him. Zach moved in, but John pulled him back.

Alexander’s jaw jutted up toward Zach. “Mr. Benson, this woman is nothing but trouble. You’d do yourself a favor by firing her right now.” Alexander’s voice didn’t sound the same, Zach realized. The man was almost inhuman with his commands.

“I don’t understand.” Zach made himself relax, then eased from John’s restraining grip. “Regan, tell me what’s going on.”

“Let me.” Alexander had both her arms pinned by his hands. His stare focused on her. “I’ve been under the impression for a year now that this bitch died. Her brother looked me in the eye and told me she and our baby died.”

“Baby, what baby?” Zach pleaded for her to talk to him. His stomach tightened, as did his throat. He didn’t know what was going on, but he knew Regan was suffering.

“Oh, God, Zach, go away.” She sucked in a breath. “Alexander, please…”

“Stupid bitch!” When his hand came up to strike her, Zach moved in. He was at the man, pushing him away from the woman he loved. His fists whaled on him, bloodying his lip and bruising his face as they fell to the floor, fists swinging. Too soon, John pulled Zach from Alexander. He saw Regan run down the hallway for the stairs.

“You son of a bitch!” Alexander managed to clamber to his knees while John held tight to Zach.

Charity Hamilton stood at the door, dainty mouth open, and watched her husband struggle to stand.

“I will press charges,” he growled.

“And I’ll have her counter them,” Zach threatened.

Alexander smiled as he wiped the blood from his lip. “She won’t. She’s afraid of me, and now she’ll be afraid of you.” He pulled his wife’s arm until she followed him. “I thought she was dead, Mr. Benson. Now that I know she’s not, I intend to find out where my bastard child is.” He started down the hall, and when Zach lunged toward him, John held tight to his arms. Hamilton turned back. “Oh, and Mr. Benson, I’m sure you can assume that our agreements and business arrangements are over.”