Page 4 of Alex (Men of Forbidden Temptation #4)

ALEX

My bedroom door bangs open, jarring me out of the erotic dream I was enjoying.

“What the fuck?” I yell at whoever took me away from my fantasy.

Dad barges into my room with a scowl on his face. “Alex, it’s time for you to wake up and become a man.”

Ugh. Does he not care that I was sleeping? Does he have to do this right now?

“Dad, seriously, that happened ages ago, but thanks for your concern.”

I know where he is going with this lecture, but that’s the last thing I want to discuss right now.

Dad doesn’t take the joke too well.

His lips tighten into thin lines as his eyes narrow at me. The vein in his forehead bulges a little. He takes several deep breaths to calm his anger.

“What the fuck is wrong with you? You’re not a child anymore, so I will not let you party like you did in your teens. It’s time for you to get your act together and start earning your keep. Get dressed.”

He turns to walk away, but I jump out of bed. “What if I don’t want to take over your companies? What if I want to go on my own path and make a name for myself?”

He whirls around and shoots daggers my way. “Is that what you really want? You’ve never said anything before, so why now?”

Honestly, I don’t know what I want. I always assumed I’d be required to take over for him one day, so I never thought about my future.

He continues, “I don’t care what you do with your life. I just want you to do something besides throwing frivolous parties and sleeping the day away. It’s after lunch and you are still in bed.”

Is that what he thinks I do all day? I mean, it’s close to the truth, but in the past few months, I’ve been going to the office and making an appearance more, but that has to do with a certain curvy woman who haunts my dreams every night.

He runs his hand through his beard. “It’s my dream to pass all of this to you. I want you to attend the staff meetings and learn the ins and outs of the company. I want you to take over a few of the companies.”

This conversation should have happened years ago when I became an adult and graduated from high school or even college.

Why is it happening now? Did something happen yesterday at the office to light the fire inside of him?

“Only the legal ones. I don’t need to get caught up in any of your side deals or shady dealings.”

I have my own shit to worry about.

His tone is sharp, but there’s a glint in his eyes, like he’s proud of me. “I only have legal businesses.”

I know that’s a lie. I know he’s caught up with the local gang. Sure, he might not have a hand directly into the guns and drugs, but his side business does.

I don’t need my name attached to that business and their dealings, and I definitely don’t need the locals to hate me. I’ve worked too hard to make friends and associates with some of the more influential people in town.

“What about the escort service?”

Dad’s jaw ticks, but he keeps his demeanor. “Escorting is legal in all fifty states.”

I don’t know why I keep poking the sleeping bear. Maybe it’s because I’m tired of his holier than thou attitude, and I want him to know that I know more about his businesses than he thinks I do.

“Prostitution isn’t, though.”

He stands up taller and shakes his head. “What my clients do after the event is up to them. I arrange dinners, galas, and public appearances, not sex dates.”

I shrug. “Semantics.”

Dad lets out a low growl and leaves my bedroom. I guess he’s had enough of me and my questions, but he made sure I got the message loud and clear: I’m going to work with him more and learning how to run the business.

The ‘or else’ was also made clear, and I’m not stupid enough to find out what the ‘or else’ is.

I grab a crisp button-up shirt from my closet and a pair of slacks. If I’m going to play the part, I might as well look the part.

It doesn’t take me long to get dressed and head downstairs. Knowing Dad, he’s already impatiently waiting to see how long I take to get ready.

When I round the corner to head to the garage, I run into the maid.

“Oh, I’m so sorry.” She says quietly as she scrambles to pick up her things that fell to the ground.

Squatting, I help her gather up her belongings and apologize for running into her. “It was my fault. I’m sorry I didn’t see you there.”

I don’t know her name, but I know she started a week ago.

Dad let me know that we would have a new maid starting, but neglected to tell me her name.

She nods her head and scurries away like a scared mouse.

What did Dad tell her?

Why is she so shy and nervous?

I shake those questions away as I open the door to the garage. Just like I assumed, Dad is waiting in his car. He glances down at his watch before glancing back at me.

I dig my keys out of my pocket and unlock my car doors, deciding to drive separately and stop to pick up doughnuts for the staff.

Dad used to do this, but things changed after Mom left us. I think she was the one that always ordered food for the meetings.

The employees seemed to enjoy the food, and Dad didn’t mind the munching.

I park in front of the local bakery and run inside to pick up a dozen assorted doughnuts. The cashier, Kayla, smiles at me as I hand her my card to pay.

“Hey, Alex. It’s been a while.”

She’s not referring to how long it’s been since I’ve been in the bakery. I’ve never been here before. She’s referring to the last time I was in her bed.

“Yeah, it has.” I want to add that it won’t happen again, but someone is standing entirely too close to me right now, and I need to stay professional, especially since Dad wants me to take over.

Her grin widens as she hands my card back with the receipt. “I hope to see you again soon.”

“I’m sure someone else will buy doughnuts from now on. My responsibilities and goals have changed.”

Both in the bedroom and in public. I have the company’s reputation to think about now.

Her smile disappears, but I pick up my box of doughnuts and walk out the door to my car. I have a meeting to get to .

Luckily, with us living in a small town, everything in town is close by, so it only takes me a few minutes to get to the office.

The building isn’t as modern as the company. There aren’t floor to ceiling windows like the office building in the city has.

This one is a small, two-story brick building with an elevator that feels like a metal coffin. I always take the stairs because it’s quicker and probably safer.

Downstairs has cubicles for most of the employees, while upstairs is my dad’s office, the conference room, and a couple of other offices, including mine.

Several employees look my way and gasp as I walk towards the stairs. I guess Daddy-dearest didn’t let them know I was coming in today.

I don’t care how they feel about me or what they say behind my back. Right now, there’s only one face I want to see.

And I see it as soon as I get to the top of the stairs.

She’s staring at her computer screen. Her eyebrows are furrowed and her bottom lip is pulled between her teeth.

Since she’s not looking my way, I sneak along the wall until I am right behind her. Looking over her shoulder, I watch her highlight the boxes around several days on the paper calendar that’s on the desk in front of her.

I take a deep breath, inhaling her pomegranate aroma before whispering, “What’s so special about those days?”

She lets out a yelp as she stands and spins around. “Ah!”

Her eyes narrow as the shock wears off and her expression returns to normal. She glances towards Dad’s office before whispering, “What the hell, Alex? Are you trying to give me a heart attack?”

“Not at all because then Dad will make me do your job, and I know that will only end in disaster.”

She eyes the box of doughnuts. “Are those for the meeting?”

I nod. “I’ll put them on the table and meet you in there.”

“You’ll be waiting for a while. The meeting isn’t supposed to start for another hour.”

“Well, I’ll just put them on the table and hang out for a while.”

As I walk past her, my arm brushes against hers and my gaze wanders over her delectable curves.

She waits until I am a few steps away before sitting back down in her chair.

I place the box of doughnuts on the long table before returning to the doorway to watch Elise.

She lets out a loud sigh and leans her head against her desk. Her long blonde hair covers the side of her face, blocking my view of her.

I’ve met her a few times since the night of the bonfire. The surprise of finding out that she was my dad’s assistant wore off after the second meeting.

Although, I’m surprised she’s still here. Dad goes through assistants as fast as he goes through maids, and we’re on our third one for the month.

But there’s something about Elise that draws me in. I wonder if she drew Dad in, too. It wouldn’t be the first time he was attracted to his assistant, but the thought of him wanting Elise the same way I do makes my hands ball into tight fists.

She’s mine.

Well, not yet, but she will be if I get my way.

She’s much shorter than the last couple of assistants and has long blonde hair that compliments her fair skin and crystal blue eyes, whereas Dad’s past assistants have been tall brunettes.

Just like Mom.

Maybe that’s why he chose Elise. She’s nothing like Mom. She’s a breath of fresh air. A force to be reckoned with, like a tiny tornado.

I don’t know if she remembers the night on the beach, but it’s constantly on replay in my mind.

Her curves cause my dick to rise as I remember the way she leaned her head back and screamed my name as her walls tightened around me. I remember the way her eyes bored into mine as she begged for another orgasm.

Like my dream this morning, I gave her everything she wished for and more. My only regret was not finding out her name before she left because it took me three months to see her again.

But she was already Dad’s assistant, and she didn’t acknowledge me or the night we spent together. She seemed content to keep that night on the beach in the past and keep our meeting a secret.

I might just have to stick around the office more if she’s going to be here because I want a do over and a repeat of that night.

Dad walks out of his office as voices drift up the stairs. “Are you ready for the meeting?”

“Yeah, can’t wait.”

He raises an eyebrow at me but doesn’t voice his opinion. He walks past me, and I follow him to my seat.

Elise slips into her seat and keeps her eyes on her folder as Dad gets his slides set up. No one uses slides anymore, but he loves them. I think they are a waste of time.

Everything that is important to the meeting is already printed out in the packets that are in the folders. He should just stick to either the slides or the packets.

When everyone is sitting in their seats, Dad clears his throat and starts the meeting.

“Thank you all for getting here on time. As you all are aware, this acquisition is top priority for the company and for that reason, my son, Alex, will be here to help however he can, as well as give us his thoughts on the matter over the next several months.”

I mentally roll my eyes. I smile and nod because I need to play the part of the successful businessman’s son, but I know my opinions don’t really matter, and everyone knows that .

This is all just a show and I’m the show pony.

Elise’s gaze meets mine, and for a second, I see a genuine smile on her face, like she’s excited at the thought of me being at the office more.

My dick hardens as I stare at her. I have to discreetly adjust myself under the table to keep my dick from trying to break through the zipper on my pants.

If I get to see Elise every day, I’ll be here bright and early, but I can’t and won’t forget about the night we were together.