Rockin' the Boss Read Free

    Chapter
Two

 
    “Ashleigh…” Max called out to me. He
must have noticed I seemed to be somewhere else. He appeared to be aware of the
attraction between the two of us and more than interested in pursuing it.
    “Yes, I’m sorry, what were you
saying? The idea of this venue has my head spinning with ideas.”
    “I was saying how I love your plane,
much nicer than flying commercial.” Max chuckled, his eyes dancing with
amusement as I looked at him out of the corner of my eye.
    “One of
the perks of having family money. The plane is part of my father’s
fleet. I simply lease one from him, let his firm worry about all the
maintenance and such, and I receive a bill once a month.”
    “So you were able to get in touch
with your girlfriend? We’re staying at her place?” I couldn’t
help but notice how he looked me up and down from where he sat.
    “Yes, she’s in Hong Kong and was
happy to accommodate. I think we’ll be able to move around much more discreetly
this way.” I glanced over at him and forced myself to look away as I shivered,
naughty thoughts filling my head at the idea of being alone together for an
extended period of time.
    Upon arrival, we took a taxi to our
home for the next few days. I immersed myself as I checked my iPhone for
messages. I turned toward Max and noticed out of the corner of my eye that he
was doing the same.
    “I imagine your girlfriends aren’t
happy when you leave town without them,” I prodded to get some sort of a rise
out of him.
    He grinned in my direction as he
glanced up from his cell. “I’m not involved with anyone, Ashleigh.” He was
still smiling as the cab stopped in front of our building. Holding the door
open, he extended his hand to assist me out.
    As we entered the apartment, I threw
my oversized, Louis Vuitton bag on a chair in the living room and walked toward
him. “Let
me show you to your room.” We walked down the hall, and I opened the door to
the guest room. “I hope this will be okay.”
    “It’s fine,” he replied. I caught
him eyeing the feminine decor. “I think I’ll freshen up after that long flight.”
    “Okay. I’m going to call the office
and check in.” I smiled and tried to walk away seductively.
    A short time later, Max reappeared,
clad in jeans and a T-shirt. Still wearing the clothes I had on when we left
Atlanta, I sat in front of the sliding glass door leading outside to a small
deck. I didn’t hear him as he entered, but detected the marriage of his
aftershave and cologne.
    “You decided not to change?” he
inquired, moving in my direction.
    The hairs on my arms stood on end at
his close proximity. “Oh, no, I guess I lost track of time.” I picked up a glass
of sparkling water garnished with a lime slice. “The fridge is stocked with
beer if you want one.”
    “Thanks, I think I will.” He turned
and walked back toward the kitchen. I couldn’t help but watch him as he sauntered
off.
    The ring of my phone interrupted the
personal fantasy I was having at that moment. I glanced down to see who was on the other end. “I need to take this. It’s Lisa.”
    He nodded and sat back in his chair,
beer in hand.
    Lisa was an energetic young gal I
brought in from the Hollywood office when Richard died. After he passed away, I
was completely blindsided by what transpired. Except for Max and a few other
clients, the majority jumped ship. Richard’s management style, or lack of it,
had all but run the company into the ground. No one wanted to work under me,
afraid of the untested widow. Within the first month, I had closed all the
agency offices except for Atlanta.
    I had needed to train an assistant
and thought Lisa would be a perfect match. She was part of the group I
assembled to oversee Max’s career and needs. Lisa, however, was quite smitten
with Mr. Frazier, a little too much for my comfort zone.
    “Ashleigh, where are you?” the young
woman asked, her voice as grating as her informality.
    “I’m in New England