Tempted by the Boss (Tempted Series Book 1) Read Free

party.
    “You don’t mean that,” she said, slipping her feet into her
heels. “Plus, you wouldn’t have had a hotel to celebrate if I didn’t work this
week. Not one with lighting anyway.”
    “Give your parents my best.
    She nodded.
    “And if they need anything just-”
    “Thanks. I will.”
    I closed my eyes and listened as she walked down the stairs and
let herself out. Was she right? Was I incapable of love? I didn’t think so.
After all, I loved my job and every one of my hotels. I loved working out. I
loved sex. I loved eating in fine restaurants and traveling and jazz. And I
loved women. Generally, though. Not specifically.
    But Laura was right. I didn’t love her. I don’t know if I ever
did. Even before she fucked that Arab pool boy. Pathetic.
    I loved that she was smart. I loved her long legs and the fact
that she was absolutely cut throat at her job. But as a person I didn’t love
her any more than I loved calamari. I wouldn’t give calamari up for her or
anything.
    Was that love? Compromise? That’s what that psycho told us. That
I had a compromising problem. Even though no one compromised our marriage more
than she did with her pills and her pool boy. If I ever did love her, she had
beaten my love to death with drama and deceit.
    The only reason I still fucked her was because it was so easy
for both of us. She was good at it, and I didn’t have time for a relationship.
Not that I couldn’t make time if I wanted to. I could do whatever the fuck I
wanted whenever I wanted. And I could probably do whoever the fuck I wanted,
too.
    But I couldn’t remember the last time I met a woman that really
excited me. I met gorgeous women all the time in my line of work. Gorgeous rich
women and gorgeous working class women. But they were all so predictable, so
needy. I could imagine a whole shallow relationship with them in the time it
took to jack off to their memory. So I didn’t really see the point in putting
in the effort.
    Someday when my hotel empire was where I wanted it to be, I
would have more time to look for love. More time to compromise. After all, I
took care of myself. I still had my looks and my hair. I had plenty of time to
meet someone special. And when I did, I would make her mine and that would be
that.
    But at the moment I had more important things to do.
     
     
     

Chapter 3: Ella
     
     
    There was actually a red carpet when we showed up. It ran all
the way from the doors of the hotel to the curb.
    “Don’t just sit there.” My Mom nudged me from the other side of
the cab. “Get out already.”
    “Oh right. Sorry.” I thanked the driver and as I opened the door,
I realized that getting out of the car required all of my concentration. My
shoes were so high I’d avoided wearing them ever since I bought them, and I had
absolutely no faith in my new strapless bra. I pulled my dress up while my Mom
got out of the cab after me.
    “Don’t yank your dress like that.”
    “Leave me alone,” I said. “If I’m going to flash everyone, it’s
going to be at the end of the party.”
    She linked her arm in mine and we walked towards the door.
Between her bad hips and my proficiency in high heels, I was worried we might
never reach the entrance, but when we did, two doormen in immaculate suits
opened the double doors for us. As soon as we stepped inside, I felt warmed by
the champagne colored entry way. It was all I could do to keep my mouth shut
while I looked around. Right in front of us was the largest bouquet of flowers
I’d ever seen in my life. In fact, I don’t think bouquet is even the right
word. It was like a garden growing out of the middle of the table.
    “Look at that chandelier,” my Mom whispered to me as we followed
the people in front of us. “It’s bigger than my car.”
    She was right. The chandelier was not only bigger than her car,
it was prettier, too. And it didn’t look like any of its lights were out.
    I assumed we were going in the right direction because