Beautifully Twisted (4 page)

“Thanks. It’s just a business dinner though.”

“Sure. Just the two of you then?”

Alexa flushes again. “Yes.”

“And what of our dear chap, Scotty?”

“Dinner with him tonight.”

“Whoa, you got ‘em coming out of the woodwork, don’t you? Out of the two of them, I would have hard time deciding who’s yummier. Scott is so edgy and commanding but Brett is handsome and charming. They’re both so different.”

You could say that again.

“Again, dinner with Brett is business. Dinner with Scotty is… closure.”

“Closure? The way he was looking at you didn’t look like he planned to end things. After the last time he was here, it seems there is still a bit of unfinished business between you.”

“I don’t care what he plans to do. I know what I want, and I want to be friends, colleagues, and nothing else.”

“You sure about that? You had a look too, just saying.”

Alexa feels her guard climbing back up. As much as she could use a girlfriend to talk this through with, she isn’t ready to explore her feelings for Scott. Not yet.

“Listen,” Alexa switches gears, “I need you to get the files ready for the Capital Associates. They’ll be here tomorrow to talk about their social media launch. Hold all my calls for the next two hours. I have a lot of work to catch up on.”

Martina knows the signal that they are done girl talking and resumes her professional duties. “Of course. I’ll bring your coffee?”

“Yes, please.” Sometimes Alexa thought Martina might know her better than she knows herself. “Martina?”

“Yes, boss?”

“Thank you.” Alexa hopes Martina knows that she means for everything.

“No problem, boss.”

Scott walks to the elevators with Brett and as they ride down, his thoughts focus only on Alexa. He can’t get over the look of hurt and anger in her eyes, yet he can tell there was still something in her that let him get close to her. He just wished he knew how to tell her what he was feeling and not just bully her into spending time with him.

He looks over at his friend and colleague, and knows Brett is interested in pursuing Alexa. Scott was going to do everything in his power to make sure Brett didn’t get close to his girl. Like it or not, Alexa belongs to Scott. He just has to figure out how to convince her.

Alexa looked down at the watch on her wrist, ten to five. She needed to ring for Oswald so she had enough time to prepare for her evening with Scott.

Today’s little scene in her office only assures her she is far from over Scott Patrick. She shakes her head slowly. All the strength she worked so hard to achieve went straight out the window the minute he walked in the room. Five minutes in his presence reduced her to the twenty-three year old virgin she was when she met him. She remembers the day she laid eyes on him like it was yesterday.

“Miss Drake? Mr. Patrick will see you now,” the receptionist says. My nerves are on fire. I’m interviewing with THE Scott Patrick, the 31-year old hotshot media guru currently controlling most of New York. I just hope I have what it takes to impress him. Rumor has it his last three assistants quit in less than a year, worn down from the pressure of working for such a demanding man. I walk slowly behind the frumpy woman, noticing how she doesn’t quite fit into the sleek, modern surroundings. She opens a large glass door and gestures for me to enter. I take a deep breath and step in.

Scott Patrick is standing, looking out over the city, a phone held to his ear. He speaks softly at first, then turns to face me. He motions for me to sit and I can barely command my legs to move. Not only is he incredible looking, his office is breathtaking with huge windows and amazing views of New York. Even though I bought a brand new suit for the occasion, I suddenly feel very out of place here.

“Wait for me in The Garden, Amanda. You know how I expect you so don’t disappoint me,” he says, his words demanding and sharp. He snaps his phone shut and smiles at me, causing something deep inside me to twitch.

“You must be Alexa Drake,” he says and extends his hand for me to shake.

I reach out to shake it and he holds my hand in his, just a moment too long. “Yes, I’m Alexa.”

“So,” he says, releasing my hand and sitting back in his large leather chair, “tell me why I should hire you. And don’t feed me all the bullshit canned responses. I want to hear what you can do for me and Patrick Collins Media.”

I jump in my skin just a little. I had read about how blunt he was, but it was something else to experience it. I knew I had to show him I was competent enough for the position.

“Well, Mr. Patrick, you should hire me because I’m willing to be whatever you need me to be. I am completely moldable. I am thirsty for knowledge, and starving for your expertise. I am willing to work as many hours as needed to gain the experience I want and need. I’ll do whatever you ask of me.”

He raises his eyebrows and smiles and I feel my knees literally shake. Did I say the right thing?

“Those are exceptional qualities to have, Miss Drake. Just the sort of thing I seek in an assistant. I will pay you well, but you will work hard. I’m demanding and I expect perfection. If you do as I say, you will be rewarded beyond your expectations.”

For a moment, I’m not sure he is only talking about the assistant position. He stands and my eyes follow him as walks behind my chair, saying nothing. The proximity of his presence is both distracting and alluring. I inhale softly to enjoy his masculine scent. I know exactly whose face I’ll be picturing tonight when I take care of myself. It might be dangerous to work for a man this fine.

“I like you, Alexa. There’s something about you–a quality that’s been missing in the applicants that have come in here. Tell me though, are you sure you are prepared to work for me? Maybe you haven’t heard what a demanding prick I can be.”

I decide I need to show him I can handle him. I stand and turn around so I can look him in the eyes. Even though he must be a half a foot taller than me, I stretch my neck up to meet the intense gaze of his black eyes.

“Mr. Patrick, I’ve heard of your reputation and it doesn’t scare me. I want to work for someone who knows exactly what they want. I am 100% prepared to fill your every need. Your complete satisfaction is my only goal.”

He smiles then and steps just a half inch closer to me, forcing me to hold my breath. I’m suddenly thankful there is a chair between us.

“I can see that,” he says. “You’ve got the job. I look forward to your training.” For just a second he seems like he is going to kiss me, which is, of course, a ridiculous thought. What would this incredible man want with me? Abruptly, he moves away from me and back behind his desk. “You’ll receive a call from human resources with your official offer and start date.” He looks up and smiles. “It was a pleasure, Miss Drake.”

“Thank you, Mr. Patrick,” I murmur as I show myself out of his office. Back on the sidewalk, I finally allow myself to breathe. I have a feeling I’m about to be in for quite the adventure.

Damn.
She knows she will fuck Scott tonight. Worse, she knows she will submit to him. Anything he wants, he can have.

Alexa picks up her phone to call for her car. Oswald won’t be expecting to pick her up sooner than five-thirty.

“Miss Drake, how can I help you?” Oswald answers.

“I need you to pick me up in ten minutes.”

“Oh, ten minutes?”

“Yes.” Hanging up before he can say another word, she starts to shut down her computer but notices another email from Scott.

“
Check your phone
,” it says.

She reaches into her handbag and pulls it out and reads his text.

SP: Don’t bother wearing panties, baby girl. You won’t need them.

She’s all at once thrilled and pissed off at his arrogance. Oh she’s going to wear panties, alright. She’s going to make him work for it. She’s going to try anyway.

Walking out of her office, Martina holds out Alexa’s coat and scarf. “Have fun tonight, Alexa. Just go with it. Maybe it will be fun.”

“We’ll see. Thanks for today. You did a really good job. Brett was very impressed.”

Martina’s face lights up. It isn’t often she gets a compliment from Alexa. “Thank you. See you tomorrow.”

Alexa nods and heads for the elevator. Everyone looks down at their work as she walks through.
It’s definitely lonely at the top.

Arriving in the lobby, she sees her car pull up. Oswald quickly steps out to open her door for her. His hair is a disheveled mess and he seems flustered.

“I hope I didn’t keep you waiting, Miss Drake.”

“Not at all. Did I interrupt your plans today?”

His face turns a crimson red. “No, ma’am. I was just, um, spending time with a friend.”

Alexa holds back a grin. “Hopefully, you can see her again soon.”

He smiles. “Yeah, I hope so. Home?”

“Yes, but I need you to wait for me. I need to be somewhere at six.”

“You’re going out?” He says it with such shock, it embarrasses them both.

“I am,” she says softly. “I’m seeing an old friend.”

From her tone, it certainly sounds like a man she’s going to see. Oswald is quite sure he’s never seen Alexa Drake go on a date. “Where I am taking you?”

“A place near Hyde Park.”

Oswald nods and starts to drive to her place as she pulls out her phone to respond to Scott’s text.

Alexa: I didn’t say I would sleep with you.

SP: Who said anything about sleep, baby girl
?

Alexa sighs and sits back in the seat. Before she came to London, she felt like she had such a perfect existence. She loved her job, was moving up, and spent her nights with the hottest man in New York. Scott’s presence in her life was comfortable, welcome, and just what she wanted. She thought they would be together forever until the day he unceremoniously dumped her. Since then, she tried so hard to erase him from her thoughts. Still, his face haunts her dreams; his touch lingers in her fantasies. Knowing she would be alone with him tonight was all at once exciting and terrifying. Would she ever be free of him?

“We’re here,” Oswald announces, pulling Alexa back from her thoughts.

Alexa steps out and heads up to her apartment building. The doorman opens the door, with a grin a mile wide on his face.

“Evening, Miss Drake. You have a delivery from Mr. Patrick.”

She looks over at the front desk to see a small box and a bouquet of lilies waiting for her.
Here he goes again with the lavish gifts and romantic gestures. Too bad they don’t mean a damn thing.

“Thank you, James.”

“Yes, ma’am. Would you like me to bring them up for you?”

“I can handle it, thank you anyway.” She gathers the gifts and waits for the elevator, noticing the heavy weight of the small box as she waits in the marble covered lobby. She can only wonder what is in it.

Once inside her apartment, Alexa sets the flowers down and opens the box. The contents cause her to laugh–a shiny pair of silver handcuffs.
Can’t accuse him of being subtle.
Her phone rings as if on cue.