Falling for the CEO

DANIELLE

I slam the office door behind me, trying to calm my lurching stomach and treacherous heart.

What is it about exes?

There are the ones you see that make you cringe.

The ones you see and smirk at the memories, but you’re glad you’re over that shit, and then there are the bastards.

The ones that screwed you over, ruining you for everyone else.

The latter is Blake fucking James.

I cross my office in four strides; it’s tiny, but I need air. Pushing open the window, I suck in the stale air that wafts in, scrunching my eyes shut.

It’s pointless doing this, but something has to stop the memories from replaying in my mind.

Why does your brain always insist on bringing the nicest ones first?

Remember how he gave you butterflies? How his wink sent shivers down your spine?

How about the way you felt when his lips brushed against yours?

Better yet, can you remember how it felt when he told you he’d never seen anyone as beautiful as you?

I remember all of it.

“Let me kiss you, Danni, before I do it regardless.”

“I’m not sure—”

His hand spans my back, pressing my pelvis against his, his other hand lacing with mine as he pushes me against the wall.

His eyes burn into mine, his head dipping toward me as I try not to melt like putty in his arms. His lips capture mine and a moan leaves my mouth, causing him to smirk against me.

The kiss that follows leaves me breathless, his effortless expertise sending desire shooting into my core.

This shouldn’t feel so good.

“I want to kiss you all day,” I murmur, closing my eyes as I reach for him.

“Then do it.”

A knock on the door jolts me from the past, and I whirl to see the bastard himself gazing at me from the doorway.

He’s got that amused expression on his face, but the look in his eyes shows something else.

Something I don’t recognize.

“Danni.”

Fuck, how dare he say my name like it’s audible gold? His gravelly voice conjures up images of sweaty bodies fucking for hours, tongues on hot skin, and ripped clothes.

“Danielle,” I snap back, sitting down before he gets the chance to notice my trembling legs.

“Fancy you working here.” Blake grins, his eyes skimming the room.

I’d recently put my awards up, proud of them in their shiny silver frames, boasting my sales achievements.

Blake suppresses a yawn, and I wonder how anyone can look hot yawning.

He’s the sort of guy that doesn’t know the meaning of ugly crying.

“What do you want?” I ask crisply, opening my laptop.

I stare at the screen, praying there’s something important there—but other than my research into retail and internet merging strategies, which I’d already read, there’s nothing.

I clear my browser and search for travel industry news.

“Ouch. Well, my dad wants to make sure we get along. He’s asked me to come and make sure, so…” he shrugs, his hair not moving an inch. “Here I am.”

I stare at him over my screen, ignoring the way my stomach releases the butterflies like they’re the fireworks for New Year fucking Day.

He’s older, but he’s not only aging well; he’s looking better than he ever has. His skin is flawless, not a blemish or dimple in sight. His eyes can strip you out of your clothes with a mere glance, while his jawline could cut glass.

Stubble is sprinkled on his face, and I hate how manly it makes him look.

It’s clear he works out, but I tear my eyes away before his ego comes out to play.

The last thing I need is Blake James on my case.

“We’re fine, providing you keep out of my way.”

Tap, tap.

My fingers swipe over the screen, clicking on news story after news story, anything to make me appear busier than I am.

“Fine.” Blake huffs, backing out of my office. “Some things never change.”

I gasp, ready to blow him away with my last-minute retorts, but he’s gone, walking across the office and out of my sight.

I sink back into my chair, and I go to the company’s intranet on my laptop.

Licking my lips, I click the “About us” section, scrolling past a beaming photo of Alec James to find my ex-boyfriend staring back at me with pensive blue eyes.

I grit my teeth, read about how he’s destined to run this company when his dad leaves, and vow I’ll be gone long before that.

I dream of starting my own travel business from home, but I need more business experience before that happens.

Hence this job.

I’d already learned so much since working with Alec in such a short space of time.

Today is day nine.

I throw myself back into work, shutting down the image of Blake.

I don’t need to look at him to remember what he looks like.

His image is burned into my retina.

***

Throughout the day, I liaise with the internet team before heading onto a conference call with the regional retail managers.

I deliver my news about the internet customers driving more business through their doors but prepare myself for their protests.

Retail and the internet are two very different entities, despite being in the same company.

Retail is united like a family, ferocious and ready to fight to the bitter end. They’re the ones that face the customers daily and take a majority of the shit, truth be told.

Date changes, hotel closures, building works, a floating turd in the pool; you name it, these guys deliver the news.

With a smile.

They’re screamed at, sobbed at, and even in one retail store, the target of a flying telephone.

It’s not easy being an agent, but even more so a travel agent.

“I understand your concerns.”

Silence.

Fuck.

“But just think of the opportunities available to you.” I switch the phone to speakerphone, leaning back in my chair.

Alec sits opposite me, nodding encouragingly.

My mouth takes over, and I’m gushing about what this could mean in revenue for the stores.

If I’m honest, the stores will die with the golden oldies, and only the really anxious among us will book their vacations in stores anymore.

Until they see how easy it is and how everyone they know has booked online and managed to secure a deal.

This is a way of letting retail bow out gracefully.

The conference call runs without hiccups, and when I end it, Alec claps.

I look up at him in awe until he shakes a finger at me.

“You’re awesome. You could convince a bear to hand over its cub.”

I blush, biting my lip to prevent myself from squealing.

Alec thinks I’m awesome?

I’m a little dazed, but I’m buzzing. This was what I needed to do; become successful, learn what works and what doesn’t, and start at the bottom to bring my own company to fruition.

Alec and I discuss the meeting some more, and then he gets to his feet.

“I’m seriously impressed. You handled that very well indeed. Don’t forget the party is tonight. Eight o’clock sharp in the Downtown Hotel.”

I manage to hold a smile in place while I frantically rack my brains.

Party?

“It’s just a get-together for the visitors. It would be good for you to mingle, though, and meet new people.”

I hesitate, looking up at him through lowered lashes.

“Will you be there, Alec?”

Alec nods.

“Of course. I’m not too old, am I?”

His eyes twinkle with amusement, and I chuckle.

“Not at all!” I can’t help but wonder if I must attend.

“I can see you going places, Danielle. You’ve got a great head on your shoulders,” Alec continues.

I puff my chest out with pride, beaming at him as he leaves my office.

“You’ll do well.”

BLAKE

I couldn’t take my eyes off Danielle all fucking evening.

It’s not for lack of trying either.

She has this way of commanding my attention, and right now, she’s with my fucking friend, Isaac. I can see he’s interested in her from all the way over here, but who wouldn’t be interested in Danielle?

I tear my jealous eyes away, reminding myself that Danielle is not a one-night kind of girl, and I’m not the settling type of guy.

Fuck no.

Some guy named Braxon is chewing my ear off while the girl from the agency, Keeley, is giving me fuck-me eyes from beside the bar.

“The thing is, if you lower your prices, people assume they’re not paying for quality; look at my villa.”

I tune out, not giving a rat’s ass about Braxon’s villa.

I try to look interested, nodding in the right places while shooting the tits-and-teeth girl a reassuring look.

She hovers near the toilets, and I know it’s my cue.

“I need the little boys’ room; give me a second, would you?”

I shoot Braxon a dazzling smile, making a beeline for the ladies’ toilets.

I can’t wait to have those big, bouncy tits in my hands.

“Oh, hey! I was just explaining to Via our vision for the brochures next year,” Kiera gushes, waving a hand at the pale blonde beside her.

“Uh-huh. Be right back.”

Finally, I make it to the toilets, checking no one watches me enter.

Keeley is waiting coyly by a cubicle door, and I can’t help but wonder how many times she’s done this.

Probably not as many as me.

Keeley’s eyes light up when I enter the small space, and she drags me into the bathroom by my shirt.

She kisses me roughly on the mouth, her fingers tugging at my belt, gasping as she claws at my zipper.

“All right, babe, give me a—Jesus!”

Keeley has my dick out in seconds, pumping it with all her might as she latches onto my mouth. My fingers stroke her tits, and she moans into my mouth.

I feel myself harden and reach into my suit jacket for a condom.

Whipping her around, I throw her dress up around her waist, positioning her ass cheeks perfectly around my sheathed dick.

“Ready?” I whisper, lining it up perfectly with her dripping slit.

“Yes!” Keeley gasps, arching her back and widening the gap between her thighs. “Please, oh my god!”

I roll my eyes at her mouth running away with itself, and I enter her roughly, disappointed by how ready she is for me.

Still, she’s hot, so I make hay while the sun shines, fingers digging into her ass as I pump her repeatedly, my eyes staring through the crack in the door to see women checking their reflections in the mirror.

“He must’ve gone to see his father.”

Pump, pump.

Hand around Keeley’s mouth as she comes around me, trying to call out my name.

I tug her upright, wrestling her neck to my lips as I fuck her, kissing her, so she doesn’t lose the plot.

“Argh…”

I’m nowhere near.

“Yes!” Keeley wails, causing the sink-side conversation to end abruptly.

I blast her until I feel my orgasm build, and I fuck her like a rag doll against the wall, emptying my load into the rubber between us.

I sort myself out, tying a knot in the condom before throwing it away.

“That was so good!” Keeley breathes, kissing me hard on the mouth. “I’ll go first, and you go after.”

I nod, glad she’s taking the easy way out.

I clean myself up and tug open the door to find the restroom empty.

Where is everyone?

I splash my face with water, staring at my reflection.

“Come the fuck on, Blake,” I mutter, inhaling deeply.

“Blake!”

I recognize my mother’s screams from the function room, and bile rises in my throat.

My mother is anything but dramatic.

When I borrowed Dad’s brand-new Porsche at the tender age of eighteen, I ended up in a minor collision on the boulevard. Dad flipped, and Mom was somehow able to soothe him long enough for me to stay with a friend for a few days.

She’s always the calm one in every situation, so for her to scream like this means something terrible is happening.

Leaving my cuffs undone, I run to the sound of my mother’s heart shattering into a million pieces.

The room is a myriad of faces, their once unique features now united in horror.

What the fuck is happening?