The Chauffeur Read online

  “If SpiritCAD isn’t going to cooperate, then I need to go to plan B, all right?”

  “Yes, Jason. I’ll call you with an answer before you leave the office today,” he says before hanging up.

  I can’t believe how cunning and conniving Kate is. I pick up my desk phone and push the button.

  “Dad, can I come down and talk to you?”

  “Sure, I’ll be here.” I start to make my way to his office but run into April in the hall.

  “Hey you,” I say leaning in, inhaling her scent.

  “Hi. I was just on my way down to the dining room for a coffee, care to join me?”

  “Sure, let me check out with Sue first.” After I ask Sue to let my dad know I’m going for coffee with April and will stop by his office in about twenty minutes, April and I head upstairs to the dining room.

  Since the morning breakfast rush is over, and it’s too early for a lunch crowd, the room is relatively empty. We select a table for two at a window that offers one of the best views of the city. The server knows us well and walks up to our table with our coffees already in hand.

  “Thanks, Jimmy,” April says, giving him a smile.

  “I found the truck driver. You were right—he told me exactly what happened.” I share the conversation I had with Jed Raymond with her and her eyes get huge.

  “So, someone was waiting to intercept the truck. They had to have known it was coming that day. You have a mole, Jason.”

  The devastation of that realization hits me hard. I’ve had deep suspicions, but hearing it out loud makes it more a reality.

  ‘Mole.'

  Someone’s leaking information. Suddenly, everyone becomes suspect. I shake that ridiculousness out of my head and remove everyone on that suspect list and start over, leaving off the obvious.

  “Who would do this to us? Everyone has been with Rowe Holdings for years. There are a handful of new hires at the plant, but they don’t have access to sensitive information.” I pull my cell out of my pocket and call Farmer.

  “Mr. Rowe?”

  “Farmer, I suspect someone on the inside’s leaking information about this project to Kathryn. I need you to find out if there is anyone at Rowe or SpiritCAD who could have been bought.”

  “We’re already on it. Somebody knew the delivery was going to be made that day. I’ll let you know as soon as I hear something.” He hangs up, and I turn back toward April.

  “He thought the same thing as you. I sit back down across from her. “Why didn’t I figure that out?” I wonder out loud, sitting back down across from her.

  “You can’t think of everything, Jason. You have a lot on your plate right now. It would have come to you,” she assures me, taking my hand. It calms me, and I turn my hand over to feel the softness of her in my palm.

  I continue to stare into her huge eyes as I stroke the top of her hand with my thumb.

  “I want you,” I whisper, doing everything in my power to stay rooted in my seat.

  “Me too,” she whispers back, squeezing my hand. It’s music to my ears.

  “I need to get back and have a talk with my father about all of this.”

  As we walk out of the dining room, side by side, staring at each other, I spy a dark office down the hall. Without notice or warning, I grab her hand and pull us inside, shutting the door.

  In seconds, my mouth claims hers, and the heat and passion take us over. We continue our attack of each other’s mouths that has her pushed up against the closed door. All that’s audible is the heavy, exaggerated breathing through our noses as our mouths clash. When she sighs, I feel her hot breath and can’t take it anymore.

  “April,” I whisper just before her hands remove themselves from my hair and travel down to my belt buckle.

  Oh, thank fuck.

  It’s seconds before the weight of the belt drops my pants around my ankles. Like lightning, I lift her skirt, pick her up by her thighs, and wrap her toned legs around me. I release a primal growl, enjoying the sensation of her holding on to me like this. She whimpers between our kisses when I move aside the delicate fabric that’s barely covering her wet flesh. I thrust into her out of pure need and chills of pleasure cover my body when she takes a shuddering breath. Moving slowly at first, I growl against her neck when she tilts her hips so that I can enter her as deeply as possible.

  “I want you so fucking bad, baby.” I pull her down over the length of me. “You feel so damn good. I’ve thought of nothing else but being inside you.” I anchor her against the wall and hold her legs open around my hips while I pump into her.

  “Jason,” she whispers into the curve of my neck. I feel her quickening around me, and I know she’s going to come and I want to watch. Raising my head from her shoulder, I press her tighter against the wall and grasp her jaw in my hand, holding her face steady so that I can see her.

  “Mother … fucking Christ, April,” I hiss between clenched teeth, giving her everything I have and taking what she offers. “Look at me, baby.”

  I have one hand under her ass, feeling my cock slide into her.

  “Oh, yes, just like that,” she cries, looking into my eyes, fucking my cock hard.

  “So fucking good.” I thrust into her one last time and empty myself until I can’t support us any longer and fall to my knees with her legs still locked around me. She continues to grind her hips up and down my still-rigid cock.

  My needy little girl.

  “That’s it, fuck me, baby,” I growl, feeling her tighten around me once more.

  “Come on, one more.” I drop my head onto her shoulder and start thrusting into her as she circles her hips over my fingers. I quiet her screams with my mouth, and her body shudders as she comes hard and passionately.

  Wrapping my arms around her, I hold her to me, rocking us as if we’re dancing. I want to say something to express what I’m feeling inside, but I don’t. It’s too soon. I just want to hold us like this for a bit longer.

  “Jason, that was, just—”

  “Fucking perfect … and dangerous.” She nods against my shoulder.

  We remain as we are, gathering our wits, but unfortunately, real life comes drifting back into our senses.

  “We’ve got to get out of here.” April unwinds herself from around me. Her limbs are stiff as I try to help her get her balance. As soon as I stand, I find some tissues to clean us up, and we move as quickly as we can, laughing at what we’ve just done. Once again, this ranks among the hottest sexual experiences I’ve ever had. As soon as we dress, we sneak out. Like a silly cartoon character, I peek my head out the door, looking both ways and pull us into the hall.

  After I take one more look over my shoulder, I know we’re busted. I thought we got away with some of the hottest office supply room wall sex I’ve ever had only to see Robin walking our way.

  She picks up her pace and as she stalks toward us, her eyes never leaving April.

  “I hope this isn’t perceived as sexual harassment,” she says as a dig, “but you know I’m going to have to report you for fucking the hired help, right?” Oddly, though, she continues to stare at April.

  “And what makes you think that, Robin?” April asks.

  “Because I can smell it on you, you idiot,” Robin replies curtly, then turns and heads down the hallway, no doubt to tattle to my mother.

  “Come on, April. We might as well face the firing squad.”

  “Jason, no. Please, no,” she says in a panic.

  I smile down into her beautiful eyes and still-flushed cheeks, and there’s fear and impending doom written all over her face.

  “Come on, it’ll be all right,” I say next to her ear.

  As soon as we turn the corner to enter my mother’s office, I stop and look at her.

  “You look beautiful and freshly fucked, baby,” I whisper in her ear and nibble on the salty skin of her neck. Her already rosy cheeks turn even pinker.

  Just as we enter Mother’s office, Robin is frantic, pretending she’s offended.


  “What were they doing exactly?” my mother asks.

  “Well, I don’t know, but I can tell they just had a tryst,” she says, the forced tears beginning to fall.

  “Hello, Mother,” I say, announcing our appearance. I grin that April has glued herself to my back, hiding.

  “Robin, now that the two accused are here, you should make your allegations known to them.” I look over at Robin, and that’s when my father walks in, snacking on a candy bar.

  “What’s going on? I can hear you from across the hall.”

  “Oh, God,” April moans from behind me, grasping the material of my shirt and hiding her face in it.

  “I … I caught these two coming out of an empty office,” Robin accuses, pointing her finger at us.

  “Oh, my god. Is this true, Jason?” my father gasps. I reach behind me, taking April’s hand. “Tell me you two didn’t just walk out of an empty office.”

  I can feel April’s body tremble in laughter behind me.

  “Yes, Father. April and I walked out of an empty office. Together.”

  We all stop and look at Robin. Except for April, of course. She now has her two fists filled with my shirt and her face buried in between them.

  “Well, it’s clear what they were doing in there,” Robin shrieks. “You know what? This is useless. It's pointless for anyone in this company to issue a formal complaint against a Rowe.” Robin spews her venom, crossing her arms over her chest.

  “And how is it clear to you, Robin? Let’s get this out in the open. First, what do you suspect?” My father, the interrogator.

  “It’s clear to me they were having sex.”

  “And how is that clear to you?” my father demands.

  My mother stands so quickly, her chair slides and hits the wall behind her. She picks up her phone and asks whomever she’s called to come to her office.

  “Is it the same way you suspect my husband and I whenever we’re in my office or his with the door closed?” my mother asks, walking around her desk to stand in front of Robin.

  “I smelled it on her,” she shrieks, pointing her finger at April.

  “Oh, god, she didn’t just say that,” April squeaks out behind me.

  “Robin, honey,” my mother begins in the tone that frightens anyone in the Rowe family, “when you can come up clean, then you can point fingers. I never accused you of having a tryst when you had the three guys on the third floor. Or the two from accounting. I didn’t say anything when I heard you masturbating in the ladies’ room. And I certainly didn’t say anything when you reeked of rank sex. I simply used air freshener.”

  I quickly turn and gather April in my arms to keep both of us from exploding into laughter.

  “But the difference between you and me is that I have enough class not to bring that to anyone’s attention. You are a jealous little thing, aren’t you? You’ve wanted Jason for a long time now, and when he thwarted your advances, you became angry and spiteful. Then, when you saw him with April, you became vindictive. Well, the cat’s out of the bag now, Robin. Jason and April are in a relationship. I know it, and Carl knows it, and your petty jealousies will get you nowhere.”

  We all look toward the door when Security knocks.

  “Mr. Jacobs, Robin has been relieved of her duties. Please assist her as she collects her personal belongings?”

  “Yes, Mrs. Rowe.”

  “Make sure she leaves behind anything that is the property of Rowe Holdings. Robin? You’re fired.”

  “What? You can’t do that!”

  “I just did.”

  “You protect each other very well,” she cries as she’s escorted out of mother’s office.

  After the excitement dies down, I notice April is still cowering behind me. I pull her around to my side.

  “April,” my mother says, walking up to her, “don’t be embarrassed, dear. I’m happy you and Jason are expressing affection with each other.”

  I look down at her and can’t say as I’ve ever seen that shade of red on anyone’s face before now.

  “I won’t tell you how many times or places Carl and I have done that here in this building.”

  Building?

  I look over at Dad, and he’s grinning, nodding in agreement.

  “And I certainly won’t tell you how many times we’ve done it on Jason’s desk.”

  “MOM!”

  Chapter 13

  ~April~

  I can’t believe Grace fired Robin in front of us, and the look Robin gives me is creepy, to say the least. That’s when Jason tucks me under his protective arm.

  “Shit,” Grace curses to herself.

  “What is it darling?” Carl asks, wrapping his arm around Grace.

  “Now I’m without an assistant, and I have so much coming up on my calendar. You know how I hate to interview.” Exasperated, she drops into her seat.

  “Mrs. Rowe, I have an idea, if you’re open to it.” I step out from Jason’s side to walk up to Grace’s desk.

  “I’m open to anything if it will prevent me from interviewing and training,” she says in a tone that reeks of weariness.

  “Emily is available.”

  “Kyle’s Emily?”

  “Yes. She’s one of the most organized people I know. She’s one of those who knows what you need before you realize you need it.”

  “Isn’t she already employed?”

  “She’s actively looking for another job and would be perfect for you. You’ve met her, so you know she’s a powerhouse of energy,” I continue, “It’s only a suggestion for your immediate problem.”

  “What an excellent idea. I so abhor interviewing. That’s why I have Kyle do it for us,” Grace says, picking up her phone to call him.

  “April,” Jason says behind me. “I’m sorry. I always seem to be putting you in these precarious situations. This is entirely my fault. You handled it very well, and I’m proud of you.” He runs his fingers up and down my arms sending my skin into a fit of goosebumps.

  “No worries. It’s over, but did you see the creepy look Robin gave me?”

  “I know. I think, with everything else going on, we’ve acquired a new enemy. One that’s probably already consorting with Kate.” Out of nowhere, he abruptly pushes me to the side, stepping around me.

  “Mom, what’s this about you, Dad and my desk? Please tell me you were only joking! I eat there sometimes!” I’m not the only one in the room that starts laughing.

  “Oh, Jason, grow up. Don’t tell me you’ve never thought about doing it on my mine,” she says as she rummages through her papers.

  “No! Never, Mom!” he barks, pulling his phone out of his pocket and starts dialing.

  “Sue, I want you to get me a new desk. The same size but a different style. I don’t even want the same color!” he demands before slipping his phone back into his pocket.

  “That’s a little over the top, isn’t it, son?” Carl steps in to say.

  “No! Fuck, Dad. That’s just—just—fucking wrong!” He hurries out of his mother’s office, and I can’t help but laugh at the way he’s behaving. But, in his defense, that’s just … eew.

  “I’ll be in my office if you need me for anything. I hope it works out with Emily, Mrs. Rowe. You won’t be disappointed.”

  I stop by Jason’s office to make sure he’s not setting fire to his desk, and when I find him sitting at his conference table regarding it, I can’t help laughing.

  “Hey, Sue. You might get a request for an entire office set up. He’s looking at his conference table like he might not want it anymore.”

  “What the hell happened?” she asks.

  “I’ll let him explain it.” As I head toward my office, I hear my cell phone vibrating on the table. I make a mad dash and lunge for it before the caller hangs up.

  “April Sanders,” I say a little too loudly. I’m expecting a call regarding the grant I’m applying for, and to speak to a person is a godsend—I don’t want to miss that call.

 
; “April, it’s Emily.” To say she sounds excited is an understatement. I smile when she squeals in my ear. “April, you are the best friend ever. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!”

  “You did the same for me. Remember? I just thought you would be perfect for this job. You were born to run other people’s lives, and Grace is one busy woman. You’re just what she needs. I’m certain of it.”

  “You have no idea what they’re going to pay me, and I’ll be near Kyle too, and my best friend. I start tomorrow, can you believe it?”

  “Yes. She did the same thing to me. When she wants you to start, you start like right now. I’m happy for you, Em. I’m glad it all worked out. It didn’t take Kyle long to run a check on you, did it?”

  “He’s doing it now. He doesn’t have to do a DMV on me as he did with you. He only has to do a background check. Oh! I need to go shopping! I can’t work for The Grace Rowe in rags! I have to go, sweetie. Thanks again, dinner on me, right?”

  “Right,” I laugh. “Congratulations, Emily. I’m happy for you. By the way, I’m having a pool party this weekend. Saturday at my place, eleven o’clock. If you see Sam, let him know, okay?”

  “Oh, yeah, April, I need to talk to you about Sam,” Emily says, her tone changing suddenly.

  “I know. I need to speak with him. Things are weird between us, and I think he might have feelings for me, is that what you were going to tell me?” I ask, hoping I’m wrong.

  “Yes. I was watching him at your party the other night, and he was looking at your body in ways that a best friend shouldn’t be. Even Kyle commented on it.”

  I knew that Kyle was watching him, but only because he had Jason’s best interests at heart.

  “Ask Kyle not to say anything to Jason until I can speak to Sam, all right? I’ll talk to him at the party. I guess I’ll see you tomorrow, eh? Maybe we can do lunch?”

  “Oh, I love the sound of that. Thanks again, April. Love you.”

  “Love you, too,” I say, laying my phone back on the table.

  “Who do you love?” that sexy voice says behind me. I whip my head around at the sound of it and see him leaning against the doorframe. I sit back in my chair and drink him in, his aroma filling the air again.