The Chauffeur Read online

  “Thank you,” I say, breathless. I pull my shorts up and tuck my cock back inside, then sit at the end of her lounge chair and spread her open, returning the favor.

  And this is what I mean by fun in the sun.

  “It’s beautiful here. Thank you for bringing me, Jason.” Her voice is mellow as she basks in her orgasmic afterglow. Just as she begins running her tongue around the shell of my ear, we hear the ping of an incoming email. Her mood changes as she reads the message.

  “What the fuck?”

  She begins to type and rants, “Who the hell is CM Dynamics? This isn’t good. This is so not good. Not good, not good …” Her fingers fly over the keyboard.

  “What is it, Kate?” I ask, keeping my involvement with CM close to my chest.

  “Someone has taken control of a property I needed to buy. If I don’t get this plant, I’m doomed,” she says, still typing away.

  “It can’t be as bad as that, Kate.”

  “I need this property, Jason. You don’t understand. If I don’t acquire it, everything I’ve worked for is gone.”

  She can’t mean that. “Why would your life’s work be based on the purchase of a single manufacturing plant? Surely, you’re exaggerating.”

  Her head snaps up, and she gives me a glare that I’m sure is meant to kill me. “You?” she hisses, standing up so fast she sends the chair backward to the ground.

  “Kate, please, I didn’t know. I was told of it being available just this morning, and I took the opportunity. Why did you need it so bad?” I ask as I bend to set the table right.

  “Did you read my emails? Did you look at my computer?” she asks through her teeth.

  “No!” I pour a glass of the wine and offer it to her. I’m rewarded with her smacking the glass out of my hand. She then, in the throes of a temper tantrum, kicks the table, spilling the wine and glasses onto the patio. There are shards of glass everywhere. I look down at our bare feet and carefully step to the door, where I slip into my flip flops. I retrieve her sandals and hand them to her.

  “Watch your feet, Kate.”

  “How did you know, you backstabbing prick? You knew I was buying it, didn’t you? Are you doing this because I bought Blackguard out from under you?" Her voice is so loud that I look around as if she might disturb the neighbors ten acres away.

  “I didn’t know it was you.”

  “No one knew about this property but me, Jason. No. One. How did you know about it if you didn’t read my emails?” she shouts. It’s difficult not to laugh when she’s standing naked with her hands on her hips and her breasts bouncing around in her anger.

  “I knew there was someone else interested, but I didn’t investigate who. I didn’t think I needed to. And wasn’t the Blackguard matter put to bed?”

  Pun intended.

  Business is nothing but a game with us that we’ve played many times before. She was successful at outbidding me for a company that I wanted, and we had a huge argument that lasted for weeks which ended with us fucking for hours.

  “Jason, you stop that sale right now,” she cries. “Immediately.”

  I take a step toward her, reaching out to her. “The offer was accepted, and the funds have been transferred pending the signing of the contract, which will be in front of them in the morning.”

  “Don’t you fucking touch me. I want to know who told you about this,” she pants, almost to the point of hyperventilation. “No one but my mother and I knew about this sale! I know because I initiated the deal by approaching them personally and privately. It wasn’t even on the market. How did you know, dammit? Tell me!”

  “Kate, calm down. Did you or your mother let someone know you were trying to buy it?”

  “No!”

  “Listen, everyone knows that I’ve had every realtor in Chicago looking around for me. Even you know that. This opportunity fell into my lap, and I took it. If you need it that badly, you can buy it from me.”

  “You have no idea what you’ve done, Jason.” She picks up the phone and dials, her distress evident. “Mother, Jason just bought Aurora out from under us. Get me a flight home as soon as possible. I’ll sleep at the airport tonight if I have to! Just get me off this fucking island.”

  “Kate, now stop. This is business—it’s what we do,” I plead. “Don’t leave like this. We can stay the week and then fly back to fix everything. Trust me.”

  “Never again, Jason. You and I are no longer friends. What you have done is beyond devious and conniving.”

  “But—”

  “I will never forgive you for this, and I promise you with everything in me, I will ruin you. Then, I will own you,” she says, a mere fraction of an inch from my face. She says it in an eerie tone that makes my blood run cold. I understand why she’s pissed, but threatening me like this isn’t her style.

  For a moment, I’m concerned. Her threats are a little menacing, but this is Kate, for god’s sake. I know my businesses are failsafe, and I suspect she’s only blowing smoke because she’s upset. Nonetheless, I make a mental note to alert Farmer as a safety measure.

  “So, you’re not willing to discuss this rationally?”

  “You’re no longer trustworthy, Jason.” Her tone is starting to creep me out.

  I phone Susan while keeping an eye on Kate. “Susan, I need a ride home.”

  “What? Why? When?”

  “As soon as you can, get me out of here. I’ll explain when I see you,” I say, pacing the patio.

  “John can’t pick you up,” she says in a rush. I can hear her fingers fly over her keyboard as we speak.

  “Get me the same driver I had yesterday, please.”

  “Okay, I’ll call you back.”

  Kate stomps inside, and I follow to keep an eye on her, if only to make sure she doesn’t do anything stupid, like set fire to the house. While she’s throwing her toiletries into her bag, I change into a clean pair of jeans and a button-down shirt. After packing the few items I’d removed, I place my bags at the door.

  I pull my cell out of my pocket the instant it rings. “Yeah?” Walking outside, I peek in the window to check on Kate.

  “Okay,” Sue begins, and when she starts off with that, I know to keep my mouth shut. She rattles off my instructions, and I listen intently.

  “Sue, you’re a lifesaver,” I say before hanging up.

  Being productive, I clean up the mess outside and sweep the glass from the deck. You can’t even tell we were here. Pouring a glass of wine, I wait for Kate to leave because I’ll be damned if I’m going to allow her to remain behind while I drive to the airport. It’s not long before a car pulls into the driveway and honks. I jump at the thunderous slam of the door.

  ~.~

  “Sir?” I feel a hand on my arm. “Sir, we’ll be landing in about fifteen minutes,” the flight attendant says before heading back toward the galley.

  I change into one of the suits I keep on the plane for emergencies and toss my travel-worn clothes into my carry-on. As the aircraft taxis down the runway toward my hangar, I feel acute remorse for leaving Kate alone in Hawaii.

  As soon as the hatch opens, I hurry down the stairs toward the waiting car. When I had Sue request her as my driver for today, she emailed me the itinerary, which had her name on it. Upon seeing April waiting by her car, she’s wearing one of the sexiest outfits I’ve seen in a while and most certainly ever on a chauffeur. The black, sleek line of her tight skirt and those shapely legs in those fuck-me stilettos causes my body to react. I look at her from the tip of those sexy, black heels to the top of that fucking hat that hides her eyes. As I approach her, I tilt my head so that I can see those damned eyes. She still won’t look at me.

  Curiosity is killing this cat.

  After climbing into the back seat, she shuts the door behind me, and I watch the sway of her hips as she walks around to the front of the car. How can someone that small drive a car this big? Could someone as small as she drive something as big as me? I lay my head back on the sea
t and create a mental visual.

  Shaking off those decadent thoughts, I open my iPad to do more investigation on the Aurora property. Who are the board members of the corporation that owned it, and why is Kate so intent on buying it? I’m engrossed in my research when a feminine voice breaks through my thoughts.

  “2335 Lakeview Drive, Mr. Rowe?”

  “Yes, that’s correct, April.” As soon as the car stops at the curb, I gather my iPad and briefcase when she opens the door. In another futile attempt, I try to see what’s hidden under that visor. Deciding to give up on the game, I make my way to my office to call Farmer, eager to discuss the Aurora matter.

  “Mr. Rowe, sir!” I hear her shout my name. I stop and turn to see her walk toward me.

  “Your phone, sir,” she says, holding it out to me.

  “Thank you, April.” Our hands touch when I take it from her. I feel the draw as I watch her walk away.

  As soon as I enter the building and head toward the elevators, my cell goes off. I look and see that it’s Kate. That’s odd since she vowed never to speak to me again. I would rather not talk to her until I talk to Farmer, so ignore her call. After slipping the phone into my pocket, I enter the elevator to the twenty-fifth floor.

  “Hi, Sue. Call my mother and tell her I’m back, would you? Then come into my office.”

  I hang up my suit coat and loosen my tie when she knocks before opening the door.

  “What is going on, Jason?” Sue asks as soon as she enters the room. I explain about buying Aurora out from under Kate and what my intentions are.

  “I have no desire to ruin her, but when I saw it, I had to have it. I offered to sell it back to her at my cost, but apparently, she could barely afford to buy it at the price she offered them.” I run my hand through my hair and pace the floor. “The eerie thing is that she threatened to ruin me—twice. I think she means it.”

  “You two do this all the time, Jason. You always piss each other off, but you always kiss and make up. The same will happen here.”

  "It’s different this time.”

  “Maybe so, but I doubt it,” she says getting up to leave.

  I open my mouth to speak when Kyle knocks, holding the door open for Sue.

  “Hey, Jason. That was a short vacation. Trouble in paradise?”

  “Something like that,” I answer, refocusing on my research.

  “Mom needs you to meet John’s replacement. Come on, everyone’s in a hurry to get this done, and when I say everyone, I mean Mom. Let’s go,” he says and then jogs down the hall.

  “I’ll be right back, Sue.” I run down the corridor and follow Kyle and Nicole into the small conference room. I nearly trip when I see her standing there. This is a very small world, indeed.

  “April, this is my sister, Nicole,” Kyle says, “and this is my brother Jason. Guys, this is April Sanders. She’ll be our new driver, so be nice to her. Jason, don’t scare her off.”

  “April,” I say, noticing the missing cap. Taking her hand, I look deep into her eyes. “I finally get to see the color of your eyes. They are breathtaking,” I whisper while noticing her heart-shaped face and the fullness of her lips.

  “Thank you, sir,” she replies, pulling her hand out of mine and wiping it on her skirt as if I have cooties or something.

  “So,” Mother begins. “Go and give your notice, April, and we’ll see you at seven thirty tomorrow morning. I have an appointment and will need to leave at eight. You can ride along with John, and we’ll talk more about your responsibilities then, all right?”

  April nods. Her stature is perfect—the way she holds her back straight and her head high. She has me mesmerized.

  “Jason, tonight over dinner we’ll discuss why you returned so soon from your vacation.”

  “Yes, Mother,” I say, kissing her cheek.

  “April, I like what you are wearing today. It suits you.”

  “Thank you, Mrs. Rowe,” April says, clasping her hands behind her again.

  When she turns her eyes back to me, her glare is bold and sends a ripple of excitement through me. I offer her the sexiest grin in my arsenal.

  “April, dear, please call me Grace. We prefer to be called by our first names, all right?

  “Yes, ma’am. Um, Grace,” she giggles. I like the sound of it. It’s pleasant, and I wouldn’t mind hearing it again.

  “Mother, I need to go clean up a mess I made in Hawaii. I’ll see you at dinner. Will you be there, Kyle? I need to talk to you, as well,” I ask but not before noticing his blush.

  “Yes, but don’t cancel again. It must be tonight because I have plans tomorrow.” His eyes flash to April, and my head snaps around to look at her. She has a faint smile on her lips.

  “Are you two dating?” I ask, frowning at the pair.

  “No!” both April and Kyle insist at the same time.

  April walks up, stands directly in front of me, and looks straight into my eyes. “No, sir, I am not dating your brother. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have another client waiting. I will see you in the morning, Grace.”

  “What’s going on, Kyle?” I ask, stepping in front of him. “Why did both of you look like you were hiding something?” Kyle sighs and rolls his eyes at me.

  “All right. I met April at the Underground the other night.” Kyle then looks toward Nicole, who blushes. She never blushes.

  “What the fuck is going on around here?” I demand, folding my arms across my chest. Mother takes her place next to me, wondering the same thing.

  “When I met April, I also met Emily,” Kyle explains, “April’s best friend. That’s when Nicole met Adam, Emily’s brother. So, what I am saying is that I am interested in dating Emily and the same with Nicole and Adam.” Nicole nods her agreement to the explanation.

  “And who is dating April?” I ask, dropping my arms from my chest. My mother raises an eyebrow. “We just don’t need a boyfriend interfering with her job.”

  Feeling like a Neanderthal, I hurry to escape my family’s scrutiny. “I’ll see you tonight at dinner.”

  As soon as I sit behind my desk, I pull my phone out and scroll through my appointments for the week. Of course, there aren’t any. My calendar had been cleared for me to be gone a week on vacation. I laugh at myself because I’m evidently desperate for a ride.

  Upon consideration, my smile fades. No, Jason, this is so not a good idea.

  Chapter 3

  ~April~

  Feeling my confidence go down the drain, I stop to calm my nerves. Placing my hands on the top of the car, I try to compose myself before calling James. Taking a deep, cleansing breath, I exhale and gather my thoughts. I know this isn’t going to go well, and I that’s what has me a little nervous.

  I want to tell James to go to hell, but butterflies are in the pit of my stomach, nonetheless. Although I don’t like him, I also don’t like to leave anyone hanging; it’s not in my nature. As soon as I get into the car, I woman-up, take another deep breath and dial his number.

  “What?” he answers harshly.

  “It’s April.” Just hearing his voice makes me ill.

  “You better not have fucked up my car.”

  That’s why I love this guy. I never call him, ever, and his concern for his car over my well-being is touching. I could be calling to tell him a client attacked me, and he’d still be worried about his car.

  “The car’s fine,” I reply, exasperated. “And so am I. Thank you for asking.” I take the bull by the horns. “Today is my last day.” There, direct and to the point. “I can either return the car now, or I can finish out the day.” I lay my head back against the seat, close my eyes, and wait for it.

  “What? Where? Fuck. When? Fuck! What the hell, Sanders?” he blurts out. “You can’t do this.” He pauses, and then shouts, “After everything I’ve done for you?”

  “Oh? You must mean all those Christmas bonuses I’ve never received? Or maybe it’s the chunk you take out of my tips at the end of every week. Oh, wait! It must be the
little extra I get in my pocket whenever you touch my ass. You’re right, I do owe you for all that. How ungrateful of me. Listen, James, I’ve accepted another position. Of course, it doesn’t have the benefits that you offer, but I can live with that.”

  Why did I feel remorse for leaving his ass without notice?

  “I’ll finish out my day and pick up my check on Friday.”

  “Fuck you, Sanders,” he snaps at me. “I’ve given you the best customers. You’ve made the best money, and you do this to me? You can kiss my ass. Don’t ask for a reference.”

  “Thank you, James, you’re too kind.” The bitch in me has come out to play. “Do you know what? You should get someone else to work my shift for today. I quit as of right now. Mail me my check, and don’t even think about withholding anything other than what’s required by law, or I’ll call my attorney. I don’t care if it’s only two cents. I’ll call him, and then I’ll call the IRS to see if you’re in need of an audit.” I hang up and throw my phone on the seat beside me. Taking my hat off, I let my hair down and shake it out of its twist before driving back to the corral.

  “Hey, Mark,” I say when I pull into the garage.

  “What are you doing here, A? Is something wrong with your car? Want me to look at it?” he asks, walking over to pop the hood.

  “No, I quit today.” His look of shock makes me smile. “I was offered a job that was too good to pass up.”

  “Well, good for you. At least you won’t have to put up with James anymore. I cringe every time I see him with his beady eyes on you.” He pretends to shudder. “It’s disgusting.”

  “Thanks, Mark. I’m going to go clean out my locker now. Don’t tell him I’m here, please. I’ve already had enough of him over the phone. I just want to get my stuff and get out of here.”

  “I won’t.”

  “I’ll miss you, buddy.” I hug him before grabbing my meager belongings.

  Not caring about organizing my bag, I hurry and stuff everything into it, looking over my shoulder out of fear of James cornering me alone in the locker room. After I’ve finished, I give Mark another hug, run out to my car, and burn my tires as I get the hell out of there, not looking back.