Let's Play A Dirty Ass Game, Mr. CEO

Chapter 50: WET FOR HIM

LAURA

"The three million grand is the down payment for Madison Steele’s bridal dress."

Mara’s words echoed in my head over and over again. I couldn’t believe my ears. I strained them hard to make sure I wasn’t hearing things.

"What do you mean by down payment? I turned away her request for a dress, remember?"

Mara heaved an exasperated sigh and shoved her fingers through her hair. "That’s where the greedy fish came in. Lorraine Anderson from the design team went to Madison Steele behind our back, after she was turned away, and offered to make the dress using our resources and skill set."

My jaw dropped. "Who the fuck is Lorraine Anderson?"

"A new recruit." Mara winced. "Actually, the money wasn’t even supposed to come into the Phoenix account. According to the designer, she specifically gave her own account details to Madison for payment, but waited and waited without receiving the money."

I scoffed, shaking my head. "Incredible." For some reason, my mind flashed back to that time I was framed in Pierce Holdings. How I’d had no say in my own case.

"I want to see this girl. Lorraine what?"

"Lorraine Anderson." Mara cleared her throat. "You shouldn’t stress over little things like this, you know? That’s why I’m here." She strolled over and dug her fingers into my cramped shoulders. "I handled it already."

"You handled it?" I lifted a brow in incredulity...maybe uncertainty.

"Without making a mess," she whispered.

"How?"

"We dismissed her. We can’t keep greedy fishes around. They end up swallowing everything around them."

My hands clenched into fists at my side, and I shrugged her hands off, moving away. Mara seemed to sense the change in my mood almost immediately. "Everything okay?"

"I just..." I shoved my fingers through my hair. "I didn’t realize you called the shots when it comes to my staff, Mara."

She frowned. "Did I do the wrong thing? I handled it on my own because I didn’t want you getting worried over nothing. Doesn’t mean I call the shots or whatever it is you’re trying to insinuate."

I scoffed as I turned to her. "You sound offended."

"I think I’ve earned the right to be." Her jaw twitched as she stood there, staring me down. She looked so hurt, I wondered if perhaps...I was being too hard on her. She was my best friend, after all...before anything else.

After a long moment, I heaved a sigh and started up the stairs. "Thank you, Mara. And I’m sorry."

"What do we do about the money and the dress order?"

"Fuck it!" I yelled. "Return her money and cancel the order! We’re not making Madison Steele’s dress!"

I stormed off before Mara could try to convince me otherwise....because I wasn’t sure who my best friend was these days.

When I got into the room and slammed the door shut behind me, I didn’t expect to see my son on my bed, jolting up in surprise.

He pursed his lips after he recovered from the shock, observing my face carefully, in that endearing way that always softened my heart.

"Mama, you look angry. Did someone get on your nerves?"

Unable to myself, I smiled and crossed over to him. "Look at that. My son is so smart. Where did you learn to say big words like that?"

He shrugged in his usual adorable manner. "I hear you say them sometimes."

I pressed my lips shut and kissed his forehead instead. "So, you had something to show me?"

"Yes!" He jumped off the bed and ran out the room.

I heaved another sigh of exhaustion and dropped into the bed, kicking off my shoes and crashing my back against the soft sheets.

It felt good to be home, but it did not change the fact that I wished I’d spent more time with Tristan, exploring my body and what it wanted.

It was ridiculous that it was all I could think about, even when I just found out that Madison tried to use the back channels to get her dress made in my fashion house. She wanted my signature design so badly, and she was ready to do anything for it. Or was she just out to hunt me? There were a million bridal houses she could choose from. Why mine?

Eli burst into the room again and I sat up straight, a rush of breath leaving me as my thighs rubbed against the wetness between my legs.

God. This body wanted that man, without any doubt. How could I still be wet?

"Mama, look, here," Eli thrust his drawing in my face, pushing the thoughts of Tristan out briefly. "I drew Spidey and his web at school yesterday."

"Aww, it’s incredible," I crooned, taking the drawing from him and examining it closely. "Eli Hayes is such a smart boy." I flashed him a smile and held up my hand. "High five?"

"High five!" He squealed, laughing, as he slapped his little palm against mine. Then I pulled him to the bed and tickled him a bit more.

Minutes after bouts and bouts of joy and laughter, I pulled him to my bosom and cuddled him. "What did you have for dinner?"

"Hana made me pasta after she picked me from school."

"That’s good. Did it taste nice?"

"Better than yours," he responded with a giggle, and I smacked him playfully.

"That’s an awful thing to say to your mama."

"I’m sorry, mama," he said, still laughing.

"What a silly little boy." I shook my head and smacked his ass. "Alright, come on. Off you go. Mama’s got to rest a bit."

"I’ll go play with Mara!"

"Don’t run on the stairs!"

He scurried off and I started towards the bathroom, already thinking of Tristan again, the ache between my legs building at the first thought of the way he shivered beneath my lips...the way he gripped my waist.

Get a grip, girl.

But the pressure in my pussy was too much to ignore.

As I stripped my clothes, he was on my mind. Everytime my fingers brushed my skin, he was on my mind. Every single time, my pussy ached harder.

I drew a warm bath thinking of the thing he’d said about the private strategy dinner. Just us two.

What was he thinking? Getting so brazen because I kissed him? Why would the strategy dinners have to be private? Why would it be just between us two? Did he have some kind of plan?

I threw on a towel—just in case my son decided to run into my room again, unannounced—and went back to my bedroom for a glass of champagne.

Then I turned on the vinyl recorder and blasted some really cool classical music.

When I eventually stepped into the shower, I was lightheaded and ready enough to chase some release without feeling guilty.

On a second, mischievous thought, I got out of the tub, went for my phone, and hit the dial on Tristan’s contact.