Page 26 of Devious Temptation
We leave the playhouse together, sharing one last hug before he departs.
It feels like a huge part of my life is over. Instead of feeling sad about it, though, I’m filled with a strange sense of exhilaration for what’s to come—like I’m getting a new slate.
I confidently let go of my past and enter the next phase of my life as a brand-new woman.
Ten
Six Years Later
Of all thecompanies that the Metropolis Investments Group has absorbed and taken under its umbrella, I have to admit that Benson Commercial Holdings isn’t half bad. The team is composed of competent individuals with impressive portfolios, and the administrative team has a reputation for being highly organized and on the ball.
A guy with haphazardly-styled sandy blond hair nudges a man with slicked-back raven strands.
“So, how did your date with Lulu go last night?”
Either they’re unaware that I’m their new boss—despite the company-wide memo that went out about the last-minute change in upper management—or they’re so unconcerned about Chadwick Benson that they feel like it’s ok to whisper about their personal lives even though he’s speaking at the front of the boardroom about handing the reins over.
Like I said, nothalfbad.
The raven-haired guy smirks and rolls his eyes. “Shewants me. But the devious little minx is a pro at playing hard to get. She was all over me after a few glasses of wine.”
I arch an eyebrow at his crassness while the young woman to my right, Anna, snorts. She’s petite with honey-blonde hair and an unremarkable pair of dark brown eyes. “Is that why Lulu left before you even got your entrées?”
“How did you…?” The guy’s face settles into a nettled look. “She fake-emergency’d me, didn’t she?”
The blond man starts laughing quietly, and Anna smirks before glancing at me. A pink flush forms on her cheeks. “Sorry, Mr. Morgan.”
Both males look at me questioningly, giving away that they clearly didn’t read the memo.
My decision to return to the Windy City after nearly six years could have been better thought out. Cameron Crueller, a man I consider one of my best friends, even if he’s quite a bit younger than I am, was supposed to take over the new Chicago office. However, I didn’t want an upcoming promotion in the New York office, so they made the offer to him instead.
Chadwick continues speaking at the front of the room, utterly oblivious to his employees’ side conversation. “Metropolis Investments has a stellar record for turning smaller operations such as this one into mega-successful firms. The fact that they can do so without laying anyone off is a testament to how prosperous they’ve become in the industry. M.I.G. is the future! And they are here to elevate this company and yourselves! So, it is with great pleasure that I introduce your new boss.”
All eyes turn to me as he stretches his hand out in my direction. The raven-haired man's skin turns a ghastly paleas Chadwick announces, “Please join me in welcoming Lawson Morgan, the new Executive Director of the Chicago division for Metropolis Investments Group.”
Applause erupts throughout the room. Multiple congratulations are tossed my way by faces that look eager and genuinely excited for something new. Benson Commercial Holdings has been around for a long time, and Chadwick is a relic. It’s time for a fresh way of handling business, and M.I.G. has been itching to break into the Chicago commercial real estate game for a while now.
After shaking a few hands, I take my place at the head of the boardroom. “Thank you all. I’m happy to be back in Chicago, even if I have to return to the nonsense that is deep-dish pizza.” I smirk and nod at the round of good-natured boos that sound from around the table. “In all seriousness, though, M.I.G.’s goal has never been to uproot a small company and completely change how they run their operations. We bought Benson Commercial Holdingsbecauseof the great work you’re already doing. As Mr. Benson said, I’m here to elevate the newest division of M.I.G., not tear everything down. I look forward to getting to know all of you, and if you ever have any questions or concerns, I have an open-door policy. So, please, don’t hesitate to drop in whenever you need.”
Some of the females in the room look at each other with knowing grins as flirty smiles and hooded eyes flash my way. Each and every one of them is headed for disappointment when I make it clear that I strictly follow the company’s zero-tolerance policy on interoffice relationships between management and employees.
Notto mentionmyzero-tolerance policy to bed women half my age.
As the room begins to clear out, I approach Anna, who is still scribbling on her notepad. “Anna, if you’d follow me, we can go over a few things I’m going to need over the next few months.”
Her pen freezes, chocolate eyes moving around the room as she realizes I’m talking directly to her. She tilts her head to the side, blinking rapidly in surprise like she’s just remembering her name is Anna. “I’m sorry, sir?”
“You are my assistant lead, aren’t you?” I ask, gathering my briefcase and phone.
Understanding dawns over her features. “Oh! No, that’s Lulu. She requested this morning off because Mr. Crueller was supposed to come tomorrow, but I will absolutely make a list for her. She’s very thorough and did a lot of research on Mr. Crueller in preparation for his arrival. It’ll take her a little bit to get your information from your previous assistant lead, but Lulu is gonna be upset she missed this meeting, so she’ll probably have it down by the end of the day.”
Who the hell goes by Lulu? It sounds like the name of a show poodle.
I have half a mind to ask if that’s her real name when Chadwick interrupts, slapping a hand on my back and pulling my attention to him and another woman I haven’t met yet.
“Lawson, this is Mary Peterson, head of our HR department. She’ll show you to your new office because I…” He digs his thumbs into his tawny tweed suit jacket. “…am officially outta here.”
Mary has mousy brown hair and blue eyes that appear too much like Charlotte’s for me to want to look at her for longer than a few seconds. “Lead the way,” I tell her before turning back to Anna. “When is…Lulusupposed to be in today?”
