Page 21 of Handling the CEO

“Jon, I can’t believe you are really here!” She bawls all over his shirt as he bear-hugs her.

“It’s OK Tae, I am here,” he soothes her and rubs his hands on her back. “Now what did Miranda say? I am going to have a talk with her.”

“No! Don’t!” the teenager shrieks. “I don’t want you two fighting. You know she doesn’t want me to keep in contact with you—she’ll just get mad and take my phone away again.”

“Look…” Jon sits her back down on the couch and lowers on one knee in front of her on the bathroom tiles, white pants and all. “She should not be saying things like that to you. There is nothing wrong with having cake, and as I always say, you are the most beautiful girl ever. Now come on, let’s get your face washed and let’s get you back to the party.”

Tae’s green eyes match Jon’s, and I realize who the dorky—yet supportive—brother is. And who her mother is. My heart goes thumping in my chest seeing him in that position, so different from his asshole CEO image. However, the young woman throws me a ‘help me’ look, probably at the thought of having her bro next to her when using the toilet.

“Come on Jon, us ladies will put on our war face, you can wait outside.” I push him gently up and out the door. “We will be just fine, but some of the charity Stepford wives won’t take kindly to you looming in the Ladies’ restroom. You may even get a ‘bless your heart’,” I smile at him.

I wasn’t expecting it, but before closing the door again, Jon pulls me closer to him and whispers in my ear, his breath against my skin warming me up, “Thank you for this, DJ. I truly appreciate it.”

“I would not let her cry by herself in the bathroom, for fuck’s sake. I am ecstatic that now I have a target for my Manolo’s now,” I whisper back and he chuckles, his beard slightly tickling my face and sending wake-up signals to my vajayjay.

“Well, I hear you are also familiar with the hottest guy in the world,” he hisses, his lips lightly graze my ear, and goose bumps erupt all over my back and arm.

“WhatIknow is that people eavesdropping need to mind their own business and check their presumptions. As their ego doesn’t need stroking,” I mention casually but raise the stakes by gently nipping his neck. Then, I shove him out in the hallway and say loud enough for his sister to hear.

“Right, big brother, time for you to shoo, I got this, thanks for the assist.” I wink and shut the door in his face again, but this time on the sound of his laughter.

“Now Tabitha, how about a nice boost of confidence—you know what works for me every time?”

“What?” she asks, exiting the stall and washing her hands.

“I think you need some pumps—what is your shoe size?”

Jon

HearingTaecryoverher weight broke my heart into a million pieces. I knew she was struggling with the trust fund girls at her private school, but now knowing her fucking mother was chipping away at her self-image made me so mad.

The attorney I saw just a couple of weeks ago—funnily enough, the first day I met DJ—was already preparing another appeal to my visitation rights agreement with Miranda, especially now that she is living in Florida. I wish I had grounds to ask for custody, but as Ramsay is funding her shark lawyers, it is difficult winning a custody case against a birth mother who is married to a billionaire. But with my sister getting older, I am hoping she would also enjoy seeing me more, and can tell that to a judge.

One thing that lifted my spirits was seeing DJ help Tae. She dropped me the second she caught a girl crying, then made sure she was OK and offered to hurt whoever upset her. Sitting outside the restrooms, I felt a tug deep inside me, knowing she was not only bold and smart but too kind and would fight for those in need. I also felt like a king when she talked about the ‘hottest man’ she ever saw kissing her silly.

I couldn’t stop myself from touching her when she was again so close to me, and when she bit my neck, my cock sprung to life in an instant. Tracing where she left a little tooth mark on my skin, I smile tugs at my lips, but I do not know what to do with her. I want her, but with her working for me, there was no way around it. HR would have my head. The gossip will put a real dent in any relationship between us. I can’t fire her, and I can’t fuck her. I was stuck.

The door to the toilets opens and DJ is first out, but this time about four inches shorter, as she is now sporting a pair of flats. Behind her, my sister struts up with a sly smile on her, as she walks out with her head held high, wearing some familiar strappy sandals.

“Ladies, looking good.” I nod in acknowledgment. “Ready to go back to the party?”

They exchange a couple of confident glances and then both of them square their shoulders.

“Oh, beyond ready. Especially ready to take someone on right about now,” Dahlia announces.

“Easy there, million-dollar-baby. Let’s not forget we have press here. I do agree we need to find Miranda and have a few words with her. Tae, would you like to go out on the terrace? I think they have some presentations on the volunteering activities available.”

My sister is looking at me like I am trying to play her, which I was, forgetting she isn’t five anymore.

“Fine,Jon. I’ll go check out the projects, but only because I genuinely enjoy volunteering. But please don’t fight with my mom. I don’t want to get in trouble. Pleeease,“ she pleads, making big eyes at me.

“OK, I won’t make a scene. Off you go, kid.”

“Don’t call me kid!” she counters, but heads to the exit, slightly unsure of herself on the heels but getting a bit of swagger in her step.

“Thank you again. For the shoes as well,” I tell DJ, who was looking at my exchange with Tae, smiling her cute little smirk.

“Nothing to it. Even warrior princesses need their armor.” She gently elbows me, but before continuing, she stops and stares, seething at something in the background. “Well, well, Richard is here, as predicted. And he is with Miranda. So, caveman, are you ready for that ‘talk’?”

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