Page 3 of Release Me

“Empires can be fun,” I reply with a smirk, making her laugh again.

“Sure, but only if that’s your brand and I don’t know…” She pauses, her head tilted slightly as she looks at me. “I get the feeling it’s not Ethan Morrison’s brand.”

“Oh?” I say, raising a brow, curious as to what she thinks about me. “And what exactly do you think my brand is?”

Zoey smiles now in a way that feels slightly secretive and way too fucking sexy. “Well, when I think of Ethan Morrison and Badger Creek, I think exclusive and luxurious. Not tacky chains across the country. More boutique and original. One of a kind.”

My mouth curls into a slow smile, my eyes still on her as she says exactly what I’m thinking. I love that she already knows me and my business so well, but more importantly, she isn’t afraid to tell me either. Reaching for my iPad on the coffee table, my eyes never leaving hers, I say, “Good answer, Zoey. Good answer.”

We spend the next hour or so going over the week’s events. It’s become a standard thing ever since Zoey started in this management program and without me even realizing it, it’s also become my favorite part of the week.

I’m not really hands-on when it comes to the day-to-day running of the lodge, preferring to leave that in the capable hands of my management staff while I focus on the rest of my company’s business, but with Zoey’s weekly updates, I almost feel like I am. It’s probably overkill having these meetings every week, but considering I’m mentoring her, I let that go. And she’s good too, telling me just enough that it isn’t information overload but also doesn’t bore me with the mundane shit I don’t need to know about.

Like I said, she’s incredibly intuitive and I have no doubt she will make an excellent manager and probably CEO one day.

“So I think that’s it,” she says, looking up from her iPad. “Oh, and we still have to make a decision on that marketing plan that was sent through last week.”

Exhaling, I drop my iPad onto the couch beside me. “What do you think of it?” I ask.

Zoey smiles. “Are you asking me because you can’t decide or because you really want my opinion?”

“The latter, of course,” I reply, smiling.

She nods, her tongue slipping out to wet her bottom lip. “In that case, we should say no. Either send it back for a re-do or find a new PR company.”

“No?” I repeat.

“No.”

“It’s a pretty good deal they’re offering,” I say. “And likely to bring in clients too.”

Zoey smiles. “Yes, sure, all good things if what they are proposing is your brand. But like I said before,” she pauses, tipping her head toward Declan’s discarded proposal on the coffee table between us, “when your brand is luxury and boutique, you don’t say yes to corporate marketing plans like this. You focus on more exclusive and bespoke plans.”

With a laugh, I stand, watching as Zoey follows suit, hands smoothing down her dress. “I knew I took you on for a reason,” I say, making my way back to my desk. “Go ahead and tell them we’re not interested and then see if you can find a PR firm we can work with.”

“Will do, Ethan,” she replies with a nod and a smile as she glances at her watch. “Are you finishing up for the night?”

I look over to where she now stands by the door. “Nah, I’ve got a couple more things to take care of,” I say, waving a hand at my computer. “And a late call with Japan.”

“Japan?”

I nod. “Different business stuff,” I say with a smile. “But you’re good. Head home and have a good night. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Zoey stares across the room at me, an unreadable expression on her face as she studies me. Just when I’m about to ask if there’s anything wrong, she blinks and smiles. “Okay, thanks, Ethan, don’t stay too late.”

I chuckle at her words, the same words she says to me every week as she leaves my office, even though staying late is exactly what I do. It’s not like I have anything else to do. Not like I have anyone to go home to either.

“Yes, boss,” I reply, giving her a wink.

Zoey’s smile widens as she nods once more before turning and walking out of my office.

And despite my better judgment, I watch her go, grateful that she hasn’t closed my office door because it lets me watch her.

Because yeah, while Zoey is incredibly smart, underneath all of that, she is also unbelievably gorgeous.

And I cannot deny that I find her combination of intelligence and beauty a serious turn-on. Just like I can’t pretend that I’m not extremely attracted to her either. An attraction that I am positive is only one-sided, but one that I should absolutely not be thinking about or entertaining, let alone acting on.

She is my employee.

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