Page 84 of 12 Days

Chapter 34

Tate

Owen’s called a meeting first thing this morning. I slink into the big conference room as soon as I get in. My eleven best friends are already seated around the conference table.

I close the door behind me and take the open seat closest to the it.

“Nice of you to join us, Tate,” whispers Sean as I slide into the leather chair. I scowl at him, and he shuts up. The mood in the room is heavy.

There was a time when a meeting with just the twelve of us would be a lot of fun. Twelve powerful men discussing the future of a powerful company and twelve grateful assistants under the table gagging on our cocks.

I thought then that nothing could make a man feel more powerful than that. I thought that the submission of a lovely young girl was all I needed to get off. I thought getting off was enough.

Now I know better. Now I have met Alyssa. Nothing will ever be the same.

Alyssa isn’t here. This is the second time since we met her that we have gotten together to discuss her without inviting her.

I hate that we have to have this meeting. I wanted to trust her.

The room is quiet. No one wants to be the first to speak.

We sit, the silence dragging out. Twelve powerful men, with more money than we know what to do with, brought to our knees by the love of a woman. We sit together, missing her and not knowing what to do about it.

The phone at the head of the table chimes. One of the assistants, new girl, I didn’t catch her name, cuts through the quiet. “Excuse me, sirs. Alyssa Morrow is here. She is on her way in.” The phone clicks off just as the door opens.

“I didn’t want you to stop me.” Alyssa’s soft voice lightens my heart. Her being here is a balm to the pain she caused.

My back is to her, but I can see the light in the eyes of the men across the table from me. I take a deep breath before turning my chair to face her.

She is stunning. Every time I see her, I am hit with how incredible she is. Her dress is red, clinging to her curves.

She turns to close the large door behind her, and I see it buttons all the way down the back. I want to unbutton her. I want to watch her come undone as the fabric falls away from her gorgeous body.

My cock twitches.

She turns back to face all of us. I am closest to her. Behind me, I can hear a couple of the guys stand, but I wait.

As much as I want her, and do I ever want her, she betrayed us. I struggle because in the short time I have known her, I have fallen hard for her. I was ready to share my whole life with her—we all were.

Now I just don’t know. I wait to hear what she has to say.

“You know I found the formula four days ago,” she begins. Her voice is strained. She looks around the room, not wanting to look any one of us in the eye for long.

She steps a little further into the room. She is an arm’s length from me. I almost want to sweep her into my arms and find a way through this together, but I know she has rehearsed what she wants to say, and I want to listen to her.

“I’m sorry I lied to you. I wasn't thinking. I took the formula as a part of my job, but the rest … that was all me.”

I think back to the first day we met. Most FDA consultants don’t masturbate in front of a mirror when investigating a perfume company.

I’ve always known it was her. And then the restaurant, fuck!

“I didn’t want to stop seeing you. You have all been so incredible. I haven’t passed this along yet.” She takes a copy of the formula for our soon-to-be signature scent out of her jacket pocket and holds it out to me.

I lean forward, reach out, and take it. Our fingers brush, and she closes her eyes for a moment, sighing.

I control my face, just barely. I know I look stern right now.

As glad as I am to be the one closest to her, I wish it was Easton. He is better at comforting. Me, I’m hurt, but I want her. It translates to a kind of pissed off face.

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