Billionaire's Baby Surprise, Part One Read online

  Not that she planned to see him again. He was too tempting to allow herself that privilege. She hadn’t asked for his number, nor offered hers, and she had left in such a rush that morning there had been no time to make further plans—which she would have sidestepped anyway. About the only thing they’d had time for was a slow fuck, at least with a condom this time.

  Thoughts of her impulsive one-night stand faded to the back of her mind as she battled her way through the crowds to the towering monolith housing WWJ Industries. She wasn’t the only drone running late, but the others seemed unconcerned by the fact it was already ten minutes past nine.

  Gnashing her teeth helped keep her from screaming her annoyance, and she finally made it to the bank of elevators and squeezed in to the first car. The lifts were fast, soon depositing her on the top floor of the building, and briefly making her think of Jake’s penthouse apartment.

  No, she didn’t have time to think about him right now, and it would be far healthier not to think about him at all. Or perhaps at night, as she touched herself, she could allow the small luxury of remembering her time with him.

  Struggling to appear composed, Sondra entered the large communal workspace she had been in for five years until yesterday when Clevage had called her in to announce her promotion. She didn’t bother to stop to exchange pleasantries with some of the men and women whom she considered friendly acquaintances after working beside them for so long. There was no time today.

  Her stomach dipped to her toes when she pushed open the door that led to the CEO’s inner sanctum. Eleanor’s desk guarded the entrance to Mr. Jacobi’s space, and Sondra’s new desk was situated several feet away from hers. She veered toward her desk, but froze when her supervisor’s icy voice cut through her.

  “What an interesting choice you’ve made, Ms. Elliott, to begin your first day as my personal assistant by coming in late.”

  She bit back a groan and forced herself to turn to Eleanor with a polite smile. “I’m so sorry, Ms. Clevage. It won’t happen again.”

  After a moment, the cold blonde nodded. “See that it doesn’t. I do not like mistakes, Ms. Elliott, and I would hate having to reevaluate the decision to promote you above the others—some of whom have been here much longer than five years.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” After a second, Eleanor bent her head back to her work, and Sondra darted to her desk. Relief filled her, and she collapsed heavily into her chair after stowing her bag in the bottom drawer. Clevage was renowned for her sharp tongue and exacting standards, so she considered it a lucky break to have gotten off so lightly.

  There was a thick handbook on her desk that outlined the expectations and duties of her new position. Clevage had left a handwritten note on the front on a yellow Post-It stressing the importance of memorizing the contents and following the schedules. The other woman left her alone for the morning to study the handbook, and Sondra read through it multiple times, until she was certain she had most of the information burned into her brain.

  Promptly at noon, Eleanor slid back from her desk. “I’m taking lunch. You will order in something for Mr. Jacobi, since he doesn’t have a lunch meeting. Please tell me what he likes from the canteen downstairs.”

  Sondra was proud when she didn’t have to steal a glance at the binder. “On Wednesdays, he prefers special #2, the grilled salmon and vegetables.”

  Eleanor nodded. “See to it please. Mr. Jacobi likes to eat right at twelve-thirty, and Morris will be expecting your call.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Sondra lifted the phone to call Morris, who worked in the canteen. That was a ridiculous name for the three-star eating establishment on the bottom floor of the building. Thanks to Mr. Jacobi’s generosity, his employees enjoyed free meals at the restaurant, but it wasn’t the typical employee cafeteria.

  After placing his order, Sondra turned her attention to the phones and email system, dealing with myriad issues that cropped up while Clevage was out drinking someone’s blood—or more likely sucking on ice cubes to recharge her arctic core.

  Two minutes before Mr. Jacobi’s scheduled meal, a uniformed waiter in black and white entered the office. She had seen him before, since he was usually the one to bring the meals, and wasn’t surprised to learn he was Morris when he introduced himself.

  Sondra took the tray from him, smoothed her dark slacks over her hips and thighs, and braced herself to enter the inner office of Mr. Jacobi. In the five years she had worked there, she had never seen him, but that was hardly surprising. He had a separate entrance and elevator, along with a helicopter pad on the roof for those mornings when mingling with the masses during morning rush hour was simply too much bother.

  Suppressing a giggle at her unkind thoughts, and reminding herself Mr. Jacobi offered employees a lot of perks, including free childcare and generous vacation packages, she schooled her expression, tapped on the door before opening it, and entered the office of the reclusive old gent who ran the company.

  The office was well-lit, with huge windows that allowed the sunshine to pour in, illuminating the fact the CEO was definitely not an old gent. There was no mistaking the identity of her boss. She couldn’t blame poor lighting or faulty eyesight, since she had passed her recent eye exam just last month with flying colors.

  In her shock, the tray slipped from her hands and tumbled to the floor, spilling grilled salmon and vegetables across the pristine black tile flecked with gold. Mouth agape, she stared at Jake as he got up and walked toward her.

  Chapter Three

  Shock left her glued to the spot, but it didn’t do anything to stifle the outrage flowing through her. “What is going on?” she demanded as her one-night stand stopped near her.

  No, not her one-night stand. This man was completely different from Jake. In a sharply tailored dark suit, maroon silk tie, and expensive Italian shoes, he was a world away from the denim-and-cotton guy she’d met in the nightclub last night. She shook her head, not really believing what she was seeing. It had to be a hallucination. She prayed for a brain tumor, because at least then she could leave her job with dignity.

  “Sondra, I know this is a surprise.”

  She flinched at the way he said her name, so crisply professional, as though he hadn’t had that mouth between her legs this morning. The thought made her sway, and she took a step back. “Surprise?” she hissed.

  He lifted a hand. “Let me explain.”

  “Yes, why don’t you do that?” Clevage, the mistress of ice, couldn’t have delivered that line with more frigidity.

  He ran a hand through his dark hair, disheveling it just enough to remind her how it felt to run her fingers through those silky locks. She clenched her hands into fists at her side and forbade her brain to recall even one more inappropriate memory of her boss.

  “When I saw you last night, I was smitten.” He grimaced. “No, I was driven. I wanted you, and I couldn’t bring myself to stop when I realized you work for me.”

  “I did. You’ll have my resignation within the hour.”

  He frowned. “That’s unnecessary, Sondra. Don’t you think you’re overreacting?”

  She gritted her teeth. “It’s not overreacting to realize I can’t work with you now, Jake.” Sondra glared at him. “Jake? That’s not even your real name.”

  His mouth tightened. “Try wearing the moniker of Wallace Whitcomb Jacobi and see if you don’t shorten it.”

  She lifted a shoulder. “I guess you didn’t lie about one thing then.”

  He scowled. “I never lied to you, Sondra.”

  She snorted. “Really? You told me you were in management. There were at least a couple of times you could have told me you ‘managed’ a multi-billion dollar corporation that employs me, Jake. You certainly could have told me you’re my boss!”

  He winced and then nodded. “Yeah, you’re right, Sondra. I handled it badly, and my only defense was I really wanted to make love to you.”

  “We fucked.” She rolled her eyes. “No fuck is worth me l
osing my job. I’ve worked really hard, and now I have to throw it all away.”

  He sighed. “Please just calm down. There is no reason to do that. I don’t date employees, and I’ve never fraternized, but I’m sure we can keep us separate from here.”

  Sondra sniffed. “There is no us, Jake. Last night was…it was an impulsive moment of fun that I shouldn’t have indulged.”

  His mouth tightened, and his voice lost any trace of warmth, turning brusque. “Fine, Ms. Elliott, if there is no us, then what’s the problem? It was an isolated incident, and we can both be mature adults, can’t we?”

  Her first impulse was to rant at him, but she forced herself to take a deep breath. Did she really want to give up the promotion and leave the company just because she’d had sex with her boss? It was a one-time thing, and he was right. They could be mature adults. She had no doubt he’d have the next lay lined up before quitting time, and she would easily go back to her previous routine.

  “Yes, Mr. Jacobi.” Her level tone was remarkably composed. “I foresee no problems moving on, forgetting the incident, and working together.”

  He betrayed no hint of emotion. “Excellent. Now please arrange for maintenance to clean up this mess and order me a new lunch, Ms. Elliott.”

  With a tight nod, she hurried to obey, grateful he was a cold billionaire instead of the hot lover he’d been last night. It would be so much easier to forget last night if she didn’t see flashes of Jake in Mr. Jacobi.

  ***

  Somehow, she made it through the next two weeks. Outwardly, she remained efficient, though she was on tenterhooks each time she had to venture near Jake. Fortunately, she reported to Eleanor most of the time, and she rarely had to see Mr. Jacobi except at lunchtime to deliver his meal.

  She knew that would change Monday morning. Eleanor was taking three days for personal reasons—perhaps to try an experimental cardiac defrosting procedure—which put Sondra in the other woman’s shoes. That meant reporting directly to Jake and having to deal with him more frequently.

  Her stomach was a knot of anxiety, even leaving her nauseated as she contemplated the week ahead of her. Sondra turned down Mae and Dani’s invitation to go shopping on Saturday in favor of moping. Sunday, she spent catching up on sleep and wishing she wasn’t so unnerved by being in close proximity to Jake that she was making herself ill over the idea.

  Monday came all too soon, and she tried to brace herself. Sondra pinned up her short black curls as tightly as she could in emulation of Eleanor’s taut chignons. Channeling her icy boss, she chose a stark black pantsuit and severe white shirt, paired with minimal makeup. Eyeing herself in the mirror, she nodded with satisfaction. She looked like the ultra-professional temporary executive assistant to a CEO who controlled billions.

  And could control her body with a skilled touch or strategic kiss.

  Sondra glared at her reflection, forcing aside such thoughts. She rarely allowed herself to indulge in any of the memories of that phenomenal night with Jake, but the occasional thought just popped into her head without permission.

  Like last Thursday, when he’d been rushing out the office to make a meeting, and her gaze had landed on his backside. It had reminded her of being over his shoulder and staring at his ass, which had led to thoughts of the amazing sex that had followed. She’d been a damp mess by the time she’d fled to the bathroom to recover her equanimity, waiting until he was safely out of the vicinity before ducking into the small lavatory reserved for her and Eleanor.

  Renewing her vow to be distant and professional, Sondra left the apartment. Dani was long gone for her morning classes, and Mae wouldn’t surface for a while yet, since she worked the evening shift at a chic boutique downtown, so neither one of them could ask awkward questions about her makeover into the Ice Queen.

  Sondra entered the office a few minutes early, but Jake had already arrived. Being the efficient machine she was, Eleanor had left her another handbook of duties to oversee during the next three days, insisting she take it home and study over the weekend. Now she was glad to have done so, because she knew Jake’s routine.

  Sondra organized his morning documents and a cup of coffee with exactly one ounce of cream before taking a deep breath. Her stomach churned with nausea, but she forced herself to ignore it. If she’d been able to eat breakfast, she probably wouldn’t have felt so ill, but the thought of forcing down anything when the day with Jake loomed had robbed her of any appetite.

  As soon as she entered his office, her gaze fell on the glazed donut sitting on Jake’s desk, and she had to take a deep breath to control the queasiness. She loved donuts, especially the fresh-baked smell, but anxiety over dealing with Jake had robbed her of that simple pleasure too.

  Plastering on a smile, she placed the papers before him and the mug of coffee near his left hand, his preference, as noted in Eleanor’s excruciatingly exact instructions. “Good morning, Mr. Jacobi.” Her voice was calm and neutral.

  He nodded. “Sit down, and let’s get to it.”

  Forcing herself to ignore any wayward thoughts of wickedness his innocuous words inspired, she sat on the chair across from him and immersed herself in work. She could almost pretend she wasn’t still wildly attracted to her boss, and that working under him was no big deal. That she hadn’t been under him in a completely different way two weeks ago…

  The day passed quickly, to her surprise. Jake moved at a rapid pace, dragging her along. They completed what seemed like a week’s worth of work in that first day, and another in the second. By the third day, she was starting to feel the effects of toiling like a whirling dervish and had a grudging appreciation for how hard Eleanor must work. Perhaps that was why she was such a harsh boss.

  To her surprise, and disappointment that she refused to acknowledge, Jake had been distant and professional. Those had been her personal goals, and the sensible approach, but she couldn’t help feeling a little miffed he hadn’t tried anything at all. Clearly, he had moved on.

  So had she. Of course she had. Just because she hadn’t been on a date since him didn’t mean anything. She hadn’t been on a date for more than a year before him. Besides, their night could hardly qualify as a date. Thirty minutes of small talk, followed by hours of sex, was nothing more than getting off. Just because she hadn’t gotten off again, and hadn’t even been tempted to break out her vibrator, didn’t mean a darned thing.

  Except she was getting surly. That’s all it meant. She was overworked and seemed to be coming down with a bug, which were the only reasons she could explain what happened at the end of the day on Wednesday.

  Jake was preparing to leave early, passing along offhandedly that she could knock off early.

  Sondra looked at the stack of paperwork on her desk. “I don’t think that will be possible, Mr. Jacobi. I thought you had a phone meeting with Mr. Nagato this evening?”

  He waved a hand. “I rescheduled it. My date is much more important.”

  She really wanted to ignore his comment, but some wicked devil she couldn’t control gained the upper hand. “You’re going to blow off a possible merger to get laid?”

  He froze in mid-step before turning to glare down at her. His laptop bag hit the floor with a small thud, and his shoes squeaked with the speed he crossed to her desk. Sondra shrieked as her chair tipped back when he grabbed the arms and leaned over into her space.

  “Don’t presume to tell me how to run my business, Sondra.” Jake glared at her. “And don’t offer your opinion on my personal life when you’ve made it so blatantly apparent that you have no interest in what I do outside of work.”

  “I’m sorry, Mr. Jacobi.” And she was. Sorry she had opened her stupid mouth, and sorry he was so close, because it woke up all the urges she had buried, but hadn’t eradicated. Her heart raced in her ears, and her panties were damp, making her squirm. His mouth was so close, and she couldn’t stop herself from leaning forward just a bit.

  It was all the invitation he needed. In seconds, Jake
’s lips crushed hers, devouring her in a hungry tide of passion that swept over and consumed her just as violently. His hands never strayed from the arms of her chair, but she could almost feel them moving over her body, caressing every inch of her.

  Sondra moaned low in her throat as she stroked her tongue over his. For the past three weeks, she’d alternated between numbed and nauseated in his presence, but the numbness was gone. Her senses were awake again, and she couldn’t keep her hands from clutching his shoulders to pull him closer.

  He cupped her face in his hands as his mouth ravaged hers. Her body quivered with desire, and she was so close to throwing aside all her inhibitions and sound reasons for not sleeping with him—like he was en route to a date with another woman—when a sound at the doorway made them jerk apart.

  Sondra looked over, expecting to see some hot chick waiting for Jake with an appalled expression. There was no one there, and she frowned at Jake, who seemed just as puzzled for a second before his expression cleared.

  In a flash, he was back to Mr. Jacobi, standing upright, his expression distant. “Leave the rest of the work until tomorrow morning, Ms. Elliott. It’s been a long three days, and I’m sure you could use some rest.”

  “I think I’ll go out,” she said with a touch of defiance, though she hated that juvenile reaction. It shouldn’t matter that he was on his way to a date—and it wouldn’t if she had kept up the charade of being unaffected by him. One moment of weakness had ruined that illusion for both of them, leaving her with the sinking feeling she was going to have to resign after all.

  He shrugged. “Enjoy your evening, Ms. Elliott.” This time, his finely made shoes didn’t even whisper as he turned away from her, scooped up his bag, and strode from the office.

  Sondra hurried to grab her things and rush out after him. She longed for the solace of her room and the safety of being far away from his physical presence so she could decide on a strategy for how she should proceed.