Own Me (Savage Bosses)

6. Ayana

CHAPTER 6

Ayana

M onday morning arrives, and after a wild weekend and a breakup, I’m ready to jump into my duties at a new company with a new boss. I hope to God he’s as nice as my bosses over at Mid-Tech Corporation, I think as I park and get out of my car.

NexGen West Headquarters directly overlooks Walnut Grove Lake pier, giving it a magnificent backdrop that pairs with the breathtaking waterfront business district. I stroll into the building and see a security guard stationed near the entrance. He gives me a smile and a greeting which I return. I give him my name, and he directs me to a nearby glass elevator and tells me which floor to take.

The elevator doors slide open when I arrive at the correct level. I step onto white marbled flooring and head to the desk in the center of the room. I note abstract paintings are placed artfully against the white painted walls, and a line of file cabinets are against the opposite wall on the left side of the room.

“Hello, I’m Ayana Banks, and I'm here to see Mr. West,” I say with much more confidence than I feel.

The woman at the desk is efficiently dressed. Not a hair is out of place as it sits atop her head in a tidy bun. A few grey streaks glisten through her black strands. She looks to be near her mid-sixties.

“Good morning. Is Mr. West expecting you?” she asks, her glasses perched on the end of her nose as her clear grey eyes peer at me over the frames.

“Yes. I’m Mr. West’s new assistant. I was sent over from Mid-Tech Corporation.”

“Oh! I'm usually more efficient than this. This merger has me running around trying to find my tail! I don't know how this got by me,” she clicks away on the keyboard and stares at her computer screen. “Give me a moment, please,” she says and picks up her telephone. She presses a button and speaks. “Mr. Starks, there is a?—”

The woman apologizes to me when she asks me my name again.

“Ayana Banks,” I murmur.

“Yes, Miss Ayana Banks is here about Mr. West's assistant position. Do you want me to send her down?” She's quiet for a moment, then replies, “Yes, sir,” before hanging up the telephone.

Finally, the woman looks at me and says with a huge smile, “You can go down to HR on the second floor. Then, come back here after filling out the necessary paperwork.” She motions down the hallway. “Mr. West's office is the last door at the end of the hall. You can head on in when you're done. I will make sure he's available to meet with you.”

“Thank you,” I reply. “I didn’t catch your name.”

“Sorry! I’m Vanessa.” She stands, and we shake hands.

“Nice to meet you.”

“Likewise. Welcome to NexGen West. You’ll love it here. Mr. West is wonderful.”

“Thanks again.” I take the elevator to the floor housing the HR division.

I find the HR office with no problem. The secretary expects me and sends me right in. An older man with salt and pepper hair sits behind the desk. He's wearing a dark grey suit and glances up from his computer when I stand before him.

“You must be Ayana?”

I smile at Mr. Starks and reply, “Yes, I am.”

Mr. Starks returns my smile and extends his hand, “Please take a seat. I just have some paperwork for you to fill out, so you can get paid, and then you can be on your way,” he says, handing over the necessary paperwork on a clipboard. He hands me a pen as well.

Within ten minutes, I read over and fill out the paperwork.

“Welcome aboard, Ayana. I hope you will enjoy your time here at NexGen West Software.”

“Thank you, sir,” I reply before saying goodbye and making my way back up to Mr. West’s office.

The other employees' stares follow me as I walk down the long hallway. I notice this section has carpeted flooring. Several offices are on either side of the hallway with clear, large windows with glass doors. The employees are sharply dressed men and women at work at their desks.

I return my stare forward, noticing the CEO's door at the end of the hall office is different than the others. For one, you can't see past the large mahogany door. Neither can you see inside the office since the walls aren't clear like the others.

I halt in my tracks when faced with the solid, closed door. I also notice a small empty office to the right of Mr. West's office. That office is like the rest, with transparent walls and a large window on the back wall. The office has a desk with all the office amenities included.

Mr. West's mahogany door flies open just when I’m about to knock on it, and a beautiful woman storms out. I quickly take a step back as she slams the door behind her. Her short skirt and tight, low-cut blouse are far too revealing for business attire.

Our gazes clash, and she stares angrily at me. “Who the hell are you? I suppose another one of his sluts,” she says before I can even speak. “Well, let me give you a bit of advice.”

I glance at my new boss's closed door. Who is this woman, and why is she so angry?

“Don't ever give your heart to that man,” she continues. “He will fuck you inside out and throw you away!”

My mouth opens and closes, but no words come out.

“Look at you. You have absolutely no chance with the likes of him anyway. So don't make a fool of yourself. He is so far out of your league. Even a woman as perfect as me couldn't hold on to him.”

Anger rises within me.

Who the hell does this woman think I am? Who is she to talk to me that way?

“Who are you?” I ask with my head tilted slightly to the side as I try to figure out why this woman is addressing me like this.

“I’m his fiancée—well his ex-fiancée but?—”

I deliberate on telling this woman what I’m here for. Obviously, she’s hurt and taking her anger out on the wrong person.

“Not that it's any of your business, but I'm no one's slut,” I say. “I never have been, nor will I ever be one. I'm here for a job and a job only. For future reference, I warn you not to belittle women you don't know.”

Her anger reminds me of my rage when I saw Chris with that woman. But all of that is in the past now. Thank God.

“Just so you know, he’s a man-whore,” she fumes before taking off down the hall.

Without even turning around, I know the other employees are staring at my back, but I dare not turn to face them. For my first day and impression of my boss, this scene is embarrassing to say the least.

The door suddenly opens, and I gasp. My eyes are glued to familiar blue ones.

“It's you,” he says. A sudden smile glints in Sterling's eyes and forms on his kissable lips. “What are you doing here?

“Oh my God! I—I didn't know that you worked here. I didn’t expect to see you again.” I press my lips together, feeling flustered as nervous energy travels from my head to my feet.

His eyes rake up and down my body as if he, too, is remembering that night of hot, sensuous lovemaking. The night he went inside me so deep, he made me forget every other man before him.

“You would have known who I am if you had called. Why didn’t you call me, Ayana.”

I cannot dare tell him I tore up his phone number and threw it in the trash. I glance down at my feet and back up into his sexy stare. “I’m sorry I didn’t call, but who was that woman?”

Sterling stares over my shoulder before quickly ushering me in and closing the door behind him. His large hands clasp my shoulders. I breathe in his intoxicating scent. My clit throbs as my panties become saturated. I never thought I would see this man again.

“She’s nobody. It's so good to see you again. I've regretted so many times that I didn't get your contact information. But fate has smiled on me.” He gives me a rakish grin. “How did you find me?” His arm encircles my waist.

My hands automatically plant themselves against his chest. I gave him a slight push to put space between us.

“I'm here for the executive assistant position. I didn't know you were the CEO of NexGen West and my new boss.” This is surreal!

His eyes flare with heat as he stares into mine. His cologne gets more intoxicating by the minute. “No, we can't have that.” Sterling's voice is low and reserved as his hand slowly travels up my back.

My blood slowly boils with desire. My tongue becomes thick in my mouth. “Can't have what?”

Sterling's eyebrows raise at my questioning tone. He's so damn sexy that he makes my knees weak, but I must remain professional at all costs. There’s no way I can be with him again since he is my boss.

“You can't work for me because I want to see you again. I want to date you.”

My mouth drops open at his bluntness. Although I want to throw caution to the wind and jump his bones, I can’t live off hot sex with a lusty tech CEO. “I can't date you because I need this job.”

“We can find you another job. I have friends who owe me favors.”

I gasp and remove myself from his grip. “I'm sure we can remain professional and keep our hands to ourselves. Aren’t you?”

I take in the man before me. He’s in a navy-blue suit, a starched white shirt, and a red tie. He looks like sin, but a sin that I won't commit. His fiery blue eyes track down my body and land on my cleavage. A tremble travel through me.

Sterling doesn't reply right away. Instead, he turns suddenly, strolls to his desk, and sits on his cushiony leather chair. “Have a seat, Ayana.” His brow creases as I make my way to take a seat in front of his large mahogany desk. “I assume you already signed all the paperwork in HR, am I correct?”

“Yes,” I nod.

“Well, you realize the company has a no fraternization policy.”

“Yes, sir.” I bite my bottom lip as it dawns on me where he's going with his questions.

“The rules stand for everyone, including me.”

“That makes sense,” I reply slowly, with a feeling of dread running through me.

“I want to make sure you understand that our relationship must remain above reproach. Besides that, I'm not an easy man to work for. Do you have what it takes to be my assistant?” His voice is curt, with a hint of steel that causes my hands to become clammy.

I cross my legs and straighten my back, meeting his gaze. “Yes, sir, I do.”

His eyes narrow when I call him sir. He crosses those steely arms of his across his masculine chest. “I won't make it easy on you just because we fucked.”

My eyes widen. I blink to control my shock, but he hit a nerve. I didn't expect my boss to be crass. “Look, just because we had a one-night stand?—”

He holds up one hand to halt my words. His eyes narrow at me with an intense stare.

Shit, I think. I want my boss. He's sexy as hell, even when he’s surly.

“Since I can't talk you out of this job, you can start first thing in the morning. But beware, I won't go easy on you, as I stated before. You're dismissed. Consider it your first day tomorrow.”

I stand to my feet and nod. I turn around to step toward the office door. I jump when I feel the grip of Sterling's arm on mine. I didn't even hear him catch up to me.

“I want to give you something to think about. Maybe you will change your mind about the job.”

A shiver goes through my body at the tone of his voice and the look in his eyes.

My boss wraps his arms around my waist and kisses the side of my neck. “Do you remember how good it was between us, Ayana?”

I give a soft moan, enjoying his warm minty breath against my skin. “Yes!” I automatically wrap my arms around his neck. “We can't do this.”

“I remember how your pussy tasted,” he licks the length of my neckline and I shiver.

My entire body ignites. I cannot help but imagine Sterling between my spread thighs, making me repeatedly cum. We only had sex once, but I will never forget that night. He’s a connoisseur at making love.

I can hardly speak as I remember every vivid moment of our encounter. “I'm your employee. This can't happen,” I mutter.

Our gazes clash.

Sterling caresses my cheek. He bends and sucks my earlobe into his hot mouth, nibbling before whispering, “It would be so easy for me to have you right there on my desk.”

As I gasp, he takes my open mouth with his. Our tongues duel, and he kisses me deeper while holding me closer. I let out a soft moan when his hand cups my breast. My panties are saturated at this point, and I crave to feel him deep inside my core.

I'm falling under his spell when Sterling suddenly lets me go.

“Be here tomorrow morning at seven o'clock sharp, Ayana.”

I take in gulps of air, trying to calm down. Then, I nod, straighten my shoulders and walk out the door, wondering what the hell just happened?

As I make my way out of the building, my mask of calm confidence fades. I get inside my car and release a nervous laugh. I cup my hands to my cheeks. I would have allowed him to bend me over on his desk and have his way with me if he hadn’t stopped.

“Woman, you are in some deep shit.”