Pining For You (Man of the Month Club)

Chapter 1

Chapter One

ROSEMARY

“Rosemary! Hey!” Alexi comes to stand next to me and quickly takes a selfie. “Mind if I show this to my cousin to prove that angels really do exist?”

Smooth. Real smooth. “Cute, Alexi. Cute.” I continue walking through the lobby toward the elevator. Alexi was fun to flirt with at first, but I need to focus. I’m here at the Hayes Resort in Magnolia Point to join my brother, Sullivan – or Van – as he’s going by these days, to show our parents we’re ready to take the reins of their empire. At least a part of it, anyways.

Over the summer my brother came here and went undercover. He discovered he was more capable of what even he thought. He also found love. Precious, right? Kidding. Because ew, no, it’s gross to think about anyone with him. He’s such a punk. But if she breaks his heart I’ll ruin her. Anyways, I’m not interested in the romance part of his journey, for myself anyways, super happy for him, but I’m strongly invested in taking my place in the family business.

“It’s a good thing I got life insurance. When I saw you with your hair down and the sun shining, my heart stopped.”

Jabbing the elevator button as I side-eye him, I say. “Do you ever take a break from shamelessly flirting?”

“Shamelessly?” He chuckles. I hate how the deep timbre makes my insides feel warm. “Guess there’s no point in denying that I’m shamelessly devoted to you.”

Right. Me and every other woman with a pulse. Alexi Diakos is a Greek god in his late twenties with a permeant mischievous twinkle in his eyes and a playful smile that nobody can resist. He’s gorgeous and so charismatic that he can say the cheesiest line and make it sound hilarious or worse seductive.

I’ve dated countless playboys. This is a game I’ve played before, unfortunately. I’ve fallen for the shallow, vain, muscular charmer. I’m here on business, not for pleasure. Alexi is the type that his business is pleasure. Not saying he isn’t a successful businessman in that department. No doubt he’d leave me completely satisfied. Possibly ruined. Which is why I choose to ignore him. I get on the elevator, and when he tries to follow, I push him back out and fight back my laugh as he pouts as the doors close.

Van messaged me to meet in his office. That gives me thirty-minutes to get ready. To be the part, I have to look the part. Or something like that. After trying on twenty different outfits, I have to settle on something before I’m late.

“You’re a badass.” I say out loud to myself as I do a little twist at in front of the full length mirror, examining my simply yet fitted navy A-line dress. It gives me a more conservative and professional appearance. I place my hands on my hips. “You’re a boss bitch.” I point at my reflection. “You’re going to own this project.”

Yes, I am. I’m already feeling more confident. The woman looking back at me in the mirror is a queen. Not the little Hayes princess. Soon everyone in my family, especially my brother, and all of Hayes corporation will realize it.

Rosemary Hayes is not everyone’s little princess anymore. I’m an heiress to a billion dollar corporation that I plan to be part of as much as my brother. It’s my birth right. But more than that, I’m going to prove to everyone that I wasn’t simply born into this, but that I’ve earned a spot at the top. The world is about to see that along with my stunning beauty is an intelligent and crafty mind.

Or I’m going to fall on my flat on face, humiliating myself and further proving to everyone I’m more of a joke than they originally suspected.

No. I need to be confident. Self-assured. A queen walks into a room with her head held high. Proud. I’m a queen. I’m not the family princess, but a queen. Badass. Think badass, Rosemary. And if I fall? What would a bad ass do? They’d get their bad ass right back up, dammit. They’d not accept failure. Because bad asses aren’t failures. They’re not quitters. “You’re a bad ass queen!” I tell myself in the mirror. But not in this outfit. I should pants instead of a dress. Might need to lift my legs for kicking ass.

I look myself over once more. I’ve dressed the part in my elegant black pant suites with a cream colored silk blouse. A single strand of pearls and pearl earrings are the final touches. I couldn’t resist my hot pink designer heels. My blond locks are in an updo. I wish I felt as powerful as I look, but my grandmother once assured me confidence comes with experience.

It’s time to go present my pitch to my big brother Van. He’d asked me to come up with some ideas for the winter and holiday season. My plan is for a winter ball and to transform the entire resort into a classic Christmas village. We’ll have the perfect real tree in the lobby. It’ll be magical! I want our guests to feel like they’ve walked into a Christmas story book or a classic Christmas movie.

When I walk into my brother’s office I’m startled to find Alexi Diakos already sitting in front of his desk. Considering Van loathes Alexi’s existence this doesn’t bode well. I hope he isn’t firing him. I rather like Alexi. He’s charming, easy on the eyes, and such a fun flirt. We’ve definitely had our moments, but never crossed any lines. Despite my reputation as a party girl, most people would be shocked to discover I’ve only had two serious boyfriends that I’ve been intimate with.

“There she is!” Van smiles at me and stands from behind his desk. Alexi quickly stands and gives me the widest grin.

I guess he isn’t in here to be fired. Then what in the hell is doing here? And smiling? Maybe they’re playing nice because I’m here.

“Hey there handsome,” I purr at Alexi. Van clears his throat and I return my attention to my brother. “Are you busy? I can come back.”

“No. You’re right on time. Alexi will be joining us.”

I blink twice before I can process what he’s saying. “Why would he be a part of the meeting? We’ve not established anything yet and still need to discuss the basics. I agree we’ll probably need a few signature cocktails.”

“As your partner I’d think he needs to be a part of that.”

My what… Do my ears deceive me? My stomach plummets as I struggle to remain an ounce of composure. Don’t react. Don’t be rash. “While I appreciate any and all help, I don’t need a partner. This is my project and I’ll be handling it on my own.”

Van has the nerve to look flabbergasted. He gestures toward Alexi and has the audacity to asks, “What’s wrong with having a partner on this?”

“Because I’m a badass. I’ve got this.” Not my finest response I realize too late. Gosh that came out childish.

Alexi presses his lips together, clearly fighting back a laugh. “No arguments here, doll.”

Doll? What is he, a twenties mobster? Of course that nickname brings out something dark inside of me. When I was little, I was “a little doll,” to everyone with my two blond braids and porcelain skin. As a teenager I acquired the nickname Barbie because of my long blond hair, sun kissed skin, and figure. What do the two names have in common? Plastic. Fake. Beauty – but that’s it. I’m viewed as someone to be toyed and played with for amusement.

I level my brother with a look. “I’ll speak to you later in private. ” Giving Alexi a mockingly sweet smile I say, “See ya around, baby face.”

As the door close behind me I hear him grumble to my brother. “I don’t have a baby face.”

The door to my suite slams closed from the pressure of my back against it. My body slides down to the floor, and only then do I allow the tears to fall. How could Sullivan – or Van – do this to me? I was so excited and filled with pride because I foolishly thought he had faith in me. That he thought I could do this. Of course he’d had in mind to put someone else on the project. Someone to monitor me. Supervise. I’d rather he’d never offered it to me if he was only going to give the illusion of me having responsibilities. I guess he figured Alexi could distract me with his charm all the while actually handling everything. Meanwhile Alexi gets to move up and impress his boss. Like I haven’t had guys date me to get closer to the men of the Hayes empire before.

Oh my gosh! Was that all his flirting was about before? Since I’ve arrived he’s been sweet on me. I didn’t get the impression my name meant anything to him. He didn’t seem like the type to care about status and money. In fact I thought he found me more of a challenge and thrill of the chase type. He gave off give ‘em a good time, give mind blowing orgasms, and then move on to the next conquest sort of man.

I’d been deceived by all of them. No wonder they find me so na?ve, because I am. I’ve proven it over and over by misplacing my trust in people. Well, that stops now. I get to my feet and walk over to the bathroom sink to wash my face.

A fresh scrubbed and clean face already has me feeling refreshed. I can’t keep doing the same things and expecting different results. That’s on me. I refuse to wait for my opportunity. I’m going to take it. Along with it, I’m going to take charge of my life without waiting for approval from anyone. Look out everyone. This badass is officially taking charge and stepping into her role. I’m Rosemary Hayes, not the princess of the family, not the heiress to the Hayes Empire, not Sullivan’s bratty little sister, and not someone to toy with and used as a pawn or tool to get closer to the family or gain social status. No. Those days are gone.

I smile in the mirror at my freshly clean face. This me. Not hiding behind expensive products, kind of like how I won’t be hidden in the shadow of my name anymore. They’ll know who I am and that I’m equally as much of a boss and the rest of them.

“Fear me bitches.” I blow a kiss to my reflection before turning to go confront stupid Van.