No Choice (12 page)

She sheepishly handed over the book, and after seeing the title I understood her hesitancy in showing me. “Being a good parent after living without love.” She was scared of being a mother like she had.

“Are you scared that you’ll be like them, baby?” She didn’t say anything but gave me a nod as her eyes began to tear up.

I climbed into the bed and pulled her to me.

“Natalie, I know you live with doubts, but when you feel that way, you should tell me about it. I’m here not to just fuck you, but I do have to say that’s one hell of a plus. I’m with you because I want us to be more than lovers. I want your friendship, trust, and love. When you’re in pain, I want to take it away, and when you’re frightened, I want to show you I’m your protector.”

“I’m sorry,” she whimpered.

“Don’t, baby. Don’t apologize for feeling like you do. It’s natural after all you’ve dealt with. You can read this book if it makes you feel better, but I know that when we are blessed with a little replica of us, you’ll love him or her like no mother ever could. You are kind, generous, and loving, even to complete strangers. Our child will be lucky to have a mother like you. Hell, I’m grateful every day that I spotted the brunette beauty smiling in a cafeteria.”

“You always know what to say to make me feel better.”

“That’s because you’re marrying an amazing man.” I winked playfully before getting serious again. “No, really it’s because it’s all true.” It sounded corny, but it was true.

“Speaking of helping. I need your help with something.”

“Again, I thought you wanted rest,” she said impishly before rubbing my ever-constant erection.

I took her hand off of it before I wouldn’t be able to concentrate and caved in to sex appeal. “That’s not it, Natalie. Since I no longer have an assistant, I was wondering if you’d like to do it—temporarily, of course.”

“Temporarily. What—you don’t want to see me that much?”

“No, you know damn well I don’t want you working out of the house. Being my assistant requires long hours, and soon you’ll be too busy for that,” I said as I caressed her belly. We didn’t know if she was pregnant because it was way too soon, but I felt like I fucked my baby into her already.

“I know, but I dread you hiring another woman.”

“If I can find a good male assistant, I’ll hire him. Trust me, I never encouraged her.”

“I know you told me over and over again, but it didn’t stop her from trying to secure you as hers,” she grumbled. I couldn’t blame her for feeling that way. I was hesitant to hire a female too.

“So will you do it?”

“Of course. You know I’d do anything to see you more.”

“I’m sorry if you feel lonely, baby. I’ll work on it.”

“Okay. By the way, I’m kind of hungry.”

“Then let’s go out to eat. I want to take you somewhere special.”

“But first I need to get something to wear for tomorrow.”

“Okay, we’ll stop on the way. I don’t want to rush dinner just to get to the stores before they close, but I thought you’d have something here to wear since you were shopping all day.”

“I didn’t buy anything work related since someone insisted I had no use for it.”

“Come, let’s go before it gets any later and your belly goes insane.” She flipped me off and scurried to get dressed.

“What should I wear?”

“Something casual, baby. But not what you have on. That shit’s a little too tight for my liking.”

“You liked it earlier.”

“Yes, when it’s for me, it’s fucking sexy. Now, go get changed.”

“Bossy man,” she pouted friskily before going to the walk-in closet, giving me a perfect view of her delectable ass and her long, loose, thick brown hair.

After a fun dinner at my favorite place—a simple hot dog stand—we took a walk along the pier and enjoyed the warm evening. During our time out along the pier, we discussed her first day.

“You’ll be riding in with Tim tomorrow. I’ve got an early morning meeting, so I won’t have time to show you around until afterward.”

“Are we going to pretend we don’t know each other?”

“Not possible, babe. Did you forget about the picture?”

“I totally did. Not cool, and you know it.”

“I don’t give a shit. I told you that before, didn’t I?” I asked. She merely nodded.

“Well, then, deal with it.”

“Whatever. So what are my duties?”

“Just what most typical executive assistants do: answer the phone, handle my schedule, book my flights, plan any dinner business meetings, take notes at some of my meetings, and review or draft any documents or files I need.”

“Okay. I think I got it.”

“Great, then let’s get back to the house because I’m in need of some more loving, and my cock has recovered enough.”

“What if my stuff is not recovered enough?”

“I’ll get you ready for me, baby. I promise.”

I was a mess as I got ready for work. It was nerve-racking because this was my first job, and it happened to be for the man that I planned to spend the rest of my life with. If I messed up, I would be looked at with scrutiny because I caught the boss. In the back of my mind, I wondered if there were more Crystals lurking about at his company. I knew that he had a company policy on intimate relationships at the office. There was a no tolerance policy, but I was the exception.

I dressed like a professional businesswoman in a blue pantsuit with a white top. I didn’t let Cam see it before I bought it because he would’ve told me no because he didn’t really care for anything tight on me. It was form fitting, but not slutty. I still had a reputation to fulfill as his fiancée according to Van, who came with Tim to visit with her mom while he took me into the office.

As we walked to the truck, I wasn’t steady on my feet this morning, and Tim caught me before I fell.

“Calm down. You look nervous. It’s just an office, and you’re a brilliant woman. Cam isn’t a difficult boss and would fire anyone there if they made you feel unwelcome.”

“I don’t want the attention.”

“Nat, you’re marrying a powerful and wealthy businessman; you are going to get a lot of attention. Just be yourself.”

“Thanks, Tim,” I said with a smile as I got into the truck.

We got to the office quickly, too quickly for me, but here went nothing. Tim took me to the front desk where they gave me a badge with my name on it.

“Miss Cromwell, you’ll be able to get in and out of all parts of the building as Mr. James’s assistant. Welcome aboard. If you need anything, let us know,” said Carl, the head of building security.

Tim escorted me up to the top floor and into the executive suites. The building itself was neat and beautiful, but the executive offices were ten times more physically inviting.

“Wow,” I whispered.

“Yes, these are nice. This is where most of the meetings are held.”   

“Did she decorate the rooms?”

“No. It was done by the building architect and his team—I know what happened is still in your mind, but you have to the let it go or Cam will send you home, then be completely worried about you.”

“I know. It’s just that this is where she came to fantasize and plot to be with Cam. I’m going to be okay.”

“Good, because here comes Cam.” I turned and saw him coming our way with a big-ass smile.

He walked right up to me, wrapped his arms around me, and kissed me deeply like we hadn’t seen each other before he left this morning. Not that I was complaining, but I still looked around to see if we had an audience.

“Hey, baby. Welcome to James Investments.”

“Thanks, Cam. Should you be holding me like this?” I asked, his arms still around my waist.

“Relax, sweetheart. We’ve got a meeting, and my team is waiting in the conference room down the hall to meet you.”

“Cam, I’ve got a few errands to run. I’ll be back around three for our meeting,” Tim said before leaving.

“Okay, I’ll see you then.” He turned back to me and handed me a notebook planner that had his schedule in it for the next two weeks, but nothing before.

“Everything is normally kept on the computer, but the detectives took it for evidence. I’ve been too busy to think about it. You can go over my schedule while I take a call in the office after the meeting.”

He grabbed my hand and walked me down the hall as we waved goodbye to Tim. We’d just gotten down the hall when he pinned me to the wall and his mouth was on me. He pulled back and rested his head on my shoulder as we tried to catch our breath.

“Fuck, babe. I no idea how turned on I’d be with you here. By the way…that outfit is nice and sexy, but I don’t think you can help it.” He kissed me lightly before dragging me the rest of the way down the hall.

Surprisingly, we entered the conference room before they sent out a search party.

If she didn’t think I saw the look on her face when she walked into the suites, she was way wrong. My Natalie looked frightened, and I needed to ease that fear. I kissed my woman hard, partly to ease her anxiety and partly because I was psyched that she was here. It didn’t help that the suit she had on fit her like a second skin. It wasn’t slutty. In fact, it was more like the opposite, but it didn’t matter because I was rock hard for her and damn if she didn’t have the top two buttons undone on her white blouse.

The meeting went by really fast. When I first dragged her in there, she was nervous as hell and it was noticeable to all the staff. Of course, I didn’t just introduce her as my temporary assistant, but as a future part owner of this company, and my future wife. As the boss, it was my right to have my wife come work here since the company would be hers too.

Everyone was affable and businesslike with Natalie. She won over the group without even trying. She’d made a simple suggestion about a monthly celebration to honor employees and their achievements as well as their birthdays. It would be celebrated at the end of the month after the reports were due in my office. That way, it wouldn’t interfere with anyone’s schedule.

I smiled at her several times, which didn’t go unnoticed by the staff, seeing as she was sitting by my side, and I had to turn to her to look at her. I got a couple of grins and lighthearted jabs when they were walking out, but all in all they were great to my woman.

I walked her back to my office, where there was a desk right outside my door. I pointed to it and said, “This, sweetie, will be your desk. Although it really doesn’t matter because most of the time you’ll be in here.”

“No wonder she went crazy over you. She spent a lot of time alone with you.”

“Don’t be jealous, babe. You’ve got no reason for it. Besides, I want you in here, whereas with her, I got her out of my office as fast as I could. I didn’t let her in on every conversation, not that she didn’t listen in, it seems. However, you, as my wife, will have stake in the company and therefore have the right to listen into all my conversations that aren’t about you.”

“Oh my. I forget that I’ll be your wife soon.”

“Damn. I think about it every day, and here you forget.”

“That’s not what I meant. I’ve been planning this wedding every day. Of course I know I’m marrying you. It’s who you are that I forget about. The rich and prominent businessman running a multi-billion dollar company. Now, I’m a part of it. It’s a little unnerving.”

“You’ll get the hang of it, Nat. I trust you,” I replied honestly before stealing a peck.

“Come, sit down, and just listen in on my call. You don’t have to pay attention. You can focus on that schedule I gave you.”

I took the conference call that lasted about two hours, and I let her listen in. She looked at the schedule and had everything memorized before the end of the call and gave me some notes to help with the call. For her first day, she was doing well.

I had a meeting with Tim, so I gave Natalie a brief tour of the building, then a small project of writing up the notes I took during the call. Thankfully her computer was set up by the time I gave her the assignment.

“So tell me, did you find anything else to nail her on? I want this bitch locked up for life, or I may have to bury her.”

“No, her place had already been gone through by the police, and it was very thorough. I did go and pick up the items you requested and dropped them back off at your parents’.”

“Thanks. What about the houses? Did you find any that would suit Natalie and me?” I didn’t have time to look at the houses that I’d narrowed down before her graduation for me and Natalie. He’d sneakily asked her certain things, and so did Van.

“Actually, Vanessa and I looked at four of them for you, but one of them is off the market.”

“Then why did you look at it? Was it pending sale?”

“No because Vanessa fell in love with it and demanded I buy it for us.”

“Thanks for that. Why couldn’t you leave the brat at home? What if Natalie would’ve loved the house?”

“Then you should’ve took her yourself to see it. Finders keepers, man.”

“Whatever. So did you grab the information?”

“Yes the file is at the house as well. I didn’t want her accidentally seeing the file.” The man was smart and sneaky. I didn’t know if I liked those qualities in a man for my sister, but the man loved her.

“Great. I’ll take a look at it once I get home. Did you schedule the viewings already?”

“Yes. You’re booked for all day Saturday.”

“Any news on my attempted murderer?”

“Only that the police do believe Crystal’s statement that she had nothing to do with your cut brakes, and I agree,” Tim said with a sympathetic shrug.

“Great, so I’ve got several crazies after me. First the brake cutter, the last fuck, and the former assistant.”

“Sorry, man.”

It was a long week, and I didn’t know how he did it. I think temporary was a good idea. It was finally Saturday, and Cameron said he was taking me somewhere special today.

“Is it a hot dog stand again?” I said to be a smartass.

He gave me a grimace before growling, “Don’t be a smartass. I was told that you’ll love it.”

We drove twenty minutes from his parents’ and about an hour away from Seattle and the office. He pulled up to a three-story brick mansion. I thought maybe we were going to have a lunch here, but no, he answered my question, or rather the realtor did when she made her appearance.

We were house shopping. Inside, I was jumping up and down with joy. It made this whole relationship and wedding more real to me. I still couldn’t believe a man like Cameron James wanted to marry me, but I wasn’t going to argue it.

Cameron and I looked at three houses, or rather—mansions. I told him we didn’t need that big of a house, but he argued me right out of it after kissing me stupid, weakening my defenses.

“I told you I plan to have you swollen with my babies. I want a baseball team, sweetie. We’re going need a place to house them all.”

All I could do was nod in agreement. His love for me was a constant wonder to me.

It was the second house that I fell madly in love with, and so that was the one we would purchase. It had twelve bedrooms, and of course he teased that we must fill it up with the James baseball team with a couple of relievers. It sat on a hill with an unobstructed view of Seattle and its garage was nearly half the size of the house—that appealed to Cam. Like most men he loved cars. There was plenty of space for children to run around and play, but it also was gated off with a guard booth at the front entrance for added protection, something both of us truly liked.