The Billion Dollar Contract: The Executive Collection (22 page)

Nadia finished her lunch first, packing her things and putting the leftovers in the fridge for the next day. After washing her hands, she told Jasmine she was going to run some errands for the rest of her lunch break. Now without her crutch, Nadia was able to hobble quickly, and in a few more minutes Jasmine was alone in the break room.

She wasn’t surprised when Ethan poked his head back into the room.

“Well aren’t you beautiful today?” He poured himself some coffee at the counter. “Having a pleasant day, Miss Bliss?”

When they were at work, and outside of his office, she was always Miss Bliss. The way he said it wasn’t anywhere near as endearing as the way he said her first name.
He makes me like my name.
Not so much the last name. “If by pleasant you mean everything went to hell this morning and I have been pounding up and down stairs until my legs bleed, then yes, it’s been a pleasant day.”

Coffee cup left on the counter, Ethan sidled up to Jasmine’s chair, wrapped an arm around her shoulder, and bent down to whisper into her ear. “My schedule is pretty clear this afternoon. We could…”

“Scooter.”

Ethan snatched his arm away and stood up straight. “Excuse me?”

Jasmine hunkered down over the table, her muscles taut, but her body wanting anything but a man’s touch right now. “You heard me. Not happening today.”

She wasn’t sure how he would react. This was her first time in the weeks that she started working for him that she outright rebuffed any sexual advances. But today she just couldn’t stand the thought. She wanted to be alone, with her thoughts, and with her body doing what it did naturally while she tried not to think about it.

So she pulled out the word that was in their contract. A word she picked because she had been looking out the window and saw a man on a scooter ride by. “Sorry to hear that.”

“Yeah, I bet you are. Besides, I’m on my lunch break right now. I really don’t want to be bothered by anybody.”

“Very well.” Ethan apologized, his voice low as if he were afraid someone would overhear him.
I bet you don’t apologize very often, huh?
When he was done, Ethan picked up his cup of coffee and went back into his office.

Jasmine glanced at the clock, wondering what she should do for the next 15 minutes. She also wondered if she would be called into Ethan’s office at some point during the afternoon. For work, of course. She had made it clear that nothing else was happening that day but it might be awkward if she were in there and saw him still flustered like that.
He probably doesn’t get rebuffed very often.
Jasmine sipped her own coffee and thought of that Valentine’s Day weekend. The one where she felt some kind of emotional connection to the man who paid her to be there.

Days had passed since then. Days that were slowly turning into weeks. It was March now, and Jasmine still hadn’t sorted out her feelings. Granted, there hadn’t been much time for more feelings to blossom. Work was the same. She did her job as it was written down on paper, then sometimes in the afternoon Ethan called her into his office for things a normal assistant didn’t do. Nine times out of ten it was to service him somehow. But sometimes he would want to go straight to the main action. In his chair, against the desk, or even on the leather couch on the side of the room. Jasmine wouldn’t pretend that she didn’t enjoy it. It was easy to just enjoy it for what it was at work. It was the night and weekend shit that messed with her.

They had gone on two more dates since then. Ethan even actually took her to the opera one night. He took her into a private booth overlooking the theater, and since she had never been to the opera before, and didn’t understand what was going on, he told her everything that he could about the story, the actors, and even the building itself. He talked to her as if she were a friend, a real lover. He even held her hand that night after he was done explaining everything and they simply sat and enjoyed the show. Even afterward, when Jasmine thought they would go back to his penthouse for sex, he instead suggested that they go backstage and meet some of the company. All of the performers knew him and thanked him for his patronage. It was then that Jasmine discovered that Ethan Cole had long been a primary donor. He was on a first name basis with everyone, and most of the flowers on their dressers had his name on them.

Finally they went back to his place. But he didn’t tie her up, gag her, or call her names. They simply had sex, the kind that people tended to have in what Jasmine perceived to be average relationships. It confused her even more, since the basis of their relationship was on the kink. Why would he want to have regular sex with her? Wasn’t she supposed to be a sub?
Really, I shouldn’t be complaining.
But she was complaining because she was confused, and afraid that her heart was being toyed with.

Those were the sort of thoughts she had when her hormones were in overdrive. What did Ethan really want with her? What was his endgame? When Jasmine got involved with him, she had imagined all sorts of sordid things going on. So far the kinkiest they got was some light bondage and role-play. Hormones really did make one think crazy things.

Just as she expected, Ethan called her in around 2 o’clock to take some notes during one of his teleconferences. He was already on the phone when she came in, so they didn’t have to speak beyond her being told what to take note of. Ethan was already in super business mode, meaning that he was fixated on the conversation and not what Jasmine was doing. Just as well. She only cared about doing her job that day. The moment the conference was over, she took her leave and went to type the notes up on her computer. By the time she had everything properly formatted and printed out for Ethan’s viewing pleasure, it was five, and Jasmine got out of there before anyone could tell her otherwise.

Usually she had to hang around until Ethan was finished with his work and said that she could go. After all, they were contracted for ten hours a day. Eight of those hours were consumed with work. The idea was that Ethan could have an extra two hours of her during their private time if he still wanted. Very rarely did he ask for anything. But Jasmine would wait anyway, especially since he was usually quick to dismiss her. That day, however, there was no waiting around. She picked up her purse, said goodbye to Nadia, and went to catch the next bus home.

Her place was still a sty, but at least she had some good food to eat for dinner now. Blackbeard also saw an increase in his food, making him a fatter, more engorged version of himself. Jasmine ate her dinner in front of the TV, watching her favorite primetime show and wishing that she had more ibuprofen to stuff down her stomach.

She was not expecting a phone call from Ethan around seven. She stared at her ringing phone, seeing his name flashing on the screen, and not holding back Blackbeard when he jumped up onto the arm of the couch to hiss at the phone and bat at it with his paw.

“What?” She asked right into the phone the moment she answered it. Jasmine had to turn down the volume on the TV so she could hear Ethan’s voice on the other end of the line. “Sorry I didn’t check in with you when I left. It’s a Scooter day, so I just left.”

“I wasn’t thinking of that.” Ethan’s voice was calm and collected, and that could only mean one thing: he was either going to berate her about something, or he was going to ask her out. “I was calling to check in with you and make sure you are all right. You seemed off today.”

Really? They were going to do this? “I’m fine. If there was something actually wrong, I would’ve brought it up.”

“You sure?”

“Honestly, it’s none of your business.”

That put an end to that for a while. Ethan remained silent on the other end of the phone while Jasmine patted her cat on the haunches.
Did I offend him?
She couldn’t say if she cared one way or the other. “I’m sorry. But it was unlike you today, so I wanted to make sure there wasn’t something wrong.”

Jasmine took a deep breath. “I shouldn’t have snapped. I appreciate you calling me.”

“Think you’ll be feeling better tomorrow?”

“Maybe.”

“Good. I have an important board meeting Friday morning. I’ll be counting on you to make sure everyone is comfortable.” He paused for a second. “In the normal way, of course.”

Oh my God.
Jasmine couldn’t believe he actually clarified that. She had seen the board members before. Old men, and one old woman, all of whom would probably be just as interested in gangbanging her as they would be hacking up one of Blackbeard’s hairballs. “I’m guessing you want me to be my usual peppy self Friday.”

“Do what you can please.” After giving her a few more details, Ethan hung up. Jasmine stared at her phone before closing and tossing it to the side of her couch.
Heaven forbid the little lady not be her cheery self.
Ethan had never asked more than was necessary. The only time he got on her case about not smiling enough was when the board members came around. At first it unnerved her, but then she gradually learned that it wasn’t about her personally, but the image of the company. When the board members congregated, they expected Ethan’s employees to be outstanding. This left little room for someone like Jasmine, who apparently frowned a lot.

I’ll give them something peppy.
Jasmine got up and went to her closet. Inside it, after a couple more trips to Ethan’s penthouse, were two costumes she had taken right from underneath his nose. At first she had joked about the cheerleader’s outfit and the nurse’s uniform, but finally decided to take them home in case any crazy Halloween party showed up. Now she fingered the cheerleader’s outfit, taking it off the hanger as the lights of her bedroom played with the gold sequins.

Blackbeard stood in the doorway and meowed. Jasmine went over to him and dangled the cheerleader’s outfit in front of his face. “What do you think, huh? Should Mommy put this on and really show those board members a good time?” No matter the outcome, Jasmine was sure to win – whether in the pocket, or in the bedroom.

The cat snuffed and waddled over to its food bowl. Good enough for Jasmine.

17

She didn’t really want to go through with it. In fact, Jasmine looked for ways to get out of what she had planned to do. Reasons that it would be a bad idea, and she would regret it forever.

The first sign that she should give up on her plan came Tuesday morning when she walked into the office and saw a vase full of flowers on her desk. They were pink, an innocuous color that could have meant anything. They were also signed only “For My Flower,” just in case anyone else in the office door peeked. Enough for Jasmine to confirm that they came from Ethan, but not enough for others to deduce it was from him.

Of course they asked. She said that it must be a wrong delivery, and took them into the break room where hopefully someone would come rightfully claim them. Nobody did. Because they really were for her, and they really were from Ethan.

Other than that, nothing presented itself as a reason for her to forego her plan. On Wednesday Ethan tentatively called her into his office to see if she was in the mood for anything.
Yeah, sure.
Jasmine wasn’t interested in him touching her, but she gave him something, She left his office that afternoon feeling no better and no worse.

Friday morning, she walked into the office with a bag over her shoulder. Already the office was in much chaos since it was the morning of the board meeting. Nadia was planted in her seat taking calls and fielding the men and women who came in looking for the conference room. The other workers had to fill in various roles, such as making copies, giving out directions, and taking coffee into the conference room. Jasmine shoved her bag beneath her desk, and quelled her surprise when she saw Jackson Lyle walk through the door.

She had managed to avoid him for the most part since that Valentine’s Day. A good thing, since just looking at him sent a shiver of disgust up her spine.
What slime.
Naturally he winked at her. Jasmine wanted to vomit.

At least she was spared from talking to him, as he quickly went to the conference room, chatting with one of the other board members. Shortly thereafter, Ethan emerged from his office, stopping by Jasmine’s desk to ask her if she was ready.

He had no idea.

Her main role that day was to supervise the board meeting, making sure that everyone had everything they needed. Fill up glasses with water, go get coffee, and of course take notes when she could, even though the entire meeting would be recorded. When she asked Ethan why she would have to take any notes because of this, he told her that he liked her notes. That was it.

There were about fifteen minutes before the meeting formally started. Jasmine made sure nobody needed her before she escaped into the women’s restroom. Nobody paid her any mind. After all, it was common sense to go to the bathroom before such a long meeting began. What they didn’t notice, however, was that Jasmine took a large bag in with her.