Tempting Her Read online

  Tempting Her

  Chloe Peterson

  Copyright © 2020 by Chloe Peterson

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Created with Vellum

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  1

  Carly tucked her hair behind her ear as she laughed, throwing her head back and batting her eyes. She was laying it on thick, maybe, but she was also determined. She felt lonely and frustrated and liked the way Ryan’s eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled, and she especially liked how they flickered up and down her body as she leaned back against the edge of her desk.

  Ryan worked on the public relations floor of their finance corporation. They had met in the elevator while she was on her way up to the corporate offices, and as their eyes met from opposite ends of the elevator there was an instant attraction that, two months later, had not dissipated. In fact, it was stronger, if anything, and Carly was praying for the romance story moment when they would both be working late one night, only to find that they were the only two left in the building. Then things would happen, words would be said, and he would be driving his shaft into her while she splayed herself over her boss’s desk. Even just the thought made her squirm a little.

  If she was being honest with herself, though, she wasn’t sure which idea she enjoyed more – having sex with Ryan, or secretly getting off on the desk of the tyrannical woman who Carly acted as personal assistant to. Speaking of the tyrannical woman–

  Carly’s desktop computer pinged with a new email, and she grimaced apologetically at Ryan as she leaned back to peek at it, pretending not to notice the way his eyes focused on the pull of her blouse over her chest.

  Get here now, the email read. Bring the Singapore files.

  Carly quickly straightened and turned to the row of cabinets behind her desk, pulling open the top drawer of one of her filing cabinets and grabbing manila folders thick with graphs and numbers and investment plans. Most companies had gone paperless years ago, but Andy Dalman, the founder of the Dalman Group, insisted that everything stay off the cloud. It was inefficient and risky, but Carly, like her fellow employees, had no say in the matter.

  “Sorry, the Wicked Witch is calling me in,” she said. “Will I see you later? Or is this your last trip up here for the day?”

  Ryan rubbed his jaw, thoughtfully. “I think this is it for me. I gotta get back down, start planning the agenda for next week.”

  Carly sighed as she closed the cabinet drawer with her shoulder and balanced the folders on her forearms. “Friday is always bittersweet. You get the weekend off, but then you have to deal with the fact that you have to come back.”

  Ryan grinned. “I don’t know if it’s that bad.”

  “You don’t have to work for the devil.”

  “Oh, come on. She’s not that bad.”

  “She is, though.” Carly flicked through the papers quickly as she rounded the desk and hurried across the hallway towards the Senior VP’s office. Ryan fell into step next to her. “I swear, she doesn’t even look at me as a person. I’m just someone to carry everything and remember her meetings. I don’t think she could tell you my eye color. She can barely remember my name.”

  “You’re exaggerating.”

  “Maybe. It’s still hard, though.”

  Ryan laughed and stepped away from her, moving toward the elevators. “All right, well good luck with that. And have a good weekend. I’ll see you Monday?”

  “If you’re lucky.” Carly flashed him what she hoped was a dazzling goodbye smile, hoping it didn’t look too excited or desperate. When he disappeared by the elevators, she took a deep breath and then turned towards the door, giving a light knock with her knuckles before pushing inside.

  Robin was standing by the window, one arm wrapped around her waist, the other raised to tap her fingers against her lips. Her brow was furrowed, and her dark brown hair twisted into a tight chignon. Her full lips were pursed and her blue eyes slightly narrowed as she stared out over the cityscape. She was wearing a pantsuit tailored to cling closely to her slim body, black jacket pulled tight over the swell of her breasts and dress pants clinging to the curve of her thighs. Her sharp gaze flicked toward Carly as she silently stepped inside, but she didn’t say anything, concentrating instead on the speaker phone.

  “Listen, Robin, you and I both know you’re the one who can make this the best deal for all parties involved,” a man was saying, and Carly slowed as she recognized the voice of one of Dalman’s MDs. “But Mr. Jung has a very specific belief in how the world should be. You know that.”

  “I’m a single woman, it’s not like I’m going out cavorting with sinners and prostitutes every night,” Robin snapped back, whipping away from the window and stalking back to the desk, leaning in close to the phone. “I get that he likes family values, but Jesus Christ, Dan. This is my deal. I did all the work for it. I prepared everything for it. I’m not letting Chris get all the credit.”

  Carly stayed by the door, the files pressed against her chest. She twisted her lips. Chris Canton was one of the other Senior VPs at Dalmans, and – in her calm, objective opinion – was an absolute bastard. Carly didn’t care much for her boss, but even she didn’t want to see Chris seal the deal on this partnership with the investor. She and Robin had been in the office after hours for the past two months, looking over the numbers and drafts for this, sending directives back down the chain to get the best deal possible. Carly watched Robin’s cheeks flush red with anger, and she couldn’t help but feel bad for her.

  “I’m sorry, Robin. There’s really nothing I can do.”

  Robin closed her eyes and her head dropped, and with a rush of unease Carly realized her shoulders were shaking, just barely. She swallowed and looked away. Robin was the definition of stone cold, a woman who was focused entirely on her ambition and nothing else. To see her like this, actually showing emotion – crying, no less – made her chest feel tight with discomfort.

  She walked to the desk quickly, keeping her eyes down in a weak attempt to give Robin some semblance of privacy. She set the files down on the desk and turned to leave the room, but suddenly a warm hand was wrapping around her wrist, stopping her.

  “Wait,” Robin said. Carly turned to look at her. She was staring at her, her blue eyes bright. Carly frowned, confused, but Robin just turned to look back at the phone. “Dan, I know I said I’m single, but I’m not. I just – I didn’t really want to have to tell you like this.”

  “What? You’re dating?”

  “Engaged, actually.” Robin looked back at Carly, fastening her gaze on hers. “To my assistant, Carly. We haven’t set a date yet, but…”

  “You’re engaged?” Dan cried, his voice going tinny over the phone with his loud excitement. “Shit, Robin, why the hell didn’t you say? I need to go – I’m going to figure out how to get you into contact with Mr. Jung. I’ll call you back.”

  There was a click, and the line went dead.

  Slowly, Robin’s hand fell away from Carly’s wrist, her fingers trailing over her skin. A long, heavy silence hung over them. Carly couldn’t look away from Robin’s clear blue eyes, her heart pounding in her chest and heat spreading over her entire body.

  “What,” she said, slowly, her voice level and even, “the hell was that?”
r />   Robin sighed and collapsed into her desk chair, waving her hand at the seat across from her.

  Carly sat, slowly, feeling like the entire world had suddenly been plunged underwater.

  “You heard what he was saying.” Robin shrugged, grabbing one of the files Carly had brought in and flipping through it. “He was going to give the deal to Chris. There’s no way in hell I’m letting that happen.”

  “So you want to marry me?” Carly screeched. Robin winced a little at her volume, but Carly didn’t bother to feel bad.

  “No, I don’t want to marry you. Obviously. This is just until I make the deal with Mr. Jung. You don’t even have to do anything, Carly. Just call me “honey” in front of Dan, or something.”

  Carly stared across the desk at Robin as she pulled a piece of paper from the file and started to read over it, her eyes flicking back and forth rapidly. “I didn’t even think you knew my name.”

  Robin’s head jerked up at that, her brow furrowing. “Your name? Carly, you’ve been working for me for three years. You didn’t think I knew your name?”

  “You never used it!”

  “I never needed to! I still know it!”

  The two of them stared at each other. Carly vaguely wondered what would happen when office gossip spread and Ryan heard that she was engaged to the boss she had just been shit-talking to him about. The phone rang, and Robin reached over to answer it on speaker, her eyes never leaving Carly’s.

  “You’re in,” Dan said, not even bothering to say hello. “I just spoke to Mr. Jung. He’s delighted to work with you, and also wishes to extend his congratulations to the happy couple.”

  Robin’s lips spread into a sharp grin. “Perfect. I can visit him in his home office as soon as he’d like, if you–”

  “That won’t be necessary,” Dan interrupted. “His son is getting married in a few weeks. He’d love for you and your fiancée – what was her name again? – to attend. You can speak and plan with him there.”

  Carly glared at Robin, who winced and rubbed at her forehead.

  “Her name is Carly. And I don’t know if–”

  “Nonsense. I’m already setting up your itinerary, and Mr. Jung has plans to prepare a space for you.”

  “Dan–”

  “I’ll email you in a few minutes with all the information. Congratulations again!”

  And then the dial tone was ringing, and the two women were left staring at each other again.

  “I quit,” Carly said into the silence, and Robin sighed.

  “You can’t. I won’t allow it.”

  “That’s not how quitting works.”

  “Look, it’ll be fine. You get to go on a nice, all expenses paid weekend trip, and then that’s it. Okay? It’ll be fine.”

  “Easy for you to say. What would you have said if I already had a partner?”

  Robin frowned at her. “Do you?”

  “Well… no.”

  “Then it’s fine.”

  Carly crossed her arms over her chest. “What do I get out of this?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You’re asking a pretty big favor of me. One that I am definitely not getting paid for. I want something in return.”

  Robin sighed and pressed her fingers to her lips. “What is it that you want?”

  Carly bit her lip. “I need a day off.”

  “Done.”

  “In April.’

  “Absolutely not,” Robin said immediately. “April is tax month. Are you joking?”

  “No. I want April twelfth off. That’s the only way.”

  “Jesus.”

  Carly kept her face carefully set, not letting her expression show how terrified she was. She needed this day off. She had never thought this would be the way she got it, but if it worked, so be it. “Deal?” she asked.

  Robin sighed and stuck her hand out. “Deal.”

  Carly reached out to take her hand, and the two shook.

  2

  Robin blinked her eyes open slowly, sleep blurring her vision for a moment before she rubbed it away. She sat up in bed. It was still dark outside her window, her alarm clock showing in harsh red numbers that it wasn’t even five in the morning yet. She stared at it, incredulous at how early it was, before she remembered what it was that had woken her. Yawning, she reached out to grab her phone off the nightstand, clicking it open. There were two missed calls from Dan, and as she stared at the notifications the device began to ring with another call.

  “Jesus Christ,” she muttered, squeezing her eyes shut for a moment before answering.

  “Robin, pack a bag,” Dan said, not bothering with a greeting, his voice rough with sleep. “Mr. Jung just called the office. His private jet is available today, I guess, and he wants to let you use it. It’s at the airport now, and you don’t want to keep him waiting. He’ll be at the airport in Singapore to pick you up. Or, his driver will be, at least.”

  Robin scrambled out of bed, her feet twisting in the sheets and her knee banging against the edge of the bed.

  “Dan, are you kidding me? You’re telling me this now?”

  “I know, I know,” Dan said, and Robin grit her teeth at his entirely unapologetic tone. “But his PA just got into contact with mine. I guess they forgot about the twelve hour time difference.”

  “Oh, did they?” she grumbled, pressing the phone between her ear and shoulder as she yanked open the door of her closet and reached back into it to feel around for her suitcase. “I thought the engagement party wasn’t for a few weeks?”

  “Yeah, that was my mistake. But don’t worry about it, we’ll have someone cover your calls at the office while you’re gone. And your assistant slash fiancée will be with you too, so if anything comes up she’ll be there with you to help. Have you woken her?”

  Robin froze, and for a second it felt like her entire brain function shut off as well. “My fiancée?”

  “Yeah – what was her name, Carol? Wake her up, she’s going too. Or did you forget?” His voice was amused now, and maybe just slightly mocking. “What, did you think you’d have the chance to go on an island adventure full of rich, single people and not have your fiancée holding you back?”

  Robin curled her lip, her cheeks getting hot. “Don’t be an ass, Dan. I know she’s coming. And I’m happy she’s coming,” she added, quickly, not bothering to waste time wondering why she was so offended by the dig at her (not even real) fiancée. “We’ll be there in an hour. The plane is under Mr. Jung’s name?”

  “It is.”

  “Great. I’ll let you know when we land.” She ended the call and took a deep breath, letting her phone drop onto the pile of clothes she had pulled off their hangers. She ran her hands through her hair, still damp from the shower she had taken just a few hours ago and starting to curl a little around her shoulders.

  She had only gotten back to her apartment around eleven. She and Carly had been up late at the office, desperately trying to finalize all the documentation needed for the deal to be signed. They had hardly spoken the entire time, barely even looking at each other. They had gotten everything they needed done, though, despite the lack of communication.

  Well, she shouldn’t say there was a lack of communication. The two of them had always worked well together – that’s why Carly still worked for her after three whole years. Most of her assistants didn’t make it past the first six months. So even though they had barely said anything, all Robin had to do was hold out a hand with a short grunt and Carly would be handing her the exact file she needed, or if she sighed and ran her hands through her hair in the way that meant she was getting exhausted, Carly knew to go put the coffee on. (And she knew exactly how to make the cup of coffee Robin wanted.) The two of them flowed easily around each other and got their work done fast and efficiently. They had no real relationship outside of Robin asking for things and Carly getting/doing them for her, but Robin figured that was probably for the best. Distance between a boss and her personal assistant was alway
s for the best. It was safer, that way. Easier for both of them.

  Or at least, it would be, if life was normal. Except now she was engaged to her personal assistant, so maybe she didn’t know what she was talking about.

  She lowered herself to her knees and pulled open the zipper on her suitcase with one hand while she dialed the phone with the other, scrolling through her contacts till she found “PA – Carly.” She clicked it and pressed the screen to her ear. It rang three times before Carly picked up.

  “Robin?” Carly said, her voice deep and slow with sleep. It was cute. “Robin, why are you calling me at five o’clock in the morning? Do you need me at the office?”

  “No, the airport.” Robin shoved her panties and bras into one corner of the suitcase and then started to fold her shirts. “Mr. Jung just called Dan, apparently his private jet is ready and waiting for us. I want us to be wheels up in an hour.”

  “His plane…?” There was a long pause before Carly seemed to realize what she was saying. “Jesus. You’re leaving now?”

  “We are leaving now, my dear fiancée,” Robin corrected. “I’m going to call a cab to take me there – do you need to be picked up as well?”

  “Um… no. I can make it. What – what should I be bringing?”

  “Your laptop. We’ll be working, remember. We’ll buy any formal attire we need there, on company money. But keep it casual – it’s a party, after all.”

  “Right,” Carly grumbled. Robin could hear the sound of thumping drawers in the background of her call. “I’ll meet you at the airport, then. The plane is Mr. Jung’s?”

  “That’s right. See you soon.”

  Robin hung up, dropping her phone back on the floor to finish packing. That was actually a lot easier than I thought it was going to be, she thought. At least I know she won’t be complaining the entire time we’re there.