Private listing, p.3
Private Listing, page 3
I look down at the papers in my hands.
Blake stands and comes around the desk. “I’ll set you up at your desk to fill this out. Then Cooper will take you on the tour. Seth will see you afterward.”
It all seems so neat and tidy, but what could be so important the CEO needs to explain it to me? Unless they’re worried that I won’t be professional. Have they noticed the way I look at them? Am I going to get a lecture before I even start?
Maybe they’ll distract me so much I won’t be able to do my job. This isn’t normal for me. If I have an itch, I see something I like and I scratch it. I haven’t always chosen the best people for sex, but it’s also never consumed me the way it does around these men.
Whatever is happening, I need to get myself under control and focus on what’s important. Getting to the next level in my career. This is just a stepping-stone, and it should give me a real leg up. I can’t fuck this up with something as trivial as sexual attraction.
Chapter 3
The Apartment
Madison
As I sit in the center of everything trying to fill out my paperwork, I feel really exposed. Which doesn’t make a lot of sense given that I’m the only one in this space and all the doors are closed to the guys’ offices, except for Blake’s. I cross my legs and finish the last form.
I lean back in my chair and look around. I’m all alone out here. Blake’s low voice murmurs in conversation, but otherwise it’s quiet. I’m not sure if I should go to his door or wait for Cooper. I don’t want to interrupt his phone call, so I wait.
My desk is beautiful. A sleek combination of glass and dark wood. Absolutely no clutter litters the surface. Even the computer monitor is sleek. I inhale and exhale. This is mine. This is happening. I can do this.
“Madison.” Cooper’s voice sends warm shivers down my spine to pool between my legs.
I have to get this under control. I turn in my chair to see him striding toward me. His dark hair is pulled back. How long is it when it’s down? His sky blue eyes focus on mine, and that smile of his should be illegal in forty-eight states.
“Are you ready for the tour?” He holds out a hand.
“Yes, Mr. Graham.” I brace myself for his touch. As I slide my hand into his, sparks burst through me. He helps me stand, drawing me close to him. I close my eyes at the sensations rippling through me for a second. When he doesn’t immediately back up, I dare to open my eyes and tip my chin to meet his gaze.
“Cooper, please.”
His cologne has a clean and crisp scent, and my knees try to betray me once again.
I fall back a small step—space is needed—and smile up at him. “Of course, Cooper.”
His eyes darken, and his gaze drops to my lips before he clears his throat. “I get the pleasure of showing you the apartment.”
He hasn’t released my hand. Instead, he repositions his so we’re holding hands as he leads me to the elevator. I’m going to be wrecked if these men keep manhandling me. I shouldn’t like it, but my body isn’t listening to my feminist brain currently. No, my body is too focused on the feel of his skin against mine and wondering if he is as commanding in the bedroom.
After we step into the elevator, he swipes his card and releases my hand.
“Did you have any issues with the paperwork?” he asks, one hundred percent the professional while I’m over here panting because he touched my hand.
“No.”
The elevator ride is quick, only one floor down. He gestures for me to precede him out. I step out on similar marble floors. It’s a small hallway with the elevator and five doors, one in front and four down the hallway.
Cooper moves to the first door and slides his access card into it. “This apartment will be yours if these two weeks go well.”
I follow him in. Immediately, my attention is drawn to the floor-to-ceiling windows along one wall. The ceiling is at least twelve feet tall. It feels like I can see the entire city from up here. Considering my current view from my apartment is brick walls, this is definitely an upgrade.
“All the apartments share this space.” Cooper’s hand goes to the small of my back as he leads me into the room.
“All?”
I tear my eyes from the leather sectional and the huge flat-screen TV next to the fireplace in the corner. At the other end is a large table with ten chairs surrounding it. The chandelier glitters and sparkles as it dangles over the center of the table.
“The four of us live on this floor as well. The bedrooms are all separate and have their own access code, but the living space is shared.” Cooper leads me into the kitchen area.
It’s huge, with marble countertops and stainless steel appliances. It’s so much bigger than my kitchen. I can’t resist running my hand over the smooth, cool marble. This is like a dream.
“Part of your duties will be to order groceries and be here for the deliveries once a week.”
I smile. Maybe they require a housewife, not an administrative assistant.
“Do you cook?” Cooper leans against the counter as I walk around the island.
“Probably not to the level you guys are used to, but I know how to follow a recipe.” There’s a huge farm-style sink. Everything is pristine and perfect.
“We aren’t all that particular.” Cooper closes in on me.
My breath catches in my throat as I peer up at him.
“We also won’t require you to cook for all of us unless that’s something you’d like to do.” He reaches out and tucks a stray hair behind my ear.
My insides turn to liquid as I try to stay focused on the work and the apartment and not this dangerous attraction.
His smile is a little predatory, but in the next instant, it softens and he steps away. “Still more to see.”
My heart is trying to take off at the rate it’s racing. I blow out a breath and follow him.
He opens double doors into what qualifies as a study or a library. Books line wooden bookshelves from floor to ceiling. A rolling ladder rests in the corner. Low leather chairs in small groups fill the space. A library table with five chairs sits close to the window.
I long to trail my fingertips along the spines of the books to see what these men consider worthy of their presence. This can’t be real life.
What bosses ask their assistant to basically live and work with them twenty-four seven? Especially these men. Maybe I can understand the convenience, but when they said an apartment was part of the package, I figured it would be just me in a small studio, which I would have been grateful for.
“We try not to keep working after business hours, but sometimes we’re forced to work on some projects into the night. Otherwise, this space is just a quiet area to read. Noah prefers it when we’re watching TV.” Cooper turns his gaze on me. “Do you read, Madison?”
Heat rushes my cheeks at his attention. “I usually just read on my phone when I have time. It’s been a while since I’ve gone to the library to get actual books.”
I don’t add that some of what I like to read gets pretty dirty.
“You are welcome to read whatever you find here.” Cooper’s smile turns sly. “You might even find some inspiring works of fiction.”
I choose to ignore the teasing tone. See? I can be professional.
“This is amazing. I can’t believe I might live here.” I can’t contain my grin. A freaking library. I would have been happy with a studio apartment. Maybe a one bedroom with a galley kitchen, but this… I don’t even have words. Am I stepping into a very pretty trap?
“Let me show you to your room.” Cooper reaches for my hand, and without thinking, I take it. He leads me to one side and stops in front of a door. “All the other bedrooms have a door to the hallway, but this is the largest room, and has the emergency door in case of fire. It leads directly out onto the stairs.”
He turns the knob and pushes the door open, letting me lead the way in. The first room is a sitting room. Hardwood floors are everywhere throughout the apartment, but a light cream area rug makes this space a little more homey. There’s a white couch, a tall wingback chair and another flat-screen TV, not as big as the one in the living room, but bigger than any TV I’ve ever owned.
A bar area sits off to the side with a small refrigerator and a microwave.
Cooper gestures to it. “If you don’t want to journey into the shared space.”
This room is already bigger than the living area in my apartment. To say this would be a step up is an understatement.
I nod and continue to explore. I open the bedroom door and gasp. The bed is bigger than king-sized with more room than I’ll ever need on my own. The covers are a pale peach with so many pillows I could bury myself in them. A low pile, light gray rug covers the floor.
“The room dictated the size of the bed.” Cooper straightens his tie as he moves past me to the wall opposite the floor-to-ceiling windows.
Instead of following him, I walk to the windows and take in the view. At least on this side, this is the tallest building. Cooper’s warmth reaches me before I hear him behind me. He stands so close his suit jacket brushes my shirt.
Sparks dance along my skin.
I want to lean into him and take in all his warmth. Feel his hands sliding up my sides, dragging the satin of my top against my skin. Pressing me against the window as he reaches down—
“Quite the view, isn’t it?” Cooper’s breath flutters through my hair.
I swallow as shivers trickle down my spine. “Gorgeous.”
“The windows are all shielded. They allow us to look out, but no one can see in. Plus, it keeps the temperature from spiking from the sun.” He steps into me lightly, and I hold my breath, waiting for anything more.
My professionalism took a walk as soon as I met these men. Working with them? Living with them? I’m going to need to invest in rechargeable toys to keep me from jumping them.
“Let me show you the bathroom and the closet.” His fingers trail over my wrist and hand before interweaving with my own.
I bite back the whimper that wants to escape and turn to follow him past that huge bed that could definitely use some messing up. If I start dwelling on fantasies, I’ll get confused about where real life begins and the fantasy ends.
As attentive as my new employers are, they haven’t said anything to make me believe they want more than an executive assistant. If anything, they’ve pointedly touched me to see if I react, or maybe they’re just trying to get me used to them.
No one’s made an obvious move on me. Maybe I’m reading too much into the touches. I need to take my mind out of the gutter and put it back in the boardroom.
“This is your bathroom.” Cooper’s voice echoes in the large space. He releases my hand to let me explore.
Everything is Carrara marble and white tile. The shower is big enough for me and the four of them... but I won’t be thinking about that. I turn to the white slipper tub. It’s deep and wide, perfect for a soak. Before my mind can go there, alone. A soak alone. The vanity has two sinks and there is a water closet off to the side.
Cooper opens a door and gestures for me to come to him. I go without hesitation. Beyond the door is an enormous closet.
“It would take me years to fill this,” I can’t help saying. My stuff would fit in a small corner of this closet.
His lips press tight as his gaze trails over me. I shouldn’t have said that out loud. Now he’ll see how cheap everything I have on really is, or well-worn if I found it at the thrift store.
“I take it most of your money went to college?”
I nod, unable to face him and find that look of distaste that accompanies the realization I’m not in the same league as these men.
“If you need help filling out your wardrobe, I know a few places that will have things in your size for good prices.”
What? I turn and meet his light blue eyes. No disdain, only thoughtfulness. “It’ll take me a few paychecks before I’m able to take you up on that offer.”
His smile is wide. “Don’t worry about it. We’ll sort it out as time goes on.”
He steps out of the closet and closes the door. As we pass by the bed, I resist the urge to run and jump on it. Though I promise myself that if I get to this part of the job, I will most definitely do that. He leads me back through the mini apartment, out to the shared living space.
“What do you think, Madison?” He stops in the center of the space and turns toward me. One of his dark eyebrows arches. “Do you think you could live with the four of us? Work with us day and night?”
If I can get over lusting after them, then yes. “Of course. This is perfect. I’d be lucky to live here.”
Away from creepy neighbors and absentee roommates. It truly seems like a dream come true, but I can’t help but wonder if the other side of the coin is waiting for me in this meeting with Seth.
Chapter 4
Consent
Seth
My palms are clammy. Maybe we should go about this differently. We all agreed to this, but it’s not exactly the best idea. This could blow up in our faces. Again.
There’s this window of opportunity. If we broach it too soon, they run away. If we wait too long, they feel foolish. This time, I decided to be upfront. That means entrusting this woman with a lot of information when trust hasn’t been earned yet on either side.
We’re strangers to her, and she’s a stranger to us.
A knock on my office door makes me stand. My door opens, and Blake walks in without waiting for my say-so. We’ve worked together for so long that we’re usually good at reading each other’s mood, but I can’t tell if Blake is as nervous as I am.
Fuck, I’m never nervous, but this has me tied in knots.
“Cooper is finishing up the tour.” Blake glances over his shoulder as if they will appear there at any moment. “Are you sure you want to do this? She could get to know us better. We can wait and see how the two weeks go before scaring her away.”
Tuesday, I studied Ms. Harris closely during our interview. Her blue eyes were wide but far from naive. Her blond hair fell loose around her shoulders. The clothes she wore didn’t fit her quite right. Definitely not tailored. The shirt was stretched across her good-sized breasts but wasn’t too big around her small waist. Her skirt, though, showed the curves of her ass nicely and gave enough glimpses of her thighs and her well-shaped calves for me to want them wrapped around my waist.
As she met each of us, her full lips parted and her cheeks flushed. Her pupils were blown with desire. She might be hesitant to take what we’re offering, but where there’s a spark, we can coax it into a flame.
I lower myself into my chair and lean back. “We’ll take it slow. A trial run before she moves in with us is best. We may decide she won’t suit our needs.”
“She’s young.” Blake raises an eyebrow.
Just out of college, starting out. It was one reason we pulled her resume. We need someone fresh to do this job. Someone who’s ambitious. Who wants to do more than just sit at a desk and give us reports. She’s driven, graduating in four years with an MBA and doing internships at the same time.
Her resume looks like ours would have.
“We aren’t that much older than her.” Yes, we have a company we built from the ground up. But we’re all in our upper twenties. Only Coop has already turned thirty. Blake and I were a year behind him in school, while Noah was a year behind us, but he skipped a grade early on, so he also got his degree the same year Blake and I did.
“Twenty-nine is a long way from twenty-two.” Blake snorts and glances over his shoulder again. He steps in closer. “NDA first. God knows, if she spreads this contract business around, we could all be toast.”
“I haven’t forgotten how to do my job.” I straighten and walk around the desk. “We all agreed we want her, so what’s this about?”
I rest my hip on the desk and cross my arms. We all want her. Probably too much.
It was an easy decision, and surprisingly, everyone was in without any convincing.
“I don’t want to fail again.” Blake always needed to be the best at everything. Throughout high school and college, there were athletics and academics, but in the real world, it’s more difficult to figure out how to be the best.
Our company is almost number one. Almost. Our industry is super competitive and being ranked that high is amazing. Which is why we push ourselves so hard.
Blake takes failure a lot harder than the rest of us.
“She hasn’t even started.” I lower my arms. “We’ll know up front if she’s interested in pursuing the contract or not. She’ll still make an excellent executive assistant. She’s got the brain and hunger for it.”
He nods and leaves.
He’s not wrong. The last time we tried this, we lost an outstanding executive assistant. We all weren’t into her, though. Madison has something that draws even me. This had better work, or I’ll be taking a lot of cold showers.
Movement at my door captures my attention. Madison stands there with her fist up, preparing to knock on the open door. She’s tucked her blond hair into a bun. Little tendrils escape to dance around her shoulders. Her cream shell top goes well with her black skirt.
She smiles tentatively as her blue eyes meet mine. “I didn’t want to interrupt, if you aren’t ready for me.”
When her arm drops to her side, I wave her in and gesture to the chair before me. Her floral scent wafts by me as she sits.
“Have you ever signed a nondisclosure agreement before?” I go to the door and close it. Much as I want to stay near her, this conversation might be easier if I sit behind the desk.
“Yes.” She crosses her legs.
“We deal in a very specialized field, and you’ll have access to proprietary information.”
She nods seriously.
“We are also very private men, and as you’ve seen the apartment, you’ll be privy to our lives. We expect discretion in all of this.” I pick up the agreement from my desk and move it over to her.
