Accidentally Flirting with the CEO (Whirlwind Romance Series) (2 page)

What could possibly go wrong at her evaluation meeting
tomorrow?

The next morning, Alexa dashed through the parking lot of
Hope’s Plaza toward the glass building that housed TLC Advertising.

The early morning sun peaked through the clouds and the
humidity moistened her skin. She breathed in the air as her nostrils took a
cool whiff of fragrance from the fresh flowers blooming in the flowerbed near
the entrance to the building.

Oh, she wished life were a bed of roses right now, but it
was far from it. She could feel her heart pound hard and fast in her throat.

That damned e-mail!

She swallowed hard.

A sense of urgency raced through her as she quickened her
steps toward the building. Her shoes made a tapping noise on the pavement. She
wore her pink-colored knee-length summer dress and a professional looking
cream-colored blazer. A fashionable scarf tied around her neck to polish her
look.

Neat.

Sophisticated.

Business-like. Yet relaxed for the artistic company she
worked for. 

She really didn’t want to risk perspiration before her big
evaluation this morning. But she just had to beat Jess into the office to
somehow delete the X-rated e-mail she accidently sent to him, with the help of
the I.T. department, of course. She had to do all this before he arrived into
the office. She couldn’t risk him getting the e-mail she sent to him in error.

Alexa stopped just a few steps shy of the entrance. There,
over by the reserved parking section her eyes caught Jess’s silver Ford SUV.

Shit
.

He was in the office already. She peered down at her watch.
It read 7:33 a.m.

“What the hell is he doing here so early?” she frowned,
panic scrawled on her face.

God, he’s a workaholic!

 Please tell me he did not read that e-mail.

The sound of a car door slamming caused Alexa to jolt. She
whipped her head to the direction of the noise. An executive from one of the
other offices in the building had slammed his car door shut incredibly hard. He
appeared with gym pants and t-shirt as he scuttled into the building, briefcase
in hand, garment bag swung over his shoulder—probably his suit in the
bag.

Alexa slapped her forehead and laughed. “Of course! Jess
always works out first thing in the morning at the gym in the basement. Silly
me.”

That meant she didn’t have much time. But there was still
some hope.

Luckily, Brett, the cute, young geeky I.T. guy who she later
found out had a crush on her when she first worked for the company, was
usually in the office first thing. Surely, he’d do
her the favor and somehow find a way to delete one of Jess’s incoming e-mails.
If there was some way. If it were ever possible. Brett would know how to do it,
for sure.

Alexa counted on it. Depended on it. Needed it badly.

She hit the elevator button going to the top floor of the
building and rushed right in and pressed the ‘close door’ button repeatedly as
if the door would close faster. She then pressed hard on the floor number as if
that would send her quicker to her destination.

She tapped on her handbag as her heart still raced, pacing
in the elevator.
God, if the security could see me now on the hidden camera
in the elevator, they’d think I’m nuts. Or about to go crazy.

Alexa thought she might just go crazy if Jess ever got hold
of that e-mail.

She froze.

Another thought just struck her. Lee had access to his
e-mails.

Oh, crap. This is just getting worse.

Apparently, Lee, who used to be Jess’s executive assistant
often received some of his e-mails forwarded to him so that she could handle
most business matters. Lee did not exactly take a liking to Alexa, for a reason
Alexa knew absolutely nothing about. She tried so hard to be nice to
Lee—to smile, crack a joke, do errands for her. But all yielding little
or no results.

Lee’s icy vibes toward Alexa froze her out every time. Lee
had been known to let go a lot of employees, mostly young women, for some odd
reason. Probably had something to do with that lawsuit.

Oh, great!

When she got off the elevator she ran towards the double
glass doors. TLC Advertising.

There, Pamsey, the receptionist, happened to be sitting at
her desk tapping away on her computer keyboard. She often came in early to
clear vendors’ e-mails and get an early start to the day. It took a while for
Pamsey to warm up to her. Or anyone for that matter. Pamsey was damn good at
her work, but different. Gothic in appearance with her jet black hair, blue
streaks of hair, black nail polish on her fingers and toes, black lipstick,
thick black eye-liner, pierced nose and yep, you guessed it. Black attire.
Always.

Still, Alexa admired her spunk. The whole team did. There
had been talks of promoting her to account coordinator—after Alexa was
promoted—and hiring another receptionist. Pamsey, may not be the best
people-person, smiling only on occasion. But she was professional and damn
efficient and had a head full of creative ideas.  She got things done.

“You’re early.” Pamsey’s eyes were glued to the computer as
she spoke to Alexa.

“Oh, yeah. You know just trying to get a start to the day.
Did you have a nice weekend?” Alexa bit down on her lip as she tried to hide
the jitter in her cracked voice. Nothing seemed to be working out that morning
as planned.

Alexa had a sick feeling no one else was in the office. Most
of the lights were turned off in other areas. Including the I.T. area. It was a
loft office with high ceilings and an open concept.  A large plant adorned
the reception area with comfortable couches and artsy coffee table for clients.
Ceiling to floor windows that gave a breathtaking view to Mercy Springs, Texas.
They weren’t the only advertising agency with that view. Apparently, Jess’s old
buddy from high school had an office in the plaza adjacent. Another advertising
agency.

“S’okay. How was your weekend?” she said nonchalantly, as if
she couldn’t really care less if Alexa answered.

“Good. Thanks. Got lots of rest.”
Okay that sounds so
lame.

“Anyway, is Brett in? I needed him to look at something on
my computer for me.”

“Nope.”

“No?”

Pamsey looked up from her computer. Unimpressed.

Emphatically, she repeated, “No. He’s. Not.” She glanced
back to her computer screen then continued, “He’ll be in around noon. Had a
doctor’s appointment.”

What?

“Oh. Cool. That’s fine. I’ll wait.”
No. That’s not cool.
Not at all. I can’t wait! Oh. No. I am so dead.

Pamsey looked back at Alexa with a ‘what-ever’ expression as
if she could somehow read her mind and sense her urgency. She then shrugged and
settled back to her work on her computer. Alexa got back to finishing her
silent panic attack which may very well morph into a full blown nervous
breakdown. If she didn’t have a Plan B beforehand, she had seconds to conjure
up one now.

Jess was about to receive Alexa’s e-mailed seduction. Part
of her—probably a larger part of her—wanted Jess to know exactly
what she felt about him in her heart. How much she longed to get close to him
in every sense of the word. Another part of her was terrified of what he would
really think of her salacious, uncensored thoughts of him. Would she ultimately
turn him on, or log him off her for good?

Moments later, Alexa sat in her cubicle and glanced down at
her sterling silver Guess watch without the numbers. It was 9:30 in the
morning—her Starbucks green tea untouched. As the tea bag seeped in the
container, thoughts of Jess Tandon seeped in her mind.

Her life would probably change forever after their meeting.
The very man she desired. The most unavailable, out-of-her-grasp object of her
desire was about to read her explicit, seductive (and highly embarrassing)
e-mail.

She jolted up when her phone rang on her desk. Reluctantly
she pressed the speaker option when she saw it was reception calling. 

“Hey, Pamsey.” Alexa tried to hide the sound of defeat in
her voice.

“They’re waiting for you in the boardroom.” Pamsey’s voice
boomed through the speaker phone. Alexa’s heart boomed through her chest.

Her pulse raced hard and fast. Her throat tightened up and
her legs felt weak, almost lifeless. Did Jess already view the e-mail?

Jess Tandon grabbed his file and his BlackBerry and headed
to the boardroom. He was dressed in his navy blue business suit. Normally, he
wasn’t formal, but today he would be meeting with another client from out of
town. He’d also just gotten off the phone with Brea, the owner of Hot Spot
Resorts. He couldn’t wait to get the appraisal over and done with and have
Alexa start working on the account.

He realized he was the last to enter the boardroom. His
sister Lee and cousin Chase, the other members of the board were already seated
engaging in small chat. His heart stopped when Alexa strolled into the
boardroom at the same time. His eyes captured hers at the same moment and he
felt some electricity pulse between them. This was not good. It was evaluation
day. He was her boss for God’s sake! Still, he couldn’t help his eyes roaming
over her body from head to toe. She certainly had pleasing proportions. Full
voluptuous breasts. Those hips. Her tiny waist and rounded bottom and the way
she wiggled while she walked.

Stop it, Jess! Get a hold of yourself, man!

“Hi, Jess,” her soft voice called out and distracted his
thoughts.

“Alexa.” He nodded politely as he tried to hide his emotion
by sounding as curt as possible.

God, her long, slender toned legs in that pretty pink dress
caused his groin to react. He drew in a deep breath. Normally he wouldn’t lose
his cool over a woman—but damn! She looked hot in that pink dress! The
word’ beautiful’ didn’t sum her up enough.  Those full lips as ripe as
strawberries. He wondered what her lips would taste like on his—probably
as sweet as red wine.

She didn’t even have to try, he mused. The soft, sweet scent
of her perfume caught his nostrils and drove him crazy. Was there anything
about her that he was not attracted to? He remembered the shy, young university
student when she first came to him looking for work. So willing. So dedicated.
So feisty with her work skills. But she never quite got out of her shell.

“All set?” he offered. He tried to divert his eyes away from
Alexa’s curvaceous body, her presenting breasts which seemed to form nicely
under her dress. And those legs! What would they feel like wrapped around his
waist?

Oh, God. Her nipples are showing through her top.

Jess felt a sudden jerking movement below his waist.
This
is not good. Focus, Jess. Focus. She’s off limits.

The last thing he wanted was any misunderstandings to
surface.  Why did she have to be his employee? He couldn’t wait to be
seated to hide his now growing erection. Why did she have that kind of effect
on him? He couldn’t remember when the last time a woman caused his mind to spin
into a whirlwind as Alexa did. Good thing she couldn’t read his mind. He
lowered his file to his mid-section as he walked into the boardroom after he
greeted Lee and Chase and Alexa was seated.

Alexa couldn’t help blushing as she sat down in the
boardroom. She was usually so in control.  She’d learned to control her
emotions around him…but now? She just couldn’t help herself. It appeared that
he hadn’t seen her e-mail…yet!

At least she would get through the appraisal. Her confidence
suddenly climbed back up a notch. Slightly.

Focus, Alexa. One thought at a time. Let it not be those
luscious lips of his.

Yeah, right. That would be easy. Jess looked impeccable this
morning. Clean shaven, fresh looking. Her eyes caught the delicious masculinity
of his form. Though he wore a gorgeous expensive looking Italian suit, you
could see the physique inside of his suit.

Jess was four things. Tall. Dark. Lean. Sexy.

Everything she could physically want in a man. His dark,
almond eyes danced. His chiselled cheekbones and dark, wavy, shiny hair framed
his deeply handsome face perfectly.

He was hot! No two ways about it.

But did you have to send him that e-mail, Lex?

She had felt conscientious when she walked in ahead of him.
She felt his eyes penetrating her from behind. Alexa only thought of Jess. What
his strong hands would feel like on her skin.

Stop it, Alexa. Focus.

“Okay, let’s begin…”  Lee cleared her throat as she
peered over at Alexa over her glasses.

“Relax. You look as if we’re having you for dinner.” Chase
chuckled as he sat swinging his chair slightly. “You’re doing fine. Don’t
worry.”

“Thanks,” Alexa tried to hide her bungled nerves. They were
there to tell her about her performance. How hard would that be? She already
knew how well she did and how hard she’d worked. It wasn’t as if she’d screwed
up in any way. Except…