Sorry about the delay in publishing this post. I originally planned to put up a chapter of my latest book today and then changed my mind, so this post was scheduled for June 9th. Didn't realize the mistake till I woke this morning. Didn't mean to give everyone a shock on this Monday morning.
Hope it was a greet week for everyone and this one will be better. Going to be a hot one here in No. Texas. I guess just the beginning of the summer heat.
Don't forget about the A to Z challenge over at my other blog.
Wendy
Taylor was a confirmed bachelorette. When she graduated from college, she was
the only girl in her social circle that wasn’t engaged or already married. It was by choice.
She was a
beautiful girl. At 5’7” with legs that
went all the way to her neck and curves in all the right places, she had no
shortage of dates. If she accepted a
date, it was with the stipulation, that she would pay her way and she never
dated any man beyond six dates. She
found after that, men started to get the idea she belonged to them. She watched her friends get caught in this
web and it wasn’t going to happen to her, ever.
Her
nickname at Mitchell Enterprises, who employed her as a graphic designer, was
the Ice Queen. She didn’t mind, she
couldn’t tolerate fools and this nickname kept them at bay. She was great at
her job and David Parker, her boss, always gave her the plum assignments
knowing she would come through for him. The
assignment she was currently assigned was for one of their biggest
accounts. The representatives for
Dreamscape Products, Inc. were visiting to go over the designs and concepts for
a new ad campaign. David didn’t usually
require her attendance at these meetings but this time he made an
exception.
“Wendy, I
am going to need you to attend the meeting this afternoon.”
“Why?”
“There
are bound to be questions and since it’s your campaign you will be able to
explain your designs and make other suggestions if necessary. Besides, I want
you to get the credit you deserve. It’s
terrific and I’m sure the clients will feel the same.”
____________________
Wendy was
setting up the Power Point presentation and story boards when the Dreamscape
representatives arrived. Wendy knew how
important this campaign was when she saw Wes Mitchell entering the conference
room along with David. It was Wendy’s
opinion that Wes Mitchell only came down from his glass tower when he deemed
the paens needed his finesse to close the deal.
It really irked Wendy and she hoped she could hide her feelings.
Wes
Mitchell was the son of Desmond Mitchell the founder of Mitchell
Enterprises. He was a handsome man who
knew it. His picture was always in the society section of the paper with one
beautiful woman after another on his arm. He graduated summa cum laude from Princeton University so he had to have brains as well
as looks but Wendy had never seen him in anything but these types of situations
where he would sit back and glad hand everyone and not have anything
substantial to offer except his presence.
When she
and David completed the presentation, the head of the Dreamscape committee,
Jameson Brooks, said he liked what he saw and wanted to congratulate the
designer for catching the essence of their product so well. David spoke up and said that Wendy was the
person who had come up with the concept and design.
“Congratulations
Wendy, I think your boss should give you a promotion. It’s the first time a brand new campaign has
hit all the points the first time out of the box.”
“Thank
you, but we have a great staff and a boss in David Parker that knows our
strengths and allows us to shine.”
“Modest
and creative,” Jameson commented.
After
more chatter, the meeting broke up and started leaving the conference
room. Jameson Brooks hung back to talk
to Wendy.
“We’re
all going over to Brady’s across the street for a drink. Will you join us?” he
asked.
“I’d like
that. I have some things to clear up
first so I’ll join you in a bit, if that is alright?”
“More
than alright,” was his response.
When she
was leaving she called out to David to see if he was ready to leave.
“Leave
for what?” he asked
“Brooks
asked me to join them for a drink over at Brady’s.” Aren’t you coming?” she
said.
“He
didn’t say anything to me, so I guess I’m not included.”
“I’m
sorry to hear that, it makes me a little uncomfortable going over alone. Why not just come with me anyway?”
“I really
can’t. I’m supposed to be meeting
Janice.” He told her. “It’s only a drink
in a public place. One drink and you can
get out of there. Go. You need a life outside of here anyway.”
“You’re
right. Tell Janice I said hi and I’ll
see you tomorrow.”
“Yeah,
good work today Ice Queen.” He laughed as she gave him the finger.
She liked
David. He was one of the good guys. A guy like him could almost make her forget
her resolve to remain single.
Wendy
walked into Brady’s and saw Jameson Brooks at a table in the back. She was relieved to see a couple of members
of his team were also there. Jameson
stood and helped her into an empty chair.
“I’m so
glad you could join us. What can I get
you?”
Before she could answer a voice behind her said “Only
champagne will do for our star.” When she turned she was surprised to see Wes
Mitchell standing there and next to him a waiter holding a tray with a bottle
of Mumm’s and several champagne flutes.
“Only
Mumm’s, not Cristal,” Jameson remarked.
She
watched the color creep up Wes’ neck until it reached his face. She was embarrassed for him and thought
Jameson’s remark was out of order.
“Actually,
it’s probably my bourgeois taste, but Mr. Mitchell knows I prefer Mumm’s.”
Jameson
Brooks recognized the put down, and Wes Mitchell the save. He looked at her and really saw her for the
first time. She gorgeous, he said to
himself, and smart too.
Once
everyone’s glass was filled and they toasted to Wendy’s successful campaign,
she emptied her glass, thanked everyone and stood up to leave.
“Going so
soon?” Jameson asked.
“Yes, I
have plans for the evening. Thank you
again.”
Wes
Mitchell said his good byes also and walked out with Wendy.
“Thank
you Wendy,” he said as they approached the door.
“I only
did my job, Mr. Mitchell,” she responded.
“Please
call me Wes or Mitch. When you say Mr.
Mitchell I keep looking for my father. I
wasn’t referring to the job, which was excellent by the way. I was referring to the comment you made to
that ass Jameson about the champagne.”
“Oh, I
thought he was out of line.”
“You were
so charming about it, it was the perfect put down. I think I know why you’re nicknamed the Ice
Queen.”
Wendy blushed.
“Surprised
that I know that, aren’t you?” Actually,
contrary to what you think, I know quite a bit about what goes on in our
company. I happen to know you think I’m
a pompous ass. Well you will be happy to
know, that sometimes, I am.”
Wendy’s
color deepened.
“I’d like
to buy you dinner sometime, Ms. Taylor.
And just so you know, the dinner will be on me.” He watched her eyes
widen.
“Surprised I know that too,
aren’t you? I keep my ears open Ms.
Taylor and the scuttlebutt is that in addition to being an ice queen, you insist
on paying your share. I would love to know what other rumors I’ve heard might
also be true.”
She was
thoroughly mortified now and wasn’t sure what to say or do, a rare occurrence for her.
“Good night,
Ms. Taylor and call my assistant tomorrow to let me know what night would be
convenient for you. I’ll arrange my
schedule accordingly.” He turned and
walked across the street.
Wendy
continued to stand there for a minute before she too crossed the street. She thanked God she didn’t bump into him on
the way to her car. She had no idea what
she was going to do about Wes Mitchell.
_________________
Three days
passed since that night at Brady’s. Everyone was gone for the day but Wendy was busy at her
work table when a shadow fall across her desk.
“You’re
in my light,” she said without turning around.
“Too
bad,” and she realized it was Wes Mitchell.
“You haven’t called Miriam so I’m here to set a date.”
“Mr.
Mitchell, Wes. I don’t make a habit of
dating people where I work. It’s just
too awkward.”
“It’s
dinner. How long have you worked
here?”
“Two
years, what does that have to do with anything?”
“In the
two years we’ve worked here, how much interaction has there been between us?”
“Until
recently, none.”
“Okay, so
how awkward could it be to have dinner.
If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work.
Lord, I’ve never had so much trouble asking a woman to have dinner with
me. So, when is it going to be?”
“I can
make tonight? We can leave as soon as
I’m finished here.”
“Oh no,
you don’t. You are finished here but
we’re not going to dinner tonight. We’re
going on an actual date; I will be
picking
you up at your home at 7:30 pm tomorrow night. If it’s not clear, clear it.”
“Is that
an order?” she asked.
“If it has
to be,” he replied.
“You
leave me no choice. Do you need an
address?”
“Not if
the correct one is on file with HR.” he responded.”
“It is.”
“Okay,
close up shop. I will walk you to your
car.”
The
elevator ride to the parking garage was quiet.
When the door opened, he walked with her to the car. She unlocked the door and settled herself
inside.
“I will
see you at 7:30 pm tomorrow evening. Now close and lock the door and drive
carefully.”
No man
ever treated her like that before. Wendy was the one usually in control and the
guy was falling all over himself trying to please her. Granted, as her employer, Wes Mitchell had
the upper hand, but she felt the dominance she just witnessed had nothing to do
with work. Wendy was amazed at how wrong
she had been, so far all of her opinions concerning him were dead wrong.
_____________________
He hadn’t
given her a clue to where they were going, so she decided that a simple wrap dress
with high-heeled sandals and a pashmina would be fine no matter where they had
dinner. Her doorbell rang at 7:30
pm and
when she saw him standing there dressed in pressed jeans, an open-necked oxford
cloth shirt and a leather blazer with loafers and no socks, she was glad she made the right choice. Wes Mitchell looked good
enough to be in a Ralph Lauren ad. He
definitely wore his clothes, not the other way around.
“You look
lovely, Wendy,” he told her.
“I wasn’t
sure how to dress.”
“I always
appreciate a woman in a dress.”
“Thank
you.” He walked her out to a long sleek
limousine, the driver standing there holding the open
door.
“You’ve
got to be kidding,” she said to him.
“Don’t you think this is a bit of overkill for a dinner date.”
“I have
my reasons,” he told her.
Surprisingly,
Wendy had a lovely evening. Wes was a
charming man and conversation flowed effortlessly between them with not a word
about Mitchell Enterprises. The waiter brought the bill and Wendy grabbed for
her purse.
“You
better not be trying to pay your share, because if I so much as see you try to
whip out a credit card, I’m going to spank you.”
“I repeat
something I said earlier. You’ve got to
be kidding.”
“Do you
doubt me? If you do, just try it and see
what happens.”
She
closed her purse. “Good decision,” he
told her.
Wendy
couldn’t believe what he said, how could he ruin a perfectly good evening by
turning neandrathal. His hand at the
small of his back as he ushered her out of the restaurant gave her shivers and
she pulled the pashmina tighter around her shoulders. It was a protective reaction and he recognized
it as such.
“I don’t
bite.”
“No, but
you do spank. You are aware this is the
21st century right? Children
aren’t even spanked nowadays.”
“I don’t
have any children,” he responded.
In the car,
he pulled the window closed between the driver and them. He put on some soft music, and reached for
Wendy’s hand. She pulled back and he
reached for it again.
“Have
brunch with me on Sunday?”
“I don’t
think so. You said one dinner, we had
that.”
“Wendy, I
had a great time tonight. I know that
you didn’t hate it. Come to brunch with
me?”
“You can
have any girl you want, why not ask one of your other girls.”
“There
are no other girls,” he told her.
“Then who
is in all those pictures in the paper.”
“So you
keep tabs on me.” He smirked. “Come to
brunch with me Sunday and I’ll tell you all my secrets,” he told her.
She
laughed.
“By God,
I made the Ice Queen laugh,” he said
“You’re
not making any points.”
“Oh, come
on, loosen up, you know you want to.
Just come to brunch with me on Sunday.”
“You’re
not going to give up, are you?”
“Not a
chance.”
__________________
They went
to brunch on Sunday and Wendy reminded him he was going to tell her all his
secrets.
“My first
secret is that all those girls are either family friends or paid employees.”
“I don’t
believe it.”
“Well,
they are. Someone was always after me because of who I was. I decided the easiest way to circumvent the
problem was to hire ‘dates’.
“I still
don’t believe it, but what’s your other secrets,” she asked?
“I have
the limo and the driver because I’m a terrible driver.”
“Terrible,
in what way?”
“I have a
lead foot and have received so many tickets that my license has been suspended
for three months, this time.”
“Shame on
you. And to think you were the one that
was going to spank me for merely reaching for my credit card when it’s you that
needs the spanking.”
“Two
different things. Besides, I’m the man
and I do the spanking.”
“Seriously,”
she asked?
“Seriously,”
he answered.
_______________________
Wendy
broke all her own dating rules when it came to Wes. She was falling in love with him and hated
herself for it. She never thought she would fall for such a demanding man. The trouble was he was charming about being
demanding and every time he took that bossy attitude, she noticed a definite
wetness in a certain area of her body.
On their
seventh date Wendy told Wes they were in new territory.
“What do
you mean?”
“I mean
I’ve never gone out with a man more than six times. It was one of my rules.”
“So what
I heard really was true,’ and he laughed. “Well I’m
glad you made me the exception because if you had turned me down, I would have
come to your house and put you over my knee and spanked you until you accepted
my invitation.”
“And you
think that behavior would endear you to me.”
“Shall we
see?”
“I don’t
see that happening but you never know,” she told him.
“I do
because I don’t intend to let you get away and knowing your personality and
mine, I’m quite sure that eventually you will end up over my knee. Quite frankly, I can’t wait to spank that
luscious bottom of yours and watch the Ice Queen melt right before my eyes.”
Wendy
felt that wetness and her body shivered.
He had that know it all smirk on his face. “Oh yes,
I know you feel it too. Soon, my sweet,
very soon.”
See you later for more Aimless Ramblings.
