was quietly observing how
Don and I interacted with each other. If I were a betting woman, I’d have to
say Don had the losing straw. His snide comments did not go unnoticed by either Apolo or myself. As soon as he left, I let out a deep
breath. It had been a while since I’d dealt with a man so obviously jealous of
a woman. I silently noted by the clock on the wall that it was well after five.
Since Apolo had followed Don out of the office, I was
curious as to whether he was quietly confronting Don. Maybe dismissing Renee
for the day? She had been there since early this morning.
“You handled Don very well, Caitlyn. That was a side I haven’t
seen.” He walked over to the credenza. He slid open a door and pulled out a
liquor bottle of some sort. I couldn’t tell what it was from my vantage point.
He collected two crystal glasses from the top and strode over to his desk
again. “I think we’ve earned this.”
He unscrewed the bottle and poured two good shots, one in
each glass before handing one to me. It was Scotch. Very expensive Scotch. Bowmore single malt.
I graciously accepted the snifter from him. I needed it
after the long, grueling day I’d had. “Thank you.” Taking a long swallow, I found
the whiskey to be smooth and mellow, not biting. “If I can be a little bold, I’d
say that Mr. Turner is not too thrilled that I got the promotion.”
Finishing off his Scotch, swallowing the last as though he
were enjoying liquid gold, he placed the glass on the desk in front of him,
cocking his head. “The problem with young pups like Don Turner is that they
feel because they go to college and get their Masters in business before they’re
thirty, the world owes them the moment they hit the job market. He’s still wet
behind the ears, Caitlyn. He needs to pay his dues, first.”
“And if he doesn’t?”
“If he wants to stay here, he’ll have to. The under-thirty
billionaire’s are few and far between. The quicker he learns that, the more apt
he’ll be to move up the corporate ladder.”
“And how old were you when you made your first million?”
“Million. That’s so yesterday. I was a billionaire by the
time I was thirty. I won’t even tell you what they’re predicting my worth will
be for my fortieth birthday this year.” He snickered. “Now, enough about
business. I want to show you something now that we’re alone.”
He rose from his black, leather executive chair and moved in
the direction of the wall that separated our two offices. He beckoned me with
his hand. “Come.” By the time I reached him, he had opened a hidden door.
Lights automatically came on as I stepped inside the room.
At first, I was quite uneasy with what was going on here.
Was what my mother said true? Did Apolo have some
hidden kinks I knew nothing about?
“What is this place?” I cautiously asked. I looked about,
and it dawned on me what this place could be used for.
“It’s not what you’re thinking, Caitlyn.”
“And what am I thinking?”
“The expression on your face gave you away the moment you set
foot in here. This is my safe room…yours, too, now.” He chuckled, low and
lustful. “What did you think you were in, some sort of hidden play room?”
“As a matter of fact…”
“No, it’s not that. It’s a safe room. You’ve heard of them
haven’t you?”
“Yes, of course, I have.” He was standing in my personal
space now. I could feel his breath on my neck as he stood beside me. “Who?”
“Who knows about this? Just me, Jacob, and now you.”
“Renee doesn’t know it’s here?”
“No, Jacob and I felt the fewer people who knew of its
existence, the better. I also have one at my home here in Atlanta.”
“But why?”
“I’m a powerful, rich man, Caitlyn. The two can be a dangerous
combination in the hands of the wrong people. Better safe than sorry, I always
say.”
“I didn’t realize…”
“There’s enough food and water in here to sustain up to four
people
Don and I interacted with each other. If I were a betting woman, I’d have to
say Don had the losing straw. His snide comments did not go unnoticed by either Apolo or myself. As soon as he left, I let out a deep
breath. It had been a while since I’d dealt with a man so obviously jealous of
a woman. I silently noted by the clock on the wall that it was well after five.
Since Apolo had followed Don out of the office, I was
curious as to whether he was quietly confronting Don. Maybe dismissing Renee
for the day? She had been there since early this morning.
“You handled Don very well, Caitlyn. That was a side I haven’t
seen.” He walked over to the credenza. He slid open a door and pulled out a
liquor bottle of some sort. I couldn’t tell what it was from my vantage point.
He collected two crystal glasses from the top and strode over to his desk
again. “I think we’ve earned this.”
He unscrewed the bottle and poured two good shots, one in
each glass before handing one to me. It was Scotch. Very expensive Scotch. Bowmore single malt.
I graciously accepted the snifter from him. I needed it
after the long, grueling day I’d had. “Thank you.” Taking a long swallow, I found
the whiskey to be smooth and mellow, not biting. “If I can be a little bold, I’d
say that Mr. Turner is not too thrilled that I got the promotion.”
Finishing off his Scotch, swallowing the last as though he
were enjoying liquid gold, he placed the glass on the desk in front of him,
cocking his head. “The problem with young pups like Don Turner is that they
feel because they go to college and get their Masters in business before they’re
thirty, the world owes them the moment they hit the job market. He’s still wet
behind the ears, Caitlyn. He needs to pay his dues, first.”
“And if he doesn’t?”
“If he wants to stay here, he’ll have to. The under-thirty
billionaire’s are few and far between. The quicker he learns that, the more apt
he’ll be to move up the corporate ladder.”
“And how old were you when you made your first million?”
“Million. That’s so yesterday. I was a billionaire by the
time I was thirty. I won’t even tell you what they’re predicting my worth will
be for my fortieth birthday this year.” He snickered. “Now, enough about
business. I want to show you something now that we’re alone.”
He rose from his black, leather executive chair and moved in
the direction of the wall that separated our two offices. He beckoned me with
his hand. “Come.” By the time I reached him, he had opened a hidden door.
Lights automatically came on as I stepped inside the room.
At first, I was quite uneasy with what was going on here.
Was what my mother said true? Did Apolo have some
hidden kinks I knew nothing about?
“What is this place?” I cautiously asked. I looked about,
and it dawned on me what this place could be used for.
“It’s not what you’re thinking, Caitlyn.”
“And what am I thinking?”
“The expression on your face gave you away the moment you set
foot in here. This is my safe room…yours, too, now.” He chuckled, low and
lustful. “What did you think you were in, some sort of hidden play room?”
“As a matter of fact…”
“No, it’s not that. It’s a safe room. You’ve heard of them
haven’t you?”
“Yes, of course, I have.” He was standing in my personal
space now. I could feel his breath on my neck as he stood beside me. “Who?”
“Who knows about this? Just me, Jacob, and now you.”
“Renee doesn’t know it’s here?”
“No, Jacob and I felt the fewer people who knew of its
existence, the better. I also have one at my home here in Atlanta.”
“But why?”
“I’m a powerful, rich man, Caitlyn. The two can be a dangerous
combination in the hands of the wrong people. Better safe than sorry, I always
say.”
“I didn’t realize…”
“There’s enough food and water in here to sustain up to four
people
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