Bossed By The Billionaire [Book One] Page 3

  “I promise I will give it everything I’ve got. Everything.”

  He stared at me for a long moment, considering. “You will be promoted to Creative Director and given a two hundred and fifty thousand dollar a year salary.”

  My mind blanked with surprise. “I-I don’t know what to say.”

  “This is all provisionary, of course.” He clasped his hands behind his back and began pacing once more. “If you manage to keep the Wolff contract and do your job well, the promotion will become permanent and you will be the fastest rising employee in the firm’s history.”

  He fixed me once again with his gimlet gaze.

  “The other executives who attended the meeting with Wolff this morning asked to be on your creative team. I’ve decided to grant them their request as well.”

  Wonderful. The very people who thought I couldn’t cut it in the meeting were now going to be a part of my creative team. Despite saying that Cameron was crazy, they were each dying to get in front of the corporate billionaire. They were probably all positioning themselves to save the account if I were to fail.

  He pressed his lips together in thought. “This account is far too important to lose. I’m counting on you to make Cameron Wolff happy by any means possible. Don’t let me down.” He waved his hand at me in dismissal and returned to the large chair behind his desk. “That will be all.”

  “Yes sir. Thank you sir.” I stood and quickly made my way to the door.

  “Oh, and see Janet on the way out. She has some background information on Wolff and will be helping you prepare for the campaign. She will also show you your new office.”

  “Thank you, sir.” As soon as I closed the door, Janet materialized before me with a sneer on her face and her arms full of binders.

  “Here.” She shoved the binders into my arms. “This is the information on Cameron Wolff’s company.” She picked up more binders and placed them on top of the first pile. “And here is the information on Mr. Wolff himself.”

  I swayed under the weight of binders. “Could I have some help?”

  “Oh, is this project too much for you?” She made a tsking noise. “Perhaps you should quit and let someone with more experience take charge of the account.”

  “I don’t need help with the account, just the binders.”

  Janet sniffed. “You’ve only been Creative Director for a few hours, but you’ve already perfected the attitude.” She turned on her heel and strode down the hall. “Follow me. I’ll show you your new office.”

  The way she said the word ‘office’ made me feel as if this was another thing she was upset about. I couldn’t fathom why she would be in such a snit, however, since she had a perfectly nice office herself on the other side of the building.

  “Here it is.” Janet opened a door at the end of the hall and stepped to one side. “Your new home.”

  I set the binders down on the floor and stared at the room before me. “Oh my God.”

  “It’s small, but it has all you need to get the job done.”

  Small? This place was huge, and it had a large, floor-length window overlooking Central Park. Three desks could easily fit in this space, and yet there was only one large one sitting in the corner.

  This is mine. It was all too much to take in at once. In addition to the desk, there were two chairs, a small loveseat, and a potted fern in one corner.

  It was clear now why Janet, with her windowless office and cramped desk, was jealous.

  “Is it adequate?” Janet asked, her expression blank.

  “It’s more than adequate. It’s gorgeous.”

  Janet frowned at the room. “Yes, well…just don’t get too comfortable. Something tells me that you won’t be staying here for long.”

  I turned to face her. “Why do you hate me so much?”

  She straightened and crossed her arms. “If you really need me to answer that question, then you’re dumber than I thought.” She nodded to the binders on the floor. “Better get reading. The first creative meeting is tomorrow morning is at nine tomorrow morning.” She left the office and closed the door behind her before I could respond.

  Putting my hands on my hips, I looked around me at my new office as unease rippled through my chest. Mr. Chase was right—this was a big opportunity. It was also an opportunity that came with tremendous pressure.

  Tomorrow morning I would lead my first creative meeting, and I didn’t know a thing about how to do it. More importantly, I was going to lead a bunch of people who were only too happy to watch me fail.

  This was going to be a total train wreck.

  Chapter 6

  The creative meeting was a disaster. The team hated all of my ideas and endlessly bickered with each other over details that everyone knew would never make it into the final product. I felt more like a babysitter than a creative director, and by the time the meeting ended two hours later, I wondered what the hell I was thinking when I decided on a career in advertising.

  Things only got worse from there. For the next three days we worked tirelessly on the campaign, foregoing sleep and sanity to put together something in time for the big presentation I was to make later this afternoon. None of my ideas made it into the final presentation, but I was okay with that. I knew that I was inexperienced and had to rely heavily on my colleagues’ expertise. It was why Mr. Chase made them part of my team, after all.

  Finally, we got word that Cameron wanted me to present my ideas at his business retreat on Long Island, alone.

  Janet had insisted on attending as well. In the end, Mr. Chase convinced her to stay behind, and that was only after we confirmed Cameron’s request with his secretary.

  Needless to say, I was relieved when Cameron’s driver showed up at work to take me to see him. Not only would I not have to fight traffic during rush hour on a Friday, but I could finally get a reprieve from the nasty executive vultures who seemed determined to take over my project at every opportunity.

  I had intended on practicing my speech on the drive down, but exhaustion had overtaken me, and it seemed almost as soon as my head inclined back on the seat we had arrived at his beach house.

  The driver didn’t speak, but instead opened the passenger side door and motioned toward the large, gray and white beach house overlooking the ocean.

  “Oh my God,” I said as I stepped out onto the driveway. My nostrils instantly inhaled the beautiful sea salt air.

  “You like it?” Cameron said as from just behind.

  I jumped at the low, sexy timbre of his voice. “It’s incredible.”

  I turned as he approached. Cameron Wolff looked as handsome and well dressed as ever. Just seeing him standing there, looking at me with all of that intensity and heat, made my panties damp and my pussy ache with longing.

  “I think it’s incredible, too. Come, I’ll show you around.”

  It was hard not to gape at my surroundings. Not only was the beachfront gorgeous, but it was secluded, something that I knew was hard to come by in such a wealthy and prestigious area. The house had a large wrap around porch, complete with comfortable chairs and swings where people could sit and watch the sunset. As we walked, he explained how it had transformed from a getaway into a place of business.

  The inside of the house was modern and tasteful, just like him. Trimmed in sleek ebony and silver, the rooms held all of the modern conveniences without looking too futuristic. While the space was pleasantly furnished, none of the pieces looked used, and I wondered just how often he stayed at this gorgeous house that would turn most people green with envy.

  My answer came when he showed me the bedroom. Unlike the rest of the house, this room looked lived in, and I guessed that he often used the enormous sleigh bed to crash after a long night of work. It felt strange to be in such a personal space, and yet I secretly loved it. While I had read all of the briefs on Cameron’s personal life, I knew that much had been left out. Seeing this space made me feel connected to him in an intimate way, one that had never been reported
in the papers.

  When he finally finished the tour, we ended up in a large living area. I was immediately impressed by the large and welcoming fire that crackled in the fireplace along the far wall. While it wasn’t cold outside, the air did have the crispness of fall, and I was thankful for the warmth and homey atmosphere the fire provided.

  “Would you like something to eat?” He motioned to the large spread he had set up off to one side of the room. Hungry? I was famished, but I knew that I wouldn’t be able to eat anything until I presented the team’s ideas to him.

  “Thank you,” I said. “But if you don’t mind, I’d much rather give my presentation. I think you’ll really like our ideas.”

  “’Our ideas?’”

  I nodded. “The concepts my team and I came up with.”

  He considered me for a long moment before responding, not looking altogether happy. “Very well, then.” He settled himself on the oversized couch in front of the fireplace. “Let’s hear your team’s ideas.”

  I took in a long breath, then let it out. After smoothing my hand over my skirt, I moved in front of the fireplace and faced him. Immediately I felt the warmth of the fire at my back, and I began to second guess myself.

  “Here are the details of each plan I’m going to go over,” I said as I handed the thick binder to him. “For your reference.”

  Cameron didn’t respond, but instead took the binder and placed it on the sofa cushion next to him, as if he didn’t care what was in it.

  His actions did nothing to settle my nerves.

  “Okay,” I said. “The first idea we have is for men’s fashion magazines.”

  “Next.”

  I blinked at his stern features. “But magazines are still a viable way to reach your core audience.”

  “I target the young, up and coming businessman. He doesn’t have time to read about fashion. That’s why he buys my line exclusively. He knows that no matter what he buys, it will be the envy of everyone around him. Next.”

  “Okay.” I rubbed my sweaty palms together and tried to think of another idea we had talked about during our last creative meeting. “How about doing a podcast—”

  “You already brought up that possibility at our initial meeting. I had said then that I didn’t like it. My opinion hasn’t changed. Next.”

  “But this wouldn’t be an interview with female celebrities. It would be—”

  “Next.” Cameron picked up the binder and started flipping through the pages.

  I nodded. Okay, so Greg and Bill’s ideas were a bust. That still left Eric and Janet’s ideas. Surely one of them would suit.

  “Picture a runway model—”

  “Next.”

  “A housewife?”

  “Next.”

  “A businessman paying his bills at the kitchen table—”

  Cameron stood and quickly closed the distance between us. “You can’t possibly be serious.”

  The panic inside my chest tightened, making me feel light headed. “I assure you, Chase and Williams take their clients very seriously.”

  “Then why are you giving me with such drivel?” Before I could respond, he tore a page out of the binder in his hand. “A father walking his dog? Garbage.” He tossed the page into the fire.

  I stared in shock as the idea we had agonized over turned into ash.

  “A woman doing house chores? Really?” Again, he tore out the page and tossed it into the fire.

  Embarrassment burned my cheeks as he ticked off the teams’ ideas and threw them one by one into the fire.

  “All of this is garbage.” Disgusted, he tossed the binder itself into the fire and crossed his arms. “You should be ashamed of yourself. Where’s the woman who spoke with such passion at our first meeting? The one who I thought understood my brand?”

  I blinked back tears as all of my work turned into ash and smoke before my eyes. Despite my best efforts, I was going to lose this account, then lose my job and my career. I was literally watching my career go up in smoke.

  When Cameron spoke next, his voice was soft and soothing. “I bet you didn’t give any input on these ideas, did you?” When I didn’t answer, he gently grasped my shoulders and turned my body until I faced him. “Did you?”

  I averted my gaze so that he wouldn’t see the tears in my eyes. “I was the Creative Director. All of the ideas had my approval.”

  “But none of them were yours, were they?”

  I wiped a stray tear with the back of my hand and shook my head. “Mr. Chase said that I was too inexperienced. He assigned me several executives to help me—”

  “I knew it.” Cameron let go of my shoulders and stepped back. “They’re all so afraid of losing my money, that none of them are willing to take any risks.” He pointed his finger at me. “But you, you are different. You take risks.”

  I shook my head. “I don’t take risks. I’m just an intern.”

  He studied me for a moment, then turned and strode toward the bedroom.

  “Follow me,” he said. “I want to show you something.”

  Wiping away another tear, I knew that I had two choices. First, I could run away and hide in embarrassment. I could admit defeat and accept the fact that I would never work in advertising again.

  Second, I could follow the sexy man in front of me and see what he had to say. I could plead with him for a second chance, and then try to do better.

  As hurt and embarrassed as I felt, I knew that the first choice was really no choice at all. I had worked too hard and had come too far to give up now.

  Taking a deep, steadying breath, I followed Cameron Wolff into the bedroom, determined to do whatever it took to win him back.

  Chapter 7

  I hurried to catch up to Cameron as he strode down the long hallway. “Look, I screwed up. I know that. But if you’ll just give me a second chance, I know that I can come up with some amazing ideas.”

  He didn’t speak, but instead directed me to the bedroom. Striding purposefully across the plush, cream carpeting, he opened the door along the far wall and directed me inside.

  It was a walk-in closet.

  Not just any closet, but one lined with soft silks and lace in every color in the rainbow. Along the far wall stood a large, floor-length mirror.

  He waved his hand around us at the racks. “These are the prototypes of the lingerie I will be unveiling to the public.”

  “I see.” I stared wide-eyed at the elegance all around me. It was hard to describe what it felt like being surrounded by such extravagance. I was both in awe and self conscious at the same time.

  “What do you think?” he asked.

  Before I realized what I was doing, I reached out and ran my fingers across the smooth silk next to me.

  “It’s beautiful.” It was more than beautiful. It was luxurious and sexy. At home, all I had were my sweatpants and fuzzy slippers. This was in a different league.

  “You like it.”

  “I…” I didn’t know what to say. Part of me wanted to try one on, see how it felt next to my skin. I imagined modeling it in front of Cameron and watching his eyes flash with that hunger I had seen when we first met. I’d tease him with my body, sliding down the spaghetti straps and shaking my hips. He’d flash me a stern look, but it would be fake. I’d see his cock grow beneath his pants. I’d know that he wanted me just as much as I wanted him.

  Then he’d reach for me. I’d laugh and step from his grasp, letting the lingerie slide down my chest until a nipple peeked into view.

  “Temptress,” he’d mutter as he’d lift me into the air. Squealing, I’d cling to his shoulders as he backed me against the nearest wall and fuck me with all of the pent-up hunger I had seen in his eyes.

  “Do you see now why those ideas you gave me out there wouldn’t work?”

  I blinked at the slip of silk in my hand as my fantasy dissolved back into reality. “Excuse me?” To my embarrassment, my voice sounded hoarse and strained.

  “How do you think I
should market this?” He closed his hand over mine and ran our fingers over the delicate lace hem. His grip was firm, yet gentle. His touch made my insides turn into liquid heat.

  Then suddenly he pulled back, leaving me feeling adrift. I cleared my throat, remembering that I was not here as his date, but as his employee. Fantasizing about fucking him was not going to help me keep my job.

  “I—I think it was wrong of us to assume that men would want to know how this made a woman feel. Instead, they’d want to know how it looked on her.”

  He crossed his arms and raised his brows at me. “Oh?”

  “They want to know what it feels like to see their spouse or girlfriend in your clothing. It’s about what they feel, not the woman.” I focused on the lingerie and tried to put his gorgeous body out of view so I could focus. “That’s why I think you need a woman with you in the branding.”

  “A woman?”

  I nodded, not daring to look at him. “We would need to give the public the experience of a man seeing a woman wear your clothing for the first time. She could step out from behind a curtain or something, and then you could react to seeing her in your clothing. By placing a woman at your side, perhaps wearing one of these pieces…” I moistened my lips as I imagined myself standing next to him in the black, lacy outfit in front of me. “It would play into the fantasy element of your brand. ‘Buy this lingerie, and you too, can be just as handsome and irresistible as Cameron Wolff.”

  “Handsome and irresistible, you say? Funny, I never thought of myself that way.”

  I felt the heat climb to my cheeks, but decided it was too late to turn back now. Without looking at him, I forged ahead, becoming more and more excited about my idea.

  “The men buying your products would feel powerful and sexy, and they would help the women they’re with feel the same. Your clothing line would become more than just something to wear, it would be an attitude. It would help people be confident and bold. It will encourage them to take risks.” I turned to face him. “It would show them how to be you.”