Rival's Desire. AlTonya Washington
of responding, Caesar just watched her. His enticing brown stare raked her body suggestively. It was impossible to mistake the meaning in the gaze.
Vivian’s lashes fluttered slightly as images of the kiss they’d shared less than three hours ago came to mind. Shaking her head, she snatched her bag out of the empty seat.
“I can’t believe I was starting to soften toward you.” When Caesar shivered, pretending to be disgusted by the idea, she pursed her lips and stormed away from the table.
“Plum? Don’t forget our breakfast meeting in the morning!” Caesar called, humor etched on his handsome face as he watched her leave the restaurant. When she was gone, his smug smile disappeared and he heaved a deep sigh. Things were back to normal.
“Cocky, arrogant son of a—I can’t believe I actually kissed him. Ugggh!” Vivian walked through her front door, cursing Caesar Morrison to the highest. She called him every name she could think of while jerking out of the suit she had worn that day. She was positive he would drive her crazy if she had to be around him any longer than necessary.
“Wait a minute…” Viv whispered, her full lips curving into a wicked smile. “Maybe I can fix that,” she said, reaching for the phone on the end table.
“Hello. You’ve reached the desk of Sandra Weathers, executive assistant to Caesar Morrison and Vivian Desmond. Please leave a detailed message and I will return your call.”
“Sandra, this is Viv. Caesar and I decided it would be best if only one of us used the big office. He wants you to have his things moved out during our breakfast meeting in the morning. Put him in a vacant office on the same floor. If you have any questions, give me a call. Thanks.”
Shivering with delight and excitement, Viv set the phone down. Then she curled up on her sofa. “Ground rules, huh? Well see how you like this, Number Twenty-eight.”
The next morning, Caesar and Vivian met with their marketing department. The group was in the midst of discussing plans for the Island Doll collection. The large round table they sat around was filled with plates of fluffy pancakes, muffins and various omelets.
Caesar and Viv conducted the breakfast meeting with the skill of seasoned business people. No one would have ever known they’d had such an awful evening the night before.
A ringing cell phone caught everyone’s ear at the table and they all went to check their purses and briefcases.
“I left mine in the car,” Viv announced, glancing at Caesar.
“It’s mine,” he said, settling the pocket-size phone to his ear. “Yeah?”
“Hey, Caesar, it’s Sandra.”
“Hey, what’s goin’ on?”
Sandra sighed heavily on the phone. “Well, I’ve been trying to get in touch with Vivian all morning.”
Caesar frowned. “Something wrong?”
“Well, not really. I guess I should be talking to you anyway.”
“What is it?” Caesar asked again.
“Well, it’s about moving your stuff.”
Caesar’s light stare immediately shifted toward Vivian. He leaned back in his chair and gnawed the inside of his jaw. “Is that right?” he asked.
“Yeah, I’m sorry to bother you during your meeting,” Sandra said.
“That’s okay, hold on a minute,” Caesar told her as he pushed his chair away from the table. “I’m gonna take this out in the lobby,” he announced before heading out of the room.
“All right, Sandra, what’s the problem?”
“Well, Viv told me you wanted your things moved out of the president’s suite. I’ve got two offices available but I don’t know which one you prefer.”
Caesar pushed one hand into his pocket and frowned. “What do you have?”
“I’ve got one right down the hall and one on the other side.”
Caesar hesitated to respond as a new idea formed in his mind. “Sandra, Viv was obviously mistaken. She’s the one who decided to have her things moved. She was just talking about having that office down the hall.”
“Oh,” Sandra said, quite surprised. “Well, I’m glad I called you before anything was moved.”
“So am I,” Caesar replied, pretending to sound relieved.
“I’ll have everything moved to Viv’s new office by the time the two of you get back from your meeting.”
“Great. Thanks, Sandra.”
“No problem.”
Caesar ran one hand through his silky crop of curls and shut off the phone. “Nice try, Plum,” he whispered.
“Everything okay?” Viv asked when Caesar took his seat next to her.
He smiled, taking in the wide, innocent gaze. “Yeah, I’ve just got a lot to handle when I get back to the office,” he explained, his light eyes settling to her full breasts straining against the gray, spaghetti-strapped top she wore.
Viv nodded and turned back to the table. “So do I. That office is gonna look like a whirlwind hit it.”
“I don’t think anything could make that office look bad,” Caesar bragged, brushing a crumb from the crease of his rust-colored slacks. “Have any of you had the chance to see the president’s suite?” he asked their breakfast companions.
“Several times. The last time I saw it, I couldn’t believe how gorgeous it was,” one executive recalled, smoothing a hand over her short hair.
“Well, I love it,” Caesar raved, “You don’t mind coming to work in a place like that.”
A faint yet genuine smile played around Viv’s mouth. Caesar was far more overjoyed than usual and she relished it. Suddenly she began to laugh and everyone stared at her. “Sorry, I’m so sorry,” she gasped, “I’m just happy our grannies entrusted us with the company.”
“And that plush office, right?” Caesar added, a knowing look on his gorgeous face.
Viv’s long lashes fluttered closed as she nodded. “Oh, yes.”
Vivian and Caesar had taken separate cars to the breakfast meeting. Still, they arrived at the office within minutes of each other. Caesar managed to get inside and race to the president’s office just before Viv walked through the door.
“No-o-o!” Viv moaned when she stepped into the posh suite to find Caesar lounging behind his desk. Her desk, files and other essentials were gone. “What happened in here?”
Caesar moved out of his seat and rushed toward Viv with his arms outstretched. “Ah, Plum. Girl, you always surprise me!” he said, pulling her against him for a tight hug. “I had no idea you were giving me the big office!” he bellowed, planting a loud kiss to her cheek. He laughed when Viv pulled away and wiped the kiss from her cheek.
“I can’t believe this!” she whispered in a fierce tone, dropping the leather bag she carried. Her fingers shook madly as she ran them through the glossy curls brushing her cheeks.
“I know. Looks good, doesn’t it?” Caesar asked as he strode around the office like a king surveying his castle. “I think I’ll put my bench press here,” he declared, waving toward the spot where Viv’s desk had been.
“How did this happen?” Viv asked as though she were speaking to herself. “I was very specific.”
“Specific about what, Plum?” Caesar asked, smirking a little as he leaned back against the bar.
Vivian shook her head, mentally replaying the message she’d left Sandra. “I know I