When Mr. Thorne’s female chauffeur holds open the door, I follow him inside the vehicle . He shakes his head while gazing at me. I can’t even remember how many times I’ve let him down. But I don’t mind that. I settle up next to him while my short skirt flutters up my thighs. He immediately looks away.
“La Cooper hotel, Donna.” He orders.
I look down at the schedule Janine gave me, his instructions contradict it.
“You are supposed to meet Mr. Jackson at the golf course.” I remind him. And I see Donna, cast me a look like I just killed.
“My staff never question my judgments. “Remember that.” He sternly roars.
“I regret that I focused on office administration rather than Christian Thorne relations.” I respond without giving it any thought.
I congratulate myself in my head for recalling the course from my fictitious certificate.
Mr. Thorne gives me a scathing glance. “You sure do get off antagonizing me.” He says.
“Not really,” I say, though I wish I was rewarded for it.
“You should learn about boundaries; I’ll enroll you in the class.” He states.
“You have a course for everything.” I say under my breath recalling his other course for his special coffee.
He must have heard me because he lifts his brow, daring me to speak louder.
His ringing phone diverts his attention from me, and he then starts speaking in several different foreign languages in quick succession. It makes sense why he thinks I’m a simpleton.
“Nashukuru.” He ends his last call in Swahili.
He works on his tablet for the remainder of the journey, while I watch YouTube videos on mine.
We are at La Cooper Hotel. I had always wanted to dine here. Meet Cara Cooper and her younger brother Oliver. And most importantly, the entrancing Quinn Nickel.
A man who I have only ever seen on television and in magazines approaches us with a smug expression on his face. He is confidently armed and wearing a dark suit. He stops and stands close to Mr. Thorne’s height. I could be the same height after adding a couple inches to my heels.
“What on earth are you doing at my hotel, Christian Thorne?” He queries.
“You know why, Cooper.” Mr. Thorne mocks.
“Really…” Oliver smirks.
“You violated our agreement and broke the rules.” Mr. Thorne makes this statement quite seriously. “Despite declaring that the winner earns it fairly and there is no financial incentive, you went ahead and purchased it and spent three times its cost to win.” He adds.
“Our fathers didn’t get this far by abiding by the rules.” Oliver says with a slight humor.
“I’m not my father,” Mr. Thorne’s tone gets sterner.
Oliver thinks for a long while delicately rubbing the tip of his nose. I can’t deny the fact that he is a handsome man.
“What do you want me to do?”
“Be a man of honor and follow through on our deal or I will call your sister,” He warns
“My sister?” He swallows hard, “Is that necessary?”
It is adorable how the mention of his sister puts him at his best behavior.
“Aren’t you pretty to be hanging around this sister caller- old hag,” he insults Mr. Thorne, turning to face me. Asks Oliver Cooper.
Mr. Thorne gives me a frown as I repress a smile.
Such killjoy!
“With your sleazy ways, you are not going to steal any other of my assistants,” He says.
“So you are his assistance?” He regards me with curiosity.
I nod.
“Please accept my condolences.” He says to me.
If you ever feel like a turncoat to this boring douche, here at La Cooper we make your life better.”
“I know your kind, you stand no chance.” I’ve heard about him and his womanizing tendencies, and I’ve had my own experiences with similar men. He has no chance against me.
It is Mr. Thorne turn to hold his smile back.
“You got a sharp tongue on you. I like you.” He smiles at me.
“Unlike you Cooper, i don’t have all day. If you are ready to face me you know where to find me.” Mr. Thorne says impatiently.
I follow him when he starts to walk away.
“Ever being in a car race?” He asks.
I shake my head even though he can’t see me.
“Get ready.” He says as he leaves.
Donna steps out of the car when she sees us. Mr. Thorne goes inside the car to pick something while i remain outside with Donna.
She gazes at me and gives me a knowing smile without a word. When he comes out two cars, a mustang and a charger stops before us. Oliver steps out from the charger.
“Your pick Thorne.” He says and I am yet to know the rule that Oliver broke and this is the only way they can settle it.
Christian Thorne opts for the Charger. He glare at me when i dont move and follow him. I am confused I don’t know know if it is a good idea to be part of this madness.
I finally get in and sit on the shotgun.
“Consider this a meeting and you better put down everything.” He states.
Oliver takes the lead as his he drives off in a fast and furious kind of speed. He is known for his passion of automobiles. He also has his own show, CEOs on the Road. In truth, it is a show about his passion for vehicles, which he disassembles to create a different car and then takes on a test drive with a different CEO each week. It’s a fantastic program, especially the guests, who are terrified that the car might not be well-made.
Christian Throne follows, he expertly grips the steering wheel and steps on the pedals. I lean back, hoping that this is not how I die as the car launches forward in a lighting speed. I hold on to my seat belt as we drive to a secluded and abandoned runway. Oliver is already there.
“I will be fine just watching, outside the car and at some distance.” I say.
He ignores me and finally stops next to Oliver’s mustang. They stare at each other and finally they take off. Mr. Thorne takes the lead as Oliver follows closely, few minutes in, Oliver takes the lead as we follow him closely. He takes the lead for while before Mr. Thorne shifts gears and steps on the accelerator. We are almost at what seems like a finish line and in a blink, he drives past Oliver leading and wining the short race. When he stops, i open the door and i don’t get to move before i empty my stomach contents on the ground.
He steps out of the car just as Oliver does.
“Honesty wins all the time, Cooper.”
“It was luck.” Oliver says as he drops keys on Mr. Thornes open hand and gets on his car and drives back.
We also drive back and i burn with curiosity what those keys are for. And i get my answer when we stop outside a mansion and a boy in his teens welcomes us.
“Hi, Theo?” Mr. Thorne greets him.
“My Uncle said you will be coming for this.” He points at a classic vintage car.
This is what they had bet on. Boys will be boys!
Mr. Thornes gently caress the hood of the car lost in his own lust world. He smiles satisfied and looks at me. He is like a different person, not the stuck up asshole i work for.
We get in the vintage car and leave the charger at the premise.
“Say hi to your father and mother.” He addresses the boy when we are about to leave.
“I will drop you at the office. I have other businesses to attend to” He says staring ahead of us.
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