CHAPTER ELEVEN

PAYTON

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“Hey, Mom,” I say afterpushing the speaker button on my phone.

“Hey, sweetie, how’s the new job?” Mom asks.

“Hey, Payton!” Dad calls out in the background.

That will be all I get from him. He’s not a phone guy.

“Hey, Dad,” I reply, then sit on the chair, kicking off my heels.

Tonight, I went out for drinks with Cody and Roxy. It was fun, but I’m exhausted after my first week and there’s still one more day to go.

“Great. I’ve met lots of nice new people.” Not Karen. “And the brand I’m working on is amazing.”

“Let me guess,” Mom says.

“Go for it.” I grin.

She will have no idea.

“Apple. No wait, please tell me it’s a candy company,” she says hopefully.

One of the perks of working in marketing is the samples. I don’t have any aspirations of a Verity Co. Collection dress appearing on my desk any time soon.

Maybe a keychain if I’m lucky.

“Nope. No free candy, sorry.” I laugh.

“Alright, hit me with it.”

When I tell her, she starts swooning over all the amazing things they have.

“Once, when you were young, I bought myself one of their handbags. Your father was furious. He couldn’t understand how a bag could cost that much. Either could I, but I had to have one,” she tells me.

I mix an electrolyte drink to counter the hydration loss from the three margaritas I had tonight and walk over to the sofa. It’s my magic trick to waking up with less of a headache the next day.

“I don’t remember it,” I say.

“Because I was too scared to use it. Every time your father saw it, he scowled at me, and the few times I did, I was so anxious it would get damaged.” Mom laughs. “I have it packed away somewhere.”

“What a waste, Mom,” I cry. “It’s vintage VC now.”

“Really?”

“Yes,” I groan. “And he’s such a penny pincher. I mean, you’re both lawyers. You can afford it.”

“You know we don’t overspend.” Mom sighs. “So, are you enjoying it?”

I tell her about the launch and leave out the part where Knox Montgomery is the hottest man alive.

Moms don’t need to know everything.

Plus, I definitely don’t want them worrying that I will do something to risk this job.

I won’t.

Even if he is a huge temptation.

The other day when he stepped into my space, I wanted so badly for him to kiss me. But then he was an asshole and...well I still wanted his lips on mine.

Which makes me seriously stupid.

I won’t do it, because I know I’ll get fired, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to.

I’m human.

And he is Knox Montgomery.

“I’m confident I’ll do a good job, so you can tell Dad to stop worrying about me failing yet again.”

“He doesn’t think you’ll fail, sweetie. Your father just wants to make sure you are set up financially in life.”

“By threatening me with financial debt for decades?” I cry.

“I’m not saying his way is the right way,” she says quietly.

“Well, I’m going to prove him wrong.”

“Good.” I can hear the smile in her voice.

When I hang up, I sit thinking about the day and the surprise Knox Montgomery landed on me this morning.

“Payton, what are your plans for Friday night?” his deep timbre voice asked when I entered his office.

I froze, the question catching me completely by surprise.

“Friday, Payton,” he repeated.

“Um.”

“Good. We have an industry gala to attend. Tell Mindy to show you the sample room and choose an outfit. It’s cocktail.”

I noticed I was nodding even though I was having an out-of-body experience.

“I will pick you up at seven,” he added grouchily, then turned back to his screen.

I was dismissed.

I sleepwalked back to the office and stopped in front of Mindy’s desk.

“You okay?” she asked, glancing up.

“I need a dress.”

THE NEXT MORNING, Iwake up and thank last night me for drinking electrolytes. My mind is clear and I feel great.

The huge plate of nachos we ate while gossiping over our margaritas definitely helped.

Roxy wanted to know all about Knox, but I kept my thoughts to myself and just focused on the work side of things and how great the team at WME is.

I certainly wasn’t telling her I was going to a gala with Knox tonight.

Mindy, bless her, shared the details on the gala so I wasn’t going in blind—a fundraiser for animal welfare which I am a huge supporter of—and that all the big American players in the industry will be there.

Plus, media.

I don’t really want my StoryCraft team to know, because they may assume I’ve crossed the no fraternization rule.

I haven’t.

Aside from that moment after the team meeting where my body burst into flames when his hands roamed down my arms.

Can you orgasm from an arm rub? Asking for a friend.

“God, he’s hot as hell. How do you get any work done there?” Roxy asked me last night.

It’s a good question. The days I’m in the WME offices, I arrive at eight, focus on my emails and sip my coffee like it’s my life blood.

My back is to the corridor which goes down to his office and I’m not going to lie, I often turn and glance that way.

A few times I’ve found him standing, talking on the phone and staring at me.

He doesn’t look away and always waits for me to. Like it’s a game.

I always look away, but not before his heated eyes have impacted me. Trust me, sitting amongst peers with your sex burning like an inferno and wishing the one man you desire would lick you like a lollipop is not recommended.

I also didn’t tell Roxy about yesterday when Knox was leaning over my shoulder, stepping me through the financials after I queried what I thought was an error. It wasn’t.

“Oh, I see it now, thank you,” I had replied, then made the mistake of turning my head.

Our faces were way too close.

Knox stood abruptly and when I apologized, he simply strode out of the office.

While I was uncertain about the finances, I am no longer questioning if Knox Montgomery is attracted to me.

He is.

And furious about it.

I’m not really sure why. Or why he would invite me to the gala tonight. Either way, I cannot and will not do anything to compromise this job.

The energy in the office shifts and I spin on my chair to see what the fuss is about.

“Good morning, everyone,” a tall, broad older man says.

I know exactly who he is. There is no mistaking the likeness.

Ward Montgomery.

“Morning, sir,” a few people say.

He has a warm but powerful demeanor about him and it’s clear he is someone very comfortable in his skin.

I smile as he stops several feet from me.

“You must be Payton.” He lowers his head an inch.

“Yes, sir.” I leap up and shake his hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

It is. He is the founder of these amazing brands and I have always admired people who create such incredible success in their lives.

“You’re helping my son and his team to launch our next collection, I understand,” he states.

“Yes, sir. I’m very excited.”

Ward smiles, and it’s so genuine I feel it through my whole body. He reminds me of my dad. When he’s not being grouchy.

“I can see that. Good. True passion cannot be replaced or faked,” Ward says and reaches out to pat my shoulder.

“Dad,” Knox says from behind us.

“Hello, son. I was just introducing myself to Payton.” Ward gives him what can only be described as a sly, almost sarcastic grin.

I watch as the two men stare at one another.

Huh?

Knox slides his hands into his pockets and leans back on his heels. “Good. I should’ve brought her by earlier this week to meet you. We’ve been snowed.”

“I bet.” Ward smirks.

Knox continues to stare at his father and doesn’t look my way for a second.

“Well, it was lovely to meet you, Mr. Montgomery,” I say and both men glance at me. “I should get back to work.”

As I swivel back and forth indicating my desk, my eyes land on Knox and the fire in his eyes is dark and furious as they make their way down my body.

It’s the first time I’ve seen him all day.

Ward shakes his head and walks past his son, patting him on the shoulder.

“Don’t even say it,” Knox grumbles.

“Didn’t say a word,” Ward replies.

Then they both disappear, and I’m left standing there wondering if all the Montgomery men are this complicated.