Chapter 16: Persuasion

Alijah was in a good mood as she sat at her desk humming to herself. It wasn’t just one particular thing. It was a combination of a few. Their business trip to Paris the previous week had been exciting. Since she had never been, even though her aunt used to have a permanent residence there, Kieran decided they would stay two extra days, and he showed her all of the sites and took her shopping, though she protested the whole time that she could pay for her own things. They even had dinner under the Eiffel Tower. On their last night there, he’d taken her to the balcony of their suite and did things to her under the city lights that were probably illegal in most countries.

Then, upon returning to work that Friday, she was excited to see how Trevor and his team had made the concept the two of them created up with come to life. The entire time Kieran scrutinized it, she waited with bated breath. If he didn’t like it, she was afraid several people would lose their jobs. Once he was done looking over it, he stated that at least someone knew what they were doing and clasped Trevor on the shoulder. Alijah watched as he opened his mouth to give her recognition, but she quickly shook her head, causing his mouth to snap shut.

Now she was bouncing with anticipation. It was already Wednesday, and her birthday was in a few days. That wasn’t why she was so happy, though. She hadn’t seen Erin in a while and was excited that she would be flying in tomorrow night. Alijah had every intention of having Friday off and spending the day with her friend. She just had to find a way to get Kieran to agree.

So, there she was, working double time trying to get the weeks’ worth of work done with only a day and a half left. She was determined to get it done, though. She had seen Kieran do it several times, and if he could do it, she knew that she undoubtedly could as well.

The elevator chimed, breaking her concentration, and she didn’t have to look up to know that it was the flower delivery man. When she’d gotten back from Paris last week, three bouquets were waiting on her. There was only one word on each of the cards. By Monday, Alijah knew what the sentence would end up being.

She retrieved the flowers from the young man and thanked him before giving a tip and opening the card. It said, Gorgeous, Wayne Farley. Alijah took out all of the other cards and placed them in order on her desk. Just because this month is your birthday, gorgeous Wayne Farley, now, she knew the flowers were from Wayne. It made Alijah blush a little bit.

After taking in the fragrance of the flowers, she got back to work. She had been working diligently for half an hour when Kieran emerged from his office. He stopped at her desk and stared at the flowers.

“More flowers?” He questioned as if they offended him. “Did you find out who they were from?”

“Well, they aren’t from you.” She shot back.

“I give you good dick. Why do I need to give you flowers?” He questioned with a smirk.

“Someone could hear you.” Alijah hissed back at him lowly.

“Again, I don’t care. They can’t fire me. What’s the worst that could happen?”

“Someone could think that I slept my way into this job,” she informed him, eyes locking onto his.

“But you didn’t, so that doesn’t matter. Besides, I’m the only one that can fire you.”

Alijah rolled her eyes. “Did you come out of your office to simply annoy me?”

“I came to take you to lunch.”

Alijah stared at him for a minute. “You mean you’re actually going to leave the building?”

Kieran glared at her before turning on his heels, stating he would merely go by himself. Alijah quickly saved what she was working on and grabbed her purse, dropping both phones in before going over to the elevator where he stood. She was not passing up an opportunity to have a lunch date with him. Though he hadn’t called it that, she figured it was close enough to one.

When they made it to the street, Kieran took her hand, and they began to weave through the sea of people. They weren’t far from her favorite little cafe when someone bumped into her sending her stumbling backward. If it hadn’t been for Kieran, she would have fallen. He steadied her before turning to the man that bumped into her, and Alijah could see fire in his eyes.

“Watch where the hell you’re going,” he informed the man, pulling Alijah closer to him.

“Kieran, hey,” Alijah stated, turning in his arms and looking up at him. His jaw was clenched, his left side ticking. “I’m okay. I’m sure it was an accident.”

“It was, ma’am. I’m sorry if I hurt you.” The man stated sincerely.

“No, I’m fine. You enjoy the rest of your day.”

The man wished Alijah the same before hurrying off. She looked up at Kieran again and noticed his eyes followed the stranger through the crowd. Alijah reached up and took his chin in her hand, turning him to face her.

“Hey, let it go. I told you I was okay.”

“Check your purse and make sure nothing is missing,” he stated, pulling his face from her hands.

“You think he was a pickpocket? I think he was just in a hurry, Kieran.”

“Humor me,” he stated, still standing in the middle of the sidewalk, forcing people to go around them.

“I’ll check it when we’re in the cafe. We’re in people’s way.”

She retook his hand and pulled him behind her to the cafe with that stated. When they entered, there was no one in line at the counter, so they were able to place their orders quickly. As they sat while they waited, she went about going through her purse, making sure everything was there. When she was satisfied that it was, she told him as much.

“You can never be too careful,” he stated as a reply.

They made idle chitchat. Most of it was about work, and Alijah had to refrain from rolling her eyes several times. The man ate, slept, and breathed his job. Alijah admired him for having drive and desire, but there was more to life than working all the time.

They ate in relative silence when their food came, and she didn’t like it. She enjoyed the sound of his deep baritone and, at that moment, would have listened to him talk about work just to hear it. She realized she was a contradiction rolled into one.

Lunch finished, and as they walked back, Kieran again held Alijah’s hand. It was the first time they had shown any affection in public other than at the club. However, Alijah didn’t count that, considering the lighting was dim, and only his friends paid them any attention.

He had stated that he didn’t share and that she wouldn’t be sharing him, but he hadn’t said what they were doing. It clarified that it wasn’t just fun, but were they together, dating? She didn’t have the answer, and she didn’t want to bring it up so soon after her slight jealous fit last week.

When they made it to the office building, Alijah tried to slide her hand out of his, but he gripped it tighter. When he opened the door and began walking in, she halted in her tracks. A slight panic was rising inside of her.

“What’s wrong?” Kieran asked.

“We can’t walk through the lobby with you holding my hand. People will talk.”

“So, let them talk. We aren’t kids.”

“Kieran.”

He raised a brow at her and asked, “Are you ashamed of me, Alijah?”

She looked into his face and knew that he was joking, but the question was still stupid. No woman in her right mind would be ashamed of the sex on legs standing in front of her. Yet, here she was trying to conceal whatever they had going on from the people in the office. It was justifiable to her. She worked there and didn’t need the gossip mill going. They would call her all kinds of things. Not to her face, obviously, but they would say them.

“People will think I’m getting special treatment because I’m sleeping with the boss.”

“Alijah, do you know how many...”

“If you ask me if I know how many employees you’ve slept with, I will punch you,” she told him.

He raised a brow. “I was going to ask if you knew how many of my employees are sleeping together.”

“That’s different. Those are two employees on the same pay grade. You are the boss, and I am your assistant.”

Getting frustrated with her, he threw out a quick fine before releasing her hand and walking into the building. Alijah took a breath before walking in after him. She could tell that he was upset; she could see it all in his shoulders. However, she needed him to see things from her point of view. She was sure things would be different if she was the boss and he was her assistant, but because they were the way they were, she knew people would have something to say. That was just the way it was — a complete double standard.

The ride back up to the top floor was silent. Alijah didn’t know what to say to get him to see her point of view, so she decided to remain quiet. When she settled back at her desk, she got back to work. She was halfway through tomorrow’s work and knew she wouldn’t have difficulty finishing Friday’s work tomorrow.

It was going on three-thirty, and Alijah decided it was now or never to ask Kieran for Friday off. She had given him a few hours to calm down, and she was ready to approach, albeit with caution.

She knocked on his door twice before pushing it open and entering. He was seated behind his desk on his cellphone. She could only assume he was speaking to one of his friends. Locking the door behind her, Alijah made her way to his side of the desk. Typically, she would have taken a seat in front of it, but she was here on a mission and figured it would take a little persuading.

So, she walked around his desk and pulled his chair back, lifting the arms before straddling him. His hazel eyes locked with her green ones as she reached down to undo his belt. She then proceeded to unbutton and unzip his pants. Reaching in, she pulled his semi-erect dick from them. She began to stroke it slowly as she looked up at him from under her lashes. He cocked a brow at her.

“Cruz, let me call you back,” he stated before ending the call with his friend.

Alijah watched him as he watched her. She stroked him a few more times before reaching into his top drawer, where he now kept a box of condoms, and grabbing one. She opened it slowly and rolled it down his length. The overall objective had been to persuade him, but Alijah was making herself hot. Lifting, she pulled her panties to the side and was just about to slide down when his hands on her waist stopped her.

“What is it that you want?”

“Well, if you hadn’t stopped me, you would know.”

“Other than that. I’m usually the one that initiates and controls the sex between us. So, what is it that you want?”

“You know my birthday is Sunday.”

“I’m aware.”

“And I told you my friend Erin is flying in for it.” He simply nodded at her. “Well, she’s flying in tomorrow evening, and I was wondering if I could have Friday off.”

“No.”

“What? Why?”

“Because you don’t need Friday off.”

“Be reasonable. It’s my-”

A gasp cut off Alijah’s sentence as Kieran impaled her on his dick. He held her there for a moment, moving her hips back and forth, causing her to grind against him. She placed her hands on his shoulders and forced herself to remain still.

“Give me Friday off.”

“You don’t need it off,” Kieran responded.

“Fine, then I’m not going to ride you.”

Kieran cocked his head to the side. That devilish look had entered his eyes, and Alijah knew she had fucked up. She didn’t know what was coming, but she knew she’d better try to prepare herself.

He lifted her and slammed her back down his dick with lightning speed as he rose his hips to meet her. He bounced her a few times, repeating the action.

“What was that about not riding me?” He questioned as he bounced her continually on his dick.

Alijah couldn’t respond. All she could do was lose herself in the pleasure. Her walls were beginning to contract, and she could feel her orgasm building within her waiting to spill free. She leaned in and pressed her lips to his as he slowed his thrust and her bouncing, allowing her to kiss him. At that moment, a knock came at his door.

Alijah panicked and began trying to scramble off him, but he held her firmly in place and continued his slow strokes. Her eyes widened, and she tried to pull away again.

“Don’t move,” he whispered against her lips. “What?” He then called out to whoever was knocking at his door.

“It’s Carlos from accounting. Um...sorry for showing up unannounced, Mr. Cayman. I tried to call your assistant and tell her that I would be coming down, but she didn’t answer her phone, and she isn’t at her desk.”

“That’s because she’s at mine, riding my dick,” Kieran mumbled into Alijah’s neck, earning a slap to his chest.

“Shut up, Kieran. He could hear you and let me go.”

“What is it that you needed, Carlos?” Kieran raised his voice and asked as he gave Alijah two particularly hard thrusts. She had to bury her face in his shoulder to muffle her moans.

“I was going over some receipts and expenses, and some things aren’t adding up. I thought I would bring them to you.”

“Thanks, Carlos. Just set them on Ms. Douglas’ desk, and she’ll bring them to me when she cums.” Kieran stated, enunciating the word as he began to speed his thrusts again.

“Yes, sir.”

When he was sure the other man was gone, he began to pump furiously into Alijah, bringing them both to release. She was breathing heavily as she sat up and looked at him.

“What is the matter with you? He could have heard us.”

“You liked it. The moment you thought we were caught, your pussy drenched me.”

Alijah rolled her eyes at him. “Whatever, now about Friday.”

“You don’t have to work Friday, Alijah.”

She smiled before leaning in to kiss him. “Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me. You don’t have to work on Friday because I’m not working on Friday. The boys and I are helping Nik with some things at Mirage.”

“Wait, so then, this was...”

“A well-needed release,” he told her with a smirk.

Alijah punched him in the chest before slowly sliding off him and going into his bathroom to clean up. She wasn’t actually mad. The quickie had been excellent, and he had been right. The prospect of possibly being caught did excite her a little bit.

Kieran sat at his desk going over the papers Carlos had brought down, and the young man was right. The reports showed different amounts of money going out, but the corresponding invoices and receipts were adding up to be much less than what was paid. He’d gone over the information twice, and he came to the same conclusion each time. So, there was only one outcome. Someone was stealing from him.

Looking over the paperwork again, he memorized the names of the employees that had worked on them. Gathering everything up, he rose from his seat and headed out of his office.

“We’re going to accounting,” he told Alijah as he headed to the elevator.

“Should I call them and tell them we’re coming?”

“No, this is going to be a surprise visit.”

He and Alijah stepped onto the elevator, and he could feel her looking at him. He turned his attention to her, and she reached up and ran her finger across his furrowed brow.

“What’s wrong, Kieran?”

“Someone’s been stealing from me, and I’m about to find out who it is.”

“What?”

He gave her the shortened version of what happened on the brief elevator ride. She looked mortified when he was finished, and he mildly wondered if it was because she couldn’t believe that someone had stolen from him or that she knew heads were about to roll.

When the elevator opened on the correct floor, they made their way to accounting. Most of the employees seemed to be slacking off, waiting to pass the next ten minutes by until five o’clock rolled around and they could leave. However, when they noticed him on the floor, everyone wanted to scramble and act as if they were busy and hard at work. From the corner of his eye, Kieran could see Simon, his head of accounting, scramble out of his office.

“Mr. Cayman, we weren’t expecting you. No one called me to inform me you would be coming,” he stated, cutting his eyes at Alijah.

“It’s a surprise visit,” Kieran responded, simply walking past Simon to the middle of the floor. “I have three questions for all of you. Do you like your jobs?” At that question, heads began to nod simultaneously. “Do you like your pay?” At that, the room became a bit loud with verbal affirmations. “Do you all want to keep your jobs?” Again, nods went around the room vigorously. “Well, all of you won’t.” Kieran then stated. “Because someone here has been stealing from me.”

The room grew deadly silent as he looked around at each employee. He knew people, knew that most people who stole were cowards deep down. So, all he had to do was find the face of a coward.

“Mr. Cayman, that’s a bold accusation to come down here and throw at my people,” Simon stated, fidgeting.

Kieran shot him a look that all but said, shut the fuck up, before actually speaking. “It isn’t an allegation. I have the documentation to back it up.” Still, no one spoke. “If you know who it is. I suggest you tell me because I have no qualms about firing all of you.”

A girl in the back slowly stood up, and Kieran zeroed in on her. He beckoned her forward and could see that she was on the verge of tears. You should have thought of that before you stole from me.

“I did it, Mr. Cayman, but I was only doing what I was told. Simon assured me that he had the invoices for the payouts and that he just needed me to pull the expenses. I swear.”

Kieran turned around and locked his gaze on Simon. The man had gone ash white as if he had just seen a ghost or come back from the dead. He was going to wish he had that capability after Kieran was done with him because he honestly damn near wanted to kill him.

“Office. Now.” Kieran gritted. Making his way into Simon’s office.

“Mr. Cayman. That girl-”

“Told nothing but the truth,” Kieran stated, cutting him off. It was silent for a moment.

“Look, I can explain.” Simon tried.

“I don’t care to hear explanations. You’re fired. You have ten minutes to pack your shit up and be off my property.”

Kieran walked out of Simon’s office and into a smaller one beside it, with Alijah on his heels. The blinds to the office were pulled, and he leaned against the desk away from the door. He pulled her to him, and she fought him mildly.

“Kieran people will...”

“I just had to fire one of the people that has damn near been here with me since the beginning. I could give a damn about what people will say.”

Alijah nodded slowly and went to him willingly. As tough and hard-assed as Kieran was, she was coming to see that he had his moments of weakness just like everyone else, and this was one of them.

Kieran held Alijah to him until he heard Simon’s door open. He released her and walked out to meet the man feeling betrayed. He knew he should probably let the other man explain why he did it, and he would...one day. That day just wasn’t today. He watched as Simon walked to the elevator before getting on. When he was gone, Kieran turned to the rest of the accounting department. He turned to the girl that had assisted Simon unknowingly.

“Ninety-day probation with a twenty percent pay cut. Think of it as a gift,” he told her. She nodded rapidly, relieved she hadn’t lost her job over following devious orders. “Carlos.” Kieran then stated. The young man stood to his feet. He had been with Kieran’s company for five years, and it was a wonder why Simon hadn’t promoted the boy to assistant manager, considering he worked efficiently and had been there longer than his co-workers. “Everyone, meet your new Head of Accounting. Your office is over there,” he told Carlos, pointing.

With that, he turned and waited on the elevator. He planned to get his things from his office and go to the condo. His day had taken a sour turn, and all he wanted was uninterrupted hours of stress-relieving.