One Night of Misbehavior

CHAPTER Two



Ashley Marlborough—Ash to his friends—cradled the phone under his chin and leaned back in his executive chair. He listened to the customer run through their concerns about their latest ad campaign and assured them Marlborough Media would come up with something suitable to set them apart from their competitors. He put them on hold and spoke to his secretary before transferring the call.

As he replaced the phone on the charger, his gaze caught the artificial apricot rose sitting in a small crystal vase on the shelf to his right. The inner petals of the silk held a deeper hue—almost a blush pink. The beginnings of a smile tickled his lips as he wished he’d managed to get the woman’s name. It hadn’t seemed important when all he’d wanted was to strip off her clothes and surge inside her damp heat. His cock twitched and he castigated himself. Mind on the job. They had one last interview—the granddaughter of the persuasive elderly woman who’d caught him on Saturday. A friend of his grandmother’s, she’d said, and they corresponded on a regular basis. The conniving pair of women had finagled him, teaming up to set the perfect ambush. Once she’d caught him on the phone, the elderly woman had pressed her case in verbal bullet points, and he’d succumbed to her polite, determined charm, slotting in one final interview in a day crammed to capacity.

“This is the last one,” he said to Laura, his personal assistant and John, his vice president.

“Lucky last,” Laura chirped.

“I hope so,” John said. “I don’t think there are more than two or three even remotely suitable for the position.”

Ash sighed. Personally, he’d put the rate of prospective applicants even lower. Maybe the guy with the red streaks in his hair. He’d had some interesting things in his portfolio and gave them an innovative answer to their design question. He buzzed his secretary to show the last applicant in and studied the rose while he waited.

Maybe he’d set a private detective on the case. The casual questions he’d put to his grandmother last night had solicited nothing but frustration. Prior to the ball, his grandmother had told him to look for the princess in the apricot gown, had acted quietly insistent about it. Now, when he wanted information, she’d become stubbornly silent.

He wanted to see Princess again. They’d conversed easily throughout the night, and for the first time in years a woman hadn’t thrown herself at him with clear dollar signs as her motive. He’d kept his mask on to screen some of his telltale scars and even though she’d noticed the ones on his torso during their lovemaking, she’d taken his casual explanation of an accident with an ease that left him relaxed and desperate for her hot p-ssy. So they’d kept their anonymity intact with their masks, foregone intros and gone straight for raunchy sex. A smirk curled through him at the remembered pleasure. Sex hadn’t been a bad trade off.

The redhead who entered his office stood out from the rest of the applicants. She wore a simple outfit and minimal makeup. She’d chewed off most of her lipstick and was nervous, although she didn’t hesitate to shake hands with each of them and meet their gazes. He shook hands last and was surprised when she sent him a direct look and gave a small smile in return to his welcoming words and apology for the delay. His scars threw most people, at least until they knew him better.

She sat in the upright chair, her knees pressed together in a prim manner and a large envelope folder on her lap.

The interview began with Laura and John asking the questions. Simple ones about her past work experience and qualifications, designed to set her at ease. Ash listened with half an ear, surreptitiously surveying her. Something about her was strangely familiar. It might have been the way she cocked her head or it could have been the lilting note in her voice, but she reminded him of his lost princess. She’d had dark brown hair, and while this woman’s eyes were the right color, the lashes and her brows matched her red hair. This Charlotte had the same enthusiasm for design as his princess though.

“Can we see your portfolio?” John asked.

She chewed her lip, drawing Ash’s avid attention to her mouth. “Of course.”

Ash didn’t think that was what she’d intended to say, but she pulled out several sheets of drawings and art layouts. Color and strong forms popped off the pages, and a profusion of texture and three-dimensional elements grabbed his attention. Laura and John were struck too. He heard the sharp intake of breath as they fanned the designs out on the desktop. A series of black-and-white portraits wouldn’t have looked out of place on a gallery wall while the selection of rugby-themed artist trading cards were tiny masterpieces in their own right. The girl possessed raw talent, something he hadn’t seen in ages.

“Have you done anything in video?” his assistant asked.

“No, I haven’t used the medium yet.”

Silence fell as they studied her portfolio in greater detail. Charlotte Dixon clasped her hands in her lap. Her gaze skittered around his office and he witnessed the exact moment she spotted the apricot rose in the crystal vase. She froze, her breath catching, then shot a quick glance at him, her face blanching of color when she discovered him eyeing her closely.

Well, hell.

No need to employ a private detective. Princess had walked into his parlor under her own steam.





Charlotte swallowed hard, battling the urge to bolt from the office. It was Zorro in the flesh. She’d had hot, naked jungle sex with Ashley Marlborough, the founder of Marlborough Media.

“Did you say something, Miss Dixon? Can I call you Charlotte?” the wretched man asked, maintaining his steady gaze.

Bother. All she’d wanted was a little uncomplicated fun. Now her desire for a night away from drudgery exploded in her face. Elizabeth was still asking questions about the hickeys on her neck, Jenny was furious because of the job interview situation, and now Zorro was sitting within spitting distance, looking at her in the same manner a hungry cat eyeballs a cornered mouse.

“This is very impressive,” the vice president said.

“Thank you.” Charlotte forced the words past the lumpy constriction in her throat, glad to tear her attention from Zorro.

“You’re the type of applicant we’re looking for,” Zorro said.

“Um, thank you.” Dread roared through her mind as she frantically wondered what to do. What was the etiquette when coming face-to-face with a man you’d spent the night with? A man who’d felt her naked body sliding against his?

Zorro glanced at his coworkers, and Charlotte witnessed the silent communication between them, the faint nods. “I’d like to offer you the position.”

He went on to describe the hours, the remuneration and other employee perks. Charlotte tried to concentrate, but pleasure roared through her, the noise similar to the rush of a locomotive through a tunnel. They’d liked her work. They wanted her to work with them, train with them.

“So, are you still interested in working at Marlborough Media, Charlotte?”

She nodded, thankful for once when Ms. Feisty took over and did everything necessary to secure her this job. Gran and Esther would be excited for her. Jenny—not so much. “Thank you so much for this opportunity, Mr. Marlborough.”

“We’re fairly informal here. Call me Ash.”

“Um, Ash. Thank you.”

All three stood and Charlotte followed suit. She darted a quick look at Zorro—no, Ash—and intercepted his surreptitious sweep of her body. A quick up and down. Charlotte scowled, remembered where she was and smoothed out the attitude. She didn’t want them to change their minds, which told her everything. In spite of Jenny’s probable animosity and despite enjoying bedroom acrobats with her new boss, she intended to fight to keep this job.

Finally, since Gran was adamant it was time for Charlotte to spread her wings, she had a chance for independence. With Gran’s approval and support, plus a wage coming in each week, maybe she could move into her own flat. She could make friends and still see Gran on a regular basis. Heck, she could have a life and never feel alone again. That happy thought kept her going for the entire bus ride and walk home.

“Where have you been?” Elizabeth demanded before Charlotte even had a chance to remove her shoes.

“I told you she went for a job interview at Marlborough Media,” Jenny snapped, coming up behind her mother.

Pesky midgets, Ms Feisty muttered as she slid off her shoes. Charlotte stared down at them from her lofty five-foot-nine and withheld a chuckle. “Gran knew where I was. She made the appointment for me.”

“Mum is in the hospital,” Elizabeth snapped. “You should have been here.”

“What? What happened?” Charlotte shoved her feet back into her shoes. “Which hospital?”

“Auckland hospital,” Elizabeth said. “Intensive care. It’s her heart, a complication from the lupus.”

“Where are you going?” Jenny said. “What about dinner?”

“I’m going to see Gran,” Charlotte said, running a jerky hand over her hair. She dropped her portfolio on a side table and turned to leave.

“She’s stable. Visiting hours are over for the day, and they only allow family to visit,” Elizabeth said. “They won’t let you in to see her.”

Charlotte came to an abrupt halt, flinching at the verbal strike. She gaped at her stepmother in disbelief. “You’d do that to me, to your mother? We mightn’t be related by blood, but I’ve looked after her ever since I left high school. I love her.”

“You’re a bad influence,” Elizabeth said. “She overdoes things because you encourage her with your stupid crafts and activities. She requires bed rest.”

Hands curled to fists at Charlotte’s sides, only the bite of fingernails keeping her fury internalized. Her chest tightened under the pressure until it was hard to breathe. Somehow, she’d get into intensive care to see Gran tomorrow, no matter what Elizabeth said. Gran would want to hear the good news. Damn it, Charlotte wanted to hear the sly cunning in Gran’s voice when she slapped Charlotte with her litany of I told you so.

“What’s for dinner, Charlotte?” Rachel appeared at the top of the stairs. “Why are you all standing by the door?”

Without another word, Charlotte stomped to the kitchen. She rang the hospital, asked to be put through to the intensive care ward and requested a status report on Gran.

“She’s comfortable and resting now,” the ward nurse said. “I checked on her myself ten minutes ago. The drugs have helped with pain relief, and there’s nothing more we can do until the doctors conduct additional tests.”

Charlotte asked about visiting hours and after thanking the nurse, hung up. With her worries momentarily calmed, she strode to the fridge, stared at the contents then started preparing pasta for dinner. Once dinner was over and she’d completed the clean up, she’d slip out of the house and go to visit Esther. She’d tell Charlotte what the situation was with Gran.

The phone rang and Charlotte didn’t bother answering, continuing with dinner preparations. As she’d expected, one of her stepsisters answered in the lounge. She chopped two onions with sharp, downward pressure of the knife. The rising fumes attacked her eyes. Tears trickled down her cheeks and kept coming even when she moved on to crushing garlic and dicing button mushrooms. Logic told her Gran would have collapsed even if she’d been here, yet guilt ballooned inside her.

Gran didn’t care about their lack of blood relationship. She treated Charlotte the same as her real grandchildren. Charlotte hadn’t minded looking after her even though it meant spending most Friday and Saturday nights at home. Gran had repaid her in other ways—her interest in crafts and design sparking the seeds of a career for Charlotte. And the interview—

“Phone for you,” Jenny snapped, temper contorting her pretty face into a caricature mask.

“Me? Who is it?” Charlotte’s fingers itched for a pencil and paper to record her stepsister’s expression.

“Answer it and you’ll find out. Don’t hog the line for too long. I’m expecting a call from Steve.”

And heaven forbid Jenny missed a call. Charlotte picked up the receiver. “Hello?”

“Charlotte, it’s Ash.”

Charlotte heard a shocked gasp on the line before the phone in the lounge clattered down, shutting off the background noise from the TV. Her stomach turned a slow somersault. Answer the man, Ms. Feisty ordered. Don’t make me get out my pointy boots.

“Hi,” Charlotte said. Great conversational skills, not!

“I enjoyed meeting you at the ball.”

“I…that was a one-night thing.” Play our cards right and we could have more of that prime hunk of man. “Shush,” Charlotte snapped.

“Is someone there with you?” Ash asked, sounding amused.

Meeting him again without his Zorro costume meant she could picture him properly—the crooked, impish grin and the way it lit up his pretty blue eyes. The muscles of his chest, his bulging biceps and the corded muscles and tendons of his tanned arms. His hands, the skin callused from some sort of manual labor. The confident attitude. The underlying charm. The hard bulge of his cock and the way it felt surging into… No. No. No! Charlotte shook herself, glad he couldn’t witness the fiery heat surging into her face. Combined with her red hair, it was never a good look. She turned, her grip tightening on the receiver as she met the gazes of her stepmother and stepsisters.

“Are you there, Charlotte?”

“Yes.”

“I’ve called at an awkward time. Could we meet tomorrow for coffee?”

“I’m not sure. My Gran is in the hospital. I want to visit her.”

“I’m sorry,” Ash said, and his tone was genuine and sincere rather than someone going through the motions. “I talked to your grandmother on the phone. She’s a very determined lady. With her feisty attitude, I’m sure she’ll make a speedy recovery.”

“Yes. Thank you,” Charlotte added, remembering her manners.

“I’ll call you again about coffee, Princess. I’m not letting you go so easily.” His voice held the same determination she saw every day in her grandmother.

“You’re my boss.” She wanted freedom to do her own thing, to explore the world outside the current bubble of her life. And while she might hook up with a man, she didn’t want anything permanent. It was too risky.

“I was your lover first,” Ash said. “I’m a professional. I can keep my hands off you at work, but after hours is a different story. I’m going to run my hands across your naked body, suck your pretty apricot nipples into my mouth and f*ck you blind every opportunity I get.”

“Oh.” Charlotte bit her bottom lip. Was it possible for her face to get any redder? Any hotter?

“Charlotte, pay attention. The onions are burning,” Elizabeth said. “Get off the phone. Jenny is expecting an important call.”

Surely she could use her cell phone? Charlotte grabbed the pan off the heat, wrinkling her nose at the onions. Not too bad. She’d saved them.

“Who is that?” Ash’s voice changed, letting her know he’d heard every word.

“My stepmother.”

“Not the Wicked Witch of the West?”

Charlotte giggled and slapped her hand across her mouth when she realized the sound had come from her. “No. I’d better go. I’m meant to be cooking dinner.”

“Which hospital is your Gran in?”

“She’s in intensive care at Auckland hospital.”

“Say hello for me. We’ll catch up soon,” he said. “Dream of me, Princess.”

The faint click of the phone told her he’d hung up. She hit the end button, dropped the phone on the counter.

“Who was that?” Jenny asked. “Ash who?”

Charlotte hesitated. There was no reason she shouldn’t tell the truth, but she didn’t want her stepsisters to pick apart a precious evening and soil her memories. “That was Ashley Marlborough. He offered me the job at Marlborough Media.” A streak of elation zapped her. She wanted to whoop and holler and run around in a crazy celebration. Too bad if Jenny wanted the same job. She didn’t think it was selfish of her to accept employment when she’d won it on her own merits. A doubt demon chose that moment to give her a swift kick in the conscience. She had earned the job on her artistic merits and talent, right? It hadn’t been because Ash Marlborough wanted her for sex?

“You?” Jenny’s face crumpled and guilt swept Charlotte again.

“They liked my portfolio.”

“But you have no qualifications. You didn’t even finish your tech course.”

“I’m sorry, Jenny. Maybe there will be another opportunity—”

“Mum, she stole my job,” Jenny wailed.

Uh-oh. This couldn’t end well. Charlotte turned away from mother and daughter and set the onions on the heat again. She put on a pot of hot water for the spaghetti. Tuning out the tears and accusations, she added garlic and mushrooms to the onions, cooking them until they browned. Spinach and a cupful of frozen corn kernels went in next. While the spinach wilted, she added the fresh pasta to the boiling water.

“Charlotte, I’ll speak to you after dinner. Come to the study once you’ve done the dishes and tidied the kitchen.” Elizabeth’s cool voice sent prickles of foreboding through Charlotte and robbed her of appetite.

Almost two hours later, she rubbed her clammy hands down her black skirt and knocked on the door.

“Come.”

After sucking in a fortifying breath, she opened the door and stepped inside. Elizabeth sat behind a large desk made of native kauri wood. Her cool blue gaze appraised Charlotte as she gestured her to come closer. She indicated the empty chair, but Charlotte preferred to take her punishment standing.

“I hope you’re pleased with yourself,” Elizabeth began. “Your recent behavior has bordered on despicable. You duck out on your duties and return home with disgusting marks on your neck. You arrange interviews without my permission and now you’ve snatched away a job from Jenny without a hint of remorse. And to top all that off, you weren’t here when Mum needed you most. I’m sure Richard would be disappointed in you—God, rest his soul. What do you have to say for yourself?”

Charlotte remained still, silent mutiny her sole weapon. There was no point trying to argue with Elizabeth or point out she’d won the job fair and square. And if her father were here, he’d act like a proud parent instead of playing favorites.

“You have nothing to say, no excuses for your abominable conduct?”

Charlotte swallowed, waiting for her punishment.

“If your behavior doesn’t take a swift three-sixty, I’ll be forced to make you leave.” She offered a mirthless smile when a gasp escaped Charlotte. “I thought so. I expect you to spring clean the house from top to bottom. We’re having guests next weekend. I want you to ready their rooms and prepare menus for the length of their stay. Jenny said you haven’t ironed her work clothes yet, and Mum’s room requires tidying. And as for the job, you will decline the offer. You promised me you’d look after Mum, and getting a job is going back on your word. Is that clear?”

“Yes,” Charlotte said, while Ms. Feisty muttered mutinous words, enough to make her brain want to explode. Instead she shifted her weight, spreading it evenly on both feet and clasped her shaking hands behind her.

Her soldier impersonation seemed to placate her stepmother because she nodded. “You can go now.”

Charlotte exited the office and closed the door behind her. Back in the kitchen, she rang Esther and learned the doctors suspected damage to Gran’s heart, a symptom of lupus. They intended to do tests the following day to ascertain the extent of the injury.

Charlotte remembered her portfolio and went to pick it up from the hall. The contents had been removed and stuffed back inside with no regard to creases. Someone had ripped two of her pieces in half. No prizes for guessing the culprit. Jenny’s clear spite and her stepmother’s lecture pissed her off. They might think the matter was settled but somehow she intended to take the job. Gran wanted her to live a little, and Charlotte didn’t intend to let her down.