*****
“Avaline,” Colten shouted. Avaline hurried into his office, carrying a notepad. “I want you to book a two rooms at the Hilton Hotel in London.”
“Sure. Who shall I say will be staying?”
“Me and you.”
“Er...okay,” She looked at him suspiciously.
“Why are you looking at me like that? I'm going to look at some deals in London, and I need my PA with me.”
“But you've never done any business outside the US.”
“And now is the perfect time to start. The market has reached rock bottom. There are some great deals around in London.”
“Right. When are we going?”
“Tomorrow. You'll need to book the flights as well. First class for me, economy for you.”
Avaline looked a little disappointed, but Colten was in no mood for it. It would do her good to realize who was the boss. She'd had enough of his hospitality. Now it was time for her to feel like she was way down in the pecking order again.
The next day Robert dropped them off at Los Angeles International Airport, and they boarded a nonstop flight to London. It took eleven hours. Colten arrived refreshed, having slept most of the way in a comfortable reclining chair. Avaline, on the other hand, was sleep deprived and sweaty after her ordeal in economy class.
When they arrived at the Hilton, Avaline wanted to go to bed, but Colten wasn't having any of it. He decided he wanted to see the sights. He paid a taxi driver a small fortune to drive them around a list of sights he'd downloaded from the internet before they’d left LA.
When they reached Buckingham Palace, he prodded Avaline, who was nodding off next to him. “Look. That's where the queen hangs out. It's great to see, isn't it?” Avaline nodded, her eyes half closed. To her, it was some large building with an ornate railing in front of it, nothing to get worked up about. Colten was equally enthusiastic at the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Nelson's Column, and Piccadilly Circus. By the time they reached the Hilton, Avaline was fast asleep.
Colten decided he would give her a few hours to sleep and then buy her dinner. They had a lot of appointments the following day, so in the meantime he did some preparation in his room.
At 6 p.m. he rang Avaline.
“Hello?” she said in a gruff voice.
“Did you sleep well?”
“Yes. Very.”
“Dinner in an hour in the main restaurant.” He hung up.
Avaline had packed a black cocktail dress, and she decided if he were going to be an asshole to her, then she would return the favor. He'd made her fly economy all the way from LA, and it was perfectly obvious that her room was nowhere near as luxurious as his. She didn't expect the best room in the house, but she wasn't going to be treated like a servant either. She was going to make him suffer. She would look so hot that he'd have an erection all through dinner.
When she arrived in reception via the elevator, she did look hot. A few handsome men were checking into the hotel, and all of them watched every step she took until she disappeared into the restaurant. Colten was sitting at a cozy table for two in the corner, next to the window. When he saw her, his jaw dropped. As she moved sensually toward him, he saw her hips swinging, fighting the black material, and her breasts standing proud for this attention. Her blond hair waved past her shoulders to the middle of her back.
“You look stunning,” he said. “I know you're my PA, and you don't like me talking like that, but you are so beautiful tonight.”
“Well, it's London. It's a classy place, so I decided to make a bit of an effort.”
While the waiter was busy pouring the wine, Colten made a decision. Tonight had to be the night. It was make or break time. He wanted her, and he was used to getting his way. No, he always got his way. If she refused him, then it would be the last time.
“That was great,” she said after coffee. “It's really a luxurious place, isn't it? More luxury than I have ever seen.”
“You could have all the luxury in the world; you know that.”
“I know. You keep telling me. Only I know what I have to do for that, and I'm not a gold digger, and as I've said so often, it's unprofessional.”
He looked at her as his erection grew larger. “I don't think you quite understand. I don't just want you for a quickie or a few months. My intentions are honorable.”
“Not according to your track record. What else do I have to go on? I need this job, and if you get bored of me and kick me out, where will I go? No, Colten, it's not right.”
Colten stood up and offered her his arm. “Very well. Let me escort you to your room and we'll call it a night.” She took his arm, and they proceeded to leave the restaurant. On the way past an elderly couple, Colten heard the lady say, “What a lovely couple.”