Billionaire Bad Boys of Romance 2(39)

I gasped out loud. Facing me on a board, in fifty shades of gray, was the black- and-white image of a gorgeous blindfolded woman with long platinum hair, who was being carried down a sweeping staircase by a breathtaking, bare-chested Adonis. Lying limp in his brawny arms, she wore leather and lace—a skimpy bra, bikini bottom, and garter that held up sheer black stockings on her long dangling legs. Her ankles were bound together by satin shackles as were her wrists. I totally got it. She was submitting to her sex god. Letting him take her. To his bed. Or perhaps to his dungeon! Oh my God! This was exactly the story I was looking for. This was the new Gloria’s Secret advertising campaign—all in one line. “Gloria’s Secret. Let yourself be carried away.” I could immediately imagine in my head the print ad and television commercial. And the zillion hits on You Tube and our website. I loved the idea of shooting the campaign in black-and-white sepia tones. Fifty shades of gray! So fucking fresh! So fucking forward! So fucking sexy! It gave me the fucking chills.

Breathless, I asked Vivien what she thought.

She scowled. “I like it, but I think the woman should be a brunette. Our research shows that men prefer women with dark hair.”

True, but our research also showed that most women fantasized being a blonde. I turned to my second-in-command. My dear, lifelong friend who made everything happen.

“Kev, what do you think?”

“I think it’s fan-fucking-tastic!

That’s exactly what I thought. Fan-fucking-tastic! I could count on Kevin for his brutal honestly and to tell like it is. I so loved him!

Jaime’s lush lips curled into a smug smile. He was fucking genius and he knew it.

“Do you have any questions?” he asked.

Only one jumped to mind. “Mr. Zander, whom do you see doing the voice-over— a man or woman?

His lustful eyes lingered on me. “Definitely a male voice. It’s a story of seduction.”

My breath hitched before smiling my approval. “Mr. Zander, please have your business affairs people call mine. I’d like to put this campaign on the fast track.”

“Excellent,” said Jaime, his velvety voice still very businesslike. He thanked his team and dismissed them. The last bit of eye contact between Ray and Kevin did not go unnoticed.

He gazed at me. “Before you leave, Ms. Long, I’d like to have a word with you alone.”

I signaled with a jerk of my chin for my team to leave.

Vivien pitched a snit fit. “Excuse me, but don’t you think I should stay? I mean, this would be such a good learning experience for me. I could even be the point person on this campaign.”

“Vivien, please just go.” My voice was authoritative. “I’ll catch you up back at the hotel.”

“Fine.” She stabbed the word at me. With an arrogant fling of her hair, she reluctantly stood up and followed Kevin out of the conference room. Her hips swayed with sexy defiance. At the doorway, she turned her head and shot Jaime an arresting smile. “I’m looking forward to working with you,” she purred and then disappeared.

Her words got under my skin. I didn’t trust her. Not one bit.

Jaime pushed a button on a wall panel and the conference room door slammed shut. Nervous edgy anticipation swept over me. My eyes stayed fixed on his tall lean frame as he loped around the table in my direction. Stopping behind me, he played with my braid, feathering the ends of it against the nape of my neck. The ticklish sensation sent goose bumps crawling all over me.

“So, Gloria, I’ve won your account.”

“Yes. Congratulations.”

He let go of my braid and began to knead my shoulders. His touch sent a tingle to my core.

“Now, I want to win your cunt.”

My shoulders heaved and my body tensed. “I think you should stop.”

“Come on, Gloria. After yesterday, you know you want me as much as I want you.”

Damn it! It was true. A carnal wave of desire rolled through me.

He kneaded deeper. “Relax, angel. You need to let go. Trust me. Trust my every decision and move. Especially if we’re going to be working together.”

I chewed my lip and nodded.

“Good.”

He released my shoulders. Before I could blink, something whipped around my eyes.

“What are you doing?” I shrieked.

“What does it look like? I’m blindfolding you.” I felt him tie a strip of fabric tightly behind my head. A band of darkness shrouded my eyes.

I nervously touched my fingertips to the blindfold. The textured fabric was silky —for sure his tie.

“Why are you doing this?”

“I’m teaching you to trust me. Can I trust you not to take it off?”

Speechless, I nodded.