The Dominant by Tara Sue Me Read Free Book Online Page A

she want?”
    She wants whatever I provide
, I wanted to say. I didn’t, though—Elaina was clueless as to my life’s finer details. “Something sexy, but not too revealing.
     Sophisticated sexy.”
    “Oh, Nathaniel, say it again.”
    “Say what?”
    “Sexy. I want to hear you say
sexy
.”
    “Shut up. Do you have something or not?”
    “What size?”
    “Four.”
    “Hold on.”
    I heard more rustling. She was moving around her office now, probably sifting through material or dresses or whatever.
    “I have just the thing,” she said finally. “In black.”
    “Silver.” I thought back to the satin bathrobe. “Silver looks good with her skin tone.”
    “Did she request silver, or did my CEO workaholic friend actually notice the way a color looks with a woman’s skin tone?”
    I tapped my pen against my desk. “Okay, you found me out. I’m a CEO workaholic who finally discovered what color could do
     to a woman’s skin tone.” I sighed. “Do you have it in silver or not?”
    “Sorry. Only black. But I promise if I weren’t on deadline, I’d do a gown in silver for your date with the beautiful skin
     tone.”
    “Thanks, Elaina.” I wondered how quickly this tidbit would make it back to everyone. I was sure Elaina would call Todd as
     soon as we hung up.
    “Does she need shoes and a bag to match?” Elaina asked.
    “That would be lovely. Size seven shoe.”
    More rustling. “Size seven black heels coming up.”
    “Thanks, Elaina.”
    “When do I get to meet her?” she asked.
    “Saturday night, along with everyone else.”
    We talked more about the upcoming weekend and Todd’spractice. When we hung up, I tried to concentrate on the report in front of me and quickly gave up. I wasn’t going to get
     anything done—I might as well accept it.
    I dialed my cousin.
    “Jackson,” I said when he picked up the phone. “Let’s do lunch.”
    “Today?”
    “Yes.” I looked at the clock—it was only eleven. “Can you meet me at Delphina’s in an hour?”
    “Sure. I’ll be there.”
    I picked Delphina’s because it was a favorite of mine and it wasn’t a sports bar. As much as I loved Jackson, sometimes it
     was nice to eat at a place that didn’t have games blaring from ten different televisions.
    “Hey,” he said, sliding into the booth an hour later. “What’s happening?”
    “The usual. The economy’s headed south. My employees are worried. I have a date for the benefit.”
    “You having a date for the benefit isn’t the usual.” He picked up the menu and glanced at it. “They only got sissy food in
     this place?”
    “Some of us like sissy food,” I said. “The occasional salad won’t kill you.”
    “Hell, yes, it will.” He turned the menu over. “Ah, yes, they do have red meat.”
    The waiter walked over to take our orders, but before we could resume our conversation, my phone buzzed.
    I turned the ringer off and sighed. That particular business associate could wait. I wasn’t in the mood to deal with Wall
     Street at the moment.
    “I don’t mind if you need to take that,” Jackson said at my frown.
    “I’m not going to ruin lunch by discussing the downward movement of the stock market.”
    “Economy really sucks, huh?”
    “Not everyone makes millions of dollars a year, you know.”
    “Don’t make me feel bad,” he warned. “You make just as much as I do. Probably more.”
    “Not this year.”
    “What?”
    “I’m not pulling a salary this year.” I shrugged. “It’s not like I need to get paid, after all. And my annual salary will
     go toward ensuring my employees are taken care of.”
    He looked at me with disbelieving eyes. “Hell, you’re serious.”
    “Yes, I am.”
    “Do your employees know what you’re doing?”
    The waiter returned with our drinks and I took a sip of water.
    “No,” I said. “Although I’m sure they’ll see it when the annual
     report comes out later.”
    “Is the company in danger?”
    “No,” I said. “Not in