In Love by Davenport, Fiona (love books to read txt) 📕

beyond relieved to see that there wouldn’t be too much pushback from HR when I promoted her. She wasn’t as experienced as I usually expected of my direct reports, but it would be easy enough to convince them she was a diamond in the rough. Which couldn’t have been further from the truth. Charlotte was the brightest gem I’d ever seen.

I pored over her application and college transcripts multiple times, making sure I didn't miss a single detail. Not that this small amount of information would satisfy me for long. However, something had been poking at the back of my mind, and I’d been unable to grasp it even though something told me it was an answer that I needed.

Kennedy. It wasn’t an unusual surname, but I couldn’t figure out what it was about it that kept nudging me. Setting the packet of papers aside, I went back to my earlier intention and googled my girl’s name.

Motherfucker.

Charlotte (Charlie) Kennedy was the oldest child of Hazel and Jamison Kennedy. The same Jamison Kennedy who owned one-third of K-Corp, one of the world's biggest investment firms. A man who was known for being a little overprotective of his wife and daughters.

That explained her internship with Diego. He was married to Thatcher Kendall’s daughter, and Thatcher and his brother Justice were the other two owners of K-Corp. Diego had mentioned the tight net these men cast over their families more than once. Apparently, Thatcher had almost killed him when he showed up at their house with his daughter, who was suddenly engaged and pregnant.

If Charlotte’s father interfered, it would make things a little more difficult, though not impossible. Absolutely nothing would stand in the way of me claiming her for my own.

Since Jamison was such a prominent figure in New York City, write-ups on his family were easy to find. However, none of them had information that wasn’t easily accessed by the public. Justice, Thatcher, Jamison, and their close friend, Jonah Carrington—who I’d dealt with on occasion since he handled the security for my company—were all well-known billionaires with a reputation for fiercely protecting the privacy of their families. I respected that, even if I was disappointed not to learn more about Charlotte.

“Lois!” I shouted. She rose from her desk and walked into my office, all at a snail’s pace. Dammit. She hated it when I yelled rather than used the intercom, but I’d been anxious and forgot. “Sorry,” I mumbled when she finally entered.

“Yes, Mr. Whitney?” she asked primly. Fuck. She was really annoyed. I wouldn’t have been surprised if she spit on my lunch later.

I gave her my most winning smile, and she rolled her eyes. Lois and her husband were disgustingly in love, and my charms had zero effect on her. Something I usually appreciated...unless I wanted something she wasn’t willing to give. Which, in this case, was her speedy cooperation.

I sighed. “I’ll do better,” I promised.

Noah thought it was absolutely hilarious that Lois treated me like a wayward child and got away with it. He’d never worked with her, though. She was brilliant and near perfect at her job. I wouldn’t give her up without a fight to the death, and she knew it.

“Fine,” she agreed, and I blew out a relieved breath.

“I need you to call HR and tell them to hire Charlotte Kennedy full-time. She’ll fill Wilford’s position.”

If Lois thought my request was strange or disagreed, she didn’t say so. “Anything else?” she asked.

I hesitated before giving her my next instruction, knowing it would reveal more than I wanted at this moment. And/or make me look crazy. The truth was, my sanity would only be in jeopardy if I didn’t get what I wanted, so I added, “Tell Duncan to move into Willford’s office today and put Charlotte in the office next to mine.”

Lois was a master at remaining calm and keeping a mask of professionalism on her face. When a tiny smirk kicked up one corner of her mouth, I was shocked. I kept expecting her to question my instruction, but instead, she just said, “Will do,” and sauntered out of the office.

I didn’t get a damn thing done the rest of the day. My mind wouldn’t focus on anything other than Charlotte. My body already craved her, and I had to remind myself that she didn’t know me. Fucking her on day one was out of the question. How long I had to wait constantly changed as I justified it happening sooner and sooner. How long would it take to make her fall in love with me when the pull between us was so strong? I wanted my ring on her finger and our baby growing inside her as soon as possible.

The one task I managed to complete was to set up security for Charlotte and put a plan in place for the possible eventuality that I’d need to grab her sexy ass and steal her away. I was covering all of my bases because Charlotte was going to be mine one way or another.

1

Rhett

One Month later

“Charlotte!” I shouted as I brooded at my desk, staring out at the city through my floor-to-ceiling windows. My fingers drummed an impatient beat on the tabletop as I stretched my neck from side to side, attempting to loosen the tension.

“You bellowed, Mr. Whitney?” A deceptively sweet voice floated in from the doorway, and I narrowed my eyes and turned my chair to look at its owner. Shrewd green eyes assessed me with a stubborn glint that both turned me on and infuriated me at the same time.

“When are you going to knock off the ‘Mr. Whitney’ crap and call me Rhett?” I growled. I was frustrated as fuck and taking it out on the source.

“When you call me Charlie,” she retorted with a slightly smug curve to her kissable lips.

My mood darkened at her sly comeback. Charlotte was one-hundred-percent woman, and the name Charlie didn’t reflect that. Besides, Charlotte was an absolutely beautiful name, and I