Captain of Industry: An older alpha male and younger woman office romance (Filthy Rich Love Book 6) Read online

  Captain of Industry

  Filthy Rich Love - Book 6

  Sadie King

  Captain of Industry

  Brandon

  My latest development project is way over budget. I’ve got a meeting tomorrow with the foreign investors, and I’m all out of ideas. What I don’t expect is a woman dressed as a tree to highjack my meeting. But the more I listen to her, the more I like what I hear.

  This is the type of woman I need working for me, and the type of woman I need underneath me. If she’s this bold in the boardroom, imagine what she’s like in the bedroom…

  Taylor

  I’m interning at the most innovative development company in the US, but all I seem to do is type reports and make coffee. I’ve got ideas if only someone will listen. When I hatch a plan to get the attention of the CEO, I get his attention all right, and a whole lot more.

  Captain of Industry is a short and steamy romance featuring an older alpha male and a younger heroine he claims as his own.

  Book six in the Filthy Rich Love series. Each book in the series is a standalone. No cliff-hangers.

  Copyright © 2019 by Sadie King.

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Cover designed by Designrans.

  This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual events, companies, locales or persons living or dead, are entirely coincidental.

  www.authorsadieking.com

  Contents

  1. Taylor

  2. Brandon

  3. Taylor

  4. Brandon

  5. Taylor

  6. Brandon

  7. Taylor

  8. Brandon

  9. Taylor

  10. Brandon

  Epilogue

  Get your insta-love fix!

  1

  Taylor

  I stare at my colleagues behind the glass meeting room walls. Keith, my boss, paces the room, running his hands through his hair. I can’t hear what they’re saying, but it looks tense.

  I straighten my skirt, take a deep breath, and pick up the folder from my desk.

  “Here goes nothing,” I whisper under my breath.

  I walk boldly towards the meeting room where my colleagues are gathered and push open the door.

  “…let’s focus on the positive…”

  “And hope he doesn’t mention the budget overrun?”

  No one even looks at me as I slink into the room and slide into an empty chair. Plans are spread across the table, and a project chart is projected onto the wall.

  The CEO of Cortex Industries is arriving tomorrow, and Keith is going to have to tell him the project’s massively over budget. But it gets worse. Because of the cuts he’s made, we’ve now breached our environmental commitments. He’s looking for ways to dress it up or bring us back on track.

  I know all this, because I typed up the report. Four years studying environmental engineering and all I’ve done at my internship is type and make coffee.

  Keith blows out some air and runs his hands through his hair.

  “Does anyone have any practical solutions I can give the CEO on how to resolve this?”

  Everyone suddenly becomes very interested in studying the table. I clear my throat and raise my hand. I lower it quickly, remembering I’m not in class anymore.

  “I’ve got an idea,” I begin hesitantly. Several pairs of eyes look at me. Keith looks annoyed.

  I cough again and continue.

  “You’re not going to meet the emissions targets, and the project’s running over budget.”

  “Yes, we know this, Taylor.”

  “So, um, we could plant moss walls down the sides of the buildings.”

  Keith looks at me for a moment. One of the guys at the table snickers.

  “Moss walls?”

  I nod. “Yeah, they absorb Co2 and replenish the air…”

  “Taylor…” Keith cuts me off. “I appreciate your input, but I don’t think you quite understand the problem.”

  I open my mouth to speak, but one of my colleagues cuts in.

  “We could cut the number of laborers by a third and bring in longer shifts for those remaining. If we also cut the site buses, it will reduce emissions.”

  “Now you’re talking!” says Keith. “Get me an estimate on time and cost savings, and revise the project plan.” They start to move from the table. “We need to be ready to present to Mr. Crowe tomorrow morning. And Taylor, get me a coffee would you.”

  “Sure,” I mumble, gathering up my folder. “Coming right up.”

  Later that afternoon, I’m at my desk filing receipts for Keith while the rest of the team works on the presentation. I’m out of paperclips, so I head over to Beckie, on reception, who is an office supply hoarder. Keith bustles past us almost knocking me over.

  “I don’t understand why they’re all in such a panic?” I say to Beckie.

  “You haven’t met Mr. Crowe.” She raises her perfectly shaped eyebrows at me. “He’s a tyrant.”

  “I suppose he has to be to run an empire like this.”

  I feel a sting of defensiveness that I can’t explain. To say I’ve read up on Mr. Crowe would be an understatement. I’ve been following his career ever since he won the Environment in Building Award four years ago.

  He’s won many other awards for his innovative property developments, but it’s his work in improving environmental standards in the building industry that I’m most interested in. It’s why I worked so hard to get an internship here at his company. It’s why I can’t let this opportunity slip by me.

  I rub my forehead and frown at Beckie. “I think I’ve got a migraine coming on.”

  “You want me to get you a coffee or something?”

  “No, I get migraines sometimes, and this one feels like it’s going to be bad.” I take a sharp intake of breath and press my fingertips to my temples.

  “I think you should go home,” she says, her face full of concern. “I’ll finish this up for Keith.”

  “Would you? That’d be great.”

  “Go home and rest up. You’ll want to be in the office tomorrow.” She leans in conspiratorially. “Mr. Crowe is hot.”

  I smile thinly; for some reason her words make me mad. I know he’s hot. I’ve seen his picture a hundred times. But I don’t like someone else thinking he’s hot.

  I head back to my desk and put my coat on. Before I leave, I slip the green folder under my jacket. I’ve got a lot of work to do tonight.

  2

  Brandon

  I fold my hands tightly together and rest them on the table. Otherwise, I’ll be in serious danger of punching someone.

  “Do you think I’m stupid?”

  The idiot at the front stops mid-sentence. His electronic pointer slides down the whiteboard, and the entire room turns to look at me.

  “I said, do you think I’m stupid?”

  “N-n-no, Sir.” He wipes the sweat off his forehead, showing the damp pools under his armpits. I almost feel sorry for him. Then I remember the meeting I have tomorrow with the foreign investors, and my resolve hardens.

  “Then why are you showing me this bullshit?”

  His mouth gapes open and closed like a goldfish’s.

  A chair scraps back
and Keith stands up. “We, ah, we thought this could be a way to bring the budget back into a positive space.”

  I snap my head around to look at him.

  “This was your idea?”

  He swallows nervously, and his eyes shift to the younger man presenting up front.

  “Well, it was Carlton’s idea...” Carlton’s eyes dart around nervously, but no one in the room will meet them.

  I clench my hands together. What kind of asshole manager blames the junior members of his team?

  Carlton licks his lips nervously. “I-I saw it used in the previous company where I interned.”

  He can’t be more than twenty-five. I remember being that young guy not so long ago, trying to impress the boss. I nod curtly.

  “Good. Borrowing ideas is good.” There’s a collective sigh around the room, like everyone’s been holding their breaths. Carlton almost collapses with relief.

  “But not this idea,” I add. “All you’ve done is cut resources that we need. You’ve shifted the problem, not solved it. I’m not fooled, and the investors won’t be either. This may have worked at your previous company, but that’s not how we do things here.”

  Carlton’s looking nervous again. Poor guy. I hope someone buys him a beer after this.

  I fix my gaze on Keith. “That’s why we have managers, those with the experience to weed out the good and the bad ideas. Keith, explain to me why you put this bullshit in front of me today?”

  Keith goes white, and one bead of sweat trickles down his forehead.

  I sit back in my chair and wait for him to speak.

  “I-I thought it would buy us some time while we came up with a solution…”

  I open my mouth to speak, and just then the door bangs open.

  A woman stands in the doorway wearing what looks like a skirt made out of trees. Her arms are painted green, and the body paint extends up her neck but falls short of her face.

  Despite her strange attire, it’s her face that has my attention. She’s beautiful. Soft clear skin, bright blue eyes, and dark hair that frames her oval face. A coat lies discarded behind her, as if she’s flung it away.

  For a moment, I can’t move. The whole room is stunned to silence. Then she says my name.

  “Mr. Crowe? I have a proposition for you.”

  The room erupts into chaos.

  “What the hell are you doing?” says Keith, the veins in his neck popping.

  “I’m here to present my idea,” says the woman, not taking her eyes off me.

  “I’m sorry, Mr. Crowe. She’s one of the interns.” He turns to one of his lackeys who’s staring at her short skirt. I feel a surge of anger towards him. I don’t want anyone else looking at those legs, even if they are covered in green body paint.

  “Get her out of here!” yells Keith.

  The lackey snaps his attention away from those legs and stands up.

  The woman holds a hand up to him. “You touch me, and I’ll get HR involved.”

  He stops and looks to Keith.

  Through the glass walls, I see the receptionist running up behind the woman.

  “I’m so sorry, sir. She was wearing a coat…I’ve called security.”

  “Taylor,” says Keith in a conciliatory tone, “we could all do with a round of coffee. Be a good girl and go get us some, would ya?”

  She swallows, and I see a vein in her neck pulse.

  “Moss,” she says to me.

  There’s laughter from the men in the room.

  “Taylor, you’re embarrassing yourself,” says Keith.

  I don’t know what the hell she’s talking about, but I’ve learned that opportunities can come from the strangest of places. Even if she wasn’t the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen dressed as a tree, I’d still give her a few minutes of my time.

  She’s still looking at me with those hopeful eyes, and my dick’s responding to the shape of her body. I want to give her a whole lot more than a few minutes of my time.

  “Everybody out,” I say quietly. The room goes still.

  “I’m sorry, Mr. Crowe…” starts Keith.

  “I said, everybody out. Except for her.”

  She licks her lips nervously as everyone leaves the room.

  Once the door is shut behind us, I sit back in my seat.

  “Now, Taylor, is it?” She nods. “Taylor, tell me why the hell you’ve interrupted my meeting dressed as a tree?”

  3

  Taylor

  My mouth goes dry and I try to speak, but it comes out as a croak.

  “I have an idea.”

  His expression is blank, and his eyes haven’t left mine. I knew he’d be intimidating, but none of his pictures prepared me for how hot he is in real life.

  His broad shoulders lean forward, and he rests large hands on the table. His dark hair is dusted with silver, and his clear blue eyes bore into me as if he can read my mind. I hope to hell he can’t, because all I can think about right now are those big meaty hands and how they’d feel running over my body. I feel heat crawling up my neck and suddenly feel so stupid for barging in here.

  He glances behind me and frowns. I turn to see two burly security guards heading my way. I turn back to him in panic.

  “You better start talking,” he says calmly.

  “Moss,” I blurt out. “We should grow moss.”

  The doors behind me open and the security guards barge through.

  “Time to go miss,” one of them says.

  I look at Mr. Crowe, and he raises his eyebrows at me.

  “We should plant moss panels along the sides of the new apartment buildings,” I say quickly as a security guard takes my arm. “It regenerates the Co2 in the atmosphere.” He keeps looking at me, unimpressed. The security guard nudges me towards the door.

  “It meets the new environmental standards,” I say quickly. “The investors you’re meeting tomorrow are known for putting money behind green technology.” He leans forward, and I know I’ve got his attention.

  “How does this solve my problem of my project running over budget.”

  “It doesn’t immediately,” I say. “But it gives you an attractive reason for why it’s gone over budget. And it means you can sell the apartments at a premium and make up the deficit in the budget later.”

  The security guard pulls me towards the door. “Time to go,” he says.

  “It’s a new technology,” I add desperately. “It will push Cortex Industries to the cutting edge of green development. It could be award-winning.”

  He holds up a hand to the security guard who lets me go immediately. “How much is this going to cost?”

  “Not as much as you think. If you can give me five minutes of your time, I’ve got all the details here.” I slide the folder across the table to him.

  He eyes it warily and flips opens the cover. I lick my lips nervously as he flips through the pages. The security guard folds his arms, blocking the door.

  As Mr. Crowe studies my presentation, I take the opportunity to study him.

  His designer suit is at odds with his bulky frame. His hands are rough, lined with old scars. I’ve read about how he started as a laborer on a construction site and climbed his way to the top.

  On the tan skin of his neck I spy a slither of ink, a whorl of some design that disappears into his well-tailored suit. I wonder if the tattoo runs down his shoulders or over his chest. Which I’m sure must be sculpted.

  I’m imagining what his chest must feel like and if he’s got curly hair or if it’s hair-free and smooth when he looks up. I pull my gaze back to his face and feel the blush creeping up my neck again. He looks at me quizzically, and I feel like I’ve been caught.

  “The moss cleans the air,” he says. “So we get back on track with the environmental building targets.”

  I nod. “Exactly that.”

  “I’ve heard of this working on bus stops in Berlin. What makes you think it will work on the side of a residential apartment?”

  Damn,
it’s hard to focus when he’s looking so hot. I cough nervously.

  “I’ve done the weight calculations.” I lean over and flip to a page in my folder. “This will need checking by a materials engineer, but it’s roughly right.”

  I tap on the page where my calculations are and then realize he’s not looking at the folder. As I’ve leaned over my top has fallen open slightly, and he’s looking right at my cleavage. I should pull away, but his gaze on me sends heat running down my body. He looks up casually and meets my eyes, completely unapologetic.

  “This looks interesting. I’d like to see more.”

  His expression is unreadable, and I don’t know if he’s talking about me or the presentation. He sees my confusion and a slight mile plays over his lips. Holy hell. He’s hot when he’s stern, but I’m blown away when he smiles.

  He nods to the security guard. “You can go.”

  “Are you sure, sir?”

  “There’s no threat here.”

  The security guard leaves, and suddenly I’m all alone with him. My palms are sweating, and the branches on this tree skirt are digging into my legs.

  He leans back with his hands behind his head.

  “So, Taylor. Talk me through this mad scheme of yours.”

  There’s that smile again. My heart jumps into my throat, and for a moment I can’t speak.

  Then I grab my folder, open it to the front page, and start talking.

  4

  Brandon

  I watch her nervously talk me through the moss wall idea. Even in this ridiculous tree outfit, I can see her curves underneath. Her soft feminine body that I’m aching to get my hands on.