Society Playboys: Playboy Assistant Part 11

Stephan glanced to Toni, blinding her with his smile. "The best vintage you have. We're celebrating."

"Very well, sir." The waiter nodded at Toni before he pivoted on his heels away from the table.

"What are we celebrating?" Toni crossed her arms over her abdomen.

"Our ... reunion." He winked that time.

Toni sighed, dropping her gaze. Reminding herself this was all for her mother. "Stephan, I don't think-"

"Helene told you how excited everyone is about us working it out, right? I know she was ecstatic. And being as ill as she is, what else does she have to hold on to other than her only child being united in a fruitful union."

Low blow. She closed her eyelids tight. One ... two ... three ... "Fruitful union? What the h.e.l.l does that mean?"

"It means..." He reached over the small table to take her hands in his. "That we are back together, and we will get engaged again and be married and have children. Hopefully, all before your mother pa.s.ses."

She s.n.a.t.c.hed her hands away. "You're an a.s.shole," she hissed. "How dare you use my mother against me like this? This is low, Stephan. I can't believe this is who you are. Oh wait, maybe I can believe it."

He grabbed her hands again with force. She winced from the force of it. In a firm voice, he made his declaration. "I love you, Antonia. We will be together again. I'm afraid you have no choice. Our families are expecting this. Are you going to let them down? Let your mother down?"

She turned away. How could she look at him for one more second?

"Besides, you don't know how to be on your own. You're groomed to be a trophy wife. My trophy wife."

The statement knocked the breath right out of her. It's what she always knew. The very idea she began to loathe once she took over for her mom. Trophy wife. That's what she was supposed to be. Someone who had to play a part. Someone who would be known as Stephan's wife.

"Love?" His words were softer, unlike the death grip hold on her hands. "You do see why it's best just to accept this, right? Everyone is happy. Helene is ecstatic."

"Enough," she snapped.

Stephan didn't have an ounce of emotion on his face. "You'll come to your senses soon enough."

She yanked her hands away with all the energy she could manage. "I have to go." Standing, she grabbed her phone and dialed Miles.

Stephan stood as well, following her as she moved between the square cloth-covered tables. "Where are you going?"

"Miles, pick me up at L'Atelier now." She hung up without saying goodbye. Outside, she actually took a breath. But it didn't last as Stephan twirled her around to face him with a hard tug. "Leave me alone, Stephan."

"Where are you going?" Finally, some emotion creased his face. He was livid. The man always hated not getting his way.

"I have to go. I need to think."

"Think about what?" He was too close to her face then. A hard slap would change that, but she didn't have it in her to a.s.sault him.

From around the corner, she spotted the Robuchon Mercedes limo turning down the narrow street. Her penthouse was only a few blocks away. "Everything."

"I wanted to celebrate tonight." Never did she think he'd lower himself to tantrums when he didn't get his way.

"I have nothing to celebrate." She turned from him just as Miles pulled up.

Stephan followed her. "Maybe I came on too strong. Let me take you to dinner again tomorrow."

h.e.l.l no!

Without answering, she opened the door and shut it. "Take me to work."

When she got home from the office, she reread the email she'd printed out. The first report to Mr. Pallis regarding his son. Regarding Fabian.

To: Victor Pallis([email protected]) From: Toni Robuchon([email protected]) Date: Tuesday, July 21 RE: Fabian Week 1 Mr. Pallis As requested, I am writing you to report Fabian's progress as my a.s.sistant. I've found that he is not experienced in professional behavior in the office. He encourages behavior from female employees that, if continued, could result in reprimanding. In addition, he doesn't take instruction well. At times, I feel he borders on misogynistic behavior. Being under my management, I hope he can learn to respect women as equals and professionals.

I have been lenient on him this first week, as I wanted to get a sense of his personality, but moving forward, I will require he attend training per our Human Resources employee requirements. Specifically, s.e.xual hara.s.sment in the workplace. I guarantee you Fabian will learn he doesn't always get his way with women.

Sincerely, Toni Robuchon Acting CEO Robuchon Investments The whole time she read and reread the email, she could only think about Fabian's mouth on hers. Telling her his deepest secret... She simply couldn't forget.

Chapter Fourteen.

"Respect woman as equals and professionals? Are you f.u.c.king kidding me?" Fabian stood in the middle of his kitchen, cell phone pressed firmly against his ear to the point of pain. He raked his hand through his already screwed up hair. Everything his father said to him seemed like a joke. He waited for him to say just kidding. Unfortunately, his father wasn't much of a jokester. "I can't believe she said that, Dad." Now he was livid. After everything that had happened over the last week, that was what Toni had reported to his father?

"G.o.dd.a.m.n it, Fabian!" his father barked into the receiver. "I told you to straighten up. And look, you can't even act right for a week. I'm really ashamed, son. I don't see how I would want you as a partner. s.e.xually hara.s.sing all my female employees? You'll end the company with lawsuits alone!"

"Wow, Dad. That's what you really think of me?" A ma.s.sive brick smas.h.i.+ng into his chest would hurt less. Fabian stumbled back until his b.u.t.t found the edge of the island counter. None of it could be real. He couldn't wrap his mind around it. No way could Toni actually believe the words she typed to his father.

"It's what you're proving to me, Fabian."

"And you believe what Toni said? That I border on misogynistic behavior?" If anyone bordered on that kind of behavior, it was his father. He was sick with the accusation. He was crushed by it. By her.

"You carry on with women, treating them like garbage. And in public! If you're going to be an a.s.s, Fabian, I need you to do it outside the public eye. You know we have a reputation in this town."

"Is that why Mom left us?" The question came out of him as if it had been on the tip of his tongue, waiting for the right moment. The words from his own mouth surprised him.

Silence. Of course, there would be. Fabian recalled the conversation he'd had with his father twenty years ago about his mother. She's never coming back. He'd never forget that day. Even though he was only six, he should never have had to lose the one woman who is supposed to love him forever.

"You don't know anything about it." His father's voice was low, telling of how much he contained himself. It was a definitive statement, but not enough to stop Fabian. He wasn't that six-year-old boy anymore.

With a tone meant to rival his father's, he said, "Then tell me." Fabian waited, his whole body shook with adrenaline.

Fabian's father dismissed him, as usual. "All you need to know is she left." Something told Fabian there was much more to it than that.

"Do mothers leave their sons?" He closed his eyes, warmed by the swell of unshed tears.

"She left and she died, Fabian. What does this have to do with anything?" His words were too matter-of-fact. Nothing to show he ever cared about Danika Pallis. But it was the only thing Fabian cared about.

"Everything." Fabian couldn't continue, only ended the call. He promptly tossed the phone across the room, hoping to break the d.a.m.n thing.

Misogynist? No way. He was a lot of things, but not that. Not even close. With the thought ripe in his mind, he marched over to his phone again, relieved it didn't break. Also relieved-and not surprised-his father didn't bother to call him back. He scrolled through his contacts until he settled upon Antonia Robuchon, who he'd labeled "s.e.xyBossLady". He frowned. With swift fingers, he selected the edited b.u.t.ton and deleted the sentiment, replacing s.e.xyBossLady with Antonia Robuchon.

He stared at her name. Stared so hard he could see the pixels. The whys were getting to him. Why would Toni say that? Why would Toni kiss him? Why would Toni say she couldn't like a man like him? Why would Toni have anything to do to with her ex? Why would Toni act like she didn't want Fabian as much she he wanted her? Why couldn't she just...

G.o.dd.a.m.n it. He didn't like where his mind was going. All the women in his life flashed before him. Camille. Martina. Countless others he'd forgotten. He rubbed his face, dragging a tear down to his chin. Only his mother could soothe him in that moment. Of that he was sure.

Call her. Don't call her. He couldn't convince himself of either. What would he say? Demand an explanation? He dropped the phone on the couch and dropped himself against it too. The cus.h.i.+ons caught his full weight. Another sigh blew pa.s.sed his lips.

How could he face her in the office? Fabian picked up his phone, but not to call Toni. He needed to be as far away from her as possible.

Fabian: Captain, get her ready. I want to depart Kemah at 0800.

Moments later a text lit the screen.

Captain Norway: Yes sir. Winds not favorable, FYI.

Fabian: I don't care. I need to be on the Gulf ASAP.

Captain Norway: As you wish.

As he wished? Not even close.

The evening's events replayed in Toni's mind. She lay on her bed, looking at her phone multiple times, reading and rereading the email she sent to Mr. Pallis. Regret came strong, though at first, it was pure panic and desperation. Lies, all lies. She didn't believe any of the things she said about Fabian. He wasn't a misogynist. More likely, he was the opposite. He loved women too much, and that was her problem with him. After he found about the report, he would have a big problem with her.

Manipulation wasn't her strong suit-she wasn't Stephan. She wasn't good at it, obviously. Fabian would know right away she was lying. He always seemed to know. But how else would she keep him? That was her intention. Keep him in the office. G.o.d, I'm a horrible person. She dropped her face against her palms, groaning. Maybe she should just recall the email. Mr. Pallis couldn't possibly have read it already.

She studied her phone, hesitating before she opened the email application. Recalling the email was the right thing to do. It would be a miracle if it was still an option. As much as she wanted to, she just couldn't do it.

What am I afraid of?

She'd never been so scared to do something. Act on something. Before she could gather the strength to make an actual move, the phone vibrated with an incoming email. She jumped up to a sitting position. Victor Pallis's name popped up in bold letters on the screen. Oh G.o.d!

Thump. Thump. Thump. Her heart beat inside her head, shaking her with each pulse. She would have to read the email. No way around it. She'd made her bed, despite not considering what would happen if her plan completely backfired. Fabian could quit. Mr. Pallis could sever the agreement. Fabian could be gone. Completely the opposite of what she wanted of course. The courage to read the email took at least ten minutes to come.

To: Toni Robuchon([email protected]) From: Victor Pallis() Date: Tuesday, July 21 RE: RE: Fabian Week 1 Miss Robuchon I am extremely disappointed to hear Fabian's behavior has been less than acceptable. I will speak with him about this immediately. Should he not correct the issues you have described by next week, I will remove him from your employment.

Sincerely, Victor Pallis President, Managing Partner Pallis Engineering Oh G.o.d! Exactly what she was afraid of. Now, she had the inevitable confrontation with Fabian to look forward to. Tomorrow. How would she prepare for that disaster? To add insult to injury, another message popped up on her screen.

Stephan Bradley: Hi <3. spoke="" with="" helene="" &="" she="" and="" i="" decided="" i="" should="" go="" into="" the="" office="" this="" week.="" i="" can't="" wait="" to="" spend="" my="" day="" with="" you.="" kiss.="">

Toni gritted her teeth until they hurt. Too much. Everything was too much. Had she stepped into some awful reality show? She missed the days when she isolated herself in her penthouse with only a yoga cla.s.s to look forward to. When did it all get so complicated? She looked back the unwanted message, denying her initial reaction to respond in anger. Stephan knew exactly how to get to her. She couldn't engage with him. Instead, she called her mother.

"Toni, it's late. Are you all right?" The alarm in her mother's weak voice made Toni regret she called. But she simply couldn't allow her mother and Stephan to make life plans for her anymore.

"Sorry, Mom. I know it's after ten. But I really have to talk to you." A pause followed, and her heart pounded ten-fold.

"Well, what it is?" Nothing could stop her mother's ability to get her annoyance across, not even chemotherapy. "Is this about that startup you're trying to push for investment? You're not experienced enough to suggest what is a good investment, Antonia."

Toni bit her bottom lip. She gazed at the decorative scroll print on her comforter to maintain her sanity. "No, it's about Stephan."

"What about him?"

Now that she had her mother's undivided attention, Toni struggled to find the words. All her life, she'd been intimidated by her mother. Though she always let it go, she really hated that her mother treated her like she was still a child. "I don't want him in the office. Fabian is more than capable. He has two very advanced degrees, you know. And he's helped me understand some bio technologies that, by the way, no one else here understands. He's also made some great recommendations."

Her mother scoffed. "He's an annoyance and I only agreed to hire him because of my relations.h.i.+p with Victor. But, that f.e.c.kless kid won't be there for long."

"Mom." All her anger centered on that one word. It surprised her-and her mother.

Her mother sighed into the receiver. The silence lingered until her mother refocused her anger. "I didn't get a very promising report from the doctor."

Toni squeezed her eyes shut. Immediately, she was filled with guilt. Were her issues really that important compared to her mother's life? "What do you mean?"

"Therapy isn't working as well as they hoped. And I feel myself getting sicker, weaker, every day." She paused again. Longer that time and Toni would've burst into tears if she wasn't holding her breath. "I really don't know how much longer. Less than six months, I'm a.s.suming."

The phone slipped through Toni's fingers. The shock immobilized her, made her completely still, lifeless. She couldn't blink away the tears that formed and ran down her cheeks. The ache in her chest grew and grew until she folded over in a fetal position. m.u.f.fled sounds came out of the receiver on the bed. She lifted it to her ear with haste.

"Yes, Mom?"

"That's why I want you and Stephan to follow through with the plans you'd had. I want to know you'll be okay and married to a capable man from an exceptional family. And I want your husband to be CEO of RI."

And just like that she was six years old again. Her voice just as small as it was back then. "Why can't I be CEO of RI?"

"Oh, honey, you're not suited for work."

"But I have an MBA from Rice."

"And it was money well spent." Her mother paused again. "Antonia, dear, you always knew your path. Now seems like the perfect time."

The lump in Toni's throat made it impossible to speak, but she stormed through the pain somehow. "But you're leaving me."

"We all leave sometime, don't we?"

In a whisper, Toni agreed, "Yes."

Chapter Fifteen.

Fabian walked through the Robuchon Investments lobby with a dark tan and a bone to pick with Toni. He also had a paper cup of coffee-three packets of cane sugar and fat-free organic milk-incidentally. Two days out on the Gulf was what he needed. Everything he could possibly obsess about, he did. Now, he was ready to confront her. He walked out of the elevator, thinking about the email for the zillionth time. Misogynist? He would not let that go. Even if he was already fired for not showing up or calling the two days he was away, she needed to hear him out.

Davina stood at the reception desk, beaming at him. "Fabian!" Her eyes glittered under the track lighting overhead. "We thought you quit." She slid her palm up her hip until it landed at her waist. "I'm glad you didn't."