The CEO's Cinderella

Chapter 1

Travis was beat after the long hours spent in the negotiations. The stress caused by this deal was rapidly reaching the highest level. He was already in Paris for two weeks, one week too long in his opinion, and this f*****g deal wasn’t anywhere near the closing point. Ross kept asking him if he wished for her to come, but then who would hold the reins at GEH. She was the only other person who he trusted managing his company. Besides, she wouldn’t be of much help here, as the Taiwanese considered negotiations with a woman to be beneath themselves. These motherfuckers proved to be brutal adversaries in a conference room. f*****g cocksuckers… refusing to speak in any other language besides their own. They had a whole team of translators, though it was clear that they were able to understand English perfectly fine. It was just another strategy to demonstrate domination over the situation, and Travis was perfectly aware of that.

Despite everything, he knew that he had to just suck it up and keep trying to close this deal. The Taiwanese company was the perfect choice for what he had in mind and he will stop at nothing in order to acquire it. After all, he was a man of means. Still, too much compromises Travis made. On top of it all, he had to agree to a joint-venture with the Germans and the French for the Taiwanese to even consider dealing with Simpson. This particular company was not particularly fond of Americans. He would have to make sure to get complete control over the company after the deal was done. Travis Simpson DID. NOT. SHARE.

Right now, he was a ball of tension, having passed through an array of emotions in the past twenty minutes. He was angry, annoyed and tired. He desperately needed a release and he was feeling the control slowly slipping away. He knew all too well what kind of release he would like, but he didn’t know any b**m clubs here in Paris, and he wasn’t going to ask for help from Hilda. She would have a field day on his behalf. The formidable Travis Simpson, not capable to contract a small shipping company…Oh how the mighty have fallen! He could hear her laugh and mocking words and he did not need to become more riled up. To be honest, any f**k would be good right now, submissive or not.

Travis stopped pacing the hotel room, realizing the sun has set and the twinkle from the city lights below were lightening the room. He exited the bedroom of the penthouse and picked up the phone to order some room service. He wasn’t very hungry, but it wasn’t in his nature to skip dinner, or any meal for that matter.

After half an hour the knock alerted Travis to the arrival of his food, an employee entering the room, dragging a cart. He set the tray on the dining table and asked Travis if he would like a glass of wine.

Distracted by the thick stack of spreadsheets he was currently revising, Travis accepted the wine and dismissed the hotel employee. Travis ate his dinner, paying little to no attention to the way the food tasted and finishing two glasses of wine with his dinner.

Sighing, Travis pinched the bridge of his nose and rubbed his eyes using the thumb and forefinger of his left hand. He was tired of this shitty deal. He was tired of this f*****g hotel and of this f*****g city. He realized he was actually homesick, but the things he missed the most were the control and routine of his week days and the simplicity of dominating a pretty little brunette on some weekends. Routine was beneficial, it made him feel in absolute control.

No more f*****g daydreaming. He had to get out of these four walls and get a stronger drink. He almost never felt the need for human companionship, however now, his wandering thoughts and his inability to speed up the closing of the deal made him feel lonely and he needed a distraction.

He decided to go to the hotel bar. It wasn’t too late, the clock barely struck nine o’clock and Travis figured that by eleven he would be back in the room and go to sleep, since he had a breakfast meeting with the Germans. Not that he would get much sleep, for he knew that with all these emotions bubbling inside him, the nightmares were only going to get worse tonight.

Yeah Simpson…go downstairs and order some scotch or some bourbon…get the most secluded table and watch the people…at least you’ll stop thinking all this s**t. God, I think I need a session with Flynn, or better yet – a session with a pretty little brunette who will listen to my every command.

He told Taylor that he would be at the bar downstairs and he won’t need him for the rest of the night.

Travis entered the hotel bar and made a beeline for the bartender, requesting a glass of scotch, for starters. He chose the most secluded table in a dark corner, not far from the bar. After taking a sip from his highly overpriced drink, he started to check out the other patrons. The bar was nearly empty, considering it was not only Wednesday, but this was a five-star hotel bar, with a price range to match. The only clients would either stay at the hotel, or be too lazy to find another bar nearby.

Searching the small crowd, Travis’s eyes fell on the only dweller of the bar. She was perched on a high stool, nursing a Cosmopolitan. Her brown hair fell down on her shoulders, reaching her waist. Her hair seemed untamable, somewhere between loose curls and full waves, but Travis could tell that it was soft to the touch.

Hmm…I would like to wrap that hair in my hand while pounding hard into her from the behind…. Travis’s eyes continued the descent on her body. She was wearing a simple fitted silver blouse that hugged her waist and emphasized her breasts. I bet those firm t**s would fit perfectly in my hands…

Her shirt was paired with a simple black crayon skirt that reached her knees. A perfect round ass…I would like to see if pink suits it. I wonder if underneath that skirt I would find a garter…what color her underwear would be?

Next, he was mesmerized by the way her creamy white calves would clamp because of her movements. She was watching the news, turned away from where Travis stood and slightly swaying one foot. Taught, lean muscles…I bet she works out a lot. I would f*****g love to have those calves around my neck…Shit! Get a grip Simpson, you can’t even see her face! Come on honey…stop watching the TV. Let me see your face. I bet it’s just as beautiful as the rest of your body.

Her whole attire, from the silver shirt to the black pumps, as well as the office bag perched on the stool besides her, told Travis that see was doing the same thing as him. Looking for a drink and a way out from the daily, mundane business existence.

Her phone, put near her tall glass, beeped and she finally turned around to see the message. Travis could finally see her face, lit by the phone’s screen. She’s not too beautiful, but she has a kind face that reminds me of Grace. Hmmm…perfectly arched eyebrows, long black eyelashes, small nose, plump lips. Round pale face….just the perfect shade of skin. Symmetric features, but nothing out of the ordinary. Common beauty, yes, that’s it. Now if only I could see her eyes. Come on honey, look up.

Sensing eyes on her, she looked in the direction of Travis, only for three seconds. But the short eye contact was enough for Travis to see the most beautiful shade of blue he has ever seen. Big blue eyes…between baby blue and stormy blue…with small flecks of gold around the iris that sparkle in the light…and the blue becomes almost green towards the extremities…The pupils are encompassed by a thin dark green line…fucking amazing!

Suddenly, Travis wanted to gaze into her eyes one more time, just to feel the same electricity he felt when their eyes met. I could look into those eyes a lifetime.

Travis chuckled quietly, realizing that it was indeed too long since he had a s****l release. That and the stress caused by this deal formed a dangerous combination for Travis. God Simpson…you’ve gone mad…you’re pathetic and disgusting. Leave the poor woman be.

But, as much as he tried switching his attention on anything else, his gaze kept coming back on her. He took some more sips of his scotch, while watching her movements. For some reason, he wanted to remember every little detail about her, from the way she kept shaking her right wrist, rattling her bracelet, to the way she kept pushing her hair to her back with those small nearly white hands and to the way she kept swirling around her drink. He was attracted by her actions, bewitched by her small movements. She made every move with grace, in a truly unpretentious way. Yes, that’s what it was.

She had that je ne sais quoi , that made her interesting and appealing. SHE WAS REAL. Like she was confident about her actions and she didn’t care what people thought of her.

When she crossed her legs and started to slowly move her fingers up and down the stem of the glass, Travis was instantly rock hard. f**k….A distraction indeed.