Accidentally Flirting With the CEO by Shadonna Richards Page A

lawyers. Jess
had been slapped with a sexual harassment suit that was deemed later to be
fabricated by a disgruntled ex-female employee. Then the company’s accountant
and part owner. The L in TLC. His ever so stoic, old-fashioned older
half-sister, who could practically be his mother, Lee Leon warned all employees
about sexual harassment in the office and inappropriate conduct. She fired two
employees on the grounds of misconduct for sending inappropriate e-mails to
each other as per violation of the company’s bylaws.
    And Jess became totally distant after that time. His
personality hardened somewhat and though he kept his courtesy, he eyed his
employees especially the females with suspicion almost every time. Who could
blame him after what happened?
    He could be charming and command respect one minute and icy
cold the next. He was one person you just didn’t want to tick off in the
office. No one was stupid enough to cross his path after that. Word got out
that the employee in question who admitted that she faked the whole scenario
got blacklisted everywhere. Jess was a well-connected man who didn’t take too kindly
to his name being dragged through the mud by an opportunist.  
    Tomorrow morning before her employee evaluation with Jess,
Lee, and Chase, his laid-back cousin who was also part owner of the
firm—he was going to read that e-mail.
    Alexa told Macy what just transpired.
    “What? You did what?” Macy’s voice rose. Then she laughed
hysterically.
    “Girl, you’ve got to make sure he doesn’t see that e-mail.
Unless you want to have something going on with him.” Macy tried to make light
of the situation so that Alexa wouldn’t slip into a depressive state of mind
and think she was a total screw-up with everything in her life.
    “Come on, Macy. You know what happened at the firm with that
woman and the lawsuit.” Alexa ran her fingers nervously through her hair as she
paced back and forth around her bed. She peeked over and saw Mittens, her sweet
little three-year old ginger shorthair cat, was fast asleep on the bed. Alexa
wished she were a four-legged feline with no cares in the world. No
access to the internet. Damn! Why couldn’t a person retract an e-mail that was
sent in error? One would think with all the technology they figured out how to
reach back into cyberspace and delete what was not meant to be sent. If it were
up to her, they’d be a pop-up box that read “Are you sure you want to send this
email to xyz?”
    “Oh.” Macy’s voice sounded dry and low. “Listen, you’ll be
fine. Just don’t go running for office or become a celebrity sportsperson and
it won’t come back to bite you in the butt. Then again, you might be able to
get a reality show out of the scandal.”
    “Macy, this is no joke!”
    Macy sighed. “Sorry. I’m just trying to make you see it’s
not the end of the world. Worrying about stuff doesn’t make it go away—it
just gives you added heartburn. If you can’t do anything about something,
forget it. Don’t let it ride you up.”    
    “But, Macy, you have no idea what I’m up against. How am I
going to get any sleep now? I’m going to look like crap in the morning with
bags under my eyes and Jess and the entire team will get that e-mail. This was
supposed to be my appraisal, my employee evaluation for my conduct over the
year. My potential raise.”
    “Oh, no, girl! I see what you mean.”
    “Let’s face it, Macy. I’m so screwed.”
     
     

CHAPTER 2
     
    Jess Tandon reached over to the night table from his bed,
eyes still closed, to stop his BlackBerryfrom
buzzing.
    It was another incoming e-mail. He could tell by the way the
phone vibrated twice.  
    He had a bad habit of keeping his cell phone on as it still
charged overnight. He was trying to get into the environmentally friendly
energy-saving thing. Not just because of one of his clients at the agency, but
it was the right thing to do. He always said if he ever lived long enough