Desired of Me: Never Give Up Series, #3

By Roxie Odell

My life didn't give me what I wanted. It gave me what I worked for.

 

This hot and steamy trilogy is just heating up Amanda Taylor discovers there is more to her billion dollar play boy boss than she thought.

She had an opportunity, but she gave it up for him, and now he has to prove he's worthy of her attention.

 

Elon Truitt, is wild with passion, and he doesn't know which way to turn. The company needs him, or everything will go down to the highest bidder. With one final test from the board lingering over his head, he watches as his team, and the girl that knocked him off his feet start to fall apart around him.

 

Lust and love are plentiful, but the choices these two make could forever decide their futures.

 

Will Elon get the girl and keep the company, or will he be forced to choose, leaving him forever wanting?

 

Amanda sees the future bright with new choices, but somewhere in her mind she knows, her heart is pulling her in another direction. Will she risk it all for love or turn and walk toward those big dollar signs?

 

Passion, lust, emotion, and a little humor drive this series to it's shocking conclusion.

 

Never Give Up Series

Book 1 – Required of Me

Book 2 – Immune to Me

Book 3 – Desired of Me

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dark Shadow Publishing
• Release date: May 11, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201590109

Roxie Odell

Steamy Romance author Roxie Odell brings you heat, steam and romance in her stories. Be ready to sweat! Find her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RoxieOdell/?ref=hl Follow her newsletter: http://eepurl.com/b9G7JX Twitter @roxieodellauthor

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Never Give Up Series

BOOK 1 – REQUIRED OF Me

Book 2 – Immune to Me

Book 3 – Desired of Me

Note: Covers by BOOKCOVERBYDESIGN

Desired of Me Blurb

MY LIFE DIDN’T GIVE me what I wanted. It gave me what I worked for.

This hot and steamy trilogy is just heating up Amanda Taylor discovers there is more to her billion dollar play boy boss than she thought.

She had an opportunity, but she gave it up for him, and now he has to prove he’s worthy of her attention.

Elon Truitt, is wild with passion, and he doesn’t know which way to turn. The company needs him, or everything will go down to the highest bidder. With one final test from the board lingering over his head, he watches as his team, and the girl that knocked him off his feet start to fall apart around him.

Lust and love are plentiful, but the choices these two make could forever decide their futures.

Will Elon get the girl and keep the company, or will he be forced to choose, leaving him forever wanting?

Amanda sees the future bright with new choices, but somewhere in her mind she knows, her heart is pulling her in another direction. Will she risk it all for love or turn and walk toward those big dollar signs?

Passion, lust, emotion, and a little humor drive this series to it’s shocking conclusion.

Contents

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Never Give Up Series

Desired of Me Blurb

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Epilogue

Never Give Up Series

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Chapter 1

ELON

Clutching the pink piece of stationary tightly in my hand. I gazed out the window at the cityscape, wondering what Amanda was doing right then, wondering if she knew I had read the letter.

She’d left me, and left the company.

Though I could understand her need for the money, her need to make her and her son’s life better, I couldn’t imagine working every day without her there, leading beside me. Dalton had said he would collect her personal items from her office, and I just brushed him off, not wanting to believe she was actually serious about everything. She had worked so hard, gotten so far, and the two of us had gotten so close that it was hard to imagine making the choice to throw that all away. Her mother needed care, I knew that, but it was something that could be worked out if she wasn’t so damn stubborn all the time. I used to think it was an adorable trait, but it had become our downfall, what ended everything we had built together.

If she would just stop and talk to me, I knew things would be better. I knew I could convince her to stay, to come back to the company and to my arms. The hardest part of all of that was getting her in front of me and forcing her to listen. I needed to go to her, not sit in my office and feel sorry for myself. She was most likely at home, taking some time off before her new job started. It was a Wednesday in the middle of the early afternoon which meant her son wouldn’t be there. He would be at school. I stood up and grabbed my coat, sliding it over my shoulders and looking down at the note. If anything was ever going to change in my life, I had to start taking the bull by the horns, going after what I wanted. The worst she could say was no, but at least there would be some closure instead of some professionally-written, impersonal note and nothing more to go off of.

I walked to the door and flung it open, stopping in my tracks as I stared into Clayton Hayworth’s smug, round face. He had his hand up, ready to knock, and my secretary was standing as if she were protesting the intrusion. I straightened my tie and shoved the note into my pocket, sighing as I stared into his beady little eyes. It wasn’t enough that he had to try to take my company away from me, but now I had to see him standing in my doorway, coming to bother me about something useless, most likely. Possibly even some more idle threats to try to make me nervous or bully me into giving up information that was none of his business. Either way, no matter how distracted by Amanda I was, I put a front up and prepared myself for him.

Clayton, I said, clearing my throat. You know I do have a secretary for a reason, and if you can’t get to me that way, there’s the telephone as well. No need to trek up here unannounced.

Does that make you nervous, Truitt? He smirked. Me just floating around the building talking to people, popping in unannounced?

Not at all. I smiled. You’re a board member. You’re welcome to go wherever you please as long as you’re not disrupting the work going on in the company, though you might find the cold shoulder from this department. Most of these people have no idea who you are, and trust me, they are hard to get to. They don’t welcome just anyone into their folds.

I’m sure you’re very familiar with that, he said. Did I catch you leaving? I figured with this big project going on, you’d be here extra hours, not trotting off in the middle of the day.

Not going anywhere, I said. Just coming out to check on the progress of the ad.

Good. Then you won’t mind sitting down for a moment, he said, pushing past me and sitting down in the chair across from my desk.

Of course. I closed the door and clenched my jaw. I always have time for the board. I’m assuming you’re representing the board in this matter.

It’s more of a personal visit. He smiled, watching me walk around and sit at my desk. Some unattended business between the two of us.

I don’t remember having any personal business with you, I said. Unless you mean how you’re lying to the board and trying to swindle the company right out from beneath me.

Oh, come now, Elon. He chuckled. You’re still not butthurt over the Cartier project, are you? You won. You beat me out.

Right, I said. So, what can I do for you today?

Just wanted to find out how this new project was going, he said.

It’s going very well, I replied. Right on schedule.

Even without a technical artist? He smiled. I knew that recommendation letter to Disney would do the trick.

Of course. Why did I not realize you were behind that sooner? Your timing was impeccable, I said.

Had I known you had an ace up your sleeve, I would have waited until the last possible second, he said. Now, where is Amanda? I would like to see how she feels the project is going.

She’s not in today, I said through gritted teeth.

Why not? Both of your jobs rely on her presence here at work, he said.

She came down with the stomach flu. I smiled. Terrible thing, but we didn’t want to infect the rest of the team. We need them on the ball, ready to go at any minute. I told her to take a couple of days and get better. She works so hard with me, and I feel like it’s necessary that the team be at their best. After all, it’s for the betterment of the company, right?

Right. He smirked, trying to see through my lies.

I stuck my hand in my pocket and squeezed the letter, knowing I needed to buy time before he found out she had no plans to come back. That would be the end of everything, the end of my operation of the company and, ultimately, the end of the company itself. I couldn’t let it go until I at least tried to get her back.

Even someone as good as Amanda needs a break from time to time. I smiled. The bullshit is thick, and it gets a bit overwhelming.

Just cut the crap, Elon, he said, making my stomach drop.

What are you talking about? I replied.

You got through the Cartier account. I have to give you credit for being a bit more cunning than I thought you’d be, but you won’t continue to get through it, he said. I’m going to finish you off with this project. In fact, you’re going to fuck it up all on your own, and when you do, I’ll be there, waiting to vote you out.

This is my company, something I built from the ground up, I said angrily. You wouldn’t know what to do with the place if you had my chair.

Oh, sure I would, he said with a smirk. You know exactly what I would do with the place.

Sell it off piece by piece, I growled. Sell my company off like it never meant a thing.

Bingo. His greasy smile widened.

I stood up, slamming my fists on the desk, ready to tear that man from limb to limb. I closed my eyes and breathed deeply, realizing that was exactly what he wanted. He wanted me to show myself unsteady, unable to keep my cool in front of a board member. He was getting desperate, no matter how cocky or assured he came off as. I opened my eyes and stood up, straightening my tie and smiling.

As much as I enjoy sitting around and chatting with you, I said, I have a whole lot of work to get done, and you’re in the way.

I’ll be going then. He stood up and rubbed his big belly. I’m done here anyway. Just wanted to get a view of my future office.

I stared at him as he walked out of the room, hating every fat step his body took. When he walked out of the room, I sat back down and rubbed my face, feeling like everything was falling apart. When I was sure he was gone, I stood up, walked out of the office, and looked out over the pit, watching everyone working.

They haven’t noticed Amanda’s gone yet, Dalton said, walking up next to me. They’re too busy trying to get through the project. I haven’t taken her things yet. I figured I’d wait until you told everyone, so there wasn’t a panic.

I appreciate it, I sighed.

I saw Clayton walk out, Dalton said. What did he want this time?

To bust my balls and ask to talk to Amanda, I said.

What did you tell him?

What was I supposed to tell him? I turned to Dalton. If he knows she’s gone, we’re all screwed. I lied. I told him Amanda had the flu, that she would be back when she felt better. It was the best I could come up with on the spot.

Probably for the best, Dalton replied. No need in having the board breathing down our throats too.

What are we going to do, Dalton? I asked, rubbing the back of my neck. Something has to be done.

Let everything ride, he said. For right this moment, you just need to let everything continue. I really think everything will be fine. Whether Amanda is with you or not, if this project is completed successfully, then the board can’t turn their back on you. If you can show you’re capable of producing these projects with or without the help of an ad manager, they’ll see you’re more than capable of holding your own as the head of this company.

You’re right. I faked a smile. I just wish it didn’t have to be that way.

I know you do, Dalton said, patting me on the back.

I better get back to the office and get some more work done, I said, turning. Do me a favor and keep an eye on everything.

Of course, boss, he said with a smile. I’ll have everyone come to me unless it’s vital for you to know.

Thank you, I said, heading into my office and shutting the door.

I walked straight to the window and crossed my arms over my chest, thinking about what Clayton had said. The note from Amanda crinkled in my pocket, and I pulled it out, staring down at the handwriting. My concern wasn’t for the company, even though I knew it should be. My concern was for Amanda, the fact that I wanted her back in my life. I didn’t care about whether she came back at that point. I just wanted her to know the company had nothing to do with the way I felt about her.

I folded the paper and walked over to put it in the top drawer of my desk. I would deal with the board later, no matter the outcome. Dalton was right. If I could manage to get the project done successfully without Amanda, they wouldn’t vote me out over a technicality, or at least, I hoped not. The company was important to me, sure, but I had fallen for Amanda hard, and I felt that without her by my side, there was nothing that would make me happy.

Chapter 2

AMANDA

It was Wednesday,