Triplicate

By G.G. Woodhouse

Ellie Greene has big dreams of running her own business just like her idol, Whitney Wolfe, but for now, she’s stuck as a menial assistant at the Los Angeles branch of Yates Enterprises, an international hotel corporation. When her presentation impresses a big-wig from the main offices, however, Ellie is swept away to London to become the latest in a long line of assistants to the company’s difficult CEOs, who happen to be contentious -- and gorgeous -- billionaire identical triplets who all want a piece of the fresh meat. Will she fall for Duncan, the party animal? Blaine, the infamous ladies’ man? Or Augustine, the uptight, all-business Yates with a secretly soft heart? Or will she reject their office drama entirely and strike out on her own?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bryant Street Shorts
• Release date: Jul 22, 2021
• ISBN: 9781094422480

Book preview

Chapter One

Ellie

Ms. Greene? Can you hang back for a minute?

As we filed out of the board room, I stopped at the sound of Mr. Doe’s voice. It was deep and commanding, and sent an instant shiver down my spine.

Alright… Sure… I answered, turning toward him.

John was a marketing executive visiting from one of our satellite offices. Young for his position in the company. Handsome, too, even though I could never seem to get a clear view of his face.

We’d been making eyes throughout the meeting, and I’d had a difficult time keeping my composure with the warmth that had been blossoming between my legs.

John moved to the door, shutting it till I heard the little click. Those eyes fixed on me again. No one had ever stared at me with such intensity. It was like he had X-Ray vision.

W-w-what do you want to talk to me about? I started.

John loosened his tie, and unbuttoned the top two buttons of his white Oxford. A tuft of dark hair poked out from the top of what looked like a drum-tight chest.

I think we’ve done enough talking today, haven’t you? John said. He walked up to me and ran a hand through my hair, unloosening the bun in the back, freeing my hair to run down my back. His touch was like a fire iron on my skin.

Yessss… I whispered, half-moaning. John smirked, and gave me a kiss. His tongue teased mine ever so gently between our lips before he withdrew. I nearly combusted.

I was thinking we could ‘not talk’ right here on the conference table, if that’s alright with you… He said, giving me a roguish wink. He undid another few buttons, this time on my blouse.

My nipples hardened beneath my bra. He wanted me here? Now? It was so risky…

And yet, I had to have him too.

Fuck it.

I glanced at my watch. My hands brushed his as I helped him undo my buttons. I think I could manage to squeeze something in, I said teasingly.

John started taking off his slacks, and I couldn’t pretend not to notice the enormous erection in his boxer-briefs. He chuckled as he caught my gaping jaw.

"We might have to squeeze…"

***

HONK! HONK! HONK! HONK!

MOVE IT, JERK!

GET YOUR ASS IN GEAR!

WHAT THE FUCK?!

I snapped to attention, my hands tensing around the steering wheel.

I’d nearly pulled an all-nighter working on the presentation for the London office, and my short rest had been haunted by dreams of Mr. John Doe, a faceless hunk who’d enticed me into a boardroom bang session, something I’d never do in my waking hours.

The thought alone had caused me anxiety… and made me late for work!

The shouting intensified in the vehicles behind me. It was rush hour on a sweltering June morning in Culver City. We were stuck behind a van which, despite the green light, was as inert as a fat cat sleeping on a windowsill.

Was the driver texting? Searching for a chunk of breakfast bar that had fallen onto the floor? I had no idea. I just knew that I was pissed.

Well, the drivers behind me were pissed. As usual, I kept my cool, bottling the growing rage inside me. As honks joined the chorus of voices, I rolled up my windows, forcing myself not to answer their call.

The van finally lurched forward, and a hairy arm waved out the window. The light had already turned yellow by the time I hit the gas in my Prius.

Under normal circumstances, I’d never run a yellow. Especially not with all the wild drivers in LA. But this morning, I was running late, and I’d have to bend my golden rule.

A few minutes later I pulled into the underground parking lot of Yates Enterprises, a tall, glassy building in downtown Culver. I risked a look at my car clock and breathed a sigh of relief. It was 8:29 a.m. Still a minute early. Actually, thirty-one minutes early — I always got into the office a good half hour before the work day officially started.

Yes, I was a nerd. But like my mom and dad always said, the early bird got the worm. And in just three years at Yates Enterprises, I’d worked my way up from a lowly mailroom worker to the manager’s executive assistant. Now, I practically ran the office.

My boss Andy Jenkins was a sweet man. He was kind and jolly — more like an absent-minded grandpa than my superior. Mr. Jenkins had been with Yates Enterprises since the company was founded in London forty years ago. In that time, through sheer loyalty and likability, he’d failed upward into the role of manager of the LA office.

When Mr. Jenkins worked from home (and by home, I mean the golf course), I was his right and left hands. I analyzed reports, strategized new revenue streams, met with associates, hired and — unfortunately — fired. Not to mention I handled all the usual assistant stuff, like scheduling drinks and overpriced acupuncture sessions.

Today, however, was the rare day Mr. Jenkins would be at the office. Martha Calloway, the VP of Sales from the main office in London, was visiting from across the pond to hear our pitch for opening up a luxury cruise line between Los Angeles and the Galapagos Islands. It had been my idea.

Over the past couple years, Yates satellite offices all over the world had been shuttering as a result of new leadership in the company. Fearing he’d be forced into early retirement, Mr. Jenkins had asked me to brainstorm ideas to keep the LA office relevant. The Galapagos cruise line was risky and expensive — after all, there were about 3000 miles of ocean between Los Angeles and Santa Cruz Island, with few obvious ports in between. But if the Queen Mary 2 could do it, so could we. Yates Enterprises was a luxury travel brand, and what was more luxurious than a three-week round trip cruise to one of the most exotic places on Earth?

I was confident in my idea, and Mr. Jenkins was on board too — at least, for everything but the actual work. I’d made the calls to our cruise division, the Port of Los Angeles, the Ecuadorian Tourism Board. I’d come up with all the estimates. Put together a kickass deck. Now, it was game day.

I’d barely gotten my coffee by the time Mr. Jenkins arrived. He flashed me a nervous smile as he passed by my desk. He was already sweating in his too-tight gray suit, and I knew it wasn’t from the summer heat.

Morning, Ellie, he said. How’s the presentation looking?

I’m really proud of it, I said honestly. I think it’s some of my best work.

Mr. Jenkins nodded, some of his anxiety seeming to disappear. One thing I could say for him — he trusted me implicitly.

Make sure the board room is all set up. Martha will be here at 10am. He said this like I hadn’t been the one who’d scheduled the meeting. Can you email me the deck? I need to study up.

Already did.

Beautiful. I can always count on you, Ellie, he said with a wink. By the way, I want you in there with me today.

"Really?"

Of course! It’ll be great exposure for you, he continued as he went into his office. Besides, I need someone to work the clicker. You know I’m no good with technology.

Setting off for the board room, I was filled with excitement. Mr. Jenkins was bringing me into the most important meeting he’d had since I became his assistant. Maybe it was just to work the clicker, but still! It was a big step for me.

***

So, why the Galapagos? Martha Calloway asked as the presentation concluded. The middle-aged Brit fixed my boss with a cold expression. She was dressed to kill in a sleeveless red blouse, white linen pants, and enough jewelry to rival an Egyptian pharaoh.

Mr. Jenkins floundered in front of the projector screen. The sweat that puddled in the armpits of his suit had become great lakes.

Why not? he chuckled, looking to me. I sat opposite Martha at the conference table. About half a dozen other executives filled out the rest of it.

I offered Mr. Jenkins a small and supportive smile, but it took everything in me to turn my frown upside down. My boss had totally blown the presentation. It was clear he hadn’t done his homework, reading everything directly off the PowerPoint slides like it was the first time he’d seen it.

Sure, he hadn’t had a ton of time to go over the deck I’d put together last night, but if he’d done any of the work, he wouldn’t be so unfamiliar with the pitch.

The Galapagos is, uh… um… he stuttered. He stared at me again, his eyes growing wider. Clearly a distress signal. I wanted to ignore it, but the fate of the office might have been on the line. I couldn’t leave him hanging.

The Galapagos Islands are one of the most unique travel destinations on Earth, I said. My voice sounded louder than normal, and I immediately felt every eye in the room on me. But Mr. Jenkins gave me a subtle nod to keep going.

It’s full of sandy beaches for travelers looking for luxury, as well as nature, wildlife, and history for the adventurer. I mean, this is where Charles Darwin came up with the theory of natural selection. Can you imagine a more inspiring place to travel?

But why would travelers want to leave from Los Angeles? Martha went on. A week at sea is a long time. It’s much shorter from Central or South America.

An LA departure could be very appealing for our demo, I answered, not waiting for Mr. Jenkins’ go ahead. Yates Enterprises gets a lot of business from celebrity clientele. Imagine how easy it would be for Hollywood to hop on a cruise ship right here.

Did I imagine it, or did I see a flicker of a smile on Martha’s lips? Before I could decide, she turned back to Mr. Jenkins.

Do you concur with your assistant, Andrew? she asked

Of course! Mr. Jenkins said, a little too eagerly. Ellie here practically runs the office… right after she gets my coffee!

The conference table broke into polite laughter, and I felt my cheeks redden as I sunk back into my chair. It felt like Mr. Jenkins was making fun of me when I’d basically just saved his butt, if not the entire office’s.

Any more questions? Mr. Jenkins asked. Martha shook her head.

No, I believe that’s it. I’ll review the proposal and get back to you shortly.

***

The rest of the workday passed uneventfully. I was grateful. I was in a pretty crappy mood after Mr. Jenkins’ little dig. He knew how much I did for him. Why did he make fun of me? Even worse, he’d given me zero credit for putting together the pitch!

The meeting certainly hadn’t been the step forward that I’d hoped for…

I ate a Sweetgreen salad at my desk, then spent the afternoon online shopping for Mr. Jenkins’ grandson’s birthday. The boss had a lunch scheduled with Martha, and I assumed he wouldn’t be returning to the office. I was a little surprised when he and Martha walked in around 3 p.m., reminiscing about the old days at the London office. Martha had worked for Yates Enterprises nearly as long as him.

Mr. Jenkins gave me a big grin as he went into his office.

Hey, Ellie. Think you could rustle up a couple decafs for me and Martha?

On it, I said, suppressing a groan.

Great. More coffee.

I got up slowly from my desk, only to find Martha standing

Reviews for Triplicate

[Jen Van de Kamer · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Fun read, took me back to my childhood of Harlequin Romances. Very light.

[Bob Dope · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

SOOOOO Spicy, love the writing. Want more, neeeeed more. Please write more like this. #Can'tWaitForMore!

[Nancy Buckingham · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Smart, Sexy, Funny!
Love the characters and reading their separate thoughts throughout this zany London-based love triangle.