Catering to the CEO

Also by Samantha Chase

The Montgomery Brothers

Wait for Me

Trust in Me

Stay with Me

More of Me

Return to You

Meant for You

I’ll Be There

The Shaughnessy Brothers

Made for Us

Love Walks In

Always My Girl

This Is Our Song

A Sky Full of Stars

Holiday Spice

Shaughnessy Brothers: Band on the Run

One More Kiss

One More Promise

Holiday Romance

The Christmas Cottage / Ever After

Mistletoe Between Friends / The Snowflake Inn

Life, Love and Babies

The Baby Arrangement

Baby, I’m Yours

Baby, Be Mine

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Copyright © 2013, 2018 by Samantha Chase

Internal design © 2018 by Sourcebooks, Inc.

Cover image © Christy Carlyle/Gilded Heart Design

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The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

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Contents

Front Cover

Title Page

Copyright

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

A Sneak Peek of Until There Was Us

About the Author

For Emilie—thank you for encouraging me when I doubted myself and for helping me achieve my dream. I hope to someday be able to return the favor. XOXO

Chapter 1

"Consider this our final meeting. I’m done." As the words hung in the air, Cassie Jacobs watched Adam Lawrence’s face turn to stone. She was used to his demands, his tirades, his cold and brutal treatment of people around him, but today she’d had enough.

Adam stood and walked around the antique mahogany desk that overpowered his dark and masculine office. "We will be done when I say we are done, Cassandra." Irritation cracked the facade as she turned to pack her briefcase.

Her heart was racing and her hands were shaking, and Cassie was determined to compose herself before turning around. Luckily she had plenty of paperwork to keep her busy, but she could feel Adam’s presence behind her, tension rolling off his Armani-clad body.

It wasn’t as if today’s meeting was any different from the dozen or so before; as LSS International’s preferred caterer and event planner, Cassie had dealt with Adam—and his attitude—on multiple occasions. After all, this was his company. But as she sat opposite him today, listening to his condescending tone as he changed the menu for the eighth time—and after she had already begun placing orders with her distributors—she’d snapped. If Adam wanted to fire her, he was welcome to. Sure, she needed this account, but not at the expense of her sanity.

Slowly, Cassie collected her briefcase and turned to face Adam. She smoothed her long chestnut hair and kept her expression cool. I’d say we are done, Mr. Lawrence. She was proud of the fact that her voice sounded steady and that she had her temper under control. CJ’s has enjoyed providing our service for all your events for the past two years, but this is one time that I simply cannot meet your request. It’s unreasonable to ask that we change the entire menu on such short notice. If you’d like to find another event planner and caterer, that is your prerogative.

Adam stared into Cassie’s face. It wasn’t hard to do; he towered over most people.

I don’t want another event planner, Cassandra. We have a contract, one that states that changes can be made—

Up to two weeks before, she cut in with frustration.

The LSS fall retreat is two weeks away, he replied mildly, clearly believing he had the upper hand. His confidence tipped a bit when he noticed Cassie had her own triumphant smile as she reached into her leather briefcase.

Pulling out her planner, Cassie opened to September’s calendar and turned it to face Adam. Today is the twelfth; your retreat is on the twenty-third. That is eleven days, not two weeks. For emphasis, she snapped the planner closed and placed it in her case before facing Adam with her shoulders squared, ready for the consequences of going up against him.

Losing this account would put a big dent in her five-year plan of paying off the loans she took to start the business. Cassie would have no choice but to start cold calling on other companies in the Raleigh, North Carolina, area for business, which she hadn’t had to do yet. She could only hope that the man wasn’t going to be spiteful and try to ruin her reputation and kill her business.

One eyebrow arched as Adam continued to stare at her as if he could read her mind. That thought unsettled her for a bit. She needed to be confident. She needed not to appear needy or desperate. She needed him to say something!

With more bravado than she actually felt, Cassie stepped around Adam. I believe that settles it, then. If you have any other questions or concerns, your assistant can call me at my office. Otherwise, I will see you on the twenty-third.

She almost made it to the door.

If you leave this office, Cassandra, consider your contract with LSS finished. Adam let his words hang there for a moment, and Cassie knew he was confident that she would fall in line and do what he wanted. But Cassie didn’t turn; she simply stopped. For a second, she considered acquiescing to his latest demand.

But she didn’t. Before Adam knew it, Cassie had walked out the door and closed it quietly behind her. She had to stop herself from looking over her shoulder as she walked away from his office to make sure that Adam hadn’t called security to chase after her like an angry mob, banishing her for all eternity. The thought made her chuckle but did nothing to put her mind at ease. What had she done? She could not afford to throw away her biggest client. Maybe a couple of years down the road she could have that privilege, but not right now.

Riding down in the elevator, Cassie had to talk herself out of a panic attack; all was not lost yet. Maybe Adam would calm down. Maybe he would have his assistant call, and they would pretend the whole nasty encounter had never happened.

Maybe she would sprout wings and fly home.

Not knowing what else to do, she pulled her phone from her case and dialed her office. Hey, Kate, it’s me, she said when her sister answered.

How’s it going, Boss? Are all the plans finalized for Satan’s retreat?

Her first instinct was to laugh at her sister’s nickname for Adam, but Cassie couldn’t sum up the energy to do so. With a sigh of regret, she related the details of her meeting. The good thing about having your younger sister as an assistant was that she was attuned to your needs, Cassie thought.

Just come to the office, Cass. We’ll work it all out, okay?

Hanging up the phone, she wished she had the first clue how to turn this mess around. Sure, she could cave in to Adam’s unreasonable demands and eat the profits on this job to make him happy, but it wasn’t right. It was high time somebody stood up to the mighty Adam Lawrence. Not that he’d care; he probably had another caterer on the phone right now drooling over the opportunity to do this job for him on such short notice and swoop in to save the day. Dammit.

Climbing into her sporty Honda Accord, she tried her best to wipe all ugly thoughts of replacement caterers aside and focus on getting home and finding something to eat. She had been so nervous this morning before meeting with Adam that she’d skipped breakfast; now all she wanted to do was draw the shades and curl up on her sofa with a large pizza and some ice cream and forget the rest of the world for a while.

The music chiming in from her cell phone broke into her pizza-pity-party fantasy. Hello?

Hey, pumpkin! How’s my favorite chef today?

Hey, Dad, she said, feeling a sense of comfort from hearing Stephen Jacobs’s voice.

Knowing his daughter well, he asked, What’s wrong?

"I just came from the worst meeting with my biggest client, and I think, I think, I might have quit. She waited for the reprimand or the unwanted parental advice but instead got an invitation to dinner. Tonight? What’s the occasion?"

Does a dad need an occasion to see his daughter?

No, she said, feeling lighter than she had in hours. What time and what am I making? She knew her dad well, and even though he was inviting her to his house, the man couldn’t cook to save his life.

You know I’m not partial to any one thing, sweetheart. You decide, but…make enough for, say…seven people.

Seven people? Who’s coming?

Well, your sisters will be there and your brother, of course. Oh, and I’ve invited some friends I’d like you to meet. Will six o’clock work for you, Cass?

Honestly, she hated to say no to her dad for anything. The man had been a rock for his family after Cassie’s mom had died of ovarian cancer ten years before, and there wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for his kids. Unfortunately, after the morning she’d had, the last thing she felt like was a family dinner with the added perk of entertaining strangers.

Sure, she lied. Six will work. Maybe I’ll do some of that Greek chicken that you like so much. How does that sound?

Like a treat, he said. I’ll see you later, sweetheart. And then he was gone, and Cassie was alone to agonize over something other than Adam and her soon-to-be-doomed business.

Within minutes, she pulled up in front of the building that housed the CJ’s Delights office, kitchen, and showroom. She gave herself a glance in the vanity mirror to make sure that she didn’t look like a fright after her hellish morning. Luckily, her hair was still in place, and since she’d refused to give in to tears, she did not have raccoon eyes. Locking the car with the remote, she walked in through the front door and smiled at what her sister had done.

Dressed in her best server’s attire, Katie stood next to one of their mock-up tables set with some of their best china and crystal. Candles were lit, and there was a beautiful bouquet of silk wildflowers in the middle in shades of pinks and purples. In the background came the strains of classical music. Cassie took a seat where her sister instructed, and in front of her was a large silver-covered plate. With great fanfare, Katie placed a cloth napkin in Cassie’s lap and reached for the lid.

And revealed a tuna sandwich.

It’s all in the presentation, Katie deadpanned and then pulled up a chair for herself after grabbing her own sandwich from a nearby table. So, she began, family dinner tonight. Won’t that be fun?

Cassie finished chewing and nodded. Oh, sure. Nothing says relaxing after a really bad day than cooking for seven people and getting grilled on why I did what I did wrong and how I am going to fix it. And who are these friends Dad invited?

What are you talking about?

Dad said that we were going to be seven for dinner—all of us and two friends.

I have no idea. He hasn’t mentioned anyone to me.

I guess we’ll find out soon enough, Cassie sighed. I told him we’d do Greek tonight. Do we have everything here, or do I need to take a trip to the supermarket? Once dinner plans were discussed and lists were made, Katie ran to the store while Cassie sat in her office trying to figure out how she was going to make her world right again.

The phone ringing was a wonderful distraction some minutes later. CJ’s Delights, this is Cassie, how can I help you?

Cassie? It’s Grace Clark, Adam’s assistant. How are you?

She cringed. There were so many different ways this whole situation could play out that Cassie was afraid to get too far ahead of herself and dare to hope that Grace was calling with good news. Sitting up straight in her chair, she finally found her voice to answer.

I’m fine, Grace. Thanks. How are you?

Oh, Cassie, please! Grace began, her Southern drawl becoming more pronounced. You ran out of here as if your skirt was on fire, and I didn’t know what to do. I wanted to stop you and talk to you, but then Adam barked for me to come into his office.

Barked? Cassie laughed. The image of Adam as a wolf came to mind and had her sympathizing with his assistant.

You know what I mean. She lowered her voice, as if afraid for anyone to overhear her. Are you okay, Cass? I’m so sorry it’s all worked out this way. I have loved working with you, and I consider you a friend. Is there any way we can make this right?

While Cassie appreciated the offer, deep down she knew she had to stick to her guns; otherwise her word would be useless. Honestly, Grace, maybe it’s all for the better. Adam was unreasonable. The contract clearly states—

I know, I know, she interrupted. Believe me, I deal with him every day, and I know how unreasonable he can be. He’s had me calling caterers ever since you left, and no one is willing to take on an event of this magnitude on such short notice. He is having a fit!

Enough of a fit that he’d apologize? Cassie asked hopefully. That would solve her problem. If Adam were the one to call her and restore the event with CJ’s, then Cassie would have her dignity.

Please, the great Adam Lawrence does not apologize to anyone. It’s never going to happen.

I was afraid you’d say that, Cassie murmured. Kicking off her shoes under her desk, she slouched dejectedly.

But, seriously, are you going to be okay? I don’t mean to pry, but it’s that…well, I know that you’re still building up your business and the LSS account was a big one for you.

"It sure was. Was being the operative word."

Oh, Cass…

It’ll be okay, Grace. I’ve always had a hard time working with Adam, having to listen to him yell and talk down to everyone. You deserve a medal for putting up with him every day. Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine. She wished she believed it herself.

Well, I’ve got your business cards, and you can believe that I will pass them along.

I appreciate that, Grace. Really. With not much left to say, they made promises to meet for lunch and to keep in touch before hanging up. Cassie was going to miss working with Grace. What had started as a work relationship had grown into a friendship, and Cassie had come to look forward to events with LSS for the opportunity to work with Grace. She’d often teased that if Adam ever fired her, she’d give Grace a position with CJ’s.

Unfortunately, there was no one offering her a replacement job. She heard Katie in the kitchen and pulled herself up, put her shoes on, and went to help with the groceries and prep work for their dinner.

By five o’clock, Katie was packing up. I gotta run, Cass. I have to pick up Ella from the sitter’s. Ella was Katie’s three-month-old daughter, a baby who had drawn the Jacobs family closer together after Katie’s boyfriend had taken off, never to be heard from again.

I’ll see you at the house in a little while, Cassie called after her as she packed up the supplies she would need to cook at her father’s house. Stephen Jacobs still lived in the house he and his wife had raised their children in. Though it had a fully stocked kitchen, Cassie had a couple of favorite pots and pans that she preferred to cook with. By five thirty, she had changed into more casual clothes and was heading to her childhood home.

Her brother Matt was the first one out of the house to help her. He met her at the trunk of her car and picked her up in a bear hug as if she weighed nothing. Hey! There’s my cooking angel of mercy! He gave her a smacking kiss on the cheek before putting her down. Of course, it helped that he was well over six feet tall and built like a linebacker and took his police training seriously. Reaching into the trunk, he took most of what Cassie had brought with her and headed toward the two-story Colonial.

Cassie stood in the driveway for a moment taking in the grand house and realized that it still looked the same. Her dad kept it clean and well manicured, and it always said home to her. It was a nice feeling to know that some things were sacred and stable and never changed. Grabbing the grocery bags, she closed the trunk just as a car pulled in behind her.

Waving