EXTRACT FOR
Celeste's Secret
(J.S. Lee)

"Yes, ma'am, I did and I'll make sure to give him this one as well," Celeste glared at Michael, as the man's secretary, she was supposed to do administrative work.  Dumping the steady stream of girls that he met quickly and discarded even faster was not in her job title.



"Do you know when he'll be in?" this one was a petite blond who had caught his eye a week ago.  Michael had Celeste send her flowers with the usual card and she knew right away where it was headed.  It hadn't even lasted two dates.



Celeste raised her eyebrow to him, watching his eyes sparkle in glee, "I'm sorry, I don't, but I'll be sure to let him know you called."  She pressed the button to end the call, shaking her head at him as he laughed.  "You know, it's not funny, one of these days I'm going to make you talk to one of these poor girls," she pointed at him in mock anger.  They had grown close enough over the last few months that she could tease him.



He leaned in close, "please don't do that, even if I totally deserve it.  Didn't I tell you when I hired you that you would be answering the phone for me?"



Celeste moved back in her lounge chair.  It was the second day of the company's annual retreat and his normal flirting had been in high gear ever since they arrived at the resort.  She was used to seeing him in a suit and tie and she was trying very hard not to notice him in the bathing suit and wet tee-shirt that he had on.  The problem with Michael was that he knew he was gorgeous.



"You did, but I guessed that I would be taking your work calls, not breaking all of these womens hearts for you," Celeste bit her lip, she was trying to look very stern but she couldn't stop herself from smiling.



He waived her off and grabbed his drink, "you're not breaking their hearts, they don't care about me, it's just my status that they're after."



He had a point.  Sure, he was handsome, his thick, blond hair and his sea green eyes were just the beginning.  He was tall and lean, his taut, swimmer's body that she was noticing right this moment made women turn their heads.  On top of that, he was the CEO of a Fortune 500 company and could take girls to dinner in his private jet; and he did, far too often for Celeste's taste.