Catering to the Billionaire (The Billionaire's Appetites) (BBW Billionaire Erotic Romance) by Daphne Loveling

Lissa twisted around nervously in the elevator, hoping to get a glimpse of her backside in the mirrored walls to make sure her new suit was hanging properly.  It was a good thing she was alone in here; she needed the last few seconds to calm her fidgety self before the doors opened and she faced the most terrifying experience of her young life. 
    She gave herself a once-over in the mirror, smoothing her tumbling chestnut curls and tugging down one more time on her cream-colored blazer.  Her suit fit her well; taking the plunge and going to a personal shopper had been the right decision.  The matching cream skirt she wore fit her perfectly, hugging her generous hips without binding or feeling too tight. Lissa had always had the curvy girl’s fear of clothing, convinced that only stick-thin model types could really manage to find clothes that they felt good in.  Still, she had to admit that the personal shopper her sister had suggested had proved Lissa wrong.  Though it had been a huge splurge for her, she could already tell that the money she had invested on this suit and a few other key pieces would pay off as she sought to make her mark on the world in the competitive business of catering.
    Lissa had just finished fidgeting when the elevator doors opened, and she stepped out nervously onto the twenty-third floor.  In front of her, a large set of glass double doors proclaimed she was in the right place: Thorne Investments.  With a deep breath, she pushed through the doors and went inside.  “Hello,” she said to a trim, attractive blonde woman in an elegant black suit sitting at the front reception desk.  “I’m here to see Barbara Randall about a possible catering contract.  I’m Lissa Bradford.”
    “Oh, yes, Ms. Bradford,” the blonde said, smiling cordially up at her.  “You’re on Ms. Randall’s calendar for two o’clock.  I’m sorry to say, Ms. Randall has had to step away for an emergency.  Mr. Thorne will be interviewing you instead.”
    “Mr. Thorne?” Gregory Thorne?  The CEO of Thorne Investments himself?   Lissa’s heart leapt to her throat.  It was nerve-wracking enough to be interviewing for her first big catering job at such a major firm, but Lissa had at least thought she’d known what to prepare for.  Her high-powered sister, Laurie, knew Ms. Randall from her own job as a corporate head-hunter, and had gotten Lissa this interview through those personal connections.  Since Lissa had expected to be interviewed by Ms. Randall herself, she had grilled Laurie about the woman’s personality and style of doing business, and had prepared her presentation based on what Laurie had told her.  Lissa had even held out hope that her sister’s connection to Ms. Randall would give Lissa a tiny advantage over any other caterers they were considering. But now, Lissa realized with dismay, not only was she not going to be able to use any of Laurie’s tips, she would be walking into a situation where she knew next to nothing about her interviewer. 
    In her research on the firm, Lissa had found out very little of substance about its CEO.  Gregory Thorne was a notoriously private and secretive man, who refused to give interviews to the many magazines and newspapers who wanted to do features on him.  Only the most basic of details were known about his life.  He was born in Boston, and attended private school there as a child.  He had graduated from Harvard Business School at twenty-five.  Now, at the ripe old age of thirty-five, he had founded and raised his own company, Thorne Investments, to a level of success that put him within spitting distance of the Fortune 500.  He had never been married, had no children, and was passionate about sailing.  Other than that, he remained largely a mystery.  A mystery that Lissa was about to meet.
    The blonde, who said her name was Annie, stood up and showed Lissa to a sitting area just down the hall from the reception.  “Please, have a seat