Free UpAndComing by Christi Ann

Chapter One
     
    Office Christmas parties at Donahue, Fitzgerald, Anderson
and Saunders were notoriously boring. Phillip Matthews, however, had just been
made partner so he had come to the lame-ass party ready to mingle and make his
presence known.
    “Need a refill yet?” Callie Reynolds asked, moving in next
to him.
    “Almost,” he replied, giving his glass a whirl. The drink
was more water than scotch.
    “Anyone else you need me to suck…up to?” Callie gave him a
provocative smile, tucking a blonde lock of hair behind her ear.
    He smiled, arching a brow. “No need for all that.” He
glanced to those soft pink lips of hers, knowing how erotic they looked
encircling the base of his cock. Perhaps later.
    He finished his drink with a quick throw back and handed her
the empty glass.
    “At your service, Sir.” Callie strolled to the bar, her high
heels making her hips roll with each step. Yep, she was a sweet piece of arm
candy, definitely a plus. Impressing the good ole boys at the firm took more
than that though.
    Callie came from old Texas money, which in Dallas was like
royalty, social gold. A couple of the senior partners were actually friends of
her father’s and she was not intimidated by them, or anyone else for that
matter. A grad student at A&M, well-traveled and a masterful
conversationalist, Callie was not just easy on the eyes. She was a smart girl
and Phillip preferred smart girls. They were always more of a challenge to bend
and break.
    Callie had a great deal to offer any man, but to Phillip her
strongest attribute was her submissive need. They met at a lifestyle club in
Austin and had been playing on and off together for over a year since, becoming
quite good friends. They helped out each other when social decorum required a
significant other because, lucky for him, she was no more interested in a
vanilla relationship than he was. Thank God!
    Phillip was the only unmarried partner at the firm. Coming
to an office party alone wasn’t an option. Callie’s presence was more important
to his ensemble than wearing shoes—that is, if he wanted to advance his career.
And as it had always been, and always would be, his career was priority number
one. Why getting married and being tied down to one woman would make you a
better corporate lawyer, he had no fucking idea. A shudder ran up his spine at
the thought. Never happening.
    All eyes in the room turned to the door. Making a fashionably
late entrance, Delvin Donahue—the most senior partner of Donahue, Fitzgerald,
Anderson and Saunders—strolled into the room with an impressive piece of arm
candy himself. The girl by his side was stunning. Dark-brown hair pulled back
into a conservative ponytail. Standing proud as a fucking peacock, Donahue led
her by the arm, introducing her to his colleagues who seemed immediately enthralled
with her.
    The young woman’s sleek navy dress had an elegant flare. Unfortunately,
the high neckline hid her ample cleavage. Tall strappy stilettos on her petite
feet emphasized her defined, muscular calves. Despite the height of those
heels, she walked with an effortless grace. No, not your typical arm candy.
    Phillip wished she would turn so he could see her ass.
    “Who’s that?” Callie asked, handing him a fresh drink.
    “That, my dear, is Delvin Donahue.” Donahue didn’t routinely
attend social office functions, but the man never missed a day of work. Ever.
His name didn’t come first on the letterhead for nothing. He was a machine.
    “No, I know who Mr. Donahue is. Who’s he with?”
    “No idea, but who she is is irrelevant. It’s who she’s with
that’s important.” He lied. He was very interested in knowing who she was.
    “Damn, the new Jimmy Choos,” Callie snarled.
    “Who?”
    “Her shoes.” Callie motioned at Donahue’s date. “They’re the
new Jimmy Choos. Don’t they look hot?”
    Yes, she does. “Well, then you must go tell her at
once.” Phillip winked, placing Callie’s hand in the