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  The Ex-Factor

  by Vera Roberts

  Copyright

  For BESM.

  © 2016 Vera Roberts, All Rights Reserved

  This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient.

  This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination, or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales, is entirely coincidental.

  OtherTitlesbyVeraRoberts

  THEJACKSONANDLIANESERIES:

  DADDY’SANGEL

  FIREWEMAKE

  WHENLOVECALLS

  STANDALONENOVELS:

  IKNEWYOUWERETROUBLE

  WAITFORLOVE

  THED’AMATOBROTHERS/S&MCROSSOVER(BDSM):

  ANTICIPATION

  YES,MASTER

  INEEDYOU

  THEBREAKAWAYSERIES:

  BREAKAWAY

  GAMEMISCONDUCT

  FACE-OFF

  POWERPLAY

  THED’AMATOBROTHERSSERIES:

  THENANNY

  TOLOVEANDOBEY(BDSM)

  WHEREIWANNABE

  ALLI’VEEVERWANTED

  LOVE

  THESCOTT&MARIANASERIAL(BDSM):

  S&M

  S&MII

  DISCIPLINE

  S&MIII,VOL.I

  S&MIII,VOL.II

  S&MIV,PART1

  SHORTSTORIES:

  BLOWBYBLOW:DIARYOFACALLGIRL#1

  BLOWBYBLOW:DIARYOFACALLGIRL#2

  DEARDIARY

  GETTIN'IT

  HOTLIKEFIRE(SWEETANDCLEANROMANCE)

  THETRAINRIDE(FREEONSMASHWORDS.COM)

  THEEROTICINTOXICATION,VOL.I:BADGIRLS

  THEPAINTER

  TILTOMORROW

  FACEBOOKPAGE:

  WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/MS.VERA.ROBERTS

  BLOG:

  WWW.VERAROBERTS.COM

  EROTICAMISTRESS.TUMBLR.COM

  Blurb

  Rekindling the flame or just keeping each other company?

  Scott Reed embodies everything it means to be a Kappa – business, life, and

  relationships. As he joins his fellow Nupes at their annual meeting, he has a chance to check in on his former lover and current employee working on an account for his advertising firm. His only problem is if he could keep it strictly business between them.

  Mariana Harlow must’ve been a fool to go back working for her ex but she decided it was possible to keep business just that and have personal issues stay aside. When Scott checks in on her, it only proves there is unfinished business between them.

  Will the former lovers finally get past their issues and rekindle their romance? Or will it be business as usual?

  The Ex-Factor is a supplement standalone title to the Scott & Mariana series. It is a contemporary erotic romance.

  A soul mate is a, well it’s like a best friend, but more. It’s the one person in the whole world that knows you better than you know yourself. It’s someone who makes you a better person. Well, actually, they don’t make you a better person. You do that yourself, because they inspire you. A soul mate is someone who you carry with you forever. It is the one person who knew you but yet, still accepted you & believed in you, before anyone else did, or when no one else would. And no matter what happens, you’ll always love them.

  -Anonymous

  BookI–UnbridledLove

  Some nights I wish I could go back in life. Not to change shit, just to feel a couple things twice.

  - Drake

  TheEnd

  Being successful was going to be the ultimate fuck you to him.

  All of the long hours working on a campaign that could be scrapped at a moment’s notice was going to pay off. He would be forced to take notice of her as a valuable employee and not some puppet he could dangle on a string. No, it was a different game and he was on her turf.

  She was focused, staying on her grind so her bank account could be full of commas and decimals. She had to admit the goal was a superficial one at best and it didn’t enlighten her in any way, but it gave her a smile when she paid for something at the register and her card wasn’t declined.

  She freed her mind and the rest did follow.

  As she stepped off the plane and headed towards baggage claim at Hartsfield-Jackson airport, she wished she ate something a bit more filling than just a bagel and cream cheese washed down by a too-hot espresso that morning.

  Her nerves were all over the place.

  Working for the prestigious McCormick, Reed, and Sheppard advertising agency,

  Mariana Harlow had a lot to prove. It was a world-renowned agency with offices in Tokyo, New York, and main headquarters in Los Angeles. Averaging over 18 billion in yearly revenue, some of their name-brand clients included Cheetos, Buick, Cheerios, StubHub, and several A-list celebrity clients. They were considered the best of the best and what every ad agency aspired to be.

  It was Mariana’s first big business trip by herself. Not with Chris, her supervisor. And not by her ex, who was her current boss. It was a chance for Mariana to prove not only to them, but to herself, she could handle everything.

  The pressure was monstrous.

  She was one of the youngest employees and was still considered wet behind the ears in many areas. No one at work cared about the title or reputation of MRS when it came to Mariana, though. There were still snickers and whispers about her return and the change in attitude whenever they were ever around each other.

  They as in Mariana and her boss.

  They maintained a cordial front as ex-lovers should act in professional setting. It still didn’t stop the rumbling resentment and regret whenever she had to meet with him privately. A thick stain of sexual and emotional tension remained between the pair but

  they both remained professional toward one another. No sexual innuendos. No flirting.

  No too long stares.

  Discussions were over just as quickly as they started. If he hounded her about a presentation or an idea, it was because he was trying to bring the best out of her, and not humiliate her. At least that’s the lie she told herself, for sometimes he was impossibly difficult to read.

  Still, it didn’t stop the feelings whenever she saw his eyes as he drilled her, a slight smile were behind them. It was as if a part of him relished in humiliating her in front of the other employees, wanting to prove a point to the other employees, no one was safe; not even his ex. It was then Mariana realized one of the most toxic things she’d ever done was ignore the bad because she loved him at one point.

  They kept it cute and mute.

  Mariana exhaled a deep breath and pushed back her straightened newly brown hair. Her signature Louboutins click-clacked across the airport floor, almost in step with the sway of her hips. She smiled at the men who turned to take a second look at her, some very handsome, but Mariana was on a mission.

  Food. A lot of it.

  Once she grabbed her luggage, she hailed a taxi to her Westin hotel. She settled in, eyeballed the overpriced room service menu, and found exactly what she’d been craving: the juiciest, thickest, high-calorie cheeseburger she could find with fries fried in a vat of oil and grease. Oh, and a diabetes-infused large Coke to go with it.

  Yeah, that was a definite fuck you to Mr. Fitness with the Six-Pack.

  She quickly ordered her food, topping it with a heavenly slice of chocolate cake that her thighs had already decided she’ll pay fo
r in numerous squats, and settled in on the plush bed. She made a phone call to her parents and caught up with some juicy gossip online.

  She kicked off her heels, wiggled her painted toes, and exhaled a large sigh.

  Now, Mariana could finally relax.

  She received a text message from her brother. Are you here?

  Mariana began to text her brother back. As a new Kappa Alpha Psi pledge, he was attending his first Conclave. The timing was a coincidence, but Mariana was happy to see her brother whenever she had a chance. With her new career, it left family time just on the weekends. Yeah, just arrived.

  I’ll keep an eye for you. I don’t want any Brothers messing with my sis.

  I think I can handle it on my own.

  I’ll still look out for you. You’re my sister.

  Thank you for that but I got it. I have meetings for the next couple of days so I’ll hope to see you before I check out in a few days. Maybe we’ll grab lunch or something.

  Sounds good, sis. TTYL.

  TTYL. Love you.

  Love you back.

  Mariana tossed her phone aside and exhaled a deep breath. She would worry about the major account later. Caffeinated coffee shop was a chain own jointly by Ryan Jeffers and Aaron Jacobs and they were going to expand throughout the nation. It was Mariana’s job to ensure their publicity campaign ran smoothly and it was her first major account.

  After all, it was the sole reason why she was on an extended business trip for a few days.

  Really, the trip was only for a couple of days but she decided to take an extra few days off to relax and enjoy herself. She wanted to do a little shopping and celebrate her new pay raise upon passing her 90-day probation for her new promotion.

  She also wanted to decompress a little and forget all about him.

  A slow smirk appeared at the left corner of her lips as she shook her head. Forget about him? Impossible. Not while he was her boss. Not when he made a permanent and

  unforgettable mark on her heart. They would be connected forever, a thought that she’d never forgotten but he seemingly had.

  It was bad her heart still wanted him but it was downright awful her body still craved him. She missed digging her nails into his back as he drove into her. She missed him cupping her ass she bent over and bounced on his cock. She could still feel his tongue as he lapped up her clit like it would be the last time he would ever taste it.

  And as Mariana Harlow answered her door to let food service in, she was quickly reminded why she would never forget Scott Reed – he was standing behind the food cart.

  Two

  The moment he stepped foot in Atlanta, Scott Reed already felt the energy of his Brothers.

  Being a Nupe wasn’t just a title or a pledge. It was a lifestyle. Being a Nupe was more than just a bow tie and doing a shimmy. It was Brotherhood. It was leadership. It was giving back to the community via numerous ways and time.

  It was home to Scott.

  He pledged Kappa Alpha Psi during his freshman year at USC, along with one of his best friends, Jeff Miller. While the Brothers did their fair share of grunt work, Scott would always remember the beautiful times – the loyalty, family, and spirit of belonging to one of the nation’s most prestigious Greek fraternities.

  His line name was Frank White/K.O.L.A. and it had a double meaning. Not only was Scott honest and White, he had a tendency to run shit like the character from King of New York, except Scott was King of Los Angeles. His leadership was evident when he was an undergrad and a fateful trip to Italy brought it all out and more.

  He was the new partner of the prestigious McCormick, Reed, and Sheppard advertising and PR agency, with whispers he might become co-owner once one or both partners step down. He was considered a phenom in the advertising world, spearheading legendary commercials for NBA royalty, cell phone companies, and car manufacturers.

  As a result of his innovative ads, Scott’s net worth grew from an estimated $150 million to just a little under $500 million in only a few years time, with many people estimating he’ll be a billionaire soon enough. While everyone praised Scott’s leadership, he also gave credit where it was due and often cited those who worked for him for their efforts.

  Stepping off the private jet, he, Jeff, and few other L.A. Brothers rented for the trip, Scott stood out in the group. It wasn’t unusual as he tended to stand out when he was surrounded with his Black friends and family, but it was something else.

  He was the only single one.

  Everyone brought their significant others – married or betrothed. Scott brought his cane and messenger bag. The thought he was alone for a week in Atlanta didn’t bother him. If he wanted a date for the week, he could easily find and get one. No, it bothered him that the one woman he wanted to bring with him was otherwise occupied with a business trip he’d sanctioned.

  As they traverse throughout the airport and to an awaiting limo, Scott and Jeff threw up the yo to their fellow Nupes and conversed about that week’s plans. Conclave was a week

  long full of activities, fellowship, and community service. A lot of deals and contacts would be made while they all gathered to celebrate and embody what it truly meant to be a Kappa.

  It was a message to the world – Nupes were often imitated but never duplicated.

  “What’s on your mind, Brother?” Jeff asked as Scott stared out the window.

  “I’m just excited about seeing everyone again,” he casually mentioned, “we do this every year but sometimes a year is too long.”

  “I hear that, I hear that.” Jeff paused for a brief second. “And how’s Mari?”

  Mariana’s great. She’s single. She wears too tight pants to work and I spend too much time masturbating with her starring in my fantasies. “She’s good,” Scott gave a slight shrug, “she’s on a business trip here.”

  “Is that right?” Jeff knew his best friend well enough to know the timing of their trips wasn’t a coincidence. “Does she know you’ll be here as well?”

  Scott glanced back at him. “Of course.”

  He purposely scheduled her trip the same time as the Conclave. They would be too busy with their responsibilities and projects to focus on anything else, at least that’s the lie they told themselves and each other. She knew he was in Atlanta at the same time she was. It was a big metropolitan city but somehow, Scott felt it wasn’t big enough for the both of them.

  “How long will she be here?” Jeff asked. “The whole week?”

  “I’m guessing,” Scott replied, “I know she’s meeting with the clients throughout the week so she’ll be here for a short while, at least until Thursday. I’ll see what’ll happen past Thursday.”

  “It’ll be nice if she could go to the Kool Down at least,” Jeff offered, “maybe she could get to know some of the Silhouettes.” Silhouettes were the wives and widows of the Kappas. “They’ll accept her as if you two are married.” Jeff then mumbled, “you practically are.”

  “Stop.” Scott smiled and shook his head, despite the fact his best friend was right. He and Mariana were off and on for the better part of three years. Even Scott wondered what would be the final straw between them. They were either going to get married or leave each other alone. “She’ll be pretty busy so I don’t want to distract her with work when it’ll ultimately benefit us. Caffeinated has the potential of being as huge as Starbucks and Coffee Bean so we really need to get on that account before it’s too late. After her

  meeting, we’ll see what happens.”

  “You’re here for a week,” Jeff reminded, “so is she. A lot can happen.”

  “A lot can happen,” Scott repeated as he wondered what would happen. Romantic

  feelings aside, the trip was perfect – a weeklong visit with his Brothers, plus he could see his family in nearby Decatur. And then if he had time – which he always did when it came to her – he would stop by and see how she was doing with the account.

  He resisted calling her from his cell phone to let her know
he’d arrived. They weren’t a couple anymore aside from a few trysts since their breakups from their respective partners. They were, however, in a murky grey area. More than friends but not romantic.

  They didn’t spend time together and limited their interaction to just work. They both knew whenever they tried to spend time as just friends with no expectations, it always ended with too-much wine and several condoms at the end of the night.

  Once he’d checked in, Scott made his way to his hotel room and got settled in. He called his mother, letting her he was in town, and impatiently (and rather quietly) listened for the rest of the conversation about how he needed to go over to her house for some fried chicken and okra because he was once again too lean for her taste. Scott couldn’t even be mad at his mother; her fried chicken was out of this world.

  After he got off the phone with his mother, he texted his assistant, Elissa, that he safely arrived. She sent back a smiling emoji and one simple text:

  She’s in room 325.

  Scott smiled at the text and replied with a ‘thank you’ before he tossed it to the side. He was in room 317. He smiled at the rather sneakiness of his assistant. She purposely booked them on the same floor.

  Their rooms were rather far from each other so there wouldn’t be any issues or conflicts between the former lovers. Still, if he wanted to see her – which he most definitely wanted to – he would be going out of his way to do so.

  The gentleman inside him wanted to relax and see if Mariana would make the first approach as she normally did. The impatient and hungry man within him asked why should he when she was probably waiting for him.

  It wasn’t a coincidence when he opened his suite and saw room service passing by with a table tray. “Excuse me,” Scott asked the server, “what room is that going to?”

  “Room 325, sir.” The server replied.

  Scott smiled. He opened his wallet and pulled out several crisp Andrew Jacksons. “I need

  a favor from you….”

  Three

  “I’m coming!” Mariana yelled back to the door as she heard it was room service on the other side. She opened the door and felt her heart become permanently lodged in the throat.