Decoded, p.1
Decoded, page 1
Contents
Copyrights
Dedication
Content Warnings
1. Anna
2. Keaton
3. Anna
4. Keaton
5. Anna
6. Anna
7. Keaton
8. Anna
9. Keaton
10. Anna
11. Anna
12. Keaton
13. Anna
14. Keaton
15. Anna
16. Keaton
17. Anna
18. Keaton
19. Anna
20. Keaton
21. Anna
22. Anna
23. Keaton
24. Anna
25. Keaton
26. Anna
27. Keaton
28. Anna
29. Keaton
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30. Anna
31. Anna
32. Keaton
33. Anna
34. Keaton
35. Anna
36. Keaton
37. Anna
38. Keaton
39. Anna
40. Anna
41. Keaton
42. Anna
43. Anna
44. Keaton
45. Craig
46. Anna
Epilogue
Thank You
Acknowledgements
About the Author
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Copyright © 2025 by Meribeth Richards
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law. For permission requests, contact author@meribethrichards.com
The story, all names, characters, and incidents portrayed in this production are fictitious. No identification with actual persons (living or deceased), places, buildings, and products is intended or should be inferred.
AI was not used in the creation of this book.
Original Cover Design created in Canva
Cover Artwork created by Alyssa's Illustrations
First Edition: October 2025
Paperback ISBN: 979-8-9997692-1-3
This book is dedicated to anyone who hasn't ever felt like enough.
You are more than.
Content Warnings
This book is intended for an adult audience. There are scenes , including those with sexual content, that are not suitable for children.
Unfortunately life isn’t always pretty, and when I try to make my characters relatable, that carries over into their lives. I feel it is important to note that the MMC and FMC neither one are performing the acts listed below. Please review this list for any possible triggers:
Fat Shaming
Sexual Harassment
Sexual Assault
Death of a Parent
Depression
Drug Overdose (not resulting in death/suicide)
Your mental health matters. If you feel additional content warnings need to be considered, please reach out at author@meribethrichards.com
Chapter one
Anna
Anna
At the airport and waiting on my plane to board. I cannot wait to see all of you tomorrow!
Pressing send, I lean back in the hard, plastic seat positioned in front of large windows showcasing the planes as they fly in and out of the small airport. I take in my surroundings of the slow, sleepy terminal and send a silent prayer of thanks out to the universe for the upcoming respite. Working at Brenner & Associates this year has been taxing, to say the least. As an executive assistant to the CEO, I’ve had to schedule and coordinate all of the things for my boss, but mostly I’m exhausted from dodging his creepy advances.
After I graduated college with two degrees, one in business management and the other in photography, I had taken a job as an administrative assistant at the center for the arts. Sadly, it had to close its doors almost two years ago leaving me jobless and with way too little in my savings account for comfort. I had to find a job fast before I was forced to move back in with my parents. When my dad’s best friend offered to make me his executive assistant at his accounting firm, I couldn’t exactly turn it down. My dad wouldn’t have let me turn it down, for that matter.
Daniel Brenner and my father had been college roommates, so he’s been around my entire life, attending every celebration and most family dinners. He had always been kind, but when his wife left him for another man a few years ago, I noticed his demeanor had changed, particularly toward women. He openly makes lewd comments about their appearances, and when my dad chastised me at his Christmas party this past year for going back for seconds, Daniel assured him that many men like a woman with some meat on their bones.
What my father didn’t know as he laughed and agreed with his friend was that Daniel was talking about himself. For almost the entire duration of me working for his company, Daniel has been sending me suggestive messages about what he wanted to do to me and my body, as well as what he had hoped I would do to him in return. At the office he would find ways to touch me. They were innocent enough that I couldn’t pin him with anything, but they were still unwanted. I shivered knowing those advances were only getting worse and more frequent.
That is why this annual girls’ trip could not have come at a better time. I fully plan to immerse myself in sunshine, booze, and my besties for the next three days. Looking back down at my phone, I smile at the girls who have become my lifeline in this crazy walk we call life.
Jasmine
I hate that you’re going to be there all alone tonight.
Penny
Where are you staying? Have you booked a room yet?
Anna
Oh, I think I can find somewhere in Las Vegas with a vacancy tonight. Maybe I’ll treat myself and stay somewhere fancy, like the place in that movie George Clooney and Julia Roberts were in.
Skyla
You should stay at The Venetian! It seems so romantic!
Anna
Well, considering there’s a snowball’s chance in hell of me having a romantic escapade tonight, I guess I’ll be steering clear of that one.
Skyla
Girl, stop! You’re a hottie. There’s gonna be plenty of singles amidst the thousands of bachelor parties that will be taking place tonight and at least one is gonna be looking for a front row ticket to your incredible rack.
I laugh at my ridiculous dreamer of a friend. Skyla always believes love is just around the corner for everyone.
Jasmine
Just be safe. Check reviews and make sure you don’t end up in some cheap motel that reeks of cigarettes and has stains on the bedspread.
Anna
I’m a big girl. Don’t worry about me.
Skyla
But we do worry about you! We love you!
Penny
Have fun, but not too much fun without us. Maybe don’t go drinking until we get there?
Anna
You just want me to sit in a hotel room by myself when I am single and free in Las Vegas? Girls, where is your sense of adventure?
Jasmine
Girl, where is your sense of safety?
I snort as they continue texting back and forth about what I should do tonight in their absence. It isn’t ideal that the small airport I fly out of only has certain days it flies from Kentucky to Nevada, but it’s a nonstop flight for a ticket I can afford. The idea of being a single woman all alone in Las Vegas should probably terrify me to some degree, but I need this trip so desperately that the only thing I feel is excitement. Besides, anything is better than spending another day in the office with Daniel Brenner.
My phone buzzes again and I look at the screen expecting another group text from my Boozy Besties, but my smile quickly fades, my soft stomach tightens, and disgust runs through my body.
Daniel
The office sure isn’t as beautiful without you here.
The acid from the bile traveling up my throat burns as I swallow it back down and another message comes through.
Daniel
I’m sitting here in my office, growing hard while thinking of you. I know you’re probably dripping thinking of me, too.
Daniel
I’ll be sure to send you a little something later tonight so you don’t feel so alone.
His words disgust me, and I thank my lucky stars that the man is all talk, or at least he has been so far. The last thing I want is a dick pic from my skeevy boss who is thirty years my senior. I quickly close out the text and take a deep breath, repressing the panic attack that is trying to break through. Humiliating myself in the middle of this airport isn’t the way I want to kick off this getaway.
My phone buzzes again and I can’t bring myself to look at it right now, fearing what, or who, might be on the other side of the screen. Instead, I pocket my phone and press the little button on my pods that are safely tucked into my ears. I’ll just listen to a few chapters of my smutty book before boarding so I can forget about my boss and focus on the adventures that await me in Sin City.
When I reach the part where the heroine realizes the guy she’s been hooking up with in the secret sex club where everyone is forced to wear masks is actually her ex-boyfriend’s dad, I hear an announcement from my gate:
“Ladies and gentlemen, we are now boarding all remaining passengers for flight 756 to Las Vegas, Nevada at this t ime.”
Pulling out my phone so I can let my friends know I’m about to board, I breathe a sigh of relief to see no more disturbing messages from my boss.
Jasmine
Whatever you decide to do, just be careful. We don’t need anyone else falling into a cactus on vacation.
Skyla
That was one time!
Jasmine
Once is one time too many.
Penny
Turn on your app so we know where you are in case some creep tries to steal you away from us.
Anna
Everything is going to be great. I’m getting ready to board. Love you all. See you tomorrow!
My phone begins chiming with what I’m sure are messages of affection from the best girls I’ve ever met. I smile to myself as I pull up my boarding pass on my phone. This weekend is going to be everything I’ve needed.
Chapter two
Keaton
“I
t should be a pretty straightforward trip. I’ve gone over everything with them and they just have to sign the contracts. Odd that they refuse to digitally sign with a cybersecurity company, but I guess their company is a bit old school in that regard.”
“Whatever it takes to get them to sign and move forward,” I say to my younger brother, Camden. He’s both a partner in the business we own together with our other sibling, Lincoln, as well as a damn good attorney.
The crackling of an intercom system garners my attention. “Ladies and gentlemen, we are now boarding all remaining passengers for flight 756 to Las Vegas, Nevada at this time.”
“I’ve gotta go, Cam. I’m about to board the plane.”
“Stay calm, the last place you want to be having a complete freak out is on an airplane. Just remember that more people die each year from car accidents than they do plane crashes,” he assures me.
“Gee thanks, I feel so much better now that you’ve said the words plane and crash together. It definitely made me forget the fact I’m about to ascend into the air while trapped in a giant, steel tube of doom.”
I disconnect the call and make my way into the long line for boarding, not eager in the least to take this flight. I try to swallow down the nausea that always comes with flying, but it’s no use.
Fortunately, the career I started with my brothers has given us an incredible opportunity to travel all over the country. Unfortunately, this is really the only way to get where we need in an efficient amount of time. You would think frequently flying would help ease my fears, but it has yet to happen.
In desperate need of a distraction, my eyes track over the smaller domestic airport trying to find anything to focus on and get my mind off the fact that I will be thousands of feet in the air and no matter how many birthday wishes I made in my youth, my Superman ability of flight has never quite kicked in.
They manage to come across a voluptuous blonde leaning over her carry-on, seemingly checking to have everything intact. As she makes herself aware of all the contents in her luggage, she fails to notice that leaning over in her low-cut, pale purple top has the mouthwatering soft globes of her full chest spilling out. This woman was blessed with a chest and a half, and my hands twitch at the desire to find out how much of them I could cup in my palms. I’m a boob man. And I’m not ashamed.
My tongue darts out to wet my lips as my eyes reluctantly leave her swelling chest to track the rest of her luscious curves. I can feel my pants tightening as my gaze lingers over her soft stomach, even if her flowy top covers it and those wide hips I’d love to grip while thrusting inside her. Thick thighs lack a gap between them, and I become embarrassingly hard in the middle of the airport as I think of what a fucking victory it will be when I pull them apart to sink myself into the mound that lies between them.
Shit, I run a hand down my face as I realize I’m being a fucking creep. This beautiful woman does not deserve to be objectified, no matter how badly I need to get laid. I start to count the months in my head and realize it’s been a while since I took a woman home with me. With my time being limited between my business and family, I really only have time for the occasional hookup, which isn’t easy to come by when you live in a small town where everybody knows your business. Driving the two hours to the city to find someone isn’t nearly as easy as it was in my twenties and thirties. Hitting forty this year has taught me that many things aren’t as easy as they used to be.
Deciding I’ll immediately hit up a bar when I touchdown in Vegas and find myself some much needed relief for the night, I rid myself of the incredibly inappropriate thoughts of this complete stranger. I will the pretty impressive semi I’m currently sporting to go down, and move forward in the line as we begin to board the plane.
With the dirty thoughts of a stranger no longer filling my head, the fear has settled back in. My stomach is churning, my palms are sweating, and I’m pretty sure my face is whiter than the unexpected seven inches of snow that blanketed my hometown this past January. I nod at the attendant as she scans the QR code on my phone, then slowly make my way through the creaky tunnel leading me to the plane.
After storing my carry-on in the bins above, I settle down into seat 10C, noting the two empty seats to my left. Being as how I have absolutely no desire to look out the window and see just how far my feet are above the earth when I know damn well how gravity works, I always opt for the aisle seat. I will gladly take the chance of my elbows being hit with the drink cart if it gives me a little peace of mind about plummeting to my death.
I place my earbuds in and start my audiobook up, shielding my screen and turning the volume down slightly. I’m not ashamed of the romance novels I read. They’re entertaining and good for research purposes when it comes to those wild nights I do manage to have a few times a year. Still, it’s best not to make anyone around me uncomfortable by overhearing the dirty words they like to say. The dirty words I like to record in my notes to use for later. I take a deep breath in and remind myself I can handle the four hour flight ahead of me. Releasing it, I close my eyes and settle in.
“Are you comfortable, sir?” I abruptly pause my book right where the girl calls her ex-boyfriend’s father Daddy as he smacks her ass with a flogger. My eyes open and take in the flight attendant with the light brown hair pulled up tight in one of those fancy bun things women at country clubs wear. She seductively bites her lip that’s painted in a shockingly bright shade of red. The plane hasn’t finished boarding yet, so there’s only one reason she’s talking to me now instead of helping the other passengers find their seats.
Not to sound like a cocky piece of shit, but having a healthy past of hookups has made me privy to when a woman is coming onto me, and there’s no doubt that’s why she’s here. While becoming a member of the Mile High Club may be on many a man’s bucket list, it holds no appeal to me. I’d much rather stay safely buckled in my seat while aboard Fear Force One.
Not to mention, while there’s no doubt the woman next to me is attractive, she doesn’t so much as make my cock twitch compared to the curvy goddess I couldn’t take my eyes off of earlier.
“I’m good, thanks.” I answer politely and go to return my earbuds, but she reaches out and grazes my hand before I can go back to ignoring her.
“Well, if you need anything, anything at all,” she says breathily, “I’m Sheila. You just let me know and I’ll be sure to take care of whatever it is you need.”
Attempting to end this one-sided attraction and conversation, I nod and settle back into my seat, but apparently Sheila isn’t used to men turning down her advances. “I’ll be around with the drink cart and a snack shortly after takeoff, but don’t hesitate to push that button if you need me to come back for any reason, no matter how big.” She not-so-subtly glances down at my crotch before meeting my eyes again.
