by Haley Travis
He spread some folders across my desk, quickly pointing out how one of the corporations we worked with was inadvertently tripling up on their studies on some new chemicals.
“Damn,” I said, nodding swiftly and making a note. “Great work, David. Prescott is going to be very impressed.”
“Actually, Emily is the one who spotted it,” he said. “I just double-checked it against the database before bringing it to you on her behalf.”
Leaning back, my fingers drummed heavily on my desk. “I see that you’re up for the promotion today,” I said, watching his eyes carefully.
David nodded. “Yes. Yes, I am.”
“If you’d taken credit for this discovery, you’d be much more likely to get it.”
“I’m never going to take credit for someone else’s work,” he shrugged. “Emily found it.”
There was something in the way he looked at me that made me realize he knew. “Emily is a very special girl,” I said carefully.
“Yes, she is,” he nodded. “But I don’t think I’ve ever seen her as upset as she is today.”
“That’s completely my fault,” I said. “I’m still thinking about how I can straighten things out with her.”
David nodded. “I know you’re a good man.” His voice sounded strained. “If Emily thinks you’re the right one for her, then I’ll have to put aside how you met. We don’t always choose these things, do we?”
“No, I guess we don’t.”
Realizing that the door was still wide open didn’t even bother me. Let the world know that I had a wonderful girlfriend, and was trying to work things through with her father.
For the first time in my life, I didn’t care about being the most powerful person at the meeting. I needed David’s help.
19
_____
Emily
After drying my eyes properly and finger combing my hair, I realized I had to be strong. Mason was a very powerful man. If I wanted him to respect me, and listen to my side, I would need to walk in there with my head held high.
Cowering in Daddy’s office was not a good look.
I walked down the hallway to Mason’s office, noticing that the privacy glass was opaque, but the door was open. Sandra was at her desk just outside, and quickly held up her hand to stop me, placing her finger on her lips. She gave me a pointed stare, directing her eyes toward the door.
Creeping closer, I listened to my father speaking to Mason. “...and I know that you can’t possibly give a promotion to your new girlfriend’s father. It wouldn’t look right. So I’ll withdraw.”
“You’re a good man, David. I appreciate that. Why did you want this promotion, anyway? It will be more work overall, and less of the more interesting projects.”
My dad chuckled as I inched closer. “I was hoping to use the extra money to take my wife to England. She’s always wanted to go there, and we love to travel, but things have been a bit tight. You know how it is.”
I heard a strange rhythm, like fingers tapping on the desk.
“You’re absolutely right that I can’t hand a promotion to my new girlfriend’s father,” Mason said slowly. “But there is a symposium in England next month. I was considering sending one of our representatives. I could send you to take notes for three days, then stay on for an extra two weeks to…shall we say, report back on the local culture? You’ll have to take your wife as your assistant, of course.”
Tiptoeing closer, I heard my dad gasp. “That would be incredible, sir. But wouldn’t that look like favoritism?”
Mason chuckled. “Don’t know. Don’t care. It’s my company. What are they going to do, fire me?”
“Thank you.” There was a pause. “Listen, Mr. McHenry…”
“Mason, please.”
“Sure. Mason, here’s the thing. Emily is an incredibly smart woman.”
“I know.” Did I hear a touch of pride in Mason’s dark voice?
Glancing over, I saw that Sandra was straining to hear every word as well.
“Her mother is a bit more, shall we say, fanciful,” my dad said slowly. “Prone to flighty whims and strange ideas. Her sister Betsy is even more loopy, with the constant traveling, crystals, psychic readings, astral projection, and who knows what else. But Emily doesn’t believe in that stuff.”
“You’re sure?”
“Well, I don’t think so. You’re going to have to ask her yourself.”
I couldn’t take the eavesdropping anymore, and stepped into the room.
“Here’s the thing, Mason,” I said softly, as his eyes snapped toward me. “I think of that psychic stuff like a movie review. It might be interesting, but I’m going to watch the movie myself and form my own opinions, not take someone else’s word for it. Do you know what I mean?”
Dad jumped up and shook Mason’s hand. “Take good care of my girl.” It was adorable to see my very medium-sized father giving Mason a stern glance.
“I will, sir,” Mason said.
Dad’s hand patted the back of my shoulder as he left quickly, closing the door behind him.
Mason rushed over to take my hands, sitting us close together on the couch. “Your father refused the promotion, but I’m sending your parents on a trip to England anyway,” he grinned.
“That’s wonderful, thank you. So, you forgive me for having that list?”
“I wish you told me about it at the beginning, so we could’ve had a good laugh and gone through it together. But I understand not wanting to sound a bit nutty.”
Mason’s fingers slipped between mine, as he stared into my eyes. “Emily, I don’t ever want you to be afraid of me, or intimidated by me. I know that I’m older, but I don’t want you to feel that you have to keep anything from me. I don’t want you to act differently because you think I expect it.”
Nodding, I leaned closer. “Thank you for understanding. But you didn’t really think I was getting close to you on behalf of my father, did you?”
He shook his head. “I’m sorry to admit that the thought did cross my mind. I’ve been surrounded by opportunists for years. But I don’t think I really believed it for a second.”
Those incredible green and gold eyes met mine. “Emily, may I kiss you before I go crazy?”
“You’re already a bit crazy,” I whispered, tilting my mouth up to his.
The gentle, tentative caress of his lips on mine quickly became a raging fire of emotion. Falling against him, his hands ran up my back as he held me close. “I want all of you, angel,” he murmured. “The brilliant parts, the crazy parts, the soft, sweet little parts.”
His hand skimmed along my side to squeeze my hip. “Have you told your dad that you’re moving in with me as soon as you can?”
Sputtering a giggle, I placed my hand on his chest, pushing him away a few inches. “Isn’t that a bit fast?”
“Did you sleep well last night?”
“No.” I shook my head.
He smoothed my hair back behind my ear, his wide smile warming me straight through. “Me either. I could barely sleep at all. I’m never doing that again. We belong together. Meals, coffee, sleeping. Everything else.”
“Yes,” I nodded.
There was a tap at the door. “Come in, Tanya.”
I tried to slip away from Mason, but he held me tightly on his lap. Tanya dashed in, dropped a small blue box on the coffee table in front of us, then disappeared and closed the door again behind her.
Mason picked up the box and handed it to me. Opening it slowly, I began to laugh far too loudly. His eyes absolutely sparkled as he grinned. “Do you like it?”
Picking up the silver hummingbird keychain, already holding three keys, I tilted it in the light to see the bright colors of the stones across the bird’s wings.
“It’s beautiful,” I said.
“You’re beautiful,” he murmured, kissing along my throat. “Let’s work a half day today, then go home and test those new keys.”
“Yes, sir.”
My giggle was
muffled by his lips against mine, as I jangled the keys that would open our new life together.
Epilogue
_____
Mason
Two months after I gave Emily the keys to my house, I drove her back to the office after a fancy dinner at an exclusive restaurant downtown. I had a little surprise in store, and wanted the office to ourselves.
She was completely moved into our house, but had only just finished redecorating the bedroom. It was incredible how simply painting one wall bright teal and changing some of the bedding could turn an impersonal space into a gentle, calm oasis.
I didn’t even mind that she insisted that I help her mist the plants.
But before we moved on to the rest of the house, Emily suggested adding some warmth to the office first.
As always, my lovely girl was a genius. There were only two of us in the house. At the office there were dozens of people who appreciated the new ergonomic chairs, plants, and free healthy snacks in every break room.
Emily consulted with a psychologist who specialized in color theory to choose tones for the walls that energized people and made them happy to walk into the office every morning.
“Why are we here at ten o’clock at night?” she laughed, as we walked through the dimly lit hallway.
“The decorators sent me a text. They finished the boardroom. I thought you’d want to see it right away.”
Walking hand in hand down the hall, I looked down at her bright orange dress, covered with little yellow flowers. Somehow she always had a knack for finding dresses that were perfect for work, and absolutely anything else.
“It’s amazing!” she exclaimed, as we entered the boardroom.
Instantly I hit the switch for the privacy glass, and locked the door behind us. Emily didn’t notice as she ran to the far end. The new living wall was completely covered in plants of different tones and textures.
Spinning toward me, she grinned from ear to ear. “It’s absolutely perfect. The extra oxygen and humidity in here will make everyone more relaxed. People will be so comfortable around you that they’ll like everything you have to say.”
“My little genius,” I said, kissing the top of her hair.
She looked over to the dark brown and gold box sitting on the long glass table. “What’s that?”
Lifting the lid, she bounced when she saw the two iced coffees, with chocolate fudge cupcakes. “Late night dessert – perfect!”
“Not yet,” I said, taking her hand to stand in front of the glass window, looking out over the city.
“Emily, my angel,” I began, then I had to swallow hard. Looking down into those beautiful brown eyes, I felt myself smiling from ear to ear.
“You transformed me in this boardroom. Deals and meetings have always been important to me, but you bring life to what I do. So now it’s time for the most important deal I will ever do in this room, or in my life.”
Dropping to one knee, I pulled a tiny black box from my jacket pocket. Emily’s hands fluttered up to cover her mouth as she trembled and her eyes shimmered.
“Emily Jameson, my angel, the love of my whole world, will you make our life merger permanent, and be my wife?”
Her eyes were glassy as she nodded frantically, finally managing to squeak, “Yes.”
Those little fingers were shaking, but I managed to slip on the ring. She tilted it around, examining the setting. Looking down, it was a regular large solitaire. But viewed from the side, a dove’s platinum wings reached up to hold the diamond in place. “Oh, wow.”
“I wasn’t going to have your most important piece of jewelry be the only thing that didn’t have an animal on it,” I smiled.
Standing up, I wrapped her in my arms. “I love you so much,” I whispered. “Thank you for being my light.”
“I love you,” she murmured against my chest. “Thank you for being my rock.”
As we swayed gently for a moment, almost dancing, I didn’t even realize at first that she was unfastening my tie, and unbuttoning my shirt.
“My goodness, Miss Jameson,” I said, hearing my voice turn dark. “What do you think you’re doing?” Reaching down to pull off her dress, I threw it over a chair while she giggled. My jacket and tie followed.
“I’m showing my brand new fiancé how much I appreciate him,” she giggled sweetly.
Slipping my hands up Emily’s back, I unfastened her bra, pulling down the lace to wrap my lips around her nipple. She grabbed my arms for support, as I glided my palms around the curves of her hips and ass, pushing her panties down toward the floor.
Emily kicked off her shoes, then the last of her clothing. Picking her up almost roughly, I sat her on the gleaming boardroom table, standing between her legs so that I blocked her body from the window.
“There’s probably no one out there with a telescope,” I said, “but I’m the only man who ever gets to see you like this.”
She laid back against the table, fluffing out her hair. It was getting longer, the waves becoming even sexier.
Leaning down, I finished unbuttoning my shirt and pulled it off while trailing kisses along her inner thighs. Staring down into her tender pink pussy, I still couldn’t believe how perfect she was. An absolute vision.
As I reached into my pocket for the familiar square of foil, Emily said, “Remember I told you I was starting the pill? It’s been two weeks already.”
“That means it’s safe?”
“Yes.”
Quickly unzipping my pants, I leaned in to lick straight across her already soaking outer lips. Emily’s gasps and squeals filled the boardroom, as my pulse surged. Finally, I’d be able to take my sweet girl properly.
And hopefully within a year, we could trash the pills. Picturing Emily pregnant sent shivers up my spine.
She was already mine. But now she was my fiancé. Soon my wife. Soon the mother to our children. Layers of bonding, of connection.
The thought of it made my cock swell even harder than usual, as I stroked it in my fist, guiding the round head gently through her gathering juices.
“Is this what you want?” I asked, leaning down to kiss along her collarbone.
“Please,” she whispered.
Sliding her a bit closer across the table, I pulled her leg over my shoulder, slowly edging my length inside her tight, wet passage. “Filthy girl, wanting it right here in the office.”
“My bad boy can’t help himself.” Her eyes were already becoming hazy as I pushed deeper.
I was always so careful until her snug body opened for mine, but it was much more difficult to hold myself back this time. Feeling her slippery little pussy directly against my cock was more than I could take.
Emily was already rocking her hips, pulling me further inside, needing me deeper. Scooping my arms under her, I thrust slow and deep, working my thickness inside her until she squealed. Instantly my hips began thrusting, her inner muscles clenched around me so perfectly I couldn’t stop.
“Yes!” she moaned, staring up at me wide-eyed. “Oh my God…more.” Her delicate curves writhing under me as she cried out drove me insane.
“You’re so hot, angel,” I growled, grinding deep as her body clung to mine. “I can’t stop. Feels so good like this.”
“Yes,” she wailed again. “Faster.”
More than ever, I felt like I was claiming her as I pounded deep, feeling everything from my knees to my abs begin to tense.
Ramming harder and even deeper, Emily gasped for air as she gripped my hair and my shoulder desperately. “Mason,” she wailed, as the tension in her body shook her against me, “I’m coming for you…”
Watching those gorgeous eyes blank out from the bliss washing through her turned my orgasm into a detonation. I came with a roar, pumping her full of my heat, filling her completely.
“Yes, yes,” she whined, squirming as if she were milking me dry.
“Yes, angel, my love…” I groaned, holding her tightly against me until we grew still.
After a few moments of silent snuggling, I reluctantly pulled out, kissing a large figure eight around her breasts until she laughed.
“That was something,” I muttered, finding her clothes.
Once we were dressed, sitting at the end of the table eating our cupcakes, Emily suddenly grinned up at me. “You’ve been holding back.”
