Meeting her gaze, I focus on her eyes this time and fold my hands across my chest as I sink further into the leather chair. “How many applicants did you find to replace you this time?”
“Just one,” she says, throwing her hands on her hips. “She’s the perfect replacement. You will love her. I can already tell you two will hit it off.”
“Is that so?” The reasons behind her statement I need to hear. “I thought you haven’t interviewed her yet.”
“We spoke on the phone, and trust me she’s the right woman for this job. You are not an easy man to work for, Dr. King. But I think she can handle you.”
Now, I am entertained. “Compared to other doctors, I’m easy, you know. If you had to deal with the assholes I worked with over the years, you would have last a week, if that.”
She rolls her eyes at me. “You may be easy to talk to, but your personality is a bit much to take sometimes.”
I flash a devious grin in her direction. “I know you will miss me, Alexa. I shall think of you in inappropriate ways when you’re gone.”
“You’re such a bastard,” she deadpans with a smile on her face. “I think we had enough playtime for today. Your appointment is in the lobby waiting. I already know you will like her. Just try not to scare her off.”
“I hope you’re right about this one,” I tell her, staring at her ass as she walks away. “And you know I can’t promise I won’t scare her away. It’s the ones who can handle me that are keepers in my book.”
“As if you would ever doubt me.” She looks over her shoulder at me and winks. “You will like Chloe.”
Just hearing that name makes me anxious. I dislike her already, and we haven’t even met. There’s no way…not possible. Because, less than a minute later, Alexa returns with…No, this cannot be happening. Not again.
Chloe Fox, the love of my life, walks into my office and toward my desk. Her mouth opens wide when she realizes I am the doctor. I am the man who will be her boss. If she still wants the job after this interview is over. I have no idea why she had left me behind in the first place. Even though I want to know the answer, it terrifies me. And so does Chloe.
Chapter Seven
Chloe
Jackson King is my new boss. Or at least he will be my boss if I decide to take this job. It takes me a few seconds to process the information. Do I want him to be my boss? Can I handle working for him?
Alexa told me I was a shoe-in for the position before we walked into Jackson’s office. Now, I don’t feel so confident about her assumption. Staring around the room, I try to compose myself as his gorgeous secretary makes small talk with him about my resume. His eyes never leave mine, always finding a way back to me, as I do my best to avoid contact.
His secretary goes over my typing speed, ability to multi-task, and answer phones. Basic shit anyone can do. I have little work experience, since being the fiancé of a partner in a law firm did not require much of a skillset other than to show up to events and look cute.
Checking out the office, I wonder how Jackson lost his personality along the way. The walls are a dark shade of gray, an odd choice of color for a doctor’s office. Instead of light filtering through the windows, there’s a film over the panes and black blinds covering most of the wall. The overall vibe of the space is dark, morbid. If I didn’t know better, I would think a vampire lives here. Everything about this room lacks warmth, making me feel unwelcome. It’s as if he wants his patients to be uncomfortable in his office.
While he may be a doctor, nothing about this place makes me want to lie down on his couch and tell him my secrets. In fact, I think a prison would feel homier. The sofa looks hard. I know that much without sitting on it. I’d be willing to bet my back would hurt after an hour of spilling my guts to him.
Jackson was a different person when I knew him. Apparently, he has changed. The man I once knew was loving and passionate about his career. Now, he’s screwing whores in public bathrooms, hitting on his secretary—right in front of me, I might add—and exudes a certain arrogance that annoys me to death. Just hearing how he talks to Alexa makes my stomach turn.
I’m sure he plans to speak to me in the same fashion. If he decides to hire me, this job will not be easy. And I have no choice. I need this job to pay my bills. I lived like a queen with my ex, racked up charges I assumed he would pay off, but when the time had come to pack my shit, he dismissed me, laughed in my face. With his position at his law firm secure, Mike gave me a life I could never afford. Now, I’m stuck paying for that lavish lifestyle.
It’s my fault. I should have known better. As my mom would say, I have champagne dreams with money for a six-pack of Natty Light. My mom would know. She drinks enough of it.
“Dr. King,” Alexa says, interrupting his sexual harassment. She seems so unaffected by how he speaks to her and holds out her hand toward me, motioning me to come forward. “This is Chloe Fox.” Alexa turns to me and says, “Chloe, have a seat. Dr. King will take over from here.”
“Chloe,” he says, staring at me as if I am a piece of meat and ready to sink his teeth into me. He points at the leather chair across from his desk. “Please, sit down. We need to get better acquainted. I feel like I know you already.” He says the last part with a smirk. Cocky bastard.
I want to run. But I won’t. Not when I’m standing face-to-face with the man I ran away from five years ago. The man who had promised me the world and could not deliver. I was falling hard for Jackson before he turned me away, told me our forbidden love would never survive. All he cared about was his career. I have no idea what he cares about now, but it’s certainly not himself.
When I applied for the job, I thought I was working for a big practice, considering it’s a medical group. But the name is misleading. This suite only has one door marked with a doctor’s name, and I am standing in it.
I take a seat across from Jackson, unable to take my eyes off him. He leans back in his chair and stretches above his head, drawing my attention to how tight the black oxford fits his arms and hugs his muscular chest. The last time we saw each other Jackson wore glasses, which he obviously ditched. Good call on that. Now, I can see his blue eyes better. He sucks me in with one look that goes straight between my thighs, killing me without even touching me.
Jackson was always sexy in his own way, but now he oozes sex appeal. Before, his dark hair was longer, messier. Now, it sweeps over his forehead in waves, not a single hair out of place. He’s so manicured and perfect, the complete opposite of the man I once knew. I want to ask him what happened to him over the years, but that seems a bit rude given the circumstances.
Alexa flashes me a quick smile. “Good luck, Chloe. I think you and Dr. King will work well together.”
Is that so? I wish I had as much confidence in her claim as she does. I’m not even sure I can be in the same room as the man. Taking the job would put me in a strange position every day. How would I make it through a workweek without wanting to climb onto his desk and beg him to have his way with me? Jackson always did strange things to me. He just never acted on them.
After Alexa exits the office, Jackson leans forward with his hands folded on his desk. “Small world, huh? I never thought I would see you again.”
Feeling the need to explain myself, I get nervous and mumble. “Let me explain. I…I’m sorry. I don’t really know what to say, Jackson.”
He holds up his hand to silence me. “Shh…that’s enough. We don’t need to go rehashing the past.”
It’s shocking how rude he has become. The man I knew was never this cold and arrogant. Well, he was always somewhat arrogant. All smart guys are to some extent.
“You know why I left, though. Don’t you? That makes this situation a bit awkward.”
“Do you not want the job?” He asks the question as if commanding the answer from me. His voice is so deep and controlled, yet soothing to my ears.
I missed Jackson whether I had realized it or not because being this close to him is drudging
up so many memories from the past. If only there were another doctor in this practice who could interview me instead.
“Yes, I want the job,” I tell him after a long pause. “I’m just afraid our past will effect our working relationship. But if you have no concerns and you still want to hire me, then yes, I would like the job.”
“You never finished college, I see. How come?” He stares down at my resume for a few seconds before he peeks up at me from beneath his long, dark lashes.
My breath hitches, the nerves caught in my throat in the process. I was never this uncomfortable, so unsure of myself around Jackson before. He hasn’t even said anything wrong. It’s just the aura he gives off and his new appearance that is throwing me into an emotional tailspin.
“I left with my ex fiancé in the middle of college.”
“Yes, I figured as much after the note you had left me. But why didn’t you go back to school and earn a college degree? You were always a smart girl, Chloe. You had so much potential.”
What can I possibly say to make this sound less sad? I don’t want his sympathy. Plus, it’s not like I would get any from the new and not improved version of Jackson King. Or should I say, Dr. King? He wasn’t a doctor when we first met. Jackson was halfway through his Ph.D. program at the time and working alongside his mentor and the professor who had taught my psychology class.
“Honestly, I don’t know. After I left the city and moved to Connecticut with Mike, I didn’t see the point in college.”
“Because he was going to take care of you.” Jackson analyzes me as if I were a specimen under his microscope. “Because he promised you something I couldn’t offer you. Those were your words, not mine.” He says the last part with a sour face.
This conversation is getting a bit too intense for a job interview. How do I transition to something job related when I have no idea what the job entails other than answering the phone and making appointments?
“Yes,” I croak, “Those are all valid reasons why I left. Are you going to make this about us or the job, Jackson, because I came here for an interview.”
“Dr. King,” he corrects in a serious tone. “If you are going to work for me you will address me as such. Understand?”
I nod my head. Words fail me. He’s so dominant and in control that I cower beneath his gaze. And I hate to admit that it turns me on. Where was this side of Jackson when I had known him?
He watches me intently, studying ever feature from my face down to my chest. Once his eyes land on my breasts, he licks his lips. He knows I am watching his every movement, yet he does something incredibly unprofessional on purpose.
Is he doing this to scare me away?
I saw how he treats Alexa, and sexual harassment of some form seems par for the course in this office. I should care. But I don’t. I like seeing this side to Jackson. If he had shown this to me years ago, I would have waited him out instead of running into the arms of another man. We were never together in the official capacity, but I would have given him anything he wanted. Now, we have a second chance.
“Yes, Dr. King,” I say, sitting up straight.
“Good,” he smiles as if he won a game, “you start at the end of the week. Alexa will work alongside you until she leaves, at which point you will take over for her and become my secretary on a full-time basis. Do you understand how this position works? Was it explained to you?”
Leaning back in my chair, I cross my legs, giving him my undivided attention. “I think so, but maybe you should go through everything you are looking for in case I missed something.”
He checks out my bare thighs in this dress for a few seconds before he locks onto me once more. When Jackson looks at you, it’s as if he’s staring through you, trying to extract all your secrets hidden deep inside. It’s intense, to say the least. I was nervous when I first walked into his office.
Now, my body is on fire, excited by the prospect of working with Jackson once again. I loved our late night chats about psychology and what makes people tick back in college. So, I can only assume that we will go back to the way things were in the past. Or at least I hope they will. This job could be a fresh start for both of us, a way to get to know each other again.
“One thing Alexa may have missed is that your job is not over when you go home at night. I am on-call twenty-four seven, which means you are as well. The answering service forwards all emergencies to my cell phone, but there might be times where I will need you to unlock the door for a patient in the middle of the night or some other strange request. It doesn’t happen often. I just want you to understand there is a possibility you will need to help me in any way you can.”
“I don’t mind helping you, Jackson,” I say, resolute. “If that’s what the job entails, then I will do it.”
“Perfect.” Jackson stands up, smoothing his hands down the front of his black trousers, bringing attention to his…erection.
Am I imagining things?
“Jackson,” I say, clearing my throat. “Um…I mean Dr. King. You are...how do I say this without making things weird?” Then, I act like a child and point my index finger at his bulge. “You’re—”
“Hard,” he finishes with laughter in his voice. “What can I say, Chloe, you have a particular effect on me. Do you still want the job? You can walk away now with no hard feelings. I can already guarantee this will happen again.”
I swallow the lump in my throat. “Uh-huh. Yes, I want it.” Did I just say that to his dick? Yes, I want that, too. Oh, my God, I want to run and hide.
It has been far too long since I have had what I would call good sex. Have I ever had good sex? I’m not even sure I’ve had an orgasm.
Mike was the only man I have ever been with, and he had a tiny penis. He was so small I often wondered if it was in yet. Jackson does not have that problem. Not at all. By the looks of it, he has no issues with satisfying a woman. Not to mention, the girl from the bathroom had a smile plastered on her face when I barged in on her and Jackson. She was practically begging him for more.
And now my curiosity has gotten the best of me. What Jackson and I had years ago was explosive, like two live wires connecting at the same time. I am looking forward to seeing what sparks between us this time.
Holding onto the arm of the chair, I push myself up to my feet, a little wobbly in these heels. I had bought them for a charity dinner I was supposed to attend with Mike. This is my first time breaking them in, and they’re a little tight. It also doesn’t help that Jackson makes my entire body tremble from the nervous anticipation of what is to come.
“I’ll see you at the end of the week, Dr. King,” I say, extending my hand across the desk.
He reaches out, clasping my hand in his, and brings it up to his lips, sending chills down my spine in the process. He stares at me the entire time he does this, acutely aware of the effect he has on me.
My panties are soaking wet, the thin lace barely enough to keep my juices from spilling down my leg. While Jackson can’t see the magic he’s working on my pussy, he can see my nipples protruding through the silky blue fabric of my dress. They’re like daggers pointed at him. And he doesn’t miss a thing.
He licks his lips once more. “I am going to enjoy working with you, Chloe.” Jackson walks around to my side of the desk and helps me to the door. Then, he leans down to whisper into my ear. “Wear something tight when you come back and without panties. Understand?”
The way he says it sounds like an order. I stop breathing for a second, the lack of oxygen making my head spin. Before I can get in another word, he opens the door and places his hand on my back. “Have a good night, Chloe. Don’t forget your first task as my new secretary.”
“Yes, I understand.” I know exactly what he’s getting at, and I like where this is going. “Goodnight, Dr. King,” I choke out as I step into the hallway, landing beside Alexa’s desk.
He waves and then closes the door in my face. This should be interesting. The sad part is I cannot wait until our n
ext encounter. Even though I know I should be terrified, I am excited. Since Jackson is now my boss, I plan to do whatever he wants, regardless of his request.
Chapter Eight
Jackson
All night I surfed the Internet for the latest porn. I watched countless videos, all with girls who reminded me of Chloe in some way. I could not get her out of my mind after she left my office the other night. She threw me so off my game I had Alexa cancel my appointments for the rest of the evening, so I could go home and take care of what her presence had done to me. Nothing worked.
It was as if the idea of her once again was my own special blend of Viagra. I have a sickness I don’t even bother to hide or deny. Chloe showing up after all these years only made things worse for me. My dick has been hard since she walked into my office. No matter how many times I jerk off, I cannot get this never-ending erection to go away.
As a doctor, even I am wondering how this is scientifically possible. She occupies my thoughts, which turns into me lusting over her, imaging what her pussy tastes like. Chloe may be my biggest weakness. Giving her the job was a mistake.
How can we work together when I am in this bad of shape from a quick interview?
Alexa knocks on the door, ripping me from my Chloe-filled daze. She stands in the entryway in a long dress with a collar up to her neck. I hate when she tortures me with these outfits, leaving so much to the imagination.
“Dr. King, sorry to interrupt. Chloe Fox is here. You said to send her in after she arrived, but I decided to give her a tour before I handed her over to you. I hope you don’t mind.”
“No, not at all.” I consider standing up from behind my desk to greet Chloe, but I have to get ahold of myself first. “Send her in.”
Chloe waltzes into the room in high heels, a tight black mini skirt that reveals the definition in her legs, and a low-cut blouse that hugs her curves and flashes just enough cleavage to make me happy. She listened to my first order. I wonder if she complied with the second. Time to find out.
Sex Therapy Page 5
