by Lexi Larue
When I could feel myself getting close, his thrusts became quick and deliberate. I locked eyes with him, and that was all I needed to fall. I cried out and held him tightly as my orgasm rocked my body. Within seconds, he pinned me to the wall with his hips and spilled into me, leaving me barely able to breathe from the moment's intensity.
Suddenly, he placed me back on my feet and tucked himself back into his pants. He looked at me with confusion, but didn't say a word. Unlocking the door, he didn't say one word to me before he was gone.
I stood there in shocked, still exposed from the moments of passion we had just shared. A small knock sounded on the door, and I had to snap out of my trance. I quickly made myself presentable, flushed the toilet, and let the sink run to make it seem like I had really been using the ladies room.
I grabbed my book and made a beeline for the door, not wanting to make eye contact with anyone for fear that they might have heard or seen something. Half of me expected the stranger to be waiting for me outside, but the street was filled with other strangers. I half ran back to my apartment, not wanting to talk to or see anyone. I wanted to lock my door and forget what I had just done.
As soon as I was back home, I threw off my clothes and ran a hot shower. I scrubbed his scent off of me and tried not to think of how good it felt to be under his spell. Since he never spoke a word to me, I didn't have to dwell on who he was or what everything meant. I could just wash him away and move on. It was always best for me not to get feelings for anyone. There could never be any attachments in my life.
After my shower, I brushed my teeth to erase his taste, slipped into some flannel pajamas, and got into bed. I turned the television to all-night episodes of "Friends" and drifted off into a dreamless sleep.
Chapter 3
The next morning, I dressed in a black pencil skirt, a white button-down blouse, black peep-toe heels, and my tiny diamond necklace and earrings. I pulled my hair up into a loose ponytail that allowed my curls to gather beautifully behind my head. I grabbed my brief case and made it to the office a half hour earlier than usual. Even Brielle wasn't there yet.
I went to my desk and got right to work on all of my tasks for Joe. I knew today was the day that Jackson Harter, the CEO, was due to visit, and I wanted Joe to have as little stress as possible. I had everything he needed prepped and ready on his desk when he arrived at 8:30.
After I knew he was all set for a while, I decided to go work on prepping song lists. I pulled a few up and hit print, then I got up to retrieve them from the printer in the copy room around the corner. As I was rounding the corner, five men in expensive suits walked toward me, deep in conversation. I tried to step to the side to avoid them, but they weren't paying attention.
The man in the middle of the group almost ran into me, and I stumbled a bit in my heels. He caught me gently around my arm, and when I looked up to thank him, I was staring directly into a pair of familiar sea green eyes.
"I'm so sorry, sir. I was trying to move out of your way."
"Please don't be sorry. I should have been paying closer attention. Are you okay?" His eyes never left mine as he spoke, and I was unable to look away. Another voice broke the moment and brought me back to reality. It was Avery Andrews, the head of advertising for the company. I knew him through Joe.
"Allison James, I would like you to meet Mr. Jackson Harter. He is here touring the stations and meeting with the staff. Jackson, this is Allison James. She is an intern for Joe Jones."
"It is lovely to meet you, Allison. I'm always happy to see new faces around the office. I hope everyone is treating you well." His voice was smooth and confident, but his eyes could not hide the mix of surprise and hunger he was feeling.
"Everyone here is wonderful. I appreciate the opportunity to intern here and learn from such a talented group. I should get back to work. It was very nice to meet you, Mr. Harter."
"Please, call me Jackson." I smiled and excused myself before my face or my body betrayed me in front of four of my colleagues and the man who owned the company. It was the same man who had taken me and discovered me in a dimly lit bookstore bathroom the night before.
I held my breath all the way back to my cubicle and let it out slowly when I sat in my chair. I had no idea what to expect next. Was I going to lose my internship because I let my guard down and had a one-night stand? Would he think I was some kind of whore and deem me unfit to work for him? Was he telling those other men that he had done me the night before? Were they all laughing at me right now?
I started to panic at the thought of losing my job and having to return to Omaha. I promised myself I would never go back there, and I was not going to break that promise. I couldn't afford to lose this position that I had worked so hard to get and keep. If I went back, it would be a matter of hours before he knew I was there. There was no one to protect me from him. If I returned, I would live the rest of my life as his possession. A hidden part of me knew that I would die before I ever let him do that to me.
As panic and fear set in, my hands began to shake. I tried to concentrate on the song lists, but it was impossible. I snapped back to the present when my phone started to ring. Janet's number appeared on the caller ID.
"Hello?"
"Hi Allie. I'm not sure why, but Jackson Harter's personal secretary just called me. He wants to see you in his office. Alone. Did something happen?"
"I just met him in the hallway. That's it. I'm not sure what this could be about." I wasn't going to tell her that he was probably going to fire me because he didn't want dirty whores working for his company.
"Well, maybe he wants to talk about internships or something. Anyway, if I were you, I would head right up there. Don't keep the big boss waiting."
"I won't keep him waiting."
"Okay, well give me a call when you're done. I'm dying to know what he has to say to you." I agreed to keep her posted and tried to compose myself before getting up from my desk. Jackson Harter's office was located on the opposite end of the floor. I smoothed my skirt and shirt, making sure I looked neat and professional. I walked slowly enough to keep from falling but quickly enough so that it wouldn't seem like I was keeping him waiting.
It was obvious the boss was onsite because everyone was working diligently. There weren't any conversations at the copy machine or long breaks in the kitchen. People were serious about their jobs today because everyone was afraid that a visit from the big boss could mean impending layoffs or big changes.
When I reached Mr. Harter's office, his assistant, Natalie West, told me to have a seat and she would let me know when he was ready. She had been his assistant for several years, and she didn't mingle with the rest of the office staff. She knew way too much to gossip with any of us, and I respected her for that.
I sat in the first leather chair closest to her desk and tried not to fidget as I waited for the decision about my fate. I heard Natalie on the phone with Mr. Harter, and my heart began to race. Fear crept up into my throat as I imagined him telling me that the company only wanted the very best people, and that after the show I put on last night, I was no longer welcome at Harter Communications.
"Ms. James, Mr. Harter will see you now."
"Thank you, Ms. West." I stood up and tried to approach the door to the office with my head held high. I could try to maintain my pride for at least a few more seconds. His office was surrounded by smoky glass, and the doors had large silver handles. I grasped one in my small hand and pulled it toward me.
When I walked in, I was shocked by what I saw. Televisions covered one entire wall and there were video feeds of every radio show being broadcast at the station. A large desk stood in the center of the room with a leather chair behind it. There was a bathroom to the right, but I couldn't see much since the door was only partially open. There was also a couch and two large, leather chairs near the windows that overlooked downtown Chicago. Everything in the office was black and white. The room screamed power and money, and it didn't make me feel any bett
er about the intimidation factor of this meeting request.
"Hello Ms. James." His deep voice sent a chill down my spine and made me ache at the same time. I was terrified and turned on, and that was never a good combination. I knew that all too well from a shadow that still followed me everywhere I went.
"Hello Mr. Harter. Janet said you wanted to speak with me." I turned to face him and tried to remain calm, but I had a feeling he wouldn't miss the slight quiver in my voice. I hated exuding anything but confidence at work, and I was afraid this interaction would cause me to lose so much of the ground I had already gained since I had been here at the company.
"Yes, I thought it was important that we speak privately. It's not often that I meet someone in my private life who works for me without my knowledge." As he spoke, I could tell that he was trying to be serious, but the left corner of his mouth betrayed him, turning up into a sexy smirk. His green tie was the only pop of color in the room, and it made his eyes look almost clear. He knew I was intimidated, and he enjoyed it.
"I had no idea who you were, Mr. Harter. I'm so sorry for last night. I know you won't believe it, but I never do things like that. Hawthorne's is my favorite place to go. It is pretty much the only place I go besides here." I was babbling at this point, and I felt like a complete idiot in his presence. But he took a few steps closer so that only about a foot of space separated us.
"I'm not accusing you of anything, Ms. James. Especially since I was the one who initiated what happened between us in the bathroom. I do apologize for my abrupt nature, but when I see something I want, I go after it. I loved that you didn't seem to know who I was. I loved the way you gave yourself to me without question. I wanted you because I could tell you were not a woman who goes out into the world looking to seduce men like me. And you are by far the most beautiful creature I have ever seen."
"Thank you, Mr. Harter. But I promise to be nothing but professional with you from now on. Please don’t fire me for my inappropriate behavior last night. I love my internship here, and I would give anything to continue working for you."
"Wait, what are you talking about? You think I asked you up here so I could fire you?"
"I thought that might be the case. I didn't know what to think. I was just as shocked as you were when I ran into you today. I thought you were just an ordinary man in a bookstore who acted on an impulse. I figured I would never see you again."
"I am an ordinary man, Ms. James. I go to places like Hawthorne's because I long to feel like I can just be myself and not the CEO of a huge company. It's not easy to be 26 years old and in charge of making decisions that affect the lives of hundreds of people every day. I didn't ask for this, but I have no other option but to see it through. All I want is to find a place in the world where I can be Jackson, not Mr. Harter."
"I understand what it's like to want to hide from the person fate forced you to be, Mr. Harter."
"Please call me Jackson. Enough with the formalities. We've already been a bit too intimate to not be on a first-name basis. Do you go by Allison?"
"My friends call me Allie."
"Well, Allie, it's wonderful to meet you. I am not firing you. I took a few minutes to look over your personnel file, and it looks like you are already an asset to my company. I'd be a fool to let you go. And I don't intend to. "
I felt myself exhale with relief as I found out my job was secure. At least I wouldn't be on a bus back to Omaha today.
"Thank you. I promise you won't regret this decision. And I swear I will never breathe a word about what went on between us. I will forget it ever happened." His eyes grew dark when he heard this.
"Forget? If you felt half of what I felt last night, then there is no way you will forget what happened between us. That was fire. Magic. Passion. That wasn't just something you walk away from."
"Well, you were the one who walked away without a word. I was mortified and thought you must have hated it."
"I walked away because I was afraid that if I stayed I would have to take you again. And if I did that, everyone in that bookstore would have known what we were doing. I didn't want to make you look like anything less than a lady."
"It was one of the most intense moments of my life. But that doesn't change the fact that you are my boss. Hell, you're my boss's boss. I can't parade around here trying to look professional if everyone knows what happened."
"No one ever has to know, Allie. I can put up a good front. But I need to know you in private. I will not stand in the way of your job, but I can't promise that I will stop trying to know you."
"I think I should get back to work. Thank you for letting me keep my job, Mr. Harter. I really should get back to it." I turned and walked toward the door before he could stop me.
"Allie, wait-" I didn't turn around. I just smiled at Natalie as I walked by and headed straight back to my desk. Only when I was safely in my own chair did I start to breathe normally again. My skin burned red from my reaction to being in his presence. And he said he wanted to know me. It was too much for me to take in right then. Part of me wanted to know him, too, but I also knew that men like him were never just cut and dry. They came with a past and a whole pile of needs and expectations. I had my own past that I never wanted anyone in Chicago to find out about. It would never work with a man like Jackson. I would never be enough for him.
I sent a quick e-mail to Janet full of lies about my meeting with Jackson. I told her he was curious about my role in the company and wanted to know if I liked working there. I told her it was no big deal. I chose e-mail because if I had to talk to anyone about him face-to-face, I knew that they would be able to see how my body responded to the mere thought of him.
The entire time he spoke to me in his office, I remembered what his hands felt like as they held my thighs. I could still taste the mint and coffee on his tongue, and as I watched him tell me he still wanted me, I longed to lean in and take his bottom lip between my teeth. Would I have been able to resist if he led me to his leather couch, pulled my skirt up, and took me from behind? I knew the answer was no.
The only way to keep my reputation clean and continue to be employed at Harter Communications was to stay away from Jackson. Luckily, he spent a lot of his time away on business, looking for ways to keep his family's company on top. I would just have to make myself scarce until his visit was over, and then he would forget all about me.
For the rest of the day, I stayed at my desk unless I absolutely had to get up. I threw myself into my work, checking off every task as I went. Before I knew it, the clock said 5:15, and I knew I could leave. I shut down my computer and put my away message on my phone. Then I stood up and looked around to make sure the coast was clear. I grabbed my bag and pushed the elevator button with no one else in sight.
The doors opened, and I was happy to find that no one else was inside. I pushed the button for the lobby, and just as the doors were almost closed, I heard the familiar ding that signaled someone else wanted to get on. I looked at the floor to avoid making small talk with anyone. All I saw was a pair of men's shoes as he stepped into the small space with me.
"We meet again, Allison." The voice shook me to the core. I was caught completely off guard. It took every ounce of courage I had to lift my eyes to meet his.
"Hello, Mr. Harter. I hope you had a good day." I tried desperately to stay calm and keep things professional with him. I couldn't let him see what he was doing to me.
"It was an interesting day. I did have one meeting that ended rather abruptly."
"I'm sorry to hear that."
"How was your day?"
"It was very busy. I work very hard and love what I do. I would never want to do anything to jeopardize that."
"I can appreciate your commitment and drive, Allie. However, I think there are times when exceptions can be made.”
"Office relationships never end well. And you own the company. What happens when you tire of my company and can't stand the sight of me anymore? Then you still have a won
derful life, and I have no job. I can't lose this job. I can't go back." I knew as soon as the words left my mouth that I had said too much.
"Go back where?"
"Never mind. It's just a saying. I don't want to go back to not having a great job like this one that's all."
"What if I promise that whatever happens, you will always have a job? That I will never stand in the way of your career?"
"Promises are meant to be broken." Just as I said that, we reached the lobby, and I went to get out. He grabbed my arm gently.
"Please meet me at Antonia's for dinner. 8:00. Hear me out. If you still feel the same way after tonight, I promise to never mention this again." I didn't have it in me to speak then, so I just gave him a nod and stepped into the lobby.
I practically ran to the bus stop, moving as quickly as I could in heels. I took the first seat I could find next to a teenage girl who had music blaring from her iPod. She looked bored and like she didn't have a care in the world. I would have given anything to switch lives with her.
When I got to my stop, I hurried up to my apartment, doing my unlock and lock routine in record time. Only then could I let the tears fall down my face. I felt a knot in my stomach and my whole body was tense from the events of the day. Only I would be that girl who had her first ever one-night stand and the guy turned out to be the CEO of the company I worked for. I had the most ridiculously fucked up life.
Chapter 4
The events of the day had me feeling exhausted, and I still hadn't decided whether I would meet him for dinner. Part of me felt as if I had no choice, but another part of me was begging me to stay away. My job, my sanity, and my future hung in the balance.
But every time I decided that I should just walk away, a memory of his hot breath on my skin would cause me to pause. I would be back in that moment the night before when we were strangers and none of this mattered. There was no doubt in my mind that if I found myself alone with him again, I wouldn't be able to resist him. But I also knew that starting anything with him would inevitably end badly. I couldn't give my heart to a man. Not now, not ever. Someone else had made sure that my heart had permanently shut down.
