by Iona Rose
“I’ll be thinking of you,” he whispered into my ear, just before the elevator arrived.
I almost had to cover my hand with my mouth to hide my smile.
“Pay me a visit soon,” he whispered.
Seeing that no one from our company was riding with us, I glanced back to give him a quick, soundless, kiss the moment the elevator dinged its arrival, and parted through the sea of people to get out.
Chapter 25
Carter
Working with Leah in the same office was a feat, and that was putting it very, very lightly.
I sat in a meeting in my office, with one of the officials from the state’s planning organization as we reminisced about old team members, from the first advertising agency we’d worked in together. But I could barely concentrate.
I’d known that insisting on our rendezvous mid afternoon, would be a very bad idea, and it would render me completely useless, but it was still the sweetest decision that I’d made all day. I’d also done something frivolous before we’d separated from the restaurant and I’d expected her to have noticed it by now. I’d slipped her phone out of her purse, and was hoping that she would have come up to ask me about it. More than an hour had passed since lunch, so she should have noticed its absence by now. Or did she perhaps think that she’d dropped it somewhere else, and was distraught?
I straightened, my chest tightening with worry. Perhaps I had gone too far?
It was only our first official day together and I was already stirring storms. My head fell into my hand.
“Carter. Are you okay, man?”
My head shot up then, at the reminder that I was not alone. “I apologize. I got distracted for a moment there. Please go on.”
“Alright, so our office is thinking about using social media to promote interesting areas of the state. For instance, the Eiteljorg Museum, the Fort Wayne Zoo, Prophetstown State Park, the Dunes National Lakeshore… places that people would like to show off in their pictures.”
“Hmm…” I nodded. “Doesn’t sound half bad. It could be marketed as uh… the most Instagram-able places in Indiana.”
“Instagram-able?”
“That’s the term. Or Insta-worthy, if you may.”
“What the hell does that mean?” he asked.
The distaste in his words made me laugh. “You’re losing your touch Huang.”
“Well, that’s why I’ve come to you. I’m so glad you’re here, man. How long will you be staying this time?”
My mind went again to the woman that I could now officially call mine. “Who knows?” I answered. “I’m just taking things one step at a time.”
A terrible step at a time it was beginning to seem. I looked at the clock once more.
Twenty minutes later, the meeting came to an end and I picked up my intercom phone to call my secretary, Joseph.
He immediately picked up. “Sir?”
“Has anyone else come looking for me?”
“No, Sir,” he replied.
I was just about to put the phone down when he stopped me.
“Just a moment, sir,” he said. “Miss Peters from marketing team two just arrived. She was here earlier, before lunch hoping to catch you on your way out.”
My heart’s pace picked up. “Send her in.” I couldn’t help but smile to myself as I awaited her entrance, neither could I help the perspiration that was beginning to gather on my hands. I couldn’t believe that lunch time had been barely two hours earlier. It was almost as though my life had done a complete one eighty since then.
There was a quiet knock, and then she pushed the door open.
My whole body came to attention as she shut it behind her, and then turned to me, a worried look on her face.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
Looking nervous, she stopped by the door. “Sorry to bother you but have you seen my phone? I’m thinking that perhaps I left it at the restaurant.”
“I have.” I nodded and pulled it out of my pocket. “It's right here.” I placed it on the table.
She cocked her head at me. “I left it on the table?”
I darted my eyes in thought, wondering if denying what I had done here would be the way to go.
“That can’t be. I remember slipping it into my purse.” She thought for a moment, and then noticed my tightened lips as I tried to control my smile. Her eyes widened with realization. “You took it out of my purse? How? And why?”
“I wanted you to come visit me.”
“Carter!” She scolded, and turned back to glance at the door at her loud tone. She abandoned all propriety then and began to march towards me.
I loved when she looked like this, and I wanted it to last so when she reached me, I held the phone far above my head and just out of her reach.
“Carter! I have a meeting!” Her legs went astride mine as she tried to grab the phone out of my hand as I leaned as far away as I could from her. She eventually caught my hand with an aggravated groan, and I released my grip on the phone.
Before she could leave however, my hand slid up her thighs, and grabbed her mound.
“Oh, God,” she gasped, her knees immediately buckling at the sudden intrusion. “Carter.”
Despite her resistance, my hand stroked the bud of her sex, her hands on my shoulders to keep her somewhat stable.
“Carter… stop,” she said.
Then I managed to slip her thong aside. I slipped a finger into her and then another.
Her eyes rolled into their sockets, her lips falling open. “Oh,” she whimpered. “Holy fuck.”
My phone suddenly began to ring. With a deep sigh of regret, I pulled my fingers out of her and banded an arm around her legs to hold her to me, before retrieving the phone from its handle.
“Your four ‘o clock is here, Mr. Edwards,” Joseph informed me.
“Give me a few minutes,” I responded, and returned it back to the receiver. I rose to my feet, and kissed my girl, completely and wholeheartedly in love with the woman that she was.
She hit me on the shoulder, but then melted into the kiss till a loud knock on the door brought us both back to earth.
“You’re going to pay for this,” she said, as she pulled away.
“I’m looking forward to it.”
“How did you even take it from me?” She asked as she walked away.
“I never went to college,” I answered back. “I spent the time finding other ways to survive.”
Her mouth dropped open just as she reached my door. “I want to hear all about that.”
“Tonight,” I demanded. “Cook me dinner at your place?”
Her slowly spreading smile almost gave me a heart attack.
She blew a shy kiss at me as she exited the office.
I took my seat to get ready for my next meeting.
* * *
Leah
Carter was so incredibly naughty, and I loved it. To the rest of the world he seemed so put together, and almost unapproachable, but when he was with me that aloofness was replaced by a light in his eyes that made me melt, because I knew, it was solely for me.
I still couldn’t believe he had actually stolen my phone from me, just to get me to visit him. It was a great move, and one I didn’t mind at all, but it was also unnecessary. Sooner or later, I would have gone over to see him. It was just so endearing though that he wanted it to be sooner.
I was however so preoccupied with giddy thoughts of him, that I didn’t even bother to note whom I had passed on the way out of his office.
“Leah?”
I heard my name called, and turned around.
My heart lurched into my throat as I met the gaze of Daniel Coghlan, the VP I had a meeting with in twenty minutes. The smile immediately disappeared from my face. “Sir?” I answered.
His eyes narrowed at me, and then at my somewhat rumpled appearance. When he returned his gaze to me, his expression looked sour.
It sent a sliver of worry down my spine.
He di
dn’t say a word.
A lump began to grow at the back of my throat.
He turned around to head into the office, while Carter’s secretary Joseph, gave me a somewhat polite smile.
I turned around to head to the elevator, feeling somewhat nervous.
This could very well be interpreted as me frolicking with the boss, and it just wasn’t the reputation I wanted swirling around me. But it was the best I would be able to receive if I kept sneaking around with Carter. I mean, how many employees could come out of an executive’s office with hearts in their eyes, without there being a sultry story behind the visit?
The whole situation troubled me, especially as I was going to see the VP in a short while. With a sigh, I got on the elevator as it arrived and headed back to my floor.
Half an hour later and VP Daniel had somehow managed to turn into a nightmare overnight.
Today, we were focusing on establishing the demographic that would yield the utmost success if we directed our campaign towards them, and every single idea put forward by the members of the team, had been rudely shut down.
After an aggressive rant, the room was silent for a while, before I decided to speak. “Sir, based on my research so far, I think that young mothers would be a great focus.”
For the first time since I had ran into him earlier in front of Carter’s office, he spoke to me, “And why do you think that? We’ve just heard that the majority of the demographic that consumes energy drinks are students and middle-aged workers. Where do young mothers come into this equation?”
I wanted to give up right then, but I fought myself from rolling my eyes at him, and went on, "Gillette’s major demographic is indeed men. But during this past year, and especially after the controversial 'the best men can be’ ad that they put out, they’re gradually beginning to win the new market of younger women who appreciated them speaking against toxic masculinity”.
“Leah, they received massive backlash for that ad, and men advocated for their products to be boycotted,” Henry warned.
“At first.” I nodded. “But then their sales have grown over the second quarter of the year because despite all the racket they made, men don’t buy their own razors. Their wives and girlfriends do that, the same market that was impressed by the message that Gillette was trying to pass across. My point is this; mothers, especially new mothers more than the usual college students whom energy drinks are targeted towards, need a pick me up as they try to navigate the new phase of their life. And that’s what Vita500 is for. We target it to new mothers, but then others can relate. Students, especially females just starting college, young adults just entering into the job market and trying to navigate the challenges of their new life… and so on.”
The room went silent and the longer it stretched, the more I shrunk back into my chair.
Our esteemed VP rose up and walked out of the room.
“Well that went great,” Henry said sarcastically, and went on his way.
Jeremy lowered his head to conceal a snort.
I smacked him with my folder across his arm.
Chapter 26
Leah
That night, and for the first time in a long time, I had something to look forward to beyond the frustrations of our current account. I arrived home early, and made sure I had all the ingredients needed for my fail proof dinner of fettuccine in creamy alfredo sauce, garnished with cheese, shrimp and parsley.
At a quarter past nine, Carter called to tell me that he was on his way. My house was cleaner than it had been in a little while, the over-priced cashmere mist candle I had never used lit and burning on the mantle, as the scent of jasmine filled the atmosphere. At the ring of my doorbell, I hurried over to the door.
I didn’t even bother checking who it was before I pulled the door open.
My face was beaming with excitement in one moment, but fell with disappointment in the next, as I saw who my guests were.
For a long time I couldn’t speak, until Tracy popped some confetti.
“Hey!” I jumped.
“Wow,” Anne spat. “So much for a hearty welcome.”
They pushed their way in.
I was forced to back away before they ran me over.
I saw Tracy had a bucket of cheese balls, and a tote I was sure contained more food, while Anne had three bottles of wine.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
“Tracy was losing her mind,” Anne said.
“That’s not true,” Tracy retorted. “I was just worried. We haven’t seen you since you told us about your pregnancy, and then Carter’s sudden appearance, my God. I still can’t believe he’s here and that he bought your company.”
“I knew he was a designated and ‘solid piece of ass’ from the first time I laid eyes on him,” Anne commented.
“Basically you’re going through a lot,” Tracy said. “So we came to cheer you up. Also, someone looks enticing. What’s with the champagne piece? Is that silk? It’s so sexy.”
I didn’t know exactly how I was going to kick them out, but before I could think of a way, my doorbell rang again. “Fuck,” I cursed underneath my breath, and hurried over. With a peer through the peephole, I saw exactly who it was, and considered calling him first to explain the sudden company, but I didn’t want to be rude by keeping him outside. So I pulled the door open, and met the massive bouquet of blood red roses.
My heart fell into my stomach.
He pushed the flowers aside to reveal his beautiful face, and I noted the hint of shyness in his gaze. “I couldn’t resist,” he said. “Too tacky?”
I went out of the apartment, and placed a long, sweet kiss on his cheek. “I love them, but my friends are here. They just barged in now without notice, but I’ll get rid of them.”
“That’s ok,” he said. “We can all have dinner together.”
My eyes narrowed. “Really?”
“Tracy and Anne right? I’ve spent time with them in Alanya, so they aren’t exactly strangers to me.””
“I know, but I wanted tonight to be just the both of us.”
“We have time,” he said, and stepped forward to stroke the tip of his nose with mine.
* * *
Carter
“Carter!”
I had a smile ready, for the moment the girls noticed me.
The blonde one, Anne, was opening a bottle of wine at the kitchen’s island, while the brunette Tracy was setting up the coffee table with a massive drum of cheese balls, that I surprisingly couldn’t take my eyes away from.
They both looked absolutely shocked to see me.
“Hello girls,” I greeted.
They turned to their friend, demanding an explanation.
She just simply shrugged. “You both didn’t call before coming over. I already have plans.”
“Oh, so that’s why you have that slip dress on,” Anne said with a dirty smile.
Tracy picked up her purse, and went over to the counter to get Anne. “We’re sorry for intruding,” she said. “We’ll leave now.”
“It’s alright,” I told them. “Let’s have dinner together.”
“Sounds gre—” Anne started, but was firmly pulled along.
“No,” Tracy insisted. “You both need time to yourselves. We’ll see you some other time.”
We turned to watch them leave, Anne with a tired look on her face that was quite amusing. The door was shut behind them, and we were left alone.
I turned to Leah.
A soft smile appeared on her face as she came over to me to accept the flowers. “They’re beautiful,” she said as she lifted the bouquet to her nose. “I’ll put these in water.”
Before she could leave, I banded an arm around her waist and pulled her to me for a quick kiss. She melted into me as my hands grabbed onto her ass beneath the clingy, silk dress she wore.
Just thinking about Leah was enough to get me excited, but seeing her now in this rose, silky slip dress‒the material clinging to her hips, barely coverin
g up her breasts and boldly showcasing the hardness of her nipples‒began a slow torment I knew I wouldn’t be able to address until later on in the night. It was pure torture, but I wanted to spend time with her today rather than inside her, but I didn’t know how it would even be possible.
I took my seat on one of the stools by her counter.
She bent down to her bottom drawers to search for a vase, the material stretched across her hips and she might as well have been naked.
My body and especially my cock felt like a fuse that was mere seconds away from blowing. “Would it be too much of a hassle for you to change outfits?” I asked, as she found a glass vase.
She turned, surprised at my request.
“I’m sure you realize that I won’t be able to think straight with you in that dress.”
She laughed as she filled the vase with water and brought it over to the counter. “I’m not changing,” she said, as she retrieved a pair of scissors. “So you’ll just have to deal with it.”
She was a vixen, thoroughly and completely aware of her sole power to bring me to my knees, and I was a very willing victim.
I watched her, mesmerized by the delicate way her fingers snipped off the leaves of the stems, and then arranged them in the vase.
“I took a wild guess by bringing these,” I said. “What are your favorite flowers?”
“I don’t have favorite flowers,” she replied. “I rarely get them.”
“Would you like to get them from now on?” I asked.
Her glance was searing. “I would.”
“So what flowers would you like?”
“All of them?” She smiled. “But I especially love orchids.”
“Noted.” I gave her a nod.
She finished up with the flowers and pushed the vase to the center of the marble counter. I regarded it with pity, because somewhere along the night, of the very likely possibility that it would be shoved off the counter, and crash to the floor.
