Consumed

by Leslie Sansom

  Monday morning I opened my office door to find a huge vase of flowers sitting on my desk. I grabbed the card and read it.

  Dearest Norah,

  A rose for a rose

  Nick Meyers

  I crumpled the card in my hand and took the flowers into Margaret’s office. I left them without a note. She wasn’t in yet, and I knew she would love the flowers and the mystery that came along with trying to find out who had sent them to her.

  I worked quietly most of the day. Answering emails, making calls and of course working on the new seating chart.

  It was after noon when another assistant came in my office.

  “Norah, there is a very attractive man out here that would like to have lunch with you? If you can’t make time, I will.” I smiled and shuffled some papers around my desk. I stood up and grabbed my purse. “No, thank you, Kim, I will take the lunch date.”

  Nick met me with a huge smirk and more flowers at the bottom of the stairs. “I noticed you gave my flowers away, so I brought you some more,” he was tapping his foot. I crossed my arms against my chest. “I’m not going to lunch with you, Nick. Get over yourself!” I turned back and started toward my office. “I figured you wouldn’t want to be seen in public with me, so I brought lunch with me.” I looked back over my shoulder and he was holding out two brown bags with the hand that didn’t have the flowers. I shrugged and went back in my office. As I took off my jacket he followed me inside.

  “It’s just food. We sit, we eat, and we talk. What’s the problem?”

  “You know the problem, Nick! Liam isn’t your biggest supporter right now. He wouldn’t want me to even talk to you. You know he doesn’t like to share, and he would consider this….sharing.” I slumped in my chair. Whatever he had in that bag smelled wonderful. “No. He doesn’t want to share you. We always shared things before.” He smiled again. “So, you think if you and I become friends, if you somehow get me to trust you, Liam will forgive you, and by extension…end up sharing me with you?” He didn’t say anything. “Don’t you think I should have a say in that too?” He laid the flowers on my desk.

  “It’s food Norah. I’m not asking for a blowjob. We can sit and eat, and you don’t have to say a word.” He put the bags on the desk and started taking out containers. He removed the bags and took the covers off the food. He handed me what looked like an Asian salad with mandarin oranges and a few choices of dressings. “Would you prefer lasagna or chicken parmesan?” he asked holding the two choices out for me to choose. I took the lasagna and grabbed a package with a fork and a knife.

  I huffed as I sat down in my seat and opened my diet coke. Eating at the same table with Nick Meyers wasn’t a crime. I knew Liam wouldn’t like it, but I needed to eat, then I could kick him out.

  “Did you like the book?” he smiled as he took a bite of his food. Dammit, he said we didn’t have to talk.

  Lunch Monday turned into another visit on Tuesday from Nick Meyers. I asked him if he ever worked or did he just live off some trust fund. I didn’t know how he had the time to keep coming to see me. Liam lived in London and his business was based here, and yet he didn’t have this kinda time during the day. The visit on Tuesday was short, because I was busy. He just stopped in and left me yet another gift, which was a framed 5x7 black and white picture of a lake with tall grass and a flock of birds flying up over it. Even though it was black and white I could tell the sun was setting. It was an odd picture, but it was also extraordinary. But I still opened my top drawer and dropped it inside.

  Wednesday was a quiet day, meaning I didn’t get a visit from Nick. Things with Liam had gone quiet too. I had gotten home late the last 2 nights and missed dinner. Wednesday was no different. I tried to convince him this wouldn’t last long. Once this project was over, things would go back to normal. Of course he and I both knew that wasn’t true although neither said it out loud. We both knew if I did well on this party I would be given more jobs and more responsibility. If I did well, things would only get worse, not better.

  Thursday, Nick was the most aggressive by far. With two days until the party I was rushing around like crazy. I was up in the banquet room trying to work out the seating chart when he grabbed my hand and pulled me in a small closet.

  “Watching you work turns me on,” he said as he pressed his body against mine. He was dressed casual. I had never seen that before. It was safe to say Nick Meyers was a very attractive man. He was very tall, with swimmer’s physique. His hair was dark blonde and his eyes were blue, bright blue. Nick Meyers, was a very handsome man. He reminded me a lot of Liam, in the sense that he could change his demeanor and your overall comfort level with his eyes. Sometimes they were fun and relaxed. Sometimes they were soft and caring. And sometimes, they were so dark and cold it scared me all the way to my core. He towered over me so I could feel his belt bucket in my stomach.

  “Nick, get off me! You have to leave me alone!” He leaned down closer to my face.

  “Does Liam appreciate your mind? I bet you being here most of the time drives him crazy. I love watching you work. A few minutes ago, when you were on your hands and knees, with the pencil in your mouth, counting the tables over and over again….it was hot! You’re a smart woman, Norah! Why do you think Liam wants you to dumb yourself down for him?” I didn’t answer him. I just lowered my eyes and tried to push him away. “Leave him.” I looked up at him. “Leave him, and come away with me. Be with me the way you are with Liam and I will give you anything you want.” I pushed him off me and this time he moved. He was way too big for me to actually move him, so I know he moved himself. “Liam gives me everything I want. I want him, and you can’t give me that!” I started to walk away but he grabbed my arm.

  “Then I’ll give you what you need.” I turned back to face him. “You need a life. You need freedom. You need someone who understands that sometimes your job has to come first.” I pulled my arm away. “Come away with me, and I can give you all of those things.” He stepped closer and touched my chin. “I can make you love me too. Give us some time, and I know you will learn to love me, Norah.” I snatched my face away from him.

  “I love Liam and I could never be with you the way I am with him. Leave here, Nick. Leave here and never come back. If you ever come back here again, I will tell Liam you have been harassing me. Job be damned!” I walked away and I made sure I swayed my hips from side to side just to show him what he was really missing. Take that, asshole!

  Liam

  I was losing her and I knew it. Maybe not in the sense of actually losing her, but in the sense that I was losing her attention. I was losing her focus, her time, and her control.

  The control. It sounded crazy when I thought about it. But I couldn’t help the way I felt. The control was something that was important to me. I wanted the say, I wanted the attention, I wanted to win over everything else. She knew that about me. I gave her a choice back in March at the wedding. I may have acted like a caveman and told her I would have dragged her out of there by her hair, but she knew the truth. She knew when she left the United States with me that I was in control and she was fine with it. Now I was losing it. It wasn’t so much the job that bothered me. It was how much time I was losing. I thought taking her in the basement and taking out my aggression on her would make her understand. I sat in the back of the limo knowing I had to do something else.

  “You look beautiful, Norah.” She smiled at me. “Purple is a very good color on you. I love this dress, where did you get it?” She looked down at her chest and ran her hands over her stomach. “This old thing?” she shrugged and looked over at me, “It’s just something I found hanging in my closet.” The dress was simple but stunning. Deep purple, knee length, off the shoulder and made of a knit material with layers going down her body. It fit snug, like a glove. I moved closer to her.

  “Where’s Trig and John? And why aren’t we using our own cars?” she asked. I leaned in and smelled her neck. “Trig is on vacation and John’s ex-wife is trying
to move their kids again. I called a car service and we had to use their cars. Is it a problem?” I ran my nose over her cheek. “No, not a problem. Just a question.” She was scanning emails on her phone.

  “You’re so beautiful, Norah. Your skin is so flawless.” I ran my hand over the exposed part of her chest and over her shoulders. “It’s so soft and perfectly tan,” I groaned in her ear as my hand dipped below the low neck line and ran my fingers over her breast. She jumped a little when I touched her nipple. “Ah, control yourself, sir. We are in the car.” I continued caressing her nipple and then moved my hand to the breast closest to me. “Your tits are so perfect, baby.” She moved her face away from mine.

  “Hey, don’t call them that now. This isn’t the dirty talk time. Get your hand out of my dress.” She tried to move away from me, but I held her in place with my right hand and continued to caress her with my left. I moved the dress down and exposed the breast I was fondling. “What are you doing? The driver can see us.” She wasn’t happy, but I didn’t care. “Oh, let him watch. Your tits are perfect. If he sees these he will be envious.” I moved the dress again and exposed the other breast. “God, you’re sexy. And you look so sweet.” I lowered my mouth and took her nipple in my mouth. She relaxed her head back against the head rest. “Liam, you have to stop this. He’s watching us.” I hummed and pinched the nipple I wasn’t sucking on. “Let him watch, I like it.” I turned her body towards me and pulled her closer as I took the other nipple in my mouth. I ran my hand down her body and between her legs. “Are you wet, baby? Because I am so hard.” I ran my nose over her breasts and raised her dress exposing her underwear. “Liam you have to stop. We can’t do this. We only have 10 more minutes in the car, and the driver is still watching us.” I raised my head and gave the driver a smile. “Take an extra lap or 2 around the block, Tommy!” I pulled her panties to the side and ran my hands over her pussy.

  “No problem, sir! You look like you have your hands full!” Tommy called back. I raised my head from Norah’s breasts again and gave him another smile. “A very sweet fullness, Tommy.” Norah lightly slapped my shoulder and I looked back at her. “Do you know him? You plan to fuck me right here in the car in front of him?” I gave her a little snort and shoved 2 fingers inside her wetness. I licked her lips once. “I’ve had him as a driver before, yes. And I’ll do whatever I want to do, you know that.” I raised her dress some more and moved my hands to the waist band of her panties. As I pulled them off, she tried to stop me.

  “Liam, what are you doing?” she looked completely taken by surprise. “I need to taste you, little one. I need to taste you right now.” I grunted through my teeth and she let me pull down her panties. I dropped them to the floor of the car and covered her pussy with my mouth. “Oh, baby you taste so sweet.” My hands parted her legs and then I moved them to her behind and pressed her to my face.

  This felt good. I knew she was uncomfortable but I felt good knowing I was in control. She was letting me have my way because this was what I wanted to do. She was wet and aroused so I knew she felt good too. Her hands found the back of my head and I heard her moaning and her back ached. “God, you’re hot, baby. You taste like honey, and you are so fucking hot.” I whispered and ran my hands over her breasts again. “I want to make you come, little one.” I put my mouth back on her and ran my tongue over her clit. I swirled and sucked and licked her like I couldn’t get enough, because I couldn’t. Her body tensed and she fisted my hair as she came. I removed my mouth, shoved 2 fingers inside her and ran my thumb over her clit as she rode it out. “That’s it, baby. Come for me.” I moved to my knees and started to unbuckle my pants as she came down from her orgasm. Her eyes were still closed and she ran her hands over her own breasts and covered them back up with her dress. I pressed her legs open more and moved myself between them. Her eyes opened and she looked shocked.

  “Liam, no. We’ve done enough.” She turned her head to the driver and I did too. Tommy was driving very slowly on a deserted road and his eyes in the rearview mirror…on us. I smiled and gave him a nod.

  “I need to fuck you right now, little one. I need to let him watch me fuck my woman, make her come and come hard….right now. Right now, Norah.” I pressed myself inside her and thrust several times. Her eyes softened a little, but I could tell she was still tense.

  “Relax baby, look at me. You’re mine, baby.” She closed her eyes and tried to relax. I pumped harder and looked down to watch myself going in and out of her.

  “Isn’t she beautiful, Tommy?” I called out. Norah opened her eyes in shock. “She’s very beautiful, Mr. Hastings. Very sexy. How does she feel?” he called back. “Oh, God, she feels fucking amazing!” I pumped faster and raised her leg up to my shoulder. “She’s so fucking tight and wet.” I leaned forward as I was about to come and I could feel my pants lower and my ass was now exposed too.

  Norah had closed her eyes and was now actually clenching them shut. “I’m gonna fucking come, baby. Ahh….” I grunted and started to move slower as I came. “Fuck yeah! This. Is. Mine.” I pulled out and sat back while Norah sat up and lowered her legs. She made adjustments to her skirt and grabbed a mirror from her purse. I heard her make some comments while she fixed her hair. I readied myself again and nodded for Tommy to head back to the party.

  When we got there, as soon as Tommy got out, Norah opened her door and got out herself. I stepped out and looked at Tommy. “Is she pissed?” he asked. I shrugged. “She knows I run this show and she gives me what I want.” I was still panting. I adjusted my tie and went inside.

  Norah

  I went straight to the bathroom to fix my hair and makeup. I was so pissed I forgot to put my underwear back on before I got out of the car. I looked at myself in the mirror as I put on my lipstick. Did he even kiss me? The whole time he conducted his little peep show did he even kiss me? I was humiliated. He humiliated me on purpose.

  He knew I would let him have his way even if I felt demeaned or degraded. I just couldn’t believe he had taken it that far. I was humiliated.

  As I walked out of the bathroom I was greeted by Tim and handed a head set and clip board. I went straight to work and tried to block Liam from my mind. He was having caveman issues and I had no clue why, but I had a job to do.

  I made sure everything was in place, talked with the wait staff and greeted a few early guests. As the guest line started to get longer and the room started to fill I noticed Liam was sitting at the bar….alone. I started to go say something to him but then I thought better of it.

  An hour into the party and things were running smoothly. Dinner was a hit and people were dancing. Drinks were flowing and the happy couple was very….happy.

  “Norah, everything looks lovely. Mr. and Mrs. Williamson seem like they are having a great time. We should definitely sit down on Monday and discuss bigger things.” Mary winked at me. “Thank you so much. It was a lot of hard work but I loved it all.” I clutched the clip board to my chest and swayed back and forth. “Isn’t your extremely handsome boyfriend here? Am I going to get a chance to meet him?” she asked as she took another sip of her wine. I swayed a little more and scanned the room to see if I could find him.

  “Um, yes. He’s here somewhere. Maybe you can meet him later.” I tapped her shoulder and nodded as I walked away because I saw Liam making his way toward me. I made it 30 feet away from Mary before I met up with him. “Wasn’t that your new boss? Wouldn’t you like to introduce me? Some people think I can be rather charming.” I could smell the liquor on his breath and he had a shitty grin on his face.

  “Not really.” I crossed my arms against my chest and let out a deep breath. “Why not?” like he really needed to ask me. I started tapping my foot.

  “Like you really need to ask?” He didn’t answer, so I assumed his question wasn’t a joke. “I start shaking when I think about what you just did to me. I’m still confused and flustered. I’m having a hard time focusing on my job, which is keeping people happy and m
aking sure things run smoothly. I’m not happy. I’m not smooth. Right now…I don’t want people to know I even know you.” I saw the shock on his face as I walked away. I half expected him to grab my arm and pull me into whatever closet or dark alley he could find. But he let it go and I walked away as fast as I could.

  I was chatting with the happy couple about 45 minutes later when I saw him on the dance floor with yet another blonde. What is it with him and blondes? Why does he always get back at me with a blonde?

  I went to the kitchen and checked on the anniversary cake to show him I really didn’t care. Let him fuck her in front of the entire crowd and see how she likes it.

  I managed to gather myself and re-focus for the next hour. The cake was served, toasts were made and Mrs. Williamson presented her husband with a sail boat as an anniversary present. I was laughing with the wait staff, Tim managed to steel me a plate of cold chicken salad, and one of the grandchildren spilled some red sauce on me. I wasn’t even sure we had served any food with a red sauce.

  I was relaxed and joking with people when Liam came up and patted me on the back. I had managed to ignore him the whole party, but now here he was in front of people I worked with and I couldn’t deny him now. He wrapped his arm around my waist and nuzzled his nose in my hair.

  “Norah, is this Liam?” Mary asked. I cleared my throat but before I could say anything he stepped right in. He leaned his face away from me and held out his hand.

  “Yes. I’m Norah’s boyfriend, Liam Hastings.” Mary introduced herself and lost herself in his beauty as most women did when they met him up close. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Harris.” Mary didn’t correct him and since she didn’t give him her last either, I assumed he confused her with my previous supervisor, Margaret Harris. “Actually it’s Cope. Mary Cope. Margaret Harris was my first supervisor. If you paid any attention to my career you would know that,” I smiled when I said it, but I was serious. But Liam hit right back. “Well if you were home more, maybe I could care more. But I rarely see you at all.” He took a sip of his wine and tightened his grip around my waist. Mary just smiled, awkwardly.