The Hearts Series

by L.H. Cosway

  When I’m stressed out, a nice glass of top-shelf whiskey usually does the trick.

  Why had his mother sending me a note stressed him out? And why had he thought somebody else had sent it?

  “King, is everything all right?” I asked, concerned.

  He closed the drinks cabinet and turned back, his expression hard. Whoa. I’d never seen him look at me like that before.

  “Everything is fine, Alexis. Now, I do believe you have work to attend to.”

  Brow furrowing, I gave him a quiet, “Yes, I do,” then turned and left his office.

  I didn’t go to the bathroom for lunch that day, nor did I go the day after. Instead, I ate my sandwich on a bench outside, intermittently browsing my messages and throwing pieces of bread to the pigeons. I’d almost forgotten that King and I had anything even resembling a friendship until he sidled into the office on Friday morning looking like the cat that got the cream. And all of that smug delight was being firmly directed at me. He said his usual hellos to both Gillian and Eleanor, then came to stand in front of me, arms folded, a gigantic smile on his face.

  “You’re looking particularly lovely today, Miss Clark,” he said with a flourish.

  I glanced at him for a second, frowned, and then continued typing. What was his game? Eleanor got up from her seat and went to use the bathroom, and still he remained standing there like a complete and total oddball, as Gillian’s voice talking on the phone filled the room. Finally, I gave in.

  “Can I help you with something?”

  “I could fucking kiss you right now,” he beamed, and I sucked a breath.

  Okay. Trying to play it nonchalant, I replied, “For what exactly?”

  “That social media start-up we discussed the other day? Well, immediately after we spoke, I lined up one of my clients as an investor, and guess what?”

  I stared at him. “What?”

  “The site has gone viral overnight. Apparently, a couple of celebrities started using it, and now they’re getting new sign-ups by the bucket load.” He leaned forward and braced both his hands on the edge of my desk. “This client was an important one, and he currently thinks I shit daisies. And I have you to thank for it, Alexis. You’re a flipping genius!”

  I couldn’t help my smile. He really was laying it on thick and heavy. “Shall I whip out my cock for you to suck now or later? Jeez, Ollie, tone it down a little.”

  He blinked at me, and then a second later he was laughing. It was good thing Eleanor wasn’t around and that Gillian was too preoccupied with her phone call to hear what I’d said.

  “Did you just call me Ollie?”

  Supressing a smirk, I nodded, still typing. A beat of silence passed.

  “Did you also just refer to me sucking your cock?”

  “Well, you’ve already opened the button and pulled down the fly. You might as well finish the job,” I quipped, and amusement lit his eyes.

  He stared at me for so long that I began to get uncomfortable. His smile naturally faded, and now his expression grew serious. “I’m going to put a bonus in your first month’s pay. Think of it as a consultant’s fee.”

  Now I was frowning again. “You don’t have to do that. Seriously, picking that start-up instead of the other business was just me thinking out loud. Hazarding a guess. I didn’t do any research. I could have been completely bullshitting for all you knew.”

  King leaned closer. “Alexis, don’t insult me. I know bullshit from real shit when I hear it. And what you gave me was the latter.”

  Now I was the one staring him down. I decided I wasn’t going to protest further, because, hey, if he wanted to give me a bunch of money for my advice, I wasn’t going to turn my nose up at it. Maybe I could use it to bring me and Karla away on a little weekend break or something.

  “Fine,” I said. “Give me the bonus.”

  “Not giving it to you was never an option,” he answered before heading in the direction of his office. Once he reached the door, he turned back. “Oh, and don’t think I’ve forgotten about Saturday. And I better see you at lunch today. No more standing me up.”

  Jesus, he said that right in front of Gillian. It was good thing she was still busy with her phone call. I could just imagine the gossip spreading like wildfire if she knew we were having all these intimate little lunches together. Before I could shoot him a scowl for almost outing us, he’d disappeared inside his office.

  I didn’t stand him up for lunch. And this time King won the game. Damn, he was starting to get an advantage on me.

  Oliver King: 2. Alexis Clark: 1.

  Bradley: Don’t wear any makeup. It’ll be done at the shoot. Can’t wait to see you. Smooches <3

  Alexis: Is it okay if I bring a friend?

  Bradley: Karla wants to come?

  Alexis: No, she’s working. Someone else.

  Bradley: A boy?

  Alexis: Maybe.

  Bradley: Send me a pic and then I’ll decide :-D

  Alexis: Piss off.

  Bradley: Fine. I’ll just have to wait and wonder. If he looks anything like the last one, then I predict I’m in for a treat.

  Alexis: He’s not a boyfriend. Just a friend friend.

  Bradley: Ooooh. I see. A gentleman’s gentleman?

  Alexis: Sorry to disappoint, but no. A lady’s gentleman through and through.

  Bradley: Sometimes I think you might hate me.

  Alexis: Lol. See you later.

  Bradley: Whatevs.

  On Saturday morning, King insisted we take his car to the photo shoot. I told him I’d get the tube and meet him there, but he wouldn’t take no for an answer. To be honest, I really didn’t want him to collect me. I hated to admit it, but I was embarrassed by where I lived. Yeah, he was aware I wasn’t exactly born with a silver spoon in my mouth, but the thought of King actually seeing the reality of my life made me break out into a cold sweat. I doubted he’d ever set foot in a building like mine in his life. It was going to be a rude awakening when he saw the graffiti-laden, grey block of despair in which I dwelled.

  Giving in, I texted him my address, expecting him to call when he was outside. That wasn’t what happened. Oh, no, Oliver King took it upon himself to ascend the many flights of stairs up to my flat and knock right on my door. Karla was at work, and I was just pulling on a top when I heard the knocking. Praying it was one of my neighbours coming to ask a favour, I padded my way to the door and peered through the peephole. And there in all his sexy glory was my boss. I let out a long sigh and thumped my head against the metal panel.

  Well, he’d already seen the worst of it now. There was no point refusing to let him inside. I opened the door and stepped back, taking in his appearance. It had quite an effect on me. He wasn’t wearing his usual fitted suit. No, today he wore a casual black jacket, a grey T-shirt beneath, designer jeans, and a pair of Caterpillar boots. I swear I had to consciously resist the urge to swoon. His hair was casually tousled with a bit of wax, and seeing him dressed like an everyday, normal bloke did a bit of a number on me. He looked just like someone I might chat with in a bar.

  Catching my breath, I greeted him. “Hey, uh, you didn’t have to come all the way up here, but come in.”

  Stepping past the threshold, King surveyed my small but tidy flat before bringing his attention to me. “Good morning, Alexis. I encountered a couple of young girls in the stairwell.” He seemed a little flustered, and it made me smile.

  “Oh, yeah, what did they say?”

  His brow furrowed. “I’m not sure if it bears repeating.”

  I snorted. “Yeah, I can imagine. I just have to throw a few things in my bag, but make yourself comfortable. Be back in a tick,” I said, and went inside my bedroom to shove my phone and wallet into my handbag. I was wearing a pair of black leggings, an old Madness T-shirt, and a long purple cardigan. Oh, and no makeup, as requested by Bradley. I hadn’t bothered to dress fancy for two reasons. One: I’d be getting dolled up at the shoot. And two: I didn’t want King “warmi
ng” to me any more than he already had. I mean, the man thought I was a lesbian, and he still wanted to hang out.

  Perhaps it was my glowing personality that he enjoyed.

  Heh.

  Returning to the living area, I found King sitting on the couch, perusing a picture of me and my family. The sight of all his masculine beauty in my very ordinary living room struck me like a whack to the chest. He was a fucking stunning-looking man, and I was pretty much doomed to lust after him for the foreseeable future.

  “I’m all ready. Let’s hit the road, Jack.”

  His eyes came to mine. “Is this your family?”

  “Yep. Handsome bunch, aren’t we?” I joked, and he chuckled softly, setting the frame back on the shelf. We left my flat and walked back down the stairs. The group of girls King had mentioned were gone, so he was saved from a second encounter of them leering at him. Girls around here could spot money a mile away, and King’s every movement screamed privilege and wealth.

  There were a couple of young kids and teenagers hanging about when we got outside, ogling King’s car. It was a black Mercedes and came equipped with its very own driver. It was a good thing, too, because from the way the local kids were eyeing it, I imagined it would have been stolen in a hot second if left unattended.

  In a very gentlemanly move, King opened the door and gestured for me to get in. As I slid past him, he looked down at me, eyes intent on my face.

  “You’re not wearing any makeup,” he said, his focus moving over my cheeks and down to my lips.

  It didn’t surprise me that he noticed the change, because I usually did wear makeup to the office.

  “Yeah, they’ll be doing it at the shoot.”

  He exhaled. “I quite like your face without it.”

  Well, okay then. I didn’t know what to say to that, so I simply continued my way inside the Merc. King slid in after me, and then we were off. The journey was quiet as I fidgeted with my hands, a little self-conscious now that he’d seen where I lived. It was one thing to casually mention it in conversation, but it was another to have him actually go there in person. I could feel him watching me out of the corner of my eye, but I didn’t look at him.

  He must have sensed something was up with me when he asked, “What’s wrong, Alexis?”

  There was something about him saying my name in the small confines of the back seat that made the skin on the back of my neck tingle. I flicked my eyes to his for a second before looking back out the window. “Nothing.”

  “Don’t give me that. You’re not your usual chatty self. Out with it.”

  I sighed and crossed one leg over the other, causing King’s attention to wander to my thighs for a moment. I was beginning to lose count of how many times he’d done that, and it made me swallow, hard. He was one of those real attentive types who picked up on body language. I could tell. I also wondered what he could read from me. Was I successful in hiding my attraction?

  “I’m….” I began and then paused, feeling ridiculous. “This is stupid. I never make apologies for who I am or where I come from, but I just feel a bit embarrassed about my flat.”

  “Your flat is lovely, Alexis.”

  I pulled my lips through my teeth. “Thank you, but I mean the outside, not the inside. It’s probably because I’ve been to your place and seen how fancy it is. I bet you’ve never even stepped foot in a building like mine before in your life.”

  He studied me, face drawn into a serious expression. I felt his shoulder brush mine when he said, “I haven’t, but what does that matter? You don’t always have to be stuck where you are. You can improve your life endlessly so long as you have the capability of doing it, and you, Alexis, have the capability. Don’t ever let anyone else tell you otherwise. But back to the matter at hand. You’re my friend — therefore, I don’t care where you live.”

  I stared at him, dumbfounded and kind of flattered by all that stuff he said about my capabilities. I didn’t want him to know I was flattered, though, so I ignored his compliment and blundered on. “And that’s another thing. Isn’t it a bit weird that I’m your friend and I also work for you? Do you normally make friends with your PAs? Isn’t this, whatever we’re doing, against the rules?”

  “That’s a lot of questions.”

  “I need a lot of answers.”

  He was close enough that I could feel his breath on my ear. “Okay, I’ll endeavour to give you some. First, I wouldn’t say it’s weird that we’re friends. It’s more out of the ordinary.”

  “Same difference.”

  “Let me finish.”

  “Fine,” I huffed.

  “Second, no, I don’t normally make friends with my PAs. In fact, I’d never planned to make friends with you. It just sort of happened. I like you. You make me laugh. And you’re different from the other people I know. Having you around makes the day that little bit more interesting. I enjoy the spontaneity of never quite knowing what you’re going to come out with next.” He paused to laugh gently. “And third, no, it’s not against the rules. I’m free to be friends with whomever I choose, employee or not.” He went quiet then, and I turned to see why he’d stopped talking.

  His eyes looked…heated.

  Now he whispered, his breath kissing my ear, “If I were to fuck you, it would be frowned upon, but it still wouldn’t be breaking the rules. I’m not your teacher or your college professor, Alexis.”

  Eight

  Oh. My. God. I felt like I’d momentarily lost the ability to speak. What on earth was he playing at? I mean, his driver was sitting right in front of us. He didn’t show any signs of having heard King, but still. I think I became a touch hysterical when I shakily wagged a finger at him. “You have all the wrong equipment for me, remember?”

  Jesus, was that even my voice? I sounded way too high-pitched.

  He was silent a moment, and when he replied his voice was low and quiet, “Oh, yes, how could I forget?”

  Now he stared out the window, arms folded across his chest. This was turning out to be the most awkward, sexually frustrating car journey of my life. It was a relief when we finally reached the location of the photo shoot, a warehouse building in Shoreditch. King got out first and went around to the front of the car, leaning down and talking to his driver through the window. The man nodded and drove off after I’d gotten out, too.

  King glanced at me and gestured that I should lead the way. I took a few steps over to the intercom and pressed the button to be let in. A female voice answered, and a second later we were being buzzed through. King was quiet as we went up the stairs to the studio. I was dying to know what he was thinking. What had brought all that on back in the car? I mean, he was often flirtatious, but never outright lewd, unless of course we were exchanging dirty jokes. But there was nothing humorous about what he’d said to me on the drive.

  When we reached the first floor, we found the place a flurry of activity. There were makeup stations all along one side of the large open-plan room, and on the other side were racks upon racks of clothes. Some girls sat having their faces done by makeup artists, and others were standing about as stylists handed them clothes to wear. Music played from speakers set into the corners of the ceiling, and by the windows was a white, black, and red set where the photos were going to be taken.

  It was all very chaotic and exciting.

  King placed his hand to the small of my back, and I was just about to ask a passing girl where I could find Bradley when my friend suddenly appeared.

  “There you are,” he said, grabbing hold of my wrist. “I need you in makeup ASAP.” Glancing over my shoulder, he saw King and gave him a quick perusal. He reached his other hand over to my boss for a shake. “Well, hello, I’m Bradley. And you are?”

  I resisted the urge to snicker at the sweet, flirtatious lilt to his voice. Unlike the last time I’d seen him, when that girl had been rutting all over him on the dance floor, now Bradley was the one barking up the wrong tree.

  “Oliver,” said King, shaking
Bradley’s hand. “Thanks for letting Alexis bring me along.”

  “Oh, it’s my pleasure. Alexis is one of my dearest friends.” He was teasing now, because Bradley never called me by my full name; I had always been just Lexie to him. He took my bag and coat from me, then led me over to hair and makeup. A curvy, light-haired girl came and began talking me through the “look” they were going for, while Bradley asked King if he’d like any tea or coffee.

  “A coffee would be great,” said King, emitting his usual master of the universe confidence. He might have been a duck out of water in this situation, but it didn’t show for a second.

  “Coffee it is. Come with me while Alexis gets her face done.”

  They were already walking away when I suddenly realised Bradley didn’t know about my lie. And he was chatty – too chatty. That meant he’d start grilling King on the nature of our relationship. And during that grilling it’d become pretty obvious that I didn’t, in fact, bat for the other team. The makeup artist was smoothing on a base foundation when I began rummaging in my bag for my phone. My fingers glided fast over the screen as I typed out a message to Bradley.

  Alexis: He thinks I’m a lesbian. Play along.

  His response was almost instantaneous.

  Bradley: And he thinks this why...?

  Alexis: We’re friends. If he thinks I’m gay, it eliminates the possibility of him coming on to me.

  Bradley: And you don’t want him to come on to you why…?

  I snorted a laugh, the makeup artist getting cranky when I kept looking down at my phone. I told her I just had to send one more text and then she’d have my full attention.

  Alexis: Because he’s also my boss.

  Bradley: No way! :O

  Grinning, I finally put my phone away and let the girl do my makeup. She’d moved on to my eyes when King reappeared, holding a mug. He sipped on it, gaze grazing me, lingering on the curve of my chest. Those eyes of his were so…consuming. Then his attention wandered to another of the models who was passing by. I swear I’d never seen anyone with such perfectly proportioned junk in their trunk. King had noticed, too. The woman caught him looking at her and gave him a sassy little smile.