by Jaye McCloud
He knows about Allen! Damn. I was hoping to get that situation all wrapped up and taken care of without him finding out. Antonio still hasn’t turned around and his voice is low and controlled; which tells me that he is absolutely furious. Damn and Double Damn.
“It wasn’t a tryst. We had some unresolved matters to clear up and that’s what we were doing.”
“What kind of unresolved matters, Tiressa?” I try to explain, even though I have no choice but to speak to Antonio’s back. “Well. Before you and I started dating, Allen and I were contemplating a relationship…we were in the ‘getting to know each other’ stage. Then Derrick told me that he was married—”
“Have I misjudged you, Tiressa? Do you get involved with married men?”
“Have I misjudged you, Antonio? Do you get involved with making nasty, asinine assumptions?”
Having his words turned back on him clearly irks him. I watch his wide shoulders expand as he takes a deep breath in an attempt to collect himself before finally continuing. “So, I ask you again. Why were you meeting with him?”
“Allen wanted to show me proof that he has been legally divorced for the last couple of weeks. But I told him that it doesn’t matter, since I’m now seeing someone.”
Antonio turns around and walks over to his desk. Although it’s obvious that he’s still mad, looking at him with his jacket off and sleeves rolled up, I can’t help thinking about how much I’ve missed him, missed talking to him, touching him. After pressing some unseen button just under his desk, I hear an almost silent click coming from the door behind me.
“Why the hell do you keep referring to our relationship as seeing someone?” He says in a dangerous growl as he straightens and slowly approaches me.
“Antonio, you know we’re more than that. I know we’re more than that. But I didn’t have time to tell Allen that because my jealous lover sent one of his toy soldiers to fetch me.”
If I hadn’t been watching Antonio’s face so closely, I would have missed the quirk of his lips, there and gone in a split second. Antonio keeps walking until he has me up against the door. I want to hold my ground, but there is no chance of that really happening.
“What did I tell you the night I first took you and made you mine?” His very nearness makes it almost impossible for me to think coherently. Looking up into his possessive eyes, I admit to myself that I like that he’s jealous of other men. His claim of making me his as he presses his erection against my belly sends a quivering reaction spiraling through my body.
“What did I tell you Tiressa?” He breathes into my uplifted face a scant second before he gently assaults my mouth with firm lips and velvet tongue. I’m absorbed in his passion, so much so, that I barely notice the hand at my hip, unzipping my slacks. He breaks the kiss to remind me. “I told you that this is mine.” His big hand slides into my panties and past the light sprinkling of curly hair on my mons. “This is mine Tiressa and no other man will have it. No other man will have you!” Antonio reaffirms his claim, nostrils flaring. Suddenly he steps back and issues an order –low but grating with intensity. “Step out of your pants.” I’m not exactly sure when Antonio slipped my pants down over my hips. “No Tony. We can’t! Not here!”
“Yes we can and will. Right here, right now!” He declares, unbuckling his belt and getting out of his pants in record time. When I try to pull my pants back up, Antonio grabs my around the waist and lifts me clear off the floor, causing my heels to fall off my feet and my pants to slip further down my legs. It takes very little effort for my pants to be snatched the rest of the way off and tossed to the floor. He presses me flat against the door using his chest to hold me in place as he holds my ass in his big hands and force my legs open wider. “Wrap your legs around my waist.” He demands in a harsh whisper. “No Tony! Let me down!” He may not give a damn, but I’m very aware of his secretary just down the hall. Ignoring my protests, he continues to hold me against the door as he rips my panties off and quickly press his massive manhood against my quivering core. “Damnit Antonio, don’t!” I whisper, frightened and furious; any one can come to this door at any time. “Don’t worry Ti, this office is fully insulated, no one is going to hear us.” He says that as if it’s supposed to make this alright. “But, I must warn you sweetheart, if you scream you’ll cause a scandal because I’m not going to stop making love to you no matter how many people come running.” He breathes into my ear as he begins slowly pushing into my body. “Tony, please don’t…not like this!” I can’t believe he’s doing this…in his office up against the damn door, like some ten dollar hooker! Although I’m furious, I won’t scream rape because that’s not what this is…this is Antonio being a jealous, angry barbarian. I can’t stop him and if I resist, he’ll just be rougher with me. He may be getting his way, but I won’t give him the satisfaction of seeing me enjoy it.
~~~~
As Antonio slowly pulls his manhood out of my trembling body, I can’t suppress a small groan. He starts kissing me passionately, but I quickly break the kiss, turning my head away. Stepping back from the door, Antonio lowers my feet to the floor, but keeps me in the circle of his arms, looking at me closely, scrutinizing my every expression.
“Antonio, I need to get dressed.” I say softly, avoiding his penetrating stare as I try to move away from him to pick up my slacks and panties off the floor.
“Not until you look at me.” My eyes glance off his for an instant. “Please, I need to get dressed.” He finally relents and I step away from him as I slide my slacks and heels back on. “Do you have a private restroom in here?” I ask quietly, hoping that I don’t have to use another public restroom to refresh myself.
“Yes.” He points to the middle door along the far right wall. “Help yourself.” I quickly make my way to his restroom and lock the door. Leaning my forehead against the cool wood, I don’t know how to feel about what just happened, other than to be angry and hurt.
Unwilling to analyze my confusing emotions, I decide to not think about it at all…at least not now. When I turn to look at the room, I’m surprised to see that it’s not a restroom, but more like a fully-loaded bathroom with a luxurious tub and small changing room. Curious, I go into the changing room to find a variety of men’s shoes and clothing and various accessories, indicating that Antonio either spends a lot of time at work or that he likes being well-prepared.
In less than ten minutes, I emerge from the private bath refreshed, but feeling no less like some kind of cheap call girl.
The first thing I notice is that the faint smell of sex is gone from the air, replaced by a pleasant lavender potpourri scent and a fresh breeze coming in from one of the windows that has been left ajar.
Choosing to ignore what happened in here earlier, I take a seat at the conference table and pull one of the note pads and ink pens close to me.
Sitting on the corner of his desk, with sleeves still rolled up and long legs stretched out in front of him, Antonio appears completely composed –as if nothing untoward had just taken place only a short time ago. “What are you doing Tiressa, why are you sitting over there?”
“Mrs. Bentini expects me to be able to tell her what the security plans are for the twins’ party at the club. You may not care that she will be disappointed if I don’t have this information, but being that she’s my boss, I do care. I would appreciate your taking time out of your busy schedule to give me the information I require.” It doesn’t take much intelligence to see that I am clearly pissed off. After taking in my stiff demeanor, Antonio exhales deeply and for the next fifteen minutes gives me an outline of the security plans he’s in charge of providing. Collecting my notes and cell phone, I stand up to leave. Antonio quickly moves to block me, placing restraining hands on my shoulders. “We need to talk about this.”
“I need to get back to my office. I have a long list of things to do, and I’ve been here far too long.” Although it feels like I’ve spent hours in Antonio’s office, it’s only been about forty minutes.<
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He exhales another loud sigh. “Okay. We both could use a little time apart right now. I’ll come by your office before you leave tonight.” Bending down he gives my stiff lips a quick peck. Suddenly a thought strikes me and I freeze up even more –I’m going to have to take another morning after pill. Damn, not again!
***
“Kathy, I’m finished for the day. My brain is fried and I’m going to head out a little early, if it’s okay with you.” I have no intentions of waiting around for Antonio to show up later. In fact, I’d rather not see him at all. “Sure, as a matter of fact, I’ll walk out with you. I can be ready to leave in about five minutes. Can you wait?”
“Yep. See you in five.”
***
The constant ringing of my cell phone wakes me out of a troubled sleep. Prying my eyes open, I look over at the clock on my bedroom wall before finally picking up the phone. “It’s two o’clock in the morning. Can it wa—”
“I know exactly what time it is. I’m right outside your door, let me in.” Antonio’s voice is terse with impatience.
“Please, Antonio, I don’t want to fight with you.” I plead in a strained voice. I’m tired and sick. Although this time the side effects from the morning after pill are not as awful, I did throw up after taking it. I was too afraid to take a third pill—in less than two weeks—I didn’t want to take the risk of something truly horrible happening to me.
“Tiressa, come open the door.”
“No Antonio, I don’t want to argue. Please leave.”
“We’re not going to argue. I just want to hold you.”
“You should have held me when I was in your office, instead of banging me against the door.” I can’t keep the anger out of my voice.
“Look Tiressa, I’m not going to apologize for what happened in my office. You had no business with another man.”
“I told you why I was seeing him. I wasn’t doing anything wrong! But you screwing me in your office was dead-ass wrong, Antonio! Don’t ever do that to me again!” I yell into the phone.
“Don’t ever challenge my manhood again! Which is exactly what you do when you have secret rendezvous with other men!”
“Antonio, do you understand that you made me feel like a cheap trick? Mrs. Bentini isn’t paying me to have sex with her son in his office against the damn door or anywhere else on the premises.”
“I’ll make love to you wherever and whenever I damn well please!”
“Leave Antonio! I don’t want to talk to you anymore and I sure as hell don’t want to see you!”
Chapter 17
Antonio
“You’d be surprised if I told you how often I catch him out here looking at the stars in the middle of the night.”
Damn! The last thing I want or need is my siblings putting their nose where it doesn’t belong! “What the hell are you two doing up past your bedtime.” Antonio growls by way of greeting Nicholas and William. Neither brother responds, instead they each take a seat on a chaise on either side of him. “What do you want? My misery doesn’t need any damn company.” Antonio barks.
“Maybe we’re just here to look at the stars too.” Nicholas shoots back as he makes himself comfortable on the chaise to Antonio’s left.
“Look Antonio, it’s clear that something is bothering you, has been eating at you for the past couple of days. You’re not even able to hide it.” William states what the other family members have noticed and are concerned about.
“Tony, Mom is worried about you. She thinks there’s a woman involved.” Nicholas says with a knowing smirk.
“Mom worries over nothing. I’m here aren’t I?”
“Yes, but you’re detached and isolating yourself.” William says.
“Look Will, we are not all able to put our heart in a lockbox to satisfy the family.” Antonio throws the accusation right in his brother’s face.
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?!” Will blazes with indignant anger. How dare Antonio criticize him over something he knows nothing about!
“You know exactly what it means.” Antonio glares back.
“Wait, what’s going on here?” Nicholas sits up quickly, sensing that there’s more to his brothers’ heated exchange than either of them are saying.
“Nothing.” Antonio relents feeling guilty for taking his frustration out on his brother. “Sorry Will. It’s none of my business. I’m having problems with T—” Antonio catches himself, forgetting for a moment that Nicholas doesn’t know about his relationship with Tiressa. “I’m having personal problems and I’m not sure how to fix it.”
“So, your lady love is at the heart of this depressing mood you are in?” Nicholas crows.
“I thought it was supposed to be a big secret? When did you tell Nick you’re dating Tiressa?” William snaps at Antonio, irked that Nicholas might have known about Tiressa before him. Sibling rivalry…it never really ends.
“Damnit Will. I didn’t. You just did!” Antonio says with a disgusted look at his big brother.
“What the hell! Are you serious! Your lady love is mom’s Tiressa?!” Nicholas says a little surprised, considering that other incident that happened years ago… But, now that he’s thinking about it, it makes sense…he’s caught Antonio staring at Tiressa when he thought no one was looking. Actually, it’s really no great shock that Antonio would be attracted to someone as pretty and fine as Tiressa, who wouldn’t be?
“Lower your voice! It’s not public knowledge, for obvious reasons.”
“Well hot-damn…so she’s the one.” Then after a slight pause. “Wow, this is going to poke the hornet nest for sure. Mom’s going to be furious when she finds out.”
“She’s not going to find out, at least not for a while.” Reclining once again on the chaise with a tired sigh, he adds. “And it may not matter at this point because she won’t have anything to do with me.”
“Who mom?” Nicholas asks with confusion.
“No, dimwit. Tiressa.” William lets out a low chuckle and then asks Antonio, “Would you care to share what the problem is? Maybe we can help you solve it, we’re pretty clever men. Well, at least you and I are; not so sure about your little brother there.” Will and Tony have a good laugh at Nick’s expense. But he doesn’t appear to mind and after a minute laughs himself. The brothers spend the next hour drinking, joking, and coming up with idea after idea, until finally, Nick yells, “I’ve got it!”
“Got what?” Will asks with a slur in his voice. Ignoring his brother, Nick turns to Antonio. “This can’t go wrong, Tony! You’ll see!”
***
I haven’t met with Allen again, but that doesn’t mean that he doesn’t ask me to; even though I keep telling him we have nothing more to say to each other. Exiting the elevator on the fifth floor, I wave to Ms. Mason, the receptionist, and as I round the corner, I run into Kathy coming from the lounge with a cup of coffee and a bagel. “Well good morning.” She exclaims. “I’m so excited…it’s almost time for the party tomorrow night. I haven’t been to a nightclub since Wi— well, I haven’t been in a while.”
I smile at her enthusiasm and compliment her on her hair and outfit –Kathy has great fashion sense. As I unlock my office door, I invite Kathy in so we can go over some of the last minute items for the party. Turning back to enter my office, I come to a surprised stop.
“Oh my gawd, Tiressa. Who are they from?” Kathy breathes in delight as she sniffs one of the twelve bouquets of colorful roses set in lovely clear vases throughout my small office.
“I don’t know.” I take in the beautiful scene the roses make as I search for a card that indicates the sender. Walking over to my desk, I see an envelope propped against one of the bouquets with my name on it. Opening the envelope, I silently read the card inside, “I can’t be sorry for being angry when I see you with another man. I can’t be sorry for making love to you in my office. But I am sorry, and I greatly regret causing you to feel the way you felt. I don’t understand how you can ever see y
ourself as cheap when you are priceless to me. For making you feel that way, I am sorry. Loving You Always, Antonio.”
“Well? Who are they from? What does the card say?” Kathy can barely contain her curiosity. “They’re from Antonio, but I can’t tell you what he wrote, other than to tell you that it’s an apology.”
“Wow! You got an apology from Antonio Bentini. Well damn, girl! That’s a reason to celebrate.”
“Yes, I suppose it is.” I say, brimming with happiness. I’ve missed him so much! Beaming my bright smile towards Kathy, I ask for her help. “I can’t keep all these roses in here. They’re beautiful, but they are taking up a lot of space and oxygen. I’ll keep two bouquets, you take the one you want and help me think of who in the building we can share these with.” We easily come up with a list that includes: Mrs. Bentini; Mrs. Fuller- Antonio’s receptionist on the second floor; Ms. Mason- the fifth floor receptionist; Ms. Carlito- the executive assistant to Mr. and Mrs. Bentini, Ms. McDonald-head of hospitality; Mrs. Weaver- in the personnel office, and Mrs. Honeycutt- the Bentini’s Housekeeper at Bentini Mansion.
I can hardly wait to see Antonio. I thought for sure he would show up at my office sometime before lunch, but it’s hours past lunch and no Antonio –not even a phone call. Maybe he thinks I’m still mad at him. I’m tempted to call him.
An hour later, I still haven’t seen or heard from Antonio so I decide to make the next move and call him myself. Just as I pick up the receiver, Kathy knocks on the door and enters my office. “Hey girl, these gentlemen here are looking for you.” She moves further into my office to make room for two young men, each carrying a medium-sized white box with holes all over it and a big red bow on top.
