Cake Love: All Things Payne

by Elizabeth Lynx

  "Yes, I know what everyone calls me, Ms. Drake. So, I will be less of a Payne to you if you promise not to wear your glasses around me."

  I smirk at his request. He really has a thing for women in glasses.

  "I'll try, Mr. Payne, but one false move from you and these babies come back out." I lower my frames down the bridge of my nose to look at him. His irises pool black and we stare at each other for a while. Finally he clears his throat and gets up to face the room.

  "Ms. Drake, can you help me fix up the room?"

  "I thought you wanted me to call housekeeping?"

  He turns and reaches down a hand to help me up.

  "I think housekeeping will need to vacuum up the dirt from the plant but we can pick up the rest. You aren't afraid of getting a little dirty are you?"

  I got this job at a cost. There is always a price to pay when you ask THE gods for help. Because right as he spoke that last line I grab his hand and he pulls me up straight into his body. I can feel the hardness of his muscles, the heat from his skin and the growth between his legs as it all presses into me. My body reacts with a shiver.

  "Oh Morgana ..." He whispers as I look up into his heated eyes.

  Chapter 14 - THE Let Down ...

  Nothing happened. I hate to break it to you in such a cold and unfeeling manner, but that is where I am mentally right now. Mr. Payne has done this to me. He's turned me from a fun-loving free spirit to a heartless asshat who just accidentally bumped into someone on the street and didn't say "excuse me" after. I know, terrible, right!?

  Back at Henrik's office Friday evening after he pulled me off the couch to help him with the mess he created there was that moment where I saw in his eyes his lust for me. I also felt it digging into my stomach. We both gazed longingly at each other and if it had been a movie the romantic music would have started to play. But he pulled away and went about cleaning up like his dick wasn't hard for me.

  So utterly frustrating! Then to top it off as we were leaving he found the crumpled up pink post it note about his dry cleaning and handed it back to me. Not a word about it. Not a "I hate to have to ask you to help me outside of work, but ..." or "Morgana, it would help me so much if you could ..." just nothing.

  So here I am trudging through the bitter cold trying not to slip on the pockets of ice and snow on the sidewalks of downtown Chicago with an extremely large bag of men's suits in dry-cleaning bags. The bright side of all this is perhaps I get to see his place and possibly Henrik today. You know, I hate myself, don't you? He's like an obnoxious drug. One I want to punch and then make out with. I don't even make any sense anymore.

  I stop in front of the address on the note. The building is one of those tall skyscrapers where only rich people live. As I approach a decked out doorman tips his hat to me and opens the door. All I can think is he must be cold. I hope this place pays him a decent salary for freezing his balls off.

  There is a sweet looking old man standing behind the desk with the lobby attendant sign on it. His wrinkled face gives me a warm smile.

  "Yes, how may I help you, miss?"

  "I have to drop this off at Mr. Henrik Payne's apartment."

  I flop the dry-cleaning on his desk and push some of the suits out of the way in order to see his face. He holds up a finger and picks up his phone. After a few moments he's talking to someone on the other end.

  "There is dry-cleaning down here to be picked up."

  After he hangs up he gazes up at me and smiles once again.

  "I'll make sure it's safe. Someone is on their way down right now to pick it up. Have a wonderful day."

  Nodding I walk toward the entrance and get my cell phone out of my purse. I know this is terrible but I hope it's Henrik who comes down, so I call my friends and wait in the lobby hoping to catch a glimpse. Pretending to fiddle with my phone I hear the elevator open and turn to see an older man with silver hair in a nice suit get out and make his way over to the lobby attendants desk. He grabs the dry cleaning and heads back to the elevators.

  I guess it is too much to ask to see Henrik. Even if I got a chance what would I say? Would he even acknowledge me? Probably not. Sighing I dial Aria's number. After a ring she picks up.

  "Hey where are you? Evaleen is already here. We ordered cheese sticks without you."

  There was an office happy hour two weeks ago and toward the end only Evaleen, Rick (one of the sales guys) and I were left. Aria called me and I invited her out to the bar. We all hit it off. Rick ended up flirting with Aria which for his part was a big mistake. Oh, she went home with him, but she doesn't do more than one night stands. He has been bugging me ever since about her phone number.

  "I'm almost there, had to drop off something. I'll be there in five minutes."

  "Okay but hurry. The cheese sticks have arrived and Evaleen has already inhaled one. What? Don't hit me. It's true Evaleen." I can hear a muffled voice in the background.

  "I'll see you shortly."

  I hang up and briskly walk ten blocks to the diner called The Joint. Entering I am assaulted with the smell of grease and stifling heat, and everything is covered in dark wood paneling. I'm almost confident this place hasn't been updated in forty years. Looking around I notice Aria's hand waving in the air to capture my attention. Nodding I head over to her but she doesn't stop waving until I am standing at the table.

  Taking off my winter gear I shove in beside Evaleen who is sucking on her chocolate shake.

  "I ordered for you, Morgana. Your usual."

  "Thanks, Aria, I'm starving." I grab the lone cheese stick on the plate in the middle of the table and bite into the cold appetizer.

  "Did you go stalking him, Morgana?" Aria's neatly plucked eyebrow raises as she sucks ice from her water glass into her mouth, chomping on it like candy.

  "Stalk whom?" Evaleen lifts her head from the straw glancing back and forth between us.

  "Aria is referring to Mr. Payne. And no I wasn't stalking him, just dropping off his dry cleaning."

  I try to act aloof by reading the sugar packets but accidentally spill the syrup container while reaching for the brown packet. Trying quickly to wipe it up I manage to splash Aria with her water and almost knock Evaleen's milkshake completely over.

  "Let me get that, Drake." Evaleen cleans up my mess as I give her a small smile and turn to look out over the diner. Usually this place is packed but there are several empty seats today. I'm thinking the cold snap is keeping people away. The sub-zero temperature is a deterrent even for the thick skinned Chicagoans.

  "So you stalk Mr. Payne?" Evaleen questions while tossing the napkins in the corner of the table.

  "No I don't. Today was the first time I have ever been to his building and only because he asked me to pick up his dry-cleaning for him. That's all."

  Our food arrives.

  "You have had the hots for that man from day one, Morgana." Aria happily points out while popping a french fry into her mouth.

  "What?" Evaleen's voice rises as her eyes bulge.

  I really didn't want Evaleen to find out I like Mr. Payne. It's embarrassing enough to have a thing for the greatest asshole that ever was or ever will be, but then to let people at the office know makes it worse. Much worse. I know they will stare at me sitting alone at my desk and shake their heads in shame. They will judge and I will agree with them.

  "So what if I think he's good looking. I'm not the only one. I know for a fact Grace loves him. Even though she's the building receptionist and is stationed in the lobby, she is always in our kitchen on the twenty-eighth floor waiting for him. Anytime I bring his name up she gets that blissful faraway look in her eyes."

  "That is true, Drake, she has been in love with him for two years when she first started at Mimir. Every time he needs a new assistant she submits her resume. She never applies to any other job in the company, only to be his assistant. But, as for you, Drake, that is a different story. You've spoken to him; you know what a tremendous dick he is. I'm quite intrigued by your att
raction." She wiggles her eyebrows at me while leaning her chin on her hand.

  "There is nothing to tell, I ..." My breath catches when I see the man himself walk in accompanied by a stunning brunette. The woman is close to his height, age and in that moment it hits me that if I didn't know Mr. Payne I would think they are the most beautiful couple to ever walk the earth.

  Shit.

  He guides her to one of the empty tables and I can't keep my eyes off them as he helps her remove her coat. She does the usual date type stuff for him. The woman blushes, lightly touches his arm and throws her head back laughing at something he tells her. I want to slap her.

  "Morgana, what's wrong? You look like you did that one time your brother threw the last piece of cake in the trash from your birthday."

  I can't speak only grit my teeth.

  "Look who just sat down." I hear Evaleen say and see her pointing in Henrik's direction out of the corner of my eye.

  "Who's that?" Aria turns to see what we are focused on.

  "It's him. The Payne in the ass!" I bite out.

  I know I shouldn't be mad. If I think about it why wouldn't he have a girlfriend? He's rich and handsome so I shouldn't be surprised some money grubbing whore got her teeth into him. Wow, that sounded awful. I need cake.

  "Oh my god that's him? Jesus he's fucking studly. Wowza he can do some dusting of my cobwebs anytime."

  That snaps me out of it. I turn to look at Aria and notice Evaleen is staring at her too.

  "Aria, just eww!" I shake my head at her.

  "What? That's a saying."

  "No it is not and I pray to God it never is uttered again." Evaleen joins me in the shaking of heads.

  "Whatever. He is smoking though. But is that his girlfriend?"

  I glance at Evaleen who shrugs, "I have no idea if he has a girlfriend. That man's private life is more secure than a key locked in a safe. No one knows if he has dated anyone in ten years."

  Those words don't help me feel any better. We agreed to a truce and now I know why.

  "Ms. Drake."

  I look up to see Mr. Payne standing beside the table with the brown haired skank beside him. He nods at me but then notices Evaleen and starts to squint his eyes.

  "Bechmann."

  "Payne." She replies back to him.

  He glances at Aria and I feel her hand give me a nudge shaking me out of my haze.

  "Oh, uh hi, Mr. Payne. This is my friend Aria. Aria, this is my boss, Mr. Payne."

  He reaches out his hand to shake and I hear Aria giggle. Yes, giggle. He has reduced her to a twelve year old in just seconds. After a couple of tries he manages to tug out of Aria's grasp and wraps his arm around his brunette bimbo.

  "Ladies this is Tiffany. She is ..."

  Before he can finish, Tiffany pipes up and thrusts her hand in my face.

  "I'm Henrik's girlfriend and you must be Morgana. I have heard some interesting stories about you."

  Well fuck me!

  Chapter 15 - THE Joint ...

  I'm blinking right now. Blinking like I have never blinked before. If there is an eye fluttering contest I will win it. I blink, trying desperately to understand how Mr. Payne can look me in the face, standing next to his girlfriend, knowing how he has fingered me up my vagina!

  *This love tunnel, this thatched cottage,

  This mountain majesty, this seat of Venus,

  This other Eden, demi-pubes,

  This valley built by Nature for her hand

  Against infection (eww) and the hand of man,

  This happy O, this little beaver,

  This precious peach set in the red sea,

  Which serves it on the office desk

  Or with a dildo at home,

  Against the envy of less happier cocks,--

  This Lawrence of a Labia, this Notorious V.A.G., this Velvet Glove, this Vagina.

  I stop blinking and smirk. Like the day I met him I plaster on the most fake smile I can muster, push my hand into Tiffany's bony one and give a punishing shake. Her grin slips into a painful grimace and she snaps her hand back, subtly trying to massage out the pain.

  This is where I go overboard. Only Aria knows of my "psycho" tendencies when I am in stress. Well, stress that deals with men. I'm like a car accident, you don't want to look but you really actually do.

  "Girlfriend! Well that is so great!" I squeal at the top of my lungs and then turn to my friends nodding furiously. "Isn't that great you guys and isn't she beautiful?"

  I push out of the seat and throw my arms around Tiffany like she is the best friend I am reuniting with after a prolonged absence. As if I'm not acting bizarre enough I start to jump up and down and snort while still attached to her.

  "Oh, Tiffany, I mean it you are simply divine." I feel a hand tugging at my arm and look back to see Aria glaring at me shaking her head while mouthing the word "no" to me. Stumbling back I hit the table and watch as the milkshake finally tips, rolls in my direction and splatters all over my jeans.

  It's cold. Feels like icy shards of glass scraping down my leg but I'm still smiling like a loon.

  "Are you all right, Ms. Drake?" Mr. Payne asks with the same expression he had on his face when I almost passed out during the interview.

  Oh mighty gods of THE, keeper of all things THE, please don't let me punch him. Please.

  "I'm fine." I growl at him between clenched teeth.

  That answer should tell him to back away slowly because I'm feeling stabby. If a woman answers that she is okay, then she is okay. If a woman answers she is mad, she is pissed. If a woman answers she is "fine," it's too late for you, just hope it's over quickly.

  I feel the hand yank me away from the table and I stumble along. Aria pulls me into a bathroom that makes airplane lavatories look spacious. I manage to squeeze past her to sit on the toilet so I have some room.

  "Morgana, do you know why a dick gets hard?"

  I roll my eyes and give in, "No why does a dick get hard, Aria?"

  "To stay in shape."

  I start blinking again at her. She shrugs and leans back on the wood grained wall.

  "It's a scientific fact that a penis needs to periodically be engorged to maintain a healthy tone."

  I'm still blinking but finally just shut my eyes and sigh. Then I groan and drop my head between my legs.

  "How was that a joke or relevant in any way, Aria?"

  "I just thought it was interesting. Plus it helped take your mind off of Mr. Payne for a moment."

  She's right. The woman may make terrible jokes, but she is the best person I know who can divert my attention from the horribleness of my life. Right now only heroin might be a better distraction.

  Aria is on her knees wiping the chocolate from my leg with a wet paper towel. For the first time in the past ten minutes my lips curve into a genuine smile. As shitty as Mr. Payne has been I still have the people who really love and care about me.

  "Thank you, Aria, for being my friend." I brush my hand through her platinum hair.

  She looks up at me and smirks while shrugging her shoulders.

  "If I didn't become your friend who would?"

  "And there it is. I was happy for that one second and then impaled in the heart once more." I wink at her. Her eyes go wide and there is an odd expression on her face.

  "Uh, Morgana, you know we are only friends. Just because your grandma wants us to hook up doesn't mean we should. And even if we did, a diner bathroom is not what I would have in mind."

  I remove my hand from her hair and give a playful smack on the shoulder. There is a knock at the door.

  "Ms. Drake, I need to speak with you." Mr. Payne's voice bellows through the door.

  Aria gets up and nods. She loosens the top three buttons on my sweater and pushes it open to reveal enough cleavage for a man to fall into. I shove her hands away.

  "You have to show him what he's missing, Morgana." She winks back at me tossing the wet towel in the trash and opens the bathroom door before I have ti
me to protest. Aria strolls to Henrik and points her thumb at me.

  "She's all yours. Oh, and my father is a lawyer. So, fuck with her and I will lawyer the crap out of all of this." She waves her hand around his body and then turns to go.

  Mr. Payne shakes his head and walks into the bathroom, shutting it behind him. This is a really popular bathroom I'm guessing.

  "Shouldn't you be with your girlfriend? She might get jealous." I glare at him while narrowing my eyes.

  He leans back on the wall roughly combing his fingers through his hair and sighing.

  "Look, Ms. Drake, not that my personal life is any of your business."

  I stand, cutting him off and plant my hands on my hips.

  "Really? Really? Really? Uh ... really? Because last I checked you shoved your hand in my crotch not once but twice in the last month, so I'm thinking you having a girlfriend is my business."

  His head tilts back hitting the wall.

  "Morgana, it's just a bit more complicated than that. She isn't my girlfriend in that way. She's much more to me."

  Wait a minute! So she's more than a girlfriend?

  "Oh that makes it so much better! You are a real piece of work, you know that? Must be nice living all rich, having one girl at home and another at work. No one to say no to you and all your desires. Now you even have one running your errands. Must be awesome your life. Awesome!"

  I try to squeeze past him to get to the door but he grabs me, pinning me in place. His erection is digging into me making it a little painful to move. Jesus, he's turned on? When doesn't this man have a boner? No wonder he has to have two women in his life.

  His head dips to my neck as he nuzzles his teeth there with little bites rendering me helpless. Anything involving my neck makes me catatonic. I think there is a magic button that men seem to find.

  His hands land on my hips and curl into my jeans. It almost hurts, his fingers are pressing so hard causing a moan to escape my lips.

  "Morgana, it's just not what you think it is. I have never even kissed Tiffany."

  His hand reaches around and I feel it start to migrate under my jeans toward my ass. That's when I realize that this is like every other time with him. I couldn't tell you how I managed to discover this as he has me in a trance, but the thought pops into my head nonetheless.