Falling for the Seal

by Mia Ford

  And now we’d had sex. I should have been feeling great that my wildest fantasy had finally come true, but I didn’t. Instead, I was lying in my bed and cursing myself for having been so weak. The anger I’d felt towards Grant was quickly diminishing. I wanted to be in his arms, I wanted more than just sex with him.

  I wasn’t entirely naive; I knew very well that Grant wasn’t that kinda guy. He never had been in college and if I was to believe his reputation in Silicon Valley, he was a serial dater instead of a committed monogamist.

  And yet, I couldn’t help but harbor hopeful feelings. I’d seen the hurt look he threw at me when I dismissed him after sex. He looked like he had something more to say, that he would have liked to sit down and talk with me after. But I’d ruined the moment, as a defense mechanism. I’d tried to act casual and disinterested just so that he wouldn’t have the opportunity to turn me down.

  Now I wondered what would have happened if we had actually sat down to talk. I had to admit that he was still being kind to me. What if he was being truthful when he said that he offered to buy my company only to keep my product afloat?

  I sat up in bed when that thought entered my head. I was beginning to wonder if it wouldn’t be that bad if we worked together. What would I have to lose now? Now, that we had already broken the barrier of sex. How much worse could it get after this?

  In fact, if I worked at Lonex I might actually be able to keep doing my work. And if I was to trust Grant, he would give me complete freedom and independence like before. So, it could technically be business as usual. A smile formed on my face and I bit down on my lip. Just the prospect of talking to him again, accepting his offer was exciting me.

  I didn’t want to think about the consequences of how it might affect my heart…if I was going to see him more often. Instead, I was thrilled at the idea of not completely losing my company and of working with him in close quarters.

  I fell back on to the bed and my mind was swirling with day dreams and ideas. What if he did actually like me? What if the sex had meant something to him? Was that why he looked upset when we parted so abruptly?

  I wanted to speak to him right there and then. I looked at the clock and it was nearly ten. I wasn’t going to call him now. I didn’t want to give him the impression that I was looking for another booty call. Instead, I forced myself to fall asleep so I could wake up the next morning fresh. I’d make the call next day, I thought. I’d call him and tell him I liked his idea, and invite him to lunch. We had a lot of things to talk about and I didn’t want to waste any more time.

  Chapter 18

  Grant

  I drove myself to Wade Co the next morning, with the top down again so my hair was ruffled by the end of it. I had my jaw clenched and my knuckles turned white from the grip with which I was grasping the steering wheel. I was on a mission, and I didn’t want to budge from it.

  I parked the car, and keeping my cool I strolled into the office. The woman from the previous day was sitting behind a desk, filing her nails.

  “Mr Jennings!” she said with a start and stood up from her chair.

  “Hi, I’m sorry we haven’t met yet,” I put on my best smile and walked up to her with my hand stretched towards her.

  “I’m Susan, I’m the receptionist,” she said and I noticed the slight blushing of her cheeks. Good, I thought, I was having the right effect on her.

  “Hello, Susan. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance,” I said with the smile still on my face. We shook hands gently, till I pulled away from her and folded the sunglasses in my hand.

  “If you’re here for Ms Wade, she’s not in yet,” Susan said and I was pleased to hear it. I was hoping that I wouldn’t have to deal with Beverley first thing.

  “And are the others here?” I asked her and Susan crossed her brows.

  “You mean John and Sasha? Yeah, they usually come in by eight,” she said and I nodded.

  “Good. They work hard,” I said, just as a guy who I hadn’t met before, emerged from one of the rooms.

  “You must be John,” I said to him and extended my hand to him.

  “Yes, I am. And you are Grant Jennings,” he said with the usual starstruck expression I saw on so many faces. Sasha was quick to come into the reception room as well, and I shook his hand too.

  “Bev isn’t here,” Sasha said and I nodded.

  “I’m aware, Susan told me already,” I said.

  “She usually comes in by nine, but she hasn’t been in the best mood lately,” Susan cut in and I nodded and smiled at her again.

  “I’m not here for her actually. I was hoping to catch all of you together,” I told them and Susan sat back down slowly on her chair.

  “How can we help you Mr Jennings?” John said.

  “Please, call me Grant,” I said to him, and without invitation, I took the chair across from Susan’s desk and sat down.

  “I wanted to get to know you all and give you a brief introduction on how Lonex works,” I said to them and I watched as Sasha and John’s eyes widened.

  “So, you mean you’re keeping us on?” Sasha asked and I smiled.

  “Of course I am. You are the people who know the product best. It would be a shame to lose any of you,” I told him and they exchanged looks.

  “And what about…Bev? Beverley,” Sasha added and I took in a sharp breath.

  “It appears as though Beverley has other plans,” I said and a nervous look took over all their faces. I could see where their loyalties lay. “But I don’t want you to worry. You will all be well taken care of and I want you to slowly naturalize to Lonex’s surroundings,” I informed them and made myself comfortable on the chair.

  When nobody had said a word for some time, I decided to break the silence.

  “First of all, I would like all of you to start working out of the Lonex office building. I will have space made for you with your own private offices so that you can continue your work seamlessly,” I said and that seemed to please Sasha and John a little.

  “What about me? I’m just a receptionist here…but what role will I have at Lonex? Will I have a role at Lonex at all?” Susan was speaking too quick and I could see that she was beginning to panic.

  “Yes, of course you will have a role with us. I want you to work with the HR team and they will find a position for you there. I’m certain you’ve amassed enough experience here to be useful to us at Lonex,” I told her and the firmness and kindness of my voice seemed to put her at ease. She had started to relax a little.

  “Has Bev told you anything about her plans? We know nothing. She’s rarely at the office any more and if she is, she refuses to talk to us or disclose anything,” Sasha said and I clenched my jaw.

  “I know just about as much as you do. We aren’t exactly friends,” I said, trying to sound casual but the others were exchanging looks again. I could see that they didn’t exactly buy my explanation. And also, the mention of Beverley’s name made me uncomfortable again. As much as I was trying to act normal, I was aware that these were her surroundings. That I was intruding on her space. I didn’t know what I would have done or even if I would have had this conversation if she was in the office. I would have probably just turned around and walked out of the building if she was in.

  “We’re just a little concerned for her. This company is like her baby,” Susan added and I turned to her and nodded my head.

  “I know, and I understand, but she has made her decision to not accept a position at Lonex. So there is nothing more I can do about it,” I said and Susan licked her lips nervously. I cold see that they were all concerned, it wasn’t just Susan. Besides Beverley’s achievements at creating brilliant technology, she had also been able to connect on a personal level with her employees. They trusted and believed in her and I felt a pang of regret for buying her company. But what else could I do? She had to sell it to somebody, better me than someone else who didn’t have her best interests at heart.

  Chapter 19

  Beverl
ey

  I had a skip in my step when I walked to the office that day, I’d even spent some extra time getting dressed. I’d picked out my most fashionable chiffon blouse and a pair of grey pants with matching grey stilettos. My plan was to drop into the office and then call Grant and ask him out to lunch. I hadn’t exactly prepared the speech I would give him over our meal, but I was prepared to lay some of my cards on the table. I was willing to work with him and I was willing to start over. He didn’t need to know about the deep set feelings I had for him, but maybe we could start by being friends. Firstly, an apology was in order. He was trying to do a good thing and I had consistently been shooting him down.

  Not to mention that I was desperate to see him again.

  I walked up the stairs and pushed the office door open, not bothering to conceal the wide smile I had on my face. But my jaw fell open when the door swung into place and I stepped in.

  Grant was sitting at Susan’s table, using her laptop to show something to the others. Susan, John and Sasha were crowded around him, looking at the screen over his shoulders. I had intruded on a happy comfortable scene. They were in discussion over something, and nobody seemed out of place.

  When I walked in, they all looked up at me and their expressions changed because they would have noticed the look of betrayal on my face. Everyone except Grant, because his smile only grew. He looked ridiculously handsome, in a close fitting sky-blue shirt with his sleeves rolled up. His beard was thick but neatly trimmed and his blue eyes were sparkling.

  “Oh, good, Beverley, you’re here,” he said, and I noticed the twinkle in his eyes.

  “What are you doing?” I demanded, slamming the door shut behind me.

  “Just showing them Lonex’s software. I figured that I might as well start now,” he said and folded his arms on his chest. Susan had scrambled away, and John and Sasha stood idly by with guilty expressions on their faces.

  “You’re showing them your software? I still own this company, they still work for me,” I spat the words out. I could feel the back of my neck burning up and my nostrils flaring. I couldn’t believe the freedom Grant had taken without my permission.

  He seemed unaffected by the tone of my voice and instead, stood up casually from his chair.

  “You signed the papers, Beverley. There’s no turning back now,” he said in the coldest voice I had ever heard him use. I was mad enough to throw something at him, and instead I only glared at him with my palms fisted.

  “They still work here. And you had no right to come in here and distract them from their jobs,” I snarled and Grant arched an eyebrow.

  “I was doing them the courtesy of a personal visit, acquainting them with my company,” he said and I licked my lips in anger.

  “Don’t you have someone else in your company who can do that for you? You’re here only to rub my nose in it,” I said and Grant walked around Susan’s desk and stepped towards me. I took a few steps back, aware that there were three other pairs of eyes on us. On me. They had never seen me in a fit like this before.

  “Okay, Beverley, you just need to calm down. The reality is that you’ve signed the company over to me, and I just came here to have a friendly chat with my future employees,” he said and it looked like he was having fun. I felt so foolish for letting my defenses down, for even entertaining the idea that he might have genuinely wanted the best for my company. When the reality was that it was still a competition for him. The sex was another one of his victory points.

  “You don’t need to tell me what to do, and you need to leave my office now. I’m still the proprietor of this office space and I’m asking you to go,” I said, trying to sound calmer. I didn’t want to give everyone the impression that I was losing my mind.

  “I think we should give you guys some privacy,” Sasha spoke up, while Grant and I continued to stare at each other.

  “We don’t need any privacy, Sasha. Mr Jennings is just leaving,” I said and crossed my arms over my chest.

  Sasha, John and Susan filed out nonetheless. They didn’t just go into one of the other rooms; they left the office. Grant was still looking at me, while I stood with my back straight and my chin jutting out. I was ashamed at myself for waking up this morning and trusting him and I was angry with him at the same time. I wasn’t exactly sure what he had done wrong, but I knew he had pissed me off.

  When the office door closed, Grant let out a sigh.

  “You have to leave,” I said, gritting my teeth and he shook his head.

  “I don’t have to do anything. I did nothing wrong. You’ve signed over your company, your product and your employees to me, Beverley,” he said and I rolled my eyes.

  “And you’re enjoying it aren’t you?” I snapped and Grant got closer to me, quickly, and I took in a sharp breath. Having him close to me again was a mistake. My body reacted very differently to him than my mind did.

  “I have not enjoyed a single moment of it, except when we’re both naked,” he said and a smile was forming on his face.

  Chapter 20

  Grant

  I was standing very close to her, close enough to make the loose strands of golden hair on her face blow with my breath. She looked like she couldn’t believe what I had just said to her.

  “I don’t know what you’re trying to say to me,” she said, looking offended. I smiled at her, and her eyes only grew wider.

  “You know exactly what I’m talking about,” I said and she rolled her eyes.

  “Okay, the sex is good. What has that got to do with anything else?” she snapped and I took in a deep breath. I wanted to kiss her again. I couldn’t bear to see her so mad at me again.

  “That has everything to do with this,” I said.

  “Why you’re buying my company?” she asked, looking confused and I nearly laughed. Was it so unbelievable to her that I might want to be with her?

  “Yeah, why I’m buying your company and why I’m here,” I told her and she licked her lips.

  “You’re buying my company because you wanted to have sex with me? Wow. You’ve got a lot of money to spare, Grant,” she said and this time I really did laugh.

  “No, that’s only partially true. I do believe you have a brilliant product and I also didn’t want some other company to buy you out, who wouldn’t keep your work alive,” I explained and Beverley fell silent. She had her nose crinkled and her eyes narrowed. She was thinking about what I’d said and it appeared that she was still in disbelief.

  “You’ve said all this before, and yet you turned up here today trying to prove your authority over my employees,” she said and I noticed that her voice had become a little quiet. I took in a deep breath and nodded my head.

  “You’re right. I was being malicious. Coming her and inducting your employees was overstepping on my part. I suppose I wanted to assert some of my authority,” I told her and Beverly clenched her jaw.

  “Why?” she asked and I shook my head. I didn’t know how to explain it to her, without also confessing everything.

  “Because I was trying to pin you down. I want you to come and work with me, and you somehow keep slipping away,” I said in a calm voice. Her eyes still looked too large for her face, she couldn’t quite put two and two together yet.

  “Pin me down? Why? I don’t understand what you have to gain from all this,” she said and I shrugged my shoulders.

  “I told you I care for your company and your work. I would benefit from your expertise at my company,” I said and she glared at me with her squinted eyes.

  “That’s it? You want my expertise so you come here trying to strong-arm me into submission?” she said and I remained silent. I wanted her to do the math but it was looking like I would have to spell it out for her after all. She still had no idea how I felt about her.

  “Yeah, that and also because I wanted to keep seeing you. I suppose after our little rendezvous at the bar, I figured there would be no other way to get your attention other than to piss you off,” I said and Beverl
ey gulped.

  The expression on her face was changing now, her shoulders were relaxing.

  “You wanted to keep seeing me?” she said, repeating my words and I cleared my throat nervously. I couldn’t remember the last time I had said those words to a girl before. I wasn’t sure what the consequences of that would be, especially with Beverley Wade.

  “So, it is just about the sex,” she said and I clenched my jaw.

  “It’s more than just about the sex,” I blurted out and her eyes widened again.

  We were looking at each other silently. Maybe it was starting to make sense to her now, or maybe it wasn’t; but I didn’t want to take a chance.

  “Since college I’ve wanted us to be friends, to get to know each other,” I told her and she took in a deep breath.

  “We were competitors in college,” she said and I shook my head.

  “You competed with me. I didn’t want that,” I told her and Beverley stepped towards me. Our faces were now only inches away, and if I wanted; I could have just leaned in and kissed her.

  “So, what did you want? Your friends made fun of me, you kept your distance…how did you even dream of being my friend?” she asked and I shrugged my shoulders.

  “The heart wants what the heart wants,” I said and there was deathly silence again. She was weighing out those words. I had got the heart involved in our midst now and I knew that was a heavy word. Beverley gulped as she stared up at me. Her face was ruddy, her cheeks were flushed and I was so close to simply pulling her into my arms and pressing our bodies together.

  “I…I didn’t want to compete with you, Grant,” she said and those words came as a relief to me. I never doubted that she thrived on that competition. I had been so convinced that she despised me that I hadn’t thought about whether she was hiding her true feelings from me as well.