by Sorell Oates
”No, but thanks for being so helpful.”
”I'm sorry I couldn't be of more assistance.”
”It's fine. Thanks again.”
Maddy hung up the phone.
”From that description of him, I know why you're keen to stalk him. He sounds hot. No wonder you were keeping him all to yourself,” said Helen, breaking the silence between the two.
”For the umpteenth time I am not a stalker,” grumbled Maddy.
”That all sounded awfully posh.”
Helen was attempting to make amends with Maddy, afraid her teasing hadn't been well received.
”It was. He's got the same surname as one of the partner's of the firm.”
”Ahhh, a rich Daddy's boy.”
”Maybe. Who knows? He definitely doesn't act like that.”
”What's the story?”
”He's been in Beijing.”
”I knew there'd be a simple explanation,” said Helen knowingly.
”Not really. I don't know if he went to Beijing on Friday or Monday. Plus he flew back last night. He hasn't made any effort to contact me and he knows where I live and work. Nothing's changed.”
”Oh come on Maddy, you're acting as if you want it to fail,” said Helen, exasperated. ”He's probably jet lagged or something. You've waited this long. See what happens tomorrow.”
”I'm tired,” said Maddy. ”I'm tired of believing in men who let me down. I'm sick of the whole love thing. Walking out on Rick was the best move I ever made. Working here, holding down this job, achieving something was the most sensible idea I ever had.”
”And this past fortnight is the most fun you've ever had and the most alive you've been in two years,” said Helen boldly.
Maddy looked crushed.
”Right, so I'm boring and I've been a drag for the past two years.”
”I didn't say that,” protested Helen.
”It's what you meant.”
”No it's not. James may not be the right guy, but by taking a chance at least you gave yourself the opportunity to love again. You deserve the best but by closing yourself off from every potential guy, you close yourself off from happiness. Do you really want two cats and a career to be the pinnacle of your existence Maddy?”
”I don't want to get hurt.”
”I don't want you to be hurt, but you of all people know, sometimes that's life. It's what happens to all of us. Was any of it fun?” asked Helen.
”Yes. Meeting him was fun. It was all coy glances and longing looks. When he spoke to me, introduced himself, I had butterflies in my stomach. Having someone take me out and show a genuine interest in me, getting to know him, connecting with another human was invigorating. As for the sex...the intimacy...I thought it was love.”
”If you never see him again, was it worth it?”
”I haven't slept well for almost a week. It sounds silly but I miss him. Things happen that I want to share with him. I could be myself with him, without fear. It hurts like hell. My heart feels as if it's cracked in two.”
”Was it worth it?” persisted Helen.
”Yes it was.”
The two friends didn't talk for the rest of the day.
Helen stood by Maddy's desk, ready to leave.
”Will you be okay tonight?”
Maddy nodded.
”Will you call me if you need me?”
Again she nodded.
Helen kissed her friend on the top of her head and walked out.
”Hey Helen,” called Maddy.
Helen swung around.
”Thank you for tolerating me. Thanks for being my best friend.”
Maddy caught the kiss Helen blew her, before she stepped out silently. A weight had been lifted from Maddy's shoulders. For no particular reason, other than the fact she wanted to, Maddy left work early to go home to her cats.
At 10pm the doorbell to Maddy's studio flat rang. She jumped up, surprised and a little frightened. Alert, she put her eye to the peep-hole to see James standing at her door in a dishevelled suit. Unlocking the chains and deadbolt, she opened the door.
James crashed through. Maddy was unimpressed with the smell of liquor on his breath.
”I thought you'd call,” he said, kissing her cheek before staggering to the sofa.
”I did, but it was difficult given you didn't give me your whole phone number.”
”I thought I had,” he mumbled sleepily.
”Do you want black coffee or water?”
”Have you got a drink?”
”I think you've had more than enough James.”
”Okay,” he said good-naturedly, “water would be swell.”
Maddy laughed at his turn of phrase. She wanted to be angry with him, hate him, but in his drunken stupor he looked defenceless; as if he needed looking after. Getting them each a glass of water, she perched next to him on the couch.
”You're beautiful, Maddy. I want to kiss you properly but I think I've messed up big time.”
She wanted to harden her heart, but the deep drawl and bedroom eyes softened her mood.
”James, what happened?”
”The call I got on Friday was from the big boss.”
”I thought you were the big boss, James Nowe of SGR Nowe International.”
”I'm not the big boss. I'm a pleb. A cog in the wheel of SGR Nowe International. I had to put myself through law school. I interned during summers there, but Dad started me at the bottom and I'm working my way up. Girls like you hear my surname and think I'm some rich boy who's had everything handed to him on a plate.”
Maddy felt guilty, given her earlier discussion with Helen.
”One of the partners called; not my father. I had to go to China because a merger we'd arranged was falling apart. Now if I played on the fact that my Dad's a founding partner of the company, I would've stayed here to spend the weekend with you, but I'm my own man. I pride myself on not only being a good lawyer, but a decent one. I like to take care of my clients. As much as I wanted to, I couldn't refuse on account of my personal life. I thought you'd understand. I kept waiting for your call, so I could let you know what was going on, but you never rang.”
”James, I didn't have your number. I swear.”
”But I wrote it down,” his voice sounded like a little boy lost.
Maddy passed him the carefully folded torn paper from his notebook, she'd carried around with her all week.
”I forgot two numbers,” he said sadly.
”I know,” said Maddy caringly.
”I spent all that time in Beijing thinking you didn't want to be with me. I behaved like a jerk over your ex. I thought you'd had enough of my moods and stuff. I wouldn't have blamed you. Work's been weird, especially with this whole thing about you.”
Maddy couldn't quite make the connection between herself and James' work but suspected having a girlfriend or attempting to start a relationship had seriously infringed on his required hours at work.
”I understand you had to go. I get it was a misunderstanding about the phone number.”
”I'm glad you understand about work. Work gets in the way of relationships sometimes, but we mustn't let it get in the way of ours.”
Maddy wanted to scold him for the assumption they still had a relationship, but she was far too thrilled he felt the same as she after such a short span of time, that she didn't contradict him.
”Work gets in the way of plans sometimes. I get that. Don't worry,” reassured Maddy.
”You forgive me then? You understand the clash between you and my clients? I had to do what was right for the client. Personal feelings can't be involved in business. You get that?”
To Maddy, James' words were becoming nonsensical and incoherent. He'd clearly had too much to drink. That he'd chosen to return to her, be with her was rewarding. Alcohol was often known as a truth drug, if there'd been no genuine feeling from his side, he wouldn't have landed on her doorstep.
”I get it. Let's get you into bed.”
Maddy felt anger surge through her.
”James, please don't tell me this is a booty call.”
”Booty call?” his heavy lids, were straining to open.
”Friends with benefits?”
”I don't understand,” he said.
”Did you come here so you could have sex with me?”
His blue eyes blinked open.
”No. I came here because I wanted to be with you. I wanted to see you. I've wanted to see you all week. I was scared to come because you'd be angry about China and the work thing. If I'd known things were okay between us, I would've come earlier to make up and spend time with you.”
She hated her cynicism. He was drunk, but he wasn't a liar. She knew that from the hurt look on his face and uninhibited description of his feelings.
”Things are okay with us, right?” he asked.
”Yeah of course, James. Come to sleep now.”
Placing him onto the bed, Maddy held James as he slept.
CHAPTER 11
James' head was pounding when he woke. He was fully clothed on Maddy's bed. She'd thrown a blanket over him, but had managed to get herself under the covers. Happily he watched her sleep. As his mind became blank he tried to piece together his conversation with her. Realising he had no recollection of exactly what was said, paranoia set in. The acquisition of Maddy's company had played heavily on his mind. Work in Beijing was fraught, but returning to the finalisation of the acquisition had been especially difficult for him to cope with. The conflicting emotions were strenuous and James wasn't happy at his response to them.
He stroked Maddy's cheek, until her eyelids fluttered opened.
”Hey gorgeous.”
”Can't believe you're here,” she said warmly.
”Can't believe you let me in here,” he replied bashfully.
”You had loads to drink last night.”
”I'd been drinking since lunch,” he confessed. ”I was supposed to be recovering from jet lag but duty calls.”
”I was on duty last night, trying to get you into bed.”
”Did I say anything stupid?” he asked, expecting the worst.
”No, only about feeling bad about the Beijing trip clashing with our weekend really. Do you remember anything I told you?” she asked cautiously.
”I was in such a rush on Friday I didn't write down the whole phone number.”
”That's right.”
Maddy wondered if he'd remember her mentioning his company's name and her accurate association between him and the partners of the firm.
”Did I miss anything out?” his early morning smile was sexier than she recalled.
”I may have done a little investigative work while you were away.”
”What do you mean?”
”I was trying to get your phone number to see what had happened, given your car wasn't in the station car park.
”You went to Sevenoaks to check the car park for my car?”
”Both car parks.”
”What, the massive one on Moreland Close?”
”Yes.”
”I park in the smaller one next to the station.”
”It's kind of irrelevant now.”
”What happened when you didn't find the car?”
”I thought I might be able to ascertain your phone number if I tried every combination of the last two numbers, but your handwriting is impossible to read. The only lead I had left was the logo on the piece of paper.”
”You rang work?”
”Eventually.”
”Why didn't you do that in the first instance?”
”Because there was only a portion of the logo on the paper. I had to do some serious research to match the logo to the company.”
”Are you sure accounting is your true calling?”
”Yes. This week was exhausting. Never again.”
”Pass me your phone,” demanded James.
Maddy handed it to him. He entered his number, saving it to her contacts. With Maddy watching, he dialled his number from her phone so she could hear his phone ringing.
”You've got it. Don't worry if you lose it, because I'm not going anywhere. Geoff would murder you if you wasted another week chasing after me and not your bad debtors.”
Her head whipped around at the mention of Geoff's name. James knew straight away he'd let the wrong words slip out.
”What's wrong?” he asked carefully.
”Nothing,” said Maddy, ”I just realised I talk about work way too much if you know my boss's name.”
James chuckled nervously.
”You want to join me for a shower?” he asked.
”Shouldn't I be asking you that?”
”It is your shower, but a guy likes to take charge once in a while.”
With that, James undressed in the bedroom in front of Maddy. Standing naked in front of her, he removed her Spongebob Squarepants vest from over her head. Her pendulous breasts fell out, nipples hardening in the cool air. He kissed her on the lips then dropped to his knees. His teeth tugged on her matching pyjama shorts, as his hands reached up to grope her breasts. Maddy whimpered as he squeezed her nipples. His hands returned to her shorts to peel them down. James kissed Maddy's flat stomach and moved southward. Having kissed her mound, he went lower and pushed his tongue between her lips, the tip hitting her clit. She immediately shifted her legs for his mouth to access her fully. James tongued her bud rhythmically, his teeth moved to lightly nibble on her lips. The graze of his teeth on such a sensitive area had her moaning. His tongue took a broad lick of her moist pussy and he stood up.
Turning her around, he bent her over the bed. Maddy steadied herself by resting her outstretched arms on the frame of the modern four-poster bed. James placed a condom on his cock, then glided straight into Maddy. She groaned at his thickness and length as he shafted her smoothly. His hands remained on her hips to ensure his full length was inside her. He buried himself deep in her, then rocked her on his hard-on. To vary the rhythm he inserted his full length into her, then withdrew himself entirely. Each time he slid himself into her, his helmet would burst through the tight entrance of her slit making them both moan, as they did again when he withdrew completely. The constant stretch of the continual re-entry had James close to the edge.
He took one of Maddy's hands from the bed frame, guiding it between her legs. His hand over hers, he made her touch herself. His covering hand directed the motion and movement of her hand tending her clit. Slippery, wet and supremely turned on, it wasn't long before Maddy was convulsing on James' cock. The contractions massaged his dick until he powered into her, coming hard.
James held her close, inhaling the sweet smell of her hair and skin. He kissed her back as his hands returned to her breasts.
”We are definitely going to have a shower now,” said Maddy, bringing them back to reality.
The soapy shower had Maddy grinning in the office all morning. Helen was flummoxed by the sudden turn of events in twelve hours, accurately guessing the real reason for Maddy's impossibly good mood.
The land-line on her desk rang.
”Maddison Bridie speaking.”
”Maddy hi, it's Geoff.”
”I knew we wouldn't see you back in yesterday.”
”Ha, ha! You can do your 'I told you so's' when I'm back in the office. I need you to do me a favour.”
”Go on.”
”There's a blue plastic folder on my desk, I think. Can you find it for me and call back to let me know you've found it. If it's not there I have a feeling I may have left it at lunch yesterday and I'm not sure the other partners on the firm will be as good-humoured about my long lunch yesterday as you.”
”You've got me twisted round your little finger Geoff. I'll call you as soon as I've got it in my hands.”
”Cheers, Maddy.”
Shaking her head, she entered Geo
ff's office. She evaluated the state of Geoff's desk. How he managed his filing was beyond her. It wasn't until after she'd shifted an array of reports and correspondence that she caught sight of the blue cover of the folder. She removed it from underneath the mass of papers hiding it. As she went to close it, a piece of paper jumped out at her. The logo was instantly recognisable to Maddy as she'd spent the majority of Thursday studying it. James' company was doing business with hers. Managing the company accounts, Maddy was familiar with the lawyers Yearwood, Angus and Port used and it wasn't the firm James worked for. She shut her eyes as everything fell into place.
