Two of Hearts

by Alexa Jackson

  While Liam took care of the medical part, I busied myself with the bureaucratic and family. He had already told his parents, who are on their way to New York, and scheduled a conference with the press for the next morning.

  - Adam?

  I turn toward the soft, sweet voice of Penelope. On his face, there is an expression of sadness, and fixing his eyes on mine, I could feel our perfect re-establish connection.

  Peter is right. No matter how stupid I can be, how many people try to separate us, she loves me as much as I her. That would never change. And I will do everything to get it back.

  If it takes more patience, I will. If you need to win her back, I will make it my only goal in life.

  - How is Mr. Durant?

  - Coming out of surgery. Why do bad things happen to good people?

  Like what hit us, I would like to complete.

  - To understand what we have precious or perhaps to make us stronger. Who knows.

  Smile, even if fleeting, is the most beautiful smile in the world. My world. I walk up to her, as if a magnet impulsionasse me to her side.

  - The surgery is over.

  Liam comes up, breaking our time.

  - He'll be fine.

  The feeling I have is not just relief because my friend won another obstacle, is also a kind of hope that, somehow, everything will be fine. It has to be.

  And I know where to start.

  Chapter 13

  Penelope

  - Since Mr. Durant is out of danger, I'm going. I see that tomorrow we will have a busy day in the company.

  - I'll take you home - Adam promptly put to me.

  For anyone else, it would be kind and polite offer. For me, it meant more than an hour with Adam seducing me and I fighting this feeling. A duel between my desire to throw myself into his arms and the injured part in my chest, which alerts me of how this relationship can be destructive.

  - It is not necessary. I'll take a cab.

  - I'm going in the same direction. It makes no sense you take a taxi.

  I say goodbye to Liam and allowed him to lead me to the elevator.

  Just because I'm, I know, pathetic? Or because the environment demands respect. In addition to that, the last thing you want is to make a scandal. That's what I try to ensure to my accusing conscience.

  The elevator is relatively full, it helps me to keep away. Though his eyes fixed on me have the same powers as his hands would have on my body. It is one of those loaded glances of passion and promise. The kind of look that affects all his motor functions.

  Suddenly, the small elevator looks like a boiler. I open my coat buttons to refresh me. When his eyes fall on the dress, I see that was not a good idea. Under the blue coat, there is a black dress fininhas straps, with lace at the neckline and at the bar. I remember the first time I used. Adam almost had attacked me when I left the room and made love against the wall in the middle of the corridor, minutes before leaving for work.

  Back to close the jacket, and luckily the elevator to the ground floor. I get out in a hurry, but I feel it behind me all the time. As the cat the mouse hunt.

  - Waiting!

  Holding my elbows, he to me. I feel his chest on my back. His cock touching my ass, denouncing his excitement. He even closer, I'm soft like someone just waking up. In a semiconscious state. The heat felt in the elevator multiplies and spreads every particle of my body, intensifying further.

  I said I'll take you home ...

  The voice gets hoarse, whispered in my ear, and his hands pressing my waist, holding me tight against him. I want to turn around, run my hands around his neck. We got rid us of our clothes, Adam would lift me on his lap and I would pass her legs around his waist. We kissed passionately and ...

  - No!

  With a little determination, or nothing of it, I turn away. God, what goes through my head? I'm having erotic fantasies about him in the street without worrying that we are drawing attention.

  - I ... I go by taxi.

  - Penelope ...

  Adam looks at me with that look of someone who does not like to be contradicted, and it just gives me courage.

  -Stop Decide things for me! Stop find what is right or wrong, as if what I want or think does not matter. I'm entitled to my choices, and one of them, then, is to leave alone and taxi.

  Usually, when I was angry with him, I withdrew myself. I have always been compassionate, calm and sensible. Now I feel compelled to react otherwise. Being the good girl that everyone expected never helped me at all, only brought sorrows and disappointments.

  Wave to the first taxi that appears. Despite having assured him that wanted far, there is this overwhelming force in me that makes me look back. This portion shamelessly to admit that there is in me, desperate to have him with me.

  He's gone. I enter the taxi, saying to myself that I had been better.

  ****

  I lost the damn time, because I had spent almost the entire night awake, tossing and turning. And the four hours I could not sleep had been populated by dreams with Adam, which made me wake up sweating from head to toe.

  After kicking the covers and run to the bathroom to the fastest shower of my life, I have chosen the first clothes from my wardrobe. A dark gray and a white blouse skirt, which despite the deep neckline, ruffles around gave some discretion, only hinting part of my breasts. Dressed, opt for light makeup and easier to apply. I place the extremely high shoes, something tells me that today need all the self-esteem that I get.

  I run into the kitchen, I picked apple and yogurt, and out rushed.

  The first thing I notice when I get to the DET building, are reporters.

  Step by them and follow to the office. Cross with some officials, who see me with a quizzical expression. The accident Mr. Durant is already the subject of major newspapers, and certainly everyone is apprehensive about the company and its future.

  I put a neutral expression on my face and keep walking. Until I talk to the director of public relations, I will not give any information to anyone. Neil was always very reserved about his life, and I know you want to continue.

  I arrive at my table two minutes late. Usually I arrive an hour early to organize my day. Well, when I was with Adam, this routine was more difficult to follow. leave home without sex was a possibility almost nonexistent.

  Damn it. I have to stop getting comparing it with every moment of my day.

  - You're late, Miss Walker.

  At the sound of that voice, I feel my whole body tensing. I close my eyes and take a deep breath. This is not happening. It's just my imagination due to the tension of the last twenty-four hours.

  - When you are ready, please, I need to update me on the routine.

  It takes me about ten seconds to straighten my chair and open your eyes. I stare at the closed door and wonder if this is really happening.

  I touch on the door handle, and a small tremor begins to dominate me.

  - I did not think would ever.

  In my boss's chair, grinning, and with a suggestive look at me, is the man who in the last hours made my life miserable.

  - What are you doing here, Adam?

  - Here is Mr. Crighton ...

  It extends even more the lazy half-smile, half mocking, and quite beautiful.

  - Let's work together. Is not happy?

  It's the apocalypse!

  That's what my mother always said when something terrible happened. It's the closest I can set on this tragedy in my life is about to turn.

  Adam and me together every day?

  Definitely yes. And how would my mother, is my own apocalypse in human form.

  ****

  Want to meet someone to marry him. Want to meet a man, make your boss.

  He is annoying! Unbearable! And hateful!

  At the very least, you should have an indescribable pleasure to let me angry, not only angry or bravinha but furious.

  - MS. Walker, come to my room, please.

  My room? Hmph.

 
; Room Neil! I mean, like a sulky child who claims a toy. But he is forgetful and no return forecast. Thinking about it makes me want to sit down and cry.

  - Sir.

  Gritting my teeth, I put my hands on my waist. The red linen dress I'm wearing prevents me strike the skin with my nails. I have used this feature to prevent spiking my nails in his eyes.

  He can be a thousand times worse than Neil. Every half hour, I call in his office to take any questions about something. I even felt sorry for Grace, and I hate that woman.

  - You always work well, Penelope?

  MS. WalkerI'm tempted to say. Why do I have to act with both formalism when he flees the protocol all the time? Starting with this look debauched over my body.

  - As well, Mr. Crighton?

  There is nothing wrong with my clothes. I had taken all the care this morning, choosing something that does not reveal anything. The dress is sleeveless to the wrist with a turtleneck and length goes to the knees. Sure, it is very fair, almost a second skin, but there is nothing that disqualifies me to use it.

  - Red is not the passion of color?

  If it's the passion I do not know, but it certainly is shame because it was exactly that tone that was my face.

  - Want to say something to me, and fashion or colors of love? I have a stack of reports that Mr. demanded that I redo, and would have ended if not called me every half hour.

  He smiles and cynically puts his hands behind his head and back to slide your eyes over my body.

  - 15 minutes. 15 minutes ago I called her last.

  Damn you! As I had fallen in love with this man unbearable? No, the worst, as I had not realized that unbearable detail of your personality?

  - Come here, there's something in this spreadsheet I can not understand.

  Why do I see fun in his eyes, the way to his desk feeling defeated. For all that we live, I believe that Adam should have more consideration with me. Not that I want an easy life, I worked very hard to get the trust of Neil, still always try to beat me, I have big career ideas. Maybe someday, after I specialize, I can open a financial consulting firm. So do soft body and get privileges for the related terms actually it is not what I want, but Adam is committed to making these days a real torture.

  - The colors in the chart do not match the investment table.

  His hand slips around my waist and landed on top of my ass. I press my legs, I tried to stop the tingling that starts inside me. What was a bad idea, only intensified the feeling of pleasure, making me wish he threw me on the table and fuck me.

  Focus on workI command my traitor brain. Women really prefer cads because the more cretin he is with me, the more attracted I seem to be with him, even though most of the time I have wanted to kill him.

  - I think I changed the graph colors.

  Adam makes circular movements in a dizzying caress.

  I had never made a mistake as grotesque as this. My only excuse is that my mind was far away when I did. No doubt he had been thinking about him.

  - I'm sorry ... I'll ... I'll redo. I will not go for lunch today.

  Collect all the leaves in a hurry and move away from him.

  If my body spoke, surely I would be screaming at me for depriving him touch of Adam's hands.

  - That will not be possible. We have a lunch with the representative of the W & S at two.

  - I thought Wright would take care of it. Mr. Durant has already approved the project, and you delivered the contract two weeks ago.

  I hear him clear his throat and tilting the head toward the folder on the table.

  - I found little details that are bothering me. Be ready in half an hour.

  That was the dismissal signal. Way to the door, annoyed. There is no reason for me to follow this meeting. He knows the project better than me.

  - I do not remember having anything scheduled.

  - I asked Veronica to take care of it, Miss walks very busy.

  - Douchebag!

  I swear I thought I had only thought, but the sound of his laughter ringing before closing the door, confirms me that I really said that.

  ****

  We're in the dessert, and none of the W & S had appeared.

  - This line shows that the B sector is what has most unhappy customers with the latest software.

  As I speak, his fingers up and down on my leg. I adjust in my chair and cross your legs away from your hand.

  I stare at him furiously. The nearly two hours we were in the restaurant had been. I doing my best to keep me away and Adam looking every reason to touch me.

  - Looks like we'll have to reschedule that lunch, if it's that important.

  I can swear that it was not just an excuse to have lunch together. The more I try to stay away from him, the more he seeks reasons to attract me.

  - What a pleasant surprise.

  Adam avert my eyes and find a smiling Evan, looking at us.

  - Evan!

  Levanto to greet him and receive your warm embrace.

  - How long I do not see.

  - A man knows when to retire is not Crighton?

  - This would be a good time for you to go, Parker.

  You know when you get the feeling that everyone talks about something you know nothing about? Like when you meet for the first time the childhood friends of her boyfriend.

  Evan runs his hand on his chin, and I have the impression that they communicate with the look.

  - Okay, I do not want to interrupt the romantic interlude.

  Romantic? He believes that Adam and I are a couple?

  -. No. This is just a business lunch. Mr. Crighton's just my boss.

  Evan looks confused. His eyes wander between Adam and me.

  - You're smart, but slow.

  Adam sees the ugly and scratches his brow as he always does when it gets too nervous.

  - Adam is replacing Mr. Durant.

  - Of course. I visited yesterday.

  There is a climate where no one knows what to say. I want to kill Adam, he wants to kill Evan, for a reason I do not know which, and Evan, I have no idea what you're thinking.

  - We could leave any day - I tell him.

  I like Evan, he is a good company, and since I have no friends in the city, it would be fun to spend a few hours with him. And if you want to forget Adam, I need to expand my circle of friends and start having a social life.

  - I'll call you. Unfortunately, I have a business appointment.

  I nod and prefer to ignore Adam, who stands next to me, encircling my waist possessively.

  - Remember what I said, Crighton?

  Evan smiled at him. Again, they have a communication of their own.

  - You did not fulfill his part.

  - Do not you dare, Parker.

  I can feel the electricity passing from one to the other.

  Evan smiled. Adam seems to want to move on it.

  - Goodbye, Penelope.

  - See you soon.

  Once Evan leaves, Adam motioning to the waiter.

  - Let's go. You have much work to do.

  He walks in front of me. I may be wrong, that is a great pretense of mine, but it was as if I had witnessed a duel where the prize would be me.

  No. I shake my head and turn away those thoughts before entering the car.

  ****

  It is difficult to maintain a social life when his professional life requires of you. All lunches and dinners marked with Evan needed to be cleared. The reason?

  Or I could not go out to lunch that day, and we could not have dinner that day. Or was tired enough to not leave the house.

  In the first weekend, Peter showed up at my house, needing to change the camera and in the second, Liam had a crisis with the bride.

  - You ready?

  Jump in the chair to feel Adam behind me.

  - Yes, I am.

  We are on the way to Neil's house. He needs to sign some documents and begin to interact with the work.

  Incredibly, in the days following our meeting with E
van, his attitude had changed me. Adam ceased to be an asshole. This automatically made me act more naturally. silly mistakes such as changing colors on a chart had never happened. We had created some kind of collegiality, but he placed a certain distance. Even stopped coming to the office so often, claiming that I could take care of everything alone, and that there were important cases in your company.

  That shook me. Who want to cheat? I wish him being an asshole, seductive or boor. I want you by my side, even if it is at work, and whenever it does not come, I miss you.

  - We can go.

  When he touches my back, guiding me to the elevator, I would have her hands in mine as we always did, whenever we walked.

  I bite my lip and I prevent my tears from falling.

  - Are you alright?

  He touches my hand as soon as the door closes. To the ground, are no more than two minutes if there is no significant stops the elevator. Were the two minutes after special weeks.

  So we left, we turn to distance ourselves.

  ****

  It is the first time I visit Neil's house. It is very beautiful and elegant. The housekeeper leads us to the room. We passed the stairs leading to the upstairs and the black, round elevator. I believe that has been installed to Anne, but must have helped Neil in early recovery.

  A few minutes later, a young redhead appears. It is quite different from what I imagined, and the opposite of women that Mr. Durant used to meet. Her clothes are simple and discreet, but his jeans and T-shirt will give you a youthful freshness that makes it even more beautiful than it already is.

  - Hello, Adam.

  She greets him, but his blue eyes are fixed on me.

  - How are you doing? It is still too early for that, but there was some urgent documents in the office that need to be signed. Penelope brought to help.

  - How are you, Penelope?

  I liked her refer to me by my first name. I can not explain very well, but there is something about her that makes me empathize. Jenny is one of those people that you have wanted to know a little more to the first contact.