Don't Forget Me

by Sia Wales

  “My little angel,” he panted in her ear. He gently planted a kiss on her forehead, and then pulled slowly out of her. He took off the condom and threw it into the trashcan under his desk. He zipped his pants, and pulled her panties up to her mid-thigh. Then he lowered her off the cabinet and helped her adjust her clothes. He dampened a cloth and wiped it over her bites, covering them with her hair. He released his hold on her and took two steps back.

  “Donn?” whimpered Stella, but he did not answer. She could not see anything and could no longer feel his hands on her. She felt lost. She took a step forward, her hands outstretched, but still could not feel him. She felt panic grip her, but then remembering what Donn had said, instead of backing away, she took another step forward and found his waiting arms.

  “Good girl.” His lips bent into a slow smile, then he led her across the room, stopping in front of the black curtains that covered the windows of the office, completely shutting out every glimmer of light. With one hand, he took a small remote control out of his pocket and with the other he brought her forefinger to one of its buttons, pressed it with her and enveloped her in his arms.

  The Penthouse

  Stella watched in wonderment as the light cascaded into the darkness of the room, marveling at the breathtaking ocean view that appeared in front of her. Donn kissed her hair and inhaled deeply, his eyes fixed on her.

  “Wow, Donn, it’s wonderful,” Stella sighed, turning towards him. His eyes softened. They were cold and blue as the sky. His face was half in shade and half lit up by the daylight streaming in, making him seem like the perfect amalgam of a shadowy vampire and a gentleman from yesteryear. When the curtains opened completely, the full light illuminated him in all his beauty.

  “Take a look at the view?” he said softly.

  “I prefer the view when I look into your eyes,” she replied after stealing a quick kiss. Donn’s gaze darkened instantly. His face became grim and impassive, his jaw clenched.

  “Even now?” he murmured, stroking her back.

  “Always, they’re beautiful,” she said, completely lost in him. Donn looked puzzled, and his eyes narrowed watchfully.

  “My eyes change color and you don’t think there’s anything wrong with me?” He moved away from her and walked over to his desk. Stella turn away from watching his delicious physique, and looked around. The office was huge, much too big for one man.

  It was a penthouse, airy and elegantly furnished in dark tones, but as cold and unwelcoming as the rest of the building. They were in a large white room. In the middle were two L-shaped sofas, made of white leather, facing each other, separated by a coffee table made of glass and ebony, the same materials as the imposing desk, in the center. A colossal black carpet stretched from the sofas to the armchairs in front of the desk. On the left was the bar for serving drinks and double doors made of impenetrable steel. Burning with curiosity, she wondered where they led. She shivered from the cold as she walked around the room, following the window, before coming to a wide doorway at the end of the room. In the next room was a large rectangular table of the same ebony surrounded by thirteen chairs. Her heels echoed on the marble floor and Donn watched her walk around his office, burning with desire for her.

  “Which one is your chair?” Stella asked, turning to him. He had taken off his sports jacket and unbuttoned the top buttons of his shirt.

  “This is my office, Stella. My chair is at the head of the table.” Donn walked over to the bar; this time Stella was the one to admire his casual elegance. She too struggled to keep her desire for him in check, and he looked over at her sensually, sensing her feelings.

  “It’s cold,” she thought. Donn took the small remote control from his pocket and turned on the hot air. Stella curled her lips into a smile and went over to him.

  “Thanks, that’s better.” She leaned against his chest and hugged him, grateful for his thoughtful gesture, but he remained controlled and expressionless, not laying a finger on her.

  “Don’t thank me, Stella. It’s my duty to take care of your needs.” He turned his eyes to her, his tone serious and his expression unreadable. Stella moved her lips nearer to his mouth. Donn noticed, but ignored the gesture, saying casually, “I’m having a drink, would you like one too?” Stella raised her eyebrows and looked at him, puzzled that he would offer her a drink after having seen how alcohol had affected her the night before. However, she found herself nodding.

  “What would you like?” he asked politely.

  “Whatever you’re having,” she replied in a low voice. Her heart was pounding.

  Donn smirked at her: “I know you like risks, but it’s a real gamble to drink what I drink. I’m a vampire.”

  He smiled again and then said, “Would you like a glass of good red wine?” He took a bottle from the wine cooler under the counter of the bar.

  “That’d be great.” Donn opened it effortlessly and poured a little wine in a glass. As she reached him, he had already filled another with liquid of the same color. He closed his eyes and inhaled her scent. His linen shirt was imbued with her perfume.

  “What a beautiful shirt…” she gasped, feeling her body heat up at the memory of the evening she had spent with him in the library and the morning he had driven her to university. On both occasions he had worn that shirt.

  “It’s my favorite just lately,” Donn confessed. Stella blushed and Donn walked away toward the sofa, a glass in each hand. He put one down on the coffee table and motioned to her to sit. His eyes were clouded with desire as she perched on the armrest of the sofa. He stayed on his feet and looked down at her from above, his expression serious and attentive.

  Her eyes were attracted like magnets to his mouth, and she bit her lip.

  “I’d like to be the one biting those luscious lips,” he said warmly. His face softened. He noticed she was pale; he had taken quite a bit of her blood.

  “Are you hungry?”

  “Famished.”

  “I’ll take you out to eat.”

  “I don’t want to eat. I’m famished for you,” she admitted. He looked at her warningly, though not too severely.

  “You’re a very demanding girl, Miss Whitely. I’m hungry for you too, but first you have to eat, keep your strength up.” His breath quickened as he looked down at her. Someone knocked at the door, and Donn turned to see who it was.

  He maneuvered his way gracefully around the coffee table and the other sofa. Stella watched as he opened the door and disappeared outside, closing it behind him. She heard a low, indistinct murmur, and realized that the person talking to him was a man. She also made out the voice of Nancy.

  “Yes, Mr. Brooks, I’ll go right away,” was all she heard as Donn returned to the room.

  “I know you met one of my managers down in the lobby,” he said, his eyes piercing. His jaw tensed, betraying the detached expression he was trying to maintain.

  Stella nodded.

  “He told me you had a rather spectacular fall!” he burst out, not managing to hold back his smirk.

  “Shit! He found out,” she thought, embarrassed.

  “You can’t hide anything from me, Stella, especially here.” His body shook with mirth. He looked at her, and continued, “I also know that he told you about the company’s reception…”

  “So why not invite me?” She watched as Donn approached her, and she trembled with how much she wanted to be touched by his hands.

  “You’re a very impatient little girl, Miss Whitely.” He held back a slight, wry smile. His eyes darkened, and his voice became soft and smooth: “I guess I’ll have to invite you, otherwise someone else might do it.” He sat next to her and sipped from the glass he held in his hand.

  “What is it?” she asked, looking at the red liquid, wondering half repulsed, half curious, if it was blood.

  “What do you think?” He looked at her, amused, and dramatically took another sip.

  “You know…” she said hesitantly.

  Donn stared into her
eyes, suddenly expressionless, swirling the liquid around his glass.

  “Another mood swing, it’s hard to keep up,” Stella thought.

  “Baby, you have no idea,” Donn said to her. He took a sip from his glass and moved his mouth slowly toward her lips. He bent to kiss her and let the liquid fall from his mouth into hers. It was just red wine. He sucked the flavor on her lips and licked the drop that slid from the corner of her mouth down her chin. Donn’s lips were cold, the wine just as cool. It was obviously a fine vintage, but the thought that it had been in his mouth made it even more sublime.

  “Again,” said Stella, her lips stained red. She ran her tongue over her lower lip and then pulled it into her mouth with her teeth. Donn look at her, disapproving but slightly excited, and then took another sip, leaned over her, and made her drink it from his lips.

  “More wine?” he asked her persuasively.

  She nodded and Donn gave her a little more from his mouth.

  “I see that you like it, angel.” He stared at her, his eyes burning with desire.

  “I just like the taste of your lips,” she said. Donn reached over to the table and dipped his fingers into a glass of iced water that was sitting there. He picked up an ice cube, cold as his hand, sucked on it, then ran it over her lips. He moved it down her neck into the hollow at the base so that the feel of the ice and the texture of his fingers would drive her crazy. She gasped and her lips quivered.

  Someone knocked on the door again, and his hand dropped the sliver of ice intentionally between her breasts. Stella jumped and let out a little cry, as Donn continued to stare at her with piercing eyes, downing the last drop of wine in the glass.

  “I’d give anything to know what he’s thinking right now…” Stella thought to herself as Donn rested his empty wine glass on the table and gave Nancy permission to come in, never once taking his eyes from Stella’s face.

  “I wonder how he knew it was her at the door?” Stella thought, and Donn gave her a small smile.

  “Mr. Brooks, I brought what you requested,” Nancy called from the door.

  “Bring it in here,” Donn ordered. Stella tore her eyes away from him and noticed that the assistant was holding a black tray. Nancy tried to avoid eye contact with Donn, her eyes flicking from left to right. She was attracted to him and realized that he knew it.

  “She probably doesn’t like to be ignored,” Stella thought to herself. Donn read her thoughts, but gave no sign if not a brief narrowing of his eyes.

  “I’ve taken the liberty of ordering you something to eat, I hope you don’t mind. You have to regain your strength, Stella. I want you in good shape.” He looked at her affectionately while Nancy put the tray, which held a plate of steamed rice and shrimp, on the table.

  “Thank you, you shouldn’t have,” Stella murmured, ill at ease. Then she picked up the fork and tasted a shrimp with a little rice.

  “It is to your liking?” Donn asked her, his voice soothing.

  “Yes, but is it all for me?” Stella was a bit uncomfortable at being taken care of this way.

  “Sure.”

  “Really, I’m not very hungry,” she said with a shrug.

  “You have to eat something, Stella.” His expression hardened, and Stella quickly shoveled a little more rice into her mouth.

  “That’s better,” Donn said soothingly. He smiled indulgently at her and then asked Nancy, “Anything else?”

  “Yes, sir. Buckley is on the line and Debra wants to see you.”

  “Alright, pass me Buckley and tell Debra that I’ll be with her later in the afternoon.”

  “Mayers called this morning while you were in the meeting. He’s wondering when he can speak with you about the start-up in Nigeria,” she continued, as she walked over to the desk to bring him the phone.

  Stella looked at Donn, her eyes wide.

  “He responded to my stupid messages this morning instead of answering a work call?” She was stunned. Donn continued barking out orders to his assistant.

  “Tell Mayer to call me tomorrow morning on my cell, and set up a meeting with Rooney for Tuesday. Move my brainstorming meeting at three to Wednesday at the same time.” Stella’s eyes widened as she heard the name of the man who was going to interview her for an internship in three weeks, but she regained her composure immediately so that Donn would not notice.

  “Ok. Do you want the minutes about this morning’s meeting?” Nancy handed him the phone, leaving the call on hold, and took some notes on her tablet, which she had taken from the pocket of her impeccable blue suit.

  “Put Jameson on the calendar for Monday, before the meeting with Russell and his team.”

  “Sure, Mr Brooks,” reported Nancy.

  “And find me a moment to speak with Graham tomorrow or Monday at the latest.” He wanted to reassure Consul Bristol and tell him that the girl would definitely be at the conference organized in honor of the election of the new Conservative member of the Council at Madison Square Garden…

  “Yes, Mr. Brooks, and Brady asked to meet with you today.”

  “Carve out a few minutes tomorrow, after the meeting with Lawrence at lunch. That’ll be all.”

  Donn glared at her. She made as if to leave.

  “Thank goodness I don’t work for him,” thought Stella, her gaze fixed on him. Donn glanced at her, his eyes almost sparkling, and then turned back to his assistant.

  “Oh, Nancy, cancel all my appointments for this afternoon, and don’t put any more calls through.”

  “But Stewart wanted to talk to you, and the appointment with Parkson was imperative.”

  “Was there something I said that you didn’t understand?” he growled impatiently.

  “No, it’s perfectly clear, Mr. Brooks,” concluded Nancy, and hurried from the office.

  Donn looked at Stella, his finger indicating to her that she was to give him a minute. Then he turned away to take the call he had on hold. He got up from the sofa to walk around the room.

  “Brooks. No, what’s all this about? The security measures provided for in Delaware are the best in the country. When will it arrive? How many do they want? It will cost at least twice as much. Ok, let’s proceed with that. Inform Russell. How’s the job going? Is it safe?” He stopped for a second, his face darkened, and then he continued, “I don’t care. It need to be done now. I don’t allow for time extensions!” He moved toward the bar, took another glass and poured out some more wine. He turned toward Stella and motioned to her to come closer to him.

  “Yes, I’ve got to talk to him. I have a meeting with him tomorrow morning. Tell him to wait and tell Parkson he will deal with it, so that I don’t have to postpone the meeting. I’ll take care of that, tomorrow night I have a conference call with the team on the security measures that were planned.” Stella went over to him and brought his empty glass with her, putting it down on the bar. She sat down on the first chair in front of the desk. She watched as Donn stopped in front of the window, his eyes fixed on the ocean.

  “I can’t talk to him now, I have someone here in the office with me.” He turned to her making her blush. “Well, if it’s that important, get me Brady…” he smiled in amusement. “Brooks here. Yes, I put it on the agenda for tomorrow. I’m still evaluating the proposal: half or nothing doing. Send me a detailed report and all the documentation by email. That’s all.” Donn hung up and turned to Stella, leaning on the desk with his hands deep in his pockets, looking like a male model on the cover of a magazine.

  Nancy knocked on the door and then came through the doorway.

  “Yes, Mr. Brooks,” she said, and waited.

  “No need to postpone the meeting with Parkson.”

  “And what about Stewart?”

  “He can wait.”

  “As you wish, sir,” murmured Nancy, and made to leave.

  “One more thing. Miss Whitely will accompany me to the company’s reception. Reserve an invitation for her.”

  Nancy hesitated, her mouth widened. She rema
ined rooted to the spot until Donn slowly turned his head in her direction. She blushed profusely.

  “Of course , Mr. Brooks.” Nancy mumbled, looking puzzled, before leaving the office and closing the door behind her. Stella reddened and felt on edge; Donn looked at her with an unfathomable expression.

  “So? What’s your answer?” He raised her chin, looked into her eyes and caressed her lips.

  “You confirmed my invitation without asking me…” she said accusingly, lost in his beautiful blue eyes.

  “I want you to come with me to the reception. Every man has a right to dream, Miss Whitely, why can’t I?”

  “And who is Debra?” The words came unexpectedly from her mouth. She was eaten up by curiosity: the image of another flawlessly beautiful woman flashed through her mind.

  Donn’s lips tightened as he answered quietly, “She’s a member of the board of directors of the Council Capital Holding.” His voice seemed vaguely irritated by the question.

  “And…” Stella looked him straight in the eyes, sensing that he was omitting something.

  “I had a relationship with her, long ago.” His voice was serious but friendly. He seemed lost in thought. He shook himself out of it and said sternly, “Now eat some more, Stella,” trying to change the subject. “You lost blood before, you have to replenish.” He looked at the plate, noting that only a few forkfuls had been eaten.

  Stella grimaced in annoyance.

  “I’m not hungry anymore.”

  Donn sighed and ran a hand through his hair, then he frowned at her.

  “That’s it? You’re not eating anymore?”

  “I’ve lost my appetite…” she said, her voice barely audible.