When it’s over, I fall forward, my head hitting his chest and I’m lulled by the beat of his heart to a sense of peace. Short-lived as it is.
All the back and forth arguing, push and pull earlier is nothing but foreplay. As much as we snap at each other at work, when it comes to sex, we barely talk. I’m fine with that, even when we re-dress in quiet. I fling a leg over the central panel of my car and settle in the driver’s seat. A second after turning my engine on, I say, “Goodnight,” without really acknowledging his presence. From the corner of my eye, I see him run a hand through his hair and tug at it. Then he reaches for the door and he’s gone.
5
We manage to be civil at work for a couple of days. During our meeting with Tomlinson, he presents his additional, new concept, and even adding that he’d been inspired by what I’ve already done. Of course, Tomlinson ignores that part and pats him on the shoulder.
“Ass,” I say between clenched teeth. Apparently not quiet enough as I raise my head and see Henrik with a cheeky grin on his face. I roll my eyes at him and walk out of the conference room.
We—or I—evade him throughout the day and the next morning. I make it until about five in the afternoon on day two when I shoot Henrik a text message, giving him my home address and telling him to be there in a couple of hours, but not to expect a home-cooked meal.
I greet him with two fingers of single malt in a crystal tumbler, and me in a plum satin and silk lingerie. He takes my drink offer and downs it in one go, breathing heavily as he lowers the glass on my hallway table. He reaches into his back pocket and hands me a pile of condoms.
“Seriously?”
“I thought—“
“You think if I’m not on the pill I would have let you come inside me however many times already?”
“Well…it’s not just for that.”
“Henrik.” I grab his hand and dump the condoms on his palm. “I haven’t been with a man for almost six months before I met you. And I know I’m clean.” I point at the condoms. “Should this make me worry?”
“No, that’s not what I meant. You don’t have to worry about that. Honestly before you, I’ve always worn protection. I was coming from a month-long trek up Kilimanjaro when I met you. So you bet I haven’t been with anyone for a while too. I just thought…” I send him what I hope is my best resting bitch face. “Forget it.” He drops the pile of prophylactics on the marble floor and in one swoop, picks me up, my legs automatically wrapping around him.
“You can be a brat, you know,” he tells me.
“Shut up and kiss me.”
He leans his head away from me. “Not until we get to your bedroom.”
“Fuck the bedroom.”
And we do just that. I let him screw me in every room, pretty much on every surface in my apartment. I’m already half asleep in front of the low burning fireplace, atop faux fur blankets and embroidered pillows when he whispers ‘goodnight’ and leaves my apartment.
The next day is a different story altogether. I’ve never felt like such a fool. Even when I’d dated older men, despite knowing it won’t lead to anything lasting, I hadn’t felt this disgusted over a man’s actions.
Just hours ago, he was pumping into me, groaning against my pillow, and releasing his sticky come inside me.
After meeting with my new clients for lunch—a habit I’d learned from my Dad and Theo—I head to the restaurant’s bathroom, relieving myself, then re-applying my lipstick. I would’ve missed it—them—if I hadn’t almost bumped into one of the waitresses. We both apologize to each other, but my mouth stays open when, across the room, I spot Henrik with a woman. His arm hangs behind her and they’re both laughing. As far as I know, Henrik doesn’t take out his clients for lunch like I do. And if he happens to be out with them, Tomlinson is always around his golden boy.
I can do one of two things—ignore them and hate him for the rest of my life, or…
Before I can stop myself, I find myself in front of them, with a twisted grin on my face. “Henrik, hi!” My voice is an octave too high. “Fancy seeing you here.” I let my eyes drift to the woman—young, blonde, stylish—just his type. “Aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend?”
Henrik, who at first was shocked to see me, suddenly morphs his expression into amazement. He sucks his bottom lip between his teeth momentarily before tightening his arm around his…date. My left eye twitches but I fight through the annoyance with a forced smile. “Would love to. Paris, this is my unbelievably talented colleague, Ingrid. Ingrid…” He turns to her and gazes at her adoringly. “Meet my little brat of a sister, Paris.”
“It’s great to finally meet you. Henrik has told me so much about you,” Paris says, extending a dainty hand to me.
My mouth gapes and we all wait until I say something back. But all that squeaks out of me is, “Oh.” Then I bolt.
Embarrassed to no end—and my mother would be turning in her grave right now since I’ve just forgotten all those years of charm school—I run straight to my office and lock the door. I jump when I hear the knock behind me.
“Yeah?”
“It’s Talia.” I exhale loudly and open the door for her. “Where’s the fire?”
I walk to my desk and slump on my chair. “What?”
“You’re red and puffy. Did you just run back from your lunch meeting?”
“Ah, yeah…I…” I don’t know what to say. One thing I’ve communicated intently to Henrik is that I don’t want anyone finding out about us at the office. I don’t want to be another woman fueling the gossip mill. Without a complaint, not that he has a choice, he agrees to keep us quiet, as long as he gets to see me naked.
So it’s a surprise when the next words come out of my mouth, “Are you dating, Talia?”
She sits with one of her legs crossed over the other on a white modernistic chair in front of my desk. She snorts and laughs. “Dating and I have an understanding right now.”
“Oh yeah, what’s that?”
“That we won’t understand each other and it needs to stay as far away from me as possible, because men are no good.”
They’re useful sometimes, I want to say, thinking about Henrik. “Some guys are good,” I argue.
“Well I haven’t met him if he exists.”
“Maybe you will soon.”
She narrows her eyes at me. “Whatever, girl. Fairy tales don’t always happen to people like me.”
I want to argue her point further, but my office door opens and Henrik stands there like a Greek God in a Gucci suit. “Quick chat?” he asks.
Talia uncrosses her legs and stands, still clutching the files against her chest. “I better get back to my cubicle.”
“Did you have anything for me?” I ask her before she steps out my door.
“Nope. Just making sure you’re okay. See yah.”
Henrik closes the door behind her and prowls toward my desk, head lowered, eyes hooded, a teasing grin on his lips. “My sister thinks you’re…nice.” He stops in front of me, and I’m ever thankful for the desk between us.
“Oh, yeah. Thanks?”
He places his hands on the glass surface and his smile widens even more. “You’re cute when you’re jealous, you know.”
I tuck my loose hair behind one ear and turn away from him. “If that’s what you think.”
“That’s exactly what I think. C’mon, admit it. You were jealous of my little sister. You thought I was on a real date.”
“Whatever.” I can be so mature sometimes.
Henrik slides his hands further and captures mine, holding them tight in his warm palms. “Just to let you know…I came to this city because of her.” He leans forward and for a second, I think he’s going to kiss me, but he only talks in a low voice, the type of tone that wets my panties each time. “I stayed because of you.” He brushes an index finger against my parted lips as I gasp at his…confession. Then he’s out the door. And I’m left with emotional whiplash.
By the e
nd of the week, the office is abuzz with the news. I should be celebrating but all I can think of is when I’ll see Henrik again. And not just at work, although we’ve managed to sneak in a couple of afternoon quickies without anyone noticing. Perks of living near the office.
Theo has successfully taken over the company. My plan is coming along smoothly. What I’m struggling with is do I let Henrik know about it or not?
Theo’s name flashes on my screen when my phone vibrates on my desk. This is the fifth time he’s called me this morning. The first time was when Henrik’s head was between my legs, on my bed, when he’s supposed to just stop over for breakfast. He had me instead.
I pick up before Theo gets my voicemail, otherwise he’ll worry. “Yes, your royal pain in my ass?”
“I was about to call Chicago PD and file a missing person report.”
I lean an elbow on my desk and prop my chin on my closed fist. “Don’t be so whiny, it’s unbecoming of a CEO.”
“I thought you’d be happier.”
I sigh. “I am.”
“Sure, your tone is very convincing.”
I clear my throat and straighten on my chair. “I am. Honest. It’s just that…”
“That what? Don’t tell me you changed your mind.” Theo’s tone changes into business mode, but the scary, I will see you in court and prepare to file for bankruptcy tone.
“No, I haven’t. It’s just…”
“Spit it out, Ingrid. Time’s money.”
I walk to my door and lock it, ensuring that no one comes in when I’m about to spill my guts to Theo. “I’ve kinda been seeing someone,” I say, enunciating each word. He stays quiet for a beat or two.
“Let me guess, someone’s been dipping his company pen in your ink.”
What? Men. “That’s one way to put it.” I roll my eyes and continue to watch the hubbub in the office through the glass pane beside my closed door. “I know what you’re going to say. I’ve been careful. No one else knows.”
“Not yet.”
“No, no one’s going to find out. I know how you feel about office relationships. This is different. He’s…different.” Again, Theo remains quiet on the other line. “Say something.”
“Whatever I say won’t make a difference. You’re an adult. You live your own life the way you want to. I just don’t want to see you hurt. You’ve come so far since jerk face there.”
“Charles.”
“I don’t give a shit what his name is. He’s old enough to be your father. How about this one?”
“He’s my age.” And he’s handsome, considerate, great in bed…excellent in bed and other places. “He’s one of the architects here.”
“Wait a second. Didn’t you tell me there’s a new guy in the firm and he took over the position you’ve worked hard for?”
Right. And here I am hoping he’d forget about that. “Well…I kinda don’t mind him doing that anymore.”
“Of course you don’t. Listen I have to go. And do me a couple of favors, Ingrid.”
“Yeah?”
“Watch your back with this one.”
“Okay. And the other thing?”
“Get yourself a girl friend. I feel like I’ve grown a vagina just now. Bye.”
“Good bye, Ass!”
I hang up with a smile on my face. Although there’s a bit of worry still left over in my mind, I can’t take Theo’s warning too seriously. Henrik is different. He’s honest in so many ways. As much as I want to ask him about his confession—that he stayed for me—I’m truthfully afraid what it could mean. I still don’t know much about him. I’ve just found out he has a sister, and that they live together right now until she gets her own place. That she works on the fourth floor of our building. That he came to the city because he promised his mother he’d check in on her, and watch over her until she’s ready to venture out on her own. She’s twenty, working her first grown-up job after college. It can’t be easy having a big brother hovering over you all the time. Which is exactly how Theo’s acting around me, I realize.
Well, if I need to find a friend to confide in, Theo’s gonna need someone too. And I know just the person…I wave at her through the panel as she passes by my office.
6
Are you sure you want to wear that?” Theo asks when I greet him with a solid smile. He’s right, I need girl friends. Women would cheer me on wearing this little number. Sure it’s a bit revealing, but sometimes a girl just wants to feel sexy. And I sure do in the gold sequined, backless micro dress.
I grimace at him. “It’s not for you.”
“I didn’t think it was. What time is he going to be here?” He reaches for two flutes of champagne out of a long row on his kitchen counter, and offers me one.
“He’ll get here when he gets here.” I raise my glass to him and he clinks his to mine before we both take a big gulp of crisp champagne. It’s safe to say I’m a bit nervous. I’ve convinced Theo that he’d take a liking to Henrik, but I still haven’t told Henrik who Theo is to me.
We stand next to each other, looking out at the twinkling lights of downtown Chicago, and waiting for the guests to arrive—all of ARC’s designers, architects, and management. Tonight, Theo welcomes them all in his new home, or as he puts it, his home away from home, which is New York City. We’ll see about that.
I finished his penthouse design end of last week despite how busy my extra time has suddenly been occupied by other matters. When Theo did the walkthrough, I could see the pride in his eyes. I didn’t disappoint. It’s my job as an interior designer to listen to my clients, meet them halfway if necessary, or in Theo’s case, wow him.
He thanked me for not putting any pastel decors. God forbid a little blush pillowcase on the sofa would turn him into a giggling girl. Henrik doesn’t seem to mind a few feminine splashes at my place.
At half-past eight, ARC’s staff has begun to trickle in. A hired server greets each one of them with champagne, and they all line up to meet the new, hot, younger CEO. By nine thirty, I begin to worry. There’s no sign of Henrik. It’s not like him to be late, or get lost since it’s the same address as my apartment, only a few floors higher. I check my phone for any messages. Nothing. I don’t message him. It’s not like I’m his girlfriend or whatever we’re doing requires any kind of label.
I catch a glimpse of Theo from across the expansive living room. He cocks his head to one side and I shake mine, letting him know I’m unaffected by Henrik’s tardiness. Not a great first impression with the boss, though. But whenever the elevator dings, announcing another arrival, my spine straightens and I can’t help but crane my neck to see who’s arrived.
“No sign of him?” Theo appears beside me, his voice lowered. He tsks.
“Hush up. He’s never been late for anything. Doesn’t matter to me anyway.” I pout. “What are you drinking?”
“Macallan 18.”
“Good.” I steal it from him and knock back the rest of the drink. The liquid burns smoothly down my throat. I give him the glass back.
“Doesn’t matter, huh?” I push a flat hand on his bicep, but he’s an immovable beast of a man. At that same moment, I feel a prickle on the back of my neck and I only understand why when I see Henrik’s dark stare trained at me from where he’s standing beside the elevator. He must’ve just arrived. But what’s with the feral anger?
Ignoring it, I smile at him. He lowers his head before walking through the crowd, greeting the staff until he reaches my side. To my surprise, he slides a hand until he reaches the small of my back, and he gives my cheek a chaste kiss. “Sorry I’m late. Phone call came in when I was about to leave and it couldn’t wait till the next day.”
I can’t help but be proud of him as I send Theo a sideways glance. See? He’s a hard worker. He’s late because of work.
Although he doesn’t imply that it was about work. I watch him brush his hair back and I zero in on the worry in his eyes. “Meet Theo Solomon, our new CEO. Theo, this is Henrik Lam, one of our archite
cts.”
The men shake hands, but I’m jarred by the unspoken competition that seems to be happening before me. They talk shop and golf, but no matter what, Henrik can’t seem to shake off the edge he came in with. Eventually, Theo excuses himself.
“What’s going on? Is everything okay?”
“Fine.” Henrik’s voice is clipped. It’s unlike him.
“Would you like a drink? Theo’s bar is stocked.”
“You’d know, wouldn’t you?”
Excuse me? I angle my body a little, and change my stance. Is that fire coming out of his mouth? Over what? I narrow my eyes, filling them with suspicion. I glance around as I tell him, “Say hi to a few people, then meet me down the hallway, third door to your left.”
“Ingrid…I’m not up for games.”
“Who says I’m playing?” I shoot off a warning, and then turn on my heels. I smile as I pass ARC’s staff. I stop by Theo’s side and whisper to him what I’m about to do. He gives me a curt nod and I continue on.
My butt is perched on the edge of Theo’s home office desk when Henrik enters. One of my stilettoes dangles precariously on my toes. There’s a lamp on in one corner of the room, enough for me to see the possessiveness in Henrik’s golden brown eyes. Without my prompt, he locks the door before advancing toward me. I lean my hands behind me, and the hem of my dress rides up higher on my thighs. I uncross my legs and widen them when he approaches, welcoming him into my heat, letting my shoes fall on the floor.
His hands take possession of my face, my neck, my cheeks, and his mouth devours me. Then his right hand falls down my back, tapping along my spine like each dip and groove is an ivory piano key. Meanwhile his other hand skirts over the neckline of my dress. In one swoop of his finger, my dress unfurls and puddles around my hips. My breasts are presented well to him now. But he doesn’t lower his head to taste my tightening nipples. He just stares right into my eyes, tilting his head slightly to get a good look at me.
Seduction in a Suit: An Office Romance Collection Page 14
