“Yeah sure. But no racing though.” I teased because I knew he wouldn’t be able to resist.
“Don’t be an ass. You expect me to have a Lami and not race?” He huffed.
I shook my head. “No, I actually don’t. How about you just use it as a get around? You know like buying your groceries, and taking your mom to the salon.”
“Asshole. You know this car is either for racing, or a chick magnet. Since you don’t race I’ll go with the latter for you.”
“Not picking up chicks today Hunter.”
“Yeah right man, that’s original.” He laughed at me.
I supposed I deserved that. I wouldn’t even bother to deny that I was a playboy. I knew I loved women too much, and that might not be the best representation of myself but that was me. I wasn’t a dog though. I didn’t cheat. I didn’t get involved with anyone I felt was looking for something serious, and I reckoned my interests in women would be just like this until the day came when I met that magical being who could fill my every waking thoughts.
We went out to the terrace where Hunter fired up the barbeque and tossed on some burgers.
“So Portrait, is it good?” Hunter asked turned over the burgers on the grill.
I adjusted myself on the deck chair, turning so I could look at him.
“Perfect, except for the pain in my ass advice columnist.”
“The lovely Ask Paige.” Hunter smiled.
“You read her column?” I had to hear this. I couldn’t imagine my adventurous friend reading the juice from a women’s advice columnist.
“Nah, don’t need to. She’s popular man, also the last woman I dated ditched me on her advice.”
I was surprised to see that he looked annoyed.
“What advice was that?”
“She said I couldn’t have been into her. I genuinely had to cancel our dates because I went to Australia and caught a terrible bug. She thought I’d made it up, and was using it as an excuse to string her along. Apparently, Ask Paige thought the chances of catching a bug in Australia were slim. So that was my ass handed to me. Nice girl too. I liked her.”
I figured he must have if he could talk like that. Hunter and I were terrible when we were younger with women, and I guess we’d both calmed down. Him more than me. He’d become the serious relationship kind of guy.
As I looked him over and saw him take a swig of his beer I couldn’t help but notice the sadness in his eyes.
“How long ago did that happen man?”
“Months. Just after I last saw you.”
“Sounds like you’re still hung up on her.” I joked.
“Maybe I am.” He smirked. “But anyhow, why’s the lovely Ask Paige being a pain in your ass.”
I told him what happened and he nearly hit the floor laughing. Talking about it made me realize just how funny it was.
It was definitely hilarious, and would have been more funny if I could forget the damn letter she wrote. That and meeting her in person.
I usually use charm to mellow out a fiery woman, but this woman seemed overly fiery.
She required work outside charm. Work I wanted to put in because she’d peaked my interest.
“You devil, you like her don’t you.” Hunter pointed the long fork at me.
“She has my attention.”
“And what are you going to do about that attention. She’s a real ball buster my friend.”
“I can handle her.” I could. I did earlier. That’s why she walked out mid conversation.
“Well if you get a handle on her, tell her to ease up some on the crazy advice I’ve heard she gives.”
“I plan to.” This was exactly what I meant. The fact that Hunter even knew of the lovely Paige showed how popular she was.
I could imagine her popularity must have gained her mixed reviews. I knew how I felt so she would be the first thing I planned to tackle when I went to work tomorrow.
Her face the next day when she saw me sitting in her chair in her office was classic.
I was reading her notebook. It contained all the plans she had for the upcoming months. Along with her column was an article she wrote every week. Next week’s was titled, “How to lose a guy who’s dead weight.” The week after that was,
“Have sex like a man.”
“Have sex like a man. Exactly how do you plan to explain that.” I took my feet from on top of her desk, my eyes never leaving hers.
“You read my notebook. How dare you?” she snarled.
Her hair was down today, flowing down her shoulders in long graceful waves. The dark locks complimented the golden hue of her skin, and the sharp green color of her eyes.
I liked it, and loved what she was wearing too. A camisole top that gave me a good view of the perfect cleavage and wrap around mini skirt that showed off her legs as she stormed towards me.
“Is this for me?” I made a show of moving my hand around.
“Is what for you?” she asked, glaring at me.
“What your wearing, very sexy.”
“Get out of my office, and give me my notebook!” she balked
“Wouldn’t it be better to give you the notebook first before I leave the office? I mean I’d either have to throw it to you or you’d have to come with me to get it once I left.” I smiled at the look of sheer annoyance that flushed her beautiful face.
“Something is wrong with you.”
“Sweet thing, there is nothing wrong with me. Think of it this way. All you have to do is meet with me. Then that’s job done. We meet, talk about your column, we plan, we take it from there.”
Eureka, she actually looked like she was considering it. I wonder what else she’d consider. I’d really love to get a chance to see what pleasure looked like on her face.
“A meeting would really get you off my back?” She asked.
“I don’t know about getting me off your back. There is still that issue of your letter that we have to discuss.” I can’t help the excitement I felt when her cheeks flushed. “A meeting is a start though, and like I said we’ll take it from there.”
“What time?” she straightened her shoulders up and shifted her weight back on her heels.
“Now. We meet now.”
“No, I’m busy we can’t meet now.” She shook her head.
“Baby, I don’t know if you realize this, but I’m your boss. If I say we’re meeting now then the only person you’ll be busy with is me.” I almost laugh at the put out way she looks. I didn’t mean to go all I’m your boss on her but I was too busy for a rerun of yesterday.
I had interviews lined up for an assistant manager. The person I hoped to leave in charge when I went to Hong Kong in the fall.
I couldn’t be chasing Paige today.
“I want my chair back. Or, are you the boss of that too?”
I stared straight at her, liking that nervousness I saw in her eyes the more I looked. It was a stark contrast to the harsh expression she tried to maintain on her face.
“Come get your chair sweet thing.”
She walked around the desk to me and looked at me expectantly when I didn’t move.
“You sure you don’t want to sit in my lap sweet thing?”
“Do you want a sexual harassment suit in your lap sweet thing?” She smiled at me and probably thought I’d get all worried by the threat.
I simply laughed and pulled out the letter she wrote me from the inside of my jacket pocket.
A pained expression crossed her pretty face.
I was loving this exchange between us far too much. I knew I could be very arrogant at times and I do my best not to act on it, but she is like temptation for me. She was fueling the arrogance, and fueling my interest in her. So it was her fault not mine.
I cleared my throat and started reading the letter.
“Dear Jason, blah blah it sounds like you need to get laid, or possibly have a sex marathon. Blah, blah blah, I will gladly show you what I mean so call me if you need clarification on any of the
matters discussed. I look forward to meeting you.
Paige. You don’t have a hope’s chance in hell of a sexual harassment lawsuit. I’d just be the innocent male who acted on what he was being told to do.” I feigned innocence by placing my hand to my heart.
That just made her more mad.
“You know what? I’m going home. You can go fuck yourself.”
I laughed as she moved away from me.
“Paige you are quite the character.”
“Are you kidding me.” She stopped in her tracks and whirled around to face me. “I’ve known you for less than a full day and I think you’re the most irritating man I’ve ever come across in my life. What the hell is wrong with you?”
I stood up now and moved over to her.
“Nothing sweet thing, but guess what? You see how you think something’s wrong with me? What made you come to that conclusion?”
“You are abrasive and insensitive. What other conclusion could I come to.” She argued.
“Good. I’m glad you think so. Because that’s what some people think when they read your column, and your advice.” There, I had her exactly where I wanted her.
My comments hit a nerve, so I thought I’d continue.
“A wife that’s just found out that her husband of God knew how long is cheating on her doesn’t want to be told to grab the first guy she can find and hop in bed with him. Maybe some women may want to do that. But I really doubt that they all do. There are kinder ways of saying things that may appeal to both types of women. That is what I mean by heart.”
She stared at me long and hard and I wasn’t certain what her next move would be. She was close to the door so she could indeed go home or she could listen to me.
I wanted her to listen to me. I wanted her to listen to me because what I had to say would make her do her job better, but I also have my own interest in her.
I felt relieved when I saw her shoulders loosen up.
“I’m listening.”
Good.
I’ve just moved off square one. Let’s see how far I’ll get.
5
Paige
I was only agreeing to this meeting because I felt so bad about Bernice.
As usual I went to see her before coming up here, and she wasn’t herself. I’d brought her usual hot chocolate with hazelnut syrup from Starbucks but I don’t even think she wanted it.
It was a small attempt to salvage my worries over her.
She told me she enjoyed herself with her handsome stranger but when it was all over that was it. It ended as quickly and as abruptly as it began. All with haste.
She didn’t have feelings for him, but she said she didn’t think she’d ever do such a thing again. It was okay for some people who could disconnect their emotions from sex, but she couldn’t. Bernice didn’t blame me for my advice, it was more the case of her wanting to save the way she’d allowed herself to be with Mr. Handsome for someone she actually cared about.
When she asked me if I did things like that, as in took my own advice, I was so embarrassed. I told her my business life took over my social one. There was no way that I could tell her the truth and say that I wouldn’t take my own advice. What I told her to do, even if I was drunk, was something I wouldn’t do for myself.
I didn’t know that she would actually take my advice, but it got me thinking that the advice I gave in my column worked exactly like that.
I thought I was also mistaken by what my popularity signified. Maybe it wasn’t because I gave good advice. Maybe it was because my words were so shocking, so out of context and profusely raw.
I looked at Jason, hating that he had any power over me, hating that he had any effect on me whatsoever, but I had to admit that there was some element of truth to what he said.
I just wish I didn’t write that stupid letter.
He held that over me like an axe, ready to drop it on my neck.
Also, I never swore at anyone. Let alone my boss. I had guts, and I could stand up for myself but I hated being so abrasive. I don’t think I’d ever told anyone to go fuck themselves, but he took me from being mildly annoyed to enraged and that was the only thing that came from my brain to say.
This man was bringing out the worst in me, twisting my brain into knots and sending my emotions into overdrive.
He pointed back to my chair so I moved back to it to sit. I expected him to move but he didn’t. When I got up to him he stood there and looked down at me with those eyes.
I felt my pulse quicken, and those knots get tighter in my stomach.
“Are you going to stand over me while we talk?” I was still trying to hold on to my firm composure, but it faltered the more he looked at me.
He made a show of moving slowly around me but stopped again as we were about to pass each other.
Now we were close, real close. Inches away, and I would be lying to myself if I said I didn’t feel that spark of energy shoot straight through me.
“We’re going to have to do something about this. You know that right?” He smiled down at me.
“What are you talking about?” I knew what he meant, and could have kicked myself for the damn feeling, but I would pretend until it killed me that I didn’t feel anything.
To my horror, he lowered. Moving closer to me, and I stood there in my determination to be firm.
“This. I know you feel it.” The smile that filled his handsome face actually made me feel faint. It was hypnotizing and the kind that would melt you.
With great force I made myself move. I looked away and I moved to my chair which was only a breath away but seemed so far away.
He laughed and, thank God, walked around to the chair that was on the other side of my desk.
He sat down, and still had that commanding personality. It was like he was still in the driver’s seat and I was the one who was in his office.
I sat too and watched him retrieve some folded up paper from his jacket pocket. It was the same place he’d kept the letter.
This looked like a print out, like when I printed out our emails.
“What’s that now?”
“You, four years ago.”
“You researched me?” Of course the thought annoyed me even more.
“I research everyone when I’m buying a company. I need to know who’s working for me.”
That was expected, and I would have been more accepting if he didn’t make it sound like he was God or some supreme being who ruled the world.
I held my tongue, because I knew arguing wouldn’t get me anywhere.
He quite rightly stated that he was my boss. It didn’t matter what I felt. He owned the place and I worked for him.
Since I loved working here and what I did, I had to play nice. This place had become a refuge for me. A refuge for my soul. It was the only controllable thing I had in my life. The only constant that had always proven to fill me with what I needed.
Energy, life, soul.
That was my work.
He cleared his throat and read from the paper.
* * *
Dear Paige,
I’ve always had feelings for my best friend, but he’s a player. I think he may like me too but I’m too scared to try and find out. What if we cross the line and lose our friendship? Please help.
Tilly
* * *
“What would you tell Tilly now? If this landed on your desk,” Jason asked.
I smirked. “You have what I wrote there right?”
I could see from here that he had the response I sent Tilly four years ago. And I didn’t know what the hell he was playing at by doing this. It was pointless. I was a lot less popular four years ago. Elizabeth had the Ask Paige mailbox set up so I could respond to readers directly. At the time only a few letters came in a week. Like maybe a hundred. I responded to every single one.
Now they came in by the thousands and we had to close off the enquiries access until I’d gotten my workload down to a manageable amount. Time had passed an
d I knew how other advice columnist managed what they did, but I still took it upon myself to respond to every single message and letter.
“I want to hear what Ask Paige would tell her now.”
I rolled my eyes and sighed. “Fine. I’d say a snake is a snake, and a leopard never changes their spots. If you know this guy is a player then don’t even go there. Why would you want to put yourself through heartache and unnecessary stress. Plenty of fish in the sea, move on to someone more suitable.”
That sounded good to me, and come on, why would I advise anyone to hook up with a guy that was bad news?
The look on Jason’s face however spoke his complete disapproval. His expression actually surprised me because I thought what I said was quite blunt and to the point. Plenty of people would agree with me.
“Okay Paige. Do you want to know what you told Tilly four years ago?”
“Sure, fire away.” I was sure I must have said something very similar to the answer I just gave him.
Dear Tilly,
Thanks for writing in. Love is about taking a risk even when you know there’s a chance you could get hurt. If you’ve always had feelings for your best friend and he is your best friend, then you have to tell him.
If you’re concerned about him being a player then you need to talk about this with him. If you guys decide to cross that line of friendship you need to trust each other, but do tell him and see what happens. No one ever got anywhere in life by turning away opportunities and never taking chances.
Paige.
* * *
He cleared his throat as he finished. I simply looked at him, stunned by the response I’d given Tilly. I would have believed he made it up if I didn’t see the print out for myself that I did actually write that.
For added confirmation he placed the paper on the table before me and slid it over so I could get a better look.
“That’s heart, and it would appeal to everyone. The woman who would be worried about getting involved with a player, and the woman who believed her best friend could change for her.”
I was taking in his words but, honestly I was shocked by them. His arrogance and cockiness doesn’t suit the warmth I felt emanate from what he just said.
Seduction in a Suit: An Office Romance Collection Page 108
