by Noir, Stella
*
The country club is packed with people I have never met. How many people do Seth and Chloe know, anyway? It seems like everyone in the state of New York is here. I pull at my dress as I wait for the other bridesmaids to make it down the aisle. “Stop fidgeting,” Chloe hisses from behind me. “You’re making me nervous.”
I turn around. I smile at Chloe’s father standing beside her before I focus my gaze on her. “I’m sorry, I can’t help it. Why are there so many people here? Do you even know half of them?”
She rolls her eyes, “Of course not. Most of them are Seth’s family, friends and coworkers. I can’t believe how many people he invited from work.”
“Where is your boss, by the way? You said you invited him.” I would like to see him so I could get a slight idea of what I will be in for Monday morning.
“He is around here somewhere. I spotted him earlier. Turn around, you’re up.”
I gasp and whirl around. Crap! It’s my turn to walk all by myself, with all eyes on me. It sure seems a long way, now that it’s actually time for me to make the journey. I gulp and tighten my fingers around the lovely bouquet in my hands. I’m surprised I haven’t crushed it. I take a deep breath and step forward. All eyes are trained on me as I walk slowly down the passage. Please don’t fall, please don’t fall, I chant. My heart is going a thousand beats per minute. I groan inwardly as I notice the lascivious once-over glances that are thrown my way from a few of the male guests. I finally come to the end of my walk to stand beside the other bridesmaids. I let out a low relieved breath and turn to watch my best friend walk down the aisle, accompanied by her father.
I smile when she meets my gaze and winks. I sneak a peek at the groom. He is looking at his approaching bride with stars in his eyes. I am hit with a feeling of longing. When will a man look at me with so much love? The right man for me has to be out there somewhere. I just need to be patient. I sigh inwardly. Patience has never been my strong suit. The perfect man could be among the guests here this afternoon. I scan the crowd idly. As if by a magnetic pull, my gaze locks with mesmerizing blue. My breath hitches in my chest. The man looking at me is incredibly good-looking. As a matter of fact, he is gorgeous. He stares at me with a burning intensity that causes my toes to curl in my strappy heels. I feel flushed, yet the way he looks at me causes me to shiver. My gaze lowers to the perfectly manicured hand placed possessively on his arm. Standing beside him is a tall, stunning blonde. She looks like a supermodel.
Laying eyes on his gorgeous companion, the trance that I seemed to be in quickly breaks. I shake my head slightly and return my attention to Chloe. I’m surprised to see that she has already reached the altar and is standing next to her groom. I quickly move to adjust the train of her gown behind her. I make a terrible maid of honor. I wasn’t even paying attention to the bride. I try to ignore the mysterious man’s presence, but I can’t forget how his eyes bore into me and the fact that he looks like a Greek god. I can still feel his eyes on me and I am tempted to look back at him, but I fight the urge. I wonder who he is. He must be a friend of Seth’s. If he were a part of Chloe’s circle, I’m sure I would have noticed him before. The man is pretty hard to miss.
I listen as Chloe and Seth recite their vows, and my heart melts at how they stare into each other’s eyes lovingly. The mysterious man creeps into my mind. What would it be like to have someone like him stare lovingly into my eyes? I’m utterly sure I would swoon. But that can never happen. The blonde beside him would make sure of that. He is way out of my league anyway. I could never land a man like him. “I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.” The priest’s voice penetrates my thoughts. I blink. Wow, the ceremony is over already? I spent the whole time thinking about a man whose name I don’t even know.
The crowd proceeds to the reception area. The bridal party is seated at a long table at the front of the room. At this point, I wish I could disappear at will. I push the salmon around on my plate, not feeling hungry at all. I am way too nervous sitting before so many people to even think about food. I start to fidget with my dress again, pulling at the top to somehow get it to cover up a bit more of my cleavage. Of course, my attempt is futile. I notice Chloe looking my way and smile. “Congrats, Mrs. Decker,” I whisper to her.
She beams at me, “Thanks, love, I just love the sound of my new name. And you didn’t do too badly, by the way.”
I let out an exaggerated sigh, “I’m just glad I didn’t fall on my face. Now, if I could only make myself invisible until the reception is over, I would be one happy girl.” I pull at the top of my dress again.
Chloe rolls her eyes, “Get over your shyness already. Look at you; you’re positively sexy in that dress. You should be flaunting your goods.”
My eyebrows go skyward, “My goods? Uh, I think I will refrain from flaunting anything of mine, thank you.”
Before she can comment, Seth leans over, “Hey babe, it’s time for our first dance.” Chloe takes his hand and they head to the dance floor. There is a murmur of “aws” from the crowd as the newlyweds whirl around the dance floor. Pretty soon others join in, throwing the celebration into full swing. I sit awkwardly as the other members of the bridal party disappear from the table.
“Hi, would you like to dance?” I look up to find one of the groomsmen smiling at me.
He is young and quite good-looking. But of course I refuse. “Um, no thanks, I don’t really dance.” He seems disappointed but nods curtly. I watch him walk away, on the quest to find another partner. I can’t picture myself out there dancing. For one, I’m not very good at it and I’m a total klutz. I have two left feet. I should disappear before anyone gets it in their head to ask me to dance. I think it’s because I look so damn pitiful, sitting at the table by myself. I grab my glass of champagne and ease out of my chair. It is high time I pull the disappearing act until Chloe needs me. I push my way through the dancing crowd, finally making my way outside.
The spring air is refreshing and I fill my lungs with it. I’m relieved to be away from so many people. I take a sip from my glass and lean against the wall. I feel a presence behind me. I turn abruptly to apologize, “I’m sorry, I didn’t know anyone else was out here.” The words die on my lips when I realize who it is. I let out a small gasp. It’s him. It’s the extremely handsome man I made eye contact with during the ceremony.
“It all right, no worries,” he says, his deep baritone voice washing over me. It is like the sound of the smooth, deep voice caresses my skin. His eyes bore into me as I stand gaping up at him. His lips twitch slightly and I blush. He must think I’m a complete idiot. My mouth is probably hanging open.
“Uh, I-I’ll go back in and give you your space,” I stammer while turning to leave.
“I said it is OK, you don’t have to leave. There is more than enough room out here for the both of us.” I study his serious demeanor from beneath my lashes. He really is a fine specimen of a man. His compelling blue eyes border on a sea green shade. They seem like they can penetrate so deeply that he can see into my soul. His strong nose is set above a mouth that has a fuller bottom lip than the top. His lips seem to be twisted in an almost wicked smirk. His bronzed complexion and windblown black hair give him a rugged look. I feel tiny next to his tall frame. I estimate him to be about six feet and two inches compared to my five feet three inches.
There is a dangerous air about him. It is in the way he watches me as though h were stalking prey. I get the impression that he can be sensual and he can be cruel. I should walk away and go back inside, but I am rooted to the ground in front of him. It is like he has me hypnotized with his eyes. I wonder where his model-like girlfriend is. She is nowhere to be seen. I swallow hard when his gaze runs from my face downward to swipe over my silhouette.
I am suddenly very self-conscious and I start to move away. His words stop me, “Why have you left the party? Aren’t you having fun?”
“Uh, sure, but I just needed some air.” Actually, I’m real
ly not enjoying myself. The whole thing is not really my scene. “What about you? What brings you out here away from the celebration?” What took you away from your girlfriend? is really what I want to ask.
His lips lift slightly, “I don’t like crowds very much.” Well, we have that in common. I can’t believe I am standing outside of a party, chatting with a man who looks like he can grace the cover of a man’s magazine. The champagne must have boosted my courage and self-confidence. Before I can muster up the courage to ask him who he is, he completely startles me. “Dance with me.” Huh? I stare up at him, wondering if I heard him correctly. He takes my hand.
“Oh uh, I-I’m not really good at dancing.” I try to pull my hand away but he does not release me. He takes the now empty glass from my hand and places it in a nearby flowerpot. He pulls me closer to him and his masculine scent assails my senses. I must be dreaming. The most gorgeous man I have ever laid eyes on just asked me to dance. Well, he didn’t really ask, it was more of a command. But who cares at this point?
“It’s OK, just follow my movements.” His hand rests on the small of my back and I shiver. He stares down at me intensely and I feel the urge to run away. There is something dark about him, and something ominous present in his gaze, but for some reason I can’t bring myself to pull away. We sway to the sound of a slow beat coming from inside. My throat feels overly dry and I am finding it difficult to catch my breath. The stranger’s proximity is doing weird things to my insides. I can’t even think straight. “What’s your name?” he asks softly.
In a daze, I attempt to answer. I am surprised I even remember my own name. “N-Nav—,” I stammer, but I am interrupted by a female voice.
“There you are, darling. I wondered where you disappeared to.” I turn to see his blonde companion from earlier. She is staring daggers at me. If looks could kill, I would very surely meet my demise in that instant, I quickly pull away from my dark, mysterious dance partner. “Aren’t you ready to go?” she purrs.
“I-I’m going back inside, nice to meet you… sir.” I walk off in a hurry, not bothering to look up at him or in the direction of the giant blonde. I hate confrontation and I want to get away from the hateful stare the woman gives me. I sigh in relief when I am inside. I sag against the wall. I didn’t even get his name. It doesn’t matter anyway. I will most likely never lay eyes on the sexy stranger again after today. I will have only the memory of being in his arms for a hot minute. I will forever remember his intense blue eyes, his scent and the feel of his hand on my back. He will play a starring role in my erotic fantasies for quite a while, I am sure.
Chapter Three
I stare up at the building before me. It is eight thirty in the morning. I’m supposed to be at Mr. Black’s office by nine, but I wanted to make a good impression and show up extra early. I spoke to Chloe briefly this morning. She is having a great time on her honeymoon. The excitement in her voice made me a bit jealous. I would love to be lounging at the beach on a tropical island with the man I love. She gave me a rundown of a few things to do to stay on the boss’s good side. I remember what she said about getting things down and staying out of his way. I can do that very well. As a matter of fact, I excel at staying out of people’s way. I would be happy if I didn’t have to deal with people altogether. She assured me that getting through the week would be fairly easy. I sure hope she is right. I take a deep breath and square my shoulders, attempting to exude confidence. I want that recommendation from Mr. Black so bad; I will have to try my best not to revert to my timid ways. I’m pretty sure I can fake it until I make it.
I stroll into the building and head for the elevator. Once inside, I dig around in my handbag to pull out a compact mirror. I give my face a once-over. My makeup is almost non-existent, with just a light application of foundation and a clear gloss on my lips. My long black hair is piled in a bun on top of my head. I smooth out one of the best professional dresses I could find. I don’t usually make a fuss over my clothes, but I decided to dress to impress this morning. The dress is knee-length but it hugs my curves, as does most of my clothing. I just can’t escape the generous curvature of my body. At least the dress is still office-appropriate. Besides, I’m sure Mr. Black won’t notice or care how my body is shaped. I take comfort in knowing that I will be working for a probably elderly, respectable businessman.
The ding of the elevator signals that I have reached my destination. The doors slide open and I step out. “Here goes nothing,” I whisper to myself. I have my eye on the prize, a recommendation and a generous paycheck at the end of the week. I plaster on a friendly smile and push the office door open. The place is empty. The office looks like it was expertly decorated. There is a huge desk in the middle of the room which I assume will be my work station. Behind the desk is a single door. Where is everyone else? Isn’t this supposed to be some kind of big communication technologies business? Yet there is one desk in the entire room. Doesn’t Mr. Black have more than one employee?
The door ahead is ajar. My curiosity gets the better of me and I decide to see if anyone is in there. I knock first, and then cautiously push the door open when I get no response. I push my head inside first to look around. I step inside the posh space. The entire office is empty. Maybe I’m in the wrong office. I would expect such a large company to be buzzing with activity already. I glance around the room, noticing the many awards and certificates decorating the wall. I walk over to the window to admire the lovely view of the city. “This place sure is nice,” I mumble. I would love to work permanently in a place like this. Hope blossoms inside of me. I will have a better chance at landing a job in a place like this with Mr. Black’s recommendation. Where is the man, anyway? If this is the right office, that is. I wonder if I should go back out and try another door. Just as I am about to turn to leave, I hear a voice.
“May I help you?” I jump, dropping my handbag and spilling the contents onto the carpet. I whirl around at the voice coming from behind me. Recognition hits me. Oh my God. It’s the mysterious man who I danced with at Chloe’s wedding. My pulse rate speeds up. The same attraction that hit me at the wedding hits me now. I can tell that he recognizes me, as well. Surprise flashes in his blue eyes and quickly disappears. He looks at me, waiting for me to answer his question.
“Uh, is this Jason Black’s office?” I ask, still not able to believe that I am having a second encounter with the man I have been dreaming about since Saturday. I never thought I would see him again. He is dressed in a well-tailored suit. He must work here, as well.
He steps toward me. “This is indeed Jason Black’s office. You are?”
“Navia Watson, I’m the standin secretary for this week.” Something flashes in his eyes, but it disappears so quickly, I am unable to identify what it was. I remember that my belongings are scattered across the floor and bend down to retrieve them. He is beside me in an instant. He stoops down to help me retrieve my scattered belongings. He hands me a tampon and my cheeks instantly flush. I think I might just die of humiliation. I grab it from his hand and shove it in my bag. “Thanks,” I mutter. He stands up, his lips twitching in amusement at my obvious embarrassment.
“No problem, Navia Watson.” The sound of my name rolling off his tongue does weird things to my insides. I have never thought of my name as being sexy before. But somehow he manages to make it sound sexy. I want to close my eyes and ask him to call my name again. Annoyed with myself, I shake the erotic images his voice has conjured up in my mind. I am here to work, for goodness’ sake, and here I am lusting after another employee. “Your name suits you,” he says. “I knew it would be something exotic when I met you at the wedding.”
I lower my lashes to conceal my pleasure at his compliment. “Thank you,” I breathe. “Do you work for Mr. Black?”
His lips twitch again, “I do.”
“It’s a small world. I never thought I would see you again. This is such a coincidence.”
“I don’t believe in coincidences, Ms. Watson. I’m a str
ong believer in fate.” He holds my gaze for a few intense seconds. I suddenly get the strange feeling that I walked into big trouble the minute I entered the office door. But I know that’s ridiculous, I’m only here to work for one week. What kind of trouble could I possibly get into? All I have to do is avoid Mr. Dark and Mysterious here and I will be fine.
“So where is everyone? For a big company it sure is quiet around here.”
“Only Mr. Black and his personal secretary work in this space. He likes peace and quiet and his privacy. The rest of the company takes up the two floors beneath us and the remaining rooms on this floor.”
“Oh, OK.” Well, that makes more sense. “So what time does the boss usually get here?”
“He is already here. Why don’t I show you to your desk, so you can take a few minutes to settle in? I’m sure he will find you to introduce himself shortly.”
“Sure, thank you.” I wonder what he does around here. Is he like another personal assistant to Mr. Black or something? Will I be working closely with him for the next week? If it is possible, my heart soars and drops at the same time. I’m attracted to the man beyond belief, but I can tell that he is dangerous and I need to stay away from him. He escorts me to the desk that I already assumed would be my work area. I place my handbag down and turn to smile at him. “Thank you so much, Mr.…”
“Jason Black, a pleasure to meet you, Navia Watson,” he drawls. My mouth drops open and I look down at the hand he has extended, then back at his face. Wicked amusement is written all over his face; he has been toying with me the entire time. I place my hand in his, unable to speak. He is whom I will be working for the week? I can’t believe that he is Jason Black. To think I pictured him as an old grandfather type. The man before me is the furthest thing from grandfatherly. He looks so young. He can’t be a day over thirty.
