by Vivian Wood
God, how she wished she had seen his face.
She knew she'd been drunk that night, but for some reason he remained vivid in her mind, along with the effect he'd had on her body. If Lily hadn't come to whisk her away, she probably would have slept with that total stranger.
It was crazy.
It gave her goosebumps just thinking about it. She'd always been so careful when it came to dealing with members of the opposite sex. But that night, she'd been willing to give it up to someone whose face she hadn't even seen – with a complete stranger!
It was as if a spell had been cast on her as she'd stared deep into his grey orbs.
It had all felt so very... magical.
Ew. Magical, my ass. You were drunk and desperate. You would have given it up to anyone for all you know, a mocking voice in her head said. Realistically, she knew this assessment probably wasn't too far off the mark.
“Honey? Is something bothering you?” Elizabeth asked, giving Meredith a questioning look. She appeared curious and worried at the same time.
“Huh?” Meredith blinked after being pulled back to reality. She averted her gaze and stared fixedly at her plate.
“So, you do have someone!” Her mother shot her a triumphant, knowing look.
“What? Mom!” she groaned, then heaved a deep sigh. “There's no one, okay? I wish though.”
“Fine,” Elizabeth said, but her tone suggested she didn't quite believe Meredith. She smiled, clearly having fun.
“Let's just eat,” Meredith mumbled and smiled, still embarrassed by the sudden question.
“Oh, come on, honey. You know you can tell me anything. How’s your stay been so far?”
Meredith rolled her eyes. “It would have been better if I'd gone to Bali with Lily.”
“It's not too late to change your mind, dear,” Elizabeth spoke mischievously, giving her a wink. Her mom had always pushed for her daughters to enjoy their youth. It was probably because she'd married at such a young age.
“Seriously? Are you sure you're my mother? You sound just like Lily,” Meredith said, shaking her head when Elizabeth just giggled. Sometimes she couldn't believe the things her mother would say in private, when in public she was very much prim and proper. They lapsed into a comfortable silence as they worked on finishing their respective breakfasts.
“Are you going to work today?” her mom asked abruptly, sending shivers down her spine.
Today would be her first day working at her dad's company – the New York Tribune. And as much as she hated the idea of spending her entire summer back home, she couldn't help but feel a little excited.
From this point on, she would no longer be an intern, nor a student. Today she would be able to put all of her knowledge to use and hopefully gain more experience.
“Yep,” she responded, careful to keep her tone neutral. She didn't want her mom to think she wasn't taking things seriously.
“Are you sure you can handle it? It’s not going to be easy, Meredith,” her mother said gently.
“Mom, I chose this. Whether it’s easy or not, I'm going to do this. This is what I've always wanted to do, remember?”
Elizabeth nodded, but kept silent. She'd always been more easygoing than her father.
They resumed eating as another comfortable silence settled between them. After several moments had passed, her father appeared, dressed formally in a suit and tie as usual.
“Good morning,” her father greeted with a smile.
Where Meredith's mother was petite and blonde, her father was tall and dark. Meredith might not have inherited any of his physical characteristics, but she took after him in personality.
“Good morning,” Mer and Elizabeth chorused in turn.
Sipping from his favorite coffee mug, her dad eyed Meredith, who was finally finished eating.
“Are you ready?” Benedict asked suddenly, startling her as she neatly dabbed at the corners of her mouth with her napkin.
She didn't feel ready. But she couldn't admit that to her dad, especially not after the deal they'd struck.
“Yes,” she heard herself say, rising from her seat with a smile and turning to retrieve the garment bag that was neatly draped on the chair next to her. She'd asked their maid to press her favorite Chanel pantsuit to wear for her first day of work. But the smile on her lips vanished when her father let out a hearty laugh.
“What?” she asked, puzzled.
“You’re going to need more than that, honey.” Meredith exchanged a confused glance with her mother.
“She graduated from Columbia,” Elizabeth said pointedly.
“She did. But it’s better not to show off, don’t you think?” Benedict responded calmly. Elizabeth frowned.
“So wearing what she wants is showing off somehow?” her mother said, folding her arms across her chest.
Her mother loved fashion and owned several boutiques stocked with garments from only the most exclusive, in-demand designers. Meredith had a keen interest in fashion as well, thanks to her mother's influence. But her mother seemed to be taking this almost personally.
Her dad closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. Meredith and her mother exchanged glances again while they waited for him to respond.
“It's too flashy,” he finally said, opening his eyes and shaking his head.
Meredith didn't want her parents to fight. Yes, her mother was mostly easygoing, but when it came to certain topics she knew her mother would never back down. She cleared her throat, and both her parents turned to look at her.
“What should I wear then?” she asked, feeling slightly disappointed that she wouldn't be able to wear her favorite clothes to work. But she did want to fit in.
Silence filled the room as he looked her over thoughtfully. Meredith lowered her head when she felt her cheeks growing hot from his intense scrutiny, realizing she was wearing gym clothes despite having skipped her morning workout earlier in favor of getting more sleep.
“That will do,” her dad commented, referring to her outfit.
“Seriously?” she asked, quite taken aback. If the pantsuit was too flashy, surely this outfit was too casual by comparison?
“Yes. Keep in mind you'll be on your feet a lot throughout the day, and you'll want to be comfortable. You'll thank me later,” he said with a wink. Meredith rolled her eyes. That was one of his favorite phrases to use on her and her sister. But she couldn't think of a single time where he'd said that, and not been right.
Nodding in response, Meredith headed to her room to finish getting ready. By the time she headed downstairs again, her parents were already waiting for her in the foyer.
“Shall we?” she said with a wide smile on her face. She couldn't suppress the feeling of excitement as her dad led the way to the garage, where their private driver waited.
“Have a lovely day dear,” her mom whispered, giving her a light kiss on the cheek.
“Elizabeth, she’ll be fine. I’m with her,” Benedict murmured softly, shaking his head before kissing her mom on the temple.
“She should be. I’m counting on you.”
“I'm going to be just fine, you guys. I'm not a kid anymore,” Meredith piped up, shaking her head. Her parents chuckled, and exchanged their goodbyes.
Soon Meredith and her father were on their way. Meredith looked out the window, noting all the myriad changes to the neighborhood where she'd spent her entire life until leaving for college. Some buildings she'd expected to see had been replaced by newer, taller structures. The park where she'd played with friends in elementary school was gone, replaced by a cafe.
She smiled. Things had changed. But so had she.
She had grown up.
With a start, she realized she didn't recognize the path the driver was taking. She frowned and turned to her father.
“Where are we going?” she asked, wondering what he had planned. Maybe she wouldn't be working in the main office after all.
Her dad smiled and winked at her.
Meredith froze. She hadn't expected to discuss this so soon. And definitely not with her dad.
“I was going to go to Bali with Lily. She's there right now,” she said. “And I guess I'll head to Europe and meet her wherever she ends up when summer's over,” she added.
“I see,” he said, looking thoughtful. Meredith wondered what he was thinking.
“Okay. You can go. On one condition…”
“What condition?” she asked cautiously. She didn't want to get her hopes up prematurely if he was going to ask her for something impossible.
“I want you to report on the presidential campaign. Use your degree for the whole summer and you're free to go,” he said.
“Really? That's it?”
His lips quirked up into a smile.
“That's it,” he said. “Oh, and make sure you call your parents from time to time,” he added.
“I will! And thank you Dad!” she exclaimed happily, giving him a hug.
“You're welcome. But it's not all going to be fun and games, Meredith. Working a presidential campaign isn't an easy assignment. And you'll be representing the company, so you'll need to be on your best behavior at all times.”
She nodded. “Dad, I know. Trust me.” Besides, she thought, it doesn't matter as long as I get to Bali after this is all done.
Shaking his head, her dad handed her a file with all the information she would need about this assignment. She was too excited to even spare it a single glance before shoving the papers inside her bag.
Bali! Wait for me! she thought enthusiastically.
Shortly, the car stopped in front of an unfamiliar office building. Meredith got out of the car and hurried alongside her father, following his lead.
A stunning brunette was waiting for them. Meredith learned that her name was Sosie, and she was the manager for the campaign. She ushered them toward the candidate's office, making pleasant small talk with her father. Meredith relaxed and spaced out a bit, daydreaming about Bali. She could practically feel the hot sand under her toes already.
She shook her head. She needed to start taking this seriously. She peeked into her bag and hurriedly scanned the file her father had given her. It wouldn't do to be completely ignorant. But all she had time to see was the candidate's name – Elijah Scott. It wasn't familiar to her though. Probably some old married guy, she thought.
As they stepped into a spacious office, she idly hoped she wouldn't die from sheer boredom over the next few months.
“Mr. Fields of the New York Tribune is here,” Sosie informed the man who was sitting on an office chair, looking out the windows.
Meredith felt fluttering in her stomach as the tall figure rose from his seat. Taller than even her father by a few inches, his shoulders were broad, and she could tell his muscular physique was the product of frequent trips to the gym.
As he turned to greet them, she found herself holding her breath. He looked way too young to be a presidential candidate. And in fact, she thought he looked more like a model than a career politician.
Tall, dark, and handsome, just her type. She was captivated by his presence. She'd never expected to be working with someone so young, let alone so handsome. He was sinfully handsome.
Is he married? she wondered to herself.
“Good morning, Mr. Fields. It's so good to see you again,” Elijah said warmly, shaking her father's hand.
“The pleasure is all mine, Mr. Scott,” her father responded in a friendly tone.
“Please, Elijah is just fine. Mr. Scott is my father.”
Meredith heard her father chuckle. “Elijah it is. This is my daughter Meredith. She'll be working on the campaign trail with you like we discussed,” he said, taking a seat and motioning for her to join him on the couch.
Meredith obediently took a seat next to her father, feeling slightly awkward when Elijah looked at her. When their eyes met, she felt butterflies flutter in her stomach. Something about his gaze was making her feel nervous for some reason.
But at the same time, something about him seemed strangely familiar...
It was his eyes. She could look at them all day. They were an unusual shade of grey. She knew they had never met before, so why did she have this nagging feeling like she somehow knew him already?
“It's nice to meet you, Meredith,” Elijah greeted her warmly, offering his hand for her to shake. He smiled.
When she shook his hand, she felt positively electric. The truth finally hit her when the image of the masked man from the party popped into her head.
The man from the party was the same person standing in front of her.
It’s him!
5
Meredith.
Elijah was completely stunned when he realized he was staring at the woman who had been haunting his dreams for days now. The woman he'd been fantasizing about nonstop since the party.
After the party, not a single day had passed where he hadn't spent every moment of his limited free time picturing her lying underneath him, calling his name, writhing and moaning. Or her on her knees, wrapping those perfectly pouty lips around his cock.
He almost couldn't believe who she was. Eldest daughter of the Benedict Percival Fields of the New York Tribune. Now he was finally and completely convinced it was a good thing nothing had happened between them at the party. His political career could be over in a flash if he got involved with her.
Small world, huh? his inner voice whispered sarcastically as he averted his gaze, careful to pretend like he was only just now meeting Meredith for the first time.
“I'm so pleased you'll be the one showing my Meredith around. I trust you'll make sure she'll be in good hands,” Benedict Fields stated.
Eli couldn't help feeling a little ashamed. He hoped his face hadn't given away all the perverted thoughts he'd been having about Meredith just now.
“It's my pleasure to have her with us, Mr. Fields,” he said, trying to shove the thoughts out of his mind. He nodded and smiled, trying to reassure him his daughter would be in good hands.
After a few more minutes, Benedict Fields said goodbye, leaving Meredith behind for orientation with Sosie. Eli wasn't sure what to do when Sosie received an important phone call she'd been expecting, stepping out of the office and leaving him alone with Meredith.
Still trying to play it cool, he sat back on his chair and directed his attention out the window. He was trying to come to terms with the fact that Meredith would be a part of his campaign. But he was dreading the inevitable conversation they were going to have; he could tell Meredith had recognized him from the party, mask or not.
So much for that supposed anonymity, he thought.
If she asks, just play dumb and act like you don't know anything. Simple, his inner voice said.
Something told him it wouldn't be that simple though as he turned and saw Meredith staring at him. Thankfully Sosie stepped back into the office a few seconds later, ready to take Meredith around the offices for her orientation.
Eli's relief was short-lived, however. Before he knew it, Sosie was back on the phone, and Meredith was in his office once more. She shot him a questioning look, folding her arms across her chest. He decided to try and take control of the situation. “Is there something I can help you with, Miss Fields?” he asked coolly.
“It was you,” she said in a hushed whisper, eyebrow raised. She sounded completely certain.
Yep, it was me. What's it to you? said the devil in his mind.
Aloud he asked, “What do you mean?” hoping his face didn't betray his nerves. Usually around journalists he was able to lie with impunity like any good politician, but this woman was different.
Meredith narrowed her eyes and shot him a suspicious glare.
“You were the man I met at the masquerade party in New York, weren't you?” she pressed on, demanding an answer. This
time she planted her hands on her hips, making him groan mentally.
Seeing Meredith in tight leggings that hugged her curves in all the right places, Eli couldn't help but check out her body. And fuck, just from looking at her he was already growing hard.
“I don't know what you're talking about, Miss Fields,” he said, trying to disarm her with a boyish smile. He was doing his best to keep his face straight until her curiosity subsided.
She opened her mouth to reply, but just then Sosie came back into the room, whisking Meredith away again. Eli couldn't help staring at her ass as she walked away. He shook his head. What was he thinking? She needed to go.
If the public were to find out he'd attended what was essentially an anonymous sex party, that would be the end of his career. It wasn't like he could tell Benedict Fields or Sosie the truth either. He'd just have to come up with an excuse to have Meredith removed from the campaign.
He didn't want to kick her off the campaign, but that was the best plan he could come up with in order to save face and keep his career intact from possible scandal.
Eli's thoughts were a jumbled mess when he heard a knock at the door. It was Henry, carrying a couple of boxes containing flyers.
“What’s up?” he asked, putting the boxes on the floor.
Taking a deep sigh, Eli slumped against the couch, earning a frown from his friend.
“Meredith Fields, daughter of Benedict Fields of the New York Tribune, will be working on the campaign,” he murmured helplessly.
Henry crumpled up his face in confusion. “So? Why the long face?”
Shooting up from his seat, Eli strode across the room and shut the door to his office. He didn't want to take any chances that anyone would overhear what he was about to say.
“She was the girl who was with me in the private booth that night at the party. She gave me a fucking lap dance,” he explained in exasperation, looking more frustrated than ever.
Henry fell silent, baffled.
“The blonde? Her? Here?”
“Yeah. Un-fucking-believable, right?” he said, shaking his head.
“What are you going to do?” Henry asked.
