"That's not the point. I don't want you buying me stuff, it’s like you're trying to buy me."
"Oh." He went silent for a minute. "I wasn't trying to."
Amy sighed. "I'm sorry, I just don't like getting expensive gifts for no reason, I’ve always thought people give them with an ulterior motive. Maybe on a special occasion sometimes, but mostly with something else in mind. Like, if you're a jerk, you'd give them as apologies."
Max smiled. "I don't think I'm a jerk."
"Fine, let's go home then. I can think of things that are a lot more fun than buying silly jewelry."
Max grinned and cocked an eyebrow. He hoped she meant what he thought she meant. "Like what?"
It was Amy's turn to smile, and he followed her as she walked towards the car. "You'll get to find out later."
Max grinned, surprised but happy at her preferences.
And when they got home, he wasn't disappointed either - she had been talking about getting back to bed with him.
They explored each other's bodies with a burning fervor, as though they'd completely forgotten last night, and he felt himself drowning in her arms. Being with Amy was so different in every way, and he knew that the images of her would be burned into his memory forever.
***
As she stood under the shower, letting the warm water wash over her, Amy reflected on the past couple of hours. Max was in the den, setting up a movie and waiting for their lunch to arrive.
It had been a great day, with some caveats. There had been an awkward moment in the cafe when she'd been tempted to tell Max that Nicky Dunn was her cousin. But if she'd said anything, he would obviously put things together and think she was a corporate spy. So she let the moment slide, and didn't mention that one of the cousins she lived with, growing up, was Nicky.
Not that it mattered anyway, she told herself. Her fling with Max would be over soon, and then it wouldn't matter who her cousin was.
And of course there was that annoying thing at the jewelry store. She didn't know whether to feel sorry for Max, for thinking that he had to buy every girl he slept with some jewelry, or flattered that he liked her enough to want to get her something.
By the time she stepped out of the shower and into the den, their Thai curries and rice had arrived, and Max had set up the movie, "One of my favorites," he promised her.
And she wasn't too surprised - he'd picked "Wall Street", and they chewed noisily through it.
Amy had seen the sequel, "Money Never Sleeps" and when the movie ended they both commented on the direction the movie had taken and the premise of the sequel. Everyone's attitude towards the "greed is good" mantra had changed since the GFC and Amy pointed out the movement towards ethical products.
"Yep," Max said, "That's one of the directions I want Zetta to move into. Like FT World, the Fair Trade products grocery store. I see that taking off soon. Unless Nicky buys it before I can."
"Why don't you two stop jacking up prices on things you each want to buy?"
Max's scowl deepened. "She bought a winery I was interested in. So I got a gold mine in South Africa she'd scouted out and I got a great bargain - someone else had done the hard due diligence work." He shrugged. "That's just the way it is. I guess it's good to have a rival, keeps you on your toes."
"But you pay a couple million more than you should! Doesn't that make things more unprofitable for you?"
"Maybe. But what're you gonna do?"
"Why not some kind of truce, like you decide not to compete in certain areas?"
Max scoffed. "She doesn't seem that type, and I'm not going to beg her for peace."
Amy sighed. Obviously, the two had egos. She let Max change the topic to where they'd go for dinner, and soon they were out at a cute bistro, enjoying steak and roast veggies.
***
On the ride back home from the bistro, Max decided this was turning out to be one of the best weekends he'd enjoyed in a while. Amy wasn't just gorgeous and great in bed, she was easy to talk to. Since she didn't want anything from him, not even to appear in a tabloid next to him, he could be honest with her and tell her about his life.
And on top of that, she was super-intelligent. She could discuss business with the same passion he did, and he liked that she was concerned about Nicky stealing business away from him. He'd even had fun discussing Wall Street, the GFC and the post-GFC financial climate with her. Of course, he'd accidentally let it slip that he meant to buy FT World, nobody was supposed to know about it yet, but surely it wouldn't make a difference that he'd told her.
When they got home, Max was happy that Amy was just as eager as him to get into bed. Their chemistry was undeniable and he couldn't get enough of her. Her touches and kisses inflamed something deep inside him that was greater than just physical desire. He wanted to consume her completely, he never seemed to get enough of her, and she forced him to lie down so she could straddle him. When she moved on top of him gracefully, gliding up and down with him inside her, her breasts bouncing with every movement, Max felt like the luckiest man alive.
The next morning, he woke up early, thrilled with the memory of the previous night, but sad that it was over. He lay in bed and couldn't help but cough loudly, hoping he would wake Amy - and he did.
She smiled when she saw him next to her.
"You're awake," Max said, trying to sound surprised. "Do you want me to get you some coffee?"
Amy tilted her head sleepily as if she was trying to think about it, and Max quickly suggested, "Or maybe you could try waking up with a shower instead."
She raised an eyebrow, reading his mind, but she didn't insist on coffee. Soon after she went into the bathroom, he heard the sound of the shower and decided to go in and try to help her wake up.
The shower was on and Amy had her back to him, the water streaming down over her naked body, making her hair slick and wet.
She turned around to look at him and gave him a knowing smile. The water streamed down her naked body, her breasts were round and full, just begging to be squeezed roughly between his hands, her nipples were already erect and sharpened into hard little points. His lips parted a little in anticipation.
"Don't get any smart ideas," he growled, stripping off his clothes. "I'm just here to save water."
"Of course." She smiled, and her voice was teasing and beckoning.
Max joined her under the shower, and pulled her close for a deep kiss. The scent of her minty breath overpowered his senses, and he felt himself losing control faster than he'd expected. As their embrace deepened, his hands roamed her body, kneading her breasts hungrily for a while before travelling lower, between her legs. She moaned into his mouth as he found her sensitive nub and toyed with her and she raked her fingernails along his back, arching up against him.
He could feel her impatience as he moved away briefly before kissing her neck, and trailing tiny kisses downwards from her shoulders before dipping his head and taking one hard, tempting nipple into his mouth. She was stroking his engorged member slowly, one hand following the other, driving him crazy, until finally he let go of her breast and pushed her against a marble wall.
Max lost track of all his other thoughts as he lifted her up, trying to be gentle, and she wrapped her legs around him. He entered her slowly, savoring the slow torture of waiting, even as he felt her muscles tighten around him. He moved slowly, in and out, until he could no longer tolerate the sweet agony and began to thrust harder, faster, desperate to reach the climax as Amy began to clench tightly and moan out loud.
He felt a grunt escape him; the noises they were making echoed through the white bathroom and he felt Amy's arousal increase until she started to come loudly in his arms. No longer needing to hold back, he thrust into her hard as she moaned and screamed in ecstasy. He slammed into her hot, wet entrance roughly, desperate to reach the orgasm that finally took over him, and he enjoyed the sweet release, groaning as he came inside her.
They held each other for a few minutes, before slowly di
sentangling themselves and deciding to actually use the shower to clean up.
Max left before Amy did, and headed straight to the kitchen to whip up some quick scrambled eggs. He felt satisfied but unhappy - the thought that he'd have to leave Amy soon began to consume his thoughts.
When she came out of the shower in the white robe, she looked happy and refreshed. But all he could think of was saying goodbye. Should he have not been with her this morning, would she think he was a jerk for using her one last time?
Their eyes met and the smile disappeared from her face, replaced with a slight, adorable frown. "What's wrong, Max?"
He removed the fry pan and arranged the eggs, chopping up chives for a garnish. "I'm sorry.”
He didn't want to look into her eyes, he knew the disappointment he'd see in there.
"This is goodbye, isn't it?"
"Yes."
The word escaped him before he knew what he was saying. But he looked at her, and he knew that goodbyes were not possible. Not yet, not when he was still so hungry for her body, and hungry for her company.
He gulped. "I don't want you to leave yet, but I have to go, it's Sunday lunch with my family and I've got to drive upstate."
She relaxed and helped him take the plates and cutlery to the tiny kitchen table. "Well, that's understandable."
"Really?" Previous girlfriends and companions had been mad when he'd deserted them on Sundays to get to his parents' house. But then he'd never really cared about them getting mad, he knew they'd stick around. He used them and they used him - it was an easy trade and one he was comfortable with.
But Amy wasn't using him, wouldn't let him buy her anything, and didn't seem to want anything from him. He wasn't sure how she'd react, and however she did react, he wanted her to stay around him. It wasn't as easy as he'd expected, but he wasn't about to give up.
They settled in with their food, and Amy said, "So, what about Monday?"
"Right. We'll visit HR first thing…"
"Absolutely. And I don't want anyone at work knowing we've been together. And you'll be a good reference when I interview at other places?"
"Hang on. Why are you moving jobs already?"
"I thought this was over."
"Well, it's not."
They stared at each other for a moment, the surprise evident in Amy's eyes, and some other emotion that he couldn't read.
He knew he sounded stubborn but he didn't care. "I don't want you leaving yet."
"Then what do you want? I thought this was just for a weekend."
He ran a hand through his hair. "So did I. But I’ve changed my mind, I like you. You're fun to be with, and I want you around for a little longer."
She toyed with her fork for a moment before looking at him again. "Ok. But I'm looking for a new job, I don't want things to get awkward at work."
"I understand."
"And let me understand this a bit better. What exactly do you think of relationships, girls?"
Max sighed. He should've known she'd ask. But she wasn't asking to push things forward, which was a change.
"Well." He hesitated, unwilling to drive her away.
"Be honest. I just need to know - like you said, no illusions or unreal expectations."
He let out a sigh of relief. "Ok. Here's the thing - girls usually want something from me. Gifts, introductions to the right people, information so that they can give exclusive magazine interviews. So I don't do relationships, and I don't believe in stuff like love - "
"But what about Chloe?"
He rolled his eyes, remembering her cold ambition. "She was delusional. I liked her company for a while but then she… " He was about to say "got pushy", but it didn't sound right.
Anyway, Amy seemed to understand. "I get it," she said, "We'll be together a few more days, then we'll get bored of each other and move on."
Her voice was dry and she looked faintly amused. He wondered about her past relationships. She didn't seem like someone who did "fun flings", she looked like someone who wanted love, marriage, kids and the works. And he didn't do "the works".
"I'm glad you understand," he said slowly.
He needn't have worried. Amy smiled and nodded, and said, "Absolutely. I'll get packed once I've finished - "
"And I'll drop you home." Max didn't want her taking the subway, and though he knew she did that every evening, he felt strangely possessive and wanted to see her home safely.
Chapter Five
Amy was thankful her housemate, Mandy, was still visiting her brother and his family in Washington DC. Mandy made the trip once every couple of weeks, and it was always nice for Amy to have the place to herself. She liked Mandy, but they weren't particularly close, and as she unpacked the duffel bag and put her things away carefully, she thought back to the weekend.
She'd enjoyed herself, but was shocked when Max had asked to continue seeing her for a while longer. She'd pressed him to explain exactly what he thought relationships were about - she didn't want to fall for an emotionally unavailable guy. And hearing it from his own lips had made it all real - there was no way he'd have any emotions for a girl he was just sleeping with. Not that she blamed him really, after all those girls he was usually with.
It was funny how quickly she'd gotten physically addicted to him. She felt lonely at the thought of having to spend the next few nights alone, and was glad he wanted to extend this a bit. She'd spend the afternoon looking for job ads, of course and -
Her fingers hit something hard and cubical in the bag and she pulled it out. It was a small jewelry box, with a piece of paper rolled around it. She unwrapped the paper and read it -
"Amy, these last two days count as a special occasion for me."
She shook her head in amusement and opened the box. It was a tiny butterfly pendant dotted with pink and clear stones hanging from a thin gold chain. She smiled, lifting it up and putting it on. It was just her style, subtle and pretty, and though it must have cost a lot, it couldn't be exorbitantly overpriced like those diamond necklaces he'd tried to buy her. Or was it?
She hesitated, looking at herself in the mirror and wondering if she should attempt to return it. But that would just make her seem like a crazy person. She'd have to keep it.
She smiled to herself and decided to call her best friend, Zora. Though her affair with Max was a secret, she just had to tell someone, and Zora was a great confidante. She was wonderful at keeping secrets and Amy trusted her with her life.
***
Unless they had an exceptional reason, nobody ever missed the Wilson family's Sunday lunch. Brunch might be the meal of choice for fashionable New Yorkers, but ever since they could remember, Max had turned up with the rest of his brothers and sisters for the meal at his parents' house.
It was a big contrast from the formal, hushed event he'd attended on Friday night. The house upstate was large, and there was beautiful silverware and crystal on the table, but Max considered his siblings to be the most uncouth bunch of humans to grace the face of the earth. Of course, he loved them to bits, but they did know how to get on his nerves.
Right now they were teasing Matt for being so boring and conservative.
"I bet he gets drunk and marries a Vegas stripper," giggled Amelia.
Matt scowled at her and told her to go dig her nose in the Japanese markets, hadn't they opened yet? Amelia, a currency trader, merely stuck her tongue out at him, while on the other side of the table his other sisters teased their cousin Melissa about being single so long.
"Surely there's at least one man in Manhattan who's good enough for you?" Violet was a fashion designer who couldn't help tormenting the quiet Mel.
Of course Matt heard that and turned on her. "Don't tell us you're about to design your own wedding dress for once?"
Their mother Vanessa sighed, and began to ask Max about Chloe. She was tired of her children being single, she wanted grandkids before it got too late, but of course her pleas would just fall on deaf ears.
"Forget Chloe," boomed his father, Kevin, "Make sure that Nicky doesn't outwit you again. A woman like that might be dangerous."
Max nodded. He agreed, Nicky had a knack for sticking her nose in where it didn't belong, and buying up companies that should belong to Zetta Corp. It had become a rather bitter rivalry…
"And," his father added, "She's finding out what you're planning to buy too quickly. I think you've got a mole in the company somewhere."
"That's impossible," Max protested, "Only a few of the top employees have access to information about what I'm planning to buy and I trust them all."
"I'm just saying, be careful…"
But all that got dimmed out as their mother began to regale tales of her friend Christine's granddaughter; wasn't she lucky to have grandkids? Everyone groaned and tried to change the topic, and slowly they began to catch up on each others' lives.
Although they'd been brought up in the same household, none of the siblings expected life to hand them things on a silver platter. They all had different careers, different passions that they followed, and if none of them had found love yet, well, even Vanessa knew that it was just a matter of time.
It was always interesting to hear about each other’s lives, from Melissa's cafe to Violet's designs. Max claimed he didn't have much new to talk about and managed to avoid mentioning Amy.
It was only when they got into the car and were halfway back to Manhattan that Matt finally asked how the gala had gone.
Max smiled wryly. "We're talking to HR tomorrow."
"We?"
"That's right."
Matt let it sink in slowly. "So you're signing …"
"Yep."
Matt sighed. "Why can't you hit on someone outside of work?"
Max grinned, remembering their last few hours together. Amy was sensual and exciting, she didn't seem to want anything from him. It was a carefree relationship, unlike anything he'd experienced recently. And he planned to have his fun.
They were silent for a few minutes. Matt knew better than to try to change his brother's mind, and finally they began to talk about company performances and new business opportunities.
The Pink Rose: Secrets, Love and Betrayal Page 4
