by Ava Walsh
I’m pretty sure I don’t like him as a person. Who would? He’s just a means to an end. Plus I would never allow myself to grow attached to a man.
So his rules suit me just fine. Only sex, nothing else.
Chapter One
Kayla
I have to start my day in a sweat. By that I mean I have to get my heart pumping, my muscles aching and my body rewarding me for the extra mile I’ve pushed it. Every day is the same. I blink my eyes open and I can’t wait to hit the gym.
Today is no different. I arrived at seven, when the gym was deserted, the doors open just for me. I hooked the earplugs in, I stretched while walking towards the treadmill and then I started running. What a way to wake myself up!
This one hour when I’m alone in the gym, listening to the same three songs on loop, is the most peaceful time of the day for me.
It’s when I can do some thinking, clear my head and prepare myself for a day in the office. No interruptions, no distractions and no demands.
My body jerks as I run, I keep my eyes focused on the wall length mirror in front of me. This way I can see myself, love myself as I run for thirty minutes without a break.
But what I wasn’t expecting today was an intrusion. About twenty minutes into the run, I heard the gym door open behind me and saw someone walk in. I could feel my brows furrowing with irritation. I told myself that as long as they left me alone, I’d be fine.
A few seconds later he came into view. Walking up behind me, watching me run on the treadmill. A soft smirk creased the side of his face. I could see his eyes were on my butt, and then on my back. He was walking towards me with a towel flung over his shoulder.
He looked familiar, although I couldn’t exactly place him. I was sure he was related to the Connells in some way. He had to be. This was the family’s personal gym after all; very few employees have access to this room.
I’d been working as a receptionist at their financial services firm for the past four years. It’s a medium sized company that trades in stocks and is located in a swanky private office building. The Connells trust me, I live nearby and I’m there at their every beck and call. Working seven days a week if they need me to. The free access to their personal gym is one of the many perks that they’ve provided me with. For that, I’m very grateful.
But who is this guy? I couldn't remember seeing him around the office, and the confidence, the sheer arrogance with which he was walking towards the treadmill next to me…I could tell that he wasn’t just a regular employee.
His blonde hair and baby blue eyes contributed to a boyish look, but everything else about him was purely man. I was annoyed, nonetheless.
The crop top he was wearing clung to his chiseled muscles, the bulges on his thighs stretched the thin nylon material of his shorts.
He was still smirking as he flung himself onto the treadmill next to mine. He was making a point. There were six other empty treadmills around us, an entire empty gym to make use of. But he chose to run on the treadmill next to mine, to look into the mirror in front of us, directly into my eyes as he picked a speed on the machine.
Within seconds he was running, faster than me. I looked back at him in the mirror, narrowing my eyes and maintaining my speed. If this was a battle, I wasn’t just going to give up. I had been here nearly thirty minutes by now, so my body had started to wind down, used to the usual routine. But I was going to push myself now. If he was trying to make a point, I’d make one too.
We were both running to match each other’s speed. The music was loud in my ears, keeping me motivated but I could feel the breath catching in my throat. It wouldn’t be long before I’d start feeling the strain of my muscles.
He was still smirking, watching me, running with ease. His neck was broad, and he had broad shoulders to match. There were sweat patches forming on his shirt now, and sweat dripped from his hair too. None of it seemed to bother him.
I was growing increasingly aware of my senses, everything seemed to be happening in slow motion. I could feel my ponytail grazing my back, the soles of my shoes hitting the rubber belt of the treadmill, the muscles on my calves beginning to ache with every extra second.
I saw him punch the board, to increase his speed and I was tempted to do the same. I was panting by now but tried to make sure that my face didn’t change. I didn’t want to give away that I was getting tired.
How did this turn into a competition? I didn’t even know the guy. Maybe it was the smirk on his face, the absolute confidence with which he challenged me to a fight, without even asking me to it.
The music in my ears was growing louder, and I had to blink hard to keep my eyes from shutting on their own accord. My body was screaming at me to stop, but I pushed on. I could feel the sweat trickle down my back, the hair from my bangs stuck to the sides of my face. He was running faster now, harder, his muscular torso stretching and contorting with every step. He was enjoying himself, while I was wondering why I was even a part of this.
I saw his lips move in the mirror, and my mind was grateful for the distraction. I continued running but pulled the earplugs out.
“You can give up if you want,” I heard him say, repeat himself. I crossed my brows at him.
“Thank you for the permission, but I’m following my own routine,” I said and stuck the earplugs back into my ears. I saw him smile, a big wide self-indulgent smile.
Then he casually stopped the machine and slowed to a stop himself. I was relieved, even though I didn’t allow my face to show it. Secretly it was a victory for me, that I wasn’t the first one to put an end to it.
I saw him jump off the treadmill and reach for the towel. That’s when I stopped and got off the treadmill myself, feeling a little dizzy. I switched off the music when I picked up my own towel, still annoyed by the disruption to my routine.
“Good run,” I heard him say. I looked at him and threw him a half smile. Common sense was flooding my brain now. No matter how irritated I was, in all likelihood, this guy was a colleague, which meant that I shouldn’t be rude.
“Is that your usual set?” he asked as I undid the cap of my water bottle, still panting.
“Yep,” I said and eagerly drank from the bottle. He was still wiping himself down, looking at me with confidence, unabashedly, no apology in his eyes.
“I like to get an early start at the gym. I didn’t expect to find anyone here,” he continued. I wanted to tell him that was exactly how I operated, but I decided against it. I wasn’t here to make friends.
“Have I offended you in some way?” he asked after a few seconds of silence. I was preparing to leave now. I usually spent another fifteen minutes on the cross trainer, but I didn’t want to get into another competition with him.
“Why do you say that?” I asked him, as I picked up my gym bag.
“You don’t seem too pleased to see me here,” he replied, his eyes flitting over my breasts and back up to my face. I could see what kind of man he was. He thought I was going to be an easy pickup at the gym. He had confidence in himself and his prowess at impressing women. But I wasn’t just going to giggle and accept his advances. He had intruded on my privacy, on my personal space and I was secretly glad he thought I was offended.
“I’m sorry that I’m not more friendly. It’s just that I have to get to work,” I said, starting to walk away from him.
“So you work here,” he said, following me at a distance. I was headed for the shower room and getting more annoyed now that he was following me there.
“Yes,” I said dismissively and heard him chuckle.
“I do too. Starting today,” he said. I couldn’t make sense of it. If he was just a regular employee, why and how was he given access to the family’s personal gym? There were people who had worked for the company for several years and were still not given the privilege. You had to earn the perks.
“Great. Welcome, I guess,” I said instead and he stretched out his hand to me.
“I’m Oscar,” he introduce
d himself and I had no other choice but to shake his hand. He had me cornered against the wall by the changing rooms’ door now. We shook hands and he took a few more steps towards me.
That’s when his smell entered my nostrils. The smell of his sweat combined with the expensive cologne he had on. The strength of his handshake, and the way he held my hand for just a little longer than strictly necessary. I could see the outline of the six-pack underneath his shirt. He was much taller than me too, towering over me while I had to look up at him.
My confidence was suddenly struck out of me, and I found myself catching my breath, trying to find my voice.
“Kayla,” I said meekly and with my left foot, I pushed back the changing room door. I had to get out of here before I did anything stupid. He registered the movement and raised his eyebrows.
“Are you trying to make a quick escape?” he asked, his face now painfully close to mine.
“I have to get to work. So do you,” I managed to say, before slipping into the changing room.
The door shut behind me and I realized my breathing was loud. It had to be the extra miles I had just run. That was the reason my heart was beating so fast. That my senses were running amok.
I started stripping almost instantly, growing aware of the sweat on my clothes. I needed to get out of them and into the shower as quickly as possible. I needed to get his smell off me. The changing rooms and showers for the men were on the other side of the wall and while I was stepping into the shower, I heard another shower being turned on. It had to be him.
I stood there for a few seconds imaging him on the other side of the wall. Naked, the steaming water coursing down the grooves of his muscles, washing away the sweat from his hair.
I didn’t want to imagine him naked, but he had left very little to the imagination. I bit down on my lip, hard. This was insane. What was wrong with me?!
I, Kayla Edwards, was the last person to fantasize about a colleague in the gym shower. I was strict with my rules of conduct and this went completely against them.
I concentrated on cleaning myself, washing my hair, conditioning it and then patting myself dry. I still had another hour before I had to be at my desk, which gave me enough time to get ready for the day. And enough time to get my senses back in order.
Chapter Two
Oscar
I couldn’t get her out of my head. She was a mystery to me because I couldn’t quite figure her out. Did she want me or did she hate me? I had to drag myself out of the gym shower but I waited around to see if she’d come out. When she didn’t, I decided to give her the space she needed, to get ready and get to work.
Kayla, her first name, that’s all I knew about her. I also knew, of course, the way her thick plump lips turned when she tried to force a smile. Her big breasts, bouncing as she ran on the treadmill. Her butt was big, bigger than my hands if I ever had a chance to squeeze them. I wanted to feel her skin, that smooth bronze skin under my fingertips, feel the soft satin smooth flesh between her thighs, which I knew existed.
I knew her eyes too, even though she had repeatedly avoided looking at me. I knew her eyes, they were like dark bitter chocolate. Intense, peeling, boring into my soul. They commanded me to stay away, but I wanted to get close to her even more.
I was sitting at my new desk, a large oak table that I had ordered and custom built for the new office. The decorator had done a good job. Rich velvet bottle green curtains, matching upholstery and a plush carpet on the floor. I had my prized paintings shipped from London and they hung on the walls behind me now.
I was sitting with my fingers steepled, thinking about her still when the door cracked open and father walked in. The last person I’d expected to see.
“You really need to accept your retirement, father,” I said with a smile and he shook his head while shutting the door behind him.
“I know, but I just thought I’d come over to see you in your new office,” he replied and walked over to the center of the room. He looked around him, impressed.
“How are you feeling son?” he asked.
“Good. I haven’t started yet, so I don’t know. Jonathan is supposed to introduce me to the board members in a few hours. Before that, I need to be assigned a Personal Assistant,” I was thinking aloud, not really wanting to answer his question.
“Jonathan will do a good job. Your brother is as thrilled as I am to have you here. Together you will make a formidable team. Your mother’s dream of watching her two sons run the business together will come true.” Father had walked over behind me and placed his hands on my shoulders now.
I gulped, dismissing that feeling of dread that had been growing in me since I got the phone call from Jonathan three weeks ago. They wanted me to come home, to help Jonathan run the business, now that father was retiring.
“I wish I was given some more context than this, father. I know the company hasn’t been doing well.” I swiveled in my chair to face him. My father’s face clouded over, he never liked discussing business with me. But I was a part of it now, I wasn’t a little pampered boy anymore. I was going to be running the business for him.
“You’re a financial whiz son, I know you’ll be able to figure it out,” he said, waving his hand dismissively. He was referring to my degree in Financial Administration and the MBA I had just earned in London. In the real practical world, I had no actual experience. My parents had always been the kinds to expect only the best from their children. They believed, truly believed that I’d be able to get the company back on track, out of deep troubled waters, simply based on the years of academic work I’d put in.
“I’m not making any promises, father. Not till I’ve had a look at the records and the accounts,” I said, looking at him. I wished he’d expect less from me. I didn’t want to disappoint him. If Jonathan, who had started working at the company ten years ago, when he was only twenty-one, had not been able to figure out a solution for our crises, how could they expect me to do it? Twenty-six, fresh-faced and with absolutely no practical knowledge. My skills included licking off ten belly shots in one minute, seducing Brazilian supermodels, picking out perfect summer party destinations and smooth talking my way through academic presentations.
“You’ll get access to the records, Oscar, don’t you worry,” father said, nodding his head.
“I’ll need full disclosure,” I insisted.
“Of course. This is your company now, son. Both of yours,” he said, walking back around the table. I breathed out loudly and sat back in my chair. I could see the physical toll this had taken on father. He was a shell of the man he had been before. He had built the company from scratch, as a nineteen-year-old. Now in his sixties, he couldn’t bear to watch it crumbling down.
“So have you hired a PA for yourself?” he asked, interrupting my concerned thoughts for him.
“Jonathan said he picked somebody for me, someone from within the company who he thinks would be perfect for the job,” I said, just as there was a knock on the door.
I called out to whoever it was to come in and the door opened. And in walked Kayla, the mysterious woman from the gym that morning. I was so shocked to see her that I knocked over a pen stand as I stood up hastily.
“Kayla,” I blurted out and she looked just as surprised as I was. She hadn’t expected to see me there.
Father stood between us and he smiled at her and then me.
“Morning Kayla,” he said.
“Morning Sir,” she replied, tucking in the file she was carrying under her arm and then taking a few steps into the office.
I couldn’t help but just stand there and stare at her. I couldn’t decide if she looked even more sexy now compared to her post work-out glowing glory.
She was in a formal skirt-suit, gray and form fitting. I could see the way her butt moved in it when she walked. Her blouse was an electric blue, and it matched the blue shoes she was wearing. Her thick dark straight hair fell in a shiny curtain around her shoulders.
“Mr. C
onnell sent me here. Jonathan Connell. He’s assigned me to his brother as his Personal Assistant?” she said. Her tone had changed from surprised to confident. She was all business again. I couldn't believe this was happening. Kayla was the woman that Jonathan had picked as my PA? How was I supposed to get any work done?
“Let me introduce you then.” It was father who stepped in. “This is my youngest son, Jonathan’s brother, Oscar Connell. And Oscar, this is our prized possession, Kayla Edwards. She has been our receptionist and our biggest personal asset for several years now.” Father was beaming at us both and it was clear to see that he was fond of her, like a daughter he never had.
“I’ve already had the pleasure of meeting her. We bumped into each other at the gym this morning.” I walked around the desk and stretched my hand out to her. I was yearning to feel her soft hand in mine again.
“Good to see you again, Sir,” she said, emphasizing the last word, as she shook my hand. There was a twinkle in her eye, and she smiled confidently. She looked like she meant business and this was business. Her gaze was steady, she held mine this time with a mission, unlike this morning when she looked like she could kill me.
I wasn’t used to this kind of professionalism and it threw me a little.
“Well, I’ll leave you two to it then,” father interrupted. “Good luck with the board meeting, Oscar. I’ll see you home for dinner,” he added before leaving the room.
I remained standing in front of Kayla with my hands stuck into the pockets of my pants. I wasn’t sure what was supposed to be our next step.
“You’re the new boss?” She was the first one to speak, and there was humor in her eyes now. She was mocking me.
“In the flesh,” I said and held her gaze. I couldn’t help but drop my eyes to her lips, which were a pale brown, covered in lipstick. Her eyes had thick eyeliner on it, and she smelt great! Like freshly rained upon flowers.
