“What about you?”
“I’ll leave soon. I want to finish up on something first.”
“Okay.”
Keith turned.
“Keith?”
He spun back around. “Yeah, boss?”
I smiled. It wasn’t Cal, but it was less professional than Mr. Callan. Maybe I’d bring Keith over to the dark side after all. “Can you make an appointment for me to meet with Patrick tomorrow?”
“I’ll do it first thing in the morning.”
“Thank you.”
Keith walked away, and I went back to work.
Thirty
Cal
The next morning, I paced my office while I waited for Patrick to arrive. I had gone over in my head how to best talk to him about my findings. I knew guys like him, and if I came out and accused him of not giving opportunities to his female employees, he would shut down and not give me anything.
I needed to get him talking and keep him talking.
But I hadn’t anticipated how much of a sore loser he would be.
Patrick was always polite to me and a bit of an ass-kisser, as Indy had pointed out, but this morning, he was anything but.
“Sir, you wanted to see me?” he said from my doorway, his mouth a thin line.
“Come in and close the door, please.”
Patrick walked in and stood in front of my desk, looking straight ahead. I was still off to the side, but he wouldn’t turn his head my way.
I walked in front of him, so he’d be forced to meet my eyes. “Sit, please.”
His mouth tightened, but he did as I’d requested. This told me he was mad that he was there, but he wasn’t going to be defiant. At least, not yet.
I sat down only after Patrick had. “I wanted to talk to you about a few things.”
“Okay.”
“How do you pick the leaders for your projects?”
“I pick the person most likely to lead the others.”
That was vague.
“Is there a reason that you give most of these positions to the men on your team?”
Patrick narrowed his eyes. “As I said, I pick the person most likely to lead.”
I pulled up the piece of paper to check the numbers again before I said them out loud. “Even though most of the women on your team have more years of experience than the men?”
“Just because they have more experience doesn’t mean they are the right choice.”
He did have a point, but I found it hard to believe that all three were poor choices.
“Besides, it’s not like the women actually want to be in charge. The only reason they work here is because two of them are single and one of them is divorced. I’m sure as soon as they get married, they will probably quit.”
I stared at him, unsure that I’d heard him correctly.
“I’m sure Donna will be here forever though because no one wants to marry her. There’s a reason she’s divorced.” Patrick smiled at me, but it came across as more of a sneer. “And I’m sure Indy will be gone soon.”
I stiffened. “What makes you say that?”
“The Halloween contest. Are you two not an item? If you’re not, you shouldn’t have won.”
The guy is this bitter over a stupid contest at a party?
“Neither I nor Indy put our names down. We didn’t plan our outfits. Someone thought it was funny and probably never expected for us to actually win. If you’re unhappy, you can take it up with the people who voted.”
Patrick clenched his jaw.
I wanted to ask him more questions. Like, why did he always state the same information on all of his female employees’ evaluations? Also, why had he never sent them to any voluntary training courses and seminars when the company had offered to pay?
But now wasn’t the time. He was petty and mad at me for winning a costume contest.
“I think that’s all for now.”
Patrick nodded and stood. He looked down at me. “Before you ask too many questions, I think you should do a little research into who my father-in-law is.”
I sat back in my chair in a relaxed pose to let him know I wasn’t going to be intimidated. “You mean, Howard Brown. Yes, I’m well aware.”
“Then, you’re either stupid or have cojones the size of beach balls because no one is going to do anything to me. And if any employees are complaining about me, they are more likely to leave this place before me.” Patrick turned on his heel and walked out.
I had to believe some of what he was saying was true, but I also believed that no one had formally complained about him yet, so no one in Chicago knew what he was doing. I was sure they would give this guy more strikes than the average person, but at some point, they would have to pull the plug on him. He was a lawsuit waiting to happen.
And if Patrick thought I was just going to roll over and let him keep treating my employees like shit, he was in for a surprise. Maybe I was stupid, but I’d like to think it was my giant balls that had gotten me to where I was today. Because even if all my digging led to my own firing, I was going to take Patrick down with me.
I picked up my phone from my desk.
Me: How are you? Has Patrick been giving you any crap?
Indy: No. I think he’s actually giving me the cold shoulder. I asked him a question today, and he all but ignored me. He must be really mad.
Me: He is.
Indy: How do you know?
Me: I just had a meeting with him. He thinks we shouldn’t have won because we’re not really a couple.
Indy: Ha. Joke’s on him.
Me: Yes, it is, but I do worry about what he’d do if he knew.
Indy: What did you find out from HR?
I’d been so busy yesterday that I’d forgotten to look at the employee manual, so it was the first thing I’d done when I arrived at work this morning.
Me: There are no rules saying employees who work together can’t date. And as long as I’m not your immediate supervisor, it’s okay.
Indy: That’s great news.
I grinned at my phone.
Me: Yes, it is.
Indy: So, how much longer are we going to sneak around? Not that I’m complaining, but I’ve barely seen you the last few days.
Me: Sorry. I’ve been busy. And people might suspect if I have a personal meeting with you every day.
Indy: Damn, you’re right. What about tonight?
Me: After the two days I’ve had, I want nothing more than to be naked with you tonight.
Indy: My place or yours?
Me: Whoever lives closer.
I waited a few seconds for Indy to respond.
Indy: I just looked it up. I live three minutes closer.
Me: Your house it is.
Indy: You bring dinner. I’ll bring dessert. ;-)
Me: How does Buca di Beppo sound?
Indy: Never mind. You’re uninvited. You can get naked with yourself tonight.
I laughed, not caring if people looked into my office and wondered what I was doing.
Me: Okay, I apologize for teasing you. I’ll get food from somewhere else.
Indy: Apology accepted, but just know that I added a few more orgasms to the ones you already owe me. It’s back up to one hundred.
Me: One hundred? I’ll never pay them off.
Indy: That’s the idea.
Grinning, I set my phone down, feeling much better than I had when Patrick left my office.
Thirty-One
Indy
Saturday night was coming up fast, and I was starting to get really anxious. In my head, I knew it wasn’t going to be a big deal. I’d already met Cal’s sister, and she’d seemed to like me. He’d assured me his mom would like me too.
But while I tried to tell myself it was going to be a no-big-deal dinner, I couldn’t shake the nerves.
I needed to do something to clear my head because watching TV wasn’t doing it for me.
I looked over into Cal’s office where he had gone since the noise from
the television was bugging him. He was wearing a plain white T-shirt and jeans with no socks. Such a simple look but one of my favorites.
Add that to the serious expressions on his face as he studied what was on his screen, and I couldn’t stop thinking about how sexy he was. I wanted to eat him up.
Inspiration struck, and I pulled up my phone and scrolled back through our messages.
This was just the distraction I needed.
I walked to his office door and hesitated for a moment. I didn’t know if he would be bothered by me interrupting him. But I had a feeling he’d be more than happy to live out his little fantasy and would forgive me for any disruption.
I knocked, and he lifted his head, so I opened the door.
He smiled. “Hey, what’s up? I’m almost done here.”
I didn’t say anything, just dropped to my knees.
Cal’s brow furrowed in confusion. “What are you doing?”
I crawled toward him in what I hoped was a seductive way. I was channeling Baby from Dirty Dancing and aimed to portray that kind of sexiness.
A grin split across Cal’s face as I rounded his desk, and he turned his chair, so he faced me.
When I reached him, I ran my hands up his legs and went straight for his fly. I wasn’t quite under his desk, but I thought we both knew how crowded that would be. Plus, we were in his house. We didn’t need to hide anything.
I pulled the button and unzipped his jeans, making sure my finger rubbed the length of his shaft at the same time. I tugged his jeans and boxers down just enough for me to get to the thing I wanted most, and I pulled out his cock.
Cal hissed as I squeezed him in my hand. He was big and beautiful. God had certainly blessed him in the penis department.
Pre-cum leaked from the tip, and I looked up into his eyes as I sucked it off.
“Fuck, baby,” he muttered.
I licked around the head and drew him into my mouth with a light suction.
Cal’s hips arched off the chair, and I had to stop myself from smiling. I didn’t want to hurt him with my teeth.
I kissed and licked and sucked on him for a few minutes, enjoying the taste of him and the reactions I was getting out of him. When I felt he’d had enough teasing, I wrapped one hand around the base of him and began to pump.
Cal’s hand came up to cup the back of my head, and his fingers threaded in my hair. But he didn’t push my head down or force me to do anything. It was as if he just wanted to feel me, which fueled my desire.
I considered reaching down and touching myself, but that wasn’t a part of Cal’s fantasy, so I kept my hands on him instead.
Soon, I knew he was close to orgasm. His breathing picked up, and he seemed to have a hard time keeping his hips still. I felt him grow thicker in my mouth until he exploded on my tongue. I swallowed all of him until he grew sensitive and tried to pull away.
I began to tuck him back into his pants when he picked me up and practically threw me on his desk. Not in a violent way, but in a I have to have you now way.
He wasted no time in pulling my own jeans off my legs and shoving his face between my thighs. My butt was on the edge of his desk and my feet on the arms of his chair. He pushed my thighs open wide, as it was his turn to lick and suck everywhere.
I wanted this feeling to last forever, but I had already been at an eleven out of ten when he put me on his desk after I gave him a blow job. Before, I would never have complained about coming too fast, but they said there was a first time for everything.
I tried to hold it off, but my orgasm hit my core, much like I imagined a punch would feel to my face.
I cried out and tried to make it last, but it was all over too soon.
Cal stood and pushed down his pants. “Did you cry out no?”
I stuck out my lower lip. “I wasn’t ready to come yet,” I said with a pout.
He chuckled. “I’ve never heard that complaint before.” He pushed my knees up, spreading me wide. “Good thing we’re not done.” He licked his fingers, ran them over the head of his cock, and thrust inside me to the hilt.
My breath caught at the pinch of pain from being filled so full, so fast, but it subsided within seconds.
Cal fell over my body and lifted my shirt. He yanked down my bra and sucked one nipple into his mouth as he fucked me.
I grabbed the back of his head and neck and wrapped my legs around his back. Everything he was doing felt incredible. From his thumbs digging into my hips to the way he moved inside me.
“Oh my God,” I cried out. “Not again.” What is wrong with me today? There were times when I couldn’t come a second time, and today, I couldn’t stop coming too fast.
Cal moved to my other breast and made his thrusts shallower as he slowed his pace. I didn’t like this either. I wanted to feel him as deeply as I could.
I ran my hands down his back and scratched him with my nails. “No. Don’t stop.”
He lifted his head and looked into my eyes as he slowly—too slowly—gave me all of himself again.
He hit all the right spots inside me, and I began to see stars. This time, I didn’t care that I was going to come again so soon because it felt too good. I closed my eyes, letting the tingles in my body wash over me.
Cal grabbed on to my hair and tugged. “Watch me.”
I blinked my eyes open.
“I want you to watch me while you come.”
I’d never had an orgasm with my eyes open as far as I could remember. I shook my head.
“Yes. You can do it.”
I shook my head again. No, I can’t.
“Yes, you can, baby. I want you to come for me.”
My pussy started to pulse.
Cal nodded. “That’s it. Come now. Let go.”
The dam broke, and I cried out at the force of my climax.
Cal tugged on my hair again. “Keep them open, Indy.”
I stared into Cal’s eyes as I let him see me in that incredibly vulnerable moment.
Cal slammed his hips into me a couple more times but kept his eye contact as his own orgasm took ahold of his body.
When we were both spent and shaking, Cal put his forehead on mine.
I enveloped him in my arms and hung on tight, just enjoying the feel of him so close to me.
I had never felt so exposed yet treasured in my entire life.
Thirty-Two
Indy
Cal picked up my hand as we walked to the front door of his parents’ house. Our incredible lovemaking session had calmed my nerves for a little bit, but they were back and stronger than ever.
“Indy, it’s going to be okay. My parents are not picky about who I date. As long as I’m happy, they’re happy. They’ve been waiting for me to bring someone home for some time.”
I looked at him in horror. “You haven’t ever brought anyone home?” I didn’t want to be the first.
“Yes, I have. But it’s been a long time. I think my mother has given up on her oldest child ever getting married.”
“Married? They think we’re getting married?”
Cal laughed. “No, they don’t think that. I’m simply trying to put the relationship into perspective for you. They’re going to be happy that I’m bringing you over. So happy that they aren’t going to judge you.”
“I’ll believe it when I see it,” I said as we reached the entrance.
Cal laughed, knocked, and opened the door. “Mom, Dad? We’re here.”
We came in through the back from the garage and entered the kitchen where something smelled delicious. No one was in the room, and I took a deep breath as I heard the sound of small feet fast approaching.
“Unca Cal,” Chelsea shouted as she rounded the corner.
“Hey, kiddo,” he said, picking her up.
Amy came into the kitchen first, followed by an older woman who looked like Amy and an older man who looked a lot like Cal.
The woman, who had to be Cal’s mom, stepped forward and held out her hand. “Hello, I
ndy. We’re so glad you’re here. I’m Joanne Callan, but you can call me Jo.”
I smiled at her warm welcome and shook her hand. “Hi, Jo.”
Jo let go of my hand, and the man, who had to be Cal’s dad, stepped forward and held out his hand. “Hello there. I’m Nick.”
His greeting was also warm, and I did a quick study of the man who Cal had been named after. I wondered how much Cal would look like Nick when he got older because the man looked good for his age.
“And you know my sister, Amy, and my favorite niece, Chelsea.”
Cal tickled her belly, and the little girl giggled.
“She’s your only niece,” Amy pointed out.
“That doesn’t mean she’s not my favorite.”
Jo motioned us forward. “Come in, you two. Let me take your coat, Indy.”
“Oh, thank you,” I said as I slid out of my jacket and handed it to her.
Cal set Chelsea down and took off his own coat. “Here you go, Mom.”
Jo looked at Cal, then his coat, and then at Cal again. “You know where to hang it up, son,” she said and walked away.
I put my hand over my mouth and stifled a laugh as everyone walked out of the kitchen.
Cal leaned over. “See? I told you, nothing to worry about.”
We followed everyone into the living room where a man sat, holding a little boy.
“Indy, this is my husband, Jon, and this is Bobby.”
Jon stood and shook my hand.
“How old is Bobby?” I asked.
“Almost ten months.”
I gave the baby a finger wave. “Hi, Bobby.”
He smiled at me, and I grinned.
“Do you have any nieces, nephews … kids?” Jo asked.
“Mom,” Cal said.
I laughed. “No kids of my own. I do have a niece and a nephew, but they don’t live close. I grew up in a small town about four hours from here. My dad is a farmer, and so is my brother, so that’s where all of my family lives. Not many software companies out there though, so here I am.”
Cal put his arm around me. “I bet.”
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