Give Me a Chance (BYC #2)

18. Matt

18

MATT

“ A s most of you know,” Kiara’s gaze lands on me, “and some will soon learn, with our annual gala planning, things will be different around here. There is a lot we need to do, but I have full confidence in our ability to make this gala even better than the last.” She continues the Monday meeting by delegating the tasks needed to be done before the gala.

Anne used to tell me it’s the busiest time of the year for them, and I see it. I’m aware a non-profit doesn’t have unlimited funds, and Kiara would rather spend the funds they have on the kids than on an event coordinator, but I’m not much of a party planner.

“Matt, you’ll be assisting with the budget planning and also venue and décor.” Kiara reads from her list, and I nod in understanding. Of course, the one in charge of the venue and décor is Natalie, so once again, we’ll be working together.

We’re finally in a good place, friendly enough to be comfortable around each other. But spending time close to her and having to pretend I don’t want to touch her every second of every day is hard.

Anne and I walk into the budget meeting right after lunch. Danielle, the BYC’s accountant, leads the meeting.

“I know it may not seem like the most interesting part of planning, but without a good budget, nothing else would be possible.” Her lips turn up into a bright white smile. Her buzz cut hair is dark, almost the same shade as her ebony skin.

“Last year’s gala was a huge success, so this year we are going bigger, expecting more donors.” She continues, and by the end of the meeting, we have drafted a budget plan for the gala’s venue, décor, entertainment, marketing, etc.

“Great work, guys!” Kiara cheers us on. I don’t know what it says about the working climate I was used to, but a boss who tries to motivate and encourage its employees is a new thing. One I’ll gladly get used to.

On Tuesday, the purgatory of working in close quarters with Natalie starts again. She’s leading the venue and décor part of the planning, and from what I’ve gathered, she’s involved in every part of the planning process—unlike the other employees. Kiara’s list of tasks for her was never ending, but she wasn’t surprised by it or overwhelmed.

That’s just who she is. A woman who follows her little to-do lists and gets shit done. So, she isn’t scared of commitment in other areas. Rather, she commits to everything a thousand percent.

Everything other than men.

Today, she’s wearing black slacks molded to her fit body and a beige blouse that goes perfectly with her olive skin. She looks beautiful with her hair straightened, though I prefer her curls.

She leads the meeting like she does any other conversation. Attracting the full attention of anyone in her vicinity. One by one, we go through the list of tasks to accomplish.

“Ok.” She claps her hands together. “I’ll need a volunteer to go with me in search of venues.” Looking around the room, I pray for someone to volunteer. Rina answers my prayers and lifts her hand.

“Thanks, Rina, and I’d love your help, but I was thinking someone with more of legal expertise. So, we can deal with the contracts right away.” Rina snickers and it takes a second for me to realize Natalie landed a hopeful gaze on me.

“Who? Me?” I ask, confused.

“Well, I’m pretty sure you’re the only lawyer here,” she adds with a dazzling smile, earning subtle laughs from everyone in the room.

“Sure, I’ll do it.” Fuck. This is what I wanted to avoid. Close proximity to her is a herculean task for my self-control. Still, a tiny part deep inside of my chest heats up.

“Great! We’ll start tomorrow. Next, the décor. I want you to think of any ideas you have, and we will meet on Friday to talk about it. Hopefully, by then, we will know more about the venue...” She’s mesmerizing.

The way she wants to know everybody’s thoughts, while remaining in control, she’s born to be in charge.

Trying to concentrate back on work, I look around the room, but it only reminds me of the last time we were in here on our own. The way her legs wrapped around my hips while I was pumping into her. Her shameless moans and whimpers. The way she came all over my cock.

By the time we’re done, my dick is hard and begging for release. I enter the bathroom and wash my face with cold water, trying to cool down. It’ll have to suffice since jerking off to a colleague in an office bathroom is too far on the creepy side.

Before work, I find my release with my fist, wanting to tire my dick out. Hopefully, it will distract him from spending half the day alone with Natalie.

“We should probably take one car, rather than follow each other,” she says when we meet at the office.

“Sure, we’ll take mine.” I expect her to argue, used to our previous relationship, but she takes a sip of her coffee before responding with “OK.”

As soon as she closes the door of my Corolla Hybrid, my morning plan falls apart.

Her scent in the small space of my car is enough to wake up the devil that’s supposed to be sleeping. Today, she’s wearing a tight pencil skirt and heels, perfect for a midday fuck.

Fuck, where did that come from? I grip the driving wheel harder than I need to, willing my semi down.

“We have four locations for today—and another three for tomorrow if it works for you.” Thank God she’s oblivious to my internal struggles.

“Sure, it’s fine.” She opens her planner and punches the first location into my GPS.

“Let me do the talking,” she says as we enter the first venue. Her heels click on the marble floors, and it takes superhuman strength to notice the place we entered when she’s all I see.

She stops, so I look up, noticing a put together businesswoman shaking hands with her. She has her blond hair tied up in a painful-looking bun, and her pant suit ironed to perfection. I shake her hand, and she leads us into the ballroom.

After the third venue, I realize I have no idea what we’re looking for. They all blend into one big ballroom to me, but Natalie grills the managers with questions being every bit the boss I expected her to be.

“Now this is more like it,” Natalie whispers as we entered the fourth and final venue for today. Sky-high ceiling, fancy marble floors, walls draped in luxurious fabrics, and a huge mahogany bar. It looks just like the others, but I guess she sees deeper than that.

“It seats more than the others,” I say, swiping through the brochure.

“Really?” She leans into me to look at the brochure and I’m disappointed there are no curls to tickle my cheek. “Didn’t the second one seat 550?”

“Nope. The second one seats 450.” I don’t remember a single thing I saw today, other than her toned legs in that godforsaken tight skirt, but I remember everything she said.

“Hmm. This is my favorite one so far.” She looks at the expansive space around us with a charmed look. It seems almost...romantic.

“Mine, too,” I say, dying for her to look at me like that.

She thanks the manager and tells him we’ll inform them of our decision.

“Tomorrow, we should start first thing in the morning. We have the first appointment at 9 a.m.,” she tells me.

“Ok, will we meet there?”

“We could meet at BYC at 8:30 and go together, like today?” She sounds hopeful, and that alone is why I’ll suffer through another inappropriate erection.

The next morning, she’s already waiting for me in front of the office. She gets into my car, bringing another wave of her signature scent: roses and spring. Today, she’s once again in heels, but this time with a flowy skirt. At the office, she dresses pretty casual, but when it comes to meetings, she’s all business.

“Is that coffee for me?” She squeals, noticing the two giant cups in the center console.

“Yes. I figured we need some energy for today.” Her smile is enough to grant her a lifetime subscription to free coffee.

She takes a sip and lets out a small moan, fucking up my intention of not getting hard on the drive.

“How do you know what coffee I like to drink?”

“I just noticed it.” I shrug, not mentioning I notice everything about her.

“Well, thank you.” She gives me another smile, starting a funny feeling in my chest.

“How about we get some lunch? We can go over the venues we saw and make some decisions,” I suggest after the last venue of the day.

“Sure, I could eat. Do you have a place in mind?”

“Do you like dim-sum? I know of an amazing place nearby.”

“Do I like dim-sum? Uhm, yes.” Her eyes widen with excitement.

“Let’s go then.”

Ten minutes later, we’re entering Get-Sum, my favorite dim-sum place in the city. A yellow bar top stretches all around the restaurant with stools surrounding it on both sides. The place is more popular for dinners, so it’s not crowded.

“Wow, this place looks cool. I’ve never been,” she comments as we sit down.

“It’s not too popular. But it has the best gyoza in the city in my humble opinion.”

“I love me some gyoza.”

I love me some you. The cheesiest pun goes through my head.

“OK, so the venues,” she continues after we order. “There were a couple I liked. I’m not sure which one is my favorite.”

“I am.”

“OK, so which one is yours?”

“No, I’m sure which one’s your favorite.” Her eyes widen in surprise.

“What do you mean?” The seven venue brochures are on the table, so I sift through the papers until I find the right one.

“Number four. That was your favorite.”

“And how would you know that?” She has a playful look on her face.

“Your face lit up when you saw it.” I don’t tell her I noticed her eyes crinkle at the corners and her mouth slightly open with awe.

Taking the brochure, she looks through it once more.

“You’re right,” she says, quietly.

“What? I’m not sure I heard you correctly.” I put a palm behind my ear.

“You’re right. This one is my favorite.” Her cheeks flush just a hint, and her smile hits me straight in the chest.

“So, it’s done? Decision made?” She pokes me with a chop stick.

“I’ll think on it some more. But number four is in the lead.”

“Glad to hear it.”

“Fuck, this is good.” Watching Natalie eat or drink is a hazard. Her moans of satisfaction make it impossible for my dick to discern this situation from one he would rather be in.

“Told you.” I stuff my face with food, trying to push down the hormones flowing my bloodstream.

“Maybe I should listen to you more.” Her playfulness doesn’t help me.

“You definitely should.”

Our conversation flows easily, and I can’t remember what it was like to be her enemy. That was a stupid idea, anyway. Being anything but infatuated with her is a futile task.

By the time we get back to the office, we’re almost crying from laughing. Her stories are quite entertaining—when they don’t include her having sex with other men.

We enter the office, still laughing, but the shocked faces of others make her clear her throat and get to her desk. Not even ten minutes later, Anne approaches me.

“So, you guys had fun?” she asks with a glint in her eyes.

“Sure, we work well together.”

“Oh, I’m sure.” Her voice drips with insinuation.

I sigh. “Look, we said we’ll be friends, and that’s what we are.”

“My friends sure as hell don’t look at me like that.” And with that, she’s gone.

Fuck, it’s probably obvious I’m attracted to her. Maybe everyone can see it. I need to get my shit together, before it makes her uncomfortable.