8 | Everything okay?
8 | everything okay?
CARA
My alarm blared, marking the start of another Monday. But, far from the typical blues, today felt different. There was an electric buzz in the air, and I was up in a flash, excited at the thought of seeing William in just a couple of hours.
Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I reached for my phone, silencing the alarm, and quickly scanned my notifications. A smile spread across my face as I spotted a message from William. He had been oddly quiet yesterday, which left me feeling, quite frankly, dejected. We had spent almost all of Saturday together after our Friday night date, and yet, the single day of radio silence had felt like an eternity. Desperate for a bit of him, I had sent a text just before bed: Hope you had a nice day. Can’t wait to see you tomorrow x
But he hadn’t replied – hadn’t even read it – before I fell asleep.
His response, time-stamped two o’clock in the morning, read: I miss you x
A warm flush of relief filled me. It was comforting to know he felt the same. Still, the late hour of his message gave me pause. He would be tired today, no doubt. What had kept him up? Work, probably. Then I recalled Jian would have called him yesterday. Perhaps the trouble at Fusion was what had eaten into his sleep hours. Whatever the reason, I resolved that today would be a day of extra kindness and efficiency on my part, to help alleviate the inevitable fatigue William would face, and to help him manage his looming workload.
Rolling out of bed, I breezed through my shower and breakfast. Jason was still asleep, which was odd. Like his brother, he was an early riser, usually off to the gym at the crack of dawn. Maybe he was taking a rest day. I shrugged, deciding not to disturb him, trusting he had his reasons for the lie-in. I went about my morning routines as quietly as I could, applying make-up and selecting my outfit for the day: a chic, black satin blouse with the top two buttons undone, a white, high-waisted pencil skirt, and some understated black heels.
The morning sun was in full force as I stepped outside, the balmy air washing over me. I instantly regretted my choice of a black top, feeling it hungrily absorb the heat. The trip on the Tube was less than refreshing – hot, stuffy air and a train crammed with people. By the time I spilled out onto Cannon Street, the outside air felt surprisingly good in comparison.
Inside the imposing Day she read me quite well.
Just before lunch, she left for a client meeting with Frederick, one of the senior lawyers, leaving me to eat lunch solo. I went to William’s office, hoping he might join me, but he requested I bring him something from the canteen so he could continue working. Thus, I found myself alone on the way to the lifts. One of them arrived just as Violet joined me. She looked stunning in a baby pink dress, which accentuated her olive complexion.
I couldn’t help but admire her. She was a true role model, both graceful and successful. What I found particularly inspiring was her embrace of femininity. She commanded respect without resorting to masculine attire, wearing her femininity as a badge of pride. In doing so, she challenged the erroneous notion that femininity equates to incompetence or incapability.
‘Hello,’ she greeted, her full, glossy lips curving into a warm smile. ‘Love your outfit.’
‘Funny, I was just admiring your dress,’ I said amusedly, following her into the lift.
She let out a soft chuckle. ‘Thanks. I feel a bit like a doll in it, but in a good way,’ she said, giving herself a once-over in the mirror-lined walls of the lift as the doors smoothly closed. ‘Where’s Will?’
‘In his office.’
Her upturned, rich brown eyes met mine. ‘Skipping lunch, is he?’
‘Yes and no.’ I shrugged. ‘He asked me to fetch him something from the canteen so he can keep working.’
‘Hmm.’ She leaned back against the reflective surface, her slender arms crossing over her ample chest. A playful smirk danced on her lips. ‘So…?’
My brow furrowed in confusion.
‘How was your date on Friday?’ she asked, her smirk transforming into a sly grin.
A blush crept onto my cheeks. ‘Oh, it went really well.’
‘Yeah? What did you get up to?’
‘We went for dinner at a place called Fusion near Chinatown, then hit the minigolf course.’
‘That sounds fantastic,’ she said, her eyes brightening.
‘It was.’ My smile right then likely revealed more than my words. ‘I lost at minigolf, though. Bruised my ego a bit.’
She chuckled. ‘I love a bit of competition. Especially in sports.’
‘Me too,’ I admitted. ‘Have you played any sports?’
‘Tennis for the most part. I still play, actually.’
‘Really? Have you played for a long time?’
‘Pretty much my whole life. My grandfather was an instructor, so he used to coach me after work when I was a kid.’
Smiling at the charming mental image, I said, ‘How sweet. Does your sister play as well?’ I vaguely remembered she had a younger sister, Camilla.
‘She used to, but gave it up after we moved to England about twenty years ago.’
‘You’re not originally from England?’ This was news to me.
Shaking her head, she replied, ‘My dad’s English, Mum’s Spanish. They met when he was working in Madrid. Later, we all moved here.’
Intrigued, I asked, ‘What does your dad do?’
‘Back then, he worked in the finance sector. Now he’s a professor of economics.’
‘Wow,’ I said, eyebrows raised. ‘And your mum?’
Her brown eyes twinkled with amusement. ‘She’s a corporate lawyer. It’s how they met.’
I chuckled, shaking my head. ‘So she’s your inspiration, then.’
‘Absolutely,’ she said, her voice filled with pride. ‘But they both are, really. What about you?’
A back and forth began as we stepped out of the lift and made our way to the canteen. Details about Violet’s life flowed freely, painting a vivid picture of a woman who had been moulded by diverse experiences, and I found myself thoroughly enjoying her company. What struck me most was her genuine kindness, her sincere interest in my life and the palpable lack of resentment or pettiness.
She’d once had a physical relationship with William, a fact I couldn’t help but remember as we lunched together. Yet, even in the light of that history, there was no bitterness or envy marring our connection. Instead, she seemed genuinely happy for William and me, something I found incredibly refreshing. Her attitude defied the clichés and stereotypes one might expect in such circumstances. Indeed, Violet was entirely enchanting. The more we interacted, the more I found myself admiring her, both as a role model and as a friend.
§ § §
At the stroke of five, I found myself rapping lightly on William’s office door.
‘Come in,’ he called.
Turning the handle, I pushed the door ajar. Peering in, I was met with the sight of William, sitting in his desk chair amidst a sea of documents. They were strewn about the floor around him, a testament to the intensity of his work.
My goodness.
I took in the chaos for a brief moment, then shifted my gaze to William’s. The sight nearly stopped my heart. He was completely run-down, his face unnaturally pale, and the heavy bags under his eyes spoke of utter exhaustion.
‘It’s five on the dot. You made it,’ I said, hoping to lift his spirits. ‘Now you can finally get some sleep, guilt-free.’ Shutting the door behind me, I crossed the room.
He threw his head back with a weary groan, spreading his arms wide. ‘Come here, you.’
A rush of warmth filled me at his affectionate command. He made it sound like my presence was his only solace. Flushing, I approached until I was right in front of him. The playful raise of his eyebrow told me he wanted me closer.
‘Nearly there, love,’ he said and reached out, pulling me toward him with such vigour that I ended up sitting astride him. His strong arms enveloped me, nose burying in my hair.
‘Mmm. Thank you,’ he murmured, pulling me even closer. As he swept my hair away from my neck, he asked, ‘How’s the compliance stuff coming along?’
‘Not too shabby.’
‘I’ve barely seen you today. I had expected more questions.’ His lips lightly traced the curve of my neck.
‘Well, you’ve had a lot on your plate. I didn’t want to bother you.’ So I bothered just about everybody else instead – even Andy.
William kissed the spot just below my ear, sending a shiver down my spine. ‘You could never bother me.’
I smiled softly. ‘Ready to head home, then? I could pop over to mine and grab a few things while you nap, then whip up some dinner at yours. Maybe even stay the night?’
A glint of warmth flickered in his eyes as he gently cradled my chin. ‘I’d love that,’ he murmured, leaning in to press a tender kiss to my lips. Slowly, the kiss intensified, his grip on my head growing firmer as the tenderness gave way to something more passionate. I softened against him, surrendering to his exquisite allure. His magnetic pull was impossible to resist, even if we were at the office.
His tongue teased the edge of my lower lip, a tantalising plea for a deeper connection. Yielding, I opened my mouth to him and savoured his intoxicating flavour. A low, throaty groan slipped from my lips as my hands cupped his sharp jaw. Its movements against my palms mirrored the rhythmic dance of our mouths, his coarse stubble scratching my skin.
His hand ventured lower, tracing the smooth curve of my hip, then daringly squeezing my backside. The burgeoning hardness pressing against me from beneath was impossible to ignore. The sensation sent a rush of potent arousal through me, urging me to take advantage.
In the heat of the moment, the risks and boundaries of our professional setting seemed to fade away. Raw desire coursed through me, imploring me to take him in, as far as he would go, and never let him leave again. He had me completely spellbound; he could have his way with me right then and there. The thought of resistance seemed utterly outlandish. But an ill-timed knock on the door snatched away the opportunity.
Leaping off William’s lap, I hastily wiped my mouth and tidied myself up, steadying my racing breaths. Meanwhile, William shot a disgruntled glare toward the door.
‘Yes?’ he grumbled, his voice laced with annoyance.
My pulse hit the roof when John stepped in. Holy fuck. If he hadn’t knocked, William and I would have been in serious trouble.
‘Cara,’ John greeted, his smile infectious. ‘Glad I found you here. How are things going for you?’
‘Very well, thank you,’ I replied, managing to sound collected. ‘I’m enjoying my time here immensely.’
His smile morphed into a broad grin. ‘Wonderful. I trust Will’s been treating you well?’
Too well.
‘Everyone’s been great,’ I said with a nod.
‘I’m glad. Anyway, now that I’ve got you here – Jason’s joining us for dinner on Sunday. I told him to bring you along, if you’re free and fancy it, of course.’
I stole a glance at William. Dinner with John and Daphné again? Would he be there as well? Returning my attention to John, I said, ‘I’d be delighted.’
‘Great. Looking forward to it.’ He smiled warmly, then gestured to his son. ‘Would you mind if I borrowed Will for a minute?’
‘Not at all.’ I made a swift exit, careful not to look back at William. Eager to put some distance between us for a moment, I headed back to my desk to gather my belongings. As I packed, I took deep, calming breaths, trying to shake off the lingering tension.
Fucking hell, that had been a narrow escape. The mere thought of John walking in on us was mortifying.
Once I had gathered my things, I sauntered back toward William’s office, finding a comfortable spot against the wall to wait. Sooner rather than later, the door nudged open, John appearing with a brooding look on his handsome face. It was a familiar sight; William wore the exact same expression often enough. Without that knowledge, I might have asked if all was well, but past observations had taught me that this was just their default, a curious family trait.
As soon as he spotted me, his light-blue eyes seemed to twinkle. ‘He’s all yours,’ he said, giving me a wink that left me slightly unnerved. Was there some hidden implication, or was it just an innocent wink?
Puzzled, I replied, ‘Thanks.’
He chuckled. ‘See you on Sunday, Cara.’
‘Yeah.’ I was still nodding when I peeked through the doorway, seeing William absentmindedly chewing on a pen.
‘Ready to go, then?’ I asked him, adjusting the strap of my bag on my shoulder.
‘Yeah, just give me a few minutes.’ He gestured to the floor. ‘Need to sort these files and pack up my things.’
‘Would you prefer if I waited outside?’
He let out a light chuckle. ‘Only if you’re dying to.’
I surveyed the room, feeling a residue of anxiety. Walking in, I shut the door behind me.
‘That was a close call,’ I said, referring to John’s unexpected appearance.
Setting the pen down, William leaned back with an apologetic smile. ‘It was – I’m sorry. I got a bit carried away.’
I shook my head and crossed my arms. ‘You’re going to get us both sacked.’
‘I’ll be more careful next time.’
‘Next time? There won’t be a next time. You’re on a touching ban while we’re here.’
His mouth fell open in mock disbelief. ‘What? Not even a hello or goodbye kiss?’
I pursed my lips. ‘If you can prove yourself for a week, we can revisit the matter.’
He let out an exaggerated sigh, blowing out his cheeks. ‘Seems a bit severe, but you’re the boss, I suppose.’
‘Yeah.’ I cast a glance at the door. ‘Do you think John suspects anything? He winked at me just now.’
A crease formed between William’s eyebrows. ‘Hard to say. He’s got a sharp eye. But I doubt it. If he did have any inkling, I think he would have tackled it head-on – he would have confronted me.’
Comforted by his confidence, I nodded. William knew his father best, so if he wasn’t concerned, I didn’t think I had to be, either.
‘What should we tell him if we ever get serious?’ I asked. ‘Everything?’
His eyebrows twitched, a fleeting expression I couldn’t decipher flickering across his face.
‘If,’ he echoed, and I felt a pang of guilt. ‘Ever the pessimist,’ he murmured, avoiding my gaze. ‘I’d rather omit the one-night stand bit. It would be sufficient to say we met at Disrepute. He doesn’t need the intimate details.’
‘Right.’
With another drawn-out sigh, he dragged himself up from his chair, setting about gathering the strewn papers from the floor.
‘I-I’m sorry I said “if”,’ I murmured as he moved around the room. ‘I didn’t mean it that way.’
He gave me a look that was oddly neutral, as if he didn’t quite believe me.
‘No, really,’ I insisted.
He returned his attention to the floor, leaving my words hanging unanswered.
In an attempt to dissipate the palpable tension, I blurted out, ‘What did John want to discuss with you, then?’ As soon as the words left my mouth, I cringed. ‘Oh, that’s… I’m sorry, that was terribly nosy. Just ignore me.’
He let out a good-natured chuckle. ‘He just had a few questions about the Fusion situation.’
‘Ah.’ I watched him efficiently rearranging the documents on his desk. ‘You know, if you need an extra hand with that case, I’d be happy to assist.’
He glanced at me, giving a slight shake of his head. ‘I appreciate the offer, but I think it’s crucial for you to focus on the work here at the firm. As a trainee, the experience you would gain from assisting with the firm’s clients far outweighs what you might learn from helping me with that case. It’s in your best interests career-wise. I’m just looking out for you.’
His words brought a touched smile to my face. ‘You always do.’
As he met my gaze, I thought I saw a flicker of something – perhaps regret – but it vanished so quickly I wondered if I had imagined it.
‘I try to,’ he murmured .