Chapter Five
Halstrom
Sitting at his usual table the next evening, Hal could barely contain his anger with Hailey.
He left her place around nine pm and she had promised to call him this morning with her answer.
Not only had she not called, but she hadn’t answered his text messages either. Could he have read the situation wrong?
He thought back to last night while he watched her hustle around the unusually busy restaurant.
By the time Hailey had gotten out of the tub.
A fridge, twice the size of the one she’d been using was delivered and after a little shuffling, he and his workers had it fitting snuggly in the space the old one had sat.
Hal had several fridges from when they had updated all the break rooms. This one was almost new and the only reason they weren’t using it was for aesthetics.
But with it tucked into Hailey’s space, you couldn’t see the long scratch down the right side of the appliance.
They took the old one back and put it in storage at his building so when and if she moved, they could put the apartment fridge back.
When Hailey stepped into the living room her jaw dropped.
When she saw all the grocery bags were empty.
She ran over to the fridge and flung it open looking at all the neat stacks lined up.
Hal realized he was a little OCD, but she was so the opposite, He felt he was helping her by organizing.
Something she admitted wasn’t in her wheelhouse unless it was about numbers and was most definitely in Hal’s wheelhouse.
“How? I mean I’ve learned today that you are a powerful, resourceful man but, how did you get a larger fridge in the space for starters? Unpack the groceries, and make dinner in the hour since I’ve been in the tub?”
“Two.”
“Huh?”
“It’s been two hours, Hailey. And it was easy. As soon as you were in the tub, I took the measurements and had this brought over from storage. It’s not new. It used to be in one of our break rooms.”
“Oh. Okay. That is still hard to fathom. But uh, thank you. I was excited until I saw the monumental task of finding a spot for everything and it became way too much.”
Her mouth spoke a positive message, but her body language said something else.
She was hiding something, holding back, but now was not the time for him to take steps.
So much had happened between them since he saw her in his lobby.
They both needed time to process and come down from the massive endorphin high they experienced.
Hal saw the dark circles beneath her eyes and knew she hadn’t slept after he left last night.
Even after giving her another orgasm and tucking her in.
She rolled over and nestled into her bed, reminding Hal of a kitten.
He’d wanted to slide in behind her and feel her hot ass against his groin, and her soft body in his arms. He’d left to the soft sounds of her snores, or had she been faking?
He kept his eyes on her, but she was avoiding him looking at him. The longer she avoided him the more his blood boiled. If the answer was no, then fine, but hiding from Hal would not do.
A short time later, an opportunity presented itself when the diner slowed down and the last three tables were chatting as they ate. Hal stood as Hailey passed him.
“Stop right there.”
Hailey stopped in her tracks, almost dropping her tray of empties.
“Meet me in the alley, NOW!” Hal didn’t shout, but the command was there.
“I can’t, I’m working,” she whined.
“Dump your tray and ask the other server to cover for a ten-minute break.”
Hal dropped some bills on his table and once out the front door, walked around the corner to the alley and waited for Hailey.
A moment later, she walked out the back door, her arms folded across her chest. A defensive stance Hal noticed, but why? What had he done? Maybe he should have left earlier but when she’d said, “Please Daddy, please fuck me,” he’d obliged her request.
Without waiting for an explanation Hal placed his foot on the top step and pulled Hailey over his thigh.
“Fine, we’ll do this your way, Ms. Carberry.”
Hailey squealed when he pulled up her skirt and brought his hand down on her quivering flesh.
“Ouch. Stop Hal. What if someone sees us?”
“Then they will know a naughty woman is getting what she deserves.”
Hal yanked her panties between her ass crack, bringing his hand down on her unprotected backside.
“Tell me why you broke your word and didn’t call me this morning?”
Hailey flailed over Hal’s thigh, squeaking and cried out with each stroke, but she didn’t answer his question. Hal had been prepared for this and had brought his thickest ruler from his desk with him.
Sliding it out from the pocket inside his blazer. Hal brought the ruler down on Hailey’s sit spot. She squealed a little louder than before and kicked her legs in earnest. But this little brat wasn’t going anywhere.
“Does it hurt Hailey?”
“It burns Daddy!”
At least she was addressing him now. Hal brought the ruler down with ruthless precision until a quietly sobbing Hailey hung limply over his knee. Hal pocketed the ruler and stood her on her feet, tugging her skirt into place.
“Are you ready to be a good girl and tell me what’s going on with you?” Hal tucked a stray curl behind her ear.
“Yes, Sir.” Hailey gazed at Hal for the first time that evening and he could see the war in her eyes.
“I was afraid.”
He had hoped for more, but it was obvious, Hal would have to pull the answers from her. Hailey was very good at expressing herself when it was about a cause, something she believed in, but when it came to her personal feelings, apparently, not so much.
“What specifically are you afraid of, Hailey?”
She dropped her gaze. “Of what would happen. No that’s not accurate,” she muttered, “of what wouldn’t happen, that’s what I’m afraid of.”
Hal was puzzled.
“What are you afraid wouldn’t happen?”
“You. Us. You know, a relationship. I was so confused yesterday because your offer was only for work and guidance. But I want more.”
Her eyes traveled back up, piercing him with the need he saw there.
“Then you paid my bill and bought me food, and with no mention of paying you back. So was that part of the job offer because if so, you never said, and don’t even get me started on the fridge and the wine.
And I thought no way I can eat all of this he must be coming over to dine with me all the time, but you never said and then we had sex again and I waited for you to reassure me we had a thing and no matter what happened at work, we could continue because I really like you, Daddy. ”
Hal was ecstatic about what she shared, but disappointed in himself that he had overlooked such a simple thing. Of course, she was confused.
“Hailey, I must apologize to you. Yesterday was a strange day, not just for you but for me as well. I was winging it from the time I walked through the lobby and saw you at the desk speaking with Amber. I have never had an interview like that before and my gut was leading the way.
That in itself is highly unusual for me because I am a very methodical person, but not since you walked through my door.
I’ve been everything but. I very much wish to pursue a relationship with you.
I only offered the three-month probation primarily to assure you that if you wanted out, you could and wouldn’t have to worry about going backward in life.
I would ensure your employment, even if it wasn’t with me. ”
Hal ran his thumb pad over a stray tear. “Does that clear up your confusion?”
She appeared to consider his question.
“Mostly, but I still have a lot of questions. First is, will you be coming over for dinner tonight? I need to cash out, and I’m starving.”
“Hailey,” he growled, “did you not eat lunch today?”
“No Daddy,” she dropped her head again.
“Breakfast?”
Her cheeks burned bright red under the sensor light that hung over the entrance.
“Okay, young lady. I see I have my work cut out for me. Cash-out. I’ll get the car and wait for you out front. We can discuss your other questions over dinner.”
A big grin lit Hailey’s face. “Okay, Daddy.”