Chapter 52
Chapter Fifty-Two
Madison
“ Y ou need to sleep more,” Emma hounded me. “You should have slept more.”
I ignored her as I put on my makeup and focused on getting it right. After being out of practice for so long and yet trying to look as pretty as possible, I found myself using more swipes than needed. Eventually, I was done and turned around to see her leaning against the door frame with her arms folded across her chest.
“What am I supposed to see?” she asked. “Your face looks the same as always.”
I gave her a look and hurried out of the bathroom because I was running late, and she followed.
“I didn’t mean to be mean; I’m just saying if you want to blow him away, especially now that you are no longer his secretary and therefore don’t have any of those crazy restrictions, then you should do more.”
“This is my style,” I said as I found the dress and blazer I wanted to wear. “Soft and pink. Plus, because of the mistake, his company's being pummeled from every angle today. The fact that he’s even agreeing to meet with me is a miracle. I didn’t even think he would respond when I sent him the message this morning. I was exhausted from all the work, and I couldn't stop thinking about him.”
Sighing, I turned around to face the mirror, and she tsk-tsked.
“Would you stop that?” I complained.
“You're not helping at all. I’m just saying, who knows if you two will see each other after this again. You should wear a dress. That pink dress, remember?”
“The naked dress?” I asked, and she smiled.
“It matches perfectly with your makeup, and it’s not the naked dress. Plus, it’ll be perfect with your hair, which thank God, you're leaving wild and curly rather than tucked away into that hideous bun as always.”
“What would I wear for shoes?” I asked. “I need to be comfortable.”
“Fuck comfort, you're going to meet the love of your life. One afternoon, one lunch. Wear white stripy sandals. Not too high but gorgeous. Or maybe pink. You can take any of mine; we’re the same size.”
I considered what she was saying but still felt reluctant. Today was not a good day for him, and I didn’t want to look as though I was having a blast. The blazer and loafers were sensible and appropriate, plus I was going there to work.
“You could give an excuse that you had a meeting across town for a new studio or something, and that’s why you came dressed up. You could apologize even.”
“That sounds pathetic,” I said, and she was barely unable to hold back her smile. I ignored her and headed to the door. At the last moment, I stopped in my tracks and stared ahead at nothing.
“What is it?” she asked. “Please tell me you’re going to listen to me?”
Groaning, I turned around and hurried back into the apartment.
“Get me the dress,” I said and quickly changed my purse. Soon enough, I was dressed in the pink floral ensemble, and I had never felt more feminine during lunch hours on a weekday afternoon.
“Gorgeous,” Emma said, and I ignored her because I no longer had the time to allow her to gloat. I did blow a kiss to her on my way out, though, when I saw just how breathtaking I looked. I didn’t intend to try too hard, and I could only hope that I didn’t look like I was.
I took a taxi so I wouldn’t get there late. At this point, I didn’t even mind that I wouldn’t eat; I just needed him to be somewhat happy to see me. It had barely been a day, and I was already reaching out for him.
Shaking my head, I checked my messages again and prayed that he wouldn’t cancel. I checked online again for updated news about his company, and matters seemed to be improving. They had been prepared for it, and so the shareholders had been alerted ahead of time.
It made me feel sad that he even had to take this shit in the first place and that it was my fault. With that being said, I knew the first thing that I was going to say to him the moment I saw him.
I arrived on time, so I was able to choose the seat that would afford the best view of him from the entrance. He was on time as always, and by his side was his new secretary.
I was so relieved that it wasn’t a woman. It was selfish to want that, but it made me so incredibly happy and eager to see him.
The secretary shook my hand as soon as they arrived, and then I turned my attention to him. He had been stopped on his way by a couple much more elderly. They were probably business acquaintances, though I wasn’t familiar with them. He greeted them briefly, and then he began to head my way.
He looked so gorgeous it nearly brought tears to my eyes. Today he was in complete black, and I knew it was a sensitive and serious day for him. It was usually his practice to wear all black from head to toe when he thoroughly needs to intimidate, and I could only hope that it wasn’t me that was his victim because I knew from other experiences that I wouldn’t survive it. With him, as handsome as he looked, I was already finding it extremely difficult to breathe.
I rose to my feet as he arrived and held out my hand for a handshake. But he took one look at it, dismissed it, and leaned closer towards me. I had no choice then but to completely accept the hug and to bask in it.
All at once, I was hit with the reminder of him. His scent, his warmth, and how gorgeous he looked. I almost couldn’t pull away from him, and when I eventually did, I couldn’t look away.
“Fancy seeing you so soon after your departure,” he said, and I truly didn’t know what to say.
We took our seats, and he kept his gaze on me.
“I’m Madison,” I introduced myself to his new male secretary, James, and he introduced himself as well.
“I brought him along so you two could meet officially and remain in contact as needed.”
“Yes, Sir,” James nodded, and I did the same.
“You don’t have to stay for lunch,” he said, and the secretary took a little while to understand what he was saying. Eventually, though, it was clear, so after collecting my phone number and email and discussing how I had arranged and moved his schedule around after our return from Thailand, he rose to his feet.
“I think it would be best if I return to the office, Sir,” he said, and I had absolutely no qualms about it. Neither did Hunter because soon, we were alone with each other.
He watched me as we ate, and I realized that for the first time, he truly didn’t seem like my boss. It made me feel quite unrestrained. Seated at this table at this moment was just a man and a woman, and my clit wouldn’t stop throbbing between my thighs.
“So, how was?—”
“Have you started?—”
We paused at the sudden outburst, and then we smiled at each other.
“You go first,” he said, and I nodded.
“It feels so wrong being here with you knowing what the company's going through today. It also seems so wrong that you seem fine. I know inside you're upset, and I know this will set you back and?—”
“No need to apologize again,” he cut me off. “You're already doing your best to show how remorseful you are, and from time to time, I will make requests as well that you more or less have to fulfill because you're incredibly sorry.”
I watched him, and I felt my heart swell with so much warmth it felt like it would burst out of my chest.
“You're consoling me. You know this, right?”
He watched me, and then I added,
“By starting with ensuring always that my secretaries become as competent as you were.”
“Most definitely,” I replied. “And?”
“That's a start. As more things come up, I will call on your services for free, and you will perform.”
“I'll always be ready, Sir, at your beck and call.”
His gaze narrowed, tamed in that salty gorgeous way that made me think of all the sex we'd had in Thailand. Raw, messy, sweet.
“Damn,” I had to start to fan myself because seeing him and being dressed like this was all I could think about.
“How's your new job?” he asked. “Or perhaps I should say company? Are you just helping her turn it around as an employee, or is this a split endeavor?”
“We spent the majority of last night in discussions of how to proceed, and we’ve decided that an absolute arrangement will be better. I'll own fifty percent, and she'll own fifty percent as well.”
“Good,” he replied. “That's good. Partners are always beneficial, but no matter how friendly you are now, trust me when I say things can and will get messy along the line. So regardless of your relationship with her, you need to set down very clear boundaries and responsibilities from the onset.”
He was giving me business advice, and I nearly couldn't believe it. Still, I listened attentively, appreciating every single moment of it. My foot brushed against his leg underneath the table. It had been accidental, but on the brief pause in his speech, I knew that he had felt it as well.
Smiling, he picked up his glass of wine, and I couldn't stop watching him.
“I know you used to go boxing sometimes, even in the middle of the day when you really wanted to take your mind off things,” I said, and I couldn't believe the words that were coming out of my mouth. “Back then, I had always wanted to suggest an alternative sport to you.”
“An alternative sport?” he asked. “Why didn't you mention it back then?”
I looked at him, and everything inside screamed to hold back. This is... was my boss. Was your boss, I tried to remind myself.
“Your car,” I said. “Any chance we can have five minutes to be alone?” I asked, this time, however, I was unable to look at him. “The glasses are tinted, the insides are spacious.”
And just like that, he understood exactly what I was saying.
“The driver's waiting at the curb, but he can go down to the underground garage and make himself scarce. Ten minutes, you say?” he asked.
“Maybe more,” I replied. “It really depends on how much sweating you need.”
“Oh, I think you're the one that needs this exercise because I'm not going to be exerting much effort anyway. You're the one that'll be doing more of the riding.”
“Still up for it?”
I nodded, unable to wipe the smile off my face.
“When exercising, you just need your heart to go faster for you to experience either kind of relief we’re chasing here,” I said, and then laughed.
“In that case, I am extremely certain that this... sport is just what I need.”