Chapter 4
The heady scent of orange, jasmine, and rose are smells I associate with Dora.
The orange, because that was what the air smelt like when we danced at her sixteenth birthday.
Jasmine because they were the first flowers I ever gave to her when she turned fifteen, and I realized my feelings towards her weren't brotherly at all.
And rose, because her skin is as soft as a rose petal.
I am never sentimental except where Dora is concerned.
I've caught a few glimpses of her raven black hair, flowing in waves from her high ponytail, swishing this way and that as the HR woman, Mrs. Greene, gives Dora her onboarding and orientation.
I should be there, but I don't want to risk giving my employees an eyeful of my boner, which has refused to calm down ever since I smelled her perfume this morning.
I adjust my trousers for the umpteenth time behind my desk and force my attention back to the documents I'm perusing.
The sales report from the Chicago and St Louis branches aren't looking so good.
Hopefully Dora will pour some of her energy and ingenuity into headquarters and drive the numbers up.
That should get other branches to sit up.
By lunchtime, I'm fed up with figures and meetings. I'm ready to eat a full plate of medium-rare steak. I buzz my secretary to confirm my lunch reservations.
“The Marshals are expecting you. Your usual table is available.”
“Thanks, Sally. I'll be going out to lunch now,” I ring off and slip on my jacket. I make a quick stop at the restroom tucked neatly into a rotating panel at the far-right side of my office. I give my member one last warning, “Cool your heels! We aren't teenage boys with raging hormones anymore.”
By the time I'm leaving the elevator on the ground floor, I hear laughter that chases a battalion of goosebumps down my spine. It’s Dora.
I spy her exiting the front revolving doors with her phone glued to her ear.
She is probably regaling her besties with stories of her first day at work.
I wait by the reception desk for a few more minutes, pretending to be checking something on my phone.
I wasn't scared of Dora! Nope! I was scared of my reaction to her. I've always been in the same space with her when our families were around. Without them to chaperone, I don't trust myself not to seduce her.
After a few minutes, I head out to lunch .
This continued for the rest of the week. Me avoiding her like a plague all week long. On Friday, when Dean called to ask what I thought about Dora during the interview, I had to fib. I had been fielding his calls all week.
“So, how did our star girl do?” Dean couldn't even hide the excitement in his voice.
I cover the mouthpiece of my phone and groan before answering, “Oh, that…I couldn't make it. Had a meeting that kept me out of the office all day. In fact, I've been so busy this week that I haven't even seen her.”
There’s silence on the other side of the line and I prepare for Dean's censure. I stroll into The Soulle Restaurant and hand my coat to the coat check attendant. I nod at him in greeting and make a beeline for my reserved table.
“Cole don't be a jerk. It's Dora, for goodness sake. Are you avoiding her?”
I sigh, scrubbing my face with my hand as I lower myself into a chair. Dean knows me too well, but I stick to my story.
“I promise you, Dean, I am not. I feel terrible enough as it is, you don't have to rub it in.”
Dean scoffs but drops the conversation. “Where are you, anyway?”
I chuckle at his question. Nosy Dean! “I’m at a restaurant.”
“Alone?”
I can't help but laugh, “Bye, Dean!”
I slip the phone into my jacket and turn my wrist to check my watch. I'm early. I settle into my seat and begin to scout for possible candidates. I've been edgy and horny since Tuesday and I need to do something about it.
Bingo! I grin as a slender, brunette beauty with a trim physique sashays past my table heading to the bar. No soft curves in sight. Not one! The way she walks gives her away. She's here alone. I straighten my jacket, ready to deploy all my charms. Sliding out of my chair, I swagger to the bar.
“I’ll have a scotch, neat,” I nod at the bartender, deftly sliding onto a stool beside the slender brunette. She gives me a sultry once-over and I smile. “And another of whatever the lady is having,” I add without taking my eyes off the slender brunette. She stretches out her hand.
“Tilly,” she says. Her voice comes out sleek and practiced. I clasp her outstretched hand and gingerly press a kiss to the back of it.
“Cole…You have a beautiful smile, Tilly.” My compliment draws out another smile on her lips. In the end, we decide to skip dinner after a few drinks and head to my apartment.
Once we're inside my office apartment, Tilly begins to familiarize herself with the place, setting the mood.
She slips off one piece of clothing after the other and turns on soft light and sensual music.
I trail after her as she reaches my bedroom.
She climbs the bed on all fours, slipping off her final article of clothing – a red lace thong.
She crooks a finger at me, bidding me to come, and I obey.
Finally, I'm going to let off some steam and lose myself in some wanton sex.
But as I sit on the bed, I know that isn't going to happen.
I haven't even been able to kiss her lips yet.
I'd only kissed her hands and fingers, teasing and arousing her.
My body isn't cooperating. It's like every hormone is on strike because the woman in my bed isn't Dora. I sigh and run my fingers through my hair. Tilly picks on my mood and slides closer.
“I’m sorry, but my body just isn't into it tonight,” I mutter, bringing her knuckles to my lips.
After placing a soft kiss there, I rise to my feet before strolling to my dresser.
Once there, I grab the black velvet rectangular box with a Tiffany & Co insignia engraved onto it.
Inside is the most gorgeous diamond bracelet.
It was one of the many pieces of jewelry I received from the company as a major stakeholder.
Tilly preens over the present, watching in awe as I clasp the bracelet over her wrist. “I would never send a beautiful woman away from my bed empty-handed. Since I couldn't give you sexual pleasure, I can at least give you this material pleasure. After all, diamonds are a girl’s best friend.”
Tilly chuckles, delirious with happiness. “Yes, yes! Thank you,” she finally says, with a nod of her head. She leans forward to kiss my cheek.
“I hope the lady is worth it,” she whispers before hopping off the bed in search of her clothes. I don't bother to deny the existence of ‘the lady.’ I just slump on my bed in defeat.
“Shit!” I hiss. Dora is getting to me too much. I just turned down a very experienced woman who would've given me the best sex of my life, simply because I can't stop craving Dora like a drug. Shit! I groan in frustration and fling the covers to the floor, before running my hands through my hair.
I have to do something about this situation, fast. I resolved to set up a meeting with Dora the next day.
Accepting that tonight is a bust, I turn off the stereo and lights, exit my office apartment, and head home.
My house is a haven, and I rarely take random chicks for fucks there.
Instead, I use my office apartment. During the short drive home, I prepare myself to face Dora tomorrow.
I don't sleep well, so when I get to the office the next day, I'm a little grumpy. My body decided to gang up on me while I was asleep, and I had dreamed of Dora thrashing in my arms while I made slow love to her. Just remembering the vivid dream is getting my blood to flow to my nether regions.
I stop at Sally’s desk, and I'm hit full force by her cheerfulness. “Good morning, boss!”
Why does she have such a bright smile on her face? It's only seven o'clock in the morning! I nod in response, trying to avoid taking out my grumpiness on her. “Schedule a meeting with the new VP of marketing. Immediately after she clocks, inform her about it.”
Sally nods, her smile intact and unfazed by my sour disposition. “Will do, boss!”
I nod and stroll to my office. It’s time to face what I've been running from.
At exactly 8:00 am, Sally buzzes me on the intercom, “Miss Dora McLean here for the eight-a.m. meeting. Should I send her in?”
I sit up and catch myself beginning to fuss. I straighten my tie, my cuffs, and the files and documents on my table. When I realize what I am doing, I halt my activities at once and respond to Sally.
“Thank you, Sally. Please send her in.” The words no sooner left my mouth than the knock sounded on the door.
I lean back in my chair and announce, “Come in.”
The door opens and a whiff of orange hits me, causing my guts to tighten.
In walks the woman who has become a bur in my side.
Her slow, measured steps bring her to my desk in a matter of seconds.
Her voluptuous body dries my mouth. My eyes are drawn to her crescent-shaped hips, and her thick thighs straining against her skirt as she walks.
Slowly, my eyes travel upward to her full-bosomed chest, wrapped in a simple grey chiffon sleeve. Her pouty lips were currently the shade of peach. She had a pert nose and dark, stormy midnight eyes. Today, there's a hint of mascara on them giving her that smokey-eyed look.
I count to ten before I speak, “Hi Dora, take a seat.”
Dora sinks into the chair in front of my desk and I swallow a painful groan. Her boobs practically bounce as she settles into the chair.
“Thank you, Mr. Prime,” comes her cold response. The heat pooling at my lower abdomen dies. Mr. Prime? Where did that come from?
I try to laugh off her response. “Oh, come on, Dee… I have never been Mr. Prime to you. I'm still the same old Cole.”
The next set of curt words from her luscious lips cut me off. “I apologize, but you are my boss, and this is your office. I will address you as an employee should, which you have made abundantly clear that I am just that – another employee.”
I'm beyond shocked by her words. What did she mean by another employee ?