Chapter 17
Gabriella
I clutched my iced coffee tightly, the condensation’s coolness seeping into my hand as I rode the elevator up to the top floor.
My stomach was a bundle of nerves, and had been all morning.
It had been like this every morning for the past few days, ever since Chandler and I christened his office.
My cheeks heated at just the thought of it.
I had the urge to press my coffee cup to my face to cool down, but the elevator doors opened and spit me out.
I had gone from hating Chandler to feeling like a silly schoolgirl around him, though I would never let it show through my cool exterior.
Everything had changed since that night.
The sex had been just as good, if not better than the first time.
It was different this time. Slow, steady, meaningful, as opposed to slamming my back into a pillar, ballgown up around my hips.
He could go fast or slow, it didn’t matter.
He knew exactly how to touch me and completely set me off.
The way he knew every little thing that made me tick, it was as if he had known me for years, exploring my body in that time.
It was hard not to play it all back in my head late at night.
Hard not to want it again. And again. I wasn’t willing to let it go.
I knew the risk. We were playing with fire, but I wasn’t going to give it up.
We were both in agreeance that we would keep it a secret.
It had been his suggestion, and at first it had felt like I caught a splinter.
It was such a quick flicker of hurt, but then it disappeared as if I had plucked it out with tweezers.
I knew he was right. If the office found out, it wouldn’t look good.
And if my father found out…well, I doubted Chandler or I would have a job anymore.
My dream of taking over the company would be gone.
I still had every intention of being CEO one day, which made this thing with Chandler even trickier. How could I resent him for having what I wanted so badly, while also having sex with him? I was starting to feel overwhelmed, and we had only just begun.
Constantly, I was waiting for the next time we would find a private moment alone together, which was probably why each morning I put on my best dresses and skirt suits, spending more time on my hair and makeup.
Like I said, a silly schoolgirl. Every morning, I wondered if today would be the day that I could scream his name again.
I walked toward my office, giving warm smiles and nods to the employees that I passed, feeling a little sheepish about tarnishing the office with my sexual escapades.
I took a deep breath before passing by Chandler’s door, pretending to be oblivious to his presence that I felt without having to even look inside.
It was power. That was what it felt like.
In my office, I sat down at my desk. I had purposefully left my door open, so I could have a full view into his open office, and he could have a view into mine.
I heard him clear his throat and slowly raise my eyes to find his gaze on me.
I wondered if he could see how taken aback I was by just how good he looked.
I didn’t think I would ever get used to it.
He sat behind his desk in a pale blue suit that brought out the summer tan in his skin.
It was a suit I hadn’t seen before, but it fit him like a glove, just like all the others.
His lips twitched slightly, giving way to a small semblance of a smile.
Even that made my heart do a backflip. I nodded in return and pretended to focus on my computer, and not the fact that I wanted to head in there and take him on the rug again.
I wondered when we would have the opportunity again, and if we would ever find a place more private than a gala or his office.
I wasn’t sure who was supposed to initiate, or who was supposed to make the first move.
It felt like he was calling the shots, and I didn’t entirely like it.
I was used to being in control, but right now, I was so out of control.
Especially, sitting here squirming at my desk under his lustful gaze.
It was going to be a long day, especially now that we worked side by side, and rid our silly rule of only email and phone calls.
After an excruciating work week of not only a busy agenda, but palpable sexual tension with Chandler that led to nowhere, I was finally free of the office and felt like I could breathe.
Juliet and I were walking to our favorite brunch spot just a few blocks from our apartment building.
I hadn’t told her about the latest development with Chandler, and felt like I might burst. I wasn’t sure if it was because I so badly wanted him, or if I needed someone to talk me off a ledge.
We walked in and my stomach sank with disappointment. I was starving and the restaurant was packed. It was Saturday, after all. There wasn’t a single table available. I groaned, smelling my favorite blueberry pancakes and eyeing a mimosa nearby.
“Don’t worry,” said Juliet with a wink. “I made a reservation.”
“Have I told you how much I love you?” I said, wrapping my arm around her and giving her a squeeze.
She laughed and nodded after the hostess who was leading us to a small booth toward the back. We quickly ordered two mimosas and put in our usual order. Blueberry pancakes, brioche French toast, scrambled eggs with cheese, and a side of bacon.
As we sipped on our champagne mixed with fresh-squeezed orange juice and waited for our food, Juliet eyed me with a curious smile pulling at the side of her mouth.
“Soooo…what’s new?” she asked in a sing song voice.
I bit my lip, knowing exactly what she was asking. After wanting to explode and tell her everything about me and Chandler all morning, now I felt nervous. I knew what we were doing was reckless. Stupid.
“Works been busy,” I said coyly, taking a sip of my mimosa.
“Mhmmmm…” She put her chin on her hand and expectantly waited for more.
“Chandler and I may have had sex again…” I murmured.
“What was that?” She raised a brow.
“You heard me.” I narrowed my gaze.
“And?”
“It was just as good the second time. Maybe better.”
“So much for being careful,” she muttered.
“I know,” I groaned.
“Whatever.” She waved me off. “You’re having fun. It’s like a sexy office fling.”
“One that could get me fired. Both of us.”
“True, but only if it gets complicated.”
“Isn’t it already?”
“I don’t know. It sounds like you two just like to hook up.” She shrugged.
I thought about it for a second. I thought that’s what it was too, but I was starting to think there might be more to it.
At least for me. When we talked that night.
I mean, really talked, I saw a side of Chandler I had never seen before.
He was vulnerable and open. More than most men I had met, and he was freaking Chandler White, whom I thought was the world’s biggest asshole. Maybe I had him all wrong.
But the way he was quick to suggest we keep whatever we were a secret had me second-guessing him. Us. There wasn’t even an “us.” Maybe I was blinded by his big cock and stupid emerald eyes, and forgetting who he was. An arrogant, bossy, jerk.
“Or is it more?” asked Juliet cautiously, her fingers playing mindlessly with the stem of her champagne glass.
I sighed. “I don’t know. No. I hardly know him. And what I do know about him isn’t the greatest. He’s not the kind of guy I want to be with,” I said.
Juliet nodded, a strand of her blonde hair falling in her face. She reached up and tucked it into the messy bun on her head, her blue eyes studying me.
“Well, just have fun with him then.”
“Oh, I plan to.” I smirked.
She giggled and shushed me as our server approached with our tray of food. We thanked her and began eating from the platters, not bothering to divvy it up onto our individual plates. I popped a blueberry in my mouth and looked at Juliet thoughtfully.
“While it’s pretty hot having sex with a guy you hate a little, I sort of thought I would be settling down by now…”
“Marriage? Kids? White picket fence?”
“Marriage. Kids. Upper East Side apartment.” I nodded, digging my fork into the fluffy pancake.
“Well, maybe Chandler is your Mr. Right Now. At least until you find Mr. Forever.” She took a bite of bacon, pointing it at me. “But don’t get the two confused.”
“I don’t plan on it,” I said. “Chandler is just sex.”
“Good sex.” She corrected me, still pointing the bacon at me.
I waved her away. “Will you get that bacon out of my face?” I laughed.
She grinned at me before finishing it in two bites.
“So, when are you going to…you know…” she asked, wiggling her eyebrows.
“I don’t know. I keep thinking it might happen and then it doesn’t. It’s stupid really. Do I think he’s just going to shut his office door and push me over his desk with the whole office there?”
“I don’t know…you did screw in a museum…”
“Juliet!” I said, my voice rising and my cheeks turning red.
“What? It’s true!”
I shook my head. “I keep waiting for him to make a move or suggest it.”
“Why wait?” she asked. “Why don’t you make the move?”
“Won’t that look a little desperate?”
“Who cares? You two are just having fun. There don’t have to be games. You can just call him up and say ‘let’s have sex.’ That’s the beauty of it.”
I chewed on my cheek, thinking about what she was saying. I had always been straightforward with Chandler. Okay, I was a straight-up bitch, but clearly he saw something he liked. Maybe I was being too meek. I sure as hell wasn’t being myself.
“You’re right.” I nodded. “I’ll text him after brunch.”
“Hell yeah, girl.”
“After I order another mimosa.” I raised my hand and signaled for our server, ordering another round. I would need the liquid courage to be so forward.
As Juliet and I walked outside into the early afternoon sun, we linked our arms together and began our walk back to the apartment. It felt like we were in high school again. I leaned my head against her shoulder, the summer sun at our backs.
“I’m so glad you’re back in my life,” I said, giving her arm a squeeze.
“Honestly, what would you do without me?” She smirked.
“I have no clue.”
We spent the rest of the walk home coming up with ideas on what I should text Chandler.
I didn’t want to be too forward, but I did want to find a way to see him.
I wasn’t tipsy enough to send the few vulgar suggestions Juliet provided in her buzzed state.
Finally, we decided I would text him something about work.
As Juliet and I settled into my couch, both ready for a nap after champagne and full stomachs, I pulled out my phone and scrolled through my contacts until I landed on Chandler. I quickly typed out a text, trying not to overthink it.
Me: Have documents for you to sign by EOD.
There were no documents to sign, but I quickly hit send before I could change my mind.