Chapter 35 #2
Jamie didn’t even do anything! She merely sat there, hands in her lap and legs slapped together.
Back straight. Hair down. If she sat still enough, people might think she was a doll.
Really, aside from her appearance, there was no reason to regard her at all.
A doll in the background. Isn’t that what Etta wanted?
To know that behind all her actions, she had a woman waiting for her?
So why was David Hamilton always glancing at her in between replying to Etta’s comments?
And why was Amanda always following his gaze, giving Jamie quizzical looks?
They couldn’t possibly be admiring her… admiring what Etta had. Her possession.
At the end of this relatively short meeting, David Hamilton rose, shook Etta’s hand, nodded to Amanda, and turned to take his leave. Yet he stopped halfway across the room, gazing at Jamie in such a nervous way that he practically began to sweat on his brow.
It wasn’t intimidation. It was what the fuck do I do? If Jamie were acting natural, he would probably nod to her on his way out, but Jamie was not acting natural. She was acting like a posed doll, her mannerisms completely empty and her face devoid of expression.
No wonder this man struggled to think of the best course of action.
It would be rude to leave the room without acknowledging Jamie, especially since she was Etta Coleman’s fiancée – and there was no way Mr. Hamilton could not know that.
But a simple nod wouldn’t do when Jamie wasn’t acting herself.
Or very human, for that matter. What should he do?
Go over and say hello? In front of Etta? Her fiancée?
“Good… day to you, Miss.” He finally hurried out of the office. Amanda put her tablet down and asked Etta if she needed anything else. You better say no. Jamie wanted to be alone with her woman for at least a minute.
“That’s all, Ms. Mayfield. Organize the notes and bring me a copy later. Thank you.”
She showed herself out, gazing out of the corner of her eye the entire time. Good day to you as well. When the door closed, Etta pushed back from her desk and came to the couch.
“Look at you. A perfect, pretty picture right here in my office.” Etta perched beside Jamie on the edge of the couch, one hand going over her fiancée’s knee. “Who could blame me for wanting to show you off to everyone who comes through?”
I knew it. Jamie was a trophy right now.
Etta Coleman’s gorgeous, behaving trophy.
Deep inside, it unnerved her for Etta to openly admit this was how she saw her right now, but Jamie couldn’t cry too hard about it.
When they were in a scene – even one that transcended the public sphere like this one – she wanted her to laud her beauty and how well she…
How well she…
Could submit.
“I hope that wasn’t too uncomfortable for you,” Etta continued. “It wasn’t, was it?”
Her hand squeezed Jamie’s knee. She looked at it, then Etta’s face. She shook her head.
“Good. I’ve got many plans for us today. Many things I want to do with you. New things. Our favorite things. Things you’ve rarely dreamed of. I hope you’re looking forward to it.”
Remember how I said I didn’t need to wear any blush because I would make plenty of my own? Happening now, right on her cheeks. Jamie had no idea what Etta could possibly have in store for her, but she didn’t doubt it would be… interesting. Probably wild. That was her usual speed, anyway.
“Would you like a preview now?” Etta eased Jamie back against the couch, lightly kissing her blushing cheek as a hand went to her breast. “You have been so patiently waiting.”
There was barely any time to enjoy the touch of her fiancée’s hand before Natasha’s voice popped on the intercom. “Ms. Coleman, your 2:15 is here. Should I send them in?”
Etta pulled away from Jamie. Damnit. She was getting into that. “Of course they would be early,” Etta muttered. “Yes, go ahead and send them in,” she said, once she was back at her desk with her thumb on the intercom.
Jamie didn’t want to say anything – not that she could – but it looked like Etta was already getting hot and bothered beneath her clothes.
Her next meeting was a couple: two women who had flown in from Los Angeles.
That meant they were excited about her, and as Jamie quickly learned in the five seconds she observed, they were mostly excited about the publishing arm Adele brought with her when the companies merged.
Ad-Thom Publishing was now Thompson & Coleman Publishing, however, which meant Etta was able to conduct meetings on Adele’s behalf regarding the financial and management end of the publisher.
The Carters were interested in merging their small press with Thompson & Coleman Publishing.
They focused on photography books, with a huge list of photographers and authors that had exclusive contracts with them.
Not just Californian photographers, either.
America, Asia, Europe, Africa… if it was a travel destination, the Carters either already had a book about it or were planning one.
They were hoping that a merger with Thompson & Coleman could result in significant funding necessary for an expedition to Antarctica.
Jamie learned that in one minute. The Carters talked. A lot.
“Oh, who’s this?” asked a voluptuous woman with a spray tan and bleach blond hair. Cay Carter approached Jamie as if she were the most unusual specimen she had yet to come across in New England. “This can’t be your assistant, could it?”
Normally, Etta didn’t joke about such things in front of casual business associates, but the Carters must be a special case. “She used to be my assistant, yes. Now she’s my fiancée.”
“Your fiancée! Well, excuse me!” Cay held out her orange hand. “Pleased to meet you. I’m Cay Carter, and this is my wife, Andi.”
Jamie shook both of their hands but did not return the greeting with anything more than a smile.
When Cay’s mouth fell in perplexity, Etta came up behind her and explained, “I’m afraid that Jamie’s voice isn’t working today.
Please, don’t be offended. Although you may wish to count yourself lucky… she’ll talk your ear off most days.”
The Carters quickly forgot about Jamie as they sat at Etta’s desk and went over their preliminary terms for the merger.
Cay made it clear that she would remain the editor in chief of the subsidiary.
“Adele and I have gone over this extensively, and she’s totally on board,” she said with a trill.
She was completely absorbed in her conversation with Etta, but wife Andi spent more than a few seconds letting her eyes wander up and down Jamie’s slender legs.
When she looked back at Etta, it was envy on her face.
So the damned day continued.
After the Carters, it was Jem Mercier, who barely gave any warning she was coming and had to be penciled in that morning.
She might as well have been talking in code for all Jamie knew.
By that point, she was spacing off, aware that everyone who came in and out of that office was staring at her in either lust or envy.
Sometimes the envy was directed at her. Other times, it was directed at Etta, and this was from those who were already in serious relationships.
Etta was relishing this. Every time another’s eyes focused on Jamie, Etta’s ego inflated five more points.
The meetings didn’t stop until four. The last guest shook Etta’s hand and was followed out to the main office.
When Etta returned, it was with a smirk bigger than Jamie’s hair.
She locked the door and told Natasha that she didn’t want to be disturbed for at least half an hour, unless it was an emergency.
Jamie knew what that meant.
“Getting cramped?” Etta held out her hand. “Why not stretch your legs?”
Jamie accepted her help, legs grateful to be used again. I didn’t realize how cramped I was until now. Etta kissed her knuckles, gaze never leaving Jamie’s flattered face.
“I hope you’re not too bored. We’re having dinner after we leave. An important dinner that Adele will be joining us on. It’s with some of her… business associates, shall we say.”
So, insufferable fuckheads ala Hyacinth Winston. Jamie was not excited by the prospect, but she wasn’t panicking… yet.
“I have a little time to spare with you, though.” Etta drew Jamie into her arms, body encircled by Armani and tough but feminine Clive Christian perfume. “Only question is… how should we spend it?”
Jamie clutched her jacket, feeling Etta tense beneath her touch. I know how I want to spend it. On her knees, over the desk, on the couch… there were so many ways for Etta to have her way with Jamie right now.
Etta played with the loose end of Jamie’s diamond belt. “Do you like this? I thought of you the moment I saw it at the jeweler’s when I was having a watch fixed. I knew I wanted to see it around your waist, taunting me. And it has.”
She pulled harder. Jamie’s eyes widened as the belt cinched tightly around her waist.
“After all this time, I still don’t think you know what you do to me. You don’t even have to speak or move. Looking at you has always made me a complete and utter fool. Remember, the first time I saw you downstairs that fateful day… I knew I had to have you. I needed you.”
Jamie was lost against Etta’s chest, feeling that touch on her sides, her hair, her collar around her neck. Touch me all over.