Chapter 31
THIRTY-ONE
CRESSIDA
On Monday morning, when I walk into the office, Soren’s assistant informs me that he’s in a meeting. She then shows me where my office is, which is conveniently located right near his. Pushing open the door, I spot a large box sitting on the desk.
“You have a meeting scheduled in an hour to get to know your staff. I’ll come back and remind you.
” She leaves without another word, and I move over to the glass-topped desk with a black office chair behind it.
I survey the box. It’s closed, but the lid has my name written on it.
I know I didn’t order anything, so maybe this is something to do with work.
After pulling the lid off, I remove the packing material to find a vase. It’s just like the one I threw at Soren. But this one is a little larger and costs thousands more.
He bought me a new vase to replace the one I broke.
I’m not even sure how to feel about that.
Last night, while Oliver was eating spaghetti, I was searching online for another vase like the one I had.
The only one I found was this one. However, it was too expensive, so I kept on looking.
I could have bought a knockoff, and I considered it.
Now I guess I don’t have to worry about it.
Smiling, I reach my hand in and lightly run my fingers over it.
“Now, if I could just get you to smile and touch me like that.” I look up to find Soren leaning against the doorframe, watching me intently.
“You got me a new vase.”
“I did. Do you approve?”
“I do. It’s beautiful. Thank you,” I tell him, and pull my hand back out.
Soren pushes off from the doorframe and comes to stand beside me. He lifts the box from my desk and places it on the floor. “I know something that’s even more beautiful,” he says, and I don’t ask him what. “Are you ready to meet your staff?”
“What have you told them about me?” I ask, opening my bag and pulling out my notepad and pen.
“They already know about you.”
“How?”
“You may not be aware of this, but your name is actually quite well known in media land.” He winks. “They are thrilled to be working with you, and know that you haven’t been in this type of role for a while, but that you have experience with the job.”
“Okay.” I step from behind the desk, and his gaze scrolls over me. I can tell immediately he approves of what I’m wearing.
“You sure did a lot to stop a story,” I comment.
“Hmm… Let’s go.”
For the rest of the day, Soren ushers me around and introduces me to everyone. At first, I’m greeted with a warm welcome, but I soon come to realize it’s Soren who excites them. He must not personally show new employees around very often.
By the time we get back to my office, it’s almost eleven. “Join me for lunch later?”
“No, that would look weird.”
“You’re a new employee. How would it look weird?”
“So, you have lunch with all your new employees?” I question.
“Never.”
“Then, no.” I wave him off. “Now, please leave so I can start the day.”
He grins as he shuts the door.
I’ve been working in my office for a couple of hours when there’s a knock on the door. I tell whoever it is to come in, and Layla pushes open the door with a bag in her hand. I can immediately smell the food, and it has my mouth watering.
“You shouldn’t have. Thank you, Layla.”
“It’s from Mr. Nixon.” She smiles as she places it on my desk.
I can’t tell her to take it back to him, because that would make this situation weirder than it already is. Instead, I thank her again before she leaves.
I guess I could eat. But just as I open the bag and peek inside, my phone rings. It’s a FaceTime call from Soren. I answer it, and his face comes into view.
“Do you like it?” he asks.
“Sure,” I say and pull out a box of what smells like chicken.
“You didn’t want to be seen eating lunch with me at work, and I respect that. So, we can do it this way.” That’s when I notice his lunch in front of him.
I chuckle. “You’re really weird.” I have to give him credit where credit is due, though.
The lunch is nice. Especially when I take the first bite and remember I didn’t eat breakfast this morning.
I was so nervous about the staff not liking me for the sole reason that I came in and got a job that some of them had probably been trying to get.
Then I have to remind myself I have been in the business for years, worked my way up, and I am good at what I do.
Why else would Soren have hired me? You know, apart from trying to fuck me, and to stop me from writing the story about him.
He is an astute businessman, after all. He could have put me anywhere.
And, honestly, I think he’s one of the smartest men I have ever met.
“Yes, and I’d like to be even weirder by sliding my hand up your skirt.”
I can’t tell if he’s teasing or not.
But I laugh and then hang up on him.
The rest of the workweek actually goes smoother than I thought it would.
I hardly see Soren, which I’m thankful for because I don’t want anyone to get any ideas that I only got the job because I am sleeping with the boss.
Because let’s be real, he gave me the job so I’d stop investigating him for the story.
That doesn’t mean I’m going to stop digging, though, completely.
Now that I know him better, I want to learn more about him.
I understand his life revolves around work and his sister, and that he’s trying to set some boundaries with her because she’s a fucking nutcase. And he understands that my life revolves around work and my son.
I texted Noah the other day to discuss me taking Oliver away next month to visit my family for a week. He asked if I could already get time off work, since I just started a new job. I told him it shouldn’t be an issue, but truth be told, I haven’t even checked.
I haven’t seen Soren all day, but as I close my office door on my way out for the weekend, he steps out of his office at the same time.
It’s late, and no one else is in the office apart from a few stragglers.
He sees me, and a small smile touches his lips.
I want to say that my heart doesn’t skip a beat at that barely-there smile, but it damn-well does.
I’m not really sure what he’s doing to me, because it’s so different from my last relationship. Not that I would call what we have a relationship. I just don’t know what category to put us in. Yes, we’ve had sex. And, yes, we work together. But I don’t know what else we are.
I manage to put one foot in front of the other and head down the hall, having to walk past his office to get to the elevator. He knows that, so he stands there, waiting for me. As soon as I reach him, I stop and meet his eyes.
“Care to have dinner with me?” he asks.
“I have Oliver tonight.”
“Bring him,” he says, and I give him a skeptical look. “I’m serious. Bring him. It’s casual anyway.”
“You’re willingly inviting me, and my son, to dinner?”
“Yes, at my apartment,” he adds.
“Umm… that’s a lot.”
“It’s not. I have a chef, and you need to eat. So, come. What’s his favorite food? I can get the chef to make it.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“It is. Don’t overthink it. Just come and have a glass of wine with me while we eat.”
I should tell him no.
I don’t bring my son around strange men.
But I guess I can introduce him as my boss?
Can’t I?
That wouldn’t be as weird.
“I’m telling him you’re my boss.”
“Whatever you need to do.” He winks and heads to the front of the office.
I follow, and we ride in the elevator together.
He pushes the button, and we stand in awkward silence as the car descends a few floors.
Then, all of a sudden, his hand is sliding around my waist, and he’s pushing me back against the wall, his body pressed against mine, his other hand cupping the back of my head.
And he kisses me.
He’s kissing me.
In the elevator.
At work.
The elevator doesn’t stop as we descend to the lobby. His tongue tangles with mine, and I drop my bag so I can wrap my fingers around the lapels of his suit jacket.
We have to stop doing this.
At least that’s what I keep telling myself.
But it feels so fucking good.
And I don’t think I can stop.
Just before the doors open, he pulls back and gives me a lust-filled look. “I’ll see you later.” He winks and strides out.
And I can only stand there, dazed.
The doors begin to shut, and I hurry out, catching my reflection in the shiny metal doors and seeing that my pink lipstick is smudged.
It was so worth it.
One of the highlights of my day is collecting Oliver from after-school care.
I check my watch as I stand at the front and wait for him.
He’s usually always out first when he knows I will collect him.
So, when the kids keep coming, and I see no sign of Oliver, I immediately go to where his class is.
His teacher smiles when she sees me. “Oliver, have you seen him?” I ask her, looking around.
“He was the first out as usual. Is everything okay?” she says when the smile on my face drops at her words.
“He wasn’t out there,” I whisper. “I was only a few minutes late, but he wasn’t out there,” I manage to say again.
“Miss Knight, what about his dad? Did he collect him? It happens more often than not, the wrong parent comes, forgetting about their day.” She laughs it off, but the pit in my stomach is dropping even lower.
Noah and I never get our days wrong.
It’s something we are good at.
I press call anyway. Noah answers, and immediately I rush out, “Is Oliver with you?” He goes silent on his end.
“No.”
My phone drops from my hand, and my heart starts racing faster and faster than ever before. I could not think of anything worse. Oliver would never have walked off without a parent or someone he knew. It’s just not who he is. He knows the rules.
“Miss Knight, is everything okay?” I glance at her, a haze covering my eyes, and I realize it’s getting blurry. “Miss Knight, who can I call?”
“911, I need to go to the police station. I need…” I collect my phone and run as fast as I can.
Where is Oliver?