Chapter Sixteen
Seraphine
It’s early Friday morning, and I’m getting ready for the day.
All week, my mood has been much better than it was.
A lot has happened to me in a short time, and I’m dealing with it the best I can.
Working at Caldwell Enterprises keeps me busy.
Not only during my shifts, but well afterward, too.
I go to bed exhausted every night, get a great night’s sleep, then wake up ready to start the day.
I’m still waiting for all my trauma to come crashing down on me, as I’m sure it will one of these days, but for now…
I’m enjoying life. Which happens to be really great when you have all the things you need.
It’s funny and confusing because I didn’t even feel this good when I was with Harrison.
I had all the same amenities and perks, but it felt different.
Maybe because deep down, I knew they were all conditional.
I only had those things because I was with him.
And that fact was confirmed when I found him cheating on me and left. I had nothing.
Now, I have a job, enough money to live off of, and my own apartment—sort of. The contract states that everything is mine as long as I hold the job at CE, and it’s also listed that the job is mine for six months. Mr. Caldwell initially had a year, but I asked him to change it. He did with no issue.
I haven’t received a paycheck from them yet, and won’t until next week, since that’s how payroll works, but that’s fine. I have everything I need here until then. The money I had in my account is gone, but again, there isn’t anything I need.
I get a weekly grocery order delivery that is paid for by Elliot.
Another thing I told him to stop doing, but of course he didn’t listen.
He has a car pick me up for work and drop me off after.
Everything I could want is here and taken care of.
Honestly, I don’t even know what I’ll do with my paycheck when I get it.
Buy more clothes, maybe? Though he’s provided me with a number of appropriate outfits in my style for work, I just want to shop.
And maybe I’d like to see the surprise on his face when he sees me in something new that I picked out myself.
I knew working with him would be dangerous.
I’m so attracted to him that it sometimes makes working difficult.
I catch myself staring at him throughout the day, just watching as he works.
That intense look on his face as he stares at his computer or when he’s frowning at his phone is so sexy.
And times when I’m not staring at him, I feel him staring at me and I think I like that more.
Sometimes he just likes to watch me do absolutely nothing but take notes.
We’re in the same boat. And though he hasn’t said anything else sexually toward me, or made any kind of gesture, I feel the tension. It’s there, and it’s thick.
I’d contemplated mentioning it to him, telling him that we can’t do anything like that again, but that doesn’t feel right. I’m not sure, but it feels almost presumptuous.
The time at his house was a difficult situation.
We got caught up due to what was going on.
The second time, we were at a bar, and I can only assume he had a lot to drink and spoke out of turn.
Now that we’re in a work setting, it’s different.
He wouldn’t risk his company for me. I’m not worth any of that.
So yeah, he likes to look, but a lot of guys like to look.
Elliot Caldwell isn’t the only man I catch staring at me.
I won’t lie. I love the attention. From everyone.
I’ve never had this before, and though I’m not a promiscuous girl, the way the men look at me in this office makes me feel good.
It makes me feel real. Worthy of something.
Seen. Appreciated. Wanted All the things I should have felt when I was with Harrison but didn’t.
He was the first real relationship I’d had.
Sure, I’d dated here and there before him.
Nothing ever went past a second date. And I’d had boyfriends in middle school and high school, but those don’t really count.
Maybe the guy I lost my virginity to counts.
He and I dated for six months at the end of senior year in high school, but it didn’t amount to anything.
I hadn’t had sex again until I was with Harrison, so it was practically like I was a virgin again.
My cell rings from the vanity and a glance at it tells me it’s the driver downstairs.
I do one more look over in the mirror before answering it and letting him know I’ll be right down.
Before heading out the door, I grab my purse, coat, and laptop bag.
As I head down the elevator, I can’t help but smile at how good life is.
I step into Mr. Caldwell’s office after the meeting we just attended.
He stood behind to chat with Peter and told me to meet him here.
I still don’t have a desk, and there hasn’t been a discussion of one.
We both seem to be content with me sitting on the sofa or in the chair across from his desk as I work on my laptop.
I know that’s strange, but I’m comfortable and I like being here with him.
I set my laptop on his desk, then grab the charger from my bag to plug it in. When I come around the desk, someone walks into the office.
“Afternoon, Seraphine.”
I force a smile, wanting to correct him from calling me that, but know it won’t get anywhere. Not in this office. I’d already corrected one of the guys, and Elliot caught him calling me Sera and he told him to only refer to me as Seraphine or Miss Sinclair. It was a little embarrassing.
“Hi, Ian.”
He’s a handsome guy. A few years older than me, if I had to guess. Light brown hair, square jaw, dark eyes. He’s always dressed well, but so is everyone else here.
“Is Elliot around?”
“Last I knew, he was still talking with Peter in the conference room.”
He nods. “Got it.” He turns to move but then comes back. “You want to grab lunch sometime?”
“Oh, um, sure. That would be nice.”
“Great. We can talk about it next week.”
“Sounds good.”
He smiles and turns, just as Elliot walks in and they almost bump into each other.
“I was just looking for you,” Ian says to Elliot.
“It’ll have to wait,” he says in a tone that tells me something didn’t go his way.
“Sure. I’ll stop by later.”
Ian leaves without another word, and Elliot closes the door before turning toward me.
“What will you be talking to him about next week?” he asks, still standing by the door.
“I’m sorry?”
“Ian said he would talk to you about it next week. What is it?” he asks, this time with less patience and as he’s walking toward me. Looking almost like a stalking lion.
I have a feeling he already knows where this is going, and he doesn’t like it.
I could lie, but that would be stupid for a number of reasons.
Mainly, telling him the truth is going to get some sort of feral reaction out of him, and I live for these moments while at work.
This isn’t the first time he’s shown jealousy around me.
I don’t miss the way he glares at the guys when he catches them staring at me. It’s almost better than his eyes being on me themselves.
“He asked me to lunch,” I say, holding back the cocky smile pushing forward.
“And you agreed?” he grits out.
I give a small shrug, holding onto my innocence even after my breath comes heavier.
He takes a step closer to me, so close I feel the warmth of his body.
“Don’t think I don’t know what you’re doing.”
“What am I doing, Mr. Caldwell?” I ask, keeping a hint of mischief in my tone.
He makes a low sound in his throat, then his hand comes up to brush his fingers along my cheek. I move into his touch, but the moment I do, it’s gone.
Fluttering my eyes open, because I hadn’t realized I closed them, I look up at him.
“Get your things. We’re going out to lunch.”
He says that, but then he doesn’t move. He doesn’t give me the space to get by him and I don’t know if it’s because he wants me to brush against him to go, or if he wants me to stay right here.
“Mr. Caldwell, Edwin Brantly is on the line.”
He flinches imperceptibly and carefully reaches around me to grab the receiver of the phone. Pressing the blinking button, he speaks into the phone but keeps his eyes on me.
“Mr. Brantly.” A beat of silence. “No. We’ve discussed this already.”
I hear the annoyance in his tone, but he stays as calm as ever.
What would it take to make him not calm? To rile him up? To get him all disheveled looking the way he was when he came to my apartment the day he was celebrating?
My fingers twitch, wanting to reach out and touch him. Slide my hand up his chest, then back down. Slip my fingers into the waistband of his slacks, brush my fingers along his thigh, getting close to where his dick is but never touching it.
“That is not an option, Mr. Brantly. That’s fine. You can have your lawyers reach out to my legal team, but I assure you, this is a mistake.” He grunts, then hangs the phone up, still never taking his eyes from me.
“What are you thinking, sweetness?” he asks.
Sweetness? That’s new. He hasn’t called me anything other than Miss Sinclair while at work, and Seraphine when we’re anywhere else.
“Nothing,” I breathe out.
He shifts on his feet, leaning closer to me.
“Liar.”
His desk phone rings and still he doesn’t budge, doesn’t take those grey eyes from mine. Not until the third ring, when he grabs it to answer.
“Elliot Caldwell.”
I don’t move. I stay right where I am, feet planted, inches from him.
I won’t look down, but I know my hand is close.
Close enough to touch him and see how well he responds to my touch.
Will it be the same as when I was massaging him?
Will this powerful man melt under my touch, or will he keep himself together, the same way he is now?
Because we’re at work and that’s what we have to do?
“Remove all men from the site. He’s reaching out to his lawyers, so I’ll get Jack on it. Do not answer his calls or speak to him. Everything needs to go through the legal team now. Yes. I’ll have Jack update you when we know something.”
Hanging up the phone again, his eyes narrow the slightest bit.
“Before you start up this little game, you better know what you’re getting yourself into,” he warns.
I smile internally, loving how he can read my mind. But when he backs up, I frown.
“Get your things. We’re going to lunch,” he says again.
This time I listen.