Absolute Zero

by Anlyn Hansell

  “Elevated brain temperature is a valid concern. It is being studied. I’ve done some research on it myself,” she countered in an equally cool voice.

  “I don’t care about elevated brain temperature. My concern is that big mouth of yours. I want to know why you would even think that responding that way, in a room full of people, was acceptable behavior.”

  “Can I be honest?”

  “Oh please, Ms. Bennett, I expect nothing less from you,” he responded with a heavy dose of sarcasm.

  “You provoked me,” she stated simply.

  “I provoked you? I provoked you.” He took a step toward her. She fought the urge to take a step back.

  “That’s fantastic. I challenged you. Must I tiptoe around every subject for fear of provoking Ms. Bennett? Should I choose my words and the tone of my voice carefully before speaking to you? Must I tailor every question so that it doesn’t seem offensive to you in any way? Is that what you’re looking for?” He didn’t wait for her answer. “You won’t get it. The last time I checked this was my company, my livelihood, my responsibility to keep it running and my fault if it goes to shit. Who are you? Some mysterious employee that shows up one day, some woman that somebody in this company hired and I’m not sure why. I’m sure you’re very good at what you do, but quite frankly, your personality leaves much to be desired,” he added hotly. His eyes were practically burning into hers, fueling her own anger.

  “I wouldn’t worry about my personality. What just happened in that meeting? Kicking poor Paul out, scaring Ryan and Don shitless with your questions… Do you want to know why Emma didn’t come to the meeting?” She waited a beat before continuing, “Because she was puking her guts out, terrified to have to present to you. That’s why. Maybe you are a successful businessman and I am well aware that this is your company, but to be perfectly honest with you, I think you’re a bully,” she spewed out and internally cringed at her choice of words.

  Aaaand…that should just about seal my fate.

  Instead of stalking over to her and forcefully removing her from the premises, like she fully expected, he stood rooted to this spot. His arms uncrossed and he placed both hands on his hips.

  “Ms. Bennett, I can’t assume this is the first job you’ve ever had. Does it shock you that I expect people to come fully prepared to a meeting and to do so on time? Is that such a stretch? Am I such a mean bastard to demand that from my poor, unsuspecting employees? Maybe it upsets me that the employees in this facility are more concerned with potluck day and birthday cake than their actual jobs. What a travesty! Expecting people to work, imagine that? And here you are, defending them and for what? To get tossed out on yer arse for people that are more concerned about their next meal than they are about this company? If am a bully, then it’s rightly deserved.” He declared emphatically before he took a step toward her.

  “I wasn’t worried about them, and I’m not defending anyone. All I’m saying is the last person that should ever be allowed to criticize anyone else’s personality or lack thereof should be you. Don’t worry about me.” She retorted in a self-assured tone that seemed to match his.

  “That’s quite enough Ms. Bennett, don’t you think? I’d say your ship is pretty well sunk. Don’t make it any worse on yourself, Mouth.”

  “Screw you.” The whispered response just sort of flew from her lips as soon as his last word registered. She was poised to turn on her heel and open the door.

  “What did you just say?” He took another step toward her, she noticed and this time, she took a responding step back.

  “Just have to have the last word, don’t you?” he asked in an irritatingly arrogant voice.

  “I’m not afraid of you,” she muttered before her body jolted at the sight of him striding quickly toward her. She immediately turned and grabbed for the door handle before her body was forcefully whipped around by his hands.

  “Not afraid of me, hmm?” he forced out. “Where’re you runnin’ to, Anne? Where’re you going?” he asked almost in a breathless tone before his mouth slammed against hers.

  His lips were firm and his hands had gripped either side of her face as he slanted his mouth, opening hers with his tongue. Her hands immediately gripped his wrists, sliding back along his arms as the muscles contorted and flexed under her fingertips. She could feel the door against her back as initial shock morphed into something far more unsettling. Her tongue instinctively tangled with his, following his lead, and for a brief moment she lost all train of thought. The previous encounter melted away replaced by the spark of desire that erupted in her core. This wasn’t surprising. It wasn’t unpleasant – evidenced by the fact that a moan just escaped unfiltered from her throat.

  His kiss relaxed some, the frenzied motion of a moment ago replaced by a languid, deep exploration that she opened herself to. His hands went from gripping to caressing; her own hands reveled in the feel of his restraint as she held on to his arms.

  She wasn’t fighting him, in fact, if anything, it truly appeared as if she wanted this as much as he did. Their mouths seemed to fit perfectly; she seemed to anticipate and follow his every move. As far as kisses went, this one was pretty close to perfectly arousing, he thought as he gave a slight tug on her bottom lip with both of his. He reluctantly pulled his mouth from hers, satisfied that her eyes were still closed, as if she were a willing participant and perhaps wanted more?

  “Anne?”

  “Mmm? What?” Her entire body was humming before his words and the loss of the pressure on her mouth made it evident he stopped. Her eyes flew open and she pushed against his arms to no avail.

  “I…ah…I’m not going to say I’m sorry for that. I’ve wanted to do that ever since I set eyes on you,” he stated in a whisper before softly kissing the side of her mouth.

  “Ah…yeah, well…to avoid the dangers of management fraternization with a subordinate employee, and to help prevent even the appearance of improper conduct, favoritism, improper use of authority or sexual harassment, it is the policy of Dunmed Syntech that managers, supervisors or any other employee who has the authority to directly or indirectly affect the terms and conditions of another’s employment shall not fraternize with that employee,” she stated in monotone before taking a much needed breath. Her brain was operating on autopilot.

  His hands were still firmly attached to either side her face as his thumbs swept her cheeks almost hypnotically. “What? What is that?” he asked, his face cloaked in complete confusion.

  “Page 8, Fraternization Policy,” she replied, trying, but not succeeding, to pull her head back from his grasp.

  “You’re reciting the Handbook to me?” An involuntary smile lit his face as he continued to study her eyes.

  “Not verbatim, but close. So, yeah…The fraternization prohibited in your policy includes dating, romantic involvement or sexual relations and does not include and is not meant to discourage friendship or social activities among Dunmed Syntech employees. Where a relationship prohibited by this policy exists, Dunmed Syntech shall take whatever action it believes necessary to remove the parties from any continued contact and/or supervisory line of authority,” she continued as she watched his eyes crinkle and his lips turn into a full blown smile before a small laugh escaped from his mouth.

  “Did you…did you memorize the Handbook?” he choked out between laughs.

  “I didn’t have anything else to do my first two days here,” she responded in a serious tone.

  “Anne? You are quite possibly the most awkwardly charming little nerd I’ve ever met,” he stated before another laugh erupted.

  “You signed it. You should be well aware…” she ignored his comment on pressed on.

  “I signed it, sure. I didn’t memorize it. Besides, it doesn’t really apply to me,” he stated before he attempted to kiss her again. The sudden turn of her head caused his lips to plant on her cheek.

  “Of course it applies to you. You own the company. I would say you fit in the category of Manageme
nt…” she muttered as his lips trailed from her cheek to her ear. “Stop that. You just fired me, you shouldn’t be…ahhh,” his warm breath and gentle lips caused her stomach to flutter before she bolstered her strength and pushed against his arms once more, “kissing me,” she finished.

  He allowed himself to be pushed back slightly, but his hands turned her face to look at her directly.

  “I didn’t fire you,” he leveled a scorching gaze into her eyes.

  “You implied it,” she countered.

  “Maybe I did. I take it back. Besides, how much of a coward would I look like if I sacked someone just for sassing me in a room full of people?” he replied with grin.

  “So you’re saying…?

  “I’m saying that you need to run along. I have a conference call that started, hmmm,” he pulled his hand from one side of her face to check the watch on his wrist, “three minutes ago. We’ll talk about this later, eh?” His index finger trailed gently along her cheek.

  She jerked her head to the side to dislodge the contact. “There’s nothing to talk about. It was a mistake.”

  “That wasn’t a mistake,” he responded quickly. He took a reluctant step back, feeling the tightness of his groin, the strain of his erection. If she cared to look down, she’d realize the absurdity of her comment. His entire body was absorbed by her presence, her nearness and yet there was nothing he could do about it. He was late. He was never late.

  “Anne? You’re making me a hypocrite, darling.” He reluctantly turned toward his desk and attempted to walk to it, ignoring the awkward bulge in his pants.

  It was the strangest thing…if he had more time, how far would she let him go? The little moan and the breathless little gasps she emitted spoke volumes. She wanted him just as much as he wanted her, he was sure of it. Her flushed cheeks pretty much confirmed it.

  She was utterly charming. He had to take one more look; although he knew it would only serve to distract him.

  By the time he reached his desk and turned to sit, she was already gone.

  Chapter Seven

  If she wanted to remain obscure, her little scene in the Boardroom just made that impossible. If anything, it seemed to turn her into a mini-celebrity of sorts. Even Andrea tried to stop her as she left McClellan’s office and attempted to walk back to her desk undetected. Of course, the blush staining her cheeks as well as the just-kissed condition of her too-sensitive lips were probably a tell-tale sign that something untoward just occurred. She waved off Andrea’s attempt to console her with a polite nod and a small smile, but she couldn’t stop and hold a semi-intelligent conversation with anyone. Her body felt fevered, her speech would come out shaky as best and her brain was still a bit fogged.

  She quickly walked to the nearest restroom, pleased beyond belief to find it vacant. She immediately walked to the mirror and visibly scrunched her features when she realized she looked just as bad as she thought she did. Her lips were slightly swollen and her cheeks were definitely flushed.

  McClellan saw that. He saw the effect he had on her and any argument to the contrary would probably make him laugh it off as nonsense. She responded to him and quite frankly, that was alarming. Even David’s first attempt to get close to her made her apprehensive and standoffish. Of course, David was so incredibly handsome, she had doubted his interest and he made her uncomfortable with his advances at first. McClellan, on the other hand, was not nearly as beautiful as David, but infinitely more sexy than David could ever hope to be. His piercing looks, his lowly spoken words…the fact that he could make her body react wantonly to his touch. This shouldn’t be happening. This wouldn’t happen if she hadn’t changed herself. Sometimes she honestly wished she had stayed the dowdy, unattractive and unnoticed person she was born as. It was far less complicated. A loud sigh escaped her lips as her hands braced on the sink in front of her.

  Pull it together.

  The door opened with a slight squeak causing her to straighten up.

  “Excuse me. Oh! Anne, right?” Anne looked up to see a middle aged woman walk in. She had never seen her before.

  “I’m Nancy, from Accounting? Are you…OK? I heard what happened,” she stated in a gentle tone.

  What? How would Nancy from Accounting…? “News travels fast around here,” Anne remarked in a serious, dry tone.

  “You have no idea,” the woman answered just as seriously. “So…are you OK?” She truly seemed concerned.

  The fluttering in her stomach was finally calming down and her brain was back to normal operation.

  “Yes. I think so.” She pushed away from the sink, intent on leaving the small confines of the bathroom before more questions would be forthcoming.

  “Thanks,” she uttered as a bit of an afterthought as she walked by the other woman toward the door. Nancy from Accounting said something else as the door was closing behind Anne. She had no idea what it was.

  *****

  This is almost…painful.

  He looked down at the still-present bulge in his pants, his mind not quite ready to focus on the words filling the room through the phone speaker.

  Anne was a phenomenal kisser. Passionate, sweet, and the taste of her was still on his tongue even though she had walked out more than five minutes ago. His mind couldn’t seem to move beyond their encounter.

  It was all he could do to keep his hands on her face and not roam everywhere on her body during their kiss. To think, he almost sacked her and he would have missed the opportunity to experience her. As it was, she still had a job and he would have another opportunity, the question was, should he?

  The answer, of course, was NO.

  He fought the urge to relieve the pressure between his legs and his eyes snapped up to the phone when his name floated through it.

  “Repeat the question,” he commanded in a haughty tone.

  “Construction? The cost of erecting on the current site versus the building in Perth. We’re running numbers right now and we might find it more feasible to consolidate the manufacturing facility with R & D in the same building.”

  “It’s 40 minutes away,” he stated in a mildly irritated tone.

  “Ah…so?” the voice on the other end of the line asked.

  “So…you’re going to ask the current employees to move or increase their transit time? Have you thought about that? Did you study attrition? How many employees would we lose? Have you factored that into your study?”

  “No. No Sir, not yet…”

  “Well, you should. Give me the demographics on Perth too. I’d hate to lose good employees. There’s competition in Dundee, someone else will snag them up if they don’t want to move or spend extra time getting to work. I won’t even consider Perth if the general consensus is negative. I like those employees; they make the company what it is. The last the thing I want to do is screw them over,” he stated, realizing that he was very willing to do that to the American employees for some reason. Of course the Scottish facility was so much more…disciplined? Their days were centered around research and production, not Potluck Day…

  Finally the pressure in his pants was decreasing as his anger started increasing. They’ve brought it on themselves, he thought as his concentration on the conversation ebbed only to be replaced by his encounter with Anne once again.

  Such an opinionated little snipe. And of course now, the pressure was increasing once again. Damn.

  “That’s all for today. Get me the information I requested by Friday and we’ll reschedule this conversation,” he stated coolly waiting for the expected reply.

  “Friday? Ah…that’s two days from now. That’s a bit aggressive,” the timid statement caused a grin to form on his lips.

  “Then I suggest you get started right away,” he replied before the stabbing the button on the desk phone. He sat back and ran his fingers through his hair before looking down once more.

  He should call Margaret. As soon he hit the ground in Edinburgh, he should drive over to her estate, let her take care of
this problem in his pants, maybe take his mind off Anne and her smart, albeit skillful little mouth.

  His hand immediately reached for his cell, turning on and scrolling through his contacts until he found the one he sought. His fingers tapped impatiently on the surface of his desk as the rings multiplied before a click and a very breathy ‘Hello’ filled his ear.

  “Where are you?” she asked immediately.

  “America,” he answered simply.

  “Hmm. I dropped by yesterday and you were gone,” she stated.

  “Really? And why did you drop by?” he asked in a low voice.

  “I wanted to talk to you.”

  “Oh? Was that it, just wanted to talk?” he asked in an almost knowing voice.

  “Seriously. I really wanted to talk,” she stated before pausing a moment. “I…we…this arrangement we have. I can’t do it anymore. And…trust me, it’s not because of you. I’m…Oh god…I never thought I’d say this, but here it is,” he could hear her take a deep breath before continuing, “I’m in love.”

  Her words caused a small snort of laughter coupled with disbelief on his end.

  “You’re in love,” he stated blandly.

  “Yes! I know! I…alright, I admit, I chased after him for a bit. He’s a little young for me, but…I can’t get him out of my head, you know? Last weekend, well, let’s just say that I guess he feels the same way about me,” she admitted.

  “How young are we talking, Margaret?”

  “He’s twenty-eight. He’s a resident at Ninewells. I met him when I was visiting Dougal.” Dougal was husband number four for Margaret. The previous three had died, leaving Margaret with a substantial bankroll. Dougal was just as old, but actually divorced her for a younger version when he tired of her. She received a healthy settlement in the divorce as a result. At this point, she was probably more wealthy than he was. Their ‘arrangement’ worked for both of them. No emotions, just great sex.

  “It’s amazing, he’s amazing. He thought I was Dougal’s granddaughter,” she giggled into the phone. “And yes, before you ask, I told him the truth. Maybe a little late, but I did tell him,” she added.