“I’m sure he was a great man, Catherine. After all, look how great you turned out.”
Catherine smiled, “Thanks boss. Well, that’s all about my father to tell. So, then there was my mother. She was a great person and died a few months ago.” A tear appeared in Catherine’s eye.
Glen saw how much the topic was affecting Catherine but wanted her to continue. He squeezed her hand, “Please, go on.”
“Well, she collected art, all different kinds, from different centuries; masterpieces, I would say. They were always originals, she made sure of that. Maybe that is one of the reasons I was able to tell how nice the pictures are in your office and take such an interest now. I was brought up around that kind of art, in the world of perfection. It makes me miss her, but at least I still remember how much substance she brought to my life.”
“I’m sure you miss her, how can anyone not miss their own mother? I wish I could have met your parents. I’m sure they were wonderful people and I bet they are proud of you. They know of all the achievements you have created.” Catherine almost broke down into tears, but contained herself. If only Mr. Serentini knew of her achievements, deceiving him being one of them. “You think they would have liked me?”
Catherine chuckled a little. At least he knew how to lighten her spirits, “I’m sure they would have. My mother always considered me an excellent judge of character.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
Her heart turned to mush when he smiled at her. “So, now it’s your turn. Tell me about two people in your family, besides your father.”
“Alright, if it has to shift back to me already, find. But, I will get more out of you, Catherine.” It almost seemed to Glen that Catherine was holding something back. But, he brushed those thoughts aside and attributed it to the grief she had to be feeling. “Well, besides my father I have two sisters, who would definitely love you by the way. But, they are both oversees right now. My older sister, Amy, is in London working on a project. My younger sister, Lauren, is in France studying abroad. Amy will be back soon and Lauren just after. I miss them both like crazy” He sighed, “You know, it’s hard having people you love being away so long.” Glen thought he might have misspoken given that Catherine’s mother just past away.
She just smiled and asked, “Do you think they would like me?”
Glad Catherine didn’t feel hurt he responded, “I think you would get along great with both, but I can see you being remarkable friends with Lauren. They’ll be home for the holidays, so you can meet them then.”
Surprised Glen wanted her to see his family she blurted out, “Meet them?”
“Well, if you’ll come to our family get together. It’s not as bad as it sounds, really. It is actually a great time. My sisters cook and order me around and I’m sure you would get a kick out of it. But, we can talk about it when the time gets closer.”
Catherine started to get upset because she knew that would never happen. She thought he would probably never want to see her again after he found out the truth about why she met him in the first place and just muttered, “Okay.”
Glen didn’t want to push Catherine any further about her family, but still wanted to learn more about her. He was so enthralled, everything was important. He wanted to know everything possible about her. “So, any previous boyfriends?” As soon as the question came out, Glen knew he really didn’t want to hear the answer if it was yes and probably shouldn’t have asked.
“Just one.” She really didn’t want to talk or even think about Shawn.
“Only one?” Thank god she didn’t have a lot of men in her life. Or was she still seeing Jeff?”
“Yeah.” She tried to keep her answers short so this line of questions would end.
“Do you still see him?” Please say no.
Disgusted, she knew the subject might come up so she might as well exhaust it now. “No, I don’t. In fact, I wish I never did.”
Thank god she wasn’t seeing him anymore. Glen knew he wanted to be the only man in her life. “That hostile, huh?” He wished those words would come out with less of a happiness type of sound to them.
“Well, let’s just say he claimed not to trust me and then ended up deceiving me and then cheating.” There, the words were out and Catherine would never have to talk about it again.
“Oh” was the only word that could come out of Glen’s mouth. He didn’t know what to say and wondered how a guy could break Catherine’s trust. He knew he needed to break the thought and get Catherine’s mind off that guy. He knew the band was playing and wanted Catherine to be in his arms and think of only him. “Do you want to dance?”
It is amazing how one word with one look from one person could trigger such a response of warmth. “Didn’t we try that already? I seem to remember you stepping on my feet,” She teased him.
“Really?” He coyly looked at Catherine. Glen got up and put out his hand for Catherine to take. The very movement made shivers go up Catherine’s spine. She put her hand in his and got up. They walked together over to the dance floor and Glen gracefully pulled Catherine into a waltz. They moved over the floor in perfect synchronization like they were made for each other.
Catherine was holding on to Glen’s shoulder and realized absolutely none of it was padding as she usually assumed. He was put together so firm and so perfectly Catherine wanted to stay dancing with him forever. She just hoped this new found knowledge didn’t haunt her dreams like everything else she knew about her boss. But, somehow knew it would.
Glen’s words broke her thoughts of fascination, “So, I dance badly, huh?”
She laughed, “No. You know that was just a joke.”
He straightened his spine and stood very tall. “I think it inspired me to dance even better,” he teased her.
“I don’t think that is possible,” she responded in hushed tones in his ear while resting her head on his shoulder.
The song ended and they stood looking at each other for a brief moment. Then Glen led Catherine to their table without relinquishing her hand. She never wanted the night to end because it would mean the truth would soon have to be revealed. But, tonight would be all about them, not her Uncle, not the company, just the two of them.
The food came promptly after that but Catherine barely tasted it because she was so involved with thinking and gazing at Glen. He looked so good and was so nice to her, just perfect in Catherine’s eyes. She wasn’t hungry at all, but as they came to the end of their main course asked, “Do you want dessert?”
“Yes, but I have other plans for that as well as a bit of a surprise elsewhere. Is it alright with you if we leave?”
Catherine was intrigued and still curious to know what the surprise was, but held her tongue. She could only wait to see what was in store for the rest of the night. “No, I don’t mind at all.” She bestowed an unguarded, full smile on Glen.
Glen’s heart missed a beat as he signaled at the waiter who immediately brought the check, which Catherine speculated had to be very expensive. Glen paid quickly and escorted her back outside to the limousine. Glen slid into the limousine after Catherine and the driver took off.
Glen knew they were a bit early for what he had planned later in the evening, so he asked Catherine, “Is it alright if we just drive around for a little while?”
“Just drive around?”
“Yeah, we are done a bit earlier than I anticipated, so it will just be for a little while. We’ll take in some of the city’s sights.”
“That would be fine with me.” Catherine didn’t mind at all being cuddled up to Glen watching the world go by. Although it would be nice to know what he was planning.
Glen put his arm around Catherine and they both looked outside at the city lights. She felt so comfortable in his arms right up until the moment she noticed where they were. Catherine must have been so preoccupied focusing on Glen and her reaction to him that she didn’t even notice they were on Broad Street. That was where she grew up and wher
e her mother’s house was, what she was fighting for at this very moment. Catherine got teary and was so upset to think about the past and her Uncle taking over the house. She could not imagine someone else sleeping in her bed or just being around her mother’s house, her house now. As they past the house, Catherine tried to shift against the leather of the car and a tear came down her cheek.
“Are you alright?”
She hoped he wasn’t watching her and couldn’t see her so flustered. “I’m fine, just thinking about some things.”
He held her closer, “Like what, princess?”
Brushing away the tear and facing Glen again, she didn’t lie but didn’t tell the whole truth, “My mom.”
Glen knew he pushed too hard at dinner and regretted it with every bit of his heart now. He didn’t want to make her upset and just hoped this even could have a happy mood to it. “I’m sorry sweetheart.”
“It’s alright.” She wiped her cheek again to make sure there was no evidence of her composure slipping away and put on a smile as she thought of Glen and great he is, “See, all better now.”
“As long as you are all better.” Glen kissed her forehead. “I suppose it is time for us to get to where we are going.” Glen pushed the intercom to the driver, “We’re ready now.”
“Very good, sir.”
Then the limousine turned and they headed toward what Catherine thought was a very exclusive area of the city. “Are you comfortable?” Glen asked to make sure everything was perfect for her.
Catherine answered in the affirmative but also realized she was so happy and relaxed being with him that if she were sitting on a rock she would still be comfortable. “Are you?”
“Of course.”
Since it only took a few minutes to get from where they ended up on the drive to their destination, before Catherine knew it, they arrived. The driver opened the door, Glen stepped out, and helped Catherine to her feet. They stood in front of a fifteen story building that had an outside which was mirror reflecting. Inside, there were two staircases leading to what Catherine guessed was the lobby. Glen walked her to the elevator, they got in, took out a key, and turned it to give them access to the top floor. The doors opened directly into a large living room. Catherine glanced around quickly and saw at least twenty different deserts around the room before she was picked up and whisked away into the master bedroom. There was romantic music playing, candles lit all over, as well as Rose petals in a path to the bed and sprinkled over the rest of the room. The rose petals were red and pink with the red on the bed and the pink over the rest of the room. At that moment Catherine realized she did not want to just jump into bed, did not want to deceive him, and got very nervous. There were too many things on her mind to complicate matters with him right then. Glen could read nervousness on her face and said, “Don’t worry, it’s not what you think. But, I do need you to take off your clothes.”
Nervously, she replied, “How is it not what I think when the atmosphere is like this, you are carrying me, and want me to undress?”
Proceeding carefully, Glen wanted Catherine to feel comfortable and to make her feel special. “Well, you told me the other day that your muscles ached and I just want to relax them by giving you an amazing massage.” He put her down and started to lightly massage Catherine’s shoulders.
Catherine was surprised Glen would remember something so inconsequential she said the other day, “Really?”
“Well, only if that is okay with you. I do have lotions to use as well.” He spun Catherine around and massaged her face to face.
They were so close together facing each other that Catherine felt intense passion and longing for Glen. But, still wasn’t sure if she wanted to trust herself to get close to him, let along have him give her a massage. Glen could see she was thinking about it and pulled her hand up to his lips and said, “I just want to make you feel better. I promise, I won’t touch anything I’m not supposed to.” Then he kissed her hand again, keeping their eyes locked.
She couldn’t resist and thought a massage would feel awfully good. “Alright. But, only if you don’t touch anything you’re not supposed to,” Catherine kidded.
“Maybe we should set these parameters now, just so I don’t make any mistakes.”
“Very funny. I think you can handle yourself.” As Catherine moved toward the bed, she unclasped the top of her dress and started to lie down.
“You aren’t going to take it off?” Glen wondered allowed and then scolded himself for revealing his want.
“Aren’t I lucky? I don’t have to because my dress has no back already. Oh, about those parameters, let’s start with anything that my dress touches as being off limits.”
Wow, she’s being pretty serious, he thought. But, then reminded himself Catherine is not one of those floozy women he normally kept around to have a date to social functions and the like. “Those are some pretty heavy limits. Sure I can’t make you reconsider?” Glen asked as he kissed the nape of her neck.
“Not at the moment, boss. But, you are right, I can use a massage. Thank you for being so considerate.”
As Catherine lied down on the bed, Glen walked over to the dresser, picked something up, took off his shoes, and walked back over to the bed. He kneeled down on the bed, straddled Catherine’s behind, and squeezed the lotion he picked up on the dresser onto his hand and rubbed to make it warmer. Then he rubbed the kiwi scented lotion onto Catherine’s back and massaged it around her back to then start working the lotion to relax her muscles.
After feeling some knots in her back, he asked, “Why are you so stressed?”
Catherine moved slightly, “What makes you think I’m stressed?
“I can feel it. Your muscles are all bunched together. See?” He pressed into her back and she felt her muscles release. “So, why don’t you tell me what is going through that pretty head of yours to make you so tense.”
“Mmmm. Feels good.”
As Glen moved from Catherine’s back to her shoulders, he asked, “You have a good job. I’ll toot my own horn, a great job, a good place to live, and some family, even though I haven’t heard much about them. So, what is bothering you?”
“Mmmmm, don’t stop, that feels too good.” The massage did feel good. But, it seemed like Glen was hitting the nail on the head; everything that seemed fine from the outside, wasn’t. She hoped he wouldn’t discern all of the above was, in fact, wrong.
“I guess, if it is impossible to have a conversation with you while I’m doing this, I’ll stop?”
“No, don’t.” She moaned. Besides for the massage really working wonders, Catherine did not want to have to answer questions about her stress or any of the aforementioned topics.
“Well, if you want me to continue, I’m going to need you to give me some information.”
“Alright. Well, my family isn’t anything like yours,” Catherine muttered breathlessly, she could tell him bits and bits as long as he kept going. How could a massage feel this good?
Glen put more of the lotion onto his hands and rubbed them together again to make it warmer. Then he moved his hands over her back and started rubbing her muscles and massaging up and down her spine. “Keep going…” she urged when she felt him slowing.
“Then tell me more about your family.”
“Mmmm. We my father died when I was too young to remember and my mother just died about a year ago. My parents never had any other children. Mmmm. Well, the rest of my family I really don’t get along with or know. So, that’s really it for that topic.”
“That is it? There must be more,” he said as he kneaded out the knots around her shoulder blades.
Catherine thought what he was doing felt amazing, “Mmmm.” Then a twinge of pain hit her, “Owe, that hurts.”
Catherine moved slightly upward, held her dress up, and turned slightly to face Glen. “Sorry. It might hurt now, but it will feel much better later.” He whispered into her ear.
“Are you sure about that?” She muttere
d skeptically as she was turning to lie down again.
“Yes.” He started again on her back.
“Mmmm. That feels better, you’re right. How’d I get so lucky?”
Since he was already close to her neck, he couldn’t resist kissing it. Glen bent further over and kissed her upper back and left a trail of kisses up to her neck. At the same time he coerced her to roll over and then started kissing her face. Catherine thought she had never felt so good in her life. His kisses we so soft and so gentle over her face. Catherine leaned up and forcefully kissed his lips, she needed him so much. He kissed her back and this time the kiss was much more; it was a yearning, exploring, and explosive kiss. Catherine wondered how anything could feel this good.
Glen still had his hands on her back, was hugging her from atop. But, he was balancing himself above so not to lean too much on Catherine. He kept kissing her but broke away enough because he thought his weight might be too much for her. “Am I hurting you?”
“Not at all.” But, you will when you realize who I am, Catherine silently added to herself. You’ll hurt my heart, she thought. Catherine knew that after working with Glen for just over five months and being with him tonight that she loved him. Possibly even since the first week she worked for him. How didn’t she see it before? A tear came from Catherine’s eye down her cheek.
“What’s the matter?” He asked tasting a salty tear as he was kissing her cheek.
Catherine lied but at the same time divulged another truth, both to him and herself, “I’m just happy.”
At that moment, Glen realized he shouldn’t and wouldn’t continue with this. Obviously, Catherine looked to be very emotional at the thought of being close to him or continuing to anything else. Glen knew she wasn’t the type of person to enter into anything lightly, especially sex. But, he couldn’t keep his hands off her. As Glen was devouring her with his eyes, he realized none of this could happen at that moment. Soon, yes, but not now. There would have to be a relationship first in order for Catherine not to get hurt and he wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize a possible future. Wait, was he actually thinking about the future? This needed to stop.
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