“You didn’t think you could?”
“Now he has you.”
“He doesn't have me. He’s made it quite clear he doesn’t want a relationship with me, or anyone.”
“Are you sure about that?”
“Has he said anything to you?”
“No, but I know him. Lauren, he’s a complex man, half the time he doesn’t know what he wants until it’s pointed out to him. He withdrew from any serious relationship because of his issues with children, but it’s more than that. He’s scared of getting hurt. He’s set in his ways, he needs a strong and confident woman, who won’t take his bullshit, but will allow him to be the man he needs to be.”
Was she referring to his activities at the club? I wasn’t about to ask.
“Well, it’s a moot point, Gabriella. He has made it clear we are just having some fun right now.” Or had he? I wasn’t sure anymore.
“How do you feel about him?”
I sighed, raised my eyebrows at her and chuckled. She placed her hand over mine.
“I know that sigh, that look, that feeling. Men are just such shits sometimes, aren’t they? We love them, they have no idea, or they break our hearts.”
I raised my cup of coffee. “Here’s to shit men and broken hearts.”
“Tell him,” she said.
“No. Never. And I beg you, please don’t either. I’d have to leave my job, and I don’t want to do that.”
“I won’t, but believe me on one thing, he cares.”
“I don’t doubt that, but loving me is something different.”
I paid the bill, after an argument with Gabriella over it, and we left. We were driven to Canary Wharf and what was to become my new office.
Like all the buildings, it was glass, steel, and ultra modern. We took the lift up to the floors occupied by Trymast. We were greeted with smiles and handshakes. It was a complete opposite atmosphere to what I’d been used to. Gabriella introduced me to everyone as the new CEO, and it took forever to get to Alex’s office. Everyone wanted to chat.
Alex was on the phone as we passed by his glass floor-to-ceiling wall. He smiled when he saw us and waved us in.
“Our favourite ladies have just arrived,” he said into his phone. “Okay, see you in a minute.”
“That was Mackenzie, he’s coming down.” He rose and without a care, placed an arm around Gabriella’s shoulders and kissed her briefly on the lips.
“Mackenzie has the floor above,” Gabriella explained.
“Most of the whole floor, greedy sod,” Alex said, then laughed. “So, have you been shown around?”
“Briefly, I think I’ve met way too many people to remember who any of them are. But they all seem so friendly,” I said.
“They’re a great bunch, not too many troublemakers among them,” he said.
Alex waved at a woman hovering by the door. “Can I get you guys anything?” she said, once she’d opened the door.
“Tea?” Alex asked.
We nodded. “Three teas, and his lordship’s coffee,” he said with a smile.
“Miss Perry, would you like lemon in your tea, or milk?”
“A little milk, thank you,” I said.
“Carolyn will be your PA, she’s an absolute gem,” Alex said.
“He couldn’t function without her. I swear, Lauren, some of my presents have been chosen by her,” Gabriella said with a wink.
“My darling, I may send her on errands, but I can assure you they are all, mostly, mainly, sometimes, not often, my ideas.”
“Mmm, I bet it’s closer to the sometimes and not often.”
“Lauren, help me out here. I’m a guy, I have no idea what to buy a beautiful woman,” Alex said.
“Nope, I’m on Gabriella’s side here.”
“Being ganged up on, are you?” I heard and felt a hand on my back. Mackenzie had joined us. He kissed my cheek.
“I was just telling the lovely Lauren that I might not always be able to produce the perfect gift for my darling Gabriella,” Alex said.
“Fuck! Do we have to do perfect gifts? That’ll be me and you in the doghouse then,” Mackenzie said.
Gabriella gave me a look akin to I told you so. I gently shook my head. He was just playing along.
“Have you been shown around?” Mackenzie asked me.
“I have, briefly. I’ll make a point to meet everyone individually next week,” I replied.
“Good, then come on up and see my empire, leave these two lovebirds alone for a while.”
Playful Mackenzie was a fun person to be around. When he took my hand and led me through the open plan offices, I worried though. I tried to pull my hand away, he held on tighter. He pressed for the lift and we waited in silence. When the doors slid behind us, he turned to face me.
“Yes,” he said.
“Yes?”
“I’ll do whatever you ask me to, next Friday. But I need your absolute assurance it will not affect how you view me, us.”
I blinked rapidly; he’d said us. I was desperate to ask whether there was an us. I thought on Gabriella’s words and decided to wait. I’d watch, see if I could see whatever it was she thought she saw.
“Thank you. You understand why, don’t you? I want to do this with you, no one else, but I need to see the expression on your face, how you do it.”
“You won’t see lust, or desire, Lauren. I did what I did for Veronica because I respected her and there is nothing between us. I have never fucked her.”
There were those words again, words to confuse me. Why did he need to assure me there was nothing between them?
Before I could answer, the lift doors slid open to an open plan floor. In the centre was a large table, large enough to seat at least twenty people. To each side, corner offices, which I assumed one to be his. There were two rooms, a bathroom and a small kitchen. In the middle of the two offices was an empty desk. He saw me look over to it.
“My assistant, she’s off today. Well, mine and Gabriella’s, that’s her office over there.”
“And I bet you can’t live without her?”
He laughed. “I let her think that. She’d kick my ass otherwise.”
“So this is where you work?” I said, turning slowing to look at the vast empty space.
“I like open spaces, the only reason I have an office is so I can make private calls or do something naughty while I think of you.”
“Yet you have glass walls.”
“That turn opaque at the touch of a button. All high tech here, Lauren.”
I walked towards the boardroom table. It was highly polished and solid oak by the feel of it.
“I want to fuck you over that,” he whispered. I froze as a memory assaulted me.
“I…shit, I’m sorry. I didn’t think,” he said.
“It’s okay, I guess me and boardroom tables will never be best of friends.”
“I’ll cross that one off my list.”
“You have a list? I thought that was only me.”
He took my hand and led me to his office. Every wall was glass and the view over London took my breath away. I stepped away from the edge as it made me a little queasy.
“Yes, I have a list,” he said.
“What’s on it?”
“If I told you it wouldn’t be any fun now, would it?”
I turned and smiled at him. He strode towards me, taking my face in his hands, and he kissed me: like he wanted to, like he meant it, like I meant something to him.
I placed my hands around his waist, pulling him closer. I wanted to feel his body against mine. I wanted to feel his erection through his trousers.
He walked me backwards towards his desk, his arm swiped whatever was in the way before he lifted me and placed me on the edge. He stepped between my thighs continuing to kiss me. I felt his heart race; I heard his moan as he gripped my hair.
It was the ping of the lift echoing around the room that startled me. He took a step back.
“Fuck,” he said.
By the time the doors had slid open, I was standing; he had adjusted himself to a more comfortable position within his trousers and had picked up the papers from the floor.
An elderly woman walked towards his office.
“Thank fuck, it’s Mary. She hasn’t got her glasses on, we would have had a few more seconds.”
I covered my mouth to contain the laughter as the elderly woman peered through the glass wall.
“Mary, you are supposed to be off today, did you forget?” he said.
“Did I forget? Do you think I’m fucking senile?”
I dropped my hand and laughed out loud.
“Is this Lauren? Introduce me then, don’t stand there like an idiot.”
“Lauren, my very vocal PA, Mary.”
“It’s lovely to meet you, dear. I have a list of things I want you to answer, just so I know what you like.”
“Okay, I look forward to it,” I said.
“She likes me,” Mackenzie replied.
“Someone has to, dear, someone has to. Now, I forgot my bleeding glasses. Haven’t been able to see a thing all day. I’ll grab them then be off. Don’t forget, you have an early dinner with that dick from Parliament. Suit’s in the wardrobe.”
Wide-eyed I stared at Mackenzie.
“I forgot to tell you, Mary is a law unto herself. I’ve tried to sack her many times for her outspokenness, but she’s going out of here in a coffin. Her words, not mine.”
“Be nice to have a woman around, Alex is lovely and all, but the sooner he gets his finger out his arse and whisks that Gabriella down the aisle, the better. I can’t stand the testosterone in here sometimes. Oh, the tart left a message on my voicemail, not that I know how she got my number. She wanted use of an office, I told her to find a fucking library.” She gave me a wink as she walked to her desk.
“The…?” I started to ask.
“Addison. Mary has an irrational dislike of her,” he laughed as he spoke.
“I…I don’t have words,” I said.
“Good, because she’s got enough for everyone.”
She waved over her shoulder, once she’d retrieved her glasses, and made her way back to the lift.
“Wow,” I said, still laughing as she waved again from the lift.
“I inherited her when I took over here. A Londoner all her life, she tells me, cusses constantly. But you know, I couldn’t survive without her.”
“She’s amazing.”
“Since the thought of fucking you has now been thoroughly wiped from my mind, thanks to Mary, let’s go do another tour.”
We arrived downstairs to see Alex and Gabriella about to leave and our cold coffee and tea sat on the desk.
“I just met Mary,” I said.
“Isn’t she a hoot?” Gabriella said.
“Scares the life out of me,” Alex added.
“Are you off?” I asked.
“Just for a meeting, do you need a lift back yet?” Gabriella asked.
“I’ll sort that out. You go,” Mackenzie said.
We said goodbye and Mackenzie walked me around the floor. He detailed each department on that one, and the one below, that I was yet to visit. There didn’t look to be enough space to house all the additional staff and I voiced my concerns.
“We take over another floor next week. It’s being fitted out as we speak. You and Alex can decide who moves where.”
“So there’ll be three floors plus yours here?”
“Yes. I want it all centralised. I have another business in London that I’ll move in when we can as well. I hate having to travel around, it makes more sense to have everyone in the same building.”
“I ought to be getting back,” I said, glancing at my watch. I’d been out of the office for four hours.
“Why? You live around the corner, you might as well go straight home.”
“Because, unlike you, I don’t play hooky,” I said.
“Today you do. Go home. You have a package arriving, don’t you?”
I blushed. “I imagine security is scanning it to see what’s in it.”
He laughed. “Don’t open it until I’m there.”
“I’m not sure I can wait that long.”
“Wait, the anticipation will be worth it.”
He walked me to the lifts. “I might have to try them out, see whether I like them or not.”
“Then text me a photograph, I’ll need something to entertain me through a very boring dinner with the finance minister.”
“Yeah, like I’m going to do that!”
“There’s a car downstairs, silver Mercedes, he’ll take you home.”
“I can walk from here.”
“We have pool cars, Lauren, at your disposal whenever you want one, day or night. I’ll text you over the number to call.”
“Thank you, I’ll walk today. I think I need some fresh air.”
“I’ll come down with you,” he said when the lift doors slid open.
“Go back to work, it’s fine.”
“I can kiss you here, in front of all your new colleagues, who are trying their hardest not to stare right now, or I can travel down with you and kiss you in private. Your choice.”
I stepped into the lift and pressed the button. “Anticipation, Mackenzie, it will be worth it.”
I heard him laugh as the doors closed and I travelled down, alone. I smiled the whole journey back to my apartment block.
There had most definitely been a shift in our dynamics. If I wasn’t confused before that day, I most certainly was now. He acted like we had a relationship, and maybe we did, perhaps what we had was his version of one. I made the decision that at some point over the weekend I would ask him outright.
As I walked, I thought. We’d spoken the most over the previous few days, we’d done things a couple would do. Was that because he was more settled in his work? He hadn’t mentioned any travel in the near future. With Alex managing his U.S. operations, I guessed he felt a little more relaxed, not itching to jump on a plane.
“Miss Perry, you have a parcel,” I heard. As suspected, sitting on the security desk was a brown box, and I wondered whether they actually had a scanner.
“Thank you,” I said, as I collected it.
I took the lift up to my floor; while I did I sent Mackenzie a text.
8090 – door code, should you ever arrive unannounced, and I’m in the shower or something.
I chuckled as I repeated the words he’d said to me.
I hope you are in the shower; I’ll walk in, naked, and fuck you there. Was his reply.
Is that on your list or mine?
If I told you I wanted to fuck you in every room in my house, I want your scent everywhere, does that make me sound like I have an addiction?
I was at my front door when I read that, I nearly dropped my keys.
It does, I think I should be scared. You appear to be addicted to sex. I replied.
I’m addicted to you.
I’d only just made it over the threshold when those words brought me to a complete halt. I’m addicted to you.
My fingers shook as they hovered over the keyboard. I didn’t reply, not sure what to say.
I placed the box and my mobile on the kitchen table. I was itching to open it but decided to wait. I had a feeling I wouldn’t be opening it alone.
I took a shower, shaved my legs and armpits, washed my hair and piled it on top of my head to dry naturally. I pulled on a pair of pyjamas and made myself a sandwich. I sat looking at the box for ages. I’d left my laptop at work but decided to check my emails and connected via my tablet. I noticed an email from my solicitor.
I opened the email and read. I screwed my forehead, not understanding the words. I read again. My solicitor had received an anonymous letter offering a settlement amount, higher than I would have offered, to Scott, in return for a quick, no complication divorce. The donor also offered to pay all fees. She confirmed an amount of money had been transferred to her account, ready to be sen
t on to Scott on completion of our divorce.
I replied to her immediately asking if she had any information on who the donor was. I wasn’t expecting a reply, but got an automated ‘out of office’ one. I’d have to wait until the morning. I leaned back in my chair. Had that been from Mackenzie, or Jerry even? It had to be someone with access to fifty thousand pounds, because that’s all Scott was entitled to. The email said an amount higher, and then add the fees. How did they know who my solicitor was? Both Mackenzie and Jerry had been to my apartment, could one of them have copied the details? I wasn’t sure whether to be angry or relieved. I wasn’t taking charity, I didn’t need anyone to pay off Scott, but it sure took a weight off my mind with regard to selling my apartment. If I could find out who it was, I’d pay them back.
I closed down my emails, not bothering with the rest, and made myself a cup of tea.
I had settled on the sofa, having put the email to the back of my mind, and was watching a movie when I heard a knock on my apartment door. I smiled as I rose. I opened the door and my smile froze.
Before I could react, a fist hit me on the cheek. I was knocked backwards, landing heavily on my arse.
“You fucking bitch,” a very drunk Scott slurred.
He aimed a kick at me, catching my hip as I rolled to one side. I cried out. He reached down and grabbed a handful of my hair. I stretched my arm up to the consul table, using my fingers to find the intercom phone before he dragged me backwards. I grabbed it and pressed the orange call button. I screamed down for security.
I received a punch to my head, I curled as tight as I could and covered my head with my arms. Then he was pulled off me. I kept my arms covering my head, my knees curled into my chest. I heard Scott shouting as he was dragged away, his voice getting distant as the lift door closed. For a few minutes it was quiet but I didn’t move.
“Miss Perry,” I heard. I peered through a gap between my arms.
One of the security guards was kneeling beside me. “I’ve called the police,” he said. I nodded and then started to sob. “I think I need to call the paramedics too.”
“I don’t need those,” I said, my voice croaky.
“You might not, but I think Mr. Perry will. Your friend has just arrived.”
“My friend?”
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