The Deal

by Sarah J. Brooks

  The sexual tension between them felt like more than Liz could control. She wrapped her arms around Harrison and kissed him. He did not try to resist her. Forcing her back against the door to his office and letting his hands slide to under her ass as he slightly lifted her off the ground.

  “Hi.” She said as he had her pinned against the door, and his lips had moved down to her neck.

  “I want you to come to Boston with me,” Harrison said between kisses. “I need a new assistant; mine is out on medical leave for a couple months.” Harrison continued to let his lips explore every inch of bare skin on Liz.

  “I have to pay my tuition, rent, bills. I can’t.” Liz said as she tried not to succumb totally to Harrison right there in his office.

  “I’ll pay those.” He said definitively.

  “No.”

  “Then what? How can I convince you?” Harrison seemed desperate to have her come with him.

  “You can’t. I have to stay here.” Liz thought about what it would look like if she jetted off to Boston with her best friends Dad. “It would be too hard to explain.” She said.

  “I’ll hire you as my assistant. Just until Alice gets back. It’s the perfect cover.” Harrison said, sounding proud of himself for thinking of such an ingenious idea.

  “A professional relationship?” Liz said as Harrison slowly let her back down to the ground.

  “Yes. If that’s what you want. Yes.” Harrison sounded reluctant. But at this point he just wanted her to agree.

  “Well maybe, if we could keep it professional,” Liz said as she straightened out her clothes.

  Liz didn’t really want to keep the relationship professional, but she didn’t want to seem like she would be willing to do anything Harrison asked if he paid her. She was independent, and she didn’t need him.

  “I’ll pay you four thousand for the week,” Harrison said as he walked back to his desk.

  What? Liz thought. Wow. Four thousand dollars for one week. Liz didn’t earn that in an entire month of working as a file clerk. She could afford to get an apartment, or pay her tuition. Now she was not going to be able to say no to this offer for sure.

  “Um. What about my waitressing job?”

  “You can find another one later. If you need one.” Harrison didn’t want Liz to be working so hard. It was ridiculous. It also seemed clear that she was not comfortable with him just handing her money, so he would have to get a little creative.

  “The company will pay for your hotel and per diem for your food for the week. I need a lot of help with the new office, and I trust you.”

  “Alright. But just for the week. I’ll tell my waitressing job I’m sick or something.” Liz was not about to admit how excited she was at the idea of spending a week with Harrison. She would tell Bella it was just a job, but once they got to Boston they could continue with their affair.

  “Deal,” Harrison said with a smile on his face. “Now go get your things. I’ll get a flight scheduled for you this afternoon. I’m heading out shortly.”

  “Oh. Wow. Ok, like right now? Uh, Ok then.” Liz hurried off to grab her things from her friend’s house.

  The flight to Boston was very short, and Liz was surprised when a man greeted her at the gate holding a sign that had her name on it.

  “I’m Liz Cleveland.” She said to the tall man dressed in a dark suit.

  “Yes, Ms. Cleveland. I’m Mr. Wellington’s driver. He sent me to pick you up and take you to the hotel.”

  The driver quickly took Liz’s bag and walked toward a large black SUV. He opened the door for Liz, and she got in. It was uncomfortable for Liz to sit in the back seat in the quiet of the vehicle. The only time she ever sat in the back seat was when she took a cab somewhere.

  “So how long have you been driving for Mr. Wellington?” Liz asked.

  “Oh about two years. Since he started putting together his business out here.” The man was polite and glanced at Liz through the review mirror briefly.

  “I bet you pick up a lot of women for Mr. Wellington.” Liz joked. But she was partially serious. Liz had heard a lot of stories about all the women Harrison had dated. Many rich socialites, celebrities and such.

  “Not lately ma’am. He’s been busy working on his business. Actually been a couple years since I’ve even seen him go on a date.”

  “Oh,” Liz said. Really? A couple years was a long time to not go on a date she thought. “Yeah, he’s a pretty tough lawyer I hear,” Liz added, trying to keep the conversation going, so she didn’t have to sit in quiet.

  “I’ve heard he’s been called The Terminator because he’s so ruthless.” The driver added.

  Liz had heard something similar. She sure thought he was intimidating, well at least a couple of days ago that was what she thought. Right now, she busied her mind with many other thoughts. Much more erotic thoughts.

  She wanted to get to her hotel room, and then she planned to call Harrison and invite him to come over. It would be perfect. They could spend the week laying in bed and making love. Taking breaks to eat and drink, and then back to making love.

  Chapter 4

  “Come see my fancy room,” Liz said over the phone to Harrison after arriving in the fabulous suite he had reserved for her.

  “Well, Miss Cleveland, are you propositioning your boss?” Harrison joked.

  “Yes. In fact, I’m currently taking off my clothes and getting ready to lay naked on this giant bed and wait for you.”

  “Oh, what a beautiful picture that would be. I can see it now.”

  “Come see me in person.”

  Harrison wanted to go see Liz. His body physically pulsed with a desire to see her sprawled out naked on the elegant hotel sheets. But this week was important to him, and he actually did need her to be his assistant. The fun stuff would have to be postponed.

  “Why don’t you get some sleep? We have to get to work early tomorrow.” Harrison quickly turned the conversation from hot to absolutely ice cold.

  Liz didn’t know how to react to that. She wanted to keep pushing him. Liz wanted to entice him to spend the night with her, but from the tone of his voice it was apparent he had much better will power than she did.

  “Ok, then Mr. Wellington,” Liz said in the sexiest voice she could gather. “I guess I’ll just have to sleep naked in the bed all alone.”

  “Alright. See you in the morning.” Harrison had said before he hung up.

  The next morning Harrison continued his streak of excellent self-control. It quickly became apparent to Liz that he needed to get work done this week, and she was going to have to stop with the flirting.

  Every time she attempted to be seductive, Harrison made some request for a document to be copied, or something to be faxed. Soon Liz felt like it was a regular job, and she was in fact working for the great Mr. Wellington again. He had set up a professional wall that she just could not break down.

  Tuesday, Wednesday and even Thursday Liz tried to pull Harrison back into his lust for her. She wasn’t quite sure if the feelings were totally gone or if he was just utterly caught up in his work. Perhaps this is what his ex-wife felt like? Liz thought she could certainly see why a woman would not know where she stood with a man like Harrison.

  Finally on Friday Liz decided to invite Bella out to Boston for the weekend. They still had a little bit of work to do, but certainly she could spend some time having fun.

  “Hey, I hope you don’t mind. I invited Bella to come stay with me at the hotel this weekend.” Liz said to Harrison just before lunch was delivered Friday afternoon.

  “Well, I hope you guys have fun. But I like Bella to stay with me when she is in town,” Harrison said without even looking up.

  “Ok. I’ll tell her.”

  What was going on? Liz could not figure this out. Last weekend the two of them were naked in bed together and all this week he was practically too busy to even look at her. Liz decided it was about time to p
ull out all the stops.

  When lunch arrived, she pulled up her skirt and made it into a miniskirt. She unbuttoned the top three buttons of her blouse and walked into Harrison’s office. She made her way around to his side of the desk.

  “Your lunch is here,” Liz said as she sat his salad on his desk.

  But Liz was not about to stop there. She slid up onto the desk and sat right next to him. Harrison couldn’t help but look up from his papers. There it was that glimmer of lust that Liz had wanted to see again so desperately.

  “Mmmm yes, I’m starving,” Harrison said. Then he reached for his salad and opened the box.

  Liz was not about to give up that easily. She slid over, so she was sitting right in front of Harrison. She put one leg on either side of his large executive office chair. Harrison wanted her; she could see it in his eyes. The lust. The desire. It was there.

  “How is your lunch?” Liz asked.

  Harrison had to adjust himself in the chair as his body started to react to seeing Liz sitting on his desk. He wanted to throw that damn salad across the room. Hike up her skirt and start eating her for lunch, he wanted to taste her. Harrison wanted Liz desperately. He wanted to feel her skin against his body. Her lips on his. Harrison just wanted to make it through this project though. As soon as Liz was not his assistant anymore, then he would give into his desire for her again. For right now, he would have to resist.

  “My lunch is excellent. Thanks so much for getting this.” Harrison said as he stood up and moved over to the table on the other side of the room.

  Well, that was it Liz thought. She had done everything she could do. He must be over her. There is no way he would have resisted that obvious attempt for his affection if he still wanted her. Liz realized she might be having way more feelings about Harrison than he was having about her.

  She made it through the day and resigned herself to moving on without him. There was a small amount of anger though. Particularly because she couldn’t figure out what had changed his mind. Harrison had not given her even the simplest of clues as to why he was no longer interested.

  Chapter 5

  “Come on Dad! I told Liz we would be to the hotel like 20 minutes ago.” Bella had just arrived at her Father’s place in Boston and was starving. They had made plans to eat together all three of them, and then Bella and Liz had big plans to hit some Harvard parties.

  As Bella and Harrison arrived at the hotel, they quickly found a spot in the downstairs restaurant. Bella sent a text message to Liz to come down.

  When Liz walked into the restaurant, every man without a wedding ring turned to look at her. She was dressed in a slinky black dress with a back cut so low it barely skimmed the top of her ass. Liz walked slowly and deliberately through the restaurant. Soaking in all the men’s eyes on her as she walked to the table where Bella and Harrison sat.

  “Wow, girl. A plus dress for sure. Smokin hot.” Bella said as she jumped up and hugged Liz.

  Harrison sat on the other side of the embrace with his face exactly four inches away from that bare back that every man in the restaurant was lusting after. It was the sexiest dress he had seen in a very long time. And it was entirely inappropriate for a girl going out to bars in Boston!

  “Do you think you should wear something like that around here?” Harrison said as Liz sat down.

  “Oh, Daddy. Stop. She looks hot.” Bella chimed in.

  “Well I don’t have a boyfriend you know, and these Harvard boys seem like good guys,” Liz said as she tried to keep herself from totally losing it.

  Who did he think he was? Trying to tell her what she should and should not wear. He obviously wasn’t interested in her. Why would he care if she dressed to impress? What a jerk.

  “I think it sends the wrong signal to guys,” Harrison said as he tried to avoid eye contact with Liz.

  “Oh, yea. What signal does it send?” Liz said as she started to get extremely annoyed.

  “You know.” Harrison wasn’t about to get pulled into an argument. Liz knew the dress was just begging for a guy to screw her. How could she not know that is what guys would would think if she went out in a dress like that?

  “Oh, you know what? No, I don’t know. Why don’t you tell me what signal it sends?” Liz was getting angry, and Bella could tell.

  “Well, I think it looks great Liz, how about we skip dinner and just head out?” Bella knew her father wouldn’t back down from trying to get Liz to change. He always did the same kind of stuff to her.

  “Yeah, I’m not hungry anyway.” Liz said as she stood up with her back facing the table. “Mr. Wellington, it was great working with you this week. I hope you enjoy your weekend.” Liz said formally as she started to walk away.

  Harrison knew Liz was angry with him, but he just had to get this project finished here in Boston before he could even go there with Liz again. It was too important to get his work done. She would just have to understand.

  The two girls were ready to have fun and enjoy their night. Liz was excited the cut on her face had finally healed enough to be covered by makeup. Bella was excited that Liz was actually drinking and having fun. Most of the time, when they went out together Liz was always the responsible one, and Bella was the one having fun. Since all the parties were within walking distance to the hotel, they could both party the night away tonight.

  What Bella didn’t know was that Liz was extremely hurt by Harrison ignoring her all week. How could he turn so cold toward her after being so intently into her just last week? Maybe he just used her because he wanted to have sex or something? Liz had made a plan to drink herself into a stupor so she could forget all about Harrison that night.

  Her plan actually started to work very well. Especially after Liz and Bella ran into a couple of handsome Harvard graduate students. They continued to buy the girls drinks and told them the most horrible jokes in the world. Bella laughed at them like she understood what the guys were trying to say. Liz tried to explain some of her own terrible jokes. It night filled with fun and made for a pretty great time.

  As the night started to draw to an end, Bella knew she would have to get back to her Father’s house before two in the morning. Although he never officially waited up for her when she went out, he always set his alarm for two in the morning to check that she got home safely.

  “Liz, we better get going. I have to get back to my Father’s in like twenty minutes.” Bella said as she started gathering her things from the random bar they had all been socializing at.

  “Go ahead. I’ll get this big strong man to get me home.” Liz said in a slightly slurred voice.

  The Harvard graduate student, Henry, seemed pretty upstanding, so Bella decided she would have to trust that he would take Liz back to the hotel room. The last time Bella was late getting back to her father’s house he severely cut the money he made available to her for like six months. Even though Bella lived in the dorms now, her Father still expected her home at a decent hour on the nights she stayed with him.

  Chapter 6

  Bella arrived at her father’s house at just a little before two in the morning. She felt pretty proud of herself for being there on time and not making her father worry. Her father was waiting up for her in the living room and working on something for work.

  “How was your night?” Harrison said to Bella only briefly looking up from his project.

  “It was great. We met some cute guys who are Harvard graduate students. Totally top notch keepers.” Bella said as she walked into her room.

  “Did Elizabeth get back to her hotel room safely?” Harrison said loudly so Bella could hear from her room.

  “I left her in the capable hands of Henry. He’s handsome as hell and a law school graduate student; I’m sure he will take great care of her.” Bella said as she poked her head out from her bedroom.

  Harrison did not like the sound of this. The girls had just met these guys that night. There was no way to tell if they were w
ho they said they were. This dude probably wasn’t even a Harvard student. Any guy could put on a Harvard t-shirt and say they went to the school.

  “So you left Liz with this guy?” Harrison said as he walked into Bella’s room.

  “Yes, Daddy. He’s a nice guy. She’ll have fun with him. Maybe even run off and marry the guy. Totally a good catch.” Bella seemed not to notice the high level of anxiety and worry that had come over Harrison by this point.

  “How do you know he’s going to get her back to her room safely?” Harrison asked.

  “I’m sure she is fine. She’s a responsible adult.”

  “Alright. Well, maybe I’ll ask the hotel to go check on her and make sure she got in safe.”

  “Yes, Daddy. Why don’t you do that? I’m going to sleep now.” Bella said as she started to fall asleep instantly after her head hit the pillow.

  Harrison looked up the number to the hotel and first tried to call Liz’s room directly. There was no answer.

  Then he called the front desk and asked for them to go check on her. They were reluctant but finally agreed to send someone to knock on the door. There was no answer.

  Harrison wanted to drive over there and sit in her room and wait for her. He wanted to apologize for dismissing her advances earlier in the week. He certainly didn’t want Liz taking this guy back to her room out of spite because Harrison had made her feel bad.

  He decided to go over to the hotel and just poke around and see if he could find Liz and this guy. Just to make sure she was alright, or so he told himself as he left his apartment and headed into town.

  After arriving at the hotel, Harrison looked through the downstairs lobby area and each of the lounge bars, there was no sign of Liz anywhere. He decided to head up to the room and see if she had arrived.

  The hotel elevator door opened, and Harrison walked down the long hallway of the fifth floor to where Liz’s room was at the very end. There was a curve at the end of the hall so he couldn’t see her door, but when he was about twenty feet away he heard voices. Sure enough, just as he got there, Liz and her Harvard guy were arriving at her door.