“I am really glad to see you again. We will have to catch up for coffee some time so I can hear about this big empire you’ve built,” I smiled at him politely, leaving him and Lisa to their sex-crazed tension. I didn’t know Lisa very well, but I didn’t think it really mattered what kind of woman she was. If Hayden wanted her, she was as good as gone.
I walked into my office, instantly noticing that my laptop was gone. I hurried around my desk in a panic, finding a sticky note. Damon’s writing, of course. ‘Oh no, your laptop went missing, Angel Puff. However will you work?’
I pulled my phone out of my bag, dialling Damon instantly. It rang twice before he answered. “Who’s this?” Damon’s voice growled.
“What!” I looked at the screen, wondering if I had called the right number, but I knew it was Damon’s voice. “What do you mean ‘Who is this?’”
“Oh, my angel. I am sorry, I didn’t recognise you without your laptop. I heard about that. It sounds pretty serious, you should report that,” he said with what I imagined to be a smile on his face.
“Damon, I need that to complete my article. Why would you take it?” I placed my other hand on my hip, feeling naked without my laptop.
“Hmm, I love your angry voice. It makes me imagine you with your pouted beautiful plump lips,” he teased. “I’ll tell you what, I will give you a hint. It’s a part of the game, Clover.”
“A game… do you know how stupid that sounds?” I said, wanting to stomp my foot. Argh, he just crawls under my skin when he wants to.
“Ahh, there is my non-romantic lover. No fun and games make Clover a dull girl,” he teased again. I could just imagine him right now, leaning back in his office chair. I continued biting on my lip for a moment, looking at my black heels and letting a fresh breath of air fill my lungs.
“And what does my handsome, romantic boyfriend want me to do, partake in this game?” I asked, arching an eyebrow.
“There’s my girl,” he growled again. “Can you picture me perfect?”
“What, is that like a riddle?” I asked, confused.
“I love you because you are one of the smartest women I know. I will see you soon. Your prize, you get me.”
“And about my laptop, which I want more?” I asked.
“Hmmm, you can get that as well if you’re lucky and roll a six in this game.” Damon hung up on me. I shook my head, feeling stupid for being a part of such a foolish game. Thinking of his words ‘Picture me perfect,’ I was trying to understand what he meant when it dawned on me. He was probably having a photoshoot.
I hurried to the elevator, trying to hide my quickened pace so no one questioned me running for the door. My heart raced crazily. When in the elevator I realised that I was kind of exhilarated. What was the game? Would Damon even be there? The elevator doors opened on the photographers’ floor. I searched through the few large rooms, seeing it to be entirely empty. At the very end of the floor was a dark room.
“Would you believe that the entire photography department is out for the day and I have the power to have this camera turned off for an hour?” Damon’s voice echoed in the darkness. I could see the outline of his suit slowly appearing in the dark room.
“That is a mighty power,” I said, trying not to laugh. “Damon, have you summoned me down here as some kind of office sex slave?”
“Oooh, I love it when you talk dirty to me like that,” he teased. I couldn’t help but smile. It certainly wasn’t what I was expecting.
“I thought this game would last longer,” I pouted as he stepped towards me and cupped my face. His eyes pooled into me, with only a small shine of the light from outside lightening his blue eyes.
“The game has ended, but I know something that will last for a long time,” he teased with a wicked smile. His lips took mine in an instant and his hand slid over my silk blouse. My nipples hardened instantly at his touch and my legs shuddered down to my very toes. I pushed him back, trying to regain my breath.
“Damon, what are you doing?” I asked, worried. We tried to keep it professional within the office.
“Do you have any idea how hard it is to stare at you knowing what is beneath that blouse and tight pencil skirt you are wearing? It is unbearable almost every day. Tell me you’re not turned on,” he said, slowly gathering my hands and pulling me closer. I opened my lips to argue. But my desire urged me to keep silent. I was turned on by it. Damon’s lips pressed down my neck and onto my collarbone as my heart raced with the expectation that at any point someone could walk in.
“Someone could find us, Damon,” I said, but my words were a mere whisper, my mouth parched.
“It’s thrilling isn’t it,” he growled back. Slowly he pushed me over one of the desks, grabbing a firm hold of my bottom and lifting me to lean me fully back on it. “I have for so long wanted you in this way.” His words heated me entirely, my knees rubbing against one another in anticipation before he slowly pried them open. He leant over me, kissing me and groping my breast as I moaned in pleasure. It was thrilling, it was magnificent, and Damon was entirely in control. Slowly his fingers brushed over my silk blouse, allowing a cool breeze to sweep over my chest before he covered it with his own body heat and warmth. I was submitting one hundred percent to Damon. He had me entirely within his grasp and game. It was an unfair game and one where only he knew the rules.
Chapter Ten
An hour had gone by since I was last with Damon. A smirk crossed my lips as I saw the reflection of myself in my laptop’s dark screen. My nipples ached for Damon yet again. How I ached for that man. It would be another night without him unfortunately as he was busy with his work schedule once again. It was the first time I was disappointed he told me so, because I wanted him again tonight. It was thrilling and my heart still raced at the amazing sex we had had. Never did I think I would have done something so improper, yet it didn’t feel like that at the time. It felt amazing.
“Have you finished, Clover?” A light tap on my door alerted me that I should rip the smug expression off my face. “Did I interrupt a daydream?” Hayden smiled.
“No, not at all,” I quickly blurted out, embarrassed. I closed my laptop. “What’s wrong?”
“I was wondering if you were up for that coffee now, or even a drink? I know a bar not too far from here.”
I shot him a warning look.
“C’mon, it’s been forever since we have had a drink together. I promise I won’t ditch you again to go get laid. I will stay until you decide to leave. And then get laid,” he smirked. How I had heard that too many times. But I was intrigued to hear of how Hayden had been all these years. We were friends once. We has once been close. And I didn’t have many people in my life that I considered to be a friend.
“Fine, but only a few. I can’t drink like I used to,” I laughed, packing my things.
“Ha! You never could drink,” Hayden laughed in response as I pushed him aside to walk out the door.
*
The bar wasn’t the worst I had been in, but it was certainly different to what I was now used to. I eyed the bowl of peanuts, knowing that nothing good could come from eating those mixed nuts. But Hayden dived in anyway as we sat on our leather booth across from one another, both with a beer in hand. It had been so long since I had drunk the stuff, and now I remembered why I stopped drinking it after university.
“I can’t believe your sister has had two kids. Argh, I remember little Megan. She was always so hot and…” I cut Hayden off, raising my finger to him. “Ahh right, the ‘no-sister’ code again. I thought after all these years you would let that go.”
“I thought after all these years you might have changed,” I said with a smile.
“I have. I just kind of suck still when it comes to women. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I have been trying to settle down for a while now. It’s just hard. As clichéd as it sounds, I just haven’t really found that one woman who strikes me.”
“With an attitude like yours, you have probably had sex
with several ‘true loves’ but palmed them off, not even realising it,” I said, taking another swig of the vile beer and looking up at the footy that was playing on the television. “So, you’re a sports manager now?”
“Yea, I know, who would have thought I was going places, right?” he said with an undercurrent of self-doubt. “I didn’t leave far from Ithaca after we all split and left behind the uni days. In fact, that is where my office is based, although I do a lot of travelling. I only have a small team there. My accountant, Gregory, and personal assistant, Amber.”
“Amber?”
“Hey, don’t mock her because of her name, she has a fiery temper. And I know what you are thinking: how on earth did I get a female personal assistant without trying it on,” he said, bemused. I raised an eyebrow to egg him on before he gave a defeated expression. “I thought she was playing hard to get for a while. I only found out a few weeks ago that she is lesbian. Like gay gay, wouldn’t-even-turn-straight-for-me sort of gay.”
“Wow shocking, wouldn’t even turn for you. That must be so hard on you,” I teased. He smiled as he took another swig.
“You know you two would get along really well. You are very similar. She grabs my balls just as hard as you do. She was the one who persuaded me it would be in my best interest to be the sports columnist for Be True. She said it would be extra exposure for Zilch Enterprises. She looks after me. They both do. I really wouldn’t have gotten as far as I have without them. And so now I have the money, flash car, a nice apartment, some awesome big-named players I represent and invites to some amazing events and yet, I still feel like there is something missing… a serious relationship, maybe. I’m still waiting for life to begin.” There was a silence as he reflected on that. He called for another two beers as we both finished our third. “And what about you? You and the Brogardt kid, ey?”
“He is far from a child,” I defended him quickly. “I love him very much. I honestly couldn’t imagine myself with anyone else.”
“Wow, you have fallen hard. I remember the days when you couldn’t stay entertained with one guy for a few weeks, let alone a few months.”
“Yea and I was exactly like that a year ago. There is just something about him. He just pushes me and challenges me in every way. It’s what I need most, so it makes him my perfect partner. I suppose, or something like that,” I laughed, taking another mouthful.
“So do you guys live together or…? What does a pretty boy like him call a home, a five-story palace, a house boat, or a batman cave?”
“I wouldn’t know, I haven’t seen his apartment yet,” I paused at the wince Hayden pulled. “Is that bad?”
After much hesitation he responded. “You have been dating for what, a little under a year? And he still hasn’t shown you his apartment; that screams out secretive to me. If a guy doesn’t want you seeing his home or stuff there is usually a reason for it. Are you sure he is as committed to this relationship as you are?”
I looked at him in mortification. I grabbed my handbag, infuriated by his claim. Damon was secretive, but I didn’t doubt that he loved me or wanted to be in this relationship.
“Woah, woah,” he stood quickly, stepping in front of me. “I’m sorry Clover, I didn’t mean to upset you. It was just a question.” Looking into his brown eyes, I knew he was being earnest. It wasn’t Hayden’s fault I was so rattled.
“I know. I just want to go for now. I have things to think about. I will see you tomorrow at work,” I pushed Hayden aside. He showed little resistance, watching me as I left.
Was there a reason why Damon hadn’t shown me his apartment? I felt vulnerable, like that first night when we got close and he left me.
Chapter Eleven
The drive home in the cab gave me plenty of time to think. I found myself sitting in my comfy couch for an hour or so when I got home, just thinking as Pudding snuggled up to me. I loved Damon, that much I knew for sure. I knew that he loved me as well. Yet when others questioned it, it wounded me. I felt irrational for how I felt because Damon hadn’t done anything wrong, and yet I felt myself brewing. It wasn’t secrecy; I had never asked why he hadn’t shown me his home. A few days ago was the first time I even thought of it. Perhaps there were things he didn’t want me to see.
When I woke in the morning I tried to be positive about the situation. I couldn’t be irrational about it. We both had busy work schedules and I had claimed many times that his hectic one didn’t bother me. So I couldn’t justify being angry with him for not taking the time to give me a grand tour of his home. I loved Damon and that was all that should matter. Whether I saw his home or not shouldn’t be an issue. It was as if I were picking a fight with him, and I didn’t want that at all.
As always I was at work early, but much to my surprise, Hayden was waiting out the front, as slickly attired as always. He waited outside the door while I paid the driver. As I went to open my door, Hayden opened it for me, offering me a hand. He was always well-mannered and chivalrous.
“Good morning, Clover.” His voice was like velvet, yet husky at the same time. “I just wanted to see you early and to apologise for last night,” he continued as he helped me out of the cab.
“Please don’t apologise. I was being unreasonable,” I had to admit. I was being unkind to my old friend. It was not his fault he asked the wrong question. Hayden’s hand was very different to Damon’s. It felt rougher to the touch. I retracted my hand as one of the co-workers walked past, glancing at us suspiciously.
Hayden shot me a dashing smile. “Oh please, Clover. It is no crime for me to hold your hand,” he said, pressing his hand to my lower back as he escorted me into the building. “Time might have put distance between us, but you are still the same Clover I knew back in University. Such trivial things as idle gossip didn’t bother you back then,” he said with a smile. At my silence as we walked through the large doors, he retracted his touch. “I often think of those days. Do you know, I still go to that bar we used to always hang out at.”
My face brightened as I thought of the memories. Although I mostly focused on my school, I too had my fun. “Really, is it still the same?”
A low rumble caught his throat as he laughed. “Well, it is still a bit shady, but it’s picked up since Brandy has taken over.” I remembered the young woman who first started waitressing there. Her father owned it and so she decided to help him as his health slowly declined. I remembered her to always be a little bit rough and wild. In fact, I was surprised she hadn’t yet got herself into serious trouble with the law.
“Brandy, I remember her. Wasn’t she the one you always flirted with?” I asked with a sly smile. She was more than open with her sexuality and very open with her words. I respected her in that respect. If she wanted something she often got it.
Hayden let out a hearty laugh again as we walked into the elevator. “Well, she is most certainly the same. Only a little bit rougher now,” he said with a smile, looking up at the ceiling as if recalling certain events.
I laughed lightly, smacking my hand on his hard chest. “Mr. Zilch, are you still tapping that?” I laughed, instantly surprised at how I had just spoken to him. I hadn’t said ‘tapping that’ for some time now. I had straightened out my more youthful ways in the big city.
The elevator doors were shutting when a very familiar hand stopped it and walked in. A cold shudder ran down my spine as Damon walked in, as well-dressed and handsome as always.
“Clover,” Damon nodded, a burning passion in his eyes. “Mr. Zilch.” His tone had deepened. I felt guilty for my doubts about him last night. I should have never mistrusted him. I looked down as I didn’t understand the threatening tone in his voice. Was Damon angry?
“Damon,” Hayden nodded coolly in response.
“No,” Damon replied. “You may address me as Mr. Brogardt. I am your boss, not your friend.” His tone made me look quickly into his beautiful blue eyes in surprise, which now looked back at me distantly. I felt guilty and I wasn’t sure why. There wa
s a harsh stillness in the air as the elevator moved.
“Clover, if you could accompany me to my office that would be very much appreciated,” Damon said as he looked forward to the doors.
“Of course,” I said, trying to keep my tone flat. Never had I seen Damon appear so intimidating. Standing between the two men made me want to seep into the elevator walls and disappear. I wondered if they knew one another before Hayden’s employment because the sharp hatred within the air suffocated me. I hadn’t seen this ugly side of Damon before.
“I‘ll see you later, Clover,” Hayden said, stepping out of the elevator with a small wave. I reluctantly waved back, conscious of Damon’s eyes on me. The elevator doors closed and I could feel some of the hatred dissipate.
I couldn’t speak, but I felt the warmth of his hand brush over my knuckles as he intertwined his fingers with mine. We stood silently in the elevator. I looked up at his side profile. Although I could see he was still angry, he was at least holding my hand. And it was warm.
“Is everything okay, Damon?” I asked. My tone came out more wounded than I had intended. His hand tightened around mine and he looked down at me with a passionate gleam in his eye. He leant down, sealing his lips with mine and demanding such a savage kiss that I lost my breath and almost dropped my laptop bag. He pulled away just in time as the elevator doors opened. Instead of holding my hand, he pressed my lower back. The touch sparked within me as I tried to find my breath again.
“Everything is much better now,” he growled. I inhaled deeply, still trying to gather my breath. How could he still take my breath away like this?
My Exception (My Escort #2) Page 4