“I got a call from Quenchers this morning, did you realise you emailed them the wrong copy for their ad?”
I covered my face with my hands in despair. Oh my God I was gutted. I never made mistakes like this I always prided myself on doing a good job. I knew the guys over at Quenchers and I knew they were good people and wouldn’t hold it against me, but that wasn’t an excuse. If it had been another pickier client I could have lost us an account and caused some real headaches for Frank and Eric. I had to get my shit together. Yesterday I had been so distracted after Adam showed up I hadn’t been concentrating and I had screwed up.
“I’m so sorry Frank, I don’t know what to say. It’ll never happen again I can assure you.”
Frank smiled, looking every inch the kindly uncle, and told me to forget it, he didn’t hold it against me and that we all make mistakes. He told me I probably needed to take some time to myself to unwind and encouraged me to take a half day off and head home. He’d look forward to seeing me on Wednesday morning, bright, early and raring to go. I sloped off with my tail between my legs successfully avoiding the questioning stares of my colleagues and headed home to crawl under my duvet and escape the world for a few hours.
An hour later, when I opened the front door and walked straight into our little living room I squealed and dropped my keys. Sitting on our sofa with one leg casually slung over the other, leaning back like he owned the place sat Joe. He wore jeans and a white t shirt and his hair looked ruffled and sexy. His eyes sparkling seductively towards me.
“What the hell are you doing here? How did you get in?” I knelt down to pick up my keys but kept the door open in case I needed to make a speedy retreat.
“Your housemate let me in, Robyn is it? She seems nice, told me lots about you Ella.” He lowered his head and glared at me through hooded eyes.
“You need to leave, I don’t want you here.” I tried to sound forceful, confident but it came across weak and unsure.
“Did you like the dress? I couldn’t help myself. I had to buy it for you.” He leaned forward now, his elbows resting on his knees and his hands steepled together in between.
“You shouldn’t have done that. Yes I love the dress but I won’t be keeping it and I won’t be going anywhere with you.”
The box containing the dress was still sitting on the coffee table so I picked it up and pushed it onto his lap before going back to the front door and opening it further to give him the hint that I wanted him to leave.
He gave a big sigh and sat back again, but made no attempt to stand up.
“That’s a shame Ella, the dress belongs with you and it seems such a waste not to take you somewhere to show it off. Is there anything I can do to change your mind?” He had a cheeky devilish look on his face, but I stayed firm.
“No, please leave or I’ll ….I’ll...”
“You’ll do what Ella? Scream? Tell whoever comes that I came to do what exactly?” He was too calm and collected but I was getting irritated now, I wasn’t in the mood for his mind games.
“I’ll go…this time, but you need to remember a few things.”
“Oh? And what would that be?” He stood up now and dropped the box with the dress back onto our coffee table. His eyes glittered and bored into mine as he stalked towards me at the door.
“This…you and me, it’s going to happen.”
“Whatever, keep dreaming.” I tried to look breezy glancing up into his eyes, but felt anything but. His persistence was slowly starting to wear me down. The mix of his stunning face, the animal attraction all of it was playing on my weakness for dominating men. I had to gather my strength and resolve and keep him at arm’s length.
“And one other thing…you need to get a lock or passcode put onto your phone. It’s amazing what you can learn from a person from their mobile.” He raised his eyebrows at me and then lent down to kiss me on the top of the head before walking down the path and out of sight.
I looked over to where I had left my mobile phone charging this morning in the electrical socket by the television. It didn’t surprise me that he’d looked at it, he had no idea about personal boundaries. I so needed to sort a passcode, if only I could work out how to use the damn thing.
Chapter Ten
Wednesday was a new fresh day and the sun was shining, so I decided to wear my prettiest sundress; a short little yellow number with white polka dots, thin straps and a criss cross pattern on the back. My shitty week would stop today, I was determined. I was going to show everyone that I was in control and on my A game. In hindsight it probably wasn’t the most suitable of office attire after a telling off, but as we had no clients in and no meetings today I figured Frank and Eric wouldn’t mind.
I hadn’t seen Chris since Friday, as he’d been at a conference out of town, so I was excited to see him today and find out how his hot date went on Saturday. He swept into the offices wearing a fabulous grey fitted suit with a vibrant blue shirt and tie.
“Wow Chris are you up for a promotion today?” I laughed raising an eyebrow.
“Ha-ha very funny babes, some of us like to jazz it up sometimes you know, stay sharp and classy.” He sniffed and pretended to look insulted but he knew I was joking.
“So what’s the occasion handsome?”
“Nothing, I just felt like cheering myself up.” He sighed as his computer fired up for the day.
“Uh oh bad date Saturday?” I asked.
“The worst...” he slumped down into his chair with a look of defeat, “he was totally boring, I had no idea what he was talking about at the art gallery, and when we went onto a club I lost him for like ages, then when I went to the men’s I found him stumbling out a cubicle with some hot Mexican guy. Totally the. Worst. Date. EVER.”
Poor Chris. Sometimes he had worse luck in men than I did.
“You’ve still got me handsome, I’ll never bang a hot Mexican guy in the men’s when I’m supposed to be showering you with my attention.” I blew him a kiss across the office and he pretended to catch it.
“It’s okay honey I got talking to the bouncer when I was waiting for my cab and managed to get a date with him on Thursday night. He’s way hotter than surgeon boy.” I laughed so hard my tummy hurt, God I loved Chris so much.
“Ella! More deliveries for you!” Kim sang as she pushed her way into the main office. I was tapping away diligently not daring to look up from the email I was drafting to one of our clients as I said, “Just pop them on my desk thanks.” I heard the rustle of flowers and looked up from my screen to see the most beautiful bunch of purple roses. They were stunning.
“Why doesn’t anyone send me flowers?” Chris whined, resting his chin on his hands and gesturing for me to open the envelope and reveal the big mystery. It was no mystery to me though. This man wasn’t going down without a fight.
Blue eyes,
Purple roses represent enchantment.
You enchant me whenever I see you.
Please let me take you to dinner to apologise for being an ass?
Joe x
“So who’s the mysterious admirer?” Kim asked wholly expecting me to answer truthfully.
“No one, they’re just from a client to thank the company for doing a good job.” I replied. Chris chuckled and muttered “Bullshit” under his breathe, and Kim stalked back to reception looking very put out about the lack of office gossip to spread. I sighed and ran my fingers over the flowers. They were beautiful and thoughtful, but there wasn’t a chance in hell I was going out to dinner, lunch or a drive through burger joint with Joe Madden. Why wouldn’t he give up he couldn’t be starved of female attention looking the way he did. Maybe I should invest in a chastity belt, just to be 100% sure he stayed away from me permanently I giggled to myself. That would shock him!
A few hours later, as I was checking my emails I came across his name on my screen.
To: [email protected]
From:[email protected]
Title: Still ignoring me?
<
br /> I hope you liked the flowers I sent you?
I’ve been thinking about you all morning, when can I take you to dinner?
Joe
I had to nip this in the bud….again…and keep it strictly professional.
To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
Title: Just keeping it professional
Mr Madden,
Thank you for the flowers you sent me, but this needs to stop.
I’m afraid I’m unavailable for dinner and would prefer to keep any future correspondence strictly professional.
Many Thanks
Ella Reid
I smiled and clicked the send button. Within seconds a response came through.
To: [email protected]
From:[email protected]
Title: Destiny
You can’t fight the inevitable Ella. All your running only makes me chase you harder. ;-)
I wasn’t going to win this email exchange so I logged out and grabbed my handbag, ready for an early lunch and a much needed shot of decent caffeine.
When I got back to the office a half hour later, Frank was stalking about the main office like a caged animal.
“There you are!” he exclaimed as I walked through the glass doors. “Don’t put your bag down you’re needed to visit a client.”
My eyes bugged out of my head, “A client visit? But Frank I’m not dressed appropriately to meet a client.” I didn’t want to meet a client in my strappy sun dress it just wouldn’t set the right tone.
“It’s okay I’m sure Mr Madden won’t mind.” I almost choked on the last sip of my latte as I absorbed what he had just said.
“What does he want?” I asked, fear, nerves and something like excitement whirling through my tummy at the thought of him and his lusty quick sand.
Frank frowned at my curt reply. “He wants you to visit the site of his new spa or club whatever it is, said he wants you to get a feel of the place and what he’s about. He was quite insistent as he says it’ll help channel your creativity in the right way. I’m inclined to agree with him.” Frank smiled and handed me a post it note with an address and postcode scribbled down.
“Can’t Chris go in my place, he’s dressed so much more appropriately than me today, look…” I gestured to Chris in his chair, who was grinning from ear to ear at my obvious discomfort, “I look too casual it doesn’t set the right tone.” I pleaded, but Frank was having none of it.
“Stop worrying Ella, you look beautiful. Now chop, chop you don’t want to get caught up in the traffic and keep our most important client waiting do you!”
I huffed and turned on my heels heading back out towards the office car park at the back. Great, my week just took a nose dive…again.
An hour later and after misreading the sat nav on numerous occasions, I finally pulled up to a pair of large wrought iron gates which instantly opened as if by magic as my little red car approached. There was a long tree lined drive which wound through the gardens leading to a magnificent old style mansion. It looked like a stately home, but had obviously been recently built judging by the age of the bricks. The look they were going for here was old English charm on the outside. No doubt the inside would be in contrast, with all the mod cons rich folk would expect from a health club and spa like this.
I found the whole place over whelming, much like its owner. There were large sash windows across the front of the building and steps leading up to well-polished black lacquered double doors that had two large brass lion head knockers on them. There were large pillars around the building and topiary added that sophisticated touch to the exterior. The icing on the cake was a beautiful fountain in front of the building, the water sounds adding to the overall effect of reconnecting with nature for relaxation and well-being. I was impressed and overawed.
I took a deep breath in and stepped out of my car into the breezy sunshine. I could hear the distant calls of workmen and the buzzing of their tools as they worked away somewhere in the building or on the estate. I glanced furtively around but no one appeared. I shut the car door and stood up tall to exert some air of confidence for what I was about to walk into.
As I walked up the grand steps towards the doors they opened and one of Joe’s associates from the initial meeting at the office greeted me with a big friendly smile. I smiled back and felt myself relax a little. Maybe I had read this all wrong. Frank hadn’t said exactly who I would be meeting here and a tour of this beautiful place with this nameless guy wouldn’t be so bad would it? In fact I might even enjoy it, being out of the office in the sun, perhaps I could even leave early and head straight home. Finish my working day on a high note. The man offered his hand to me and introduced himself as Josh. I shook his hand and he stepped back to let me enter.
The building was still under construction but the foyer was breath-taking. Silver grey tiles with diamond flecks ran across the floor and in the middle was a chrome desk or counter of some sorts. Grey velvet armchairs and sofas were dotted around along with mirrored coffee tables, each holding an elegant spray of grey roses and gypsophila tied together with silver organza ribbon. A larger flower display to match these was placed on the desk in the middle and on either side of the desk were two sweeping marble staircases running either side of the foyer. The biggest chandelier I have ever seen twinkled above us and I gasped as I looked up at it.
“Wow this really is something.” I said taking it all in as best I could. “What do the grey roses symbolise?” I asked.
“I’ve no idea…” Josh smiled “but it’ll mean something, Joe doesn’t do anything without thinking carefully about the meaning behind it and the consequences of it all.” I wanted to laugh out loud right there, did this guy even know his own boss? Because every time I’d seen Joe Madden the last thing on his mind had been careful thinking and the consequences of his actions.
Josh looked pleased with his answer though, and beckoned for me to follow him down the hall to start our tour. Each room was as elegant and impressive as the last and I began wishing I could afford to come to a place like this. I doubt my salary would stretch to the membership I thought sadly. Pampering for people like me usually meant a do it yourself home face mask and slices of cucumber whilst bathing in our cracked bath and drowning out the neighbours arguing with my iPod. Not water beds, lavender induced snooze rooms or private relaxation pods suspended from the ceiling. How the other half lived hey, maybe I could get a complimentary day pass after I’d worked on this account. I mulled over that idea and smiled thinking I’d have to rope in Robyn and her legendary powers of persuasion to help make that happen.
As we entered a room that looked like some kind of office overlooking the gardens and outdoor pools Josh’s mobile rang and he held up a finger to indicate he needed to take the call and would be a few minutes. He walked out of the room shutting the door quietly and I walked over to the windows to take in the view. The English countryside really was breath-taking at this time of year. I heard a door open again and assuming it was Josh, back to conclude the tour I spun round with a big smile on my face.
“You actually looked pleased to see me today.” Joe had entered the room via a side door and was walking slowly almost hesitantly towards me. He looked totally edible in dark jeans and a tight grey t-shirt. His dark hair fell sexily over his forehead and he reached up to rub his bristled jaw. He was beautiful, even the sight of his strong arms, tanned and muscular made my knees weak. I felt nervous and started to shake, I just didn’t know what to say. All my thoughts were drowning in a haze of desire that I couldn’t control anymore. I was rendered speechless. This was his territory and I was powerless to fight him any longer. I had zero resolve and after my shitty week I just couldn’t give a fuck about making a fool of myself anymore.
As he slowly stalked forward I found myself taking a step back, leaning against the glass of the window trembling like the innocent mouse trapped by the hungry playful cat.
“I’m s
o glad you came here today, I was hoping to see you.” He smiled that sexy lopsided smile that always gave me butterflies and cocked his head to the side. “So what do you think?” He leaned back against a desk holding me hostage with his sparkling grey eyes, twinkling with mischief.
“It’s all really beautiful, very… sophisticated and elegant.” I replied.
“Isn’t it just” He purred looking me up and down like he wanted to devour me on the spot. “Maybe I could show you round the rest of the place, give you a special tour, and my undivided attention of course.” He was way too confident.
“I’m sure you have much more important things to do Mr Madden and Josh is doing a fantastic job of showing me around the club anyway.”
“I told you it’s Joe and no I don’t have anything more important to do than be with you right now Ella. My tour would be much more…informative for us both.” He raised an eyebrow and I knew exactly what his tour would include and damn if I wasn’t losing my resolve. If he kept this up for much longer I’d be a goner.
He pushed off from the desk he was leaning against and came towards me, holding his hand out to touch my face and the breath caught in the back of my throat. As he stroked my cheek with his knuckles and traced down towards my neck he took a step into me, holding my body hostage against the glass. I had to admit I kinda liked him being so close to me right now.
“You look beautiful today, as always.” He said in a low drawl, then the grey sparkle in his eyes took on a darker edge as he added, “I’m not a patient man Ella.” He sighed in frustration, “Fuck if one look… one touch of you doesn’t short circuit my whole system. You beautiful girl have got me all tied up, I don’t know which way is up or down anymore.”
He lowered his head to my neck and planted whispered kisses under my ear, down my neck towards the space where my neck joined my shoulder. I couldn’t stop myself leaning into him and softly sighing. The smell of him; subtle aftershave and that manly scent that was special to him was intoxicating me and putting all my nerves on high alert.
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