by Mia Ford
“I’ve been with you for the past five years and I haven’t heard you complain about my work ethic. I would never presume to stay somewhere where I wasn’t wanted.” If anybody had a reason to threaten Knight, then Rachel would be a prime suspect.
“I hope you don’t take this the wrong way. I don’t want to be disturbed for the next couple of hours. I’m going to personally debrief Payton. It’s not how it sounds and I just want to make sure she’s up to speed.” I wasn’t sure she believed him. She wasn’t the only one.
“I’ll be sure to put a do not distort sign on the door like you see at a motel. Perhaps, it would be better for you to put a sock on the doorknob. It’s a universal sign to indicate to others you are getting busy.” She was stepping over a line and I wasn’t even sure she was aware of her biting tongue.
“I don’t need a cat fight and I thought we could remain professionals. We had one night, but we both knew it was a drunken mistake. Besides, you were the one that ended it. Telling me in no uncertain terms you’re not interested gave me the freedom to stop any kind of advances toward you.” I was standing there during this exchange. I was on the verge of saying something.
“I apologize, but you’ve never brought one of your conquests into the office before. It’s highly unusual and you have always been a man who separates work from private life. I can’t help it and this is a little awkward for me.” She was dressed to seduce. If that was the way she always dressed, then her intention was pretty clear. The red leather skirt did not project professionalism, but she wore it like our own personal shield against invading forces to her heart.
“We both have some adjusting to do. I’m the one to blame for all of this. There’s no reason to cast aspersions on Payton.” I wasn’t very good at apologies and I didn’t feel like I had anything to be sorry for. I was the one invited, but keeping quiet was only going to alienate his staff.
“I’ll learn to live with it. Make sure she stays out of my way and doesn’t interfere with the day to day business of running this empire of yours.” I would have gladly taken every piece of the blame if he wanted me to
“While she is here, you will afford her the same respect you give any of my colleagues. If you can’t do that, then I will have to make a more permanent conclusion. I don’t think I have to paint you a picture of what I’m talking about. Your continued employment comes with a sacrifice of keeping your mouth shut. I don’t care if you think you’re right.” I wasn’t used to somebody coming to my rescue. It was usually the other way around.
“I know where I stand and maybe it’s about time I look for some other line of work. I’ve always been happy here, but I mistakenly thought we could have something more. I thought if I gave you time you would come to your senses, but you haven’t. This is a cold reminder of how heartless you can be. I have to thank you for making it very clear. Don’t be surprised if you find my two weeks notice at the end of the week.” She was a little hot under the collar and she was saying these things in the heat of the moment.
“I would be very careful about saying something you can’t take back. I don’t want to lose you over some kind of silliness. Take the rest of the day off and think about things. When you find a different perspective, come back and we can forget this ever happened.” It was pretty big of him to rely on somebody that would have loved to seen him fall flat on his face. Rachel had some demons and I was the one that was going to uncover them. It was my job to keep him safe. I had to do it without raising suspicion.
Chapter six
“Have you always been in a position of power over everyone? It might explain why somebody is out to get you. I’m looking at these letters and this is someone who is treating this personal. The vocabulary does not remind me of a woman scorned. You might be right and somebody feels like you have done them some disservice.” I’d taken the time to go over all the letters and immerse myself into the tone.
“Am I overreacting or is there something to worry about? I could be finding trouble where there isn’t any.” He was behind me looming closely and making me feel a little uncomfortable in my own skin. Whenever I felt that way, I would always go off the handle and teach somebody a lesson.
The big difference with him doing it was my body was craving some more of his presence. I could feel the wild horses underneath the hood pressing against my shoulder blades. He purposely flexed the piece of pipe between his legs to distract me from what I was doing. I was tempted to turn in his swivel chair and face a dilemma of getting one out of the chamber.
“Ahem...there is definitely something here. This person is going to escalate and it’s just a matter of time before he gets his hands dirty. I’m only using the gender biased opinion of him being a male because everything points towards it. It could easily be a woman, but I really don’t think so.” I’d had my fair share of boyfriends who had gotten a little too clingy. They realized their mistake when they were walking doubled over. They tried to put their hands on something they believed to be their merchandise. I was nobody’s property.
“I don’t have the time to constantly look over my shoulder waiting for the other shoe to drop. I’m going to ask something that may not seem like a favorable idea. What do you think about drawing him out into the open? I don’t know how to go about that, but maybe you have a few ideas you can run up the flagpole.” The only pole with my undivided attention was the one that was constantly thumping a beat against me from behind.
“There are always ways but we have a disadvantage. He knows who you are, but we have no idea who he is. To draw him out would mean doing something extreme to get his attention. Flaunting our relationship in front of the staff was a good way to uncover hurt feelings.” Rachel was somebody to keep a watchful eye on, but not for the reasons he would’ve thought.
“I am so tied up in knots. I feel like I’m going to explode. This whole thing has given my business a black eye. If I can’t concentrate then millions be lost. I have a board of directors to answer to. Most think I’m at the highest point on the ladder, but it’s only an excuse to be more in control than I really am. Come to think of it, those board members might be something we should investigate further. They all have a reason to hate me with some more than others.” It was interesting he had gone there and I was curious to learn more of the reason why he would think that.
I felt like I was being watched and my chest flushed by the realization he was looking down my blouse. I was breathing heavily, trying to keep my composure, but failing miserably. This was unlike being in the ring facing an opponent. I was never nervous, but with him, it felt like my whole body was riding on a wave of indecision.
“It would be a good idea for me to see you in your environment. You must have a board meeting coming up soon. I want to sit in and witness your interaction with each and every one of them. Don’t do anything unusual. Keep it strictly business related matters. Anything out of the ordinary will alert the person in the room. We don’t want them to know we are getting close to the truth. We don’t even know if one of them is the culprit. It could be somebody you have crossed paths with doing your routine.” Everybody had a routine and I could easily find somebody on the street and learn a direct path into their private life.
“It’s disheartening to think somebody has these kinds of feelings. They are waiting to act on them. I’ve been holding everything inside. When I’m with you, I can speak candidly with no secrets between us.” It was natural like breathing. All I wanted was a chance to prove my worth to him. I didn’t want to find the person responsible too soon not when I was having way too much fun.
“I don’t think you have heard this enough. I believe in you and you can hold onto me tight and never let go. I will always be near in and out of the bedroom.” He needed somebody to stroke his ego along with another part of his anatomy. It had been hours since we had done something strictly for pleasure.
“I can see your heart is true and you’re not just doing this for the almighty dollar. You may claim otherwise,
but I know differently.” His fingers grazed over the surface of my nipples. It caused them to become hard as pebbles. “I can’t help the way I feel. From the moment I saw you fighting in the cage, I was wrapped around your little finger.” His hands moved up to my shoulders and began to give me a very deep tissue massage.
“You keep doing that and I won’t be responsible for my actions.” His fingers had the magic touch and just enough pressure to make me moan and close my eyes. “I hope you know what you’re doing. Lighting that match is only going to end one way.” I was warning him ahead of time, but he wasn’t taking heed which was going to be his undoing.
“I don’t know what it is about you, Payton. You have this raw sexual chemistry that exudes out of every pore. I can hear you calling to me even when you’re not saying something. I don’t like thinking you have this kind of hold on me.” It had been a long day without him touching me the entire time. We hadn’t known each other very long, but the heat between us was like an inferno.
“I’m sitting right here and there’s no other place I wanna be. You have given me something more than a job. We can’t seem to stand more than a few minutes without thinking something physical.” He was sniffing my hair and the growl of enthusiasm underneath his breath was making my whole body tingle with excitement.
I was about to turn and take matters into my own hands, but he beat me to it. I felt the chair move and then I was face to face with his crotch. The lump of his arousal was not easily ignored. I thought for sure he was expecting me to do something, but once again he surprised me. He summarily dropped to his knees and lifted my legs until my high heels were tapping on the upper part of his back.
“I’ve been thinking about doing this ever since the elevator. I can’t seem to sleep without wanting you by my side. You’re the one that mentioned an arrangement beneficial to the both of us. I had to hear what you said to believe it. It’s obvious you make your own rules.” He had an unobstructed view of the inside of my legs. “I didn’t take you for someone going commando. I have to say it’s a delicious thought. You have been sitting here this entire time with the cool breeze touching your bald mound.” I was biting my bottom lip with my head back and looking at the door to see if we were going to be interrupted.
“I admit you are not like any other man. Most would be content in having me go down on them, but you want this to be all about my pleasure. I get this feeling like you enjoy it almost as much as I enjoy you doing it to me. If you keep this up, I might have to consider changing one of my rules.” The one I was referring to was being able to leave after the job was done.
I felt his finger trace a line down the wetness of my excitement. I was seeping and leaving behind drippings down my legs. He started there and his tongue ignited more of the same from my hungry hole. I was definitely going to stick around for the duration. I was a fool, but it wasn’t for love I didn’t believe in the concept, but it was possible he could change my mind. That was a bold statement to make to myself and one that I was going to have to revisit.
“How long do you think I’m going to last with you doing that?” I could feel his tongue making a slow and calculated journey. When he reached the swollen lips, I was lifting my pelvis for deeper penetration. I didn’t know how long I could keep this position, but his ravenous attention had not gone unnoticed.
The only sound I heard was the blood pumping at my temples. The chair creaked as I lay back to give him better access. I would have gladly stood on my head for the feelings he was inflicting on me.
I knew the place quite well and I was rapidly approaching the doorway to my nirvana. He stabbed forth with the pointed end of his oral spear. It was a lucky thing I had my hand over my mouth at the time. I bit into my palm, not drawing blood, but very close it wasn’t funny.
I wanted the opportunity to melt his Popsicle like he had thawed my heart into something that was beating for the first time.
“I don’t know where you learned that but somebody has been taking lessons. This is quite unexpected but very welcomed. Your tongue knows what it’s doing. I can’t… Fucking believe you haven’t done this…already.” I was quickly losing my grip on reality and flying into fits of sexual hysterics. My heels were slapping heavily against his back which only seemed to fuel him into a greater need to find my release.
The fire burning engulfed my entire body. I put my hand over my mouth again with my eyes wide open and my flesh trembling to his touch. He was rapidly plunging deep in and out of me, stretching me with his fingers and manipulating my clit into submission. I was a falling star. He was responsible for letting me see not all men were alike.
He emerged with a smile on his face like he knew the job wasn’t finished until I gave him the okay. He lightly flicked my clit. It made me jump from the contact. “I do enjoy making a woman climax. To see your lips flutter and your body respond is my aphrodisiac. I would ask for you to reciprocate, but we don’t have the time. I have reservations made and I would hate to be late. You can think of something particularly saucy to make it up to me.” I thought for sure this was the necessary foreplay to banging me until I couldn’t walk anymore.
“I find myself puzzled by how easily you can walk away. It can’t be easy in your current condition. I have to give you credit for having the fortitude to want nothing in return. I haven’t figured you out yet and that bothers me. I’m usually a pretty good judge of character, but you don’t tick any of the usual boxes. You go outside the box, drawing outside the lines and something tells me I’ve found something quite unique. What you just did was a little piece of heaven.” I needed time to get my sea legs. I was finally standing and feeling like all the energy had been drained.
“I’m going to go out on a limb and say not many men have treated you kindly. It was their loss. You are a hot-blooded woman with a lot to offer and I don’t want you to ever forget that. There’s no reason for you to comply with a man’s wishes. You have your own mind and be damned everybody else’s opinion.” He was straightening up and making me laugh. It was in the way he was patting his crotch and telling it to go easy. It was kind of quirky for him to think his cock was a separate entity. Most men thought so.
“Guys always have one thing on their mind and they will do and say anything to get it. I’ve had firsthand knowledge of their duplicitous ways. I’ve been bitten one too many times to believe in happy endings. I’m not talking about the one you want me to give you later. White picket fences are not in my future.” I could never sit still long enough to be domesticated like some kind of house pet.
“I admire your need for independence, but it has to get lonely. I’m glad the older woman that took my cherry taught me a few things. Being young and impressionable, I was easily molded into the perfect lover. The entire summer when I was 16, I was a sought-after commodity by many of the ladies in the neighborhood. The one I keep coming back to is Mrs. Perry. She was a divorcee with a lot of time on her hands and I became her pet project.” It would stand to reason an older woman would be responsible for his tutelage. He was lucky and most guys didn’t have the chance to be given the gift of aged wisdom.
“If you are still in touch with her, I would suggest a bouquet of roses. She deserves it and I would be remiss if I didn’t tell you she did you a favor. You may have wanted to get into her pants, but she slowed you down and made you learn the blueprints of the female anatomy. I’m looking forward to seeing what other little tricks you have in your sexual arsenal.” Speaking of arsenal, I noticed something in his desk drawer and I pulled it back to reveal a revolver. It was not just any revolver and this was right out of the Dirty Harry movies.
Chapter seven
“I would ask what is wrong, but I think I already know the answer. You’re concerned by what you saw in my desk drawer. It’s not like I’m going to use it. I was given it when I was younger to remind me of how easy it is to find ourselves resorting to violence. I’ve always believed there was a better way and diplomacy comes in handy when you know how to
talk the talk. I’ve certainly rubbed people the wrong way. I have been ruthless when it was necessary for business, but I’ve never lifted a finger to anyone.” It was nice to know he was not prone to taking out his frustrations with a gun in his hand.
“I admit I was a little worried and I don’t like to have anything to do with guns. It’s foolish to think of them as anything more than the devil’s instruments. I have been guilty of taking lives the same way, but I have turned over a new leaf. It’s not to say I can’t pick one up and use it if I am pushed into a corner.” I was sitting at a table in this Italian restaurant feeling less than sophisticated in my leather skirt and no panties. It was almost sacrilege to think of myself fitting into a place like this.
His foot was running up my leg and I shifted nervously, wondering if the tablecloth would obscure anybody from learning of how we were playing fast and loose with each other’s bodies.
“I was wondering the reason why you don’t carry a gun. Your background certainly does tell an interesting tale which I’m sure is only part of the story. This world is full of madness, but sometimes you have to remember there is beauty everywhere you look.” His foot was bare. He had somehow taken off his shoe and his sock to make skin to skin contact. I had no idea how this one was going to end, but I hoped that it was not with a whimper and more with a bang.
“If you’re not careful, I’m going to burst into flames right in front of you. You are dangerously close to touching me and setting off a spark between my legs. I’m not opposed to having a Meg Ryan moment, but are you sure you really want that kind of scene? I can show you some incredible things. I know what you want and the best is yet to come. I can be a perfect storm and make all the tables turn in this direction.” I got drunk on the power he exuded and on the way his toe came in contact with my swollen lips.