She sits eagerly at the counter, her headache forgotten, and her eyes begging.
I sigh out in defeat, "Rich, yes. Hot in bed, very. That's about it."
"No. That can't be it. This was your first one-night stand, unless you're planning on seeing him again."
I'm not sure if she's asking a question or making an observation.
"I'm not seeing him again. I just want a shower right now," I grumble as I finish putting the coffee on.
"That's because you've been doing something dirty," she teases.
I roll my eyes at the juvenile joke.
"Yes I have. I've also learned that I'm not one-night stand material. I didn't know they followed you out the door."
"Whoa, what?" she says while jumping from the barstool and following me.
"He jumped on the elevator and asked me to stay with him. I wasn't prepared for that."
"That's because such things don't normally happen with complete strangers. So he wanted you to stay?"
I shrug as I turn the water on and start waiting for the perfect temperature.
"Yes. He asked me to stay, and then he asked to see me again."
"Wow. What did you say?"
"I said I'd call him," I mumble, regretting that even more. I should have at least given him my real name.
"Awesome," she squeals. "When are you going to call him? I think that's smart. It keeps the ball in your court."
My head drops, shame and guilt both weighing me down now.
"I'm not really going to call him, and he knows that. I didn't even get his number. I just darted out. He even sent a car around to pick me up after I blew him off."
She grabs my shoulders and starts shaking me violently.
"What's wrong with you? If a hot, rich, sweet guy wants to be with you, then you say yes. You don't run away."
I laugh a little at her overreaction. I swear she's acting as if this affects her.
"I just want it to be what it is. He's a gentleman. It's sweet of him to show such manners, but I don't need to get involved with someone this far out of my league."
"Hey! You know damn well I don't allow you to belittle yourself in front of me. This guy is lucky he got to have a night with you. That being said, I think you should call him. You know where he lives, so just look his number up that way."
"I don't actually know the address or anything. I didn't really pay too much attention. We had a hasty entrance, and I rushed the exit."
"Okay, then we'll figure it out another way," she says, and I can feel her wheels turning.
"Hey, just drop it. Leave it here. I live in Frankford. There's no way it's going to work out."
"You act like you two live on opposite sides of the world. This is not a terrible distance. You could make it work," she urges.
"I don't want to. I want to enjoy the memories I made, and leave it at that. Now get out. I need to wash away the dirty Alexius Smith and get back to being plain Aphrodisia Titan."
"Fine," she relents with a pout.
My head is pounding and I'm exhausted from the tiresome trip we just returned from yesterday. Clara's wedding is tomorrow, and I have to find a makeshift date before she sets me up with Irvin. Maybe I can ask my brother to go.
"Adisia!" Jane, the receptionist, yells.
"Yeah. What?" I ask.
"You have a delivery," she squeals as she runs toward me with an oversized bouquet of flowers. "Who are they from?"
"I honestly have no idea," I say in disbelief.
She sets down the vibrant red roses, and the bouquet has to be at least three dozen. This thing is massive.
I open the bright red envelope that has my name on the front.
I gasp slightly as I read it.
To Aphrodisia, the true name of the girl in the red dress. It'll be hard for you to call me without my number, so I'll contact you instead.
Devin Cole (My real name)
Oh no. How did he find out my name? How did he find me?
"Who are they from?" Jane asks impatiently.
"Devin Cole," I whisper as I stare blankly at the wall.
"Who's that?"
"A really hot mistake," I grumble while plopping my head on my desk.
"Aphrodisia," Charlene, my boss, yells.
I snap to attention and Jane retreats as the bitch from hell stalks toward me.
"Yes ma'am?"
"I need you to grab your purse and head to New York."
"What? I just got back from New York yesterday. Why do I need to do there?"
"You need to go see a client for me. This is a big deal we've just had fall into our laps. I have to be in Sacramento in the morning, so I need you to do this for me. The client has specified they need this dealt with today."
"I'm just an assistant. How am I supposed to handle a client? I don't know anything about that side of the business. What about one of the other agents?" I plead.
"No. Sorry, but that's not an option. You'll go because I'm telling you to go. Now get your stuff and get on the road. Time is wasting."
I've been on vacation for a few days for the bachelorette party, and I've only been at work for an hour. I have mounds of work to get caught up on, and now she's sending me to meet with a client, which I have no experience in because I've never done it before. Our marketing agency has plenty of more qualified, eager people ready to assume such a task. Why is she making me go?
I don't argue though. You can't argue with Charlene. I do as she says and walk out to head to a company car. A man pulls up in a black SUV, very deliberately cutting off my path.
"Ms. Titan?" he asks while rolling down the window.
"Yeah?"
"I'm Tim. I'm here to take you to New York."
This hulking man starts climbing out of the driver's side, and there's so much of him that he just keeps on getting out. He opens my door, and I toss in my laptop and my purse before taking out my phone.
I dial Charlene right away. "Where am I going? Who am I seeing? What am I doing?"
She laughs, which is uncommon. "I've sent you an email with all the details you need to know. It's mostly just signing the client. The real legwork has already been done. The client has the contract on hand. They want a face-to-face before signing. This is a big deal. Don't fuck it up."
The line is dead as soon as she finishes her threatening last words. Okay. That's not helpful at all. What am I doing here if this is such a big deal? Oh this sucks.
I sigh as the man opens the door for me, and I climb out, exhausted from the long ride. I walk toward the steel archway, and I suddenly know where I am.
No. He didn't. He couldn't have. Impossible.
"Ms. Titan?" a sweet, older man says.
"Yes," I murmur.
"Mr. Cole is expecting you."
The man opens the elevator and keys in a code. I swallow hard. This can't really be happening. What the fuck? I stare blankly at the cold walls of the elevator as the numbers count up.
"Ms. Titan?"
I look up to see the doors open, and the gentle old man waiting for my exit.
"Thank you," I mumble as I step out.
I walk in a little better and stand awkwardly in the entryway. I notice a new vase has replaced the shattered one, and I focus all my attention on it. I'm almost praying this is some horrid dream I'm unable to awake.
"I had to replace the old one. It somehow shattered," Devin says as he slowly glides into the room.
My eyes stay fixated on the vase, allowing only my peripheral vision to watch him.
"It's nice," I mumble in a nearly muted tone.
He sits down on the couch, and I look up to meet his gaze. There's a bottle of wine and two glasses set up as well.
"Would you like to join me, Aphrodisia?" he asks casually.
My pale skin is suddenly infested with chills.
"Honestly, I'm a little too freaked out to join you," I almost whisper.
He flashes me an innocent look as he scoots to the edge of his seat, and gives
me his undivided attention.
"Why is that?" he asks.
"Do you have some freaky Christian Grey complex? You've stalked me, found out my real name, and interfered with my job in a way that has brought me back to your doorstep. I swear I'll call the police, scream for help, and pepper spray you before I step into some crazy ass sex room."
He laughs loudly at my voiced concern, which, I admit, does sound a little crazy in itself.
"I'm not into whips and chains. I didn't stalk you, I brought you to me. I found out your true identity because I generally make it a habit to find out whom I've slept with. Call me old fashioned."
He makes me feel all the more foolish. I should feel like he's invaded my privacy, but I did sleep with him and give him a false name.
"Besides," he adds. "My secret is much bigger, and I'll be the only one signing anything," he teases.
I slowly make my way over to the couch, and shift the topic back to business.
"I'm supposed to be here for a face-to-face signing. I honestly have no idea why they sent me, and I hope you know what I'm supposed to do because I don't. I'm just an assistant."
He smirks a little and closes the gap between us by scooting dangerously close to me.
"You're here because I requested you to be here. I told your eager boss I'd sign with the company if she sent you. It's a big deal. I know the marketing world inside and out, so I can help you in any way you need it," he almost whispers as his lips dare mine.
He hovers over me and his arm wraps around my shoulders, pulling me into the kiss I can't fight. I feel my body responding to his creepy seduction, and I have no choice but to surrender. He grips me and pulls me to sit astride him. My hips reflexively grind against him and he only grips me tighter.
"You can't deny it either, can you?" he whispers through the kiss.
"We can't do this," I mumble before kissing him harder.
His hands slide down my skirt, freeing me from the zipped restraint. He slowly opens my shirt, revealing my body to him. He kisses my chest as he hoists me into the air and carries me to the bedroom.
I know I can't stop myself from wanting him right now, and there's no sanity left in my mind.
"That's the last time we can do that," I pant as my bare body curls against his.
He smiles as his lips cover mine. Then he gingerly pulls back enough to look into my eyes.
"Why do you keep saying stuff like that?"
I shake my head. "Well, now it's because you're about to be client, and I feel like a total slut for having slept with you before you signed."
"Then I won't sign," he says casually, nonchalance resonating in the back of his tone.
"What? I'll lose my job if you don't sign after telling Charlene you would," I gush helplessly.
He smirks deviously as he pulls me to his chest, and his menacing eyes churn with excitement.
"Stay with me tonight, and I'll sign in the morning."
"I can't stay. I have to be home tonight to go to a rehearsal dinner, and then I have Clara's wedding tomorrow."
"Then stay with me until you have to go, and I'll just come with you to the dinner and the wedding. Then I'll sign."
Why is he so sexy right now?
"No. I can't do that. Clara already has the guest list planned out. Not to mention, I feel like a total slut negotiating this way."
He laughs a little while hopping up and running out of the room. He returns with a grin and the contract in hand. The ink scribbles across the marked lines, and then he places it on the table beside the bed.
"It's signed, now please prove you're not a slut and stay with me," he mocks, his smile growing by the second.
I sigh loudly and stare the sexy contours of his body that wouldn't let me go if I wanted to right now. I'm pathetic.
"Fine. I'll stay for as long as I can, but I'm returning to Connecticut... alone."
He holds his hands up playfully as his eyes grow alight with success.
"I'll take what I can get. We'll discuss details later. Right this moment, I'd like to take you out."
I almost laugh as I look in the mirror at my thoroughly ravaged appearance.
"Take me out? Now?" I ask with a slight chuckle.
"Yes. I'd like to take you to a restaurant and pay for your meal or something."
I laugh a little at his out of character uncertainty.
"Or something?" I repeat quizzically.
"Yeah. I really don't know too much about dating."
Dating? I thought this was a one-night stand. Can you have two one-night stands with the same person?
Oh good grief. I need a manual.
"I'd prefer to stay in. I'm kind of a mess now, and I don't have any supplies here to regroup."
"I think you look perfect the way you are," he says so genuinely.
Oh he's got to be too good to be true. He's so hot right now, and the sex we just had was thunderous enough to rattle the ground. Run.
"I'm wearing a sheet," I snicker out.
"I know. My sheet looks damn good on you," he declares while stifling his laugh.
I blush a little and he comes back to join me in the bed. His arm wraps around me as he makes a call.
"I need to place an order... delivery... Cole... yes..."
He stands up and walks out of the room to finish the order. I quickly run my fingers through my hair, and remove some of the smeared remnants of my makeup.
Crap. I look a hot mess.
I pinch my cheeks to add a little color, and then he walks back into the room wearing a smile. He can't seem to sit still for five minutes.
"Chinese will be delivered shortly, and I have some wine we never started if you'd like to join me."
I just nod as my girly grin emerges, and I clutch the sheet under my arms to secure it into place as I follow him into the living area.
He sits down on the couch, and I follow his lead. The soft fabric beneath me offers warmth as I sink in and relax. He pours the wine into the glasses and hands me one.
"So, Aphrodisia, why did you give me a fake name?"
I squirm a little. I had hoped we'd completely drop this conversation.
"I actually prefer Adisia, and I gave you a false name because Adisia wasn't brave enough to behave the way Alexius did."
He smirks menacingly. "Adisia behaved almost exactly as Alexius did."
I blush fiercely. "Well, the ice had already been broken. I never thought I'd see you again, and I didn't see any harm in escaping from myself for one night."
"Well, now you know you're going to see me again. Can we try to treat this as more than a two night-slash-day stand? I'd really like to get to know you."
I smile against all my attempts to restrain it.
"I don't know. This is incredible when we... you know, but I'm not in the market for heartbreak."
"Neither am I," he says softly.
"If I dated you, I might as well go ahead and buy the biggest tub of ice cream there is. There's no way I'll make it out unscathed."
He tilts my chin up to meet his face.
"I promise you won't get hurt."
"You're too rich, sexy, and way too charismatic to not be a playboy despite your protests."
He smirks smugly and sits back.
"I've just lived a long time. You learn things at a gradual pace."
His answer is odd to say the least, but then again he's not too normal. It's sort of a turn on though. Then again, my sanity is in question.
"How old are you?"
"I'm twenty-seven for all intents and purposes. How old are you?"
Again, his answer confuses me.
"I'm twenty-five. Um... All intents and purposes?"
He laughs a little more and sips his wine while his enigmatic smirk slides back into place. I feel the desire to probe him for more information, even though I should really get out of here.
"What do you do?" I ask.
"A number of things really. I find a business that needs financial backing. I
f it looks to be prosperous, I aide them by becoming a silent partner. I try to stay out of the spotlight, but I'm involved in countless profitable businesses where I can draw a substantial return."
Well that's vague.
I glance around the room which looks to have been drowned in a can of white paint. There are very few touches of color, and the room would seem sterile if it wasn't for his charm filling it full of character.
"Why did you want to sign with our company?"
"Because I wanted to see you again," he answers honestly, his captivating eyes forcing me to fight gravity's pull.
I'm a little taken aback from his truth, and I squirm slightly when the urge to rip my sheet off and throw myself at him again strikes me almost painfully. His phone buzzes and he answers.
"Yeah... send him on up... thank you."
He turns to me with a smile. "The food is here."
He stands up and kisses me on the cheek. Why does this feel like a relationship? It's not supposed to feel like a relationship.
"I read Charlene's email at least twenty times, and she never once mentioned your name. Did you ask her not to?"
He half smiles. "I did. I wanted to make sure you came. I had to see you, and I was worried you regretted the other night. When you got here, I could feel how much you wanted me. When you kissed me, I knew I was right for feeling this draw toward you."
Drat. He's good.
I'm a sucker for smooth talking Romeos. That's how I got myself into all the messes of my past relationships. Each guy falls in love, and then each guy falls out just as quickly. I can't think of a guy I've ever dated who hasn't cheated on me. How can I put myself through this again?
This guy is hotter, richer, smarter, and so much better at smooth talk than all the men in my past combined. How can I possibly go into something I know is going to shatter me?
The door dings as it opens, breaking me out of my silent reverie, and Devin walks over to pay the delivery man who is gawking at me in my hand-made toga attire. Devin clears his throat to bring the man out of his staring fit, and the deliver boy walks away blushing.
I laugh a little when his eyes dart around nervously - looking at anything but me - while he waits for the doors of the elevator to close in front of him.
Devin hands me a set of chopsticks and a box of noodles which smell divine.
"How do you know what I like to eat?" I ask with a suspicious grin.
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