The Brute

by Tarrah Anders

  “You took her to the Hollybrooke Gala,” she replies, aghast.

  “And? Last year I took a hooker.” I roll my eyes and sit back in my chair. “So what?”

  “You do realize that this could be considered taking advantage of your authority over her? She's your direct employee. It could become a lawsuit against Adams Enterprises.”

  “I invited Isabella as my guest because I failed to make preparations and secure a date ahead of time. The fact that Isabella came with me to the event is inconsequential. Also, if we were to become involved, I can promise you that it would be no one's business but ours, and would have no effect on the Adams Enterprises landscape.”

  “I would like to update the company handbook. In the wake of this occurrence, I realized that we do not have a section regarding staff fraternization and I think it is imperative to add one.”

  “Maggie. Everyone on my staff is an adult. I do not wish to infringe on their social lives.”

  “Leaving this open poses a potential problem, Ben. It leaves us wide open in the instance that something occurs. You know this. Think about it. What if—”

  “Maggie, there is no what if. Leave it be. I do not wish to add any additional rules to the handbook at this time and that’s final.”

  “But—” she starts.

  “My father didn't see a need, and neither do I,” I respond, a bit frustrated.

  “Ben. You know as well as I do that the workplace atmosphere is a difficult place than it was when your father ran the company. Thousands of harassment complaints are made daily regarding incidents in the workplace. I want to avoid that becoming a problem here.”

  “I don't think anyone here has to worry about me harassing them.” I laugh. “Everyone here thinks I'm an ass.”

  “It could be another staff member,” she retorts.

  “It could be, but I would rather trust in my employees not to be fucktards.”

  “Can we at least have a harassment prevention seminar? That way the staff knows what is and is not appropriate and how to report such things?” Her frustration is clear in her tone.

  “By all means.” I wave her off, hoping she will leave now that I’ve agreed to at least one thing.

  “And Isabella? There is nothing going on between the two of you?” She hesitates by the door, one hand on the handle.

  “Correct,” I say through clenched teeth. I’m irritated at Maggie’s haranguing, but I’m also wishing that I was lying, that there was something happening. I felt our connection when we danced, when I told her how I felt. She returns my feelings, she was just suggesting that we not pursue them due to our circumstances. Even though that I could tell that as the night wore on, that what I had said was waffling in her decision.

  Maggie leaves my office and I ask Bella to return. She walks in, clearly nervous.

  “Everything okay?” she asks nervously. I nod, not wanting to discuss what Maggie had said.

  She rattles off what I’ve missed so far this week, along with what’s on my schedule for the rest of the week. Once she’s finished, I request some needed tasks from her, then she stands to leave the room. She stops in the middle of the room and turns.

  “I, umm, had a good time on Friday night at the gala. Thank you for taking me.” She smiles hesitantly.

  “As did I. Thank you for being my date.” I nod and smile.

  “There are photos of us. On the internet. I don’t think I’ve seen you smile like that before,” she says, her eyes catching mine.

  “Must have been the company I was with.”

  She turns and heads towards the door.

  “Oh yeah, Ben?” she calls from the doorway, her voice confident.

  I look up, quirk my eyebrow in question and wait for her to continue.

  “I’ve reconsidered.” And with that she’s gone.

  She’s knocked the wind out of me.

  I did my best to concentrate on my scheduled meetings and tasks, but my thoughts were consumed by Bella and her declaration. While I was not expecting her to change her mind, I’m rather pleased that she did. Several times throughout the day, I had a free moment and would attempt to talk to her, but she was either on the phone or away from her desk. By the end of the day, I was so engrossed in work and trying to play catch up, that I failed to keep track of time and didn’t leave the office until it was pitch dark. I’d spent the afternoon catching up on reports that had been left on my desk, as well as fiddling with a few products our development department wanted me to check out, that I completely missed any further opportunities to talk to Bella. So now I'm on my way home from work with her answer still lingering on my mind.

  She’s reconsidered. Now what?

  That question is answered for me as soon as I enter the penthouse. My home is usually silent when I get home, aside from the bustling of Mrs. Rosemary when she's cleaning or cooking. Tonight, however, I hear chatter in the kitchen. With a cautious gait, I walk toward the voices and come around the corner to see Bella talking to Mrs. Rosemary. They both notice my entrance into the room and stop talking mid-sentence to look at me.

  “Bella?” I say.

  “I know it’s a bit presumptuous to just show up, but I took the chance,” she explains as Mrs. Rosemary silently leaves the room to give us privacy.

  “You’re a welcome surprise.” I approach her with my hands in my pockets, my posture casual.

  “You were buried in work when I left. I poked my head in, and could tell you were in the zone, so I decided not to interrupt you. I came here so we could get a chance to talk properly Besides, I felt it was best not to have our personal conversation at work. You know, since we want to keep those two separate and all.”

  “I'm glad you’re here.” I step forward and stand before her. Being so close to her again has me imaging all the things we could do. My voice dips and turns gravelly when I tell her, “I would like that, very much.”

  Her eyes flare with lust and she licks her lips.

  “As I said this morning, I’ve reconsidered. I’ve reconsidered this… you and me.”

  “Hmmm,” I smile.

  “It’s clear that we have a… an attraction to one another.”

  “Correct.” I run my tongue along my bottom lip.

  “But the problem is, at the office, you’re my superior and I’m your subordinate. Work conflicts and all.”

  “I wouldn't want you to feel that your job is in jeopardy, I wouldn’t allow that to happen to either one of us. I value you. And I want to value you in all ways.”

  “See, that. What does it mean? You’re my boss, but if we were to be, you know, intimate, would you still be my boss?”

  “Business and pleasure are two separate things for me. It would mean that at work, I’m still your boss. But when we are not at work, we’re equals.”

  She backs into the counter behind her and my arms cage her in.

  “Equals,” she repeats

  “Equals,” I confirm.

  “And what we do outside of work?”

  “Will cause absolutely no interference in what we do at work.”

  “Okay.”

  “Okay?” I ask, making sure to get full clarification before proceeding. Giving her the last option to back out, not that I want her to by any means.

  “It means yes.”

  “I can’t tell you how much I was hoping to hear you say that,” I growl as a I lean into her. I run my nose up the slope of her neck, and she tilts her head to make it easier for me. Once I get to her ear, I pull her earlobe into my mouth and tug with my teeth.

  “Rules, Ben. We need rules,” she breathes.

  “After. I need you first. I've been thinking about tasting you for so long. I just need to taste you.

  Her breathing is shaky as I pepper kisses along her jaw until I reach her mouth. I tentatively kiss her juicy lips, trying to take my time and relish this kiss. Unfortunately, the animal in me has shown his claws, and with my next kiss, my body presses against hers and my tongue dives into he
r mouth seeking hers.

  I growl in satisfaction as our tongues clash together in animalistic pleasure. Her arms drape around my shoulders, wrapping together at my neck, as I lift her and place her on top of the counter. Now she’s at the perfect height for me to fuck her right here and now. As her lips move over mine, nipping at my lower lip, I consider doing just that.

  The sound of a chime interrupts the kiss and has me pulling back from her with an annoyed groan and waiting for the voice to begin.

  Angus, my electronic home system, recites its scripted alert. “Sir? You have a visitor requesting your presence in the foyer.”

  I meet Bella’s eyes and find curiosity and concern there. I inhale and try to compose myself before speaking to the overhead voice.

  “Angus, is this a life or death matter? Or can this be taken care of with a phone call,” I speak into the room.

  “Sir, you have a business associate waiting for you. A Mr. Su’Dial. His visit is unexpected. He is here with contracts that need your attention.”

  Bella seems impressed. “That’s oddly specific of Alexa to have those details.”

  “Ma’am, my name is Angus. I am a superior model of technology far more expansive than Alexa. I was built none other than by Mr. Benjamin Adams, himself,” the overhead voice responds immediately.

  She feigns embarrassment and stifles a laugh.

  “Angus is my house system. I developed it last year. Angus is very touchy about being mistaken for Alexa,” I explain to Bella. “Thank you, Angus. Please inform Mr. Su’Dial that I will be with him momentarily. Please chime for Mrs. Rosemary to lead him into the library and offer him a drink while he waits,” I instruct.

  “Very well, sir,” Angus says, followed by the end chime, which echoes through the kitchen.

  “Very impressive.” She smiles. “I should get going. I just wanted to – I don’t know – see you and talk about my decision before I lost my nerve.”

  “You don’t have to leave yet. This business will be quick. Then we can talk about us and what this is.”

  “I really should get home. I’ve got a tyrant for a boss.”

  “Stay, Bella. We have so much to talk about,” I request, my hand on her knee.

  Signing contracts took longer than I wanted it to. I was anxious to get back to Bella and to continue what we started in the kitchen. We have so much to discuss about our arrangement or whatever this would become between us. I am confident we can keep our private lives separate from work, but I know she is still fearful that our private entanglement may endanger her job. I need to reassure her that regardless of the nature of our relationship, nothing that happens outside of the workplace will harm her position with the company or my view of her as a respected employee.

  I’m a closed-off man and nothing from my personal life seeps into the workplace. If that were the case, my entire history would be widely known at Adams Enterprises. My past is in the past, since the tragedies that have in my life, I became disconnected and therefore my life is a mystery to everyone. Little has spilled into the media as I paid a hefty amount to have some of the information changed from actual events. I refuse to have anything that occurs between Bella and myself to not become headline news as well.

  After I escort Mr. Su’Dial out of the penthouse, I go looking for Bella. I find her on the couch in the sitting room with her shoes off and her feet tucked under her. She’s reading a magazine that has adorned the coffee table for months. I take a seat beside her and smile. My hand goes to her knee and my other arm drapes over the couch behind her head.

  “I’m sorry. That took longer than I was hoping. He asked questions that I had already answered for him. Then he started talking sports. I’m sorry to make you wait.”

  “It’s okay. I know how you are when it comes to you and business.” She returns my smile with her reply.

  “Now, to a topic I would rather concentrate on.”

  “Oh yeah? What’s that?” She puts down the magazine and turns her body towards me before giving me an impish smile.

  “The topic of you and me.”

  As we discuss what we each want out of a potential relationship, I do my best to reassure her regarding her concerns about our ongoing status as boss and employee.

  Something about having her beside me in my space relaxes me. She makes me feel like I don’t need to be on edge and in charge at all times. I can’t explain what it is about her that calms me, but it makes me feel human again, rather than the way I usually feel, which is more like a machine, programmed to have everything organized at all times, to have all the facts nailed down, and to be prepared for every scenario. I don’t feel the pressure to have laid out and planned.

  I want to press against her again, but I don’t want her to think I’ve got a one-track mind. While it is frequently true, right now I need to pay attention to her cues. She looks exhausted and I note the late hour on my watch.

  “You have two choices right now, Bella. You can either stay the night here and I’ll have a car drive you home before work, or I can call a car right now to take you home. She looks at me while she contemplates her response, as if she’s trying to figure out my motives.

  “I think it would be best if I went home tonight.”

  I nod and pull out my phone. I call my driver and give him instructions, then place the phone on the table.

  “The car will be ready in a few minutes.”

  “Do you have a driver at your disposal at all times?” she asks.

  “My driver lives in the building.”

  “Shit. You didn’t wake him up or anything, did you?” she asks with concern.

  “This is his job,” I say simply.

  “How many other women has he driven home so late at night?”

  I open my mouth and her hand flies up. “Wait, no. That’s none of my business.”

  “You would be the first,” I say to reassure her. A smile forms on her face, then contorts into confusion.

  “Right,” she says.

  “I’m being honest. I haven’t. Truthfully, you’re the first woman, aside from my household staff, who has been in my home in years.”

  “Why is that?”

  “Stay the night and I’ll tell you,” I tease.

  “Nice try. You don’t always get what you want, Ben,” she replies playfully.

  “Can’t blame me for trying.”

  Several days speed by before Bella and I have a chance to be alone together outside of the office. We’ve shared looks here and there, but with her knowing my schedule - we haven’t yet touched the new part of our relationship, our personal relationship outside of work.

  I plan to change all that this weekend, which begins in two hours. I had flowers delivered to her desk around lunchtime with a note asking her to pack a weekend bag and be ready for the car to pick her up at seven tonight. She hasn’t responded to or denied my request. She didn’t even act differently when we sat in a meeting together shortly after the flower delivery, but she did say thank you to me quietly as she passed by on the way to her chair across from me.

  The fragrance of those flowers traveled throughout the office and attracted attention from each passersby, several of whom stopped by Bella's office to ask her about the lovely blooms and chat with her. I hope she isn’t bothered by the attention.

  As I am packing up my satchel for the day, my cell chimes with a text. I swipe the screen and see that Henry texted. We chatted for five minutes at the gala about nothing in particular and made tentative plans to get together. This must be his ask.

  Henry: Bocce ball this weekend?

  Who the hell still plays bocce ball? I think to myself as I roll my eyes.

  Me: Have wknd plans. Raincheck?

  H: Anyone I know?

  Me: MYOB

  H: Srsly?

  Me: Yes! NOYB.

  H: This whole town is my biz. Including you.

  Me: Not this time. Call me next week.

  I exit my office, and Bella sits up straight as s
he sees me approaching her office.

  “‘Til six,” I say, rapping my knuckles on the doorway.

  She nods and I see her stifle a smile before I turn and walk to the elevator. I can feel her eyes on me and I confirm it when I turn around once I'm standing in the elevator. Our eyes lock on one another until the doors close and the lift is taking me down to ground level.

  My phone chimes again. I pull it out of my pocket, ready to give Henry the middle finger emoji, when I see Bella’s name on the screen.

  Bella: 'Til six

  I don’t reply to her; I don’t want to appear too eager. Instead, I walk out of the building to the car waiting for me at the curb. I hand my bag to Wayne, my driver and get into the back. It’s not long before the door opens and I’m in the underground parking in front of the elevator. I note the time on my watch and turn to Wayne standing stoically as he holds my door for me.

  “Thank you Wayne, tonight, I need you to pick up Isabella Dubois. She will need to be picked up by seven, her address is the same that you dropped her off to last week. She will have a bag with her. Please make sure the bag is brought up to the penthouse when you bring her back here.”

  “Yes, sir,” he replies, his face showing no emotion.

  “Then, for the remainder of the weekend, you are off duty. I won’t need your services until Sunday evening. I don't plan to leave the building and all the food should be already prepped.”

  “Sir.” He nods as I walk away.

  Angus greets me once I enter my home. He rattles off statistics of stocks for the day until I enter the kitchen. Mrs. Rosemary is at the stove stirring something in a pot and turns to me as I open the fridge.

  “Hello, dear. You’re home early,” she observes.

  “Isabella will be joining me this weekend. If you can see that dinner tonight has enough for two, along with any other meals you’ve prepared for me this weekend. I apologize for the late notice.” My voice is suddenly tight. I’m not comfortable with the way her eyes light up as I started talking.