Business: Phoenix #1

by Danielle, Zoe

  “Yes you can, you have just proven that by coming to London with me, you have a good team who can take care of things for you; everything will be fine. Besides with internet, phones and Skype you won’t be out of touch.” He reassures me. “Plus, you can finally meet James and his wife, Grace.”

  Our desserts arrive and we eat in silence, I avoid making eye contact with him, I look at the table, the business of the restaurant around us, people eating, waiters carrying food and wine; then back down to my extraordinary strawberry and chocolate dessert that although the best I have ever tasted also seems to be tasteless to my confused state of mind.

  Matt slips his credit card into the bill wallet after adding a tip to the bill and tells the waiter to give our regards to the chef, that we enjoyed the meal immensely and would be certain to tell our friends and business associates all about them. I just nod my acceptance and smile at the waiter; I slowly sip the last of my desert wine that came with the strawberries, while we await the waiter’s return with Matt’s card.

  Once Matt has replaced his credit card in his wallet, he slips it back into the inside pocket of his suit jacket, he stands, helps me out of the booth seat and walks me out to our waiting limousine, his hand on the small of my back every step of the way.

  ~~~~~

  As he opens the door to the penthouse he turns and stops in front of me.

  "Talk to me, Casey. What's stopping you coming with me?" He asks, eyes pleading for an answer.

  "Nothing, I just think this whole situation is crazy. We haven't even known each other two weeks and I’m so attached to you - I’ve just set myself up to fall down and I can't let myself get hurt like I did before." I explain.

  "Casey, I would never, ever hurt you." He steps forward, his hands hold onto my arms at my side.

  I read his eyes and I believe him, I don't think he ever would hurt me. He’s nothing like Darren, in fact, they are the total opposite.

  "You feel it too, don't you, Case?" He asks. "What's happening?"

  I can't speak, I just nod. Yes, I feel it too.

  That night, we have slow, passionate sex. We kiss every inch of each other’s bodies. It was different to any sex we previously have had.

  I am almost certain that what we were doing was making love and afterwards, I fall asleep in his arms.

  Chapter Ten

  Casey

  I don’t know what possesses me but the next morning I agree to go to the hotel gym with Matt.

  I would much rather burn calories off another way.

  I pull on one of my new Victoria’s Secret sports bras which push my girls up, I look in the mirror and admire my cleavage before pulling on my blue vest top and black three quarter yoga pants.

  I tie the laces of my trainers and throw my hair up into a ponytail.

  Matt looks so good in his sportswear, red shorts and a black vest.

  I can’t help but run my eyes down the back of his body as he walks in front of me to the gym.

  His tousled dark hair, broad shoulders and bulging biceps, toned legs with visible muscles, the man looks like a God.

  The gym is busier than expected – the majority being men and two women who are sitting on the bikes having a chat, both of their faces tarted up with makeup.

  The woman closer to us, has short blonde hair, spots Matt first and turns to look at her friend, she says something and then they both turn their eyes on him.

  I roll my eyes and step on a treadmill facing away from the woman still admiring Matt. The wall is covered in a large mirror so I can secretly watch them.

  I set the treadmill to a fast walking pace, plug my earphones into my phone and select my running playlist off ‘Nickelback – Something in Your Mouth’ starts to fill my ears.

  Matt steps on the treadmill beside me and also starts walking a fast pace – a few speeds higher than me.

  I look at him in the mirror and flash him a quick smile which is returned instantly before upping my speed – two speeds higher than him.

  I can’t hear but I can see him laugh and shake his head in the mirror. He sets his speed higher so he starts to run and I do the same. Once I have completed my twenty minute run I slow down to a slow walk. My heart beat racing, temperature high. I watch Matt who is still running, his eyes watching me in the mirror; the back of his neck is damp from his workout.

  I stop the treadmill and make my way over to the water fountain, noticing the two Barbie dolls have moved on to the cross trainers, I set myself off on the bike and continue like this for ten minutes.

  Matt eventually stops the treadmill and goes over to the paper towel dispenser, tears a piece off and wipes his forehead and the back of his neck, his chest rising and falling quickly. His eyes scan the room before settling on mine, a smile curling up at the side of his lips.

  The bike is in the perfect position for me to watch him on the different weight machines – watching his muscles flex as he works them hard.

  Another ten minutes pass and I move on to the rowing machine before making my way back to the water fountain. I glance in the mirror to see my cheeks have flushed and hair heavy with sweat.

  “Is he your boyfriend?” I see the short haired Barbie beside me.

  “Nope, he’s my…” What is he? I ponder for the right answer for a while before settling with “Friend.”

  “Oh, that’s good. Look, I don’t want to sound rude love, but please could you ask him if I could have his number?”

  “Why don’t you ask him yourself?” I smile before walking away to a free yoga mat and start doing leg curls.

  ~~~~~

  After showering I change into a pair of jeans and a white vest top. My hair still wet I make my way down the spiral staircase and sit beside Matt on the couch. I pull my legs up beside me and turn to face him.

  "I ordered room service - breakfast should be here shortly." He smiles, tugging me into his arms, my face resting on his chest.

  "I have had the most perfect few days with you Matt." I turn my face up to look at him.

  "I have too." He kisses my forehead.

  "You had a little fan group going on in the gym today." I point out.

  "The two blonde girls? I wish I knew, they were hot!" He jokes and I give him a playful hit to the chest.

  "Yeah the blonde girls, one of them came and asked if I would ask you if she could I have your number." I sigh.

  "And the answer would have been no." He reassures me.

  I place a soft kiss on his lips and he accepts the invitation.

  He pulls my legs up so I am sitting on his lap, both of his arms around me, I place my hand on his cheek. Our kiss soft and passionate.

  I bite his bottom lip and he growls.

  "I don't know what I am going to do with myself when you go home." I say softly against his lips.

  "I don't know either but whatever you decide I want pictures and videos." He jokes.

  Our breakfast arrives; he ordered us both an English breakfast, coffee and fresh juices.

  "Doesn't this defeat the object of our gym session this morning?" I raise my eyebrows at him.

  "Not at all." He smirks.

  "I'm pretty sure the calories we burnt off earlier we are just about to eat double that amount, Matthew." I tell him.

  "Oh no, sweetheart, that's where you’re all wrong. First of all, the reason I wanted us to go to the gym was so I could see your ass in some work out pants, very nice by the way." He says in that sexy arrogant voice of his. "And secondly, we will burn all of the calories, and more off later."

  My mouth drops open.

  "Yeah, we will be doing that too." He smirks.

  And I don't object.

  Chapter Eleven

  Matt

  I kept my cell switched off today. I planned on spending every possible moment I could with Casey.

  The woman amazes me. She's strong, confident and sexy.

  Seeing her today in those work out pants made me want her right there and then.

  She admitte
d that when I leave she doesn't know what she will do with herself. I feel the same way too.

  I've spent the majority of the time over here with her. The first couple days I hadn't even met her so they were wasted.

  I watch as she makes her way to the bathroom and decide I can't keep my cell switched off much longer.

  I stand and make my way over to the table where my iPhone is and switch it on. Leaning against the table I scroll through text messages and the anger inside me fires up again as I see messages from Jess.

  He has your eyes.

  He is so sweet, you’ll love him.

  You can ignore me, but please don’t punish him.

  He’s innocent.

  Without thinking I throw my phone as hard as I can. I close my eyes and put my head in my hands. What the fuck am I going to do? If the child is mine, she has got me trapped.

  My parents are old fashioned when it comes to things like that - they will expect me to marry her and I cannot bear to imagine spending an hour with her, much less the rest of my life. I fucked her and now she’s fucking me. Fucking irony.

  When I look up I see Casey standing in front of me, a concerned look on her face.

  "If you want to talk-" She starts and I stride toward her closing the distance between us. I need to relieve this tension. I need Casey.

  I put my hand on the small of her back and pull her against me. When our bodies touch I instantly feel better.

  "What's wrong?" She asks, her big blue eyes looking up at me.

  "Shhhh….Don't speak."

  I feel her body tense and I fuse our mouths together.

  She kisses me back without reservation. I cup her ass with my hand and lift her up, she wraps her legs around my waist, her arms around my neck and I let momentum carry us to the bedroom. My dick is hard by the time I get her to the mattress.

  I open my zipper and pull my jeans and boxers down as she slides her jeans and panties off.

  I bend her legs and push them back. Between her legs I see she is ready for me so it takes me almost no effort for my cock to slide into her. I shove Jess out of my mind and focus on how tight and wet she is.

  She moans at the penetration and I pick up my pace. Slamming into her harder and deeper, rough, but I need this release and she doesn’t protest. She’s pulling me closer, encouraging me, wanting me.

  "Christ, Matt!" She cries out as her pussy tightens around me. Her cheeks are flushed and she looks so beautiful looking up at me.

  Her hands fist the sheets as she comes around my cock.

  The feeling of her pussy milking my cock gives me the release I need.

  Chapter Twelve

  Casey

  We set off early in the morning to arrive back in Newcastle at lunch. I decided to get dropped off at the office, Matt decides to head back to his hotel to catch up with his team but we arrange to meet later with our lawyers to sign the agreement for our companies to merge. I kiss him goodbye and make my way to my office.

  There’s a big expensive box of flowers with a mixture of pinks, purples and white waiting for me, there is a card attached that says "With Love. X"

  I'm just about to text Matt to say thanks when a text from him flashes up.

  Miss you already

  I take a deep breath; I've never been the best at goodbyes but tomorrow is going to be awful. I sit down in my chair and boot my computer up; I send a quick text back.

  You too x

  As per, there is a stupid amount of new emails. I filter through them, forwarding them to the right members of my team to deal with - Hannah, Stephen, Michelle and some CVs to HR.

  I spot four emails from the mysterious sender.

  You slut, I saw you with the dark haired man.

  I am coming for you. Be wet for me. ;-)

  You dirty slut you don't know the man and you are fucking him. When I am finished with you, you’ll be NOTHING.

  Did you enjoy London? I want to enjoy you. ;-)

  What a creep. I delete each one. I notice my phone has voicemails. One off my mother saying she hasn't heard from me and asks me to call as soon as I can. One off a drunken Hannah telling me she loves and misses me, two from HR asking me to contact them on my return and two which is just heavy breathing.

  Hannah comes barging in the room; I stand to greet her and she gives me a big hug. "Oh girl, how I have missed you! Let me look at you!" She starts pulling at my face; I'm not sure what she's searching for or if she finds it. "You're glowing!"

  "I'm what?" I laugh. Oh how I have missed my crazy best friend.

  She looks at the flowers on my desk. "Did he buy you flowers? That man has got taste, in flowers and women!"

  We catch up for about half an hour, I tell her all about London, him treating me in Victoria's secret, our perfect date to the Zoo and the London eye. Hannah listens to everything intently absorbing every little bit of information I give her.

  "He’s perfect Han - I'm really going to miss him when he goes." I whine.

  "I know, just think of it as a holiday romance." She smiles.

  "Maybe, I just don't want a fling."

  Hannah's eyes widen. "He must be something special if you’re coming round to the thought of a relationship."

  "He really is something." I tout.

  "Oh William called by to see you yesterday. I told him you were busy in meetings all day and couldn't see you. He asked me to get you to call but I'm not." She screws her nose up as she speaks about him. At least I'm not the only person who feels that way about him, I was starting to think it was just me being cruel.

  The afternoon goes by quickly. I update Stephen on my plans to merge with the Jackson brothers and he approves of my decision and reassures me that I have made a good decision.

  Hannah contacts our company Lawyers, Faye and Rob, and asks them to be here for 4pm.

  I call down and have a catch up with Julie. I tell her about my trip and all about Matt. She updates me on her home life and we hug.

  ~~~~~

  The signing doesn't take too long, my legal team discusses the agreement with Matt's lawyers and everything is straight forward. Once the paperwork is done Matt and I shake hands to seal the deal. I would prefer another method to seal the deal, but that would be unprofessional in a room full of our employees.

  Hannah leaves to go and draft an email and letter to send all employees to inform them about the merge.

  Our teams all leave one by one and then there were two left. Matt and I, we stare at each other for a while.

  "Case, my plane leaves early tomorrow and I have to pack - so I'm afraid this is goodbye." Sadness showing in his beautiful brown eyes.

  I nod my head to confirm I can hear what he is saying, I just don't know what to say to him. So I reach up and lightly kiss him on the lips before standing back and looking at him.

  His eyes close momentarily and then he looks straight at me waiting for me to make the next move.

  "I'll miss you, Matthew." I offer.

  "I'll miss you too, Casey." He smiles. "Are you sure you can't come?"

  I shake my head, "Sorry. Not yet anyway, but I will definitely come at some point. We have emails and phones. Make sure you keep in contact." I playfully hit his bicep and offer a shy smile.

  "Oh I will - Don't you worry about that darling." He mirrors my smile.

  The usual butterflies he gives me have now been replaced with a deep ache.

  I try to blink back the tears that are threatening and look up at him. Admiring him for what will be the last time for I don't know how long.

  He puts his left hand to my face and runs his thumb across my cheek. He looks at me closely before his right hand sits on the small of my back, pulling me to him and holding me in place.

  He brings his face to mine and we kiss, tasting each other for one last time. Appreciating each other, the kiss lasts a few moments before his hand falls to his side and I reach for his hand and squeeze it.

  "We will see each other soon. Don't worry sweetheart." He s
ays softly, his jaw firm.

  I nod. "Oh, I forgot - thanks for the flowers." I kiss his cheek.

  He looks baffled. "Is that a hint of some sort, Case?"

  His reply confuses me. "The flowers on my desk weren't from you?"

  He shakes his head “I don't have a clue what you’re talking about."

  If they weren't from Matt who could they be from? Oh....William... that creep.

  "I must have a secret admirer" I laugh dryly and wait for his reaction.

  "Well make sure you let them know you're taken." He says in his authoritative tone as he stands straight, confidently. He tightens that sexy jaw of his "I don't share Casey."

  "I'm taken? Why is that?" My words are less than whispers.

  "Why do you think?" He asks, cocking his head to the side.

  I bite my lip, "I don't know... All I know is that... I really, truly care....for you.."

  He kisses me again, fiercely, marking his territory, taking what is his.

  When we break away, he looks happy but I can still see sadness in his eyes, the same sadness I know is showing in mine.

  "Goodbye, my beautiful girl. I'll call you when I land." He kisses my cheek and turns to walk away. When he gets to the door he turns to look at me one last time, straightens his tie and walks out the door, away from me.

  I want to reach out and stop him but I can't.

  And then he’s gone.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Casey

  Three days later

  I'm bad tempered, temperamental, glum and erratic. I have spent the days sitting in my office staring into space, wondering if I made the right decision to stay behind.

  I can't be bothered to speak to anyone and I know people are avoiding me, but it's probably better off that way.

  I look at my emails and delete all of them from the mysterious sender without reading. They have got more frequent the past few days - yesterday I got ten.

  I pick up my phone to call Matt and then put it back on my desk. A few seconds later I repeat…and again..and again.