“I’ll work,” says a familiar voice from the sofa. I look over to see Harper staring directly at me. Her green eyes look like they’re gleaming from within. “I don’t have a family or plans for the holidays so I have the least to give up. I’ll work.”
We look at each other for a moment. I can’t tell if she’s doing this because I’ll be here with her - as soon as the thought passes my mind I know she isn’t. She’s just dedicated to the job and she knows everyone else has kids and families to go back to. I nod.
“Thanks, Harper. I’ll send you a full brief this morning. That’s it, everyone. Thanks for coming in.” I nod my head and everyone stands. They file out of my office one by one, the last one being Harper. She glances at me quickly and then turns to walk out. Her ass moves from side to side with every step and I watch her walk away until she turns the corner.
I don’t know whether to be excited or worried about this. Somehow I feel both.
Chapter 13 - Harper
We are professionals. This is fine. I feel a wave of nausea come over me as I walk out of his office but I push it down.
Why would I volunteer?!
I should have just kept my mouth shut. I’ve been trying to avoid spending time with him, and now I’m going to be stuck in close quarters for almost two weeks! Is that why I said I’d do it? I can try to lie to myself and say it was because other people have families and holidays, but a part of me knows it’s because of Zach. I see Rosie poke her head up from her cubicle and I walk over.
“What was that about?” She whispers. “Everyone was in his office.”
“The Latif file. They’ve moved the deadline to January 2nd.”
Rosie’s eyes widen. “Can they do that?!”
I shrug. “Apparently. I’m working through Christmas.”
“What!”
“Yeah, no one else was volunteering. It’s not so bad, I’ll take some time off in January to make up for it. I have to put a team together so if you want some overtime and great holiday memories just let me know.” I know my voice sounds unusually cheery.
Rosie’s eyes narrow. She searches my face and then her lips tug upwards. She sits back in her chair and crosses her arms with a triumphant grin.
“He’s working, isn’t he?”
“Who?” I ask innocently, even though I know who she means. She rolls her eyes.
“Zach!” She whispers. “I can see right through you, Harper, you are unbelievable!”
I grin and throw my hands up. “I’m a professional, Rosie. I’m just a slave to the job, is all.”
“You’re a slave to something,” she says with an eyebrow raised. I laugh and walk away before someone hears us, or before Rosie makes me face things I’m not ready to think about.
Back in my office, I flop down on my chair and let out a sigh. Maybe Rosie is right, and I’m just doing this to be close to Zach. That’s the last thing I need - to complicate this, this.. whatever this is. It’s been hard enough to keep my distance since the party, and now it’s about to get a whole lot harder.
I shake my head. Who am I kidding, of course I said I’d do it because of him. The second he said he was working through I knew I’d volunteer. It just took a couple seconds to work up the courage. I can tell myself I’m a professional, I can tell myself I care about the work, but in the end I know I said yes because I haven’t stopped thinking about Zach since the night we slept together. I was sitting right where we had sex, right where we were when he was inside me. The past two weeks have just been one big daydream with a few self-love sessions featuring Zach and that big cock of his.
I close my eyes and try to push out the thought of him. When I said I’d volunteer he looked right at me. His gaze just pierced right through me and I could feel myself getting wet. If one look does that to me, how am I going to survive two weeks working side by side with him?! The last time I had a full conversation with him we ended up sleeping together in his office!
There’s a knock on the door and it makes me jump up. My eyes fly open.
“Zach, hi!” I say, my voice just a little bit too forced. He walks in and closes the door behind him.
“Thanks for volunteering to work,” he says in a low voice. “I know it’s not easy to give up your holidays.” I nod. My mouth is dry. He sits down across from me and places his hands down on the armrests. He’s staring at my desk and it looks like he’s trying to think of what to say. Finally he raises those deep brown eyes and looks right at me. He takes a deep breath and speaks again.
“I thought that since we’ll be working together we should lay out some ground rules.”
“Ground rules,” I repeat slowly.
“Yeah, ground rules.” His eyes flick down my body and then back up to my face and I feel my core heat up instantly. I try to keep myself from reacting, but my cheeks predictably start to flush. “What happened between us was.. unexpected. It was great! Don’t get me wrong!”
He pauses, and I feel my lips twitch upwards into a smile.
“Zach, please,” I start gently. He glances at me. “We’re both adults. We had sex and it was fun, but now we need to work together. I understand that. I’m not looking for anything from you, or with you.”
He takes a deep breath and nods. “Great. So we understand each other.”
“We understand each other,” I repeat. I understand that you look incredibly sexy in that suit right now. I take a deep breath and try to smile.
“You’re an important part of this team, Harper. I wouldn’t want anything to get in the way of that, and I wouldn’t want you to feel uncomfortable.”
There’s a silence between us and I feel like he wants to say more, but nothing comes out. I turn to my computer screen.
“You’ll send that information through today? I’ll get a start on it as soon as I get it and come up with a plan of attack. I’ll start getting a team together that can work with us.”
He goes back to being the serious, stone-faced executive I knew last week. The moment between us has passed, and I feel both relieved and disappointed.
“That’s great, Harper. Have a team list and program on my desk by the end of the day.”
“Done.”
He turns around and I watch the way his pants grip his ass with every step until the door closes and he’s out of view. I slump back in my chair and let all the air out of my lungs.
This is fine.
I can do this.
This is definitely fine.
Chapter 14 - Zach
“Hey Mitch, what can I do for you,” I say as I walk back into my office. Mitch is sitting in his favourite seat across from my desk. This morning is exhausting already. Maybe I was wrong about looking forward to Mondays, so far this one is just one headache after another.
“Just wanted to check in. You’ve been acting weird this past little while.”
“Weird?” I ask without meeting his eye. I flop down onto my chair and keep my eyes on my computer screen, pretending to type something.
“What happened?”
“When?” I’m trying to keep my voice as steady as possible. He knows me well enough to know when something is bothering me. My eyes flick to his. He’s staring at me intently and I know he’s trying to work out what’s changed. Nothing has changed!
His eyes narrow. “Who is she?”
“What?!” I lean back in my chair and throw my hands up.
“Last time you were acting like this was when you and your ex broke up. Have you been seeing someone and you didn’t tell me?!”
“Mitch, you’ve spent almost every weekend with me except for the last one or two. If I had a girlfriend don’t you think you’d know by now? Can’t I have a weekend away from it all?” I shake my head. “You’re fucking clingy, man.”
Mitch laughs. “Alright, alright.” He throws his hands up before standing up. “You want me to do anything for this Latif file?”
“Talk to Harper, see if she’s got
anything for you to do.”
“Alright no problem. No complaints there,” he smirks. “She’s a fine piece of ass, hey. Something about her, you know?”
The anger flares up inside me and I feel my blood pumping like liquid heat through my veins. I almost lunge at Mitch the minute the words leave his mouth.
“Shut the fuck up, Mitch!” I exclaim, surprising myself with the force of my words.
Mitch looks taken aback. “Sorry, Zach,” he says after a pause.
“She works with us. Come on.” I bite my tongue. I don’t want him to know about Harper and I. It’s too different with her. It’s not like my other hookups
Mitch frowns and I know he’s thinking about other conversations we’ve had about women. I’ve never reacted like this. I can’t help it, hearing him say those things about Harper makes the anger spark inside me. I stare at him until he turns around slowly and walks out without saying anything. As soon as he’s gone I let out a sigh. What the fuck is wrong with me?!
I know the answer to that. It’s Harper. She’s gotten under my skin. All it took was one night. Not even one night! Part of one night and now I’m useless. I can’t look at another woman and she won’t even give me the time of day.
My pulse is still elevated. I hated hearing him talk like that. He was so fucking crass! About a woman like Harper, who is his better in so many ways!
This would be a lot easier if she didn’t look so goddamn good all the time. I don’t even know what it is about her! I have been with supermodels, actresses, singers, whoever I wanted! But she’s got a realness, or an earthiness, or something that gives her this irresistibleness. Mitch has seen it, obviously. It’s like I can tell there’s more to her than meets the eye. I mean, I know there is, I experienced that other side of her the night of the Christmas party.
I lean back in my chair and rub my temples. I shouldn’t have reacted like that. I know that he annoyed me because he’s right. I haven’t been myself for weeks. I glance at the couch again. I can still see her pulling her pants down and sitting right onto my cock as if she was right in front of me again. I can still see that look in her eye when she came on top of me.
She’s so unbelievably sexy. Even just now I could barely keep my eyes off her body, and she was the perfect professional. Maybe it was just sex for her. It must have been.
I haven’t been this attracted to a woman since my ex. I don’t even know if I was this attracted to my ex, or anyone, ever! It feels different with Harper. She’s got me off-balance and I’m not sure I like it. I want more of her, and wanting it scares me. She’s exactly the type of woman that I’ve always stayed away from.
I should just stick to the women who want money and status. It’s easier that way, all that emotion and complication isn’t worth it. I know it, Mitch knows it, even Harper knows that it’s not worth it. I just have to keep telling myself that.
It’s not worth it.
It’s not worth it.
It’s not worth it.
Maybe if I say it enough I’ll start to believe it.
Chapter 15 - Harper
“That’s very generous, Greg, but the team has filled up now. You enjoy your holiday,” I say to Greg as he shifts his weight from foot to foot in front of me. He’s got his hands in his pockets and his greasy hair is plastered to his forehead as usual. He licks his lips.
“Are you sure? Wouldn’t it be better to have more hands on deck? I don’t have holiday plans and I know that other people do. I don’t mind spending the holidays here with you… and the team.”
Even his voice sends an uncomfortable feeling crawling down my spine. I force a smile.
“Thanks Greg, I’ll look into it. At the moment we won’t need you to come in but I’ll keep you in mind.”
“Ok, thanks Harper. Is there anything I can do in the meantime? To help?”
“No, that’s fine, I’m sure you have a lot on your plate to finish up before the break. Thanks Greg.”
I turn to my screen as if to say, we’re done now, you can leave. I can feel his eyes on me and it makes me want to shudder. I don’t know what it is about him that makes me so uncomfortable. I think it’s the way he stares at me always a second too long, or the way he always seems to pop up around the corner when I least expect him. I never feel at ease around him.
I never found out if it was him who called me and just breathed over the phone, or if he was the one who left notes in my mailbox. The only thing I was able to prove was that he was lurking outside my house and according to HR that was only grounds for a warning. Everything stopped after the warning though: the phone calls, the notes, the prickly feeling at the back of my neck.
He leaves my office and I let out a sigh, glancing through the glass to make sure he walks away. Maybe that feeling is just leftover nausea from this morning. I don’t know what’s been wrong with me these past few days, but I wake up feeling like I’m going to throw up. Even the smell of coffee when I first get up makes me want to vomit, and I drink coffee like it’s water.
It might not be Greg that makes me feel uneasy at all, it’s whatever this stomach bug is that I have. I rub my temples and feel uncomfortable tightness around my favourite ring. I slip it off my finger and place it into the top drawer. Between Greg, the nausea and feeling like my fingers are little sausages this whole day is just uncomfortable.
I look down at my organisation chart and I know we have gaps for the holiday work period. We could definitely use another body to get us to meet this deadline, but I just can’t say yes to Greg. The thought of spending two weeks with him in a half-empty office with long nights and lots of overtime just sounds like a recipe for disaster. If it means I have to put in more hours myself then that’s what I’ll do.
I sigh and get up from my chair. Suddenly I need a coffee, or a snack, or something. Monday morning never seemed so long.
Once in the kitchen I grab a mug and grab the hot pot of coffee. Someone’s just made a fresh pot and I silently thank them, whoever they are. As soon as I grab the pot the smell of the coffee me hits like a wall and I feel a wave of nausea come over me. I put the pot back down and grab onto the counter.
Rosie’s voice makes me jump.
“Harper, are you OK? What just happened?” she whispers furtively.
I turn and see her standing in the doorway wearing a worried expression on her face. I frown, trying to force a weak smile as my stomach quiets down again.
“What do you mean?” I answer. “I’m fine.”
“You look like you’re about to hurl,” she whispers again with a frown. “Is it because of Greg?” She takes a few steps towards me. My heart starts beating faster. I try to keep my voice steady.
“What about him?”
“He left your office and he looked like he was about to punch through the wall! I’ve never seen him look that angry! I mean, except for the time I confronted him about following you.”
My heart is thumping in my chest. It’s not right to feel this uncomfortable at work! I turn to Rosie and she places her hand on my arm.
“Harper, is everything ok? Do you want me to talk to him?”
“No!” I exclaim. “Thanks Rosie, but last time it made such a scene, I don’t want to put you in that position again. Not for my sake.”
“I don’t mind. I’ll slap the fucker if I have to.” Her eyes are blazing. Last year I never would have had the strength to approach HR if Rosie hadn’t supported me.
I shake my head. “It’s nothing. He asked to be on the Latif team. I said no,” I reply. “I lied to him, we do need more people to volunteer. Maybe he knows that.”
Her face contorts with worry. “It didn’t look like he took it well. Look, I’ll work. Would that help?”
I smile. “That would help a lot, actually. Are you sure?”
She nods and I take a deep breath before turning back to the pot of coffee. The smell is still overwhelming and nauseating. I don’t know what to say.
/> If Greg was mad, that’s bad news for me. I try not to think of those months last year when I was consumed with fear and paranoia. I’ve convinced myself there’s no need to worry, but Rosie’s face says it all.
“What am I supposed to do, Rosie?” I ask as I turn back to her. I shrug and plead with her with my eyes. There are a thousand unsaid things weighing on me but with one look I know she understands.
“We’ll figure it out together,” she responds, straightening her back. I see her resolve strengthen and the fear leave her eyes. “Record everything about the conversation. I’ll write down what I saw. If he causes any issues we’ll have everything on paper.”
I nod. “Ok.”
My thoughts fly back to that Friday night two weeks ago at the Christmas party, to the stack of plates on the floor. The nagging feeling comes back to me like a wave.
“Rosie,” I start. I don’t even know what to say. “The Christmas party…”
“What about it?” She takes a step towards me. I glance around to make sure no one is within earshot and I lower my voice.
“I think someone was here, you know, while we were…”
Rosie’s eyes widen and she takes another step towards me. She’s a couple inches taller than me and she bends her head closer to mine.
“You think it was Greg?”
“I don’t know!” I exclaim, shrugging my shoulders. “I don’t know! There could have been no one here.”
“Why do you think there was someone here?”
I take a deep breath. Suddenly it seems silly to think that a stack of plastic plates would mean that someone saw me with Zach. I force myself to say it out loud to Rosie, who’s staring at me intently. Maybe if I say it, the nagging fear that we were seen will go away.
“We were in his office and I heard something. Like a noise or a bang or something out in the main room. Zach went out and didn’t see anyone and then we… you know.” I look around again and whisper. “Slept together.”
Knocked Up by the CEO Page 5