by Claire Angel
“Well it can’t be that bad.”
I sighed and disagreed, “You actually don’t know that.”
It was worse than bad. I’d never been so humiliated in all of my life. It wouldn’t have been so bad, if it was just the inner turmoil that I had to deal with, but that wasn’t all, not by a long shot. The truth was that there was so much else to deal with because of how Richard had been acting.
When Richard had been so open about what was going on between us and his intentions, it just left me the idiot that didn’t know what I was getting into. I had been just one of many and my times was apparently up already.
“I am sorry if you had to hear those things about me. I would hope that you would know that they aren’t true. Not in the least bit. Her father just left my office, lord only knows what she told him, but I will tell you, like I told him, none of it is real. None of it happened.”
“So why is she going to do an interview this evening on that local talk show with Mia Wong?”
I didn’t know about that and again, I wanted to curse the whole situation. I don’t know why, but I had a feeling that it was because I had yelled at her and called her out on the presentation. I would never mention it to Charles, but I had to wonder secretly if he was right. I really didn’t want him to be.
“I have no idea what is going on with her. Her and a couple of her friends quit this morning, made a scene from what Charles and Amber's father said, and then they left. Now I am getting all of the fall out and I honestly have no idea what to think about any of it.”
Chapter 29
Richard
There was silence on the other side, and I wish that she was in front of me now. I could hear the indecision in her voice, and it was quite clear to me, that she did not believe my version of events. Maybe she wanted to, but there was a lot going on. It was hard to blame her, if I was honest with myself.
“I don't know what to think.”
“Well for one, I would think that you would trust me more than Amber. Nothing she has done has been truthful, so I can’t imagine her version being more believable. You know what kind of person she is.”
To be honest I was frustrated. I thought out of everyone, that at least she would understand. I was hurt that my best friend did not believe me, but somehow it hurt even more when it was her. Why did I believe that she knew me better than anyone else, even somebody who had known me for the last decade?
“I don't trust her. I guess I just wanted to hear you say it. It is just a mess and very humiliating.”
“Well, it comes at a good time actually.”
“How can this be a good time?”
“I was thinking that we could get out of the city for a little while. If you're up for it.”
There was far more anticipation in my body then there should have been. I shouldn't have been this anticipatory of her coming. It was then, that I realized how badly I was afraid of losing her. Even that realization, the idea that I could want someone that much, was a revelation in and of itself. Sarah had really gotten under my skin, changing me in so many ways.
“Yeah, that actually sounds good. Do you have some place in mind?”
“I do.”
“I usually don't like surprises, but yours are always particularly nice.”
We figured out all of the particulars and she agreed to have me pick her up later in the night. The emotional rollercoaster did not seem to end there. I had another heated conversation with Charles. At the end of it, I ended up just telling him that I wasn't going to listen to his argument any longer.
It was the first time that we had left in such terms and I wasn't happy about it. Everything seemed to be crumbling down around me, but there was one fast and steady light in front of me. At the moment, all I could do was focused on it. I just had to keep looking forward.
Chapter 30
Sarah
There was a big part of me, that wanted to watch the interview with Amber. I knew that most of it was going to be a lie and it was only going to upset me, but that didn’t seem to be enough reason. Curiosity was still hitting me hard.
Instead, I got in the car next to Richard and trusted him. It wasn’t something that I was all that used to do, but I wanted him to be the man that I had looked up to for all of this time. I’d admired him, desired him and now that he was within my grasps, it felt impossible to let him go.
“I want to know what you really think of all of this?”
I sighed and shrugged. My head was resting on his shoulder and it was one of the most comfortable positions that I could think of.
“It doesn’t matter, honestly. I know that there is something going on with her and she is stirring up trouble as good as she can, but I don’t want to worry about her. All she is going to do is work me up and I don’t want to give her that satisfaction, you know?”
“I am glad to hear you say that. I was afraid that you would be mad at me.”
I waved him off. “I was around her enough, to know what she is capable of. I was more worried that she was right, and I guess I just kind of panicked.”
I’m glad that it was over now. I was so afraid that Amber had been right and then everything that had been building up between us, the best sex of my life, all of it would have been a lie and I don’t know if I would have been able to deal with that or not. I had a lot to think about, but any destination without him, upset me to even mention.
“Just don’t run away again Sarah. It will do you no good, I will just chase you down and find you.”
It didn’t sound all that romantic, but that’s how I took it. I knew that he cared and that was more than enough for me. I just wanted him to care and he did. It was really all I could ask for. For a man like Richard to want me, was just amazing and unbelievable. He was turning me into the person that I’d always wanted to be. It was more than just sex. It was the extra something that I had been looking for.
“I am not going anywhere.” I took his hands in my hands and give him a peck on his lips.
***
At some point I must have went to sleep. I had all of these big ideas on us getting it on in the back of this car, but there was none of that. I was too tired from the night before and the stress of the day. I don’t know how long we drove for, but it was dark when I finally looked out the window.
“Where are we?”
I asked the question; about the same time, I realized the answer. I couldn’t believe that we were at my parent’s house. I was missing home, but how did he know about it?
“You do not recognize your parent’s house?
“I do, I'm just trying to figure out why we're here. I didn't realize that you were taking me home. How did you even get me here? I don't even remember getting on a plane.”
“You sleep very soundly. I actually woke you up twice and getting you in this car was almost impossible, so I had to carry you.”
It was very strange to wake up hundreds of miles away from where you were supposed to be. I was supposed to be in New York, and we were supposed to be going out for a date. What in the world were we doing here?
“So why did you bring me here, of all places?”
“I brought you here, because I thought it would be good to see them. It feels like you are homesick, and I wanted to help with that. Donna would help a little bit, but I knew that you were close to your father.”
There was a lot about me that he knew, and I wasn't sure how. I hadn't told him, and he hadn’t asked. I don't know if he found out another way, or if he was just that observant. I was actually pushing towards the latter, because even though he looked like he was still inside, he was taking in everything around him.
I gave him a hug, because I couldn't believe that he was doing something so nice. It was exactly what I needed, and I didn't even know that I needed it. It was almost the same as when I saw Donna. It was like everything came back to me and I started to feel like myself again. Being away from everything and everyon
e that I've ever known, was harder to deal with than I would've imagined to. I may be an adult, but I don't know if I was ready to be on the string, dangling by myself.
“Thank you, Richard. You know exactly what I need. I don’t know how we are together, and what will happen, but you’ve made me so happy. I just wanted you to know that.”
“I have a feeling that you need other things as well Sarah, but we're just going to have to wait a little bit longer on that. Maybe on the way back?”
I instantly knew what he was talking about and it was then that I noticed the lustful look on his face. I wasn't the only one that had most likely imagined that we would have done something else on the way here.
Even though I was very thankful and wanted to continue with Richard, the fact that my family was only a few feet away, was not misplaced on me. I needed to see them and before I could really think about it, I was opening the door to get out.
It was only when I knocked and then push the door open, that I realized I had no idea how I was going to explain Richard. I had never brought a man home before and I knew that this was going to be seen as a big deal.
I stopped him in the doorway. “I don't know what to tell my parents about you.”
“That we are together Sarah. That's all you have to say.”
It was news to me, but I really liked to hear it. I felt like we were together, but I had been unsure if I could say it out loud. I didn't know if he wanted me telling people. Richard had always been pretty single and free as long as I had been keeping up with him in the media. I didn't realize that something had changed, though he’d been acting differently the last week or so. He had certainly made his intentions known around the office, but my parents, this was a whole other ballgame. This was real life. My life.
“Are you sure?”
“Of course, I am sure. Do you know the kind of shitstorm that has come down on my head because we're together?”
I actually did know, and I was still surprised that he thought I was worth it. I don't know if I would have thought the same thing. I would not want my name and my business smeared all over the front page, but Richard hadn’t seemed to mind either way. He said as long as I was by his side, that's all that mattered.
I took his hand into mine and led him into the living room. It was about time for dinner to be coming to a close. I found them exactly where I knew they would be, at the table eating dinner.
They were all surprised to see me and even Dustin gave me a hug. I told him that I missed him, and I actually meant it this time. It was silly how short of a time it had been and how I was taking it. It felt like I had been gone forever.
Richard and my father talked for a while and I got to watch them interact together. Richard got along with everyone and I could tell almost immediately, that my father was impressed. He even asked me once or twice where I had found him.
It was surreal to see my family. It was even stranger to get back on a plane and be back in New York an hour or so later. He said he would send his driver to get his car back. We had time to take care of each other like we wanted to, so we were both far more relaxed when we got off the flight.
“Are you going to drop me off at my place?”
“No, you're going to stay with me tonight. Donna is just going to have to wait.”
“She is already asleep anyways. She has big plans for your Social Justice Department, I hope you're up for it.”
He grinned at me and shrugged his shoulders. “I guess I have to be, don’t I?”
“You don’t have to be, but I really hope you are.”
He kissed me and time stood still. I agreed to go back to his place with him, because quite frankly, I didn’t want to tell him no. He made it impossible to do so. I just needed him badly and I think that he knew it.
We didn’t make it back to his place, before I had come again. Richard really did have a way with his hands, and he was always impatient. He didn’t want to wait, which meant that I was half-dressed by the time we got to his place. The doorman looked at me funny, but I tried to ignore it. It didn’t matter how anyone else saw us. What mattered, was that we were perfect together.
Richard was the one.
Chapter 31
(Six Months Later…)
Richard
The place was all decked out for the Christmas party and all I could think about was a question that I was going to be asking to Sarah later. There was a question that I surely didn't think I would ever be asking any women, let alone, a woman that I'd only known a few months. A woman that actually worked for me.
After everything that had gone on with Amber blew over, I was able to enjoy the time I spent with Sarah. Amber and her little friends had caused a lot of trouble at the office. but when she was gone, everything went back to normal. I was thankful for that, because I needed peace when I went to work every day.
I kept Charles along as my assistant, because I didn't think that I would be able to go on without him, but he had an assistant now. That left him more time to put his own business deals on the table while I wasn't looking, Charles had been learning a lot. He had already brokered several deals and soon Charles would be more of a partner, than an assistant. He behaved like my boss many times, but he was my best friend and I could allow him to be my boss sometimes.
It was a special Christmas for many reasons this year. For the first time in a long time, I actually had a date that was the same person throughout the whole season.
There was also the question that I was going to ask Sarah. I brought her family in from Detroit and I knew that it was going to be a full house. Her brother was coming, as well as my sister and mother. I had already asked her father for his permission to marry her, so he knew what was happening. Everyone knew, except Sarah.
I had to blackmail several people to make sure that they kept their mouth close. Everyone knew not to say a word. I did not want the surprise to be ruined. Sarah said she didn’t really like surprises, but I knew better than that. In my mind, this was a surprise that she had to like.
I finally saw her pop-up after a meeting that she had taken for me. I had told her that I was too busy to do it myself, but in reality, I just needed her away from me long enough to take care of what I needed to do. There were still last-minute plans that had to come together.
She came into the office and shut the door behind her. “Hey baby.”
Giving me a kiss on the cheek, Sarah asked me what I was doing.
“Just some work, getting everything ready before the Christmas party.”
“I like that you are finally doing a little more work from home. This office is awesome.”
“Of course, it is, you're the one that picked everything out.”
She smiled at that small victory. At first, I just had a desk and a chair in here, but Sarah insisted that I wouldn't be very productive in that sort of space. I had found it just fine for what it was used for, but now I could see the difference. Sarah had opened my eyes to a lot of things.
The innocent kiss that she gave me, quickly turned into something more and it had my body shaking. I was trembling inside, knowing that all I had to do, was bend her over the side of something and I could be balls-deep in seconds. She never wore panties.
She never turned me away. Sarah was that magical type of woman, that was always just as ready as I was. I wanted to take advantage of that fact right now, but it wasn’t the time. We had guests coming. I had to remind myself, before I got swept away in the moment.
I had found out though, that it could be a curse as well. I had never been so tired in all of my life. Sarah never let me go more than a day or so, usually only a few hours. Sometimes, even in my sleep, she would wake me up, sliding me inside of her, as she rode me to her own completion. At times, she used me as her tool.
Sarah push back and asked me if we had time. She didn’t need to specify what she wanted. I already knew. It was a shame, the answer I had to give her.
�
��Not really. We have some older clients that are going to be here, and I don't want to give them an eyeful. One of them might have heart attack.”
Sarah didn’t realize that her parents were lumped into that assessment. It would ruin the surprise, but I wanted to calm her down. I couldn’t have her all over me when her dad came walking in. He liked me and since I planned to have him in my life for a while, I knew that I wanted to keep that standing.
“Okay, later, after the party. Let’s get ready. The guests will be arriving in a few minutes.”
“I have never seen you so worked up over a party. Do you want to tell me what is going on with you?”
“Nothing Sarah, really. I just want to get the party out of the way, so that we can spend some time together. My mind is right there with you.”
She nudged me and told me that she liked it when I was in the gutter with her. Once Sarah got past her shyness, she really had been rather dirty minded. I’m glad that I was privy to all of those thoughts now. It made me want her more and it also made it foreseeable that I would be able to take what I wanted, when I wanted it.
Sarah wrapped her arms around my neck. “Tell me what is really going on, or I am not going to let you go. You’ve never cared before about who was around. I need you and you’re going to have to give me a good reason to do so.”
She was always so complicated and then her lips were on me. Sarah was a smart girl and she had realized very quickly that I wasn’t the type to ignore her, not when she was touching me. She accused me of the same thing, but right now, I was the one that was losing my mind.
“Please?”
“Why do you have to be like this Sarah. You’re going to ruin the surprise.”
“Unless it is something better than your hard cock inside of me, I don’t care what it is. Please, I don’t want to wait. Just give me a little. It will tide me over.”
“You’re making me sound like I’m heroin.”