by Mia Michelle
“Of course, I don’t think you are crazy.” I answer. Relieved to hear her confession.
“It is the same for me. I can’t explain this attraction between us. It’s made me crazy this past week. I have never felt anything like this before,” I kiss her hair and I turn her back around to face me.
A tear forms in her beautiful eye, and I lean down to kiss it away.
“For the first time in a long time, you make me forget the hurt I feel. I didn’t think that was possible. It’s like I can finally breathe again,” she says. Her words slice into me like razors, and the guilt rushes over me. I want to tell her that she has awakened me in a way that I have never felt before. I want to tell her that I can feel again because of her. But, I’m not worthy of that look because, even as deeply as I already feel for her, I don’t deserve her. I hold her in my arms, and I know that as much as she will hate me, as much as I will hate myself, I have to let her go. It will be the hardest thing I will have ever done, even harder than leaving her that night so long ago. I walk her back to her car and kissed her with everything I have in me. With promises of seeing her tomorrow, I pull her close to me for the last time and let my beloved girl go.
Skylar
5:00 am is just too damn early. I slap the beeping madness called an alarm clock and moan. I reach over and pull my pillow over my head and contemplate suffocating myself with it. These fourteen hour shifts are catching up with me, but I know I have to get up and get moving. No sense complaining. I have yet another long day ahead before my big internship interview tomorrow.
Dr. Martin, my advisor, had phoned me and explained that the first initial meeting had gone over extremely well and that they wanted me to meet with the CEO for one final interview. I was excited by the news but terrified by the thoughts of not getting it. Too much is riding on this and I have to have my mind clear and focused if I am going to impress them. Funny thing is my mind hasn’t been clear in a while. This is all thanks to Sebastian.
This just isn’t getting any easier. It has been five long days since that night on the rooftop. I deeply regret my words to him. I mean how could I have been so stupid? Of course, I scared him off. The night had been just so perfect, but then again I don’t have much to compare that to. I had been on a few dates over the years, but no one has ever made me feel the way he did. I look hopefully at my phone on the nightstand, but there were no messages.
Why hasn’t he called me?
He took my number at Marie’s, and even gave me a passionate kiss goodnight when we reached my car. For the first time, I didn’t have a nightmare that night. I was so happy when I woke up the next morning that I walked around with my head in the clouds all day. Funny how now, I can barely pull myself out of bed.
I am exhausted by the time I finish my shift and make my way to the dance studio. I am relieved I have this place or else I don’t know what I would do. This is my saving grace, the one place that I can be me. The one place I feel free and can let out all my pent up emotion. I befriended the owner, Kristina, many years ago at dance competitions. Sadly, a car accident in high school damaged the nerves in her leg too badly for her to continue competing. She never wanted to give up her dream of dancing, so her parents convinced her to open up this studio. She offered it to me to use anytime I wanted. Sometimes, she asks me to help with some of her more advanced students. I absolutely loved every moment of it, but my busy schedule doesn’t allow much, if any, time for that.
I finish my stretches on the bar just as the music shuffles. Slowly, I move to the middle of the room of mirrors and begin to move. I dance until the tears come as they do every week. And when they come, I always give into them. Tonight, I cry for my heart that breaks for someone I will never have. For someone who obviously has forgotten about me. So why can’t I forget about him? When I am done, I hurriedly lock up the dance studio and make my way home to get ready for the big interview tomorrow.
It’s the day of my interview, and I am thankful to have the only working bathroom to myself this morning. I shower and take my time styling my long wavy hair into tighter curls, allowing them to remain loose down my back. I take my time applying my makeup and carefully add mascara and liner, both of which, I normally don’t wear. I slip on my tan silk wrap shirt and black pencil skirt that I chose the night before. Selecting this outfit wasn’t hard since I only own a few dressy outfits. I step into my black heels, spray on my favorite body spray, and grab my new red coat. Double-checking my portfolio one last time, I pick up my keys and walk out the door.
I rehearse mock interview questions as I drive into the city. When my little Honda reaches the sky rise of Thorne Enterprises, I pull into the parking garage and nervously make my way to the lobby. The rude receptionist directs me to the top floor of the building where I am to meet by Mr. Thorne’s personal assistant, Sara.
I am surprised to see a gentle eyed older lady with gray hair greet me as I step off the elevators.
“Ms. Rose?” She asks uncertain.
“Yes,” I reply shyly.
“Hello dear, I am Sara Marx, Mr. Thorne’s personal assistant. He is just finishing up a phone conference and will be with you shortly. May I get you anything while you wait?” she asks.
A garbage can so I can throw up would be nice.
“No, but thank you so much,” I respond nervously and she pats me on the arm.
Truth is I was too nervous to eat or drink anything this morning.
“Breathe, sweetheart. I will be back to get you as soon as he is ready.” she says, and she disappears into the row of offices.
Oh shit, I think I am going to be sick!
Sebastian
Another fucking sleepless night! I jerk the covers back and make my way downstairs. I have an early meeting this morning and according to Sara, my personal assistant, I am looking at an extremely hectic day. I get dressed and head to my gym downstairs. I hit the treadmill, run my normal five miles, and then hit the punching bag for another half hour. Grabbing a bottle of water out of the refrigerator, I sit down at the desk in my office.
I open the drawer, and glancing at the black vinyl file, I pull it out, place it on my desk, and open it. Her beautiful face stares back at me. I unclip her picture and lean back into my chair. It has been five days since I have seen her and yet it seems as though it has been an eternity. I gently trace my finger over her picture as I relish the memory of the way her skin had felt.
Blinking out of my daze, I put the picture back in the folder next to the dark velvet bag that sits next to it and closed the drawer.
Fuck! Even her memory has me instantly hard.
I grab a quick shower and take care of my raging hard on. With my hand jerking furiously on my cock, I lean my head back on the tile wall. I am thinking about how I would have taken her on that rooftop. I imagine taking her in every sinful way possible over and over again. My release came violently up against my stomach, shooting all the way up to my chest. I quickly wash and make my way to my closet to put on my suit and tie. It is only 6:30 am, but I decide to head on in to the office.
Sara has my schedule sitting on my desk when I arrive this morning, along with the notes I have requested for this morning’s meeting. I glance down at the appointments. I roll my eyes at my lunch date with Tiffany Arlington. I will be canceling that one. The 1pm appointment caught my eye. Intern interview? Apparently, the board wants my final approval on a candidate.
A waste of an appointment if you ask me; can they not make the decision on their own?
Around 7:30 am, Sara makes her way into my office carrying a coffee and a bagel. I thank her, and she leaves to prepare the boardroom for the breakfast meeting.
My morning goes by quickly and before I know it, it’s 11:30 and Tiffany is arriving at my office.
Shit. I forgot to cancel our lunch date.
While she is an incredibly attractive woman and we had a fun night together a long time ago, I’m not interested in continuing or repeating anything with her. Unfortunately
, she isn’t easily convinced of that. Her father is now an important client of mine, and she feels we are the perfect match. If I had known who she was when we slept together, I would have never gone through with it. I decide to take her to lunch and try to blow her off for good. I just don’t know how to do that in the nicest way possible.
Lunch with Tiffany did not go well at all. I put her in the company town car to send her on her way. Looking up, I see a beautiful young woman crossing the street.
Skylar? Fuck, this girl has my mind messed up.
I shake it off and make my way into the building, away from a crying Tiffany. I hurry back into the office to make a quick phone call before my one o’clock appointment.
Sara knocks on my door a little after one and informs me that the candidate has arrived. The file has been on my desk for me to review, but I have been too busy to even glance at it. I pull the file in front of me and tell Sara to send in the candidate. Moments later, the large mahogany doors to my office open and I stand to meet her. My breath completely leaves me as I watch her walk through the door. In a tan silk shirt and black skirt, she looks breathtaking. Extending her trembling hand to me, her gorgeous eyes grow large as she takes in the sight of me.
“Mr. Thorne, it’s nice to meet you,” she says. I take her hand, and I can’t find my voice as her contact electrifies me.
“Skylar,” I whisper.
Skylar
I am a nervous wreck by the time Mr. Thorne is ready to meet with me. The same sweet lady named Sara leads me down the long hall to his office. I take a deep breath as the large wooden doors open. I silently coach myself, ‘Come on Skylar, you can do this!’ When I first step in, I am confused.
Wait… What’s Sebastian doing here?
He stands there looking magnificent in a dark gray suit and deep ocean blue silk tie. His normal sexily tossed hair is now styled sleek and neat. Then it dawns on me. He’s SEBASTIAN THORNE!
I don’t miss a beat as I extend my hand out to him and introduce myself. I can see the pained look on his face and then he does the unthinkable…. he whispers my name. Hearing his crisp voice say my name is truly my undoing. I try to compose myself quickly before he motions to the large leather chair in front of him.
“Please sit down, Ms. Rose.” I am frozen in my spot by his words. It’s as if my legs have totally stopped working.
“How have you been, Skylar?” he asks me with a dry tone.
“You’re Mr. Thorne? But how? I thought your last name was Kohlson.”
“Yes, my name is Sebastian Kohlson Thorne. Kohlson was my mother’s maiden name. I’m used to people always wanting something from me once they know my real name. I didn’t mean to deceive you.”
“Did you know it was me coming today?” I nervously ask him.
“No, sweetheart, this is fate or karma working in our midst here. I had no idea if the candidate was female or male when I accepted the interview today. Although, it seems you have made quite the impression on my board. And may I say, my dear Skylar, that is something even I have yet to accomplish. So, tell me why you think you would be good for the internship position?” He asks coyly as he leans back into his chair.
“Mr. Thorne, I want this internship more than anything. Thorne Enterprises is my top choice for the internships that I have applied for. You are the leading design firm in the South. Using and marketing the most advanced technology available. It will be a phenomenal chance to learn from the best, sir. Anyone who gets this opportunity is blessed to be a part of the Thorne team. I think if given the opportunity I will prove to be an asset to your company. I….” he interrupts me.
“So, Ms. Rose, may I look at your design portfolio?”
“Yes, of course,” I reply, handing him the black leather portfolio folder. I continue staring at his gorgeous face in disbelief.
God, how I have missed him!
Sebastian
Is this some cruel joke? Is she really sitting in front of me? Does she have any fucking clue just how hard it’s has been to stay away from her all this time? NO! She couldn’t or she wouldn’t be here right now torturing me.
My head is full of questions, and I truly didn’t hear a word she has said. At this moment, I am too busy studying her perfect face and body to give a fuck. Those fucking perfect raspberry plump lips of hers are just begging to be kissed right now.
And DAMN IT, did I ever want to kiss them. I mean, what are the chances that she is sitting here in my office?
Realizing that I have been staring for too long, I open up her portfolio. Honestly, I am skeptical, but as soon as I open the book, I am truly taken aback by what I see. Her ideas and drawings are spectacular. She has designed several freelance jobs while in college, and one was even featured in a national design magazine.
She is sexy as hell and incredibly talented. Fuck, what’s next? There is no way I can hire her. If she is working here, then how am I supposed to keep my distance from her? I MUST keep my distance. No, simply said, she can’t work here. Now, to deliver the news.
“Ms. Rose, I am most impressed by your work, but honestly, I don’t think you will be a good fit here in our firm. I will be more than happy to make a few calls and get you an internship at another company. Perhaps one that is more suitable for you,” I say as I lift the phone.
She is nervously wringing her hands. Oh fuck me! What am I doing?
She bites her lip and looks down into her lap.
“Sebastian, what happened? Why are you acting this way?” she softly asks me. When she speaks, the intense pain in her voice makes it hard for me to remain composed.
“What do you mean? How am I acting?” I pretend to misunderstand her words.
“I thought when you came back into the café that day and after our time on the roof together that I would see you again, but I never heard from you. I get that maybe you aren’t into me, and really, that’s fine. But this… this isn’t the Sebastian I know. Maybe it’s best I don’t work here because I really don’t like this person.” She stands and makes her way to the door. Her shoulders are shaking, and her head remains hung low.
FUCK! She is crying.
You are such a bastard Thorne. You’ve upset her. Fix this!
“Thank you for your time, Mr. Thorne. I am truly sorry to have bothered you,” she manages in sobs, and she turns and pulls on the bronze handle. But before she can open it all the way, I am there behind her, pushing the door closed.
“Wait,” I whisper into her hair. I inhale her sweet candy scent. Shit, that smell makes me want to rip every stitch of her clothes off and lick every magnificent inch of her. She is trembling as I take her by the shoulders and turn her to face me. Her tears freely fall as I lift her chin to look up at my face.
What are you doing, Thorne? Stay strong. You are not going to be affected by her. You will nicely send her on her way.
I prepare myself for what I am going to say, but the minute her eyes lock with mine, I am rendered speechless.
“I need this job, Sebastian. It’s just me and my little sister, and I have to graduate. This is my best opportunity. Please reconsider. You won’t even know I am here. I promise to remain invisible,” she pleads. All the while, I am thinking to myself, “Yeah right, sweetheart. You can never be invisible to me.”
I am torn between what I want to do and what I need to do. I open my mouth to let her have the unfortunate news, and it’s as if she can read my expression. She turns back to the door.
WAIT. Don’t let her leave, Thorne! Where did that inner voice come from?
"Goodbye, Sebastian," she says.
Before I realize what I’m doing, I blurt out, “Welcome to Thorne Enterprises, Ms. Rose. I will see you Monday morning. You can see Sara on the way out. She will get the paperwork started, and make the badge that you will need.”
She beams a huge smile and leaps into my arms. My breath hitches as I catch her by her waist.
She feels so damn good in my arms. I’ve missed her so fucking much.
Her hair brushes my face, and she exclaims, “Oh, thank you so much! I promise you won’t regret your decision.”
I highly doubt that, Ms. Rose. Oh HELL! What have I gotten myself into?
Skylar
My afternoon flies by quickly as Sara explains all of the basic information in the folder. She shows me around the floor where I will work. I become a little overwhelmed when she begins to introduce me to everyone, and I hope I will remember their names. She walks me down to security where I am fingerprinted and photographed for my badge. I really like Sara, and I look forward to Monday because I will be working closely with her while I learn the ropes.
Since I have taken the day off from work for the interview, the rest of the evening is mine. I am excited to actually see Sophie’s home game. Her braided honey blonde hair falls down her shoulder as she kicks another winning goal into the net. I beam with pride as I scream out, “GO, SOPH!!” She winks at me as she runs back across the field.
She has really grown into a beautiful young woman, and I am so proud of her. We are both the perfect blend of our parents. Other than our hair color, you couldn’t help but know that we are sisters. I have my mother’s dark hair, and she has our father’s light brown color. It seems she has blossomed overnight, and I have been so busy with school and work that I am just now seeing it. In just a short while, she will be going away to college and our lives will never be the same. At least mine won’t.
After the game, Sophie finds me waiting near the metal bleachers at the soccer field.
“So, how did it go today?” She asks excitedly.
“I got it! I start Monday,” I say, and she nearly knocks me down as she wraps her arms around me.
“That is WONDERFUL, sis!! I knew you would get it!” She smiles revealing her beautiful genuine spirit that I love so much.