A Moment Like You

by Claudia Burgoa

  “Sophia,” he hisses. “If you weren’t drunk, I’d rip your panties off and fuck you senseless.”

  “I’m not drunk,” I argue, almost panting.

  All I want is for him to thrust his length deep inside me.

  Instead, he withdraws his finger.

  Suddenly, I’m hollow and highly unsatisfied.

  I’m so close to begging him for more, offering myself to him, because I’ve become a puddle of desire. My mouth opens wide when he licks his finger clean, and smirks. “You taste better than I imagined. And you might not be unconscious drunk, but I know you’re not yourself.”

  Henry pushes the button of the elevator, and it continues its way up to the top floor where the presidential suite is, and where I’m staying. When we arrive, he uses his master key to open it and helps me inside.

  “You’re an asshole,” I say as I enter the room and as I’m about to shut the door, he stops me.

  He appraises me from top to bottom and smirks. “I’ve been called worse.”

  “What game are you playing, Henry Aldridge?” I ask instead of telling him to go and fuck himself.

  “The day we fuck, Sophia, it’ll be when you are sober, and not because you feel lonely,” he states, setting his arm around my waist and pulling my body to his. “Or when you pity me because you believe that I’m the unhappiest man on this fucking planet.”

  He brushes my hair over my shoulder and leans in to kiss me. His mouth meets mine, and I shiver as his tongue pushes between my lips. I cling my arms around his powerful shoulders as I melt into the rawest kiss I’ve ever experienced in my life. Underneath my skin, there’s a wildfire spreading. There are so many contradictions swirling inside my head. The craving for his firm hand tugging my hair as he fucks me hard against the wall. The longing for his mouth whispering loving words as he slowly thrusts himself inside me. The need to push him away from me because I’m jeopardizing my entire life.

  But I can’t seem to find the strength or the words. I just keep moaning as he kisses me with the utmost passion I’ve ever experienced. Once our mouths separate, he puts his hands on the side of my face and strokes my cheek with his thumb.

  Our gazes connect and I hold my breath waiting for him to set some conditions before we continue. Remind me of his stupid rules, or just order me to get down on my knees and suck him. At this point I’m so worked up I’d do anything to get some release.

  “A house it is, then,” he says, not making sense and leaving me needy and shaky.

  “What just happened?” I yell, frustrated with myself and angry at him.

  Four

  Sophia

  If I had a time machine, I’d go back in time to the day when I agreed to become Henry Aldridge’s assistant. There are two things I would do. First, convince myself not to take the job. And second, give myself the winning numbers for the lottery. That’s the only way that younger me could pass the opportunity to work for him.

  From the beginning, I knew he wouldn’t be an easy boss.

  I learned to hate the man, but ignore my emotions because I need the salary and all the benefits my position provides. Now… Well, now things between us are complicated. Or maybe I’m wrong. It’s Wednesday. Four days have passed after what I call the kiss incident, and we have barely spoken.

  How could I be so stupid and let him… Maybe I’m looking at this from the wrong perspective. It was only a kiss.

  Only a kiss?

  He almost finger fucked you…and that whole “I want to claim you” thing.

  The next morning, I did the smart thing and left town without saying goodbye. If I pissed Henry off, he hasn’t told me just yet. Maybe he’s waiting for me to visit him at Baker’s Creek again to fire me. Good luck with that one. I’ll avoid traveling to the town for the next six to eighteen months. I don’t need to meet the new baby or hang out with my friends.

  I have plenty of work to do. Of course, I’ll do that later. Right now, I’m pretending to be working on Aldry’s Sweets, but I’m actually chatting with Blaire.

  “You know, calling to get the daily report was cute a couple of weeks back,” she protests. “For all I know, you're planning to add some cameras to the house so you can watch us as if this was a reality show.”

  “It’s the best show in town,” I reiterate, but really, I want to know if Henry has said anything.

  He’s been too quiet. That’s so unlike him. We’ve exchanged a few emails, but that’s all the interaction we’ve had for the past few days. I’m still searing with anger. He almost fucked me, and I said nothing. I let him tease me, touch me, and disregard me.

  “There’s nothing really happening, other than your boss being…well, himself. Anyway, you can come for a few days to calm the fuck out of him.”

  No, I am never going back. Instead, I joke, “We could sell the rights to the Aldridge brothers’ story. I could make a lot of money and retire young.”

  I’m half kidding because really, if I write a tell-all, I wouldn’t need this job.

  She laughs. “Or…and this is a mere suggestion. You can find a job you love and quit.”

  “It’s not that simple,” I answer.

  “Let me try it. I know some people,” she offers, kindly. That’s Blaire, the modern version of Mother Theresa. She wants to help and save everyone. “You have a degree in business and lots of experience. I can’t understand why he has you as his assistant and not as an executive.”

  “You think I get it?” I scoff.

  “Just quit,” she offers, as if it’s easy and I’m complicating it by settling.

  There are many reasons including that I’m in charge of Aldry’s Sweet and unofficially the interim CEO of Merkel Hotels & Spas.

  Henry hasn’t mentioned anything, but before he moved to Baker’s Creek, he said, “You’re in charge, for now, Ms. Aragon. Make sure that it’s business as usual.”

  “This period is an opportunity to prove to myself and everyone that I can run a conglomerate,” I explain to her. “Think about the doors I’m opening while being in charge of Merkel Hotels & Spas. In a couple of years, I’ll be able to have any job I want. If I make the right connections, I might even set up my own company.”

  “You have my full support and money,” she offers.

  “We can always open that confectionary in Baker’s Creek,” I joke. “In a couple of years, we can have a chain of chic, delicious stores all over the country.”

  “You’ll have to move west,” she says. “I can’t do this by myself. I have a medical practice to run, you know. My real life isn’t just puking all day and answering your calls.”

  “How’s the Aldridge spawn treating you?”

  “Stop calling my baby a spawn,” she warns me but chuckles. “I confess that being pregnant is a bonus. These guys are treating me like I’m a fragile object. I only use that power to make them do my chores.”

  “Okay, give me an update on everyone and I promise I’ll let you go,” I say, taking a sip of my coffee.

  “Are you on the phone with your friend?” I hear a voice. The tone is severe, cold…Henry.

  “What do you need, Henry?” she asks annoyed.

  “Tell Sophia that I’ve been calling her for the past five minutes and she’s not answering the fucking phone,” he claims.

  When I look at my missed calls his name isn’t there.

  “Tell him that I don’t have any missed calls,” I protest.

  “Here, Henry,” she says, and I close my eyes taking a long breath. “You can tell each other whatever you want—I miss you is valid too. Just make sure to give me my phone back.”

  “Ms. Aragon,” he barks my name. “You haven’t emailed me the monthly report.”

  “I wonder why that is?” I answer sarcastically. “My guess is because you asked for them last night. It’s just nine in the morning—I’ll have them ready by tomorrow, as usual.”

  “Your schedule for tomorrow is packed,” he protests.

  I check my calendar,
and it is blocked but there’s no description. “Well, it seems like I have a free day. Lucky me!”

  There’s a knock on the door. Karl Morrell, the vice president of operations, pushes it open without waiting for me to tell him he can enter.

  “You can wait outside,” I say. “I’m on a call.”

  He tilts his head and frowns. “Ms. Aragon, I don’t know how Mr. Aldridge handles his assistants, but I don’t want to ever see you sitting on my chair.”

  Surely this guy is mistaken.

  “Mr. Morrell,” I say calmly. “Your office is at the end of the hallway. This is Mr. Aldridge’s office.”

  “Sophia,” Henry calls me.

  “Yes?” I ask, glaring at Morrell.

  “I need you to send a memo to the company. Karl Morrell is going to be the interim CEO.”

  “What do you mean?” I squeak as anger overtakes my mood.

  “I mean what I said. He’s taking my place while I’m in Baker’s Creek.”

  “But—”

  “Just send the memo, Sophia. I suggest you check your email,” he quips and hangs up the phone.

  Morrell gives me a triumphant grin and says, “Let’s get a few things down before we start working. I don’t appreciate you being in my office. I expect to have my cup of coffee at seven in the morning—black with two sugars. I don’t understand Henry’s assistant system, but I’ll be testing all of you and keeping just the one I feel fits best to my needs. For now, go to your desk.”

  “Really?” I ask, crossing my arms. “You think I’m the coffee girl?”

  “You are here to do what I say, not what you please. If I want you to fetch my lunch, my dry cleaning, or my coffee, you’ll do it. In fact, you’ll say, ‘Yes, sir,’ like a good girl. Do we understand each other?” I smile and nod politely. Once I’m out of the room, I call Henry.

  “Why him?” I ask, hurt, and angry. “I know the company better than anyone under you.”

  “What’s the question again?” he asks, aloof.

  “You don’t need an interim CEO. You have me,” I explain. “From everyone you could’ve chosen, you picked him. I deserved to be sitting on that chair.” I take a deep breath.

  “Not him!” I yell, and my four assistants all turn to look at me. “Were you aware he’s going to test us all to see who he gets to keep my job? Also, I need to fetch his fucking coffee and call him, sir. Like a good girl.”

  “Ms. Aragon,” Morrell comes out of the office. “I don’t appreciate your temper tantrum. This is your only warning. Next time, I’ll send you to the mailroom. That goes for all of you.”

  “I quit,” I declare. “Henry Lloyd Merkel Aldridge, you better make sure that my employees are moved to another department, or I swear I’ll find a way to—”

  “Ms. Aragon,” he interrupts me. “Get me the report today. You have a lot to pack. Your itinerary for tomorrow should be in your inbox.”

  “What do you mean?” I am aggravated by everything that he’s dumping on me.

  Is this because of what happened on Saturday?

  “I don’t like to repeat myself. If you must work from home today go ahead, just make sure that you’re available and that you send me the report. I hate to track you.” He hangs up and Morrell’s smirk is upsetting me more.

  Asshole. We’ll see who wins. If I’m leaving, he is leaving too. It’s hard to save my employees if I don’t work for this forsaken company anymore.

  “What happened?” Tabby, one of my assistants, asks concerned.

  “You might be working for Morrell,” I answer with a hint of annoyance.

  They don’t talk to me unless they need something. Right now, I bet the four are going to become my best friends because no one wants to work with this pig. Before I can do anything, I check my email. Henry sent it just a few minutes ago. There’s a schedule, a request to send a memo about Morell, and instructions on what I need to pack from his Brownstone. Seriously, why does he need to have his suits with him? No one will say anything if he just wears a fucking pair of jeans and a T-shirt.

  When I open the itinerary, I want to puke, and it definitely has nothing to do with morning sickness. There’s a new credit card arriving today at my penthouse. The movers arrive at my house tomorrow at seven in the morning. They’re packing my stuff. He booked a jet that’ll be leaving as early as eleven in the morning. The sooner I am at the airport the better. He’ll be waiting for me in Portland to fly me home. Fucking home is here, in Manhattan.

  “He’s got to be fucking kidding me.”

  Sophia: I’m not moving to Baker’s Creek.

  Henry: It’s not optional. I’m pretty sure I warned you from the beginning. If I had to move, you’d be moving with me.

  Sophia: My assistants are not working for that pig. You shouldn’t have that misogynist as your interim CEO.

  Henry: That’s news to me. I can’t train anyone new, and he’s the best candidate.

  I started to type out, I AM THE BEST CANDIDATE, ASSHOLE.

  Of course, I delete the words because I’m sure he’ll fire me or worse, he’ll make me work for the pig.

  Sophia: Why do you need an interim CEO when you can run the company from Baker’s Creek. That’s why it’s important that I stay in New York.

  Henry: I need you here. Haven’t you seen the mess I’m trying to fix?

  I read the text twice and answer.

  Sophia: Obviously I’m not important enough since you don’t need me in the multi-million-dollar corporation. Why would you need me to move to a town like Baker’s Creek?

  Henry: I need to oversee Aldridge Enterprises, Merkel, The Lodge, and the two towns.

  Sophia: You forgot to add the factory.

  Henry: Aldry’s Sweets is your project. Another reason why you should be here.

  Sophia: We have a strong team. There’s no reason to have a puppet warming your chair while you’re away.

  Henry: What is the deal with Morrell?

  Sophia: He doesn’t treat his employees right.

  Henry: Why haven’t you brought this to my attention before?

  Sophia: That’s an HR problem. Which they’ve been dealing with for the past few years by compensating the employees who quit because of him or by moving them to a different department. Again, I’m not working for him.

  Henry: You are my eyes and ears in the company. Why haven’t you told me that? He’s my freaking vice president of operations. I can’t have someone like that in my company. I can’t have an issue this big. Fix it.

  Sophia: That’s above my paygrade. You fire him and then, if I’m in a good mood, I’ll take over his place.

  Henry: YOU ARE MOVING TO BAKER’S CREEK!

  Sophia: No, I quit.

  Henry: You can’t afford to quit, Sophia. We both know that’s impossible.

  I stare at my phone and then at my computer where his damn email sits. This fucking asshole. I swear I’m going to find a way to get rid of his hold on me. If it weren’t for my need to take care of my parents, I’d actually quit.

  Sophia: Fine, we can run the company from Baker’s Creek if you let me set up a team. And fire Morrell. I’ll email you all the documentation, and you can even start a lawsuit against him. Plus, I have more conditions. I need to travel at least twice a month to see my family.

  While I wait for his answer, I email him all the information that I’ve been gathering on Morrell. I’m so angry at this turn of events. I work so fucking hard to make sure his employees are happy, that the company runs smoothly, and…

  …and he puts that disgusting man in charge over me.

  What else do I need to show him so he can realize that I should be one of his vice presidents?

  He should’ve promoted me long ago.

  I’ve applied to four positions within the company in the past year, and he has turned me down all four times and hired people less knowledgeable and capable. His fucking excuse is that he needs me. I. Don’t. Need. Him.

  “Is everything okay?” Tabby, my assi
stant asks.

  “You can’t let him be our boss,” Gina says.

  “I’m working on it,” I assure them with a firm voice.

  “If you leave…can they transfer us to another department?” Tabby asks.

  “You’ll be fine,” I tell them and don’t add that I’m not quitting. More like I can’t quit. It’s not like I sold my soul to my boss, but it’s pretty close.

  Henry: You can’t be traveling that often to New York.

  Sophia: I need to see my parents. My family needs me.

  Henry: You do enough for them.

  Sophia: I need them too. Do you understand that my parents are my life?

  Henry: Are your parents the problem? You won’t move because of them.

  Sophia: That’s a big part.

  Henry: I’ll take care of them. Have security escort Morrell out of the building and the next time we have an issue like him, let me know before it becomes a big deal. You’re lucky I don’t fire you too.

  Sophia: Fire me, please. Even better, I quit.

  Henry: Get me the report, and I’ll see you tomorrow. I have to figure out what to do with your parents.

  What is he going to do? Kill my parents?

  Five

  Henry

  As I read the email Sophia sent me, I call security and order them to escort Morrell out of the building. Then, I call him and fire him. His behavior within the company is reason enough to let him go, but the way he talked to Sophia is unforgivable. Before I can call human resources, Hayes enters the kitchen area.

  “Are you done growling?” Hayes asks. I glare at him. “What happened?”

  Let me see, my vice president of operations should’ve been fired at least three years ago. My assistant is fucking with my head, and my plan to move her to Baker’s Creek with me has more holes than Swiss cheese.

  I shake my head because I’m not in the mood to talk to him—or anyone for that matter. Until I remember he is a fucking doctor, and I need his expertise.

  “If I need medical equipment, how long will it take for it to arrive?”