The entire ride to the office, I am nervous. Mr. Springer attempts to make polite conversation, but I can barely say more than, “Yes,” or “no,” because I am so preoccupied trying to figure out what is going on.We arrive at the building, and he escorts me up to the floor I know Jeff works on. Not that I’ve ever been here before. Jeff will probably be outraged when he finds out I am here now, regardless of what he may have told Mr. Merriweather. I go along, though. What else can I do?Seeing Cindy’s friendly smile has me slightly at ease. My eyes are focused on her, not on the myriad of other faces I’ve seen as I come into the workspace. I had been searching for Jeff but did not see him. Now, as she greets me, I smile and return her embrace. Then, she calls to let Mr. Merriweather know I have arrived, and my stomach twists into knots. What could he possibly want?Mr. Springer gives me a reassuring nod as I hear Braxton’s voice on the speaker acknowledging that he is waiting for me. We
I can hardly believe my ears. Has Julia just asked me where she needs to sign the document, the agreement that will allow her to come with me for the weekend? I stare at her, my eyes wide, as I contemplate how easy it was to convince her. I am confused. I thought for certain it would be difficult for me to convince Julia that she should spend the weekend with me, but here she is agreeing to it with hardly a word from me.My eyes flicker across the room to where Springer is sitting, not a part of the conversation but present to keep Julia comfortable. I was afraid that she would be intimidated with me here by herself, but I have underestimated this beautiful woman more than once, and I hope not to do that again. Springer is hiding a smile from me, and I look away from him so that I don’t give anything away myself.Before she changes her mind, I move to the stack of papers on the table. “It’s not a long document, but it is thorough. Feel free to read through it. Springer can answer any
Cindy is such a nice person. She makes me feel absolutely welcome as we stroll along next to each other in one of the most expensive shopping districts in the city. It’s as if I’m with a friend.We don’t talk about the proposal Mr. Merriweather has made to me. We really don’t talk about him much at all, except for when Cindy says how nice he is and how glad she is to work for him. She says he’s the best boss she has ever had, the best boss she could hope for. She also says not to worry about spending too much money, that Mr. Merriweather will be disappointed if I don’t get everything I want.I find it hard to unabashedly spend someone else’s money, but I do buy a few things I really like. Cindy won’t let me look at the price tags as she makes a collection of dresses for me to try on. When I go into the dressing room to try them on, she makes me promise not to look at the price while I’m in there either. I try to keep the promise, but it’s hard. At least I try on the first one before I
I could have left work at 4:00. All of my meetings were over with, and I was done for the weekend. But Cindy called me around 3:30 and told me it would be best if I met Julia at the restaurant I’d planned to take her to at 7:00. The shopping had gone well, and Cindy had arranged for a makeover for Julia. I didn’t think she needed that, but then, Cindy said it would be a nice treat for Julia, so I agreed to it. With getting her nails done and all of the other things that take so long for women to do, as well as eating a fancy lunch at the spa, it was taking longer than expected. So… I agreed to meet her at Solar and try not to be bitter that I have wasted a few of the precious hours I have with Julia.I stay at work until a little after 6:00. By then, the office is quiet except for me and Springer, who is only still there because I am. I have asked him to trail Jeff Thompson all weekend and make sure that he is not attempting to interfere with anything I am doing with his wife while sh
The limo pulls up outside of a fancy restaurant. I hold my breath, not sure what to do. I’ve never been to any place like this before. When a man opens the door for me, I step out, wearing the black dress Cindy helped me pick out. I know I look my very best. After the makeover, I’d looked in the mirror and hardly recognized myself. I think about what Jeff would say if he saw me now. He might not recognize me either.Would Mr. Merriweather?As I walk to the door of the most elegant restaurant I have ever been to, I think about what I will do if this is all a joke. What if I walk in, and Mr. Merriweather isn’t there? Or he says I must be mistaken, and he didn’t want to have dinner with me? I take calming breaths as the door is opened for me, and I approach the maître D. I expect him to look at me as if I do not belong here, but he smiles at me, a twinkle in his eyes, as he asks, “How may I help you, mademoiselle?”“Hello,” I say, not sure how I should respond. “I’m meeting someone. Is…
Normally, on the car ride back to my home from work, when I bother to go there instead of staying in my apartment close to the office, I am busy working. Either I am on the phone making deals, or I’m checking emails. But tonight, the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen is sitting next to me, and even though there’s plenty of space between us and it is obvious she is nervous, I would rather have her here than anyone else in the world.At this time of the evening, after rush hour is over, there’s not a lot of traffic, but it still takes almost forty minutes to get to my house. While we ride, I attempt to ask Julia a few questions, but she is not in a chatty mood. I think it is because she is nervous and decide to leave her be. I wish she didn’t feel that way. I hope I have made myself clear that nothing will happen unless she wants it to.We pull up to the gate outside of my residence, and the driver presses a button in the car that sends the iron gate opening, soundlessly. I am not a f
I follow Braxton into a beautiful bedroom and can hardly believe my eyes at how lovely everything is. Rows of candles burn along the dark furniture and the windowsill. I see they are not real, though they look it, so there is no fear of fire. The bed itself is a large four-poster with a beautiful red comforter that matches the red and black curtains and other fabrics in the room, except for the cream colored carpet.I can’t help but cover my mouth as I walk in, thinking this room is larger than the main part of my apartment. It is so warm and inviting. I could stay here forever.“All of your new items have been put away,” Braxton said, gesturing at a closet and the drawers. He opens one slightly and then closes it without looking inside. I wonder if whoever took my clothing out of the bag noticed the sexy lingerie.A door is open across from the bed, and there’s a light shining from in there. Braxton walks over and pushes the door open. “The en suite bathroom is right here.”I can see
Braxton is on top of me at first, kissing me deeply as his hands roam over my body, bringing my flesh to life, but then, he rolls off of me, and I think he is done, that he will tell me that he can’t do this because I am married.Instead, Braxton pulls me close against his chest and smooths back my hair. “You take charge, Julia,” he says in a husky voice. “Whatever you want, whatever you need, I want to give it to you.”I stare at him for a long moment, not sure what to say or do. I have never been in charge in the bedroom in my entire life. Which isn’t saying much, I suppose. Jeff is the only man I’ve ever even kissed, and his routine is always exactly the same. Not that it used to be when we first got married, but it hasn’t changed all that much. Still, as I lay snuggled against Braxton’s muscular chest, it isn’t easy for me to imagine what we might do. When I see that he is serious, that he truly wants me to have my way with him, I lean down and kiss him. He runs his hand along my