The guys leave the conference room, going back to their offices.
“You’re very kind,” Seraphine says as she closes her laptop and gets to her feet, tucking it under her arm.
“I want my men to know they’re appreciated.” I move to her, stopping a foot from her.
“It seems they do. They like you.”
“I don’t care if they like me, I only care if they respect me.”
She narrows her eyes, chewing on the corner of her lip. I press my thumb to it, pulling it down to release it from her grip. She stares up at me with those big green eyes. My finger runs along the underneath of her bottom lip that parts, and she sucks in a sharp breath.
I smile, dropping my hand. “Let me show you around the office.”
“Good idea,” she says, the words coming out as a whisper, which I’m sure she did not intend—which only makes it all the more adorable, and sexy.
Chapter Sixteen
Seraphine
It’s early Friday morning, and I’m getting ready for the day.
All week, my mood has been much better than it was. A lot has happened to me in a short time, and I’m dealing with it the best I can. Working at Caldwell Enterprises keeps me busy. Not only during my shifts, but well afterward, too. I go to bed exhausted every night, get a great night’s sleep, then wake up ready to start the day. I’m still waiting for all my trauma to come crashing down on me, as I’m sure it will one of these days, but for now… I’m enjoying life. Which happens to be really great when you have all the things you need.
It’s funny and confusing because I didn’t even feel this good when I was with Harrison. I had all the same amenities and perks, but it felt different. Maybe because deep down, I knew they were all conditional. I only had those things because I was with him. And that fact was confirmed when I found him cheating on me and left. I had nothing.
Now, I have a job, enough money to live off of, and my own apartment—sort of. The contract states that everything is mine as long as I hold the job at CE, and it’s also listed that the job is mine for six months. Mr. Caldwell initially had a year, but I asked him to change it. He did with no issue.
I haven’t received a paycheck from them yet, and won’t until next week, since that’s how payroll works, but that’s fine. I have everything I need here until then. The money I had in my account is gone, but again, there isn’t anything I need.
I get a weekly grocery order delivery that is paid for by Elliot. Another thing I told him to stop doing, but of course he didn’t listen. He has a car pick me up for work and drop me off after. Everything I could want is here and taken care of. Honestly, I don’t even know what I’ll do with my paycheck when I get it. Buy more clothes, maybe? Though he’s provided me with a number of appropriate outfits in my style for work, I just want to shop.
And maybe I’d like to see the surprise on his face when he sees me in something new that I picked out myself.
I knew working with him would be dangerous. I’m so attracted to him that it sometimes makes working difficult. I catch myself staring at him throughout the day, just watching as he works. That intense look on his face as he stares at his computer or when he’s frowning at his phone is so sexy. And times when I’m not staring at him, I feel him staring at me and I think I like that more. Sometimes he just likes to watch me do absolutely nothing but take notes. We’re in the same boat. And though hehasn’t said anything else sexually toward me, or made any kind of gesture, I feel the tension. It’s there, and it’s thick.
I’d contemplated mentioning it to him, telling him that we can’t do anything like that again, but that doesn’t feel right. I’m not sure, but it feels almost presumptuous.
The time at his house was a difficult situation. We got caught up due to what was going on. The second time, we were at a bar, and I can only assume he had a lot to drink and spoke out of turn. Now that we’re in a work setting, it’s different. He wouldn’t risk his company for me. I’m not worth any of that. So yeah, he likes to look, but a lot of guys like to look. Elliot Caldwell isn’t the only man I catch staring at me.
I won’t lie. I love the attention. From everyone. I’ve never had this before, and though I’m not a promiscuous girl, the way the men look at me in this office makes me feel good. It makes me feel real. Worthy of something. Seen. Appreciated. Wanted All the things I should have felt when I was with Harrison but didn’t.
He was the first real relationship I’d had. Sure, I’d dated here and there before him. Nothing ever went past a second date. And I’d had boyfriends in middle school and high school, but those don’t really count. Maybe the guy I lost my virginity to counts. He and I dated for six months at the end of senior year in high school, but it didn’t amount to anything. I hadn’t had sex again until I was with Harrison, so it was practically like I was a virgin again.
My cell rings from the vanity and a glance at it tells me it’s the driver downstairs. I do one more look over in the mirror before answering it and letting him know I’ll be right down. Before heading out the door, I grab my purse, coat, and laptop bag. As I head down the elevator, I can’t help but smile at how good life is.
I step into Mr. Caldwell’s office after the meeting we just attended. He stood behind to chat with Peter and told me to meet him here. I still don’t have a desk, and there hasn’t been a discussion of one. We both seem to be content with me sitting on the sofa or in the chair across from his desk as I work on my laptop. I know that’s strange, but I’m comfortable and I like being here with him.
I set my laptop on his desk, then grab the charger from my bag to plug it in. When I come around the desk, someone walks into the office.
“Afternoon, Seraphine.”
I force a smile, wanting to correct him from calling me that, but know it won’t get anywhere. Not in this office. I’d already corrected one of the guys, and Elliot caught him calling me Sera and he told him to only refer to me as Seraphine or Miss Sinclair. It was a little embarrassing.
“Hi, Ian.”
He’s a handsome guy. A few years older than me, if I had to guess. Light brown hair, square jaw, dark eyes. He’s always dressed well, but so is everyone else here.
“Is Elliot around?”
