It shows a building ten floors high, the ground level storefronts that could sustain everyone living in the building. A grocery store, a convenient store, and a coffee shop. Of course, we won’t know who will purchase the storefronts until it happens, but it’s always good to paint a picture of what could be for the client. If they like it enough, they’ll make it happen. Meaning they’ll push us to build exactly what we’re showing them, and sometimes that means more money.
“Yes. It’s exactly what they asked for.”
“Then it’s fine.” I hand him the folder back, not really caring to look at it further. I trust my men and if he says this is what they asked for, I believe him.
“I’m going to have the illustrators get started on the renderings then. Thanks.”
“Any time.”
He gives a quick smile to Seraphine, then leaves the room, closing the door just as I had it. Of all the people we see on a normal basis, he pays the least attention to her. Jonathan always has his head in the game, really focusing on work. I like that about him.
“What did my son have to say to you last night?” I ask, turning my attention to Seraphine, who now has her laptop on herlap, typing something. The click-clacking of keys stops abruptly when I ask my question, and she looks up at me with wide eyes.
“Nothing much,” she says with a small shrug.
“Don’t lie to me.”
“I’m not lying.”
“You’re not telling me the truth. I know my son and I’m sure he had a lot to say. What was it?”
She sighs, snapping her laptop shut. “I really don’t want to get in the middle of family affairs.”
“It’s a little too late for that, don’t you think?”
She purses her lips before nodding once. “I suppose so.”
I rake my gaze over every inch of her as she gets up and paces back and forth. The way her hips sway, how her ass jiggles, the way her tits bounce. My gaze drifts to those tiny little hands that I want wrapped around my cock again.
“He’s concerned about me working for you and tried to explain away his cheating.”
“How?”
“By saying it only happened twice, and both weremoments of weakness.”
I grit my teeth, the truth on the tip of my tongue. Harrison admitted to me it was going on for a long time and that he intended to stay with Angela. What has him changing his mind? And most of all, why is he lying to Seraphine?
She said she doesn’t want to get into the middle, and maybe she already is at some point, but I won’t make this worse for her. She may not need to know this truth, as long as she choosescorrectly in the end. Seraphine needs to make this decision about my son on her own. I won’t force her hand. That isn’t right.
“Have you ever cheated on anyone?” she asks, stopping in front of my desk and turning toward me.
“Not anyone that mattered.”
There’s a frown on her face instantly. “What does that mean?”
“It means I did a lot of stupid things when I was young, some that could have been considered cheating, but it went both ways. I never cheated on any of my wives and—”
“Anyof your wives?” she blurts. “How many have you had?”
“Two.” I hold up two fingers for a second before clasping them together and placing them on my lap. She paces again, and again I watch her.
I could do this all day. What would she say if I suggested it? If I requested she come to work in sexy lingerie and just walk around my office for me to stare at between getting work done?
I think she’d do it. And I think she’d enjoy it. I don’t ask just yet, because now isn’t the time. We’re not there yet.
Thinking through all the things to say to her, I realize words won’t work right now. She’s dealing with something internally and needs something to stop them. More words, thinking, all of that will only make this worse. So, I get up, go to her, and when she turns to go back the other way, there I am standing in front of her. My hands go to her hips, and I hold her in place. Her lips part and a quiet gasp escapes them.
Dragging my fingers up her stomach, between her breast, up her neck and along her lips. I say, “I still owe you.”
