I try to see, even in my inexperience, if there’s something more behind his words, but unfortunately his face is unreadable. So, before I make a fool of myself, I take two steps back, keeping a safe distance between us.
“I’ll get the photos,” I say, trying to show professionalism and pretending that I’m not on the verge of a heart attack. My skin is all goosebumps.
I lean over to reach for my bag on the couch and hear a low sound, as if it came from deep in his throat. When I look back, he’s totally focused on me, his eyes like those of a hunter. A second later, however, he walks over to the window, as if he’s very interested in the night outside.
“Here you go, sir.” I mirror the change in his attitude, giving myself three slaps to wake up and snap out of it. I’m probably seeing things that aren’t there.
“Why the need to use ‘sir’ just now?”
“Things are what they are, Mr. Guillermo. Assistant.” I point to myself. “My boss.” I gesture with my hand to him. “What other name should I call you?”
“You almost convinced me you weren’t a naughty girl, Olívia.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, sir.”
“Guillermo.”
“No,” I respond without thinking.
“Say it.” He takes a step closer. There’s no threat in his posture, but the proximity makes my knees weak.
“I might be mistaken,” I try to argue.
“I want to hear you say my name. Speak.”
I moisten my dry lips because otherwise, I think no sound will come out. “Guillermo.”
He’s attentive to my mouth, and a shiver runs through my body.
“You won’t call me ‘sir’ anymore when it’s just the two of us.”
“I don’t think I should . . .”
“Am I that old, Olívia?”
“Of course not.”
That shadow of a smile reappears, as if he’s pleased with the response, but before I can analyze what’s happening, he changes the subject, leaving me lost again.
“You said you were going to eat. I’ll order dinner for us. There’s an adjoining room here, right?”
“Yes. Melissa was surprised that I was installed in this apartment. She said the staff wing is on the first floor.”
Instead of responding to me, he picks up the phone. “What would you like to eat?”
“I’ll eat anything,” I say and then feel my face blush. Surely, from the size of my hips, he must have noticed that I eat everything.
Suddenly, I become aware of the madness of even imagining something between us.
I spent most of the day yesterday with Melissa in an intensive class about the company, and now I know that he’s not just one of the powerful Caldwell-Oviedos. Guillermo istheCEO of theentireCaldwell-Oviedo hotel network around the world.
So only temporary insanity could explain why I’m even considering that he might have any interest in me.
I try to act natural and pretend that it’s nothing out of the ordinary to be having dinner with my boss, who also happens to be the same guy who, since I first saw him, has been responsible for incredible orgasms in my lonely nights.
“Aren’t you hungry?”
“Starving, but also terribly nervous.”
