Our meeting unfolded just as I’d imagined, except now Colin was there to talk me up. As we shook hands with Mr. Bing while Mr. Sheldon signed the contract, I fully understood what Colin had been saying. Iwasdriven. I’d made this happen.
The euphoria lasted throughout our congratulatory champagne on the flight back until I was back in my apartment picking out clothes to take with me to Colin’s place. Suddenly, my off-brand jeans and graphic T-shirts seemed to clash with the idea of the penthouse I’d be staying in for a couple of days. I picked the least shabby casual outfits I could find and threw in something nice as well, in case he wanted to take me somewhere.
Downstairs, a driver was waiting to take me across town to a building with a doorman, security, and a key fob plus security code to access the elevator to the top floor.
I stepped off the elevator directly into an airy open apartment with windows all along one side displaying a vivid sunset. It was very obvious an interior decorator had put together the living area, and I wandered around for a moment, studying the cozy features chosen, like a throw blanket over thelong apricot-colored sofa, and the eucalyptus arranged in a tall vase on the coffee table.
“Welcome,” Colin said, striding into the room, beaming.
I matched his enthusiasm. “Thanks for inviting me.”
“I might never let you leave.” He picked me up and twirled me around.
I found paradise.
The next fewdays consisted of awkward moments arriving at work together (including plenty of gossip and speculation) and intimate evenings followed by passionate lovemaking.
Oh, the way he made love…
As we got to know each other better, learning each other’s sexual history, talking more in-depth about our lives, secret dreams, hidden desires, our nights together only grew more intense. Once he learned I responded to dirty talk, it was like the pre-show to opening Pandora’s box.
I don’t think I’d ever had a man so intent upon giving me an orgasm. It became his mission to give me pleasure, and I made sure to show my gratitude.
We ventured out from the penthouse to get some food (though he most often masterfully cooked for me), but I would only have to tug at his sleeve for him to look me in the eye and understand that I was hungry forhim. We raced back to his place to indulge in each other.
We spent weeks this way. I’d go home for a few days, managing a bit of housework and errands if he was away on business. But then he’d return, and I’d end up back in Colin’s bed after he passed by my desk at work. Just a word or two from him to me would give me the green light, indicating he had no other obligations and was free for me to come over.
Usually, I’d get a raised eyebrow, clapping, or gagging noise from Grant, depending on which mood he was in.
We still hadn’t heard who the new director was going to be. I hadn’t told Grant that I was in the running because I figured he might want the position himself, and I didn’t care to be in direct competition with him.
Who the next Director of Accounts would be became the topic of conversation over the next few weeks and reached a fever pitch after Monica and Jessica found out I’d had an interview with the vice presidents. While it had been a nerve-wracking experience, I had a good feeling about the whole thing. Colin wasn’t part of the interview process due to our relationship (which we’d officially registered with HR a few weeks back).
But when I received an invitation for a meeting with Colin in his office on the Friday after my interview, I suspected something was up. I didn’t bother calling or texting him and waited eagerly for the couple of hours until it was time to head upstairs. Even Grant had a suspicious look about him when I told him about the meeting.
I checked in with Kaitlin and sat down to wait to be called in. While I would never say we’d be friends, Kaitlin and I had reached a seemingly unspoken agreement to be friendly to each other. It’d been a long time since I’d had an eye roll or hair toss from her.
I realized I’d been perpetuating something for a long time with Kaitlin that didn’t need to be drawn out. If I’d just taken the high road the first time she’d been a bit haughty, I might have avoided years of unnecessary unpleasantness. Also, who knows how long she’d been dealing with Kirkman’s advances, and I truly sympathized with her for having been put in that position. It would make anyone lash out.
Kaitlin’s phone rang. She answered it, then stood up to open the door to Colin’s office.
“You may go in now,” she said with a slight twitch of her lips.
I walked in to see Colin standing by his desk, and when the door closed, he rushed over and took my face in both of his hands, kissing me with a fervor that sent any thoughts of promotions flying out the window.
Just as quickly, he pulled away, put his hands in his pockets, and walked back around to his desk.
“What was that for?” I laughed, still giddy. I kind of hoped I could do that move where you slide everything off the desk and let it fall to the floor before jumping on top of the desk.
“I missed you,” he said with a twinkle in his eye.
“You just saw me this morning. In your bed,” I said, blushing. Why was I still so moved by this man? I studied his features… his well-proportioned face and strong jawline, the hair combed loosely to the side and back, which must have taken him less than a minute that morning, the blue eyes which seemed to both pull me in and read me.
“Enough of my deep and embarrassingly strong feelings for you,” he said, suddenly reverting to his work persona.
No smile. Sharp stare.
I stifled a laugh and even put my fingers up to cover my mouth.
