“No, dear. You’ve had a long first day. Just relax and your clothes will soon be delivered,” Mrs. Hernandez assures her before she turns to leave.
Sophia gestures toward the kitchen, “Tucker was right—the kitchen ismorethan fully stocked. Do you want some coffee?”
“I should probably get going and leave you to get acquainted with your new place,” I tell her as I casually glance around. When my eyes land back on hers, I see some apprehension in them.
“Don’t you need to be here when Christine gets back?” she asks.
“She won’t be back. She will pick them out and a courier will deliver them to the guards downstairs. They will call first and then bring them up here for you.”
“Oh, well, okay then. Thank you so much for everything, Dominic. Really—I don’t know what else to say,” Sophia tells me, the glistening from unshed tears of gratitude in her eyes.
“It is truly my pleasure, Sophia. There is really no need to thank me. You are welcome to stay here as long as you need or want,” I reiterate. She sees me to the door, and despite the security in place, I still encourage her to thoroughly lock up and double check if anyone knocks on the door.
An hour later, I’m at my house having a nightcap when my phone rings. A quick glance at the screen tells me Sophia’s calling. I answer it on the second ring, “Sophia? Are you alright?”
“Yes, Dominic, I’m fine. I’m sorry to call you so late, but the courier just dropped off enough clothes and shoes to fill up the huge walk-in closet in my bedroom! I’m afraid there must be some mistake and I wanted to alert you as soon as possible,” she says, talking as fast as she can to convey her entire message to me.
“There is no error, Sophia. Those are all your things now. Take them, enjoy them, and wear them to work,” I assure her, knowing she can hear my smile through the phone.
“No one has ever done anything like this for me, Dominic. This is beyond a perk of being your employee,” she replies, her voice taking on a low, sensual quality.
“Itoldyou Mrs. Hernandez lives to spend money, Sophia. She’s just giving you a wide variety to choose from before work in the morning,” I jest, trying to lighten the mood and turn the conversation from the direction it’s headed.
She takes a deep breath and releases it with a mixture of a soft, sweet sigh and hum that shoots directly to my groin and causes an immediate discomfort. This attraction is undeniable, from both sides, but the thoughts she invokes in me are from a different time. Those thoughts are from a different lifestyle that I no longer live in. The mental pictures are exquisite and I can feel the desire to return to that way of life increasing, beckoning me and pulling me into its claws.
“Okay, Dominic, if you say so. I’ve said‘thank you’so many times in the last eighteen hours but it just seems so lacking. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate all you’ve done for me. In the short time I’ve known you, you’ve done more for me than anyone else has my entire life,” Sophia says and her voice cracks on her final words.
“Get some rest and enjoy your new place tonight, Sophia. I will see you in the morning,” I respond softly, purposely not responding to her declaration.
“I will. Goodnight, Dominic.”
“Goodnight,” I say before disconnecting.
I know what I’m doing next. I am heading straight for a cold shower and then to bed. Alone.This fucking sucks.After my shower, I crawl into my king-size bed and allow my thoughts to go where they want. Immediately, my mind settles on Sophia and the long day I spent with her. How is it she is affecting me so much all of a sudden? Over the past few years, I couldn’t count the number of beautiful women who have thrown themselves at me. I’ve been told enough how handsome I am, what a great catch I’d be, and what a wonderful husband I would make.
I know I’m above average height. My muscular build coupled with my stylishly messed hair, piercing blue eyes, and eternal five o’clock shadow has turned more than a few heads of all types of ladies, from the very bold and brazen to the shy and reserved. That used to be a great turn-on and ego boost for me, but not anymore.
One year, four months. Sixteen months. Sixty-four weeks. Four hundred forty eight days, give or take a day. That’s how long my current self-imposed dry spell has lasted. For the first time in all that time, I am considering breaking that dry spell for a very lovely, very sexy, andveryseductive Sophia Vasco. These are my last thoughts as I drift off to sleep.
At 4:44 a.m., I wake with a start and sit straight up in the bed. My heart is pounding in my chest and the blood is as loud as a freight train in my ears. My pulse is racing out of control. Instinctively, my hand covers my heart and somehow my brain registers that my skin is clammy and sweaty.Fucking nightmare!It was all so damn real—I could see, feel, smell, and hear it all. Every last detail of it mirrored the memories I have worked so hard to forget for the past year. The events of the past that came closer to breaking me than anything else in my life.
Except, this time, Sophia was the one in my nightmare.
What the hell is happening?
* * *
I’m backat the office early this morning to review more aspects of the confidential contract before Sophia arrives for work. I couldn’t go back to sleep after my early morning mind-fuck, so I dressed and decided to do something productive to get those images out of my mind. The contract is somewhat helping to take my mind off of the nightmare, but not nearly enough.
After reading and rereading the same paragraph three times, I put the contract away and start preparing for Sophia’s training today. There is still so much to do to get her ready to fill in for me when needed. The company lawyers are coming by today to discuss some of the legal ramifications she has to consider. They’ve already properly chastised my ass for hiring her before contacting them and it’s been duly noted. One more thing to add to the list of ways she’s knocked me off my game. My only defense is this is an at-will employment state, so there are no real ‘contracts’ when it comes to employment.
Today, Sophia will meet with all the department heads and the CFO to start understanding their roles. Once she feels comfortable with their key responsibilities, I will have her start attending my meetings and conference calls. After this rigorous training program that will put her through the ropes and test her stamina, she will be ready to assume more responsibility.
I, however, will be ready to combust.
I hear her voice outside my office door and have to admit I’m ready to see her again. The triple cadence rap on the door brings a smile to my face. I lean back in my leather office chair as I call out, “Come in.”
Dana opens the door and Sophia sweeps in. Mrs. Hernandez has outdone herself in her recent shopping excursion. Sophia looks absolutely stunning in a fitted navy dress and off-white belt-sash with matching shoes and purse. I pause to give her an appreciative once-over. Her beauty completely steals my breath away.
