‘He seems nice,’ Katy replied, still getting dragged along behind a storming Zola.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Ella
I woke up the next morning, sprawled out over the small sofa in my office, to the sounds of honking horns and passing sirens. After Zola and Katy caught me up on Katy’s fanny-packed evening, we’d had a brainstorming session about who might want us out and why. Around 2 a.m., we realised we didn’t have a fucking clue. Despite something pretty freaking hot starting with Jimmy, I knew he was my best bet for information, but I didn’t want to betray him like that. I’d had the most fun in months – if not ever – at Summit One, and I didn’t want to snoop around his business like fucking Isa in the background. But something inside me wondered: what if our investigations helped him too? Someone obviously had it in for him. Someone wanted the app to fail. Maybe if I dug a little deeper, I’d unearth the answers we all needed.
It was just after 5 a.m. as I sat up, feeling achy from only a few hours’ sleep on a not-exactly-comfortable couch. I turned to see Zola and Katy sound asleep on the floor beside me. They’d pulled a mountain of beanbags together and created a double mattress. I smiled as I watched them, snoring softly and entirely dead to the world, then stood up. I was still in the dress from my evening with Jimmy, and I knew the office would start getting busy in only a few hours, so I grabbed my bag and shoes to head home for a quick shower and outfit refresh.
The office was quiet. Eerily quiet. If I had half a clue what I was looking for, this would be the perfect time to go snooping – but I didn’t. As I headed through the corridor, I spotted a dim light coming from Jimmy’s office. He’d messaged me at gone midnight to say goodnight and that he was going home.
I stopped in my tracks. What if this was the stalker, scoping out trade secrets or digging for dirt?
I took a step closer, hearing rustling coming from behind his office door.
Fuck, I could feel my pulse pick up. Maybe it was just the cleaner?
I took a few more small steps, panic surging through my veins. I was just outside the door – I only had to peer my head round to see who it was, but the glass walls meant whoever was inside would see me too.Fuck. I stopped, took a deep breath, then walked straight out in front of the glass.
‘Jimmy?’ I said, noticing him sitting at his desk, raiding through his drawer. I stepped into the room and he lifted his head, looking just as surprised as I was. Relief began to settle through me.
‘Ella?’ He smiled, warmth in his eyes. ‘Now tell me you haven’t stayed here all night?’ Jimmy was wearing a pale grey tracksuit, sweat visible on his chest like he’d run a marathon to get here.
‘I did,’ I admitted. ‘I slept on the wee couch thing in my office. What are you doing here so early?’
Jimmy laughed, shaking his head, then continued to rummage. ‘I took a cab home last night – I was too tired to drive. And I always pop round to my mom’s in the morning, but I forgot the keys were in here.’ He paused, finally raising a set of keys in the air.
‘That’s nice of you.’ I felt my shoulders relax. A man who visits his mum to check in? Jesus, could this sexy cunt get any better?
‘I’m not a mama’s boy either, if that’s what you’re thinking,’ he said, holding his hands up in defence.
I grinned, stepping closer to his desk. ‘Are you sure about that?’ I teased. I stepped around him and shimmied my bum on top of the desk, facing him in his chair. I lifted a framed photo of him, his mum and Fee, smiling together at a family BBQ.
Jimmy burst out laughing. ‘Busted! So maybe I am. She doesn’t keep well, so I like to stay close.’
I glanced up at him, placing the photo down. He sat directly facing me, his forehead still damp from his early morning jog.
‘Tell me, did you have fun last night?’ he asked, his voice as confident and smooth as ever.
I bowed my head. ‘A lot of fun! That place was perfect,’ I said, thinking back to the multicoloured sunset lighting up the sky, then the city glittering like a sea of stars in the darkness. ‘Next time, I’ll take you to the Empire State Building or the observation deck at Edge. I can’t promise it will be only the two of us, but we’ll have one hell of a view.’ I grinned, part of me hoping for reassurance that Jimmy wanted to do it all again.
‘Absolutely,’ he said, leaning forward. ‘I look forward to it.’ His hands rested on the desk, only a few centimetres from my thighs. ‘I’m glad you want to spend more time with me.’ His voice softened. I felt his fingers slowly trace my outer thigh. ‘I was worried that we cut it short.’ Jimmy glanced up at me, his eyes locking with mine.
‘I was worried about that too,’ I admitted. Truthfully, I hadn’t stopped thinking about winching him in the lift and feeling his giant dick press hard against me.
‘I thought about getting the footage from the elevator from the security guys.’ Jimmy smirked, like he was reading my mind.
I blushed, peering down at him, then giggled.
‘I’m serious, Ella. That was some hardcore sexy shit in there!’
I burst out laughing, pushing his shoulders away playfully. Jimmy grinned and stood up. He moved his hands through my hair, and suddenly we were kissing – first slowly, then deeper. His arms and hands caressed my head and body. He pulled me in and positioned himself between my legs. Fucking hell, I’d never felt so much desire in my life. His lips felt soft, his tongue swept around mine and I could hear myself moaning, craving his touch. Every inch of me wanted this. Wanted him.
Jimmy ran his hands down my body, squeezing my breasts and moaning in my mouth as he did. I drew him in as close as I could, dying to be near him.
‘Ella,’ he gasped, shaking his head. ‘We should stop.’ He managed to pull away, his eyes sparkling. ‘Jesus,’ he panted. ‘We’ve been on one date. I don’t want you to think less of me. I like you,’ he said, looking almost annoyed at himself for admitting it.
‘I like you too.’ I smiled, composing myself.
