All I have to do is not let him in.
Chapter 5
Chandler
“Are you coming, or is it just the way you’re sitting?” Dean snickered.
I rolled my eyes. “You need to come up with new material. Just saying.” I glanced at the wall clock. Sure enough, it was time for the Friday morning briefing, when we all gathered in the boardroom to get the lowdown on how we’d performed during the week. It was Stu’s weekly opportunity to deliver a verbal kick in the ass to those who were slacking, but also to give praise where it was due.
Speaking of Stu…
I hadn’t laid eyes on him since that drink at his place. If I hadn’t gotten such a positive feeling after Wednesday night, I’d have thought he was avoiding me. He’d appeared to be in a good mood when I left, and I certainly was.
So why haven’t I seen him?
There was one obvious answer—regret. He regretted asking me for a drink. He regretted our conversation. He regretted stepping over some line he’d drawn for himself, and was slipping back into his more usual position.
So where does that leave me? Our ‘arrangement’?
Fucked if I knew.
Then I realized Dean hadn’t moved. “Something you wanted?” Except as soon as I uttered the words, I knew what was coming. Shit.
“So what happened in your little meeting with Stu on Monday? You were sure you were gonna get canned.” Dean smirked. “But here you are. Wanna explain that?”
I heaved an exaggerated sigh. “And I’m damn lucky to be here. I’m holding onto my job by the skin of my teeth.”
Dean arched his eyebrows. “Yeah, but how? Because if I sent a dick pic to the boss, I’d be out of a job so fast I wouldn’t have time to count to ten.” He narrowed his gaze. “What makes you so special?” Then he grinned. “Oh, I get it. You’re fucking the boss. Sexual favors and all that.”
I did another eye roll. “Sure. That’s obviously it.” I shook my head. “I showed him my texts with Ste, which was pretty embarrassing, I can tell you. Then I explained how it had really been a genuine mistake.” My heart pounded.
“And he bought it?”
I glared at him. “Why the fuck shouldn’t he buy it? That’s what happened, right?” Around us, heads turned in my direction, and I lowered my voice. “That’s what happened,” I repeated.
“Yeah, but bosses aren’t known for being reasonable, understanding human beings,” Dean commented dryly.
“I got a warning. If anything like this happens again, I’m out on my ear. I’m guessing promotion is gonna be out too.” Another sigh. I mentally crossed my fingers, praying he bought it. The last thing I needed was Dean getting wind of this.
Dean cackled. “Then you’d better be on your best behavior. And speaking of which, you’d better get your ass into that boardroom. You don’t wanna give him any excuse to fire you.”
I got to my feet and grabbed my notepad. “You got that right.” I followed him out of the office and along the hallway into the boardroom with its large, polished table at the center, surrounded by chairs. Most of the staff were already gathered, chatting quietly. No sign of Stu, but it was still a couple of minutes off ten o’clock.
On the dot, Stu walked into the room and took the vacant chair situated at the end. He gave a polite nod to everyone. “Good morning. Are we all here? Great.” He grinned. “Hot enough for ya?”
Laughter echoed around the room. It was shaping up to be a record summer.
“Well, just to let you know, the A/C is working fine.” He crossed his fingers. “Famous last words. Okay, let’s get down to business.” He referred briefly to his notes and started talking, but I wasn’t listening. I was trying not to stare at him.
Could he possibly look more drool-worthy?
He was wearing a dark blue suit that fitted him beautifully. His five o’clock shadow seemed more pronounced than usual, and it gave him a dangerous, sexy look that made me thankful my crotch was out of sight beneath the tabletop. But what really got to me?
He didn’t look at me once.
He made eye contact with all the other members of staff around the table, but avoided my gaze. Not that he did it obviously, but hell, I noticed. I doubted anyone else would.
What came as a complete shock? It hurt.
One week since I’d fucked up and sent him that pic, and something had changed in me. It wasn’t that I’d seen his cock up close and personal. It wasn’t that he’d had his fingers up my ass.
No. It was that we’d… connected in some way. Nothing earth-shattering, I grant you. But it didn’t feel like we were the same two men who’d sat in his office Monday morning, while he coolly put his proposition to me. And I knew why.
I’d begun to think it could be more than mere sexy shenanigans. More fool me. Looked like it was just sex after all.
Did you want it to be more?
And now we came down to it. Apparently, I did. And that was the shocker.
Someone nudged me, and I realized with a shock that the meeting was over. Stu walked out of the room without so much as a glance in my direction.
Fine. At least I knew how the land lay. I got up and filed out of the boardroom with the others, Dean at my side.
“He really isn’t happy with you, is he?”
So I wasn’t the only one who’d noticed. Of course, Dean had knowledge no one else possessed.
“Like I said… here by the skin of my teeth.” And looking more precarious by the second. I couldn’t think about it anymore. It messed with my head. “Okay, I’m gonna get back to work. Those reports won’t write themselves.” I left Dean at his desk and went over to mine.
That was how I was going to play it from then on. I’d keep my head down and get the work done. That way, I wouldn’t have time to think.
I sat down at my desk, and pulled up a file on my monitor. My phone vibrated in my pocket, and I glanced around to make sure no one was looking. Some of my co-workers were real pains in the ass when it came to taking personal calls at work. I slipped my phone out of my pants pocket and peered at the screen.
It was a text. From Stu.
Frowning, I opened it.
Tonight after work. Boardroom. Be there.
Talk about short and sweet. I closed it and put my phone back in my pocket. Despite my misgivings, something coiled and uncoiled deep in my belly.
I wonder what he’s got planned? What came immediately to mind was me bent over the gleaming mahogany table, while he plowed into me from behind, stealing my breath with every thrust of that meaty cock.
Okay, so it was just sex. But if it was a choice between hooking up with anonymous guys, getting my rocks off with Ste, or my boss fucking me any chance he got, I’d take Stu Ganford any day.
I waited until the office had emptied, taking as long as possible to collect my things. Fiona nodded politely in my direction as she left her desk, and I returned the nod. That left just me and Stu—and the cleaning staff, whenever they arrived. I picked up my jacket and bag, and headed for the boardroom.
Stu was sitting in his chair, pushed back from the desk, his long legs stretched out in front of him, crossed at the ankles, his hands laced in his lap. His shirt was unbuttoned at the collar, his tie loosened. His jacket hung over the back of the chair.