The sound of the door opening set me in motion. With my heart racing like a war horse, and my hands flying like bullets I hurriedly put everything back as they were before.
Hopefully.
And then I came out around the table wearing a very nervous innocent look on my face by the time Mr Valentine finally made himself visible to me.
Hope my facade is well in place, and I don't look like a kid caught with his hand in a cookie jar.
Mr Valentine looked mildly surprise to see me in his office, though the look of surprise was fleeting and was soon replaced with a neutral look as he addressed me.
"Ms Stone, nice of you to join us," he said casually as he made his way to his seat, removing his outer black suit jacket, and leaving only his black suit vest upon a very white long sleeve shirt.
He flung the suit around his seat and then settled into his chair before returning his attention back to me.
His greeting left me wondering if he was being literal or sarcastic. Not that his neutral expression could tell me anything.
I decided to go with sarcastic, and apologize.
"I am sorry sir. I had an emergency..."
While my mouth were speaking the words, my mind was speaking the truth. I had to talk to my best friend last night because she was having a depressive crisis which made me wake up late today. I am so sorry.
That was my mind.
But this I said outwardly.
"I had a very bad stomach this morning. Must have eating something bad. I tried calling you, but you weren't speaking."
All these I said in a rush looking like I was about to shite my pants. I hate lying. They actually make me sick to my stomach.
And I have been told that I have a very bad poker face, which got me all worried as I gave the excuse Cassius graciously gave me.
"Please buy it," I chatted in my mind, my mind eyes closed as I waited for his response. Was he trying to punish me by keeping silence.
His expression was still the same, and telling me if he bought my excuse or not.
I was almost on the verge of coming clean when his response came.
"Oh dear. Are you okay now?" His expression became slightly worried.
He bought it.
The fact that I just told a lie and got away with it nearly made me collapse to the ground in relieve. Often times my face usually gives away that I am lying.
Whew! I cleaned the imaginary sweat on my forehead using my mind.
I was so relieved that he bought my excuse and I am not going to be fired that I nearly forgot his question.
"Oh, I am fine now," I flashed him a shaking smile. "Thank you for asking."
His grey eyes narrowed gently at me, like he was fishing for something. "I know you are new here, and worried about your position, but you don't have to pretend with me. If you are not feeling good, you can stay home. There is no point risking your health all because of work. I promise you, your position here is secured."
He flashed me a soft smile that softened his handsome face and made him all the more appealing.
I could understand why his assistants all fell for his charm. With his kind heart and good looks what woman could resist.
The question came again. Why Amelia hates him so. It can't really be about the cheating? I nagging feeling that it is something more reappeared in my mind again.
A soft smile of appreciation for his concern played across my lips. "Thank you sir," I said in the softest tone.
"Malcolm," he raised a teasing brow in my direction.
"Thank you Malcolm," I said shyly, not looking at him directly, but when I felt the increase intensity of his stare on my face, I chanced a look at him. Peering at him from under my upper lashes, not fully looking at him.
The heat in his eyes sent shivers down my spine, and also made me slightly breathless. He looked ready to bend me over his table and fuck me senseless from behind.
Damn, he is fucking handsome.
Why am I reacting to his sensual appraisal. I had thought Amelia has me entranced, but judging from my bodies awareness of the man sitting few feet away from me, that doesn't seem to be the case.
My bodies reaction to him made me feel relieve. It just answered the question that my attraction to Amelia roused in me. I am not gay.
My attraction to Amelia is the anomaly. I still find guys very much attractive, and apart from Amelia, I don't find any other woman remotely attractive.
Whew!
Maybe now that we have fucked, this obsession the dark brunette rouses in me will disappear. And I am glad that Malcolm rouses desire in me. It will make my job easier. It is always boor having to fuck a man you are not attracted to.
"I love the way you say my name. Soft and sexy."
I heard Malcolm speaking, but because I was lost in my thoughts his words didn't fully penetrate my subconscious.
"Huh?" I blurted out, wearing a confused expression on my face.
"I love my name on your lips, and would love to hear you say it more often." The look in his eyes was still packing the same heat as before and it made all flushed inside.
"Um... thank you, I guess," I stuttered, not sure how to receive what is obviously a compliment, though it sounded more sexual.
"So let's get back to business. You missed the meeting this morning, which meant that I had to borrow Lucy..."
I opened my mouth to apologize, but he raised his hand at me before the words could come out. "There is no need to apologize. You weren't feeling alright."
I felt guilty that he is being all kind and accommodating, and I lied to him.
"So about the meeting," I brought back the discussion to the original topic.
"Yes. Meet with her so she can bring you up to speed as to what transpired. I am meeting with them in two weeks time. I need you to pencil that into my calendar."
I nodded. "What day?"
"Friday. No, cancel that. actually cancel everything I have on that Friday. It is my tenth year wedding anniversary, and I want to do something special for Amelia. She been annoyed with me lately." His smile when it came was a little sad, with a hint of fondness. It was obvious that Malcolm still cared for Amelia in his own way.
I wondered if Amelia still cared?
My heart skipped at the mention of his wife, but I forced myself not to reveal what I was feeling inside. Especially when the memory of her fucking me against my kitchen island flashed through my mind.
"That is nice," I said politely, while squishing my legs together to quash the heat between my legs brought on by the memories of me having sex with his wife.
Should we even call what happened in my kitchen sex? I have yet to get over the confusion left inside me by that incident, and that is compounded by the fact that I can't even talk to her about it.
Malcolm shrugged as if doing something nice for his wife wasn't a big deal.
"So what day is good?"
"Tuesday."
"Tuesday it is," I made a memory of it in my mind, to put it down later. I hadn't come in with my pad because I had only come in to apologize.
"Any other thing else sir?"
His both brows raised at my address making me blush.
"I am sorry. Malcolm," I corrected, still feeling the heat of my embarrassment on my cheeks.
"That is better," he flashed me a sly grin. And then said. "Nothing else."
I stood up from the seat and made my way to the door, as boldly as I could without collapsing from nerves.
Outside the door I released a deep sigh of relief, hoping that my heart will not give out on me from having to deal with such intense couple.
Just like his wife, Malcolm makes me feel very high strung and tensed in his presence.
I leaned away from the door and made my way towards Lucy's side.
Her office, or should I say Amanda's office is on the other side of this floor.
When I got there, Lucy's cubicle was empty, so I decided to check if she was with Amanda.
I knocked twice, and when I got no response I turned the door handle to see if anyone was in the office.
I walked in with my gaze to the floor and when I raised it to see if Amanda was in I froze at the sight that awaited me.