Jake
The conference room was buzzing when I arrived. It was a huge meeting, one that could change everything for my us. We'd been chasing this contract for months, and today was the day we would either win or lose it. I walked in, every eye turning toward me. But only one person in the room had my full attention.
Laura.
She sat across the table, her face unreadable, completely absorbed in the documents in front of her. There wasn't even a flicker of acknowledgment when I entered. I could've been invisible for all she cared. My stomach tightened. This was going to be harder than I thought.
I took my seat at the head of the table, nodding at the clients across from me. "Gentlemen, thank you for coming. I know this is an important decision for you, and I'm confident we can offer you the best partnership moving forward."
"Let's hope so, Jake," one of the clients, Mr. Hutchinson, replied. "We've been considering a lot of options. What makes you so sure your team is the right one for this?"
It was a good question. One I'd rehearsed an answer for a hundred times. But today, as I opened my mouth to respond, I felt myself falter. My mind wasn't on the contract. It wasn't on the numbers or the projections. It was on Laura. She was sitting right there, barely three feet away, and yet she felt like she was miles from me.
"We've done a thorough analysis of your market, Mr. Hutchinson," I began, forcing myself to focus, "and we've crafted a tailored approach that will allow you to increase profitability by 30% within the next two quarters. Our team has the expertise, the resources, and the dedication to ensure you not only meet but exceed your expectations."
Hutchinson nodded, but I could tell he wasn't convinced yet. "That's all well and good, but projections are just numbers on a page. What guarantees can you give us that those numbers will become reality?"
Before I could answer, Laura jumped in. "We've already had several successful partnerships that started with the same projections, and all of them exceeded their targets. I personally oversaw the last three deals, and we've had a 100% success rate."
Her voice was calm, confident, and professional. There was no hint of the tension that had been simmering between us since the trip. She was completely composed. As she continued speaking, laying out the specifics of the plan, I found myself staring at her, unable to look away. She was perfect. And she wasn't even looking at me.
"Thank you, Ms. Bennett," Hutchinson said when she finished, clearly impressed. "That's what I wanted to hear."
I was grateful for Laura's intervention. I knew I should be the one leading the presentation, but I was too distracted. I jumped back in, taking over where she left off, and we went through the rest of the meeting. There were a few more questions, but by the end, I could tell Hutchinson and his team were satisfied.
"Well, Jake," Hutchinson said as we wrapped up, "I think we've heard everything we need to. We'll move forward with your proposal."
I nodded, shaking his hand firmly. "Thank you, Mr. Hutchinson. We won't let you down."
The clients filed out, congratulating me as they left. Normally, I'd be ecstatic. But as soon as they were gone, I looked across the table at Laura. She was packing up her things, her expression still as neutral as ever.
"Great job, Laura, you did so well." I said, hoping for some kind of reaction.
She barely glanced at me. "Thanks, Sir," she replied, her tone formal. "I'm glad it worked out."
"Do you need me to get anything for you?" She asked politely
"No, but…" I tilted my head sideways, I didn't need anything. I was only contemplating if it was a good time to talk about the heat between us.
"Uhmm… we should…" I looked up and just like that, she was gone. No lingering looks, no awkward moments. Nothing.
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. I couldn't stay in the office any longer. I needed to get out of here.
I thought of going to the bar again but Mike would be there and I wasn't ready to be hooked with another random girl. That's his solution to everything.
I will just drink at home - I thought to myself as I got into my car and drove straight home.
I pulled into the garage, tired and exhausted. The meeting had drained me more than I expected, and there was Laura too… tormenting me at every chance.
All I wanted to do was drink until I crash in bed, forget about everything for a few hours. I dumped my bag on the couch and then got a bottle of chilled vodka.
I grabbed a glass, poured a little which I downed in a go.
I definitely need more of this - I mumbled and then hurried upstairs into my room.
I opened the door to my bedroom, and stopped dead in my tracks.
Chloe was lying on my bed, her legs wide apart while scrolling through her phone like she owned the place. She was wearing the most sexiest lingerie I'd seen in a while. She was leaving little to nothing to imagination, but that was besides the point. What the hell was she doing in my house?
"What the hell are you doing here and how did you f*cking get in?" I snapped, stepping inside and closing the door behind me.
She looked up at me with a lazy smile, her lips curling seductively. She didn't seem to care one bit about the anger that was fuming from every part of me.
"Hey, baby. I thought you'd be happy to see me."
"Are you out of your mind? I didn't invite you here," I growled, throwing my jacket on a chair. "How did you even get in?"
"Let's just say I know my way around,"
"Okay, okay, a little birdie told me." She quickly cleared when she saw my face change.
"Figured you wouldn't mind a little company after last night." She said casually, like it was nothing.
I gritted my teeth. I knew exactly who it was. Mike. He's the little birdie. He's the one who would do this kind of messy stuff.
"You need to leave," I said firmly, crossing my arms over my chest.
Chloe didn't move. She didn't even flinch, she just leaned back on her elbows.
"Why? You weren't complaining last night."
I clenched my fists, trying to keep my cool. "That was last night. This is different."
She stood up, standing there in nothing but a tiny lace thong. "Is it?" she purred, running her hands down her body. She moved the string off her bo*bs and they were standing firm and staring fiercely at me.
My pulse quickened. I should've pushed her away. I should've told her to leave. But the stress of the day, the frustration with Laura, it all came crashing down at once. And before I could stop myself, I was moving toward her.
She grinned, knowing she had me. "That's more like it," she whispered, pulling me into a kiss.
I pushed her back into the bed and she giggled naughtily, spreading her legs in the air and holding them so they stay widely apart.
That was when I saw the hole in the panty area. I got hard immediately I saw that.
"Easy access, you just push it all in, I can take it." She let out, licking her lips desperately and grinding against the bed.
"You're so crazy.." that was all I could say before I fell on her and went in her.
I grabbed her neck and went in harder.
"I want it rough!!" Ohhh that was why she came back.
She wanted rough.
I cursed under my breath, my grip tightening on her hips as I tried to lose myself in the moment. Ten minutes later, I came hard, and again, in her. Another mistake.
"Still on the pill!" She moaned while she held my behind tightly as she shook under me.
I waited till she was a bit calm and then collapsed beside her on the bed. The room was filled with the sound of our heavy breathing, while Chloe curled up against me, her fingers tracing lazy patterns across my chest.
"You're incredible, Jake," she murmured, kissing my shoulder. "I could do this all night."
I didn't respond. I stared up at the ceiling, my mind elsewhere. Laura. It was always Laura. No matter what I did, no matter how hard I tried to forget her, she was always there, haunting me.
Chloe must've sensed my distraction. She propped herself up on one elbow, frowning slightly. "You okay?"
"Yeah," I muttered, not looking at her.
"Liar," she teased, but there was a hint of frustration in her voice, raising an eyebrow. "You've been distant since the moment I got here. Whatever it is, I like it though, makes you handle me rough, exactly the way I like it." She let out and then got on me but I pushed her off.
"Get out, and never come back"
"C'mon, it's late. I'll leave first thing in the morning." She let out, faced the other side, and then pulled the cover over herself.
I wasn't in the mood for more talks, and since it was only a few hours, I decided to let her stay the night…