Bad day, maybe?
“So, what’ve you got?” I ask in an attempt to get the meeting started.
She glances at her papers. “I was thinking of running two offers. One to the merchants directly, the other to the mall administration with a buy-in for merchants who don’t want or can’t afford a full campaign of their own.”
“Makes sense. What are the terms for the price-match from the mall for vendors who go alone?”
“There is a price cap, and the mall logo needs to be on the materials or prominently mentioned in any radio or television advertisements. The campaign must also start within four months of the re-opening.”
I nod. “Sounds reasonable.”
We discuss some of the details, but when the conversation lags for more than a few seconds, Harper gets a distracted look in her eyes. Finally, I decide to end the meeting early and schedule a follow-up for several days later.
“Has Harper seemed distracted to you?” I ask Declan a few days later.
Declan looks up from his tablet. “Harper? I can’t say I’ve noticed.”
“Do you even talk to the people under you?”
“Of course, but if I chatted with them all day, nothing would get done. We usually go over new tasks in the morning, and I follow up or hand out new assignments as needed. They can always come to me with questions, though Harper hasn’t needed anything lately.” He paused. “Why do you ask?”
I shake my head. “She’s been quieter than usual all week. I rescheduled the second half of Monday’s meeting to Wednesday because she couldn’t seem to focus. Then I rescheduled again to this morning because she still couldn’t keep on task. Even that wasn’t enough. I had to call up to remind her, and it took her fifteen minutes to gather her notes and come down. I finally called it after half an hour of her trying to remember what she was talking about.”
Declan frowns. “She’s normally pretty quiet, but that does seem out of character, even for her.”
“She hasn’t said anything to you about it?”
Declan shakes his head. “Nothing to me, but I’ll keep an ear out.”
“Let me know if you hear anything.”
“Of course. But…do I need to have somebody take over for her on the new sales project?”
“No, not yet. I’m hoping it was only a bad week.”
Declan frowns. “It happens, but let me know if it continues.”
“Will do.”
Harper looks more put-together the following Monday. Instead of scattered piles, she’s organized her papers into tidy folders.
But she’s just as distracted when the topic strays from business.
“I’d like to work late tonight,” I say, catching her staring out the window.
“What?”
I smile. “We lost a lot of time last week. I’d like to work late to get us back on track.”
She glances at the window again, then nods. “Okay.”
“Expecting a change in the weather?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“Did you hear? Martians landed in Central Park.” I say.
“That’s great.”
“Harper?”
“Yeah?”
“Are you even paying attention?”
“Mm-hmm.”
I sigh, stand, and plant myself between her and the window until she finally looks up at me, pink blush crossing her cheeks.
I sigh, scowl, and cross my arms. “Harper. Listen, I don’t care about casual conversations or small-talk. But you have to focus on your job. We’ve already lost several days because you were so distracted last week. Now, I asked if we can work late tonight to get us back on track.”
Her blush deepens. “Sorry. Yeah. I can stay late tonight.”
I cross the room and sit next to her again. “I’m not going to pry. But whatever is going on is starting to impact your work. When you’re here, I need you here. And if you can’t be here, then maybe you should consider taking a few days off.”
She shakes her head. “I’m still in my probation period.”
I reach out, think about it for just a second, then rest my hand on top of hers. Immediately, her pupils dilate, and her breathing quickens.
“Harper. You’re right. You are in your probation period. That’s why you can’t have…whatever this is…affecting your work. Taking a few days to get whatever’s wrong out of your system will be less detrimental than shoddy performance.”
She gives me a flash of a smile, then turns to the windows again. “A few days won’t change anything. I need to push through.”
I blow out a long breath. “Regardless, I need you here. If you’re not going to take some time to sort out whatever’s going on, can you at least focus on your work?”
She nods. “I can do that.”
I squeeze her hand that is still under mine and see gooseflesh rise on her arms.
She’s so responsive. I’d love to tease her until she begged for release, milking every gasp and moan from her. My cock starts to stir with the thought, but I manage to get it under control again before she turns back.
“Are you ready to work?” I ask.
Harper nods. “I can stay until seven or so. Is that late enough?”
“It’s a start,” I reply. “If we don’t get caught up today, we can go late another day this week. Does that work for you?”
She nods. “I’ll make it work.”
“Good.”
We do work late that night, and it goes well.
“Good work today,” I say, leaning back into the chair. “We almost managed to get caught up.”
Harper exhales slowly, gaze resting on the floor. “Sorry that we got so behind because of me.”
I reach over and rest my hand on her wrist, momentarily imagining it held in a cuff. My thumb traces back and forth over her soft skin. Her lips tremble slightly. I want to claim them and kiss and nibble them until they’re red and swollen from it. I want to feel her breath stutter across my face as I learn exactly what will make her scream in ecstasy.
“It’s okay. Nothing a few days of hard work can’t fix,” I reply.
Her eyes flick to where my hand is still on her wrist, and I can see indecision written across her face before she pulls back. “I need to get going.”
I’m not ready to let her go, especially when she’s so responsive. “I kept you late. Let me take you to dinner.”
She shakes her head. “Thanks, but I have somewhere to be.” She stands and starts toward the conference room door.
“At this time of night?” I ask, shutting off the lights and following her to the elevator.
“Yeah. I’m just going to grab something from a drive-through.”
“I’m sure we can find someplace that can serve us quickly, and that tastes better than drive-through fare.”
The elevator dings, and I follow her on.
“I really don’t have time. I could only work so late because I planned to pick up something to go.”
Harper makes her way through the workspace to her desk, retrieves her purse, and heads back in my direction.
“Maybe I can call ahead for something,” I offer.
She stops and gives me a soft smile. “Thank you, but I couldn’t.”