But I can’t seem to find the strength or the words. I just keep moaning as he kisses me with the utmost passion I’ve ever experienced. Once our mouths separate, he puts his hands on the side of my face and strokes my cheek with his thumb.
Our gazes connect and I hold my breath waiting for him to set some conditions before we continue. Remind me of his stupid rules, or just order me to get down on my knees and suck him. At this point I’m so worked up I’d do anything to get some release.
“A house it is, then,” he says, not making sense and leaving me needy and shaky.
“What just happened?” I yell, frustrated with myself and angry at him.
Four
Sophia
If I had a time machine, I’d go back in time to the day when I agreed to become Henry Aldridge’s assistant. There are two things I would do. First, convince myself not to take the job. And second, give myself the winning numbers for the lottery. That’s the only way that younger me could pass the opportunity to work for him.
From the beginning, I knew he wouldn’t be an easy boss.
I learned to hate the man, but ignore my emotions because I need the salary and all the benefits my position provides. Now… Well, now things between us are complicated. Or maybe I’m wrong. It’s Wednesday. Four days have passed after what I call the kiss incident, and we have barely spoken.
How could I be so stupid and let him… Maybe I’m looking at this from the wrong perspective. It was only a kiss.
Only a kiss?
He almost finger fucked you…and that whole “I want to claim you” thing.
The next morning, I did the smart thing and left town without saying goodbye. If I pissed Henry off, he hasn’t told me just yet. Maybe he’s waiting for me to visit him at Baker’s Creek again to fire me. Good luck with that one. I’ll avoid traveling to the town for the next six to eighteen months. I don’t need to meet the new baby or hang out with my friends.
I have plenty of work to do. Of course, I’ll do that later. Right now, I’m pretending to be working on Aldry’s Sweets, but I’m actually chatting with Blaire.
“You know, calling to get the daily report was cute a couple of weeks back,” she protests. “For all I know, you're planning to add some cameras to the house so you can watch us as if this was a reality show.”
“It’s the best show in town,” I reiterate, but really, I want to know if Henry has said anything.
He’s been too quiet. That’s so unlike him. We’ve exchanged a few emails, but that’s all the interaction we’ve had for the past few days. I’m still searing with anger. He almost fucked me, and I said nothing. I let him tease me, touch me, and disregard me.
“There’s nothing really happening, other than your boss being…well, himself. Anyway, you can come for a few days to calm the fuck out of him.”
No, I am never going back. Instead, I joke, “We could sell the rights to the Aldridge brothers’ story. I could make a lot of money and retire young.”
I’m half kidding because really, if I write a tell-all, I wouldn’t need this job.
She laughs. “Or…and this is a mere suggestion. You can find a job you love and quit.”
“It’s not that simple,” I answer.
“Let me try it. I know some people,” she offers, kindly. That’s Blaire, the modern version of Mother Theresa. She wants to help and save everyone. “You have a degree in business and lots of experience. I can’t understand why he has you as his assistant and not as an executive.”
“You think I get it?” I scoff.
“Just quit,” she offers, as if it’s easy and I’m complicating it by settling.
There are many reasons including that I’m in charge of Aldry’s Sweet and unofficially the interim CEO of Merkel Hotels & Spas.
Henry hasn’t mentioned anything, but before he moved to Baker’s Creek, he said, “You’re in charge, for now, Ms. Aragon. Make sure that it’s business as usual.”
“This period is an opportunity to prove to myself and everyone that I can run a conglomerate,” I explain to her. “Think about the doors I’m opening while being in charge of Merkel Hotels & Spas. In a couple of years, I’ll be able to have any job I want. If I make the right connections, I might even set up my own company.”
“You have my full support and money,” she offers.
“We can always open that confectionary in Baker’s Creek,” I joke. “In a couple of years, we can have a chain of chic, delicious stores all over the country.”
“You’ll have to move west,” she says. “I can’t do this by myself. I have a medical practice to run, you know. My real life isn’t just puking all day and answering your calls.”
“How’s the Aldridge spawn treating you?”
“Stop calling my baby a spawn,” she warns me but chuckles. “I confess that being pregnant is a bonus. These guys are treating me like I’m a fragile object. I only use that power to make them do my chores.”
“Okay, give me an update on everyone and I promise I’ll let you go,” I say, taking a sip of my coffee.
“Are you on the phone with your friend?” I hear a voice. The tone is severe, cold…Henry.
“What do you need, Henry?” she asks annoyed.
“Tell Sophia that I’ve been calling her for the past five minutes and she’s not answering the fucking phone,” he claims.
When I look at my missed calls his name isn’t there.
“Tell him that I don’t have any missed calls,” I protest.
“Here, Henry,” she says, and I close my eyes taking a long breath. “You can tell each other whatever you want—I miss you is valid too. Just make sure to give me my phone back.”
“Ms. Aragon,” he barks my name. “You haven’t emailed me the monthly report.”
“I wonder why that is?” I answer sarcastically. “My guess is because you asked for them last night. It’s just nine in the morning—I’ll have them ready by tomorrow, as usual.”
“Your schedule for tomorrow is packed,” he protests.
I check my calendar, and it is blocked but there’s no description. “Well, it seems like I have a free day. Lucky me!”
There’s a knock on the door. Karl Morrell, the vice president of operations, pushes it open without waiting for me to tell him he can enter.
“You can wait outside,” I say. “I’m on a call.”
He tilts his head and frowns. “Ms. Aragon, I don’t know how Mr. Aldridge handles his assistants, but I don’t want to ever see you sitting on my chair.”
Surely this guy is mistaken.
“Mr. Morrell,” I say calmly. “Your office is at the end of the hallway. This is Mr. Aldridge’s office.”
“Sophia,” Henry calls me.
“Yes?” I ask, glaring at Morrell.
“I need you to send a memo to the company. Karl Morrell is going to be the interim CEO.”
“What do you mean?” I squeak as anger overtakes my mood.
“I mean what I said. He’s taking my place while I’m in Baker’s Creek.”