“What are you talking about?” I deflect, turning toward the window.
“Don’t think I forgot your outburst when Pearl walked into this office on her first day.”
I curse internally for having forgotten about that. Of course, Colleen would have noticed.
“Pearl means something to you. Is she the one who got away?”
“You could say that, but in reality, we never actually started,” I sigh, turning back to my friend and dropping my head into my hands.
I’ve been teetering on the edge ever since Pearl showed up last week, barely holding on to my control by a thread. On one hand, every time she walks into my office, I have to resist the urge to bend her over my desk and fuck her senseless, but on the other hand, I want to give her more than just a quick fuck.
On top of all that, I still have no idea how to talk to her. I know my people skills aren’t the best, but I’ve gotten much better over the years. Still, every time I’m around Pearl, I’m reduced to a teenager. Unsure of who I am and what I can offer an amazing girl like her.
“It seems to me now is your chance to get started.”
My head snaps up at the sound of Colleen’s voice.
“It’s not that easy,” I groan, standing up and pacing around my office before flopping down on one of the plush leather couches.
I’ve been in love with Pearl since we were in high school, but the timing was never right. I was the shy, nerdy kid who couldn’t have a simple conversation with my classmates about anything besides math and computers, while she was the girl everyone loved and wanted to be like. What could I possibly have offered a girl like her?
Over the years, I’ve tried to forget her, go on dates and be sociable, but I always ended up comparing everyone to Pearl. Even though I knew she was married to Kyle, my heart never got the memo. I’ve loved Pearl Beauregard since I was seventeen years old, and I was content to do so until the day I died.
When she walked into my office, it gave me hope for the first time in years. Hope that there was still a chance I could make her mine. That is, until I opened my mouth and ruined everything by calling her a corporate spy and demanding to know the details of her divorce. Not the best first impression, and my demeanor hasn’t gotten better since. Not for lack of effort, but every time I’m with her, I get tongue-tied and forget how to put words together in a sentence.
Colleen storms towards me, taking a seat beside me.
“Stop. It. Right. Now.” She punctuates each word with a smack in the back of the head.
“Ouch,” I groan, reaching back and rubbing my head where she hit me. “What the fuck was that for?”
“I hoped that would knock some sense into you.” She leans to the side, resting her arms on the side of the couch. “You aren’t the same kid that you were in high school. Trust me, I’ve seen pictures.”
I chuckle softly as I remember the first time Colleen convinced me to show her what I used to look like in high school. Once I got to college, I started lifting weights and bulking up, afraid of gaining the dreaded freshman fifteen. My friends mocked me for being so vain, but I needed something to keep my mind off my broken heart. After a few months of going to the gym religiously, it became a habit, and the rest is history.
“You’re a catch. Ask any of the many women who throw themselves at you regularly,” she teases.
“They don’t want me; they want my money.”
My heart aches as I remember all the ladies who have crossed my path, all wanting something from me: a job, social standing, basically a shortcut to becoming rich and famous. They didn’t want me; they wanted the things I represented to them.
Luckily, Pearl is the only person who holds my heart. My only worry is if I find the courage to give it to her, she’ll throw it back in my face.
“And Pearl?”
“I have no idea what she wants other than a job,” I growl, although in my heart I hope she sees me as something other than a weekly paycheck.
“Do I need to smack you again?” Colleen pulls her hand back, ready to strike, making me flinch. “Pearl applied for a position at our office, but she could have ended up anywhere.”
Fate? I never thought of this situation as something other than a simple coincidence.
“I doubt that, but I do agree I need to make my move before she finds out what we did,” I sigh.
Colleen nods in agreement. “You’re going to have to tell her eventually, because this has the potential to blow up in your face if you don’t.”
“You worry about getting me everything I need, and let me take care of the rest.”
“You got it, boss. Now let’s get to work. I have a bottle of wine and a bubble bath calling my name.”
With a new sense of purpose, Colleen and I work our way through the contract proposal, making a few notes about some changes that need to be made.
“We need to cut the budget in order to be competitive.” I roll my neck in a circle, attempting to loosen the muscles.
We’ve been sitting here for hours going over every detail, making sure everything is perfect.
“I can’t make heads or tails of all these numbers,” Colleen says as a mischievous grin crosses her face. “Why not ask Pearl? It’ll give you the perfect excuse to spend time with her.”
I check the time on my watch. It’s getting close to dinnertime. We could order in and work on the proposal while we get to know each other again. It doesn’t sound like a bad plan.
“I was just talking to Pearl today about what she liked most about working here, and she said being a part of the team. Apparently, her ex never let her do anything but answer the phone and file papers. What a waste.”
I clench my hands into fists by my side at the mention of Kyle’s name. I want him to pay for getting in the way back in high school, but most of all, I want him to pay for what he did to her.
“Get out of here. We made it through everything, and until I can think of a way to bring costs down, there is nothing more we can do.”
Colleen stands, giving me a mock salute, and heads for the door. “I’ll send your lady love in.”
I roll my eyes. “Thanks. Enjoy your wine.”
Colleen waves at me over her shoulder and heads out of my office.
I don’t have a plan or any idea how I’m going to go about winning Pearl’s heart, but with fate on my side, how can I fail?
Chapter Five
Pearl
After Colleen told me Clay wanted to see me early this evening, I was petrified. Not only because it was coming to the end of my week-long probation, but being alone with him has become harder. I’m finding it almost impossible not to throw myself in his arms and beg him to be mine.
Every accidental touch from him over the last few hours has driven me closer and closer to the edge. Every nerve ending in my body is on fire, waiting for the next caress or the feel of his breath as it washes over my skin. I want him—no, I need him. Right in this moment, I know that if I can’t get control over my libido, I will lose a lot more than just my job.
It’s crazy to say, but I’m falling in love with Clay. I always believed I’d be averse to love, especially after being cheated on by my husband, but the more I get to know this new version of Clayton Matthews, the more I want him to be mine.