She was panting, giving him the impression that she had been running.
“I wasn’t sure if you would still be here but I decided to take my chances,” Belle said, stepping in confidently.
She was dressed much differently than she usually was for work, and that took Devon by mild surprise. In a pair of distressed boxy jeans that just about reached her ankles, and an oversized t-shirt; Belle looked casual chic and fashionable. Her waist length bronze hair was left open and was still a little damp, and he wondered if she had just had a shower. She usually tied her hair in a bun or plaited it for work, so seeing it open like that made Devon shift in his seat.
“How can I help you, Belle?” he asked, in a curt voice.
She entered his office and shut the door behind her.
“You can help me by explaining why you want me gone from this office,” she said, striding confidently towards his desk.
Devon took the glasses off his face and placed them on the desk. He then steepled his fingers in front of him, and confronted her directly. Belle’s brown eyes were even more darker than usual and her pink glossy lips were stretched in a thin pursed line. She didn’t look amused.
“I explained in my email why, Belle. I thought I made myself quite clear,” Devon said, trying to maintain an authoritative persona.
“You didn’t explain it at all. You apologized for what happened and then said that you want me out of your way,” she said, walking up close to the desk. There was still the obstruction of a desk between them, and Devon was glad for it.
She looked sexy when she was mad, and a new side to her sweet delicate personality was revealed, which was only succeeding in turning him on more.
“That was precisely my point. Because of what happened today, I think it would be best if we kept some distance between us,” he said and moved his chair, shifting it father away from his desk.
Belle squinted, looking at him fiercely.
“It wasn’t just your fault you know. I wanted it too,” she said, after a few moments of silence. Her voice had softened a bit. Devon looked at her and then slowly nodded.
“Sure. You’re right, it takes two hands to clap. However, I believe it is my responsibility to put an end to this before it goes any further,” he said and now he slowly stood up from his chair. Belle was following him with her eyes, watching him like a hawk. It amazed him that she didn’t budge or flinch. That she wasn’t intimidated by him in the least.
“You’re talking about responsibility like you’re in some kind of guardian position. We are both adults here, Devon. I’m a grown woman and I know how to take care of myself,” she snapped. For the first time, Belle looked like she had taken offense.
Devon raised his hands, palms forward in a defensive position and breathed in deeply.
“I don’t mean to upset you, Belle. In fact, I want the exact opposite of that. Which is why, I think to avoid a
nother conversation like this happening, and so that you don’t have to find yourself in a situation where you’re unfaithful to your boyfriend…I believe it would be best if you move to the Brooklyn office,” he said.
Belle was watching him with interest, with her eyes narrowed and no softness on her face.
“So, is that what it is? This is about the fact that I have a boyfriend? You don’t have to worry about my relationship,” she snapped at him and Devon pushed his hands into the pockets of his pants. Just when he thought this was all finally over, that he had taken the crucial step necessary for them to move on…he was in the same position again. Just watching Belle speak, looking at her delicate body and fiery brown eyes were enough. He wanted her again.
“I’m not worried about your relationship. I’m worried about ours. We effectively ruined it this afternoon, and all I want is your professional success. So in order to keep this purely professional, you have to move away,” Devon said and clenched his jaw.
He could see that she was thinking, she licked her lips and stared at him. He wasn’t sure of exactly what she was thinking, but he hoped she wasn’t thinking of coming any closer to him. One more step and it would be impossible for him to resist her. He was doing everything in his power to hold back.
For her own good, and his own sanity - Belle Freedman needed to get out of his office right now.
Belle
Belle couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She couldn’t fathom how Devon was so calm and composed when she was experiencing a rollercoaster of emotions herself. Everything he had said till now had made complete sense, but she had only snapped at him in response because she didn’t want to hear him say those things.
“What if I told you that I won’t let this ruin my professional pursuits?” Belle asked, softening her voice. Devon arched his eyebrows and took in a deep breath.
“I’m one of the partners of this agency, I’m your Boss…you’re my employee. Belle, this could end disastrously for both of us,” Devon said and she took a few steps towards him. She saw that he had clenched his jaws, he was holding his ground. But the other thing that she could sense, was that his resolve was beginning to crack. She knew that the closer she got to him, the harder it would get for him to control himself.
“Why are you being so negative, Devon?” she said, slowly, maintaining eye contact with him. Now she was sure of what she wanted. She wanted him inside her. She wanted the whole thing. She knew that she wouldn’t truly be satisfied till he had taken her completely, till he finished what he started.
“I’m being realistic Belle. For your sake and mine,” he said and Belle came even closer. She could feel her fingers trembling as she took each step. She had never been this forward with anybody, especially not with someone who was this attractive or this powerful. It was thrilling to see that she had an effect on him. Devon’s eyes were glazing over, his gaze kept dropping to her heaving breasts under her t-shirt. He couldn’t look away.
“Can we worry about all that later?” she asked and stopped in her tracks, when she was directly in front of him. She had to crane her neck to look up at him, and Devon was looking down at her with weakness in his eyes. He wasn’t going to make the first move, not this time, she was sure of it.