DAMIEN
As far as I was concerned, things were coming along swimmingly. I’d gotten what I wanted in bed with Meara. She spent the night twice and seemed a lot more comfortable talking about the future. After opening up our relationship to Kent and Sean, I was able to give her everything she was looking for and more. That was enough to seal the deal, and we were officially an item.
I didn’t have to worry about her running out or getting bored with our arrangement. I could see her as many times as I wanted to, and I was looking forward to lots of luxurious mornings after intimate playdates.
I wasn’t even worried about Sean joining in the fun. We were good friends, and it would just be another added layer to our already tight-knit friendship. Kent was the wild card. I could see things going both ways with him.
Either it would work out and we would become really good friends, or there would be tension and division in the ranks. I didn’t want to voice my reservations to Meara. She looked happier than I had ever seen her. Even with Millie’s emergency surgery and prolonged recovery period, Meara had a spring in her step.
It started after the hour-long “work” session with Kent. I finally let Sean and Sam out of the kitchen when I thought the danger had passed. When I saw Meara later that afternoon, she winked at me. I ushered her into my office, and she spilled the beans about everything that happened.
I kind of got turned on, hearing all about how Kent got her naked and spread eagle on the desk. It was working out well so far. There wasn’t even a trace of jealousy. All I could think of was how beautiful she must have looked completely naked, her nipples shaking with every concussive slap.
I invited her over for dinner that night, but she was busy. There was her twin sister to think about, plus Meara had a lot on her mind. So I took a rain check. That was one thing I would have to contend with. It seemed that sharing her with other men made me more interested rather than less affectionate. I wanted her every minute of every day, whether or not she was in my office. I couldn’t wait to satisfy the primal urges she aroused, but it looked like I didn’t have a choice.
The next day was Thursday, and we were all busy then. One of our clients casually mentioned that he had a friend who was looking for a new investment firm. It was a wealthy client, so that meant a big fish was on the line. Not only would we have to out-perform the competition, but we would have to shine for our existing client as well. We had to prove that we were the best of the best, and that meant rolling out the red carpet.
Meara made a reservation at one of the most impressive restaurants in the city. It was a sushi place, but it wasn’t your run-of-the-mill takeout joint. The chef was internationally famous, and he only made one type of roll per night. You didn’t know what kind of roll he was making until you got in there, paid the outrageous fee, and were served.
Of course, there were other things on the menu, but nobody went to Nori’s for anything other than the chef’s special. It was difficult to get on the list at the best of times, but Meara really pulled out all the stops getting us a table. She was the one to suggest the place. She had a friend who was a sous chef who had offered to help her out in a pinch.
The client was impressed. “I always wanted to try that place,” he said. It was a good sign. If we could seal the deal and bring him on board, that would nearly double the annual revenue. He was that rich.
Usually when there were clients involved, one or the other of us would handle them. But in this case, all three of us were planning to go. We wanted to bring out the big guns, and we had no idea which one of us he would relate to best. It was important to give the clients what they wanted. When it came to an investment banker, personalities had to click, or it wouldn’t work. A lot of the business operated on trust, and we were selling ourselves just as much as our skills.
On Thursday morning, I found Meara at her desk and knew that we didn’t have time for hanky-panky. It was disappointing for sure, but there were other responsibilities for both of us. Life wasn’t all about having fun.
“Can you check on the reservations for Nori’s?” I asked.
“Already checked,” she said. “We’re good. We’ll get there at seven, and we can stay as long as we want. I gave them the business card already, so there’ll be no awkward payment arrangements.”
“Great,” I sighed, sitting down in an extra chair beside her. “I want you to know how much I appreciate this.”
“Of course,” she said with a smile. “This is what you actually pay me for.”
“You’re an intern, not a secretary,” I corrected her. “Making dinner reservations isn’t a part of the job description.”
She shook her head. “Potato, po-tah-to. You needed help, and I helped you out. I don’t see a difference.”
“I do,” I replied. “That’s why I got you a gift.”
“A gift?” She blinked, unsure whether to cheer or scold me for overstepping boundaries. She decided on a middle road and looked cautiously optimistic. “What is it?”
“I had it delivered to your apartment. Wear it tonight.”
“It’s a dress?” she guessed.
I nodded. “Only the best for the best.”
“I hope you didn’t spend too much,” she worried.
“I spent just as much as you’re worth,” I promised.
She gave me a frustrated stare. “That means you spent way too much.”
I leaned forward to kiss her, but we were interrupted by Sam. The other intern paused in the doorway, unsure whether to enter. I leaned back, attempting to rescue the situation. I wasn’t supposed to kiss Meara at work. And while our relationship predated her employment, and everybody knew that, it still wasn’t completely legitimate.
Sam was a loose end that would have to be dealt with. I wasn’t going to kill her or anything so sinister. I didn’t even want to fire her. That would defiantly raise some eyebrows and bring us unwanted legal attention. I hoped there was some agreement we could come to where we could all be honest and open about what was going on. I didn’t want to make her feel uncomfortable, but I also didn’t want to insult her intelligence.