Caleb
“There’s a function here, a week Friday, and you’re all expected to attend,” I announce to everyone that works on my floor. “I know it’s a little short notice, but trust me, this is a golden opportunity to land some new accounts from some of the biggest names in business. Everyone is to be on their game. I expect nothing but professionalism, even if it is an open bar.” I argued that point, but Anthony shot me down. He wants the workers to feel as relaxed as possible, and he completely ignored me when I said that they would certainly be relaxed once they were pissed and unable to form a coherent sentence. He just waved me off and said he had every faith that everyone would be more inclined to work harder if there were no restrictions. I mean, he is the boss, and his work ethic has worked up until now, so who am I to question it?
There are murmurs all around the room, but I cut them off by dangling the last carrot in front of them. “And whoever lands the most accounts on the night, and then gets them to sign on the dotted line, will receive a thousand-pound bonus.” Yeah, this is how Anthony will ensure they don’t all get too pissed. So really, I shouldn’t question anything, because he knows what he’s doing. Excitement ripples through everyone, especially the younger employees who I am sure are already spending the money in their heads.
“That’s all for now, so get back to it,” I tell them, and they all start to filter out of the meeting room and back to their various stations. My eyes land on Cameron, who is talking to Marcie, and before she can leave, I say loudly, “Cameron, I need a word with you in my office.”
Her head whips to look at me, and I notice Marcie has a smirk on her face. Marcie mutters something as Cameron recovers herself, and then I gesture for her to follow me as I walk past and head for my office. I can hear her heels clicking behind me, and I push the mental image of her in just her underwear and those heels out of my mind—well, mostly. Her and Marcie started working here on Monday, and I have to say, it was a pretty quick turnaround as I expected them to both work notice at their old job, but they both quit on the spot after saying that Mr Garrett was less than impressed they were leaving, and here they are, fitting right in to the daily running of Elite Enterprises. And my enthusiasm for being at work since Cameron started has increased tenfold. Win win.
I walk into my office and hold the door for her, which I shut once she’s entered, and then I make a beeline for my desk and gesture for her to take a seat on the other side. I have to hide the fact that I’m a ‘nearing my mid forties’ guy with a raging hard-on for the beauty sat in front of me. Jesus.
She takes a seat in her navy pencil skirt with a slight slit up the side, and I have to avert my eyes and clear my throat. Kill me. Kill me now.
“So, I, uh, wanted to speak with you, but not on a work level,” I begin, stuttering like a twat.
“Oh?” she says, her head tilting slightly to the side, which just shows off her neck a little more and does absolutely nothing to calm the raging teenage boy inside of me.
“I realise this isn’t very professional of me, but I need to talk to you about Danny,” I say, and her mouth drops open a little. I get the mental image of my dick sliding in her mouth and…Fucking stop it, Caleb. Jesus Christ, you need to get a hold of yourself.
“What for?” she asks, her tone becoming… pissed off? Can’t say I blame her, but I need to do this, if only for my own peace of mind.
“I wouldn’t normally do this, but I need to tell you to stay away from him,” I begin. “I went to see him the other night and he’s not in a good place. I just don’t want you near him while he’s like this.”Or ever, I add in my head.
She’s quiet for a minute before she speaks. “As much as I appreciate the pep talk, I have no intention of seeing Danny, but I’d like to thank you for your interference in my personal life,” she says sarcastically, and then she gets up, as if this conversation is done. Boner instantly gone, which I’m kind of thankful for as I quickly stand and stride over to her. She’s at the door, about to open it, but I place my hand on top of hers as I reach around her.
I feel her freeze, my chest brushing her back. Her perfume wafts up my nose and… fuck, she smells so good. Christ, I’m like a sodding creeper, inhaling her scent, but I also can’t stop myself.
“I’m not trying to interfere, Cameron, I’m just trying to look out for you,” I say, and she rips her hand from underneath mine and turns around to face me.
“Except you are,” she bites back, her eyes blazing. “I don’t need you to tell me what to do, Caleb, and you certainly don’t have the right to order me to do anything.”
Heat crackles between us as the tension mounts.
“Except, here we are, with me telling you to keep your distance,” I say in a low voice as I lean my head down a little closer to her.
“From him, or from you?” she questions, catching me off-guard.
I stare at her, my eyes roaming over her face and settling on her lips. I feel my dick twitch, and I know this is bad. Really bad. But I also fail to give a fuck, until someone knocks on my office door and abruptly brings me back to the reality of the situation.
I step back as I say, “Probably both,” in answer to her question, and then she’s turning and opening the door, rushing out of here like her arse is on fire. My gaze lands on Anthony, who was the person knocking on the door, and he looks at me questioningly.
“Something I should know about?” he says as he walks in and closes the door behind him.
I run my hand over my face and through my hair before I stalk back to my desk. “No. Nothing.”
“Didn’t seem like nothing,” he comments, taking the seat that Cameron occupied until a few moments ago.
“Just drop it,” I bite, and he holds his hands up, palms facing me, as if in surrender.
“Noted, but let me tell you this, Caleb… Life is too fucking short to think about the consequences too much. I should know,” he says, and I know he’s referring to losing his first love. She died young, and just before they were due to get married. And even though he’s my boss, he wouldn’t stand in anyone’s way if they wanted to explore a relationship. The only person stopping me from pursuing anything right now, is me—and possibly her.
ChapterTwenty-One
Cameron
“Where the hell does he get off, telling me to stay away…” I fume as I pace in front of Marcie’s desk. I came marching straight in here from his office, and I have been venting ever since. She’s yet to get a word in as I feel her watching me walking back and forth. “I mean, honestly, the nerve of that man.”
“Oh gee, yeah, what a bastard,” she says sarcastically, finally speaking some words, and I stop, turning to look at her.