The whole thing was pretty f**ked up. But, I was used to that in my life though. Lots and lots of f**ked up had made its presence known to me over the years. I didn’t remember a time when it hadn’t, but Elaina was never part of all the bad in my life. She was the good. Only good…at least that’s how I remembered it...until the very end. The ending of us had nearly destroyed me.
I hoped for some kind of reaction from her, something. Anything at all would do.
“Oh, okay…” Her eyes flickered over me for an instant and then down and to the side. This was all definitely a surprise for her, too. Good. Again.
I saw her breathing hitch, and remembered what she’d been like when I’d had her beneath me and about to come. Those sexy breaths of air as she’d shuddered around me. The tight grip of her pu**y squeezing around my c**k when I was inside her…
I couldn’t help what I said to her next. “Looks like we’re going to be workmates, Elaina.”
“Ahh...yeah.” She did something that I wasn’t expecting then. She bit down on one side of her bottom lip and pulled it into her mouth a little, a look of discomfort flashing across her face as if experiencing pain. That’s what it looked like at least, and I felt some kind of small victory. The comment about this job “waiting” for me was a dickhead move on my part, but it came out of my mouth and I wasn’t calling it back. It was the truth even if it gave me no satisfaction. She moved to pass me in the space of the pathway. “Frances is expecting me in her office…we’re going over some contracts I’ve just translated...”
“Would those be them?” I pointed to the floor.
“Shit.” She dropped down again and started grabbing up the pages, the short black skirt she wore riding up quite nicely along her legs as she worked. She was clearly embarrassed and I could see the flush in the tops of her cheeks as they reddened.
My c**k reacted the instant I saw the rosy blush appear in her skin. Just like old times.
I bent down to help once more and caught a whiff of her perfume, the scent taking me right back to six years ago as if only mere moments had passed. “Do you think you’ll be able to get that file down the hall to Frances or shall I escort you?”
Inhaling sharply at my comment, she snatched the last paper from my hand and shoved it sideways into the folder. “I should be able to make it this time, thank you,” she said with a bite of sarcasm.
“Good luck, then,” I said, standing up yet again and offering my hand to assist her. “Focus, Miss Morrison.” I forced a smile.
Surprisingly, she accepted my hand and let me pull her back up. At least there was some contact. Hands. My hand was on hers and I didn’t want to let go. I wanted to tug her against me and carry her off somewhere private. I wanted to demand to hear her story and I wanted to make her listen to mine. We deserved that much. Both of us deserved at least that little bit of honest communication for closure if nothing else.
Elaina released my hand and attempted to tug her skirt down without losing the file for a third time. Quite the feat for her apparently, and I had my doubts about whether the file would make it safely to Frances’s office or not.
I very much enjoyed watching her try though, just as I enjoyed the view of her magnificent arse from behind in that short skirt as she walked away.
My sweet Cherry Girl was back in my life whether she liked it or not. I knew where she lived and I knew where to expect her every day for work. I would get to see her and she would even have to talk to me. I was her superior here, and she didn’t have a choice in that.
She might still hate me and never give me another chance with her, but we’d just have to see what happened, now wouldn’t we?
I had a task that needed my attention, or rather a best mate that needed murdering.
I went straight out, left the forty-fourth floor and down to number forty-two. I sailed past Ian’s secretary holding my hand up to her surprised protest and barged into his office.
He was speaking into the telephone but I ended his call for him. I stabbed the red button several times and disconnected him.
“What the f**k, Neil?” Ian glared at me. “I’m taking a call of business here. Do you mind?”
“Yes, I do in fact mind very much, you meddling cocksucker! What in the f**kin’ hell are you on about bringing Elaina to work at BSI?”
Ian sat back in his leather desk chair and folded his hands in his lap, looking smug and cocky. “My sister needed a job, and well, it’s a perfect fit for her…in every way. Frances, Mum, everyone agrees.” He flipped his dark blue eyes, which matched Elaina’s to perfection, up to peg me hard. “Wouldn’t you agree as well, mate?”
I pointed at him, my outstretched finger visibly shaking. “I would agree that you’re a f**kin’ arsehole, how’s that for agreement?”
Ian shrugged, picking up the telephone and redialing. “Sticks and stones, brother.”
“How about staying out of my business…brother.” I was so angry at being played, I knew I had to leave before I committed a heinous assault on the bloke I considered my brother, even though by blood he wasn’t. “Fuck off, Ian,” I said, turning to go.
“You’re welcome, Neil,” Ian called out cheerfully. “We’ll talk later at the pub.”
16
I slammed into the house I’d grown up in and started yelling.
“Mum, how could you?” I demanded, throwing my purse down on the table and kicking off my heels. “You knew Neil worked at Blackstone Security, didn’t you? You set me up, and Ian too, the bastard.”
“Now, darling, please don’t be upset, but think about your new job and how much you’ve loved working there in just the short time you’ve been employed. It’s a marvelous opportunity for you. And I know you love Neil despite whatever happened between you two,” she admonished.
Yeah, and this is not news to me, Mum. I glared at my mother; totally unbelieving she’d done something so manipulative and underhanded to me.
“And he is so good to me…” she trailed off, taking a sip of her six o’clock gin and tonic while trying to look innocent. She was damn good at it too.
“Did Neil suggest to you to get me to apply for the job? Did he ask Ian to recommend me?” Realization dawned and I felt the urge to thrash somebody. “Wait—what do you mean Neil is always so good to you, Mum?” I was absolutely fuming with the knowledge I’d been duped by my own family to bring me back to England, and to Neil. But something didn’t ring true with my theory. Neil did not act like he was expecting me. In fact, he looked completely and utterly shocked at seeing me again. Nobody had told him I’d been hired, I would bet my bank account.