Monday’s ride to work was different. They were different. Even their goodbyes as they went their separate ways were different. Good different.
Tony raised an eyebrow at the two, so it was clearly noticeable. With coffee in hand and a bag that he recognized, she took a seat next to him to catch up as they always did.
“Is that what I think it is?” he asked, knowing full well it was a giant apple fritter.
“You only get half; I get the other half. You need to watch your blood sugar,” she said, mindful of his diabetes.
“Pshh. I’m just fine,” he said. “C’mon, I’ll pace myself, half now and half later.”
“I am not falling for that one again. Besides, Raquel would have my ass in a sling if she knew I even gave you half.”
“She’d never know.”
“Ha! Raquel always knows. In fact, I’m surprised she hasn’t burst through those doors already,” Cori said, referring to Tony’s wife.
“You’re not wrong to worry,” he teased.
“How are things with you and Blackthorne? Everything alright, or do I need to call my cousins Vinnie and Guido?”
She didn’t doubt he had cousins named Vinnie and Guido but laughed none the less. “He’s…pretty amazing, actually.”
“Is that so? Falling a little bit for Nickie-boy, huh?”
“Oh, no! Never. I mean, this is just…you know, almost over.”
“It doesn’t have to be, ya know.”
“It does, Tony. It’s just one big lie on top of more lies. Not a good start to anything. Besides, these things never work out for me.”
“You mean relationships?” Tony deadpanned. “You know I love you like a daughter, so I’m going to give it to you straight, kid. You had some real hard luck with your folks passin’ and then what that putz, what’s his name…”
“Pencil Dick,” Cori said without thinking.
“Ehh?”
“Sorry, that’s just what we call him. I didn’t mean to interrupt,” she laughed.
“It’s just bad luck, kid. Not your destiny. There is someone out there for you – that’s why pencil dick didn’t work out. He wasn’t the one for you. If Blackthorne is…let it…happen.”
“I don’t know, Tony. If I let him in and believe in that, then it falls apart? I don’t know if I could survive it.”
“You’ll never know until you try. And what if it doesn’t fall apart? Nickie is a good kid – real good kid.”
“Is it worth the risk though?”
Tony shrugged, knowing he gave her plenty to think about. He left it at that; she knew where to find him if she was lost or did, indeed, need help picking up pieces. She kissed his cheek, and left for the elevator.
“Don’t eat all of that, or I’ll call Raquel and rat myself out; you hear me?”
He tossed his hands in the air in surrender, earning him a smile as the elevator doors closed, taking her to her floor.
When she got to her desk, there were more flowers. Interesting, Tony hadn’t mentioned a delivery. The flowers were all red this time – a mix of peonies and roses. The bright white card stood out and read,
Cordelia – you looked absolutely stunning this weekend. Red is your color.
Phillip…it had to be. There wasn’t anyone else, who she knew from before, at the Gala. What was he up to? Given how Nick reacted to him over the weekend, she thought it best not to mention the card…or flowers.
Her day got busy from there, which was a welcome distraction, because otherwise, her mind would wander. Wander to the magical weekend she just had with Nick. Weekend spent mostly in bed…naked. Startled from her inappropriate thoughts again, this time by her desk phone, she answered Eve’s call. Nick was requesting to see her over lunch.
Given the networking they had done at the Gala, she assumed some of those give me a call mentions, he’d handed out, cashed in. That meant it had something to do with her proposal. Gathering her things as quickly as she could, she made her way upstairs to the executive suite. It would be hard to get any real work done with him in the room, but she had to test her professional willpower at some point, and this was as good of a time as any.
Eve signaled for her to go right in, which she did. Nick was on the phone, but the minute she walked in, his eyes locked with hers, and he told the caller he had to go and simply hung up. That quickly. The look he was giving her was familiar, and it made her squirm, squeezing her knees a little tighter, trying to ease what he was tempting.
“Put your things on the couch,” he said, to which she obliged.
She noticed lunch was set up at the nearby table and thought, perhaps that was what he summoned her for. Until she felt his heated gaze boring through her, and she turned to meet it.
“Did you want to discuss my proposal, Mr. Blackthorne.” Her tone was breathy, and the way she licked her lips and cocked her hip made him groan.
“A proposal, yes,” he said. “I think you’ll find it…refreshing, intriguing, and…titillating.”
Raising her eyebrows, she said, “Is that so? Sounds interesting.”
“Come here, Cori.” Still seated behind his desk, he wheeled his chair back, making room for her to stand in front of him.
She did as he said, adding a little extra sway to her hips as she walked. “I see you brought in lunch. Are you…hungry?”
“Insatiable,” he growled, taking to his feet, closing the space between them, backing her up against his desk. “Did I mention what I was hungry for?”
“I don’t believe you did. By the way,” she murmured as she looked over her shoulder, “is that door locked? I would hate to have any interruptions. It is a working lunch, after all.”
“My afternoon has been cancelled, and my assistant is holding all of my calls. No interruptions.”
A little uneasy with the idea of a door left unlocked, despite what he arranged, she hesitated. A loud clicking sound from the door caught her attention once again, and she looked at him with a suspicious stare.
“I have a button – its locked – better?”
“Much,” she said, her eyelids heavy with desire and voice dripping in seduction.
“Get your ass on my desk, Ms. Dash – we have work to do, sweetheart.”
She obediently listened and was greatly rewarded when he hiked up her skirt and ripped off her panties in a single pull. He unbuttoned her shirt and feasted on her breasts then freed himself from his pants before his fingers caressed and toyed with her tight bundle of nerves. When her breathing became quicker and heavier, he turned her over his desk and entered her from behind. He placed his hand over her mouth, remembering this was the position that made her scream the loudest.
***
The rest of the week was much of the same. If it wasn’t secret office rendezvous, it was clothes off at the door, the minute they were home, followed by more long talks about everything and nothing. Sometimes, it was over dinner or while cuddling, naked, on the couch or in bed.
Though there was a growing elephant in the room as the trip to the Hamptons approached, and the end of their ruse…neither brought it up. They wouldn’t deal with that until they had to. It was safe to say that both had hoped the other would simply forget.
Before they knew it, Friday had arrived, and they were readying for their long weekend. Not only was there a new gown and cocktail dress found hanging together in her side of the closet, but shoes that she didn’t recognize. She took the hint and walked a garment bag with the new dresses in it to the bed where her suitcase was so she wouldn’t forget them. Sitting next to her suitcase were two jewelry boxes. One she recognized as the one that held her jewelry from the gala; the other was new.
She rolled her eyes and giggled. He was impossible. But she wouldn’t have him any other way.
“Do you like it?” he said, leaning in the doorway with his arms crossed, watching her open the new jewelry box.
“Nick. You can’t keep doing this. It’s far too much,” she said gently so as not to hurt his feelings. “It’s all so beautiful but too extravagant. I can’t accept this.”
“Sure, you can. Besides, I lost the receipt, can’t return any of it,” he teased, wearing a big Cheshire cat smile as he crossed the room to be closer to her.
“You lost the receipt? Seriously, you couldn’t do better than that?”
He shrugged before placing his hands on her shoulders and pulling her closer, “It isn’t real, none of it, not even the dresses. In fact, if it rains, you’re screwed – the color will bleed everywhere.”
“I had a sweater do that once. And…I know you’re full of crap. What am I going to do with you?” Leaning in for a kiss, he met her halfway and pulled her into him before lifting her off the ground.
“I have a few ideas,” he said. “But we don’t have time right now – tonight – you can model the jewelry and new shoes for me…naked.”
“Tonight? I have this thing I’m going to – kinda busy,” she taunted in between kisses.
“No, you’re not. Tonight, you’re in my bed, in those heels and diamonds.” With a stern swat to her ass, he made her jump. Looking down at her, still in his arms, he said, “Lyle should be here soon. We need to pack all of this up. How can I help?”
“Lyle? Helicopter Lyle? Here?”
Confused by her question, he wasn’t sure what was unclear – as far as he knew, she only knew the one Lyle. “Yes.”
“We’re taking the helicopter to the Hamptons? From here? How?” she questioned.
He pointed up, indicating the roof’s landing pad, and smiled at her innocence. Most women in Manhattan would expect nothing less, but Cori was taken aback by such luxuries. “Yes, from here, rooftop. And everyone takes their helicopter to the Hamptons; it’s the best way to get there – avoid traffic.”
“Right…everyone…because who doesn’t have a helicopter?” Her tone was light and teasing, but her point serious. This was a moment where the differences between their two worlds was blatantly obvious. She would just enjoy the moment…while it lasted.
“I’m going to call downstairs and confirm the dog walker for the weekend so they’re taken care of. Let me know when you’re ready, and I’ll grab your bags for you.” He kissed the top of her head and left the room.
Watching him leave brought on a sense of sadness she hadn’t experienced before. It was almost like a reminder that he would be leaving after the weekend was over. It was all coming to an end, and she didn’t know how to deal with it. That all too familiar ache returned to her chest. Though she knew this was just a ploy, a game, she had somehow let herself become invested, and breaking it off now was going to hurt – badly. A real relationship with this man would never work long-term; she knew that, but it didn’t ease the pain she was already feeling.