Monday morning, I sat at my desk, watching time tick by as Paul still hadn’t arrived. Just after ten, he marched through the door, barely muttering a greeting before shutting himself in his office.
I began to panic, wondering if it was something I’d done because we’d not spoken over the weekend. I wanted to text him but knowing his usual weekend activities had refrained me from wanting to crowd him too much.
He opened his door several tension filled minutes later. “Have you got a minute?”
I nodded, my heart pounding against my ribs. He shut the door behind me, the definitive click cutting through our silence.
He turned to me, his features blank. “Why didn’t you call me over the weekend?”
My mouth dropped open. “I didn’t want to demand your time when I know you’re…otherwise engaged.”
He let out a sigh and ran a hand through his hair. “Sorry. I’m a bit stressed. It’s been a long weekend.”
“Oh. Okay.”
An uncomfortable feeling began to flourish inside me before he strode towards me, cupping my face and planting his lips on mine. Such passion flowed from him it took my breath away. I couldn’t help but succumb to his need of me. My hands found their home on his chest, clutching at him for support as he swept me off my feet and onto cloud nine.
He broke our embrace after a minute or so and rested his forehead against mine. “That was all I needed all weekend.”
His words surged hot tingling hope through me. Once again, I became lost in the complications of us. Not even thinking of Scott, optimism started rising in me that maybe we could go somewhere.
“Why didn’t you call me, then?” I asked.
“I wanted to, I really did.”
“But you still didn’t.”
He closed his eyes. “It’s complicated, Ky…”
I sighed, stepping back from him. “Isn’t it always with you?”
We stared at each other for a few seconds before he reached for me. His fingers grappled with the buttons on my shirt, and I dug my hands into his trousers. Our lips met in a clash of desire as we gave in to our frantic need of each other. He gasped, moaning against my lips when I took hold of him. He pushed my bra out of the way and caressed my chest, potent throbs tingling all over me. I groaned as his touch reconnected with me. I had missed this more than I realised.
“Is Paul in?”
I froze at the sound of Mr. Collins’s voice coming from outside. Fear coursed through me at the realisation of being caught.
Paul’s lips brushed against my ear, whispering, “We’ll be fine. Trust me.”
Just as I debated my options, the door burst open. Mr. Collins took one look at us before closing the door and announcing Paul wasn’t in his office.
I shot Paul a confused look. “What the…?”
“He has an announcement to make.”
Adrenaline surged through me, wonderment grasping me. “What?”
“I’m no longer a director.”
I gasped, horror and panic filling me at the thought of not seeing him every day. “What? Why?”
He chuckled. “I’m now co-owner. Majority shareholder to be exact. My parents and I bought out seventy per cent of his business and I’m now at the helm.”
***
After the official announcement had been made to the other directors, Mr. Collins and Paul made their way downstairs to tell the rest of the staff. It was another agonising hour before he came back upstairs so I could interrogate him. Unfortunately, as I dashed through his door, Mr. Collins followed.
He shot me a distasteful glare before settling a hardened stare on Paul. “May I suggest you refrain from fraternising with the staff, Paul.”
Paul cleared his throat. “Mick, I suggest you be very careful before treading along this road.”
“Considering I’m still an owner of this company, I suggest you listen to me. I built this company up with my bare hands. Getting involved with staff is not a clever idea. Especially staff like her.”
Paul glared at Mr. Collins, his jaw clenching and a muscle twitching in his cheek. Anger oozed from every pore. Several seconds ticked by. I wanted to cringe with the growing tension between them both.
“May I point out,” Paul said, “you entered my office without consent or even knocking first? May I also remind you I now own the majority of this company and I have the final say? As for the staff, Kyra is technically now my employee and will be cared for as such. With regards to your comment regarding ‘staff like her,’ it is wholly unappreciated, and it will serve you well to remember in the future to address her with respect.”
Mr. Collins fell silent for a moment whilst I stared at the floor, not daring to look at either of them. I couldn’t help but feel a burst of pride and happiness at Paul’s words. Comfort and warmth flooded me as I wrapped myself in the protective essence he’d shown towards me.
“Don’t expect me to pick up the pieces when it blows up in your face,” Mr. Collins said.
“It won’t, but thank you for your concern.”
“How long has this been going on?”
Paul narrowed his eyes at him. “I don’t see how that is relevant.”
“I think I deserve to know considering we’re co-owners.”
“I think you deserve to remember you are privy to some of my extra-curricular activities. Whilst I cannot help the information you know about that, I can help the information you know about Kyra. As such, Kyra is strictly off limits to anyone except myself. Do I make myself clear?”
Struggling to contain my growing smile at Mr. Collins being put in his place, a creeping smugness climbed over me. A few seconds passed before I realised Paul had intimated Mr. Collins knew about the swingers’ club. I hadn’t expected that.
“Yes, perfectly,” Mr. Collins said.
Paul nodded. “Good. One more word about Kyra and you’re out of the club, understood?”
Mr. Collins nodded, giving me one final glare before storming out.
I met Paul’s handsome face with a big grin. “Quite the speech, Mr. Connors. Thank you.”
“No need to thank me. I won’t tolerate disrespect from anyone towards you.”
I smiled as he inched his way towards my mouth, his promises of heaven on earth all too real. I revelled in the owner of the company assaulting my senses with his sweet lips, and not for the first time, lost myself in the ideals that perhaps, somewhere deep down, he did actually have feelings for me.