CHAPTER
I’d tried my best to not look dowdy in comparison to him as I got dressed. I am wearing another dress, not what I originally planned to wear but there’s something about being with Axel that makes me feel ultra-feminine. That makes me want to dress up. And when he’d taken his first look of me, fully dressed, his eyes had reflected approval.
It makes me feel good. Too good. Just as walking beside him now, my hand in his makes me feel like I’m the most important woman in the world. Not even the FLOTUS has anything on me, the way I feel walking beside Axel.
The morning is glorious, with clear blue skies and a sun that is shining down on us as if in approval. The restaurant we go to is a combination of bakery and restaurant that serves lunch and brunch. We occupy a two-seater table and I realize though we haven’t said much since leaving his condo, it’s not an uncomfortable silence between us.
“You’re not checking the menu?” I ask him as my eyes rove over the menu, trying to locate something I want to eat. I am starving and I note the breakfast menu is very pricey.
“I already know what I’m going to order,” he answers and I could feel his eyes on me, making me uncomfortable.
“Will you find something to do other than stare at me?” I finally quip. “Don’t you know staring is impolite?”
“I’m not staring, you’re just in my line of vision,” he says with a grin and I roll my eyes, a little breathless at the banter between us. I am getting too used to this.
The waitress comes by to take our order and I notice the way she looks almost flirtatiously at Axel. She seems to know him by name which explains his ability to order without looking at the menu. It’s a place he often eats. She takes my order, barely dragging her eyes away from Axel, turning again to ask him if he is sure he doesn’t want anything else before she moves on.
Her interest in him makes me jealous. A feeling I’m not used to any at all. I’ve never had cause to be jealous before but here I am feeling like Axel is all mine and I don’t want any other woman to notice how fine he is.
“I called your grandmother as I promised you I would,” he tells me. “She’s a nice lady.”
“Yes, she is,” I agree.
The waitress returns with our breakfast which becomes my distraction. We eat in silence for a bit as I savor the meal. It’s really good and I’m quite positive it’s not just my hunger talking.
“You’re very close to her, aren’t you?” Axel ask, taking me off guard.
I swallow the bite of cinnamon roll in my mouth. “Close to who?”
“Your grandmother.”
“Oh yes, she raised me,” I reply, my focus on the cinnamon bun as I tear off another piece and pop it into my mouth.
“Why? What happened to your parents.”
I look away from the sticky bun to him, then bow my head, a little somber. “My mother died.”
He reaches across the table and covers my hand with his. “I understand,” he empathizes. “My mother died as well when I was nine. A drunk driver ran into her car and she was killed on impact.”
“That’s horrible,” I gasp, knowing the loss of a parent never truly goes away. “My mom died from a brain aneurism. I was eleven and we were very close.”
“See, we have something in common,” he says with a smile and squeezes my hand reassuringly before letting go.
My hand feels empty with his gone and I slowly place it on my lap. We eat in relatively silence afterwards as I withdraw from him emotionally. I can’t let the fact that our mothers died when we were kids distract me from everything else that’s happening between us. He doesn’t know how to take no for an answer. He is way too bossy. Plus, I’ve not forgotten how he threatened me.
He doesn’t even entertain me when I attempt to pay for my own breakfast. Again, way too controlling. We walk back to his condo and I am relieved yet oddly disappointment when he doesn’t hesitate to load my suitcases in his car. I can’t help thinking he seems eager to get rid of me now after he made such a big fuss of me staying with him.
He spends a lot of time on the car phone, talking business while on our way to my apartment, although it is the weekend. It comes to my mind then that I don’t know what to do this coming Monday. Was I going to report to work? He stated that’s the reason he came for me in Birmingham but he hasn’t said anything since about work. Everything that has happened between us from the moment I saw him outside Aldi’s has been personal. Where in my job description is it written to kiss the boss? To have him personally take care of me while I am sick? To make out with him? Or to have breakfast with him?
It’s a relief when we drive up to my apartment building. It’s not the skyscraper Axel’s building is but runs wide with only two floors. The top floor is accessible by exterior stairs.
“You don’t—” I start to tell him he doesn’t have to get out the car but he’s already outside and walking around to my door to open. This is not something I’m used to from men these days and I’m impressed that he goes through the trouble.
“Which apartment’s yours?” he asks when I get out the car.
“104, top floor,” I respond.
We get the suitcases from the trunk and I lead the way up the stairs, the suitcase bumping along the stairs and our footsteps the only sound. Outside my apartment, he rests my suitcase at the door and I turn to him nervously. I don’t know what to say to him. I feel like I should be thanking him but I couldn’t determine for what. Taking care of me while I was sick? The unexpected orgasm? Breakfast?
“Axel I—”
My words are swallowed by his lips pressing to mine. I let go of the suitcase and cling to his broad, powerful shoulders. My mouth moves eagerly beneath his, hands going behind me to cup my backside and haul me up against him. I’m all ready to explode in his arms when he pulls away. I peer up at hi in frustration, feeling as though he’s leading me on.
My breathing is harsh to my ears and the pounding in my heart matches the pulsing ache between my legs. I am almost sweating from the cognizance that I want him. Badly. This is the man who is tempting enough for me to lose not only my head but also my virginity. He infuriates me and drives me up the wall but I can’t deny the attraction between us.
“I’ll be back at four to pick you up. Be ready.”
Before I can ask him what I should be ready for, he is already descending the stairs. I watch him get into his car and drive away before I come to my senses. Key. That’s what I need. Key to get into this apartment and shut the door, never letting Axel in.
I enter the apartment, pulling the two suitcases after me, grateful he had left and not demanded to enter my apartment. Jessica must have heard me because she comes walking into the hall, a frying pan in hand.
“Really? A frying pan?” I ask her, rolling my eyes.
“I was making breakfast,” she responds. “The frying pan seemed like a very good idea considering I thought you were a burglar. You’re supposed to be in Birmingham. What are you doing here?”
“It’s a very long story,” I advise, walking behind her into the kitchen where she has water on the stove boiling.
“I’m sure it’s more interesting than what I’ve been up to,” Jessica remarks, reaching for instant oatmeal to make herself a bowl. “Do you want some?”
“No, Axel already took me for breakfast on the way here.”
She stops and does a dramatic turn to face me. “Axel? Your boss Axel Ash?”
“Like you know any other Axel.”
“What the hell? How do you end up from your grandmother’s house in Birmingham, to having breakfast with Axel? Where did you guys have breakfast.”
“At this restaurant like five minutes’ walk from his condo.
She points the spoon she is using to stir her oatmeal at me, dropping a blob of the stuff on the counter. “You. Spill. Everything and from the top. Don’t even dare leave anything out.”
And because she’s my closest friend in the world I tell her everything about Axel showing up at Aldi’s, the kiss in the kitchen at my grandmother’s, how he misled everything into thinking he’s this really charming guy, the ride in the jet, how he took care of me and back at his apartment. I tell her everything, not leaving anything out. The intimacy details, I stammer through with a red face.
By the time I’m finished, I’m out of breath and she’s stirring her oatmeal mechanically even though it has long since been over-stirred. She is staring at me in awe.
“He likes you,” she announces when I’m finished.
“Just to get in my panties,” I scoff.
“Well, that he definitely does but I mean the man has to seriously like you Joyce to have gone through all that trouble to bring you back to Detroit. You know when it comes to men, I’m not easily impressed but with all Axel has done, I am.”
I scowl at her. “Have you forgotten this is the man who threatened to sue me for ‘abusing’ his security guard?”
“I’ve forgotten nothing,” she answers. “But I listened to everything you told me just now and I honestly believe the man is trying to woo you.”
“Woo me? Why’d he do that?”
She looks at me like she wants to strangle me. “Why shouldn’t he? You’re a beautiful person inside and out. I’m sure now that you’re back, he’s going to be asking you out on a date soon.”
I grimace. “I think he already did. He told me to be ready at four.”
She squeals in delight. “Oh my God! My best friend is getting herself a billionaire boyfriend. I mean if not me, then I’d rather it be you of all the other women in Detroit.”
I get to my feet. “You’re getting way ahead of yourself, Jess. This is Axel Ash. He can have any woman that he wants. If anything, he is thinking of me as an amusement for him and I’m not going to be the jester in his court.”
There, I have aired my insecurities. I’ve already been abandoned by my father. There’s no way Axel is here to stay and it would be way too easy for me to mistake his attention for something more than it is. The best thing to do is to stay as far away from him as possible. Starting with this afternoon. I don’t care what Axel says. If I have to go back to working for him, then fine. I will. But I will have nothing to do with him on a personal level.
I say as much to Jessica who is frowning at me even before I am finished.
“I think you’re making a big mistake,” she informs me. “Axel doesn’t seem like a man who is easily deterred. If he hopped on a jet and travel across state borders to find you and bring you back here, what makes you think he won’t be able to convince you to do what he wants. And think about it. I for one, know you’re not easy and if you’ve gone so far with Axel by sleeping in the same bed with the guy, chances are you’re too attracted to him to say np anyway.”
Her words make me shiver but I refuse to believe I don’t have what it takes to tell Axel Ash no.