“Half the staff didn’t show up today.” Sienna said as she slid into the back seat of Jonathan’s town car, mindful of the sequins on her short red party dress. “We really should’ve just given the 20th floor the whole day off anyway, Mr. Wise.”
“Or, include manicures as part of the sick day package.” Johnathan smiled. “Is everything ready for tonight, Miss Smythe?”
“Yes, sir. The details are all taken care of. All we have to do is show up.”
“You look gorgeous,” Johnathan said as he kissed her hand and then leaned in and kissed her neck. “Although, how am I going to get my hands into that?” he smiled, reaching out to touch her heavily hair sprayed updo.
Two weeks earlier when they were lying in bed together, they decided that it was imperative for them to keep their work separate from their pleasure. To enforce part of that separation, when they were in work mode, they would refer to each other in a professional manner. However, while they weren’t going to flaunt their relationship, they weren’t going to keep it a secret either.
The arrest of Madison had shocked the staff on the 20th floor for about 3 hours, and then it was old news. But, amusingly, the fact that Johnathan Wise had committed to a woman who wasn’t a model was still a hot topic weeks later!
Walking into the Christmas party Sienna could feel all eyes on her. Johnathan put his arm over her shoulder and squeezed her in tight while he shook the hands of the staff.
“You did all of this with the budget I gave you?”
Johnathan was looking around the ballroom in awe. He smiled and shook his head when he spotted the tiger ice sculpture.
Following his gaze, Sienna responded, “there was a little left in the budget for a tiger after all.”
Johnathan kissed Sienna on the cheek and pulled her in tightly to him.
Jessica sashayed up to them and opened her arms for a hug. Sienna could tell she was testing the waters and trying to show some dominance over her. Johnathan squeezed Sienna’s shoulder and kissed her on the cheek before clasping Jessica’s hand and giving her a very perfunctory euro style double kiss. She tried to lean in closer with her chest and he stepped back. She giggled, but the red in her face made it very apparent that she wasn’t used to rejection. She shot Sienna an evil side glance and then pivoted on her platforms and walked away, being sure to stick out her pert ass as she walked away.
Almost all of the 20th floor staff acted seductively towards Johnathan, and all of them received his proper, yet gentlemanlike response. And none of them liked it.
Ironically enough, it was in a room full of models that Sienna felt her most beautiful. Johnathan’s eyes sparkled when he looked into hers and she knew that she was leaving there tonight with him.
After dinner, the dancing started. When the band slowed things down for a ballad, Jessica determinately approached Jonathan to dance. He kissed Sienna on the cheek and followed Jessica onto the dance floor.
Sienna felt a tap on her shoulder. It was Ben, the doorman.
“May I?” he asked and held out his hand.
Sienna smiled and walked onto the floor with Ben.
“You are a wonderful dancer.” Sienna remarked.
“When I was a young man, I loved to ballroom dance.”
Sienna smiled as he whisked her around the dance floor.
“You know, Miss Sienna, you’re the only one of Johnathan’s staff that ever said hello to me.”
“Once their looks fade, those girls are going to be left with nothing.” Sienna sighed and shook her head.
“Isn’t that the truth.” Ben responded dipping her with grace and returning her to her feet.
“Pardon me miss, but I think I’d like to go cut in on Mr. Wise’s dance partner. There’s no way she’ll put up a fuss in front of him.”
And with that, Ben swirled Sienna over to Johnathan and expertly cut into his dance. Sienna looked over Johnathan’s shoulder in Jessica's direction and Jessica narrowed her eyes and gave her the finger.
After the skilled example set by Ben, by comparison Johnathan was actually a terrible dancer. And without Ben leading, Sienna had two left feet. Even in her gorgeous red heels.
“Do you want to get out of here?” Johnathan whispered in her ear. She nodded eagerly. Johnathan grabbed her by the hand and they ran out into the snowy night.
“Miss Wise” he said, stopping just short of the car.
“Yes?” Sienna responded, intrigued by the switch into business mode.
"I want you to make a list of everyone in our office who is actually qualified to keep their job. I will go over it and fire everyone else and you can start interviewing replacements for them."
"Okay..." she said, blinking at him. This wasn't expected.
"I’ve realized that I can make a lot more money with competent staff.”
Sienna was a little disappointed. Secretly, she had hoped that he was going to say that he wanted the girls gone because he only had eyes for her.
"Okay, I will get started on that right away. Is there anything else you need me to do?"
Jonathan grinned at her and winked.
"Mr. Wise!" Sienna said coyly, blushing.
“You’re shivering.” He said, running his hands up and down her bare arms that were now covered in goosebumps.
“Well, it is December and it’s snowing, and I’m standing on the street in ridiculous shoes.”
Johnathan smiled, removing his suit jacket and placing it over her shoulders. Sienna inhaled the scent of his coat and felt deep warmth from within.
“There’s one more thing” Johnathan said, his tone turning serious.
Sienna’s heart started to thump against her chest. Was he going to tell her that the other girls meant nothing to him?
“I love you.”
Sienna’s eyes went wide and she felt a rush of adrenaline surge through her. Could this really be happening to her?
The falling snow swirled in the streetlight and some perfect flakes had landed on his gorgeous dark lashes. Sienna searched his icy blue eyes and found warmth.
“I love you too.”
She stood on her tiptoes and leaned into him. He took her in his arms and they kissed under the falling snow, neither of them feeling the cold.
The End.