Kenneth
The knock on the door makes me look up - and I smile as Jessica walks into my office.
We might be trying for ‘professional’ at work, but that doesn’t mean the sight of her doesn’t make something inside me light up. It’s getting to the point where we’re both slightly concerned that it’s too obvious. Anyone who spends more than a few minutes around the two of us when we’re together would probably pick up on it - so Jessica tries to stay out of the way as much as possible whenever I’m meeting anyone in my office.
That doesn’t stop my eyes from drifting down to that gorgeously tight pencil skirt and the glossy tights she’s wearing, though. Or my mind from following to yet another fantasy of pulling her onto my lap and making out right here in my office.
I can’t help it. Things have just been getting better and better between the two of us.
She’s staying over a few nights in the week now - and we even spent last weekend together with Abbie, and my daughter was thrilled. Of course, it helped that we did all her favorite things, but I don’t think I’m imagining how much happier she seems at the moment. Having Jessica’s attention as well as mine seems to be bringing her to life in the same way I feel so much more alive now.
It’s like I’ve spent years just trying to get through the tough hand I’ve been dealt…and I’ve finally found that there’s something at the end of all that difficulty.
She’s helping me look for another Nanny for Abbie too - mostly because I think Kara started despairing at her about the length of my search - and I’m surprised how relieved I am about that. It’s something I’ve always been so careful about and I’ve needed to be in full control over - but I don’t think I realized how much it slowed me down not to have anyone else to talk to about it.
In business, I can make quick decisions in a heart beat - but with Abbie? I’m not going to deny the thought of making the wrong choice terrifies me. Simply having Jessica there to validate some of my own thoughts has made it so much easier. We now have a shortlist and I’ve entered into discussions about a trial period with one or two. Jessica convinced me two would be better and I don’t think I can argue with that.
“Hey.” I say as she walks over toward me, then clear my throat to dislodge some of the natural affection there. “I mean, what can I do for you?”
She smiles, rolling her eyes at me and responding in a perfectly professional tone.
“This came for you - it looks personal and it wasn’t with the usual mail delivery, so I didn’t want to open it myself.”
She hands me a brown envelope and I take it automatically, nodding. “Thanks.”
“Do you need anything else?”
“No, I should be good until my next meeting.”
“Okay, I’ll just be outside.”
I smile at her, unable to help the way my gaze catches with hers. “I know.”
She smiles back, her eyes lingering for a moment too, before turning and walking away again, my eyes drifting down to the way her gorgeous ass moves in those heels yet again.
In some ways, I’m looking forward to when she finds another job. As much as I like having her around all the time - and getting nice little glimpses like that - I can’t help wanting all the time we spend together to be about us. Not work or being professional or anything else. I don’t want to have to restrain myself, or try not to look, or touch, or anything else.
She deserves to see just how much I can’t get enough of her, every moment we’re together.
It’s not until she’s back behind her desk that I finally look at the package she handed me, opening it up without a thought, still thinking about Jessica.
I slip out the contents - and then I finally freeze, my eyes widening.
“Shit.”
In front of me are pictures of Jessica and I.
At dinner, holding her hand across the table.
At the park with Abbie.
Kissing, with my office building in the background, when I just couldn’t wait any longer.
Clipped to the pictures is a hand-written note, the author obvious.
- Last chance to settle.
“Oh, shit.”
I look at the photos - of Jessica, of Abbie - and a spike of fear shoots through me.
Then raging anger.
Jessica. Abbie. My family.
They took fucking photos of us? They followed us?!
“Fucking hell.”
My gaze flicks up to where Jessica is sat at her desk outside my office, her face not visible from this angle - and then the edge of fear comes back again. Not for me. For her - and everything this means. The high of everything we’ve done together - the buzz from our new relationship, the mind-blowing sex and feeling of finally coming home - all that crashes down around me and I run a hand through my hair.
All the things we shouldn’t have done…all the risks we took…
“Fucking stupid. You’ve been so fucking stupid, Kenneth…”
My mouth settles into a grim line and I press the intercom button with a reluctant firmness. I don’t want Jessica to have to be involved in this - I wish I could pretend these didn’t exist, or discuss them with Patrick without her ever knowing, but I know she wouldn’t want that. It wouldn’t work, either.
“Could you come in here for a moment, please?”
“Sure.”
Jessica walks in a moment later and as soon as she takes a look at me, she frowns, concern flashing across her expression.
“What is it?”
“Come take a look at these.” I gesture toward the pictures spread across my desk, still feeling disgusted by them.
She comes to stand beside me - and I hear the gasp as she works out what they are.
“Oh god…”
“I know.” I say, turning to face her. I stand up and pull her into my arms. “I’m sorry, Jessica. I’m sorry - and pissed off beyond belief - that they’ve dragged you into all this.”
She looks up at me, her eyes wide.
“Am I going to get called into the trial? Am I going to have to say something? Is this going to screw you over, Kenneth? Are you going to be okay?” The questions rush out of her, almost a whisper as she holds onto my arms. “Oh god, what are we going to do?”
“I don’t know yet, but I’m going to sort this. I never thought this was something that could affect you - and I’m not going to let it.” I can feel how fierce my gaze is, unable to keep it out of my expression as I look at her. I lean down and kiss her, swept up in the passion and wild emotion of the moment, not caring that we’re not doing that at work anymore - it’s not like we’re going to be able to keep this a secret for much longer, anyway.
She kisses me back, her hands rising to tangle in my hair and we have one breathless moment together before she pulls back, still looking shocked.
“What are we going to do?”
My mouth hardens into a firm line as I start thinking about it, as I start trying to work out what the hell I can do after something like that - how I’m going to make any of this work.
“I think…I think I might need to ask you to set up an emergency meeting. And this time, I’m afraid you might need to be a part of it too, my love.” I lean down and kiss her again, brushing my lips with hers. “I want to work out what the best thing to do for you would be - just how we’re going to protect you.”
Right now, that’s all I’m thinking about.
Whatever this means for my lawsuit can wait.