Chapter 7

XANDER

I was seated in the executive conference room and instead of paying attention to the growth chart that was being broken down, my eyes were on the wall clock by the corner.

The moment it hit 4:30 pm, I rose to my feet. “I have somewhere to be,” I announced. “We’ll pick up from here tomorrow.”

David rose to exit the room with me and I sighed deeply the moment he walked into my office.

“What’s going on?” he asked.

“What do you mean?” I replied as I gathered the files I would need to work with at home when I got back from the coffee house.

“You’ve been leaving before 5 pm for almost a week now. That has never happened before. Most of the times you’re here even past midnight. What’s going on? Are you dating? Are you sick? Is your mom okay? Is she in town?”

I stopped and straightened to stare at him, the barrage of questions exhausting to hear. “I’m fine. It’ll just be for a short while, I need a break. Don’t you dare have me followed,” I said and walked out of the office.

Simon was waiting for me, so I dismissed him for the day and drove myself over to the Grande Cup. I was lucky today because just as I arrived, a car pulled away, so I was able to slide into the vacant spot only a short distance from the cafe.

I remained seated wondering when I was going to quit the charade I was putting up. I was beginning to understand myself less and less. “Today will be the last,” I said to myself. “If she didn't have a response for me, I would give her up.”

I looked up into my rearview mirror to see a woman with short blonde hair crossing the street.

I didn't need to see her face to confirm who it was, however, I did need to peer a little bit more closely to be certain she was the same person.

She wore a paper-thin white wrap dress that barely went past her thighs. She turned to glance around then and I couldn't take my eyes off her. The dress hugged every curve of her body, down her tiny waist and then her buttocks before flaring out in the wind.

I grabbed my phone and got out of the car.

A few minutes later I met her in the locker room. She now had a pair of dark jeans on but with the dress still hanging over it all. She acted as though she didn't notice my entrance and I did the same. However when I noticed her nipples straining against the white material I stopped breathing.

She went on with putting up her hair and adjusting her makeup as though nothing was happening, and then to my surprise, she loosened the strap that held the blouse together and slipped the material off her shoulders to reveal her full breasts, tucked into a skimpy black lace bra.

It surprised me because since I had arrived here, never had she changed in front of me. Ryan, she was comfortable with, but the moment I came in she always scampered for cover.

She had begun a game for which I was yet uncertain of the prize and rules, and I couldn't remember the last time I had looked forward to something more. I focused on exchanging my cashmere sweater for the dark shirt of the house, but when I pulled the shirt down over my torso I found her walking toward me.

“Could you help me with the hook of my bra? It’s too loose. Pinning it a step closer will be good.”

I waited until she worked up the courage to look me in the eyes before holding her by the arm and turning her around. When I was done, I banged my locker shut and walked away.

She continued her subtle torments throughout the day and when she let her order pad drop and bent down to pick it up, from the back of her jeans extended a dark string thong which instantly turned me hard. I looked away from the sight and refocused on the coffee I had been brewing.

I was amused because at the end of it all she was going to be the one limping away. I would make damn sure of it. I was intrigued as to what had brought the sudden change, but remembering Ida’s visit, I had a good guess. David had filled my head over the years with more stories of his good times that I had ever been willing to hear. Carson could not have had a better teacher.

Did that also mean then that she had told her my real identity? I wanted to find out, so when I handed over the coffee to her, I asked. “Did Ida tell you that she knew me?”

She seemed taken aback by the question but then she quickly recovered “She said that you are friends with her ex-husband,” she replied and walked away.

There was a huge chance that Ida had not said a word but just in case, I picked up my phone and called her. She picked up immediately.

“Did you tell Carson about me yesterday?”

“No, I didn’t,” she replied. “I just said that you were David’s friend.”

“Alright,” I said.

I was about to hang up when she said, “I don't want to get involved but don't be a dick to her.”

I said nothing to the caution and ended the call just as Carson came over to hand me yet another fresh roast order.

I accepted it, my hand unintentionally brushing hers but this time around, she didn’t even flinch. She looked boldly into my eyes and said. “Could I watch as you brew the next batch?”

“Sure,” I replied, and she stood next to me.

It was then that I noticed her scent. It was the same that I had smelt on her the first time I had met and kissed her on the street. It had swirled all around and teased me to the insanity I currently found myself in. She watched as I selected the dark beans to begin grinding and asked. “Why did you reject the box of beans that Brian brought in the day before yesterday? You said that they had been over-roasted but they looked fine to me.”

“They weren't up to par,” I answered. “Most were quite black, and the beans were broken.”

“I don't think I can tell the difference between a dark brown and black especially with the lighting in here. Yet you gave it just one glance and instantly rejected it.”

“Years of practice,” I said.

She watched quietly as I grounded the beans and then reached for the kettle of just-boiled water. I let it sit for a few seconds to prevent over extracting the flavors before I put it to use.

Despite how full of concentration I appeared, everything I was doing was more of habit than focus. All I could think of was the body that she had brought so close to mine that I could feel her warmth, and the slight brush of her breast against my arm. I recalled the image of the peek of string of underwear down the crack of her ass that I had been gifted earlier and it made my breathing come harder. I wanted to take her right there.

“How young were you when you started learning how to brew?” she asked. “Was it out of interest or you just needed a job?”

I was about to answer her when I caught myself and stopped. “You’re asking me personal questions,” I said, and she turned her gaze to mine. “I am not subscribed to you knowing more than you should.”

I expected her to take offense with that but when she gave a nod and kept watching me I was quite surprised.

“Can you get me the mug on that top drawer?” I asked her, and she looked towards the direction of my gaze.

“That’s too high for me,” she immediately dismissed.

“Try,” I said, and at my suggestive tone, she decided to play along. She lifted herself up on tiptoe and I went behind her to help her out.

“Keep stretching,” I said and heard her smile.

I pressed my hard-on against her backside, taking the moment to watch her top slide up to reveal the strings that hugged her waist.

“You need a belt for your pants,” I whispered to her.

Aware of our possible audience, I grabbed the cup that she was unable to reach, making sure to brush her breast with my arm as it came down, and in response, she staggered and softly fell back unto me.

My arm slid around her waist to keep her from falling and pressed her against me.

“Are you alright?” I asked, and she nodded. She pulled away from me to return back to her station but unfortunately, Lucy had been watching her.

“Are you flirting with Xander?” the older woman asked, and I turned away from the both of them. Carson had been flirting with me and I craved it, Lucy, on the other hand, had been near impossible to tolerate in the past week.

Out of spite, she dismissed Carson from the counter and sent her off to some heavy loading in the storeroom. That was all good for me as the moment I could get a break, I headed over to the storeroom to find her taking stock of the available supplies.

I shut the door and folded my arms across my chest to lean against it.

“Have you changed your mind?” I asked.

She was silent for a few moments before responding, her voice considerably less confident than earlier.

“About what?”

I truly despised repeating myself so I kept her quiet until she turned around.

“Maybe I have.”

“When do we begin?”

She opened her mouth to speak but no words came out. So she turned around and continued with her work. “I have a question,” she asked. “If this were to happen, why wouldn't we kiss?”

“Because I was fine before I met you, I want to be fine after you leave.”

“What does that mean?”

“The only thing that is stopping me from falling in love with you is the simple fact that I do not want to fall in love with anyone. Kissing you, time and time again might take the power to maintain that decision away from me without me even knowing.”

“And sleeping with me won’t?”

“I can fuck anyone, all I need is a hard dick. That’s not the same for kissing. I just might gag if I feel nothing for you.”

Her eyes instantly widened in offense and it almost made me smile. She was as bare as an open book. “So you feel like gagging when you kiss me?”

“No, I do not. I feel my heart pound, and every nerve in my body comes alive. That is a very clear warning that I am not going to ignore. Breaths are the force of life, so if I keep sharing yours, and get addicted to it, you will be entrenched in my heart. That is the one thing that I cannot afford.”

“Are you always this blunt?”

“For some reason, I’m more invested in this than I consider normal. Saying exactly what I mean is a reminder both to myself and you of what exactly this will be.”

She stared deeply into my eyes then, as if trying to decipher me, and for a moment it seemed as though between us, and in this closed room, time did not exist.

Thankfully whatever it was interrupted by the ringing of her phone. As she dug into her pocket and then brought it to her ear, I turned around and exited the room.

 

 

 

 

♡

CARSON

 

 

 

“I have exciting news for you,” my agent, Will said.

Taking a deep breath, I held the phone to my ear and reminded my heart not to respond to his words. It was most probably going to come to no avail.

“CBS has put out a pitch for a new series that they want to develop. They’re just looking for the right producer and writer to develop the story and lead the team. I think it would be a great opportunity for you.”

“Why? They’ve rejected so many of my scripts before.”

“That’s because your stories are too risky. They are too… real. They are looking for hard and quick fun, intrigue, and comedy, not things that will make people bawl their eyes out or think too much. Life already does that enough for everyone, so they don't like to come home and deal with that also on their television. Look, I didn't take you on because I pitied you. I took you on because I believe in your skill as a writer. With a little luck on your side and some flexibility, you just might be able to make a breakthrough. This is the closest I think you’ve gotten so far. Say yes immediately.”

I sighed deeply, concerned at gearing up for heartbreak once again. Once again this was a boat offering a ride across to my dream. I was exhausted from swimming so the only thing I could do was accept this ride and hope that unlike all the others, it wouldn’t sink and toss me back into the ocean.

“What do I have to do?” I asked.

“I’ll be having a meeting with some of the executives at 9 pm tonight. This is a great chance for you to meet them. If they click with you then this is pretty much yours. It’s a bit sudden but I hope you’re prepared.”

My heart’s pace picked up. “Tonight… t-that’s too soon.”

“It’s your only shot. Be here, and be ready, okay? Later.” He ended the call and I looked around the storage room in befuddlement. It was too soon… too much was at stake… and my confidence was too low. Moreover, I had a current job which I would need if this once again did not work out. I stepped out of the storage room and into the main hall, my head lowered in contemplation. I had barely three hours until 9 pm. I needed to make a decision. I had been burned so many times before. The last opportunity he had pitched to me had fallen through, and I had been kicked out of my home.

I saw Lucy talking to Xander across the counter and my heart fell.

There was no way that she was going to grant my request and still allow me to return to work. My only hope now would be… Xander.

Somehow, he had been able to make her change her mind about firing me the previous day, so maybe today also he would be able to help me excuse my absence from work.

I returned to my post behind the counter amidst the salty looks from Lucy as she took her leave, and then hurried over to Xander. “I need to ask for a favor.”

He spared me a glance and then returned to grinding his coffee beans. “What is it?”

“I need to be out of here by 8 pm, but I also would like to be allowed back tomorrow. There’s an opportunity that I just got a call for and it can’t be missed. Somehow, you were able to get her to listen to you yesterday, do I have a chance today?”

“Perhaps,” he said. “What do I get for this?”

“What do you want?”

“I have proposed an offer to you since the day I got here. I still haven't received a suitable response.”

“Can we talk about this after I return from my meeting?”

“No, we cannot,” he said and headed over to the sink. “You still owe me for yesterday’s favor, and now you're asking for another.”

I watched him and realized that he was not joking, He had been the same way from the first day I had met him. “Don’t you ever just do something for the sake of helping another human being? Must you always receive something in return?”

He turned to me. “You told me yesterday that you didn't want to owe me. Are you this flippant with your words?”

I lowered my head. “I meant it.”

“And I agree with you. We shouldn't own each other anything. It should be give and take, to avoid any blurred lines.”

“So what else do you want apart from the offer?”

“Tell me a few things that you think would be suitable payment for this favor and when you mention something that I deem worthy then I will accept it.”

“Why don't you just tell me?”

“Because I truly don’t know. You can help me figure it out,” he raised his arm to gaze at his watch. “You have about an hour.”

I gazed at him with incredulity, uncertain whether to be amazed or amused.

“Let me have your number,” I said. “I’ll text you with ideas as they come up.”

“No,” he said and turned to face me. He leaned down so that his face was only a few inches from mine. I forgot to breathe.

“When an idea pops up come over to me and share it personally.” He cleaned his hands with the towel, tossed it in the trash and walked away.

I saw Ryan watching us then and immediately walked up to him. “I need your help.”

“I don’t think you do, he said. “I’m the one who apparently needs your help. How did you get him hooked on you?”

Suddenly the apex of my neck felt itchy. My hand slithered up to the back of my neck. “He is?”

Ryan rolled his eyes at me and went on with his work. I followed him like a lost retriever.

“I’m serious,” I said. “I really need your help. What do guys like the most?”

He scoffed. “What do you think?”

“I want specifics… what makes them feel the most?”

“What exactly are you asking me?” he asked. I ran my fingers through my hair in frustration as he burst out laughing. “A good blow-job is a good start,” he said.

“What else?”

“Everything else I can think of involves one toy or another. Should I keep going?”

“No, thank you,” I said to him.

“I thought so.”

I hurried away to attend to some new customers, thoughts swirling in my head at what to tell Xander. When I finished serving my new customers, I found him out back, as usual, taking a phone call and waited till he was done.

“How about a quickie?” I asked. “Right now? Against that wall?”

“We’ve already had one of those,” he said.

“That wasn’t quick to me.”

“Well, to me it was.” He stepped to the side and went back into the restaurant.

The next time I suggested Ryan’s idea of a blow-job and Xander just chuckled and walked away. I stared at him a frown gathering across my forehead. As the hour progressed, I kept suggesting everything sexual I could think of that he could either do to me or I to him, but all he did was walk away from me with amusement.

He was beginning to get on my nerves so the moment it was a few minutes to 8 pm, I found him in the locker room and blocked his exit.

“You’ve had your fun with me,” I said to him. “but now more, I’m out of time. It’s either you’re going to help me or you aren’t.”

“Give me your phone,” he said to me, and I obliged him. He punched in his phone number and handed it back to me. “Call me when you’re done with your appointment and I will tell you where to meet me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

XANDER

 

She watched me quietly, seemingly overwhelmed with so much to process. “So can I just leave?”

“You can,” I said to her. “I’ve already settled your exit with the manager and Lucy.

She sent me a grateful smile and for a second I thought that she would hug me. I immediately turned around and left the room. The very thought of her arms around me was unnerving.

A few minutes later, I watched her from the corner of my eye as she ran past the counter with her purse and phone to her ear. Today would be my last day here, and as I watched her leave I couldn't help the despair that swelled in my chest.

I returned my gaze to the drip of dark smoky liquid as I brewed my last cup for the cafe. After tonight, she would see nothing of me again nor I of her.

Suddenly there was a loud yell. “Carson!”

I looked up to see Ryan staring out at the door to the cafe. The rain was now pouring heavily down from the sky.

“Carson! What are you doing?” The tone of his voice alarmed me and in moments, I found myself at the door next to him. She had the phone to her ear but her purse had fallen to the wet ground.

“Carson,” Ryan called again, and she turned around, the rain soaking her hair and her clothes. The door to the cab was wide open but she was not getting in.

I took a step forward and began to head toward her but froze the moment her eyes connected with mine. I could not tell whether they were filled with tears or rain but right before my eyes her knees buckled, and she collapsed to the ground.

I was by her side in an instant, Ryan right behind me.

“Carson,” I called wiping the rain off her face and pressing two fingers to her neck to feel for her purse. In that moment, I was sure that time had stopped for me.

“What’s wrong with her?” I heard Ryan cry as he hovered over us.

I immediately issued the command, “Call 911.”

After a few moments passed, I could no longer remain still so I rose and carried her into the cab.

“Take us to the nearest hospital,” I said and cradled her in my arms. I brushed her hair back from her face, and pressed my ear to her chest, desperate to hear her heartbeat. It felt as though the anxiety was close to pulling me out of my body.

Eventually, however, I heard a deep intake of breath from her and everything stilled inside me.

“Carson…” I shook her lightly and a few moments later, Her eyelids fluttered open. I felt my heart collapse with relief, knowing that if I had been standing, my legs would have given out. “Are you alright?” I whispered to her. “What’s wrong? How do you feel?”

She shut her eyes one more time, and I pleaded with a voice I couldn't recognize as my own to the taxi man. “Please hurry.”

In minutes we arrived. and she was rolled on a gurney into the emergency room.

The curtain was drawn before me, and I was forced stay in the waiting room while they worked on her. After what seemed like forever, but was actually less than an hour, the doctor came out, and headed straight for me.

“Is she alright?” I asked. “What’s going on?”

“Acute shock. She must have heard or seen something quite unpleasant. Are you her family?

“No, I’m not. I’m…” What was I? “I’m a friend,” I said.

“Then you need to call her family and inform them. She will be fine but what she needs right now is rest and to resolve whatever has upset her so badly.”

I nodded at his interactions and headed over to a bench in a corner where I had a good view of her and called Ida on the phone.

“I will be right there,” she said.

I watched as a nurse attached an oxygen mask to Carson’s face, and gave her an injection in her arm. Without a word, she shut her eyes and rested her head on the pillow.

About half an hour later, Ida came running in with her other friend and they both hurried to her side. The moment she sighted them she struggled to get up from the bed and held onto her other friend’s arm. She was saying something in a desperate plea to them that I could not decipher, but then I didn't miss the look that both friends shared. Ida nodded to her, and then I called her phone. She stopped to pick my call.

“I’m a few steps away from you, behind and to the right,” I said, and she turned around until she sighted me seated in the corner.

I immediately rose and met up with her.

“What’s wrong with her?” I asked. “The doctor said that she fainted because of some shock that she had. What happened?”

“Her father was in an accident,” Ida said to me. “It’s serious. He was crossing the street and some bastard ran into him and shattered his legs and hip. She wants to fly out to Connecticut tonight so I’m hurrying to see if there are any available flights for her.

“It’s almost 10 pm,” I said to her. “That will be close to impossible.”

“I know but I have to try. She doesn't seem as though she’ll be able to calm herself down anytime soon. I’ve never seen her this distraught.

“Take my plane,” I said. “There is a pilot on standby, and it is ready to go.”

She looked stunned as she stared at me.

“I’ll speak to the doctor on discharging her. You both get her ready to leave.

“Al-alright,” Ida said and hurried back to her friends.