“So when are you going to forgive me, Nicola? It’s been such a long time since we’ve been together like this, and I can’t think when you are looking this way. You are beautiful.”
She smiled at me. She seemed to be acting a little coy. I had a feeling that she knew exactly what she was doing to me, and she didn’t seem to be too bothered. I was rock hard, as hard as her nipples, but there wasn’t the same need in her. I wanted her to be wet. I wished I could ask her – no, tell her – that I wanted them. I didn’t have that kind of control right now, but she did.
“I already forgave you, Jerold. I just learned that I had to be more careful. You hurt me, and I don’t want to be hurt again.”
I didn’t know what to say. I had never wanted to hurt her. That had been the very last thing on my mind. She was a woman whom I wanted to protect and make sure that nothing ever happened to again. It was still a new feeling to have, but I had learned to embrace it as best as I could.
“I never meant to hurt you. I didn’t know what happened till I got back. Connie sent me to New York to take care of a couple of things, and I thought of you the whole time. When I got back, you were gone and you wouldn’t even talk to me. What was I supposed to do? I had to talk to you mom to get an invitation. And even then you still only talked to me cordially. I want my Nicola back, the one that I made love to at the pier not far from your parents’ house. It seems like so long ago, but it is still the very thing I remember when I close my eyes at night.”
I stopped and told myself that I had to get it together. She didn’t want to hear that. I wasn’t sure what she wanted to hear, but Nicola didn’t want to hear how I was falling for her from only a few weeks together. I had to shut my mouth.
“I know you didn’t mean to, but it still hurt. I didn’t want to talk to you because Connie went all out and I didn’t want to show my face. I wasn’t on my best behavior with her, and I know that I shouldn’t have acted the way I did, but she is truly hateful.”
She wasn’t getting off of Connie, and it made me wonder what all had happened. I had been getting bits and pieces of it, but the subject matter kept most people from commenting. I didn’t know what was going on with them, but I was going to get to the bottom of it.
“I will get rid of her. I can’t have her in the office. She has been my assistant for a long time, but I know I can’t keep someone like that around. I still want you to come back to work. I hate having to order out, and I’m no good in the kitchen.”
Nicola finally smiled, and I knew that she was thinking about coming back. When she told me that she wouldn’t, I could feel the smile sliding off of my face. I didn’t want to think about her being gone forever.
“I’m not coming back, Jerold. I don’t want you as my boss anymore.”
“I don’t understand. It was all wrong, a misunderstanding. Why would you not come back? I will give you more money.”
She shook her head and told me that it had nothing to do with the money. “I’m working on getting my own place. I know that it won’t be very elegant in the beginning, but I don’t want another boss. I want to be my own boss.”
I had not seen that coming. I was a little surprised that she was going to start a business. It was not that I didn’t believe in her, but I didn’t know how she was going to manage fresh out of college. Her parents weren’t going to be able to help her out. I was hesitant to ask about it, though.
“Running a business is a lot of work, but I’m sure you will do great. Have you decided on a location yet?”
Nicola bit her lip and kind of shrugged. Apparently it was not such easy sailing as she had thought it would be. I could have told her why. There was a reason that over half the businesses started failed in the first couple of years. Without capital, I doubt she was even going to be able to secure a lease for more than six months. There was a lot of upfront cost, if the small kitchen in the office was any indication.
“Not really, but I’m working with the bank right now.”
“Do you have any investors?”
She shook her head. “That would be too close to a boss.”
“Ouch.”
“Well, if we are going to play, than we are not going to be able to work together. I will figure something out on my end. I’m not that worried about it.”
She was putting down the rules. So help me, the tide had turned. I would not push it on that one thing. But I knew that I was going to want to take control of everything else. I wasn’t going to argue, but I would still get involved.
“Are we going to play?”
It was the first time that night that she got that submissive look on her face. I loved that look, and it made me want her right then. Could I push her, or was it too soon?
I almost didn’t care if she was ready for it or not. It had been far too long, and all I could think about was losing the one opportunity that I had to be with her again. I needed to get my hands on her, rein her back in.
“I was hoping that we would, Jerold. I have missed you.”
It was all I needed to hear. Standing up, I took her hand, almost pulling her out of the chair because she wasn’t moving fast enough.
“Where are we going? The meal hasn’t even come yet.”
“I’m not hungry for food.”