“Mr. Blair’s office, Kali here. May I help you?”
His heart soared hearing her sweet voice.
“Kali, I’m on my way back to the office. I know it’s the end of the workday, but could you wait there for me? There’s something I want to discuss.”
“Is there a problem?” she asked, concern etching her voice. “Did something go wrong on the trip?”
“No, nothing like that. I just want to talk to you about something.”
“Of course, Mr. Blair. I’ll be here.”
She sounded nervous and he wanted to say more, but not over the phone. He glanced at his watch.
“I’ll be there in about fifteen minutes. And Kali…”
“Yes, sir.”
“I’ve missed you.”
* * *
Kali paced back and forth. Mr. Blair wanted to talk to her. To discuss something.
It was probably something about their relationship. When he’d said he’d missed her, her heart had leapt with joy.
Maybe he wanted to extend their office sex to include business trips. That would be wonderful because then they’d actually spend time together outside the office. And they’d have sex in a hotel…with a bed and all. Maybe he’d even let her stay the night with him. The mere thought sent joy swelling through her, but she quickly stomped it down. Getting her hopes up for something so unlikely just wasn’t worth the pain.
When he’d said he’d missed her, he’d probably just meant he’d missed the sex. He was probably just hoping for a quick one to tide him over until tomorrow.
The elevator dinged and her stomach fluttered as the door whooshed open. Her breath caught at the sight of Mr. Blair, in his immaculately tailored suit which set off his broad shoulders and slim waist. He brushed back a lock of his thick, wavy hair which had fallen onto his forehead.
Then he saw her and smiled, which lit up his handsome face. Her heart nearly toppled at the sight.
Oh, God, whatever he wanted she would give him. If he only wanted casual sex in the office, she’d accept that. Anything to keep being with him.
But as he walked toward her, and her heart-rate accelerated, she realized she couldn’t accept that situation. Serena was right that Kali was falling in love with the man and this route led to major heartbreak. And when it ended, he would probably transfer her to another department, or even a different city, and then she’d never see him again.
She loved working for him and didn’t want to give that up.
She had to be strong and tell him that she had to end their arrangement. Today.
* * *
Ryan drank in the sight of Kali in her slim-fitting skirt and snug black top, his hormones raging.
“Hello, Kali.”
“Good evening, Mr. Blair.”
He could barely stop himself from dragging her into his arms and kissing her. He longed to feel her soft body against him, to caress her lovely curves. To taste every part of her. Maybe he should command her to strip, then explore her body intimately. Bringing her to orgasm. Once. Then again. Then maybe a third time.
She followed him into his office and closed the door. He set down his briefcase then gestured for her to sit at the table, then he joined her.
She seemed to sense his intense desire for her and she tore her gaze from his and shifted in her chair.
He wanted to show her how much he wanted her…needed her. Then tell her he wanted to take their relationship beyond just sex in the office. He wanted to take her to dinner. Enjoy her company in the evening. Sleep the whole night with her.
He wanted to start a real relationship with her. She was exactly the woman he could see in his life.
So he would tell her now, then take her to dinner. He had already made reservations at Marie D’s one of the most elegant and romantic restaurants in town. He would wine her and dine her, then take her back to his place and make sweet, passionate love to her. He would prove to her how much he wanted her in his life.
“I’m glad you were willing to stay. I actually want to talk about us and our arrangement. There are some changes I’d like to make.”
She drew in a deep breath. “I need to say something. I’ve been thinking about this and…you said if anything about the arrangement made me uncomfortable we could stop.”
His breathing stopped as he stared at her. “Yes, that’s right.”
She nodded. “I think we should end this now.” She hesitated, seeming to want to say more, but the seconds slipped by.
“I see.” His heart sank. “Why?”
“I just think it’s a bad idea to keep going. I think it’ll cause problems and…”—she gazed at him with solemn eyes—“I really want to keep this job. I don’t want to ruin things.”
His eyes narrowed. “This isn’t because you’ve been developing feelings for me, is it?”
He thought she had. When he looked into her eyes when they were together…when he’d held her just before he left on his trip…he was sure he’d seen more than just lust in her eyes.
She hesitated. “No, of course not. We said sex only.” Her gaze dropped to her hands. “And that’s all it was.”
He wanted to fight for her. To insist they give it more time.
He wanted to drag her into his arms and convince her she couldn’t live without him.
But it wasn’t right to pressure her. He was in a position of authority. He didn’t want to put her in a difficult position.
“All right. I’m sorry for keeping you late this evening. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
He walked to briefcase, then picked it up and walked out of the office.
* * *
Kali ached as she watched him leave. It was over. She wanted nothing more than to run after him and grab his arm, then pull him into a passionate embrace and tell him she wanted to be with him. Even if it was just for shallow office sex. That had to be better than not being with him at all.
Except she knew it would break her heart when it ended. He would walk away from their casual fling totally unscathed, but she would be a hopeless mess.
And from his question, he suspected as much.
It was better to end it now before it became even more painful.
* * *
Ryan tossed back the rest of his drink, then pushed it toward the bartender, who nodded and poured another.
“How do you do it?” Ryan asked Spencer. “Fuck your secretary without any qualms?”
Spencer shrugged. “What’s the big deal? She’s happy. I’m happy. It works for both of us.”
“But what if she weren’t happy? What if she told you it was over? Then what? Just back to business as usual?”
Ryan realized is words were slurring a little. Fuck, it wasn’t like him to drink too much. Or to fucking feel sorry for himself like he was right now.
“I take it Kali ended it with you.” Spencer swirled his drink in his glass—still his first—as he watched Ryan.
“Yeah, she thinks it’s better to keep our relationship business only.”
“A decision I take it you’re not happy with.”
Ryan frowned and shook his head. “Not at all. What we had was great. Fucking in the office every morning was…it was fucking great.” He wrapped his hand around his drink and took a swig. “And when I went away, I knew I wanted more, but when I sat her down to talk about it, she just ended it.”
“After you told her you wanted more?”
“No, she didn’t give me the chance.”
“Man, have you fallen for her?”
Ryan stared at Spencer and frowned. Then shook his head. “It doesn’t matter. It’s over.”
“You’re sure about that?”
Ryan tightened his hands around his glass. “I can’t force her into a relationship with me.”
Spencer rested his hand on Ryan’s arm. “Look, there’s something you should know…”
* * *
Kali went into the office the next morning dreading facing Mr. Blair. What would it be like in the office now that she’d pulled the plug on their sexual relationship? Would everything go back to normal, or would it be awkward and weird?
And painful. For her, at least. Because she now knew she was in love with the man.
A part of her knew she had to resign. Walk away entirely.
But she didn’t want that.
She noted that Mr. Blair’s office door was closed as she walked to her desk. She opened her email and found one from Mr. Blair telling her he was out of the office all day and that she should cancel his afternoon appointments. She looked at his calendar, but there were no appointments booked this morning and he had not added anything new this afternoon.
Whatever it was must have come up suddenly. He didn’t usually update his calendar. He left that to her.
She picked up the phone and started making the calls to clear his afternoon.
She kept herself busy the rest of the morning, glad she didn’t have to face him until tomorrow. She expected to go to lunch with Serena, as usual, but her friend cancelled. The conversation was short and Kali felt like her friend was being a bit evasive, but she shrugged it off and grabbed a quick sandwich at the deli.
When she returned to her desk, she started on some reports Mr. Blair had asked her to edit for him.
The phone rang and she picked it up. “Mr. Blair’s office. May I help you.”
“Kali, I need you to come downtown right away and bring my tablet. It’s sitting on my desk. If you grab a cab now, you should be here in fifteen minutes. I’ve texted you the address.”