The Seduction(15)

Watching the desire on his face as I touched him. He is so sure about everything, I had to show him what I could do. Push him to the edge and see him lose control.

God, I loved it. The power.

I’ve never done anything so reckless and sexy in my life, and even now, the memory feels like it happened to someone else. An impostor. An out of body experience. Some other girl, hijacking my body and making me do the naughty things I’ve only ever read about in books that I hide on my Kindle at night.

And then when Vaughn touched me...?

The way he worked with my body, the things he did with his fingers... It was the most mind-blowing, intense orgasm of my life.

I’m losing my mind.

It’s Friday, so thankfully I don’t have to face everyone at work for the next two days. I stay home, busily doing all the chores I’ve been avoiding as a punishment for my behavior. I clean the oven and scrub the bathroom floor, do a million loads of laundry, and cook a month’s worth of nutritious meals to freeze in tupperware so I don’t wind up eating junk-food takeout for dinner again. And all the while, I block out every thought of Vaughn and what happened in that museum bathroom.

It was madness. It was a crazy mistake. It’ll never, ever, happen again.

By Monday morning the knot in my stomach has turned into a giant black hole, swallowing me up in shame and guilt. I drive to work feeling like I’m going to my own execution: my palms sweating as I step into the elevator and hit the floor.

This is it. Time to face the music.

“Wait up!” Justine comes skidding into the elevator at the last second. She catches her breath as the doors close. “You look nice.”

“I do?” I look down. I couldn’t sleep a wink last night, tossing and turning with panic, so I had extra time this morning to blow-dry my hair and pick out an outfit. I even did my makeup too -- lingering in front of the mirror to delay the inevitable. “Thanks.”

If I’m going to be fired and thrown out of the offices, at least I’ll look good, marching out of the elevator with my box full of office supplies.

The doors open. Justine steps out. I can’t move.

“Coming?” She frowns.

I gulp, and slowly edge after her, my heart pounding in my chest. The girl at reception gives us a bland nod. A couple of lawyers pass us in the hall with a friendly smile.

I check around to be sure, but everything seems normal. No glares. No whispers. No mob with flaming pitch-forks. Maybe Vaughn didn’t report me. Maybe I’m safe---

“Fawes!”

Carter’s yell echoes through the office. My blood runs cold. This is it. The end of my career. He comes charging out of his office, and my heart stops. He’s going to do it right here, in front of everyone.

Oh God.

I brace myself, shaking.

“Where’s the Montgomery file?” Carter demands.

“I’m sorr--” I start to grovel my apology, before realizing what he’s just said. “Wait, what?”

“The fucking file!” Carter yells. “I just had them on the phone, and I couldn’t tell them one damn thing.”

“It was on your desk,” I stammer, my mind racing.

“Of course it was on my desk!” Carter bellows. “You think I don’t know that? Where the fuck is it now is the question.”

Then I remember I had it with me when Vaughn showed up. I must have taken it by mistake when I was distracted.

“I’ll find it now.”

“You better,” Carter threatens. “Or I’ll have you out on your ass faster than you can say--”

“Mr. Abrams.” His assistant, Erin, tugs on his sleeve, looking terrified.

“What the fuck?” he demands.

“You have a client,” she whispers, wide-eyed. “Here.”

Carter spins around. “Oh. I...” He falls silent, and clears his throat. “I didn’t know you were there.”

“Clearly.”

Carter is blocking my view, but I’d know that sexy voice anywhere.

Vaughn.

I freeze, blood rushing to my cheeks -- and another, more private place.

Carter stands aside, still apologizing, but Vaughn ignores him, meeting my gaze with an amused grin. “Miss Fawes,” he says with a smirk. “So good to see you again.”

“You’ve met?” Carter looks back and forth between us.

I panic, waiting for Vaughn to reveal the truth, but instead, he answers smoothly.

“You were indisposed on Friday, so Miss Fawes was kind enough to take the meeting,”

He winks.

I blink in shock. Does this mean he’s not going to tell? Relief washes over me, but part of me stays alert. Uneasy.

What else does he want with me?

“I’m sorry,” Carter is sneering. “She’s just an assistant.”