I hear James as if from a distance, and open my eyes. My gaze meets his as another raging orgasm rushes over me. As limp as a rag doll, I fall down over his chest and luxuriate in the feel of his hands stroking my back. All too soon I sit up so that James can dispose of the condom.
We shower together, and as we are getting dressed, James suggests ordering burgers in. I realize that I am famished, and I hope I don’t seem too enthusiastic as I agree. While we wait for our burgers to arrive, James hands me my cell phone. I had forgotten to ask about it this morning. Several unread messages appear in my inbox. Two from Nick and five from Sam, with each getting more anxious than the last. I send Sam and Nick short texts reassuring them that I am still in the land of the living.
Our burgers come and we make short work of them in silence. James gestures toward the onions that I have picked off my burger. “You don’t like onions?”
Heat rises to my face. Generally, I have nothing against onions. I just don’t like kissing someone with onion or garlic breath. “I can take them or leave them,” I reply nonchalantly and quickly change the subject. “I have decided that I will go to the Hamptons with you on one condition.”
“Isn’t it a little late for conditions? I hate to tell you, but the cat is already out of the bag,” James says giving me a leering grin that has my toes curling.
“I’m serious. Things can’t go any further between us unless you agree to my stipulation.”
“Let’s hear it then.”
I clear my throat. “I don’t want anyone at the office to know there is anything going on between us.”
James blinks. “So... what does that mean?” His eyebrows rise. “We would be having a secret affair? Have you thought this through?”
“Yes, absolutely. I don’t want anyone to think that I am getting extra privileges because of my relationship with you. I have worked hard to get this far, and I want to continue to be successful under my own hard work and merits. Not because I am sleeping with the boss.”
“First of all,” he says grimly, “I am not your boss. If I were, a relationship between the two of us would be unethical. Second of all, what does it matter what anyone else thinks?”
“I feel strongly about this, James. I am just starting at the firm, and I would like everyone to get to know me as myself and for my work first. Can you understand that?”
James sighs. “If that is the only way I can get you to the Hamptons with me next weekend, then I’ll go along with it. But I’m reserving judgement about whether it is a good idea or not.”
“Thank you. “I let out a dejected sigh.
James eyes me. “What’s wrong?”
“I am just not looking forward to my walk of shame.”
Looking completely unsympathetic James suggests, “You could wear those clothes home.”
I give him a scornful look. “Sure, this would look great with four-inch heels. No, thank you.”
“It’s up to you,” is all he has to say.
“I guess I had better get a move on before Sam decides to send out a search party.” I walk back to the bedroom to change into my outfit from the night before. When I come back out, James tells me that he has ordered a car for me and teases me about my walk of shame, making me laugh. Before I step onto the elevator, he reminds me to be ready to leave for the Hamptons from work on Friday. I depart with the happy knowledge that I will be spending the whole weekend with him.
CHAPTER 14
Monday morning comes all too early, and I find myself slaving away at the usual tedious tasks. There is one bright spot in the day when Elizabeth informs me that the class-action suit is a go. We set up a meeting for later in the week to strategize on reaching claimants and start setting up a process for making a claim. True to his word, James does not acknowledge me at work, but in the late afternoon my phone chimes with a text. Glancing down I see it is from
We shower together, and as we are getting dressed, James suggests ordering burgers in. I realize that I am famished, and I hope I don’t seem too enthusiastic as I agree. While we wait for our burgers to arrive, James hands me my cell phone. I had forgotten to ask about it this morning. Several unread messages appear in my inbox. Two from Nick and five from Sam, with each getting more anxious than the last. I send Sam and Nick short texts reassuring them that I am still in the land of the living.
Our burgers come and we make short work of them in silence. James gestures toward the onions that I have picked off my burger. “You don’t like onions?”
Heat rises to my face. Generally, I have nothing against onions. I just don’t like kissing someone with onion or garlic breath. “I can take them or leave them,” I reply nonchalantly and quickly change the subject. “I have decided that I will go to the Hamptons with you on one condition.”
“Isn’t it a little late for conditions? I hate to tell you, but the cat is already out of the bag,” James says giving me a leering grin that has my toes curling.
“I’m serious. Things can’t go any further between us unless you agree to my stipulation.”
“Let’s hear it then.”
I clear my throat. “I don’t want anyone at the office to know there is anything going on between us.”
James blinks. “So... what does that mean?” His eyebrows rise. “We would be having a secret affair? Have you thought this through?”
“Yes, absolutely. I don’t want anyone to think that I am getting extra privileges because of my relationship with you. I have worked hard to get this far, and I want to continue to be successful under my own hard work and merits. Not because I am sleeping with the boss.”
“First of all,” he says grimly, “I am not your boss. If I were, a relationship between the two of us would be unethical. Second of all, what does it matter what anyone else thinks?”
“I feel strongly about this, James. I am just starting at the firm, and I would like everyone to get to know me as myself and for my work first. Can you understand that?”
James sighs. “If that is the only way I can get you to the Hamptons with me next weekend, then I’ll go along with it. But I’m reserving judgement about whether it is a good idea or not.”
“Thank you. “I let out a dejected sigh.
James eyes me. “What’s wrong?”
“I am just not looking forward to my walk of shame.”
Looking completely unsympathetic James suggests, “You could wear those clothes home.”
I give him a scornful look. “Sure, this would look great with four-inch heels. No, thank you.”
“It’s up to you,” is all he has to say.
“I guess I had better get a move on before Sam decides to send out a search party.” I walk back to the bedroom to change into my outfit from the night before. When I come back out, James tells me that he has ordered a car for me and teases me about my walk of shame, making me laugh. Before I step onto the elevator, he reminds me to be ready to leave for the Hamptons from work on Friday. I depart with the happy knowledge that I will be spending the whole weekend with him.
CHAPTER 14
Monday morning comes all too early, and I find myself slaving away at the usual tedious tasks. There is one bright spot in the day when Elizabeth informs me that the class-action suit is a go. We set up a meeting for later in the week to strategize on reaching claimants and start setting up a process for making a claim. True to his word, James does not acknowledge me at work, but in the late afternoon my phone chimes with a text. Glancing down I see it is from
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