Chapter 25

-Alison-

Days passed without Jared appearing. He had left me on my bed, his departure shrouded in cryptic silence, and since then, he had not made any contact. As the fourth day dawned without a word from him, I found myself almost yearning for his unexpected arrival through my window.

It was an embarrassing admission, yet undeniably true. Tomorrow, however, held the promise of a potential encounter as we were both attending the dinner, though I couldn't help but find the intensity of my longing somewhat unsettling. How accustomed had I become to his presence? Embarrassing as it was, the truth remained.

I sighed as I sat in the meeting room, poised for the next session to begin. Just then, my phone emitted a notification sound. Glancing at the screen, I noted it was the results from my doctor regarding the STD test. Uncertainty clouded my thoughts regarding Jared and Astrid's precautions, given their attempts to conceive, but I was fully aware of Astrid's numerous lovers. With a mix of relief and surprise, I opened the file to find everything returned clear.

"Huh, they are actually being careful," I murmured to myself, tucking my phone away before my partners' arrival.

Turning my attention to the files in front of me, I ensured my readiness for the impending meeting. As the door finally swung open, I looked up, prepared to greet my colleagues. However, to my astonishment, it wasn't my partners who entered but Jared.

"Jared?" I whispered, caught off guard.

"Busy?" he queried.

"I—"

"I know you're not. Your assistant mentioned you had a break between meetings."

"A break that is nearly over. Why are you here?" I inquired, attempting to regain composure.

He strode toward me with determination, taking me aback. Without a warning, he reached for me, his kiss fervent and demanding, oblivious to the potential for prying eyes through the nearby windows. Despite my attempts to push him away, his strong embrace held me captive as his lips claimed mine, eliciting a helpless moan and momentarily eclipsing the world around us. Yet, amid the dizzying rush of sensations, unanswered questions clamored for attention, demanding resolution.

"Wait, wait," I panted, turning my head as he began unbuttoning my shirt. I seized his hands, bewildered by his sudden urgency. There were no taunts, no teasing, not even a hint of mockery. He appeared desperate for a quick fuck and nothing more. I didn't object to it, but I couldn't comprehend it.

"Jared, what the hell are you doing here? If you're after a quick fling, you have your wife! And what about what happened last time we were together?" I challenged, frustration simmering beneath my words.

He withdrew, a myriad of emotions flashing across his eyes, though one stood out distinctly: anger. Yet, I couldn't fathom the source of his ire. Perhaps he didn't appreciate hearing about Vince's actions, but why direct it at me after days had passed?

"I need this to stop, Alison," he declared, his tone curt.

"Stop? Stop what?" I pressed, sensing his reluctance to disclose the full extent of his thoughts.

He hesitated, restraining something. "Our games are enjoyable because you always fight back, but that's not what's going to happen today. You're going to bend over this desk. I'm going to take you, and you're not to utter a single word. Just accept it before I leave again."

His words chilled me more than ever before. While a part of me responded to his commanding tone, longing for his touch as always, there was an undeniable repulsion in the way he described the encounter. It felt as though I were being reduced to a mere object for his pleasure. The contract was null and void. I refused to be treated like a plaything any longer.

"Go hire an escort for that," I snapped, swiftly buttoning my shirt. But before I could move further, Jared seized my hair forcefully, tilting my head back. A tinge of fear crept into my mind as I gazed into his eyes, now filled with a haunting darkness and a flicker of furious resolve, as if he had stumbled upon the embodiment of all malevolence and sought to eradicate it.

"Jared, please, whatever you're planning, stop it right now. I don't understand what's happening with you, but don't let your anger consume you," I whispered, hoping to reach him, though my words seemed to fall on deaf ears. His hands gripped my hips, drawing me closer, and I resisted, pushing against his chest. Yet, he persisted, spinning me around and pulling me against him once more.

His warm breath against my ear weakened my resolve. Unintentionally, I yielded to the familiarity of his touch, my body betraying my inner conflict, yearning for him despite the unsettling change in his demeanor. A soft moan escaped me, my senses ablaze with desire, yet uncertainty clouded my thoughts. This didn't feel like the Jared I knew. He seemed like a stranger in this moment.

As he urged me forward, guiding me toward the desk, I wrestled with conflicting emotions, torn between surrender and reservation. Just as his hands began to explore beneath my dress, voices outside the door grew louder, signaling the imminent start of my meeting. With a sudden surge of clarity, I halted his advances, grasping his wrists and meeting his gaze with urgency.

"Okay, you can do all of that," I pleaded in a hushed tone, locking eyes with him. "You can have me, use me however you want, but not now. Give me just an hour, Jared. I'll find you in my office. I promise. Just not now!"

Jared seemed to snap out of his trance, recognizing the urgency in my plea as voices approached. With swift reflexes, he ducked out of sight, sliding beneath the table just as the first person appeared outside the window, too late for him to make a clean escape.

I maintained composure as my colleagues entered, exchanging pleasantries and feigning normalcy, though my heart raced with apprehension. I moved away from the table, exchanging greetings with everyone before retaking my seat at the far end. The group was small, so they had gathered at the other end of the lengthy table, where they began formulating a new plan for our partnership.

I anticipated Jared"s usual flirtatious behavior or playful touches, but to my surprise, he remained still. After a few minutes, I felt his head suddenly rest in my lap. I tensed, fearing he might attempt something inappropriate, but he made no further movements. His head simply lay there, and I cautiously reached down, running my fingers through his hair.

I noticed him exhale deeply, a silent sigh of relief as his body seemed to relax. Whatever had troubled him must have been significant, yet he appeared calmer now, allowing me to soothe him while I listened to the others discussing their desire for bolder styles to appeal to the youth"s constant pursuit of extremes.

As I nodded along with the conversation, finding solace in the act of comforting Jared, everything proceeded smoothly. No one suspected a thing, with Jared well concealed beneath the table, shielded from view by the numerous chairs.