Chapter 5

Chapter Five

W hy does the clock always tick slower on a Friday afternoon? All I want to do is escape this office and enjoy a couple of days without Alistair Warner watching me everywhere I turn.

I swear that man is purposely standing in areas that he knows I frequent. With the way his eyes roam over my body, heating me from the inside out with just a look, it takes everything in me to keep my legs from giving out.

Every night, I’ve been going home and giving my vibrating friend a workout and a half. No matter how much I try to replicate the feelings that man evoked in me, I can’t. I’m almost at the point of giving in, of begging him to put me out of my misery and make me come. I’d be fine if I didn’t have to look at his stupidly handsome face every day, all day. I could have gone on with my life, never thinking of that night again.

That magical, magical night.

Yeah, even I know that’s far-fetched. Of course I would have thought about it. Dreamt about it. But I wouldn’t have been tempted to look up that stranger for a repeat. That’s just not who I am. Although, with him, it was almost like I was a different person completely. Like I could let go of everything that burdened me and just be free.

To say it’s been a hellish week on both my mental and physical well-being would be an understatement. The former due to the fact that my brain has been hyperfocused on my boss. A person I should not be so focused on. And maybe because I’ve been obsessively stalking the honeymoon pictures Hunter has been posting. Yet another man I should not be concerning myself with. And the latter, well, that’s all down to my libido that seems to have taken a Viagra without my knowledge. That’s what Alistair Warner is. He’s lady Viagra.

The man really should come with warning labels: Engage at own risk. Liable to cause permanent damage.

Would I have ignored those warnings and spent the night with him anyway? Absolutely. But I would have known what I was getting myself into. At least partially.

My phone buzzes on my desk. I pick it up to find a message from Eloise in our group chat.

Eloise:

Tonight, we’re coming. There is no more hiding from us, Danielle Marie!!!

Oh shit, she full-named me. Damn it, I really thought they’d forget I’ve been skirting around them for days now. After I found out my boss was my unforgettable one-night stand on Monday, I made the excuse that I had to work late and couldn’t meet them all week. I’ve been avoiding them since. Because I don’t know If I’m ready for them to know I fucked my boss—or rather that I let my boss fuck the hell out of me.

Me:

Can we make it tomorrow? I’m really tired. It’s been a long week.

I send my reply and leave my phone on my desk. Then I stand, exit my office, and make my way to the kitchen—one of the best perks of this job. It’s always fully stocked with pastries, cookies, cakes, and just about any kind of drink you could want. I make myself a cup of tea and carefully carry it back to my desk. Sitting down, I pick up my phone and groan when I see the influx of replies.

Eloise:

Not a chance.

Claire:

Too late. I’ve already bought the tequila.

Daisy:

I’ve got the limes.

Me:

Okay, but I am tired, so I’m not promising I’ll be the best of company.

Daisy:

You could be in a coma and you’d still be great company.

I laugh. Maybe a night with my girlfriends is what I need to rebalance myself. Hit the reset button on everything and get back to me just being me. I put down my phone and look at the clock. One hour to go. I have one more hour before I can leave this place and escape everything that is Alistair Warner.

Bringing my tea to my lips, I notice a small black gift box sitting in front of my keyboard. I look up at the door like the answer to how this got here is going to miraculously appear. It’s not.

So I lower my cup and pick up the box.

My heart pounds as nerves unsettle me before I slowly lift the lid and peer inside. There’s a card. I pull it out and read the logo printed in red foiled lettering. Fire and Ice. Then I see the word ‘guest’ written on the back. Something sparkles from inside the box and catches my eye. Reaching in, I find a diamond tennis bracelet with a heart-shaped padlock around it. This is too heavy to be costume jewellery. My fingers run across the diamonds, before I turn the piece over and read the initials ‘AW’ engraved into the platinum on the underside of the heart.

He has to be kidding me. I can’t accept this. I carefully return the bracelet to the box and place the card back on top. I close the lid and push the entire thing to the side of my desk. I’m working up the courage to go and shove his gift in his face. To tell him that I can’t accept it. That I don’t want it.

As pretty as that bracelet is, I can’t take it.

An email pings on my computer, and I decide to open it before I go and face my boss.

Sender: Alistair Warner

Subject: Invitation

Dear Miss Hutchinson,

I trust you’ve received my invitation for tonight. Meet me at nine p.m.

Do not be late.

Yours,

AW

The man is out of his damn mind. He has to be if he thinks I’m going to turn up at Fire and Ice tonight. Sending his email to the trash, I pick up the gift box and put it in my bag. I’ll give it back to him on Monday, after he’s spent the night waiting for me to turn up. Because I won’t be there. Although I doubt a man like him would be waiting very long. Any woman in that place would jump at the chance to have him for a night.

I wonder how many of them he’s already fucked? Is he a regular? He must be to be handing out guest cards, right?

It doesn’t matter, because I don’t care. I can’t have him, so someone else might as well enjoy the benefits—AKA the world’s best bloody orgasms.

I open my apartment door to find all three of my best friends already inside. I really should rethink the whole everyone having a key thing.

“Food, wine, and more food. That’s what I need. Right after I shower,” I tell them before heading to my bedroom. And of course they all follow me.

“Put this on,” Daisy says, handing me a slinky black dress.

“Why?” I ask.

“Because we’re going dancing and I’m not taking no for an answer. So shower, dress, then come eat. I’m ordering pizza,” she replies with a grin.

“Okay, you had me at pizza.” I laugh, placing the dress on the bed, and head for the shower.

The aroma of tomato sauce and cheese fills my tiny apartment as I walk back out to the living room. The girls are all sprawled out on the sectional sofa in their usual places. I take up the open seat on the end, my hands grabbing a slice of pizza.

I take a huge bite and look up to find all three girls staring at me expectantly. “What?” I ask around a mouthful of food.

“Really? You’re just going to sit there and pretend we’re not waiting for details? What the hell are you hiding, Dani?” Eloise scolds me.

“I’m not hiding anything. I’ve just been busy. I did start a new job,” I’m quick to remind them.

“Backtrack then. Who did you disappear with Sunday night?”

“A stranger I met in that sex club you pushed me into.” I point at her.

“A stranger? So… was it good?”

“The best sex I’ve ever had.” I smile.

“I knew it. You’ve been shacking up all week, haven’t you?” Daisy accuses.

“No, I haven’t.”

“So you haven’t seen this stranger again?” Claire asks, putting extra emphasis on the word stranger .

“I’ve seen him. Every day in fact, because he’s my bloody boss,” I tell them.

All three girls just gape at me with their mouths hanging open.

“You’re fucking your boss?” Eloise finally asks.

“No, I fucked him. Once. I didn’t know who he was then.”

“Oh my god, this could only happen to you.” Daisy laughs.

“I’m glad my misery is giving you entertainment.” I take another big bite out of my slice of pizza.

“Wait… misery ? Has he been an ass? Treating you badly at work?”

“No, it’s not that. It’s just… Did you miss the part about the best sex of my life and how I can’t have it anymore. I got it once. And now I’m forced to go through life having mediocre sex that will never match up.” I sigh and throw myself back on the sofa.

“That’s dramatic. Even for you. Okay, so why can’t you have it again? Does he not want a repeat performance?” Claire asks.

“No, he does. But he’s my boss. I can’t screw my boss,” I tell them.

“But you already have, so that argument is lost.” Eloise laughs.

“The first time didn’t count. I didn’t know he was my boss,” I argue. “Also, I think he frequents that club.”

“What do you mean?”

“He invited me to go back there. Which reminds me… How exactly do you know about that place?” I ask Eloise pointedly.

“I know the owner.” She shrugs.

“Right.” I roll my eyes. She’s evading.

“So why don’t you just go back and meet him? It’s not like you’re in the office,” Claire suggests. “Or at least give a girl a picture and name, and I’ll go meet him.” She laughs.

“Tequila, that’s what I need, not sex. I can live without sex,” I lie.

How the hell did I let them talk me into this? Again. I find myself standing at the entrance to Fire and Ice, the guest card burning my fingertips.

Squaring my shoulders, I push through the door. I’m doing this. But not for the reasons my friends may think. I’m going to find him, return this ridiculous bracelet, and go home.

Alone.