Chapter Text
It was the end of the day, and most had already filtered out, but Amelia was stuck trying to catch up on some work. Rubbing her tired eyes, she sighed. With the sun setting, and the office now filled with on the sounds of the buzzing florescent lights, it was time to go home even if she hadn’t finished what she needed to get done. Stretching her arms high above her head, she groaned slightly with the release of the tension in her shoulders. Then gathering her personal items, she packed them away and headed out.
But, as she approached her boss’s office, she noticed the door open and the light within still lit. He had just been hired on a few weeks ago, and there was something about him that caused her great anxiety, so she slowed her steps thinking about another route that wouldn’t take her pass that room. Alas, none such existed, so as quietly as she could, she approached.
Practically holding her breath, she neared the door. One more step, then another, and she’d be past it.
“Amelia.”
His voice rang out into the abandoned office, and she cringed at the sound of it.
“Come in please.”
Taking a deep breath, she steeled herself and then entered the office. He was a rather tall man, so much so that furniture seemed comically disproportionate. Hunched over his desk, he filtered through some reports, and otherwise said nothing more. As the silence continued, she wondered if she was expected to say something, but not knowing what that would be, she awkwardly shuffled and kept quiet.
Without looking up at her, he finally stated, “I didn’t expect you to still be here, but it may work out for the best.” His pen scratched against one of the reports as it circled and notated within its margin. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you. It seems you’ve been underperforming.”
It was then that he glanced up. With his chin still tucked down, from under his raised brows, his steady gaze pierced right through her. “Care to explain?”
Her throat tightened. She was completely ensnared by his attention. Suddenly the buzz of the lights drowned out all other sound, and her knees began throbbing when the concrete floor beneath her, barely softened by the thin carpet tiles, seemed to press upward into her aching feet.
After blinking slowly, he sat back slowly into his seat, it creaking under his shifting weight. His eyes briefly flickered over her form, appraising her clear distress. However brief it was, his momentary assessment brought a flush to her cheeks.
“I’ve reviewed your work history here in the company. It is unlike you to fall behind.”
“I…” she stuttered. As he sat waiting patiently, a single strand fell from his slicked back hair, and brushed against his cheek.
“You are not in trouble. I only wonder if there is anything I can do to assist. After all, it seems as if your performance decline began shortly after I arrived.”
Her throat dried out, even if she had a proper response, her words would croak should she attempt to speak them.
Truth is, he was the problem. Her eyes darted down to take him in. His black vest fit tightly against him, the fabric around the buttons straining to remain clasped against the expanse of his chest. And though she couldn’t see it at present, the blazer he wore stretched tightly between his broad shoulders. Ducking her chin in defeat, her attention then focused on her feet, squeezed uncomfortably into a pair of ruddy heels that were long past their expiration date.
Suddenly, his own shoes, glossy and brand new, appeared in her view. She barely contained her gasp at realizing he had gotten out of his seat and now stood before her. As she struggled to comprehend how he had managed to get there without her notice, her thoughts were interrupted when she felt the brush of air past her cheek as his arm reached out and gently shut the door behind her.
“Look at me.”
And though she felt dizzy and disoriented, she obeyed. When her eyes met his, they locked on, and despite everything, nothing could tear her focus away from him.
Sweeping his arm out, he then commanded, “Sit.”
And so she did.
As she settled into the seat, he leaned against the desk, crossing his arms.
. . .
Emmett should have left at least an hour ago. His work had been efficiently wrapped up and there was no need for him to remain, and yet… Closing his eyes, he focused his hearing toward the sounds elsewhere. The sporadic typing of a keyboard, a soft sigh, and then a grunting of an old, worn chair bracing itself against pressure followed by a weary groan.
She was still here. Trying, no doubt, to catch up on the work that she’d fallen behind on. He hadn’t mentioned it to her yet, partially because her records were exemplary otherwise. Perhaps something personal was hindering her, but that wouldn’t be any of his business. It was his business, however, to address that matter. Clenching his jaw, he rubbed his furrowed brow as he attempted to draw his thoughts elsewhere.
His efforts were thwarted, though, by the noise of her footsteps. She dragged her heels behind her so that they skid against the carpet. She was tired. His head cocked slightly when the sound of her approach suddenly stopped. His eyes peered up toward where he discerned she must be standing. Waiting. Then realizing his door remained open, he concluded that she noticed his presence.
Shuffling some papers together, he then began to mechanically sift through them. Sure enough, her advance continued, and when she was within his view, he called out to her.
“Amelia.”
Her name formed in his mouth for the first time. A vibration in his chest and his breath filling the space inside when his lips closed, then exhaling into the next syllable, the way his tongue tapped against his upper palate as it formed the final syllables caused his mind to wander to how else he might use that tongue.
Sneering slightly in disgust with his unhindered thoughts, he duly shoved them away. Clearing his throat, he then advised, “Come in please.”
When she stepped into the room, her scent trailed after her, weaving around her like wafts of a summer breeze, and within it carried the warm smell of wet earth and salt. He refrained from breathing in deeply, despite his desire to take the aroma into his body. Griding his teeth together, he once again despaired in his lack of control. It was very unlike him, after all.
Admittedly, he’d been too drawn to her. Finding himself pacing the office more than was necessary, taking routes that would lead him past her desk. Perhaps it was unwise to ask her into his office. And yet, he was her boss. It was his responsibility to address any potential issues.
“I didn’t expect you to still be here, but it may work out for the best.” Again his thoughts betrayed he realized it was just the two of them left in the office. Feeling repulsed by his predatory thoughts, he angrily drove his pen into the paper, afterward scribbling nonsense as if it were intentional. He was a respectful, dutiful man, and as such, he was wholly unaccustomed to such abhorrent notions.
Steading his breathing, he reminded himself that he had a completely professional reason from drawing him into his office. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you. It seems you’ve been underperforming.”
Feeling a bit more in control, he glanced up at her. “Care to explain?”
But when his eyes met hers, he watched as hers widened, and from his peripheral, he noticed her lips tremble as she took in a sharp breath. Her hands wringing tightly onto the handles of her purse. He had frightened her, and as it was his onus as her employer to establish a safe environment, he sat back into a more casual position in attempts to ease her distress.
Yet, as he did so, it gave him a wider view of her form, and he neglected to keep his gaze from wandering. The top she wore was second hand, and didn’t quite fit her around the chest, squeezing her breasts tightly underneath, even as it hugged her waist perfectly. Rubbing his chin, he forced his eyes back up to meet hers, hoping she hadn’t noticed his brief ethical relapse.
When he saw the flush growing in her cheeks, a deep shame filtered through him, and hoping to direct the subject back to the reason he had drawn her in, he mentioned, “I’ve reviewed your work history here in the company. It is unlike you to fall behind.”
“I…” she stuttered.
Taking full blame for her discomfort, he then clarified, “You are not in trouble. I only wonder if there is anything I can do to assist. After all, it seems as if your performance decline began shortly after I arrived.”
His attempt apparently failed. Her head dropped down dejectedly, and her shoulders slumped down. A great weariness settled upon her. Before he could stop himself, he was standing before her. Not quite sure what to do next, he reached out to gently close the door.
Peering down at her, he very nearly brushed his finger against the bottom of her chin in effort to raise her attention back up toward him. He stopped himself, however, and instead took a healthy step away. Still, though, she averted her gaze. He had to say something.
“Look at me.” Probably too blunt, but it was too late to take it back.
But she did. And there was something in the glint of her eye that he hadn’t noticed before. A repressed energy humming just under the surface; a hunger lying in wait, as if waiting for the right moment to strike. Could it be… Cutting of the dangerous thoughts, he then gestured toward the chair, which he should have offered her much sooner.
“Sit.”
Settling in the seat, not taking her eyes from his, they darted as she carefully assessed him. Feeling a bit unsteady by her undiluted attention, he leaned against his desk. His heart began to race as the moment expanded, and as if it were possible for her to hear the pounding, he intersected his arms across his chest.
. . .
To be continued...