7

Noah thought his dilemma about his executive assistant was over because he had already released his pent-up feelings. But he was wrong. On Monday morning, as he saw Ingrid at her desk next to his office door, he felt a familiar thirst.

Damn you, Noah! Was it not enough that you had slept with a woman last Saturday night?

They spent the whole night in the hotel and had sex several times. And throughout that time, Lara pretended to be Ingrid, which he gladly went along with. He particularly liked it when she was moaning, "Sir Noah." He didn't know exactly why; was it because it gave him a strange kind of dominance and power?

"Good morning, Sir," Ingrid greeted him with a smile as he approached his office.

"Morning," he nonchalantly greeted back.

Maybe it would be better to distance himself from her. Should he just return her to Raffy and find a replacement? But Ingrid might take it badly. After seeing her cry, he couldn't imagine hurting her in any way.

"I'll go get your coffee, Sir," Ingrid said, reaching for the doorknob.

He couldn't stop himself from turning around to look at her. "No need. I had coffee at home," Noah lied before she could stand up.

"O-oh." A hint of disappointment crossed her face; he also saw a trace of bewilderment in her eyes.

"M-maybe later." He quickly changed the subject and forced a smile.

What the hell was happening to him? Why was he afraid of disappointing this woman? He was the boss, for God's sake! He was known to be strict with his staff, and he and Raffy always argued about it. But when it came to Ingrid, he seemed to soften up easily. So, she had become the exception, huh?

"Okay, Sir."

As Noah entered his office, he furrowed his brows at what he saw on his desk. It was a smooth cactus in a white ceramic pot, maybe eight inches in height and three inches in diameter. He knew immediately who it was from.

"Nataniel!" he called out to his younger brother, full of annoyance, as he answered his call. "What the fuck did you leave at my office table?"

"You don't know what that is?"

"I know it's a cactus. But why—" He looked at the plant again; it was familiar. He had seen it once on the internet. "You're a real idiot!"

"What? It's just a monstrous form of Echinopsis lageniformis."

"Also known as penis cactus!"

His agriculturist brother, who had just arrived at his house yesterday with his fiancée, laughed.

"And the Germans call it 'frauenglück,' which means women's joy."

"Whatever, dickhead! I don't care if this cactus can bring joy to the world. Take this right now. I don't want this piece of shit in my office."

"What's the matter? It's just a plant! And I chose this from my collection because it's a good conversation piece, so don't make a fuss about it. I should give one to Damien, too. I'm still growing another one like this. It's a good symbol for your CLM movement."

"You idiot!" he growled at him and hung up without a word, pressing the end call button on his smartphone.

Noah rubbed his forehead and called Ingrid on the intercom, letting her into the office.

"Can you please get rid of this?" he asked her, embarrassed and frustrated, as she approached his desk.

Ingrid blushed and stifled a giggle when she saw the cactus that resembled a male sex organ. Yeah, women's joy, all right. But why did she feel tickled by his reaction?

"Where did this come from?" the woman asked, laughing.

"My stupid brother. He probably put it here yesterday."

She touched the pot of the cactus. "You really don't want it, sir? It's a shame if I throw it away."

"Do whatever you want with it. I just don't want it in my office."

"Can I keep it? I'll put it by the glass wall behind me so it can get sunlight."

"You can do whatever you want with it, Ingrid."

Noah didn't know why, but when she took the plant out of his office, he felt a little envious. Lucky penis cactus, she got to keep it, while his own poor dick was still aching for her. Aching to be inside her...

Is Ingrid a screamer? Does she... swallow?

Mary, mother of God! He should probably take a holy water bath.

Should he call Lara? She left him her number and told him to just call her whenever he wanted to hook up. But maybe the woman would be offended next time if he called her by Ingrid's name in the middle of their sex.