The Encounter

Peach Salinger

   It’s almost 8pm and I’m grabbing a drink with Cole Riordan, my mentor. He thinks it’ll be better to discuss whatever he thought he heard me say in the restroom, at this crowded bar.

Slow music is pulsating in the background and a waiter takes our orders. All afternoon, I’ve thought of the perfect lie to feed him. Tell him It’s one of my fantasies to sleep with the President and I thought saying it out loud might make it feel real.

Solid alibi.

The waitress shows up with our drinks. I thank her and, as she walks away, I take a deep swallow.

“I…about what happened earlier today.” I take a sip of my iced tea. Cole’s gaze is fixed on me. “I was being delusional. I’m gonna tell you in on a secret.” I lean towards him. “It has always been one of my fantasies to sleep with the president.”

Cole drops his gaze and shudders hard. The pink in his cheeks doesn’t strike me as embarrassment. “Well, I kind of also didn’t believe what you said. I mean, there’s no way you would cross path with the president, let alone end up in his bed.”

I nod, and I almost feel embarrassed by him underestimating me. I mask it with a smile. I don’t feel offended because only I know how the president kissed every inche of my body like every part of me is worthy of his worship.

The notion makes my pussy pulse in my underwear. Shit, this is what I get for thinking about that night again.

“I just needed an excuse to grab a drink with you.” Cole adds, his gorgeous blue eyes on mine.

“Oh…” I trail off.

My phone buzzes. It’s a text from Marienne.

[What’s taking so long? Is something already going on between you and Mr Riordan?]

I smirk. All day, Marienne has shown me nothing but how obsessed with Cole she is. She kept ranting about him all day and was a little disappointed when I told her we’re meeting up for a drink.

Another text enters from Marienne. [I can’t get into our apartment. I can’t find my key. I need your key to get inside, where are you?]

I finally raise my head to look at Cole. His eyes has been on me the whole time.

“I guess that was important?” he says.

I rise to my feet and shove my phone into my purse. “My friend needs me. I need to leave. We can grab a drink some other time?”

Cole looks startled but he nods and says a silent good night. I rush out of the bar and grab a cab. The streets of Brooklyn is still very much alive and the cool air touches my face as I look out the window.

I soon arrive at the Arconia. It’s a tall building in the middle of the city and the apartment Marienne and I share is on the second floor. I walk across the lobby and I have a vague feeling the elevator might have some maintenance issues this evening as well.

I’m right, a huge sign board is placed by the elevator with “Under Maintenance’ written on it. I take the stairs and soon, I arrive on the second floor. I can see Marienne standing by the door, her hair is tousled roughly on her face. Probably out of frustration.

“Finally!” she says when she sees me approaching.

I maneuver the keys out of my purse and unlock the door. We both step into our two bedroom apartment. I take a shower as soon as I get to my room. I change into a t-shirt and a pair of shorts, then step back into the living room to take out the leftover pizza in the fridge.

“So, you and Cole, huh?” Marienne finally says for the first time since we’re inside.

I furrow my brows at her. “We’re strictly professional. I know how obsessed you are with him.”

I dish the pizza into a flat bowl and place it in the microwave before walking to the dining area again. Marienne is staring down at her phone which is blank.

“You know, I can help you with Cole.”

“Really?” her face lights up.

“Yeah, but you’ve got to give me more time.”

Marienne jumps in a feet and embraces me tightly. “You’re really the best cousin ever.”

***

   For the next few days, things at the office go well. I don’t come in close contact with the president except in the conference room. The mentors are giving the new interns a chance to attend less important meetings.

Even so, the president never looks in my direction. It’s like he’s avoiding me and I find it hard to believe he’s the same person I panicked over for acting so nonchalant.

“I think the milk I took from the fridge this morning was bad.” I say to Marienne as I subconsciously clutch my stomach.

We’re in the cafeteria and it’s lunch break. Marienne eyes me.

“I clearly told you not to drink it. It’s been in there for days now.”

I was desperate. We’ve both been so busy with work that we’ve not had time to shop for groceries or replace the foods in the fridge.

My stomach rumbles loudly and a nauseating feeling crawls up my spine. Oh, shit.

“You don’t look okay, Peach. Your face is all flushed and you’re sweating so much.” Adrian adds.

“I need to use the restroom.”

I get on my feet and rush out the cafeteria. My vision is starting to blur but I find my way into the restroom. I lean against the vanity, staring at myself in the mirror.

I’m a mess.

Someone else walks into the restroom. I pay no mind to it until the door lock clicks. Male steps follow and as I turn around, my face pales.

Rhys. He’s leaning against one of the restroom stalls, staring at me intensely. The ache in my stomach moves to my chest. My heart might burst out of my chest any moment.

“Sir, I…” fresh sweat streaks my forehead.

My mouth goes dry. Rhys takes a step forward, his tall, broad body closing in on me. The pounding of my heart sweeps the blood through my veins, its heady sound roaring in my ears.

He lifts a hand and rakes back his hair from his face.

Swallowing hard, I try to find the courage to push past him. But he walks forward until there was no way out for me—I’m trapped.

My eyes are wide as he focuses on me. He moves forward until we’re merely inches apart. This close, I could feel the heat radiating from his body.

“I hate to admit this Miss Salinger,” his voice is ragged. “but I’ve not been able to get you out of my mind for days.” My breath hitches but he continues. “None of my flings have ever had so much control over me as you do. I jerk off by merely imagining your face.”

A wave of horror travels through me. This isn’t happening. My head is spinning, my stomach is turning, my body is clenching with need for him because his body is flush against mine, but this older man has me trapped against the wall, unable to move.

And now, his confession that he sees me another way and not just a young intern. What the actual fuck?

A lump claws it’s rapid way up my throat. My head throbs and every other feeling has been replaced by a desperate urge to throw up. But he’s standing in my way. I can’t move and I’m gonna throw up any moment. His black suit look like it might cost a fortune, I can’t afford it.

Oh, Shit!