Chapter Four

ELLA.

I was paranoid about which bill to open up first. I still had balances from the previous month that i needed to clear. Tensing for a moment i forced herself to tear open the first envelope. How much was it this month? I scanned to the bottom of the invoice and located the total amount. Breath trickled from my lungs before it gusted out. Not horrible. I set the bill back on the table trying to calculate in my head how much money i will be left with after settling all the awaiting bills.

For a moment i sat back on my couch and imagined how it would be like not to have so many bills. I would be free, it was good to imagine but i also knew that was just wishful thinking.

As i padded through her cheap studio apartment to the bathroom, i shed my  clothes to get in the shower to freshen up. Chloe was coming over. After the day i had, i needed her to talk me up and remind me why i needed this job. I cranked the shower head and waited for the water to turn warm and for the steam to cloud the air before getting in.

My cheeks start flushing as i fought the image of him lounging in the water at the opposite side of the pool. It was all coming back to me now, vividly. I could have sworn he was watching me the entire time, and then there was his cock, he didn't even try to cover himself. I try not to put myself off of his image fisting himself. And the growl that had swam from his throat was all i could think of, it was stuck in my head. I really needed a cold shower to wash my thoughts away.

****

"He did what?" Chloe sat on the opposite end of the sofa anf shook her head.

"And that ain't even half of the story." I enjoyed another sip of my wine. It was a crisp and nicely chilled sauvignon blanc i had picked up on the walk home to celebrate me getting a job. "I am still not sure i didn't hallucinate the whole conversation."

"So what happened next?"

I tucked my legs beneath me on the couch and leaned into the corner. "Ofcourse i got into the pool with him, it's not like i had any other choice."

"The same pool you had just watched him get himself off?" Chloe asked shocked.

"Yes, the same pool and then his girlfriend showed up." I say now remembering how horrified i was when she walked in. I expected her to react more though, but she didn't seem too bothered by me.

Chloe is now laughing uncontrollably, she is literally in tears." I would have paid to see your face the moment his girlfriend walked in, what a jerk!"

"I don't see how any of this is funny Chloe, i for sure thought i was going to die."

"Well, Tera. You're the one who always says nothing exciting happens to you."

"Well i take that back, it's going to be hella awkward running into him everyday. The job is really good, it will help with my bills i just don't know how am going to survive working for Jordan Baker."

"You and Jordan are both adults Ella. You can handle him."

"You didn't see the smug look on his face today, i preferred it when he acted like he didn't remember me."

Chloe paused and looked up at me, her eyes softened with sympathy. "I am sorry baby girl, you are so strong, so much stronger than me. Jordan Baker is an arrogant douche. Let him lust after you until he has blue balls. Serves him right. He is just used to getting what he wants and women pawning over him. His ego is probably bruised because you are not like the usual women he is used to. So he is trying to get you to Crack."

That made me smile. Chloe could always do that. "I doubt that man has ever had blue balls in his entire life, but it's a fan fantasy."

"Well there's always a first time for everything."

Chloe has always been the fun one, i always envied how she lived her life without caring about anything, her slogan was always, you're only young once, you might as well enjoy it. Chloe had the perfect model body, she was a petite blond with a personality to die for. Anyone who met her connected immediately and it always felt like they had known each other their whole lives.

I on the other hand was different, i hated meeting new people, i could never eat a croissant without me looking like a three months pregnant woman. I was not spontaneous, i love planning every detail of my life and knowing exactly what to expect.

But our personalities balanced us, i was always the calm, collected adult friend and she was always the carefree one. We had Knows each other since Highschool, we moved in next door to them and we instantly clicked.

Chloe has been there through my entire life, she held me and wiped my tears when i lost both my parents in freshman year to a car accident. Her family became my family, she was in the doctor's office with me when i found out i had breast cancer. She held my hand through it all and told me everything was going to be okay. She is always trying to support me and be there for me but oflate i have been feeling more like a burden. She loves me like a sister and she would do anything for me, but I have had so much tragedies in my life that sometimes i feel like i overwhelm her with my sadness.

"Hey, what are you thinking about?" Chloe asks me suddenly interrupting my line of thought.

"Nothing." I try smiling.

"You want to try that again Ella? Talk to me, what's wrong?" chloe has always been so good at getting me to open up even when I didn't want to.

"I don't know Chloe, am just not sure how all this will play out. Nothing good ever comes out of situations like this."

"Listen to me baby girl, you had a fling once six months ago. It didn't mean anything, you were blowing some steam off, that's all it was and you are going to make sure that bastard knows that. On the bright side if he has a girlfriend he won't be bothering you."

That was supposed to make me feel better, instead i felt a tinge of jealousy for Leila, she looked more like his type. She had the perfect body, perfect lips everything about her was perfect. No wonder she was his girlfriend. I was about to refill my second glass of wine when my phone dinged with a text.

Meet me at my office in thirty minutes.

It was almost nine at night, what could he possibly want this late at night. I immediately got up to go and change out of my pajamas.

"I have to go to the office, told you am starting to regret taking this job."

" Just don't throw in the towel yet. He did twll you the job will entail you going in outside office hours. Just stay strong girl."

My mood was still dark when i got back at Empire, as i caught an empty elevator, k ripped open the chocolate bar Chloe had stuffed into my bag. When we stopped on the third floor i appreciated the added time as the white caramel chocolate melted in my tongue. The doors slid apart, and revealed Jordan Baker talking to two other men.

As usual i lost my breath at the sight of him which reignited my fading irritation. Why didhe have that effect on me? When was i going to become immune to his charm?

He glanced over and his lips curved into a slow, heart stopping smile when he saw me.

Great. Just great! Jordan 's smile faded into a frown. "We will finish this later." he said to the other men without looking away from me. He stepped into the elevator, and lifted a hand to discourage the others not to follow him. They both blinked in surprise and amusement looking at me then at Jordan and then back at me. I stepped outside, deciding it would be safer for my sanity.

"Not so fast Ella," Jordan caught my elbow and tugged me back. The doors shut and the elevator glided up smoothly. "There is enough room in here for two of us."

He withdrew a lone key from his pocket and plugged it into the panel. All the lights cleared except for the one of the top floor.

He wore black again, with fine gray pinstripes. Seeing him from the back was a nice revelation. His shoulders were nicely broad without being bulky, emphasizing his lean wait and long legs. I don't know how it's possible but Jordan looked even more handsome than he did this morning in the pool.

“What was so important i had to come in this late, you couldn't wait until tomorrow?” i finally gathered the courage to ask him.

He watched the antique style needle above the doors mark the passing floors  for a second longer before looking over his shoulder. Wrapping up what was left of my candy bar, i shoved it back into my bag. Who needed chocolate when I was sharing air with Jordan Baker

He turned and faced me. That ghost of a smile softening his sinful mouth. His ease and unconcern aggravated me further.

“I am going to Chicago tonight and you are coming with.”

“Excuse me.” I found myself saying out loud. I looked up at him frowning.

“I have back to back meetings tommorrow, so we will need to leave tonight. On our way to the airport, we will pass by your place for you to pack, we will be gone for three days.”

For once i was dumbfounded. I knew there was nothing i could say that will chamgr his mind. Now all i was thinking of was how the hell was i going to survive three whole days alone with this god?

He stepped closer, his hand lifting to my face. I forced myself not to move away or give him the satisfaction of seeing me intimidated by him. His thumb brushed over the corner of my mouth, then he lifted to his own. He sucked on the oad and purred. “Chocolate, delicious.”

A shiver moved through me, followed by a heated ache between my legs as i imagined licking chocolate off his lethally sexy body.

We suddenly came to a halt, he withdrew the keys from the panel and the doors opened. Thank goodness, a second longer in that elevator and i would have lost all my logical senses.