TERMS OF AFFECTION

Chapter 2ANNIKAHe didn’t fire me.Not because he loved me but because he knows I am the only one who tolerates him, the only one who can handle him, and most of all, the best at what she does.After that day, when I saw him in his full glory, things had changed drastically.“Annika, what does my schedule look like today?” He asked, his voice normal, put together and authoritative.“You have a meeting with the team in Egypt and your dad wants you to come home with Sophie. Also, Julie sent in a new list for a chef to hire.” I answered, walking behind him. His scent, woody and spicy, same old but today, they smell rather, toxic, and for stupid reasons, I like it.Crash!My face collided with something hard; my tablet hit the ground and the files in my hand flew in the air.Shit.“Ms. Annika, are you okay?” The colleague I bumped into rasped, worry slipping through his voice. His hands were trembling as he helped pull the papers together.What the hell am I doing?Pull yourself together

CHAPTER 4ISAIAHAh fuck me.I didn’t mean to act like a jerk, I just…I can’t seem to wrap my head around the fact that she wants to take a leave for a whole month.What happened?Was it me?Did I run my mouth without realizing it?But she is not the type to nitpick on my words.The reason I enjoy working with her, is not other than the fact that she doesn’t let me have the last words. She always has a comeback, she always knows how to respond.So what is wrong?Could it be that jerk, Jake?Hold on, when will he be released from prison?Could that be the reason?Ah…I’m losing my mind, I can’t even concentrate.“Dad?” Sophie’s gentle voice yanked me out of my thoughts.“Yes, sweetheart?” I answered.“You still haven’t told me when Aunt Nika will be here.” She muffled, holding on to the mini purse Annika got for her the last time they went girls shopping.I don’t know where I would be if not for Annika in my life.I do not want to admit it but she is more of a friend than a secretary. I

chapter 6 ISAIAH My hands on the wheel as I drove through the highway, the bright light from the cars next to me and the other side of the road. My girl tightened on the wheel as I tried to focus. But there were two sounds in my head, two sounds that kept tormenting me as I tried to focus. Two sounds that made it hard for me to keep my eyes and focus on the goddam road. The first sound was my secretary's moans. My throat bobbed instantly as I recalled how her voice filled the room as I went down on her. Annika is attractive. 100/10 but those sounds… I never imagined that they could come from her. I never knew she could moan like that. I never knew she could cry out and call my name like that. I like my name. Isaiah… Most children curse their parents for giving them names… weird ass names that their woman cannot moan with. But I have never been more grateful for having the name Isaiah. I should send my parents some extra allowance. When Nika moaned, calling my name with he

Chapter 8 ANNIKA The word sex partner rolled off his tongue like a bitter dark chocolate. The way his nose crunched, the way his eyes bored at me even though it was only for a few seconds. He was … pissed. I wanted to talk but the words couldn’t seem to roll off my tongue. “Sir… I…” “I’ll make a reservation, let’s have dinner together.” He said, not sparing me a glance. His voice sounded a little distant and cold. Did I do something? It’s been two days since he went down on me and two days since I asked him to be my sex partner. He had been indifferent towards me. I know I wasn’t expecting our relationship to change overnight, but… he's been slightly cold and distant. Days like this are when I ask myself if I truly know Isaiah Volkov. Sometimes, he becomes someone else, someone I don’t know, someone who becomes extremely hard to read. Someone I barely recognize. “Is there anything, Annika?” His low deep voice rang through my chest, like a jolt, knocking me back to reality.

Chapter 10 Annika “So, you’re just going to drop me off?” I said, standing outside my apartment door, hands clasped together, holding my Berkin bag and before you ask why I have a Berkin bag, Isaiah got it for me as my birthday present last year. And no, I did not refuse the bag… it was a freaking Berkin bag, why would I refuse it? And mostly when it’s coming from a man who didn’t even feel the money leave his account. It was a one in a life time opportunity and I grabbed it. He sat in his car, hands on his wheel, Jeremy had to go home, his wife had an emergency, so I was left in the car with Isaiah. He was silent through the drive home, he didn’t say another word to me and it felt like torture. I really want to apologize for asking him to be my sex partner but then again… I want to experience it again… I want him to go down on me again, and do things to me. I know… I’m crazy… I need help. His eyes stayed on me, slow, deliberate. “Good night Annika.” He grumbled, before I could