88 — “I want an answer.”

“I’m firing her today.” He says, turning to me, interrupting the thoughts that made me smile — a smile that leaves him confused. “What?”
“Don’t do that,” I say, catching his surprised and confused eyes; there’s doubt all over his face. “You can’t fire Laura now… If you do, I won’t be able to prove her involvement in the stalker problem.”
Julian crosses his arms, drawing my eyes to his tempting muscles… *Hah, I hate that I can’t ignore it.*
“Do you have a plan?”
“Yes, I do…” I open my lips to say that, in fact, this photo is Tyler’s plan to get Laura, but my phone buzzes in my pants pocket.
Julian’s eyes are on me while I look at the reply that Tyler sent me at this very moment, almost like it were a sign from the universe, and I smile at the text,
**[Haha, it looks like someone fell for it…]**
**[Can you come over today? I’ve had another petty idea.]**
“Anyway, don’t fire her yet, please,” I say, still finishing sending Tyler a reply… When I look up, I find Julian’s serious expression, his teeth clenched tightly.
And I have to hold back my laugh and those emotions bubbling up inside me because he seems really jealous while asking me, “Who texted you to smile like that?”
I purse my lips, taken by an urge to tease him, and I stash my phone back in my pocket, finding his eyes locked on my almost innocent movement. When Julians returns it to my face, I wonder if this tease is a good idea.
“The guy from last night.” It’s not a question, but I raise my shoulders slightly, a smile overcoming my effort. Still crossing his arms, Julian mumbles, “You two seem pretty close, huh.”
“He’s a friend.” I stand up with a sigh, moving closer to his tense body. And even when I stop in front of him, his serious expression doesn’t ease, nor does the strength he puts into his arms that makes the muscles bulge.
“Just a friend?” I finally find his questioning tone, but his voice is so low and hoarse that it barely comes out.
I raise my eyes, bringing my hands to his loose tie, and moisten my lips, my attention now on my fingers while slowly lining it up, “Yes, just friends.”
Julian mumbles something, lifting his chin slightly, giving me room to raise his shirt collar and adjust the tie underneath it. I notice that his Adam’s apple moves with the dry swallow he takes.
“We used to be *just friends-”* I make him stop suddenly, pulling the knot of his tie hard, tightening it, giving him a look that warns him to proceed with caution.
Julian takes a deep breath, shutting up, while I pull down the collar and straighten his messy tie.
“Yes, we used to be just friends before, but have you forgotten that you took my virginity?” I say harshly, running my hand all over his chest and abs, stretching the cloth to rid it of wrinkles. “You were my first man, and that’s how it’s been. Unlike you, I’m not used to having sex and keeping *friendships.”*
Julian purses his lips and forces an upset smile, “Ok, I deserve that.”
“Yes, you do.” I slap his chest and start to turn away, but he wraps his arms around my waist, pulling me into a hug and attaching my back to his chest. “But you haven’t answered me yet.”
“Um, about what?” I feign innocence, but my naughty tone gives me away because he chuckles against my temple.
“Don’t play the innocent, girl.” He whispers against my ear and then spins me around, making my breasts bump against his chest this time. “I want an answer.”
“This is no place or time for that,” I say, trying to sound unaffected, but my heart is beating too fast.
The truth is, I don’t think he’s fully aware of what needs *to be given* to get what he *wants*. Besides, I really want him to struggle a bit to make up for the broken heart he left me four years ago and just a few days back.
I didn’t forget it.
“You could have lunch with me then, couldn’t you?”
His ask took me by surprise since I’d agreed with Tyler that I would stop by the restaurant. My hesitation also seems to surprise him, but it’s not long before his expression closes again, and his grip tightens around my waist.
“Sorry, I’ve already set up it with Tyler.”
*“Tyler.”* He repeats the name like it were bitter. “He’s the owner of the restaurant, right? You’ve been going there a lot…”
“Yes, that’s him.” I touch Julian’s chest, feeling his heart racing, and then I use my palm to create a safe distance between us and move away. “Now, back to work. You should ask your assistant for some hangover medicine and… I don’t know, maybe attend the meetings?”
“I don’t have an assistant anymore.” He grumbles, looking at me intently, “But I miss having one.”
I raise an eyebrow, walking to the door with backward steps, “Maybe it’s time to open a vacancy? I bet thousands of girls will be ready to care for you.”
“The only person I need looking after me is you.” He says with a teasing smile, making my heart skip a beat… so much so that I don’t even notice that I’m already standing by the door, holding the handle as if it were my float in the open sea.
“I’ll ask them to send some hangover medicine.” I say, turning the handle and opening the creaking door, “And a strong espresso.”
Julian’s smile gets even bigger, almost like me satisfying him pleases him somehow. And just like that, I walk through the door without looking at him again; I won’t be able to leave if I stay in the same space for another second.
Closing the door behind me, I’m suddenly aware that the smell of Julian’s cologne has impregnated me in a way that couldn’t be explained by a simple approach or a discreet hug. I’m also aware that people are looking at me curiously... Perhaps my face gives away that something is happening between us.
I move my eyes through the crowd while making my way to my table, finding the hostility in Laura’s gaze that inevitably attracts my attention. She’s looking at me as if she could throw daggers with her eyes... like they could cut me.
Yes, Laura is furious.
And that gives me some satisfaction. After all, the closer she gets to the edge, the easier it is for her to fall into the abyss she has dug for herself.
***
When lunchtime finally arrives, I can hardly hold my anxiety. The truth is that I’ve been nervous all morning, counting down the minutes… *I really want to end this mess as soon as possible.*
That’s why, when the clock strikes exactly noon, I get up quickly, grabbing my bag while I hurry to the elevator…
But just as I’m crossing the office, I hear a door suddenly open, startling not just me but the other employees around. I look over my shoulder to see Julian walking towards me with such long strides that he’s by my side in no time.
I clear my throat, affected by his presence and urgency, and just as I’m reaching out to press the elevator button, Julian is quicker — his hand passes over mine in a light, discreet rub while he presses it.
Feeling him so close makes me barely breathe because if I take a step back, I might bump into his solid chest.
Fortunately, it doesn’t take long for the metal doors to open and welcome us in. I enter it quickly, with Julian on my tail. Although it’s spacious, I can’t help but feel almost claustrophobic… being so close to him with so many people around makes me even more anxious, afraid that my feelings really will be revealed.
I fix my eyes on the slowly decreasing display until it finally points to the first floor. The doors open again, and I try not to pay attention to the fact that Julian’s large footsteps follow in my wake, even while I cross the reception and get out on the sidewalk.
Following the usual path, my heels clicking, I feel something different. It’s not just my footsteps that echo loudly, but Julian’s... his large and heavy trail continues to follow me. I stop suddenly, turning around, noticing that I’m not hallucinating or anything — Julian is indeed behind me, with an almost innocent expression that doesn’t fool me.
“Could you stop following me?” I cross my arms, looking directly into his eyes that, under the clear sky, exposed to the sun’s rays, become a lighter green.
“Following you?” He tilts his head, still with his false innocence, “I’m just going for lunch… It’s a coincidence.”
I half-close my eyes but just give in and shrug, turning to walk with Julian trailing behind me… no, actually, he’s practically at my side now, keeping pace with me. And I can’t help peeking at his face, noticing how the people around seem mesmerized, especially the women who even stop to look at him. Well, how could I judge them? I would also spend the rest of my life looking at him if I could.
Finally, I reach the restaurant and push open the door, hearing the bell that jingles with my arrival. As usual, it’s very occupied, with only three tables available. And looking over my shoulder, I can see that Julian has followed me inside and is holding the door.
*Coincidence my ass.*
I ignore it... after all, there’s not much to do. I just advance through the restaurant, meeting Tyler’s eyes that jump between mine and beyond my shoulders, to the tall, blond man who follows me like an unfriendly bodyguard.
Giving Tyler a half-hearted smile, I make my way to the table he’s pointing to, the one away from the big windows. Apparently, he thought of everything.
I sit down, and as I get ready to put my bag on the chair next to me, I’m interrupted by Julian pushing it. I raise my eyes, seeing how he simply ignores it and sits beside me, taking the bag from my hand and placing it on his lap. He doesn’t return my gaze, just slings his arm around my shoulders, resting it behind the chair.
I roll my eyes…
*Unbelievable.*
“So we have company today.” I exchange a quick glance with Tyler. He’s trying very hard to hold a smile... And it doesn’t need words for me to understand what’s going through his mind at the moment.
Julian’s hand holds me protectively by the shoulder, and his voice sounds severe when he asks, “Why? Something wrong with that?”
“No, no problem at all… Maybe you can be useful to our plan.”
“Plan?” Julian looks at me, confused… Then, as if he understood everything in a flash, his eyes became intense, dangerous…
And from the expression on his face, he may be thinking of new ways to punish me for playing up with him.
Fallen for Daddy's Friend
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