Chapter 11 - Emily

**EMILY**

Emily slipped the cashmere dress off her shoulders and into another one, this time of shimmering satin that caught the light with every movement. She left the cabin and turned slowly to face her waiting boss. She felt Alexander’s intense gaze on her. His eyes followed her every move, but he said nothing. He seemed as comfortable in his role as silent observer as he was in his role as commanding client. From time to time, if he liked a particular model, he would signal to the saleswoman to pack it for him.
The next dress glided over her skin like liquid silk, but her mind drifted to the countless spreadsheets that awaited her in accounting the next day. Would the bill for all those expensive dresses land on her desk in the next few days? While she wondered whether to put it under business transactions or personal withdrawals, she looked at herself in the dressing room mirror. But she didn’t really notice how she looked. Her thoughts were consumed by the columns of numbers that occupied and distracted her as a bookkeeper.
Suddenly, something clicked in her head. She looked into her gray-blue eyes and blinked. “I’m here as Alexander Fitzpatrick’s hostess, not as an accountant,” she reminded herself quietly. She wasn’t here to think about how to account for these clothes. She was here to enjoy herself - or at least pretend to enjoy herself. Her lips formed a sad smile as she remembered that most women in her situation would probably enjoy every second of this moment to the fullest. Was there anything better than spending someone else’s money with both hands? Emily, on the other hand, felt like an actress in someone else’s play. She wasn’t used to being held by a man. And she found it even harder to accept that the man was her boss.
She took a deep breath. She stared into the mirror, looked at her reflection, and saw not only the woman wearing those fancy clothes, but also the woman who was beginning to lose her patience. This constant changing of clothes was beginning to tire and even annoy her. What was the point of trying on more clothes? There was only this one meeting. Oliver Daron had assured her of that. So why a big wardrobe? It was time to tell her boss that she was tired of trying on clothes.
With all her courage, she approached him. “My honeymoon,” she purred and cuddled up to him. When she put her hand almost playfully on his chest and she could feel his heartbeat through the clothes, she felt a longing tingling sensation. It felt incredibly good to be so close to him and to inhale his aftershave - it was breathtaking, sensual and fresh at the same time. He smelled so good that she immediately felt the need to snuggle up even closer. She longed so much to be kissed by him again that she almost forgot what she actually wanted from him. Was that normal? After all, he was her boss!
“My honeymoon,” she repeated, rubbing her cheek against his arm, “can’t we go to the nearest store? I’d much rather watch you pick out a suit.” She looked up at him and had to tilt her head back to meet his eyes. *Why does it always seem so romantic in love stories?* she wondered. If she had to do this a few more times today, just to appear to be in love, she would end up with a stiff neck and need a massage to be able to sit at her desk tomorrow. Anyway, they could end this meeting slowly. Didn’t he have enough pictures of her and him as a supposed new girlfriend for the press? Did it really have to be dinner - maybe even with erotic seconds?
When Alexander looked at her with a mixture of astonishment and amused wonder, Emily felt her stomach clench. *Oh no, I’ve done it again!* Her inner voice sounded reproachful as she feverishly tried to save the situation. Why couldn’t she just smile and keep quiet like she was supposed to? Her thoughts raced as she tried to interpret Alexander’s expression. Was he annoyed? Irritated? No, it wasn’t like that. There was that typical glint in his eyes she’d seen several times today - a glimmer of something she couldn’t quite place. But it made her feel uncomfortable, sent a tingle through her entire body and awakened forbidden desires. And he was her boss - and she wasn’t supposed to have erotic desires when she thought of him.
*Were his last girlfriends really so boring, or did he just love to be in charge?* She didn’t know. But the thought didn’t leave her. Did he really enjoy being surrounded by women who played their role in silence? Did he see them as nothing more than decoration, a pretty accessory to his extravagant life? Alexander had never given the impression of being a man who sought quiet admiration. In the company, he was known as a visionary, someone who was always looking for new impulses - for the extraordinary, for people who would challenge him. But could you really be inspired if you only surrounded yourself with those who nodded in silence?
Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted when Alexander finally opened his mouth and asked a completely unexpected question. “Don’t you want shoes with your dress, sweetheart?” His voice was warm and gentle, but the teasing in his words was unmistakable. His eyes sparkled, and at that moment she would have given anything to be in his arms.
“Shoes?” She could barely utter the single word, and she was dismayed at how husky her voice sounded, breathless and... lustful. Exactly how she felt. She could feel her nipples tightening with desire, and the tingling sensation further down growing more intense. She squeezed her legs together and swallowed.
“Yes, shoes,” he confirmed, leaning down towards her. “You don’t want to wear red sneakers with such a stunning evening gown.” He came so close that his breath caressed her cheek. And before she could categorize this feeling among her tumultuous emotions, she felt his hand on her bottom. Breathless, she closed her eyes and tensed. What was he going to do?