Chapter 8

KATE.
Today was officially my first day of work since I returned from Boston and I'd been told congratulations by several workers, even some I didn't know. I was giddy as hell and I was positive I had secured my job. Sue was happy with me and I couldn't forget the fact that Drew had agreed with me on my suggestion.
Drew. Seeing him and his date together awakened something ugly inside me and I didn't like it. He didn't have permission to get to me like that. I quickly pushed him out of my thought. I had nothing with him and it was going to stay that way. Next month was Sue's baby shower and she had invited me and other close workers personally. To the rest, she sent emails. Her stomach had really increased and I had actually started accepting the fact that she was going to be a mother. She was currently on pregnancy leave so I was the acting head of human resources.
I brought out my calender to mark the dates I had appointments because I had a tendency to forget easily. As I marked, I came across the date August 17th. The day my parents died. The day I lost everything. My throat burned with emotion. Dad was my rock and growing up, we used to do everything together, from me sitting on his lap to the both of us playing basketball. Dad got me on another level. So subconsciously, I'd gotten closer to him. The news of his death had broken me. Changed something inside me. It made me realize every moment with someone could be your last.
I heard a knock on my office door. The door opened a tad and June peeked her head in. June was a coworker on my floor. She handled the numbers aspect. "Hey. Do you have a minute? " she smiled tentatively.
I pushed my notebook and pen aside, "Yeah, come in. "
She opened the door fully and stepped in, closing it. She was dressed in a black knee-length skirt and blue blouse with blue flats to match. Her hair was stylishly arranged know some kind of updo.
She sat on my vacant desk chair, lacing her fingers on my thighs, "So, oh... I don't really know how to say this but... " she faltered then stared at me as if begging for help.
What is happening here?
"June, I know we're not really friends, but you have to know you can trust me and you can talk to me whenever you want to. " I assured her, "You don't have to be nervous. "
She smiled a little but she was still uneasy, "Thanks. Ok, um, so there's this guy that works on the tenth floor. I'm not sure you know him but uh... his name is Giovanni. " she paused, then stared at me expectantly.
I nodded, "Okay and...? "
She stared at her hands on her thigh, then looked back up at me, "Well, I like him, I really do. "
I smiled at her, confused, "Okay, that's great. "
She shook her head, "No, it's not. I like him but he doesn't have feelings for me. He doesn't even see me. " she murmured the last part.
I felt bad for her, knowing it wasn't a nice feeling to care for someone and have that person not care for you. But I still didn't know why she was telling this to me. "I'm really sorry about that. " I said slowly, "but I really don't know why you're telling me this. Is there a point to this conversation? " I asked in the nicest way possible.
She blinked, "Wow, you're really direct. "
I winced, knowing it was my one fatal flaw, "Sorry. "
She smiled, "But it's okay. I wouldn't appreciate it if you were anything else. "
I nodded.
She sat up in her chair, looking nervous once again, "Okay, why I'm here. He doesn't see me because he sees just you. "
"What? "
"He's into you, Kate. "
I searched my mind, wondering if I'd seen any guy who worked on the tenth floor but it was futile because even if I'd seen him, I wouldn't have known where he worked. "I mean, are you sure? There could be other people called Kate in this company. It's huge."
She shook her head, "No, it's you Kate. Whenever you pass by in the lobby, he stares at you, he'd talk my ears out all the time about how much you guys have in common. "
Wait. What? "How much we have in common? "
"He believes you guys are soul mates."
I stared at her, incredulous, "I thought you said he works on the tenth floor? How do you guys meet? "
Her eyes dropped, "We take lunch at the same restaurant. "
And by the way she said that, I knew she went there because of him. Oh, poor girl.
"I'm really sorry, June. I didn't know. " I placed my hand on the desk, prompting her to place hers on top mine.
"I know I can't compare to you but if he could just... I don't know look at me the same way... "
"What do you mean you can't compare to me? " I asked.
She huffed, "Oh, I mean, look at you. You've got that sexpot figure, you're beautiful, you've got that magic hair and on top of that, you're successful. You even have that mysterious air about you that guys just dig. "
I couldn't believe she thought she didn't compare to me, "You are beautiful, June. You have light blue eyes that sparkle, luxurious dark hair and a centrefold figure. Have you seen you? You have big boobs, I barely have enough boobs to fill a bra. And you have that round pert ass that makes guys crazy lately. What I'm trying to say is if I were a guy, I'd do you. "
She exhaled, bugged eyed, "Oh wow. How your eyes looked when you said that though. Almost had me questioning my sexuality. "
I laughed, knowing what she meant. My high school boyfriend used to say I turned him on with just words. "I might be beautiful, June, but you are too. In your own way. "
Tears swam in her eyes, "You really make me feel good about myself. "
I smiled, squeezing her palm, "You should. "
"Thank you, Kate. "
"You're welcome and when you see Giovanni, make him know your worth. Start acting like the queen you are because you really are one. "
Tears rolled down her cheeks and she wiped them away, "You're the real queen, Kate. Thank you so much. "
I stared at her back as she retreated, the whole experience feeling alien to me. I wondered if how she saw me was how everyone else did. It wouldn't be such a bad thing.
••••••
"Kate Rossi on the line. "
"Mr. Rutledge is here to see you. "
My heart skipped, "Drew Rutledge? "
I heard a snort, "Of course not. Chase Rutledge. "
Oh. Chase was here to see me? What for? "I'll be down shortly. " I hung up then used the restroom before going down. I made my way to the sitting areas reserved for visitors, but couldn't find Chase there. Confused, I went to the receptionist and asked her where Chase was.
"He's in there waiting for you. " she pointed at a door in a hallway.
My brows furrowed, "Why is he in there? "
"I don't understand. "
I sighed, impatient, "I mean why isn't he out here waiting like the other guests do? "
She gaped at me, "You don't expect Chase Rutledge to wait out here,do you? " Right. Of course. Waiting out here like all guests did was beneath him. I walked into the hallway and knocked on the door out of habit.
"Who's there? " I heard him ask. I opened the door and got in. Chase sat on a couch with a coffee table in front of him, laden with delicacies. I even spied a wine admist them.
What wouldn't I do to become a Rutledge for one day?
I remember my Dad used to say 'learn to appreciate what you have, Kate. Because no matter what state you're in, there's still a lot of people wish to be in your shoes'. How right he was. I mean, four months ago, I was feeding from hand to mouth and wishing I had a good-paying job. Now, I got what I wanted and still wanting more. But I guess that's the thing about money. You always want more.
"Hi. " Chase said with a small smile. I took the couch opposite his then stared at him blankly. He blew out a breath, "Are you just going to ignore me? "
"You haven't said anything worth answering. " I quipped.
His eyes widened slightly but he regained composure, "I came here because I wanted to apologize. I shouldn't have lied about my identity and I'm sorry. "
I became curious, "Why did you? "
His eyes darted around, "I guess, because I wanted you to tell me the truth. " he shrugged, "I felt you would've lied had you known who I was. "
"Lied about what? "
"About who Drew was to you. "
I nodded, getting his point and he looked visibly relived. Now that I knew Drew's history I understood why he had been curious.
"So you forgive me? "
"Yeah, whatever. Don't lie to me again. "
"Yes, ma'm. " he mock-saluted.
I leaned over, picking a chicken wing I'd been eyeing since I came in here. "Now shut up and let's eat. "
Drew.
I came out of my office restroom and stopped dead in my tracks.
My assistant was in my office in just bra and panties and was lying on my couch in something that was supposed to be a sexy pose. I was too shocked to speak so I just stood there gaping. She probably thought I considered it a nice surprise because she got up slowly, cat walking towards me.
"Cat got your tongue, Mr. Rutledge? " she stopped in front of me, arranging the collar of my shirt. That did it.
"What the fuck are you doing here? " my voice boomed in the office, making her jerk.
"Uh..... I... " she stammered.
"I said what the fuck are you doing here? "
She took a step back immediately, "Uh... You were in your restroom and your schedule was empty and I just thought -"
"You could come into my office and strip? " I raised a brow, taking her in. My assistant was a slim woman with small boobs, slim hips and a tiny waist. She wasn't unattractive but I wasn't into her. In fact the idea that she might be into me hadn't occurred to me. I pinched my nose then stared at the ceiling, counting to ten. I looked back down and saw she was still standing there. "Get out. " I stated calmly.
In a flash, she took off her bra and thrust her breasts up at me. I noticed of course, I was a man. They were perky with pink nipples, beautiful stuff. But again, I wasn't interested.
She stared at me expectantly, "How do they look, Mr. Rutledge? "
Was she trying to be seductive right now? "Like boobs. " I turned, walking to my office chair, "Take your clothing and leave. "
She was upon me in an instant, "You're attracted to me. I know it. That's why you yell at me and give me orders " she plastered herself to my body, "let's do this, nobody has to know. "
I scowled, "The fuck are you talking about? I am not attracted to you. "
Her eyes were wide, desperate, "But you are. I can -"
"You're an oblivious piece of shit. I'm not even hard for fucks sake. " She looked down, stared, stared and stared. Then finally dragged her eyes to mine, her cheeks red. "The only reason I've not fired you is because you're actually good at what you do. " I pushed her away but she still stood there, looking lost before she dressed in silence.
"Mr. Rutledge? " she called, staring at the ground, "I'd really appreciate it if you didn't mention this to anyone. " I didn't plan to. I even felt bad for her. She turned around and left just how she came in. Silently.
I blew out a breath I didn't know I'd been holding. This unexpected occurrence had me reeling. Fuck. Who knew my timid assistant who could never maintain eye contact with me would come into my office demanding we had sex? I should have fired her on the spot but I didn't. And I realized it was because despite her shortcomings, she was a great assistant. I commended myself for thinking about that before carrying out a decision. On a normal day, I wouldn't think twice about firing her.
I leaned back on my chair, I closed my eyes and sat helplessly as the memories assaulted me.
"Don't scream, you should know better by now. There's no one to help you. No one. "
I scrambled back in my bed, trying to get as far away from him as I could so he wouldn't touch me. I didn't want his hands on me.
He smiled in that sick way of his, "There's no where to run to, little boy. "
The reminder made me stop. I just sat there, hands on my bed, staring at him with tears in my eyes. I didn't cry much but I always did whenever he was here. I couldn't help it.
"Come here. " he said. He clasped his hands at his back and stared at me, the way a disciplinarian would his ward. My heart galloped wildly in my chest, searching for an escape. I crawled to the edge of my four poster bed and stood up, facing him, three feet away. "Closer. " he said still. I closed two feet of the dusteand he smiled. He had told me before that he liked it whenever I obeyed him.
"Take my trousers off and do what you did last time, " he ordered, "you know how I like it. "
No, no, no. Not this again. I threw the last time I did it and I had hoped he wouldn't ask me to do it again.
His tone took a dangerous edge, "You know better than to keep me waiting, little boy. " My hands shook as I reached for his trousers, unclasping the buckle and rolling down the zipper. I watched as his trousers pooled around him.
Inhaling a deep breath, I closed my eyes and reached for his member. It was iron-like and pointing towards me. Which always amazed me because mine had never been like that. It confirmed my suspicion that he was abnormal.
I closed my eyes and ran my hands along the length, hearing his breathing speed up with excitement. I hated him. Hated him for making me do this. When I pulled my hand away, it was sticky with white fluids.
"There's my good boy. " he crooned, making me sick. "Take off your clothes."
I didn't even bother arguing. I took my clothes off, climbed on my bed, then lay face down on the mattress. I heard him climbing onto the bed behind me and he angled my hips before he started pushing inside me. I buried my face in my pillow, crying out in pain because it hurt. It hurt so bad. The pain lasted about ten more minutes before he pulled out and I heard him groaning. I felt wet, sticky stuff land on my back then he spread them on my body.
I rushed off the bed, the pain in my backside nearly making it impossible. I lay, putting my head just outside my bed and threw up.
"You'll clean that up later. " he said, "but for now, come here. We've barely started, little boy. "
I fought the memory desperately, looking around, trying to remember where I was. In the office. Fuck. The memories were getting worse lately. Before I could go a month or two without having one but now, I had one every week. Could it be Kate's presence? I went to my mini-fridge and got a bottle of water, which I drank half of in one gulp.
I knew what the problem was. Kate's presence brought flashbacks of my old life back. Her absence would make them stop. But the lines were blurrred already. I wanted her. Bad. And she wanted me too, she had practically said that herself that night and it was hard fighting this need when I knew I wasn't the only one feeling it.
I groaned. Why did she have tonnes her? Why couldn't she have had the body of my assistant or even any random? But deep down I knew it wasn't just her body. It was who she is, the amazing person she was. That's what made it hard for me to shake this off.
No matter who she was, I wasn't going to let that stop me from doing what I was supposed to do. Break her. Hell, why was that so hard?
I shook my head then logged into the company's camera system. I stared at them when I caught sight of two familiar figures in the lobby. I zoomed in and strained my eyes to see clearly. What the fuck?
What I saw was Chase and Kate walking out of the building. She hugged him then she pulled away, waving as he flagged down a taxi
He blew her a kiss -blew her a fucking kiss and she laughed, turning and re-entering the building.
I stared at Chase's departing taxi, brows drawn. What was Chase doing with her? And when did they get that cozy? Looks like I'll be having a talk with Chase.