DYLAN
I just couldn’t stop thinking about it.
Brielle was going on a date with that douche bag tonight, and there was nothing I could do about it.
Yeah, I know… I had waited for a whole week without putting in any effort to change her mind, and I had also already kind of resigned myself to the fact, that whether I liked it or not, she was going to go on that date… because let’s face it, the woman was one of the most headstrong women I had ever met.
Another reason, for my hesitation perhaps, was the very fact that for the first time, Brielle and I were exploring a chance at friendship without going for each other’s throats and to be very honest it felt amazing. I mean, we still riled each other up… occasionally, but it was even more fun now because we got to laugh it off at the end of the day.
As for Savannah, she was still around for some reason. I was yet to find out, but she was using dad’s illness as an excuse, and insisting that she was needed here now more than ever, and that it would not be right if she just left Brielle and me to handle the company alone. She still hadn’t gone to see the old man though, who had thankfully been discharged, and from the look of things, it seemed like she wasn’t going to anytime soon.
I certainly felt bad for the man whenever I went to pay him a visit only to disappoint him with the same old news… that his daughter still wanted nothing to do with him.
It was still pretty obvious though that she was hiding something, and I was definitely going to find out about it.
One way or another.
I was really worried for her, worried that it might be something dangerous, with the way she was easily scared and always jumpy even though she tried so hard not to show it.
On the brighter side, my elder sister had settled in so much at the company that it was almost as if she never left, and she got along so much with Brielle in particular… so much that it was crazy.
Almost like they were the siblings and I was the stranger actually.
Yeah, it was that bad. But at least it was good, because that meant she had a new face to talk to apart from mine –which I must admit, could be handsomely annoying sometimes. It truly was nice to see them get along like that.
It was almost lunch break, and I hadn’t really gotten much work done since morning if I was being very honest.
I just couldn’t stop thinking about Brielle and her date tonight.
Which really got me thinking…
Why sit and lament, when I could go see her and try to get her to change her mind?
That didn’t seem like such a bad idea, right?
I mean, what was the worst that could happen?
I could go see her in her office right now and try to discourage her against it.
As a friend of course.
Question is, was she going to listen?
Could I really get her to change her mind?
Only one way to find out, I guess.
BRIELLE
I was so engrossed with work that I almost didn’t hear the gentle knock at my door.
To be honest, I really wasn’t expecting anyone. I mean, Savvy and I had gotten pretty close in the space of a week, and even though she was known to barge in at the weirdest of times to take my mind off work, she wasn’t at the office today.
Something about having some personal business to attend to.
And yeah, I call her Savvy.
It started unintentionally at first, and then kind of stuck as the days went by. Plus, she actually likes the name and calls me Brie too just like her annoying brother, so I guess it’s all good.
It definitely wasn’t Chloe too, since I sent her on an early lunch break… Lord knows the poor girl deserved it. We really were getting along pretty well nowadays, and I know working for both Dylan and I sure wasn’t easy.
Speaking of Dylan, I was pretty sure he was the one at the door.
I hadn’t seen him the whole day, and I missed his handsomely annoying face.
“Come in.” I called out softly, discreetly checking myself out on my laptop screen to see if I looked alright in the process.
You can imagine my disappointment, and surprise therefore, when the door barged open and Mr. Maloney, head of Accounts entered the office.
“Mr. Maloney, this is a surprise, have a seat, have a seat.” I called out pleasantly and gestured to one of the chairs opposite me. The older handsome man did as I suggested, a blank look on his face. I briefly wondered what had brought him to my office. “I hope everything’s okay?” I asked worriedly.
He smiled. “Actually, it is, Miss Renaud. I just came to tell you that this month’s report is out, and we recorded enough earnings to get us out of the risk of bankruptcy.”
I clapped my hands and squealed with joy. “Oh my God, this is wonderful news. I am very glad to hear that.”
He grinned back. “Wonderful news indeed, I just had to come and tell you in person. You know what, Miss Jackson?”
I shook my head in the negative, still wearing a smile on my face. I seriously couldn’t wait to tell Shawn. He was going to be so happy. I was already picturing the ecstatic look on his face, and to be honest, it filled me so much with warmth.
“This really could not have happened without you, Brielle.” Mr Maloney softly declared. I scoffed. “Oh, come on Mr Maloney, we all know this is as a result of team effort, I surely could not have done it alone.”
He smiled. “Actually, you did. Because, it is the initiative you ordered us to carry out for the past two weeks that really got us out of the situation. This could not have been possible without you.” I smiled at him gratefully, standing up when he did to walk him out. He stopped mid-walk to turn to me. “I used to think you were not fit to work here Brielle, much less get to the position you are today, and I’m very glad that you proved me wrong. You did in two weeks what men like myself had been trying to do for two years, and if anyone deserves the role of vice president, it’s no one but you Brielle.”
I felt so self-actualized in that moment… gosh it felt so good, I’m not gonna lie. “Thank you so much for the kind words, Mr. Maloney. It definitely feels great to finally be accepted, you know?”
With a final nod, he opened the door and made to get out, almost bumping into Dylan in the process. “Hello, Mr. Thomas.”
“Call me Dylan, Mr Maloney.” Dylan said to the older man, his gaze completely fixed on me. Even I, was uncomfortable for the poor man. “Alright, Mr. Maloney. Thanks for stopping by.” I quipped. He nodded at Dylan and me, and then took off like someone was hot on his heels.
I gave Dylan an amused look. “Way to make everyone uncomfortable, Mister.” The handsome devil had the nerve to chuckle. “Well, what can I say, you look so lovely that I couldn’t even risk sparing him a glance.”
I blushed crimson.
“Stop it Dylan.” I admonished.
“What?” He asked defensively. “Can’t friends compliment each other?”
Well, I didn’t have an answer to that, so I just turned on my heel and walked back into my office, but he just followed me in.
“I heard about your impressive achievement… I guess congratulations are in order.” He declared after we had both taken a seat.
I grinned cheekily. “Does it mean you’re going to step down and let me become vice president?”
It was now his turn to smirk. “Not a chance, sunshine. You’re stuck with me until one of us is declared winner.”
Stuck with him.
Now, why was the mental image of that statement so erotic?
Fantasies of us in very compromising positions, preferably without clothes, flitted through my mind. His hands roaming across every part of my body, leaving a trail of heat everywhere he touched. His voice, deep and husky, softly whispering sweet nothings into my ear as his breath warmed a path down my neck. My cry of ecstasy as his mouth finds and latches onto a nipple, my gasp of shock and pleasure as his fingers connect with my very core-
“Brielle?” Dylan called out faintly. I jumped up with a start and shook my head to clear away the wild thoughts. “Are you alright? You just zoned out all of a sudden, and you look really flustered.” He continued with concern, but I cut him off. “It’s alright, I think I’m just coming down with something, I feel fine now.”
He stared at me blankly, like he surely wasn’t buying it. “You know, I think if you’re coming down with something, you should call it a day, and go home. You know, get some rest… spend the whole night indoors, just resting. Lord knows you need it most with the way you’ve been keeping yourself busy these past weeks.”
I shook my head. “Nah, I’m fine. Really, I am, plus… I have a date to get to, remember?”
He rolled his eyes. “Don’t go out with that stupid jerk.”
I raised my eyebrows. “You know, there’s really no need for name-calling. I’m going out with him, and that’s that.”
“He’s not good enough for you, Brielle. I know his type.”
“Ryan has been nothing but a gentleman to me Dylan, so if you don’t have any concrete reason as to why I should not go out with him, I would appreciate it very much if we talked about something else instead.” I quipped conclusively.
He stood up in frustration. “Alright, look I just don’t want you to go out with him okay?”
I stood up too. “I’m going to need a lot more than that Dylan, because you not wanting me to isn’t going to get me to change my mind, you know?”
He pushed his chair back and began to pace. “Alright, I’ll admit it. I’m jealous. There, I said it. I’m jealous of the fact that he’s going to get the chance to hang out with you. Jealous that he’ll be the one you’ll dress up for, that he’ll be the one to get to spend time with you after work… that he’ll get to see you completely relaxed and in your element.” He came closer to me and cupped my chin, raising my head to meet his eyes. His voice lowered a little. “I’m jealous, Brielle… jealous and- and scared, that- that he might completely steal your heart by the time the night is over.” He hung his head sadly.
“Why, Dylan? Tell me why.” I pressed, desperately hoping that he’ll say the words. He seemed to be struggling, struggling with himself, with his thoughts, it was so frustrating to watch. “Why, Dylan?-”
“I DON’T KNOW OKAY?” He roared, struggling to get his voice under control. “I don’t. All I know is that I don’t want you going on that date.”
I sighed. “I’m afraid that’s not good enough.”
His blue eyes sought mine out, understanding clear in them. “Alright.”
He turned on his heel and walked towards the door, but stopped all of a sudden, as if thinking of something he had to tell me before he left. He rushed back to me. “You know what, fuck this.” Dylan pulled me into his arms and pressed his lips against mine. Being the usual mushy heap I always was around him, I leaned into him and kissed him back, wrapping my arms around his neck to pull him to me even more. He broke the kiss after what felt like hours but was probably minutes so we could catch our breaths. His lips found its way to my ear, and he gently nipped at my earlobe, drawing a soft moan from me. He trailed down my neck, lightly kissing, and then found that sweet pleasurable spot between my shoulder and neck like the expert that he probably was. He nipped, and sucked and licked, drawing out moan after moan from me. I was so carried away, so immersed in the pleasurable feel that I almost didn’t hear him whisper, “Tell me you won’t go on that date, Bree.”
It all made sense in that moment.
The bastard was trying to seduce me into doing what he wanted, but not on my watch. I reached out and grabbed his hair, angling his mouth back to mine for another breathtaking kiss. My hands roamed his back, feeling his taut muscles through his shirt, aching to feel them without any barriers. I brushed the thought aside and focused on my own dose of seduction. I tore my lips away from his and leaned on my toes to pepper kisses across his strong jawline.
The feel of his hands reaching for my ass and squeezing gently broke my concentration for a hot minute. I reached for his hand and dragged it back to my waist, but he dragged it right back to my ass, his smirk evident even as he continued to kiss my collarbone.
Well, I could equally play the game too.
Our mouths found each other again, and before I realised it, I was on my desk with no idea as to how I got there in the first place. I reached out to cup him through his pants, relishing in the sound of his pleasurable groans as I rubbed him and began to set a rhythm. I broke the kiss and whispered in his ear, even as I continued to stroke him. “I know what you’re doing, and it’s not working. I’m still going on that date.” I leaned back and pushed him away, almost breaking my resolve at the sight of the fire in his eyes. He stood there, staring at me… struggling to catch his breath. I jumped down from my desk and tried to fix my clothes, suddenly feeling the need to avoid his gaze.
Without another word, he walked out of my office.
What the fuck was that?
DYLAN
“Still checking the time? What the hell is wrong with you, man?” Marin asked as he exited my kitchen and headed over to the couch I was comfortably lounging on to take a seat. He had gone in there for a beer, his third, while I was still stuck on my first.
We were in my living room, and I was casually clad in a black sweatshirt with matching sweatpants, One Direction’s Strong softly wafting from the speakers.
Marin grimaced. I knew what was already coming.
“Yo, I’m changing the music-”
“Don’t.”
He shot me a glare. “One Direction?! Are you for real? If I knew boy’s night was going to suck this much I’d have just stayed at home.”
I ignored him.
It was 11:45 pm, and I couldn’t help but wonder what she was up to.
I just had so many questions.
Questions like, was she back from her date? Did she have fun? Was our encounter constantly on her mind like it was in mine?
What did she see in that stupid jerk anyway?
“You know,” Marin cut in, interrupting my line of thought. “Rather than sitting here, moping around, I actually think you should go and see her.”
My eyes lit up. “You think so?”
He chuckled as he shuffled in his seat, trying to be more comfortable. “Yeah. I mean, she may have probably gone to his place, or she might not be back yet-”
I shot him another glare, but he went on undeterred. “Thing is, you won’t know until you try, and the girl likes you too. Just go and tell her how you feel.”
I don’t know, but I felt that Marin was right. I mean, I had tried everything I possibly could, even seduction… all to no avail. None of it worked, she still went on that date, talking about how she needed more and all that…
Wait.
Brielle had constantly been throwing clues my way, and like the oblivious fool I was, I had been too blind to notice.
How could I have been so dumb?
All I’ve ever done to her since I met her was hurt her, so it was only fair that she’d have doubts whenever she was around me, despite our crazy chemistry.
I just had to confess my feelings to her and show her that if she chose me, I could make her very happy.
I mean, I know it might still not work, but then, at least I could truly say then that I had exhausted all my options.
Marin chugged down his beer, his gaze on me as my mind analyzed and weighed options. “So…”
“What’s it gonna be?”
I stood up and placed my unfinished beer on the center table. “Thanks for the help, man. I’m going to see her.”
He grinned. “That’s the spirit.”