Total pages in book: 34
Estimated words: 32760 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 164(@200wpm)___ 131(@250wpm)___ 109(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32760 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 164(@200wpm)___ 131(@250wpm)___ 109(@300wpm)
He slides his rough, callused hand up the back of my neck, then threads it firmly through my hair and pulls me to him…
…and something I never expected to happen happens.
Our lips meet, and he kisses me.
It’s the most intense, passionate, emotional kiss I’ve ever experienced.
Heat sweeps over my body, enveloping me in a rapture that I’m unable to even process. I could swear I hear the strings of an orchestra fading in to accompany the moment as I give myself over to him.
Without thinking, I reach up and drape my arms over his taut, broad shoulders, giving myself over to him, not caring at all who sees us.
This is it. I broke through his walls. He’s letting me in. Soon, he’ll no longer be a mystery to me.
But then, just like that, as soon as the moment has begun, it’s over.
Marlon pulls back, slides his fingers back out of my hair, and with a single glance back at me, turns and strides quickly for the door.
A gasp slips from my lips as I strive to call after him, but no words follow.
My heart deflates, and I reach a hand out as the reality of where I am hits me like a splash of ice water to the face.
“Here are those drinks for you, miss!” the bartender says, setting down my order beside me as the roar of the bar returns, seeming suddenly ferocious in my ears, the lights blinding.
Come back, I think, watching as Marlon shoulders the door open and steps out into the night. Come back…
8
MARLON
Brian’s been on the phone with his wife Charlotte now for at least twenty minutes. I should really go into his office and tell him to hang up and get to work, but I’m cutting him slack because I know that it’s their six-year anniversary today.
He’s smiled more on this call with her today than I’ve seen him smile in the last several months here at the office. Boy does that woman make him happy.
After a moment, I get up from my chair and stride down the hall to his office and pull open the door.
“Need you,” I say, motioning to him to follow as I exit and head back down to my office where we won’t be disturbed. I can hear him quickly end the call with his wife as I’m leaving, and just as I’m taking my seat again, he enters the room.
“Hey, boss. What’s up?”
“Why do you still call me boss, Brian?” I ask. “It’s been over five years now. Just call me Marlon, why don’t you?”
Brian takes his normal seat in front of me but looks slightly uncomfortable.
“Um, all right…boss–um, Marlon. What’s up? Sorry for being on the phone for so long, it’s just that it’s Charlotte’s and my six-year—”
“Six-year anniversary.” I nod. Brian’s eyes light up, clearly surprised.
“Oh, you didn’t think I’d remember something like that for my number two?” I ask. “My second-in-command?”
“I…I guess I didn’t…” Brian replies, sounding slightly ashamed.
I reach into my pocket and pull out a thick stack of bills and hand it to him. He coughs and looks up at me.
“Few grand.” I grin. “Let’s just call it a bonus for all your hard work. A token of my appreciation for how valuable you are to this company.”
“Marlon. You’ve got to be joking.”
“Do I look like I’m joking?” I chuckle as I stand up and come around the desk, extending a hand to him. He quickly takes it and shakes it firmly.
“Jesus, Marlon. Thank you!”
“You don’t have to thank me, Brian. You’ve been with me every step of the way since I started building this company. I couldn’t have done it without you.” I release his hand and give him a sly look. “I mean—I could have, but it would have been a lot harder.”
We both laugh, and I take my seat again. I can see Brian wants to count the stack I’ve given him–which amounts to five grand–but he remains polite and resists and just stuffs it into his pocket.
“Say, Brian. Can I ask you something?”
“Sure, boss. Anything.”
“You and Charlotte. Six-years. That’s impressive. Really impressive. And I don’t mean to bring this up on your anniversary, but…does it ever worry you?”
Brian frowns. “Worry me?”
“Well, let me put it another way.” I pause. “How have you two made it work for this many years?”
“Ah.” Brian smiles, chuckling to himself. “People have asked me that a lot actually. But I never thought six-years was a lot, if I’m being honest. Charlotte and I just love each other. That’s really all there is to it. There’s no secret. We just love each other, so it works.”
“I see…” I nod.
For some reason, I notice a scratch in the top of my desk that I somehow haven’t noticed before. It will need to be refinished.
“Hey, boss?” Brian says. There he goes, calling me boss again. “Is there something on your mind?”