Running From Destiny (8 page)

Tim procee
ds forward and shakes his hand. “Mr. Bentley, thank you for seeing us and for this opportunity. We look forward to working with you.”

“Thank you, Tim.
Thanks for coming on such short notice. Have a seat.” Jackson motions for us to sit. “Mr. Bentley, this is Valerie Tisdale from our Design team and Ally,” Jackson cuts him off.

“Sanders.
Pleased to see you again, Alexandra.” He takes my hand and gently brushes his thumb across my knuckles. He lets it go and shakes hands with Valerie. “Nice to meet you Valerie. Please, have a seat.” He motions again to the three leather chairs in front of his desk.

I’m sweating and shaking.
Tim looks at me with surprise in his eyes, but thankfully he says nothing. We sit. And wait. Jackson is shoving papers around on his desk and closing out programs on his computer. I look at Tim and he is still looking at me, with a
“
what did you do?
”
look in his eyes.

I just shrug my shoulders
and look back toward The Suit. How am I going to explain this? And, how did Jackson even know where I work? I start mentally going over every conversation we had. Nope, I never told him. I specifically never told him. But then again, I didn’t tell him where I live either.

And then it comes to me.

Heather. That fucking bitch.

I am so going to kill her. For real this time.
She has stepped over the line one too many times and I’ve had enough. She better hope she isn’t at my apartment when I get there.

The meeting goes on finally an
d Tim and Valerie lead the way. At this point, I am just an observer and a note taker. That’s what admin assistants do right? I’m writing and my eyes are rapidly going back and forth between Tim and Valerie, trying not to look at The Suit, cause something inside tells me I will be making a huge mistake if I do.

But I feel him looking at me.
I ignore the feeling I have suddenly been put on the spot, when Tim nudges my arm. “Ally, what do you think?”

Uh oh.
Damn brain has shut off again.

“Sounds good.”
I say after scanning my notes. “We just need to get some measurements. We can then create a template with the specifications. When we return, we’ll bring fabric and wood samples that we think will most closely match the look you described and then you can have the final decision.” I finish on an exhale of a breath that I had apparently been holding for quite some time.

“Very well.
I look forward to your proposal. I need it by the end of the week, can you handle that?” Jackson asks Tim.

“Yes, sir.
I will be in touch Thursday afternoon.” Tim stands, reaching for Jackson’s hand.

“Mindy will take you around to the rooms and allow you space to take your measurements.” He says as he stands as well, while
pressing the intercom button. “Mindy, please escort Mr. Fraker and Ms. Tisdale to the larger offices in the back corner.”

“Yes sir.” Mindy responds.

I’m so flustered by this point it’s all I can do not to run for the door. I stand and start making my way toward the exit, and then realize he didn’t request that she escort me as well. A sinking feeling settles in my gut and my neck gets hot and itchy. No, no...No, not a panic attack. Not now and certainly not here.

“Ms. Sanders, may I have a word with you?” Jackson asks before I make it to the door.

I stop, but don’t turn around. I look up at Tim who is standing next to me and obviously stunned that Mr. Bentley has asked for me. I look at Tim for guidance, and he just nods his head in approval.

Shit.
Thanks Tim.

“Ummm, sure.” I respond, turning back toward his desk. But
he’s no longer behind his desk. He is stalking toward me.

He is wearing a dark suit.
Grey I think, with subtle pin stripes. His tie is a deep maroon and white shirt. His suit jacket is hanging on a coat rack by the door. He grabs it as he approaches.

“Come with me, Ms. Sanders.” He puts his hands to the small of my back and leads me out of the office, leaving Tim and Valerie standin
g there with their mouths open. I look back as he drags me along, an Oh Shit look on my face, no doubt.

Jacks
on stops and turns back around. “Mr. Fraker, I will have her back at the office shortly. I have something I want to show her and get her opinion on.” And he turns back, not allowing Tim to answer.

I look back again, this time with a ‘Help Me’ look on my fac
e, but Tim doesn’t do anything. He just nods in agreement looking like a deer caught in headlights, and Valerie just stands there smiling. I know she was affected by Mr. Bentley’s charming methods, because the look on her face says so. Valerie is beautiful with long, thick curly red hair, fair skin and a body to die for. She does that Zumba stuff and kick boxes, and I wouldn’t want to meet her in a dark alley. So with her standing here in Mr. Bentley’s office, why is he dragging me away?

As we exit the lobby, we pass Mindy heading back to escort Valerie and Tim to t
he area we will be working on. “I will be out of the office for a while. Take messages or have them send email.” He tells her.

“Of course, Sir.”

She calls him Sir. Well, I guess that is the respectful thing to call your boss.

We enter the elevator and he presses t
he G, for ground level I guess. The doors shut and suddenly I can’t breathe. It’s like the oxygen has been sucked out of the elevator. I’m not typically claustrophobic, but hey......things change. “Breathe, Alexandra.” Jackson says in my ear. A little too close for comfort, I might add. Why is he so close? He takes a deep breath himself. “Mmmm. I must get you more of that shampoo. It smells divine.”

Divine? Really?
Who talks like that?

Apparently Jackson Bentley, also known as The Suit, does.

Before I know it, he’ is on me. He’s in my personal space, fingers on my chin again. But this time he lifts my face to his. His thumb brushes across my bottom lip and he looks deeply into my eyes, then flicks his eyes back to my lips as his tongue strokes along his bottom lip.

Then he slants his lips
and presses them against mine.

Whoa.

His lips are soft but firm. His tongue begging for entrance. He licks along the seam of my lips, but I don’t open. I can’t. I place my hands against his chest to push him off, but as my palms land on his pecs I realize I’m in big trouble. No, I’m not. I am stronger than this.

I push him back away from me.
You hear about that surge of adrenaline when you are suddenly submerged in an emergency situation. I thought it was an old wives tail. But no, I found out the hard way.

I don’t know where the strength comes from, but I manage to push him so hard h
is back hits the elevator door. “Alexandra....” He whispers.

“No!” That is all I can say.

“I see it in your eyes, Ally. You want this as much as I do. Why fight it?” He whispers.

“I thought
I went over this on the plane. You breeze into my life and try to take it over. You....” I pause. “You and I are from different worlds. I’ll work on your remodel, because it’s my job, but that’s it. No more dinners, no more limo rides. And NO MORE KISSES!”

He smirks. Geez.
He doesn’t know when to stop.

“Sure.
Cause that’s what we both want, right Ally?”

The doors finally open
and apparently G is for garage. He ushers me out the door and toward a sleek black car. I don’t even know what kind it is, but I’m not getting in it.

“Get in.” He tells me.

“No, Mr. Bentley. I am not getting in the car with you. I have to get back to the office and I turn on my heel toward the exit.

“Alexandra, stop. Get in the car, I’ll
take you back to the office.” He says.

“No, I’ll walk, thank you. This meeting is over.
Goodbye, Mr. Bentley.”

And I walk.
My heels clicking on the pavement, echoing through the parking garage. As I approach the ramp out of the garage, I hear tires squealing and a car approaching. Shit. I was hoping to get out of here before he caught up with me.

Yeah right, like I was walking
that fast in these damn shoes. The one day I decide to wear heels, I find myself walking through the city to get back to my office. I speed up, almost to a sprint and stop dead in my tracks.

Ever watched a horror movie and the bad guy is going after the girl in high heels, who can’t run and always falls and twists her a
nkle?

Yeah, she dies.

That won’t be me. I take my shoes off, so now I’m holding my purse, briefcase and a pair of high heel shoes. I must look like... well, I don’t know and I don’t care at this point.

So, that old story about me only
running when chased? Well, I’m being chased now, so my shoes are off, brief case is over my shoulder along with my purse, and my chubby ass is running. I’m sure people on the street are totally laughing at this point, but I don’t care. All I want to do is get out of here and back to the office, away from The Suit.

But no, my fat ass can’t run fast enough, and now there’s a sleek, black sports car creeping up beside me, the hunky and demanding driver lower
ing the passenger side window. Crap. “Get in Ally.”

“Oh, what are you going to do?” I slow my stride and his car move
s slowly as I continue walking. I try to put my hands on my hips like a sassy bitch, but my damn hands are full and my hips are covered in bags. “Get out of your car in the middle of a busy street and go all cave man on me, throwing me over your shoulder?” I beat on my chest. “Me Tarzan, you Jane! No, I will not get in the.......”

Screech!

He stops the car in the middle of the road.In the middle of th
e
fuckin
g
road. Next thing I know he’s out of the car and rounding the front end and I’m being tossed over his shoulder, shoes, briefcase and all......and not so gently placed into the passenger seat of his car.

Did I say cave man? Well....if the shoe fits.

Horns are honking and people are screaming at him to get out of the road. But no one thinks to call the cops? Does no one think that maybe I am being kidnapped and try to help? No, these rude fuckers just scream at him to get out of the way.

God I love this city.

Jackson slams my door and stalks over to the other side, pointing at me through the windshield as if to say, “Don’t move.” He’s angry. Really angry.

Well, good.
Cause I’m angry too.

But I stay put,
because I’m tired and my feet hurt. I’m hot and sweaty and the air conditioner feels really good. I fiddle with the vent so it blows right in my face. My hair goes flying and I suddenly feel like I’m in a Peppermint Patty commercial.

“Damn, that’s sexy.”

I jerk my head toward Jackson, a silly little grin on his face.

“What did you say?” I bark back at him.

“You heard me. Now, can we finish our conversation?

“What conversation?
I have nothing to say to you. Please, just take me back to the office so I don’t get fired.” I spit back at him.

Thankfully, the office was not far and before he could even respond, we pulled
up outside my office building. Like I said earlier, we could have walked, which is what I had planned to do, but secretly I am glad I didn’t have to.

I get out
of the car, slamming the door. And march toward the door to the office building. Yes I know, you don’t slam doors of high priced vehicles, but by this point I am so angry that I don’t give a shit.

But guess what?

I left my bag and my briefcase in the car. So like the idiot that I am, I turn back around and march back to the car. Jackson’s eyebrows raise in amusement. “Don’t get excited, Bentley. I left my purse and case in the back seat. I need it.”

“Please?” H
e says as he blocks the back door. I squeeze around him and gather my things, slipping my shoes back on and strapping my bags over my shoulder.

“Please what? Really?
I need my things, I need to get back upstairs before I lose my job. Tim doesn’t like tardiness and I need this job.”

“You can come work for me.” He says.

“No, I can’t. We’ve been through this already once before and nothing has changed. I love my job and.......” His arms go around me and he kisses me again.

Only this time, I’m too tired and frustrated to fight it
.

My lips instinctively part and his tongue plunges into my mouth, as
if it was invited or something. His tongue strokes against mine in an erotic dance that sends sparks straight between my legs. His hard body is pressed against me. So hard I can feel his you-know-what pressed up against my stomach
.
Gah
!
His hand cups my cheek and he pulls back, placing one last kiss on my lips.