Wanting It All: Michael and Sarah (2 page)

MICHAEL

I just got off the phone with my mother. Running my hands through my hair, I thought about all the shit I needed to get done before I rushed to Italy. I called in Madeline so we can go over everything for the next few weeks. “I’m sorry, Madeline, but I’m going to be out of the office for the next three weeks at least. My father got into an accident in Sicily, and I need to go back home.”

She put her hand to her mouth in shock. “Oh, no! I hope he’s going to be all right.”

She rushed up to me and gave me a hug. I hugged her back, glad that she was genuinely concerned. “He should be, but he’s going to need some help getting around. According to my mother, he broke his leg, and at his age that’s not something to easily recover from.” I was really worried. My mind thinking the worst.

“What do you need me to do?” she asked with her pen and paper in hand.

“Can you send me all the documents that need my immediate attention to my email, and I’ll work on it from there? I’m going to leave you and Richards in charge here.” I walk back and forth thinking about the graduation party I was going to miss. Sarah didn’t invite me, but Madeline did. I think she wanted us to get together but wasn’t pushing either of us. “Oh, and can you give this to Sarah? It’s a graduation present. I’m not going to be able to make it back in time.”

“Oh, that’s sweet. You know I think you two would make lovely babies together, but since you two are too stubborn to talk to each other, I doubt that’ll ever happen.”

“She’s still with that jackass. If she wanted me, she would’ve left him a long time ago.” After all, we met three months ago. Was it so hard for a woman I met once and pissed off to just dump her longtime boyfriend?

“They broke up two weeks ago,” Madeline informed me.

I tried not to react to the news. She was single. My heart was racing, but I didn’t have time to pounce on the opportunity. When I got back, I was striking and claiming what’s mine.

SARAH

“Hi Aunt. What brings you here to see me this early on a Saturday? Are you on your way to work for your slave driver?” I said.

“Don’t be mean. Besides, I came to give you a present.”

“A present? You didn’t have to.” I looked at the beautifully wrapped gift, and I didn’t want to open it. Whatever it was, it was in expensive wrapping paper. I looked back up at her. “Aunt it’s very pretty wrapping, I don’t want to tear it open.”

“I’ll tell him you like it,” she said.

“Oh no, don’t tell me Jason sent this to you to give to me?” My shoulders dropped. I hated that he thought his money could buy me back.

“No, it’s from Michael. It’s a graduation present,” she replied with a happy smile.

“Your boss?” My heart jumped. He thought enough of me to buy me a graduation present?

“Yes. I kind of invited him to the party.”

“Oh, and he can’t make it to another boring party, right?” Immediately, I felt disheartened.

“I think you are basing too much on your initial impression. He told me about what happened. He was just trying to shut up his date. He wanted to come to your party, but he left this morning to Italy. His father broke his leg in an accident back home, and he had to go there.”

I sat there holding the gift feeling guilty for thinking the worst of him. “Oh, no. Now, I feel like a total bitch.” He wasn’t going to be in town. So he wanted to come.

“His father’s going to be fine, but he needs to go back to handle whatever business needs to be done on their vineyard.” She gave me a smile, then said, “Listen, I’ve got to go. I got a lot of stuff to get started for the party and I need to meet with the CEO so we can manage everything while the boss is out of the office.”

“Tell him I said thank you, will you?” I asked.

“Of course,” she nodded then left.

I still didn’t open his gift. It was so beautiful, and well I was afraid what was inside. Placing it in my nightstand drawer, I went back to studying for my finals.

~~~~~

I had just finished my drink at a local café by my apartment in Lincoln Park, when I saw Michael Vitale and Barbie walking to the conservatory arm in arm. I scurried back to my apartment in tears with my stupid crush tearing me apart. I went into the drawer and pulled out the gift I’d been holding onto for the past month. Sitting on my bed, I tore the pretty wrapping to shreds. It was pretty like him, but it was probably hollow inside just like him. I opened the small box and inside is a bracelet with a little mortar board and tassel. It would seem like a simple gift you could get on an end cap at a local store during graduation time, but it was in a Tiffany’s box and engraved with “Congratulations, Sarah.” There was a small card inside. I opened it up and it read:

Sarah, I hope you get all that you want and my offer still stands—Michael

I tossed it back in the drawer and took a nap. What I wanted didn’t seem right or even possible. I wanted him. The crazy dichotomy of playboy meets caring son. When I woke up and wiped my tear crusted eyes, Jason called. Needing to forget about Michael Vitale, I agreed to meet him for dinner. He offered me a job at his father’s bank, and I accepted. It was a stupid decision that I regretted within a week.

MICHAEL

Madeline was taking a vacation, so I needed a temporary assistant. She had to be someone that could handle my busy schedule, so there weren’t as many qualified applicants. Madeline had been looking for a replacement with no luck, but there was a reason for that. I wanted Sarah and had been sabotaging all other applications. I had a feeling Madeline knew it, too. Sarah was the only one I wanted, and I didn’t just want her for an assistant. She had me wanting it all.

“Hey, Madeline. Is your niece still looking for a job?” I asked dismissively, approaching her desk with a file for her.

“Actually, she is. That’s a great idea, but are you sure you want her to work for you? Last time you two saw each other it wasn’t such a friendly exchange.”

“Yeah, but it was only a misunderstanding I didn’t get to fix.” It really bugged me how much she didn’t like me. I should have just had the balls to go and apologize, but something about seeing Jason with her would have made me lose my mind.

“Okay, I’ll give her a call.”

It had been six long months since we met. I’d wanted to see her for so long, and all it took was tons of planning and maneuvering to get her to work for me. If she agreed, I’d have her right where I wanted her. I’d been stalking her on the regular. Okay, stalking wasn’t the right word, more like keeping tabs on her. On occasion, I would go to her neighborhood and hope to see her. One time I ran into Brandi there. In order to rush her away from Sarah’s apartment, I pretended I wanted to see the conservatory and she wrapped herself all over me, begging to come with.

A week later, Madeline told me Sarah had gotten back together with Andrews. I was angry and crushed. After that, I devoted my life to working and working out. I managed sixty plus hours a week at the office and hit my personal gym every day. Nothing but my once a week basketball game stopped me from working or working out.

SARAH

“So Sarah, I need you to do me a super big favor. I know you’re overqualified to be an assistant, but I need someone to work in my place while I go on vacation with your uncle,” my aunt begged.

“You want me to work for your jackass boss.” He hadn’t technically done anything to me, except bruise my ego.

“Come on now. He’s not that bad.”

“No? How come he just doesn’t have his girlfriend Bunny do it?” I hissed.

“He doesn’t have a girlfriend,” she replied. I poured myself a cup of coffee. Dealing with anything that had to do with Michael Vitale had me rattled.

“I saw them together going into the conservatory by my house together. Unless he’s playing with her and others.”

“I still don’t think they’re together, but what does it matter? Unless you don’t want to work for him because you actually like him?” she asked.

“I don’t like him. That’s the problem. I might kill him if we did work together,” I lied because I didn’t want her to know that I’d become fascinated with him and hated that he was with someone else.

“You never know. Please? I can’t find anyone else. I know you don’t need the money, but maybe you can get some extra experience.”

As much as I was going to feel uncomfortable, I’d do anything for my aunt. “Fine. I’ll do it. Having his company on my resume would be great for my career. When do you need me to come in?”

“Monday?” she said like a question, like I’m going to turn it down.

“Not a problem. You know I don’t have a job anymore.”

My aunt went over the dress code and the time she wanted me in the office.

~~~~~

It was my first day on the job. My aunt picked me up and drove us to the office.

“Stop rubbing your hands together. There’s nothing to be nervous about. Michael is harmless. He’s not going to bite, no matter what you think.” I had done it probably a hundred times during the drive.

“Huh, I have a feeling it’s not going to go well.” I shrugged off the nerves as we stepped into the building. Everyone smiled at me, and I calmed down a bit. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad.

We stepped off the elevator and entered into a pimp lobby. “This is a nice place. Well decorated.”

“Michael and I came up with the design. It was remodeled last year.” How could I be so jealous about the closeness between them?

We stopped at her desk outside his office and put our things down. I was just sliding off my spring jacket when he came out of his office. I didn’t realize he was already here. I jumped when he said, “Good morning, ladies.”

I turned around to face him and he was just as freaking good looking as I remember. I gave him an awkward smile then looked away.

MICHAEL

I watched Sarah and Madeline get off the elevator, and I was fighting another hard-on. I had several this morning in anticipation of seeing her. Hell, I’d had so many since the time we met.

She was going to be spending the week learning from Madeline then she was all mine. One week of letting Madeline hog her time then I’d get to see her all by myself. Something I couldn’t wait for.

As soon as they got to her desk, I ran from my office to see her. When she jumped, I knew it was because I made her nervous. She couldn’t even look at me, but I’d fix that.

“Sarah, can I see you in my office for a few minutes?” I asked. There were things we needed to discuss business wise that I had to go over.

I held the door open for her and waited for her to enter. Closing it behind her, I pointed to a chair, and she took a seat. I groaned as I watched her cross her legs. Those were some sexy legs in her pencil skirt.

“Welcome, Sarah,” I said with a gulp.

“Thanks, Mr. Vitale,” she replied with an awkward smile that made me want to kiss her.

“It’s Michael,” I reminded her, taking a seat on the corner of my desk.

“I’m sorry, Michael.”

“It’s fine. We just go by first names because it makes it easier and friendlier. I just wanted to apologize for that day at your aunt’s house.” I nervously paused. She was messing with my mind by just sitting there. “It’s not something I should have said.”

“My aunt already told me why. I understand.”

“Good, I don’t want us to be on bad terms.” I hopped off the edge of my desk.

“Thanks, Michael. I don’t want us to be fighting either.” Good, so a détente had been reached.

I stuck out my hand for her to shake, but when she took mine, a searing burn of pleasure coursed through my hand and straight to my heart. Fuck, this was going to be a long motherfucking month. Her eyes opened wide like she felt it too, but I knew she had a fiancé.

SARAH

The first week went by smoothly, of course that was because my aunt was here. The first day she was gone, the gloves were off and the fighting began again. It started when Jason sent the first of many gifts to the office. Michael wasn’t happy about the daily deliveries.

It was day three. I already wanted to walk out and never come back. If it wasn’t for the fact that I couldn’t nor wanted to stop stealing glances at him, I would have. I didn’t think I’d get by without him snapping on me for something that was out of my control.

I was on my way back from having a late lunch with Stacy, my best friend since freshman year in college, when I saw the florist delivery dude leaving. I knew they were for me since Jason had used that florist many times over our three years together. I knew someone was going to go batty when he saw them.

“What the fuck is this, Sarah?” Michael called out. Oh lord, the prick was at my desk before I got back. That was what I got for going to lunch with a micromanaging boss.

He believed receiving gifts in the office was a distraction, but I think it had to do with the fact that he just didn’t like Jason. They hadn’t liked each other since they met at my aunt’s party, and I wondered what was behind it. One thing was for sure, they pissed me off at the party.

It was another bouquet of flowers. Another, “I’m sorry, please come back to me” gift. He’d been trying to get me to forgive him for fucking one of my friends. His reasoning was that I hadn’t been putting out anymore. We’d just given it another go after the whole Brandi and Michael sighting, but I really wanted nothing to do with him.

I was tired of the gifts because if I wanted him, I would be with him. Jason’s cheating didn’t even bother me, and it was strange because up until my aunt’s sixtieth birthday party, I was ready to marry him. Now all I wanted him to do was leave me alone. 

“What does it look like, Mr. Vitale? It’s flowers,” I remarked snottily, annoyed with his stupid anger.

He gave me a snarling glare before saying, “It’s Michael.”