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Ariane
“Good morning.”
Casey gleamed as she greeted me in the office Monday morning. We were the first ones in, and I preferred it that way. When everyone else was in, the office felt so loud and seemed so busy it was a bit overwhelming.
“Hey, girl.” I smiled. “How was your weekend?”
“Busy with work.” She rolled her eyes. “Nothing too special, just putting together a business plan that Imightshare with you someday,” she laughed. “How was your weekend? Better yet, how was Miami?”
Miami had been great, business-wise. Though I felt Logan became irritated when I gave advice to one of his clients. I’d also felt some tension between him and me. I had no intention of sleeping with my ex’s dad. Besides, sleeping with my boss was a big no-no.
However, being alone with him on a flight to Miami had allowed me to fantasize about him. I wondered how strong his thighs would feel underneath my bottom as I straddled him, caressing his chest, kissing his neck, and forcing him to groan. But those were just my fantasies. Logan would not be interested in someone who was his daughter’s age.
“It was eventful,” I chuckled. “Your dad had me dress up and pretend to be his date, kind of.”
“I heard.” Casey laughed a little. “Don't let him spring anything on you that you don’t want, okay? He might be the boss around here, but you are your own woman. Remember that.”
“I know that’s right,” I laughed.
I was only a year older than Casey, but she was very mature for her age, and a lot more mature than her twin brother, that was for sure. I loved how insightful and fair she was, even when it came down to her father.
“I think he likes you, though.”
Her voice grew a little distant when she said that. I couldn’t tell in what way she meant, and I really didn’t think she knew either. But it tugged at her conscience and made her wonder just as much as I did.
“Does he really?” I laughed a little. “Sometimes, I can’t tell if he’s actually giving me a chance or just tolerating me because he needs an assistant right now. I know he was probably upset with me on the trip to Miami, I kind of talked over him with the client. But I swear it wasn’t to make him look bad or anything, I just saw an easier way to do something and decided to speak up about it. The client thought it was a good idea.” I shrugged.
“He mentioned it to me when he got home last night. I didn’t really see the big deal. He needs someone to challenge him sometimes. Otherwise, how will he grow as a person? I think he’s gotten so used to everyone biting their tongue around him, he doesn’t think he can ever be wrong.”
I had noticed that in Logan the very first time I met him. He had this arrogance about him that was undeniable. Still a gentle-hearted man, but his self-esteem was very high. And he had every right for it to be. He’d fought some of the world's toughest battles and survived.
“I don’t think he means any harm,” I said. “I’m very understanding and patient, but at some point, we will probably butt heads.” I laughed. “I hope that doesn't affect our working relationship, because like you said, people need to be challenged on some things. Some of the best relationships are created from being challenged and speaking up.”
Casey sat and talked to me for a while that morning. She gave me a few tips and tricks on how to get my point across with her dad. I didn’t really feel I needed them—because she and I didn't have the same kind of relationship with him—but I listened anyway. Just to make her feel heard.
I had my own way of doing things and spoke up whenever I felt the need, no matter how quiet or shy I might have seemed. I wasn’t sure whether Logan had a thing for me, but I’d noticed how he checked me out sometimes.
“Ariane.” Logan startled me while I was in the file cabinet of my office. “Sorry about that. I was just stopping in before I headed out to make sure you didn’t need anything.”
“Oh. Uh, no. I don’t think I missed anything today. All of your meetings are squared away for the rest of the week and the soup kitchen has been taken care of. I believe we’re all set.” I smiled.
He smiled too, for a brief moment. His smile was full of questions and uncertainty, but it was genuine. He wanted to ask me something; tell me something, even. But he held off. I saw it in the way he reminded himself to stand up straight and keep his shoulders back.
“There’s a company party Friday night. You should come out and get a feel for how we do things around here, party-wise. I think you’re picking up on the work part fairly quickly. Stepping on my toes a little bit,” he chuckled. “But I think we can work through that.”
“I think so too,” I laughed. “I don’t mean to step on your toes at all, that’s not my intention. I guess I get a little too carried away with the life-coaching aspect of things and forget to let people be their own people at times. I'll try to remember that.”
“Alright,” he nodded. “So, I’ll see you at the party Friday night? If so, just send me a message and I'll make sure you have something nice to wear. Not that there’s anything wrong with what you wear now, but you know.”
“Okay.” I smiled. “Thank you, Mr. Taylor.”
He returned to his office, and I hurriedly gathered my belongings so I didn’t have to ride with him in the elevator. When I saw him grabbing his stuff, I ran to the elevator, but I must have tripped over something because I fell, not on the ground, but into Logan's arms. Just in time, he caught me. At that moment, I felt like only Logan and I existed; I was so lost in his blue eyes. As a reflex, I wrapped my arms around him. It was like watching a movie about a couple in love, except we weren't in love. His touch ignited the desires I had buried.
"Ariane, are you okay?" he asked as he helped me stand. Still shaken by what had happened, I straightened my skirt and nodded. "I'm fine." Thank you, Logan. "Wh-what you did for me was heroic, and I owe you a great deal."
He answered as he pressed the elevator button, "Don't mention it." He looked as if he wanted to speak with me on the elevator. However, confusion and embarrassment consumed me. The fact that I was deeply attracted to my boss, my ex's dad, was hard to fathom. We said our goodbyes as we parted ways.
Chapter Six
