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"I can do this," I whispered to myself, steeling my resolve. "I can handle anything they throw at me."
And with that, I closed the door behind me and confidently strode down the steps of our apartment.
Stepping out into the bustling city streets, I took a deep breath, inhaling the mixture of exhaust fumes and freshly brewed coffee that seemed to define morning in the city. The cacophony of honking horns, chattering pedestrians, and the rhythmic clacking of my heels on the pavement provided an invigorating soundtrack for my walk to work. As much as I was worried about seeing Dominic again, the energy of the city around me was infectious, and it helped to keep my nerves at bay.
"Hey lady, watch where you're going!" A cyclist shouted as he narrowly avoided running into me. My heart jumped, but I managed to dodge him just in time.
"Sorry!" I called back, cursing under my breath. Note to self: pay more attention while walking.
"Damn, girl," a nearby street vendor commented with a lopsided grin, "you've got some moves."
"Thanks," I replied with a wry smile, not slowing down. "Just trying to survive out here."
"Aren't we all?" he yelled after me, his laughter echoing down the block.
As I continued towards the medical center, I couldn't help but replay my last encounter with Dominic in my mind. Our connection had been electric, but now that we were coworkers, things were bound to get complicated. What if he wanted more than just a casual fling? What if I did too?
"Get a grip, Calla," I muttered to myself. "Focus, for god's sake."
"Talking to yourself, huh?" A voice behind me teased. I turned to see a woman about my age, her hair pulled back into a messy bun and a knowing smirk on her face. "It's alright – I do it all the time."
"Sometimes it's the only way to get any sense around here," I admitted with a laugh, grateful for the momentary distraction from my thoughts.
"Tell me about it," she agreed, chuckling as we crossed the street together. "Good luck with whatever you're trying to figure out."
"Thanks," I replied, nodding in appreciation. "You too."
We parted ways at the corner, and I continued on, feeling a renewed sense of determination. If I could survive dodging cyclists and making unlikely connections on my way to work, surely I could navigate the complexities of working with Dominic, right?
If only he wasn't so flippin' gorgeous. His dark hair, his woodsy smell. God, I can still smell him. I pulled my jacket a little closer to me, remembering the way he covered me with his body. Oh geez. This is not good.
"Alright, Calla, you can do this," I whispered to myself as I rounded the last corner, the medical center coming into view. "It's just one day at a time, like Ava said."
With a deep breath, I pulled open the door to the building and stepped inside. There was no turning back now.
Chapter 9
Dominic
It was the end of the week and the office was just starting to come alive. Tomorrow I would be off to see my mom and sister, so I was in early to make sure things were in good condition before the weekend. Not to mention my full roster of patients that day. Rachel wasn't in yet so the reception desk was empty. I was digging in a bottom drawer to get a file folder when I heard the door open.
The moment Calla walked through the office doors; I couldn't help but notice her confident stride. She seemed to glide across the floor like she owned the place, and for a brief second, I envied the floor beneath her.
Calla's professional attire was nothing short of stunning. She wore a tailored black skirt that hugged her curves just enough to draw attention without being overly revealing. The white blouse she had chosen draped elegantly over her body, accentuating her slender waist and hinting at the delicate contours beneath. A simple silver pendant hung around her neck, the thin silver chain showing the contours caused by her collarbone. It was all so delicate in such a simple but still erotic location. Damn, she looked good.
"Morning," she greeted me with a warm smile, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. "I'm Calla, the new office manager," she introduced herself playfully.
"Ah, yes. Welcome, Calla. I'm Dominic Harrington. Welcome to the office. We've been looking forward to your arrival," I replied, playing along, trying to keep my voice steady while subtly adjusting my tie. "Rachel isn't here yet, so let me show you to your office."
"Thank you," she said with a smile that had a hint of mischief, her tone gracious yet assertive. As we walked down the hallway, I couldn't ignore the way her breasts gave her simple white blouse a life of its own. It took every ounce of my self-control not to stare too long.
"Here we are," I announced as we reached her office, opening the door for her. "Your sanctuary."
"Wow," she breathed, taking in the spacious room filled with natural light. "This is fantastic. Thank you."
"Of course. If there's anything you need, don't hesitate to ask. My office is just a stone's throw away. Well, more like a toss seeing as my office is just next door. I’ll keep the door open so that we can openly communicate about anything you may need clarification on," I offered, hoping she wouldn't catch the unintended double entendre. Stay focused, Dominic. This is work.
"Thanks, I'll keep that in mind," she replied, a mischievous glint in her eyes as if she had picked up on my thoughts. Or maybe I was just imagining it. Either way, working with Calla was going to be one hell of a challenge.
