Finally

Chapter 4 - The Invitation

By the time I get to the bathrooms I’m all hot and bothered. I splash water on my face and take some deep breaths, but I’m still affected by that delicious man. Who the hell was that?

I check my appearance in the mirror and I’m happy with what I see. I chose a cream fitted pencil skirt and a chocolate brown sleeveless top with a high neck. The best thing about the top is that it’s gathered in a rouche the whole length of the front. The effect is flattering on my figure, showing off my curves to the full. It’s a sexy outfit, but tasteful for work and I’m internally high fiving myself for choosing it today.

I finally calm myself enough to return to my desk and sit back down beside Karen. I’m not really listening to anything she’s telling me now, my eyes are scanning the room for the beautiful stranger.

I thank God when I don’t see him on the sales team and he’s not a researcher either. I finally spot him with his back to me sandwiched between two middle aged ladies on the customer care table.

How the hell is a man that good looking working in customer care for a construction publication? It doesn’t seem right!

His perfect cheekbones and long lashes distract my thoughts for the rest of the day, but it does help the time pass. Before long I’m driving home in my tiny blue Ford to my new apartment on the sea front. It’s the top end of my budget, but it’s a bargain considering the size and prime location.

I let myself in and change into pyjamas immediately. I don’t feel like cooking so I order a pizza and watch a soap opera on TV before crashing in bed. It wasn’t a bad first day considering it's a boring job and the office eye candy makes things much more interesting. His large intense eyes and impressive stature are the last things I see before I drift off to sleep.

The next day is the first day I’m to work alone and although I’m grateful to Karen for showing me the ropes, it’ll be nice to be able to get on with my work now. It also gives me more chances to stare at the beautiful man in customer care.

I wore my long dark hair down today with the ends curled. After the attack I stopped dying it blonde and went dark, the blonde lost its appeal after I discovered it was the reason my attacker targeted me. I chose a smart dress, that although very business like fits me like a glove and shows off my small waist and ample chest. I may be dressing to impress one particular person, but it’s nice to have someone to make the effort for. It’s been a while since I felt like making an effort for someone.

I decide to brave the break room at lunch and make some new friends. A crowd seems to be watching a match of table football and everyone else in there is either heating food or sitting at tables chatting.

I find a table with a space and place my box of salad down before grabbing some water from the cooler. A plain, but pretty girl about my age is eating pasta alone next to me.

“Hi,” I say to her introducing myself. “I’m Zara, I’m new here on the research team.”

“Jemima,” she replies still chewing. “I’m an editor, nice to meet you.”

“Yes!” I hear someone shout loudly and I turn to see the shouter, from sales of course, collect money from the grumpy looking salesman next to him.

Jemima rolls her eyes. “Adam won again then,” she comments.

“Adam?” I ask.

“Yeah from customer care. He always wins I don’t know why they bother betting any more, boredom and nothing else to do with their money I guess,” she says in a bored voice.

Adam from customer care? My interest sparks at these words, could he be the beautiful stranger I saw yesterday. I try to get a better look at the players through the crowd, but I can’t see much.

I keep a close watch through my peripheral vision while the crowd disperses pretending I’m just focused on my lunch and sure enough the winner is none other than the stunning man I had a staring contest with the day before. My heart beats fast again and my palms sweat nervously as he makes his way over to our table.

“Hey Jem,” he says to Jemima.

Is he her boyfriend? Oh god I hope not, please let him be single!

“Hi, are you not bored of beating Ian yet?” She asks in an uninterested voice.

“Nope!” He laughs. His handsome face lighting up with boyish glee. He notices me staring and looks at me.

“Adam, this is Zara. She’s new in research,” Jemima explains introducing us.

“Hi,” I smile feeling my cheeks heat up. Please don’t let me be blushing I think even though it's a strong possibility..

“Hi,” he replies shyly. His shyness is adorable and I secretly hope he really is a little on the innocent side, it makes me want to teach him a thing or two. I’ve always been confident sexually and the fantasy of corrupting him a bit turns me on more than it should.

He leaves us to our lunch but on his way out reminds Jemima about a gig on Friday night. I’m too busy having dirty day dreams about what I could do to him to listen properly.

“He’s in a band,” she explains. “He’s the singer and lead guitarist.”

“Well of course he is,” I say before I can stop myself. Now I’m definitely blushing.

“They are pretty good actually, you should come!” Jemima says seeing my reaction and smirking.

“I wouldn’t want to get in the way...” I say testing the water.

“Get in the way of... Me and Adam? Oh god no! I have a boyfriend and Adam is so not my type,” she says laughing.

Adam isn’t her type? Is she blind? Surely he’s everyone’s type. If he isn’t her type what is, ugly?

“Please say you’ll come. It’s always me and my boyfriend Joe and then Ian and Christophe who are also in editing. I’m always the only girl apart from the bass player’s girlfriend but she hardly speaks any English so I can’t have much of a conversation with her. I need another girl to hang out with.”

I consider it. I have no friends here yet and she seems nice, plus what better way to get closer to Adam than to go to see his band.

“Sure, I’m in,” I decide.

“Yes!” She shouts excitedly pumping her fist.

I’m already thinking of what I can wear on Friday night and looking forward to spending time with my new friend with a valid excuse to gawk at the hot guy from customer care for an hour. Sounds good to me!