Don’t Poke The Bear

Chapter 26 Adam Quade

POV Adam Quade

It was the office Christmas party and as always it was all cheap white wine and drunk staff wearing Santa hats. The Archer Brothers used to treat us all to a party and an over night stay in one of their fancy hotels but this year it was in our office with a few pizzas. Word went around the office that someone was stealing vital documents and information and selling them to our competitors. I thought it was all just gossip until they announced that there would be a full investigation over the holidays. I knew that I had nothing to worry about, so I put it to the back of my mind but it was all everybody could talk about. I stood in the meeting room with a few of the guys when one of them mentioned Maria “so you lucky prick, where’s your hot assistant? I know what I’d like to do to her under the mistletoe” He laughed at his own joke but I wasn’t in the mood for his bullshit. I had spent the past week trying my best to flirt with her again and it was going no where. “There she is” said Doug as she walked past the meeting room. Doug was looking at her like he wanted her too. I couldn’t blame him, she’s incredibly beautiful but if I didn’t stand a chance with her then none of these middle aged fat balding men did. I turned to stare out at her and she looked stunning. She was wearing a tight long black dress with a huge fur coat, her long hair hung in perfect dark curls and I couldn’t help but notice her diamond bracelet and earrings. She was beautiful every day but tonight she looked like a movie star. She was the centre of attention of all the assistants and when Anthony tried on her fur coat I had never seen her laugh so hard before. That’s when I wondered if she was drunk but she was holding a bottle of water and I liked that she wasn’t falling around making a fool of herself like the rest of them. “She’s a bit dolled up for the office pizza party isn’t she?” Joked one of the new guys but Doug told him that Maria was on her way to the head office Christmas party and she was only staying here for a short time. I felt my insides turn. I didn’t want her to leave. I immediately left the meeting room and made my way over to her. I didn’t know what I was doing, I just knew I wanted to talk to her. “Hi” was all I could say as I approached her and all the assistants fell silent. “Hello” she said with a smile and I felt my heart skip a beat. This was the nicest she had been to me since her visit from the bosses. “How are you?” I asked and I could have kicked myself because I had spent the whole day working with her. She must have sensed my embarrassment because she got up out of her seat and took her coat from Anthony. “I’m good thanks, I’m actually just leaving. I’m going to the head office party and my car is down stairs.” I didn’t know what to do and I was starting to panic. “Let me walk you down. The underground car park is dark at this time of night” she gave me another smile. “Thank you, I would appreciate that” we made our way over to the elevator and all the assistants were waving her off and the guys in the meeting room must have thought I was taking her home because they looked shocked. Doug gave me a thumbs up and she noticed. “Why is your i***t friend acting like a weirdo?” She said as the elevator doors opened and I couldn’t help but laugh. “Yes he is an i***t” I said with a chuckle. We stepped inside the elevator and as the doors closed she put her hand on my shoulder and bent forward to fix her heel. This simple act instantly turned me on. I tried desperately not to stare down at her t**s but I couldn’t help myself. Although I patted myself on the back for only glancing at her incredible cleavage. “Thank you for seeing me to the car. I really appreciate it. I would hate to hang around in that car park on my own. You’re a gentleman Mr Quade” she could be so sweet sometimes and I could never understand why she would turn on me. “You’re welcome, and please call me Adam” she let out a little laugh “oh I couldn’t call you Adam” She said with a shy smile “why not? you call the owner Antonio by his first name” “not to his face” she said with a giggle. “Good, because it made me jealous. Is he going to be at this party tonight?” All of the information seemed too much for her to take in. “No none of the bosses or owners will be there and why would you be jealous?” I turned to face her “I’m jealous of everyone if I’m honest.. because you’re nice to everyone except me. Have I done something to piss you off?” she scrunched up her nose “I am nice to you. I made you a cake and I’m always in the office early to make sure the heating in your office is on so it’s warm for you arriving. Whilst I sit out side your office freezing my t**s off. I had a meeting with the office manager to increase the budget for coffee so I could get you the beans you like… actually ADAM I’m really nice to you, you just don’t notice because your too busy staring at yourself in the reflection of the window in your office” She had really put me in my place “and another thing.. the font on that email was the same as every other email and I stood there taking your s**t for it when I could have..” I wasn’t even listening to her any more, I had to interrupt her “I don’t stare at myself in the window” “yes you do, all day ever day” I tried to interrupt her again but she just ignored what I said because she was on a rant “oh I’m Mr Quade and every body fancies me and I’m spoiled and I’m horrible to my poor assistant…” She was pretending to impersonate me and she sounded childish but I must admit she was funny. The elevator stoped at the under ground car park she strutted out “I thought you liked being spoken to like that” I said and she quickly turned to face me “who on earth would like that? Are you crazy?” I looked over her shoulder “your car isn’t here yet. Let me keep you company until it gets here” I stepped out of the elevator she was genuinely shocked that I had offered to stay with her. “You don’t have to, it’s freezing, please go upstairs. Your friends will be waiting for you” I shook my head “no I can’t leave you down here. And I’m sorry if I’ve been short with you. I haven’t been myself lately.” Her face softened and I think she appreciated me being honest with her. “I’m sorry too, everything I’ve said tonight has been totally out of line. I’m just so upset because my Christmas plans have fallen through. My family are away and I was supposed to meet them but my flight got cancelled and the next one isn’t until after Boxing Day. I’ve never spent Christmas without my brother. It’s really playing on my mind. I’m sorry Mr Quade” I pulled her coat closed because she looked cold. “don’t be sorry. Why don’t you come and spend it with my family. They would love to have you at my dad and step mums house. All my nieces and nephews will be there and my sisters will love you.” “That’s really kind of you but I couldn’t impose” “I’ve told them all about your amazing cake. I’m sure if you brought one with you they’d ask you to stay until the new year” she let out a little laugh “I would love to, but only if you ask them first.” “Of course, I’ll text you the details” “oh here’s my car. Thanks for waiting with me” she kissed my cheek and it felt like she was emotional. My heart went out to her because I would be lost without my family at Christmas. “And by the way, I don’t stare at myself in the window, I stare out at you.. you’re always gossiping”. I finally dragged my eyes away from her and I was shocked to see that the car collecting her was a Bentley. I opened the car door for her and she got into the back seat. “Thanks again Mr Quade” she said and I stood and waved her off until she was out of sight. I smiled the whole way back upstairs to get my coat.

Spending Christmas together was the opportunity to let her get to know me outside of work and I couldn’t wait. Doug followed me into my office “I thought you’d left with that little hottie Maria. You’re losing your touch Quade” he joked but he wasn’t wrong. “No she’s a nice girl and an employee, I know better than to go there with her” He looked around to make sure no body could hear him “are you sure she’s a nice girl? Tell me Adam, what assistant do you know that struts around in designer cloths and diamond jewellery?” He raised his eye brow at me. “What are you saying Doug?” He leaned in close to me and I could smell the alcohol on his breath “it’s just that all the trouble with the stolen documents only started when she did” I shook my head and laughed “what are you talking about?” He suddenly looked serious “watch yourself with that one Adam. I know when someone isn’t to be trusted. It’s either that or she’s shagging one of the bosses or the owners. I bet they sent her a fancy car to go to that party tonight when all we got was a slice of pizza.” I couldn’t deny it, even I had been surprised by the expensive car. “Keep your wits about yourself old son and have a good Christmas” he said as he left me alone in my office. I had gone from overjoyed to spend Christmas with Maria to terrified for my job. Was he right? Did I even know anything about her?