A Shrew's Revenge

Chapter 8

Nora knocked on the door to Brian's office and took a breathe. She had found that he was quite distant all morning, very immersed in a long meeting with one of the Analyst.

"Come in." She heard his voice say. Nora opened the door and gently pulled in the car with the coffee and Whiskey they had asked for, closing the door behind her. She moved slowly, moving deliberately but efficiently as Stacey had repeated to her. She had been here three days and Brian hadn't spoken to her except for work purposes, so she wondered if maybe he wasn't interested in her after all.

Gently, she placed the coffee cups on the desks, and moved the whisky decanter to the small table where Brian kept all his alcohol.

"Is there anything else I can get you Mr. Carlton, Mr. Harris?" She asked, looking towards both men.

"No, that's all. Thank you Beatrice." Brian said, dismissing her. Nora grabbed the cart, wheeling it out of the room and closing the door behind her.

"She's certainly something, isn't she?" Marc said after the door was closed. Brian smiled.

"She is and very professional." Brian said, looking at the door with a grin.

"and?" Marc asked, knowing Brian too well.

"And, she's an excellent assistant." Brian said.

"Come on... you don't have to pretend with me." Marc said. Brian laughed.

"About?" Brian said.

"Her. You're interested, aren't you? I mean... look at her." Marc said.

"I have eyes, I can see. But there hasn't really been much of a chance to talk with her, it's been a busy week and she's been training." Brian said, taking out a cigarette and offering one to Marc.

"But you've thought about it?" Marc said, his eyes twinkling. Brian smiled.

"Like I said, I have eyes." Brian said.

"And a fiancee." Marc said suddenly, making Brian grow serious.

"you had to bring her up." Brian said with a shudder. Marc laughed now.

"Sorry, I couldn't resist. Have you heard from her?" Marc asked. Brian shook his head.

"No. Her father told me she emailed him but no, she hasn't called me and that's fine. really." Brian said.

"Just as well, I can tell you'll be busy this summer." Marc said with a chuckle. Brian smiled, he'd certainly thought the same from the moment he saw Beatrice. He was definitely planning on becoming better acquainted with her.

"We'll see." Brian said. Marc sighed. Brian was always very cryptic and secretive regarding his affairs.

"Alright. Alright. I'll stop." Marc said with a laugh. Brian continued to read through the reports, but his mind was already on the woman just outside that door, wondering what she looked like when she wasn't working.

----

"Mr. Carlton? Is there anything else you need?" Nora asked, knocking at the open the door. Most of the staff was clearing out for the evening and today had been particularly busy. It was Friday and although she'd been told she'd work a half day, it had been necessary to stay a full day, something that Emma told her rarely happened.

Brian looked up at Beatrice, who watched him from the doorway. She was quite stunning even at the end of a busy day. Her bun was a bit disheveled, one long strand of hair loose but she looked beautiful. Everything about her was perfect- the way her knee length pencil skirt sat on her perfect hips, or the button up shirt with tiny puffed sleeves that revealed long, creamy arms.

"Actually- I know it seems like a lot, you've had a long first week, but can I convince you to run down to the diner on across the street? I may be here late tonight and I'm afraid I skipped lunch." He said truthfully. He'd been wanting to get some one on one time with her all week but she was a very reserved assistant and he was afraid to scare her away.

"Of course." Nora said, a bit annoyed but trying to appear casual. "Anything you'd like in particular?"

"Just let them know it's for me, they'll know what to send. You can grab money from the petty cash." he said, turning back towards the reports in front of him.

"Okay. I'll be back shortly." Nora said, rolling her eyes as she closed the door behind her. What a bother- she was definitely annoyed at having to stay even later. With a sigh she wondered if this was something all working class women had to deal with.

The trip to the diner was longer than expected, when she got back, the office floor was completely cleared out and the lights in most areas dimmed.

"Mr. Carlton?" Nora said, knocking on his door as she entered. She looked towards the desk, not seeing Brian immediately. Could he be in the restroom?

As Nora walked towards the desk, she noticed he was in fact sitting in the chair, but he was head down on the desk, his arms crossed beneath it. As she placed the food down, she noticed the rhythmic breathing and noticed he was sleeping. She almost felt ashamed at her attitude earlier- she knew he'd been staying late all week.

Nora went around the desk, staring down at his face, feeling almost sorry for him. Slowly, she put her hand on his shoulder, giving him a light nudge.

"Mr. Carlton?" She said, trying to wake him. Nothing.

"Mr. Carlton?" She said, getting a bit closer, his eyes fluttering open suddenly.

"Oh." She said, startled at his proximity. Brian's hand quickly shot up and caught hers at his shoulder.

"Sorry." She said, straightening up and trying to take her hand away but he did not let go as he sat up.

"No, Thank you for waking me. It's been a long week." He said, giving her hand a gentle squeeze before letting her go.

Nora took a step back, regaining her composure.

"Is there anything else I can do for you today?" Nora asked, walking back around the desk. Brian looked at Beatrice, she was so pretty, her face flushed as she was startled. He wondered what else he could do to make her pink like that.

"Unless you know how to read these reports and put together boards, I don't think so." He said with a sigh, looking down at the information in front of him. He had a meeting first thing on Monday and needed to get the information onto the boards. Usually he'd had one of the analyst do it but they were overloaded as well.

Nora stared at him and looked down at the reports.

"May I?" She asked, holding out her hand. She'd wanted to get back to the hotel and get some rest but as she looked at Brian and the empty boards besides him, she realized he would be here for hours. Brian raised a brow, looking at Beatrice and handing her the papers.

"Okay." She said after a few minutes. "Yes, I can do this. I admit it's been a while since I looked at these types..." She flipped through the pages, "but yes. I can."

Brian stared at her, a small grin forming on his face. This was an interesting development.

"Okay. well, how about you get started on those and I'll work on these." He said. Nora nodded, moving towards the door.

"Where are you going?" He asked.

"To my desk." Nora said but he shook his head.

"No, that's fine. You can work in here." He said. Nora nodded and moved back towards his desk. She'd thought about refusing but then remembered her mission. She was here for revenge.

Nora worked quietly at first, glancing over at Brian every once in a while, noticing he was doing the same. The work was easy but tedious. She wracked her brain silently, how to get him to notice her? Nora wondered, searching through an endless collection of films she'd seen- trying to put together some notion on seduction.

Brian watched Beatrice, noting how she moved quickly through the reports. She was very diligent. He had already imagined what it would be like to kiss her, several times through out the week actually. If it wasn't for that stupid meeting on Monday, he'd have her in here all the time.

Nora felt the room a bit warm which brought an idea to mind. Casually, she brought her fingers to her blouse, moving the fabric at first as if to fan herself and then undoing the first three buttons. She slowly, slid her fingers into the blouse, grazing them against her skin as she read the reports.

Brian watched as Beatrice undid the top buttons of her blouse- her fingers moving along her skin. He watched with a smirk, wondering if she was conscious of what she did. He looked down at the reports, they had been working quickly and were almost done. Maybe they could afford a break.

"Would you like a drink?" Brian asked suddenly, making Nora look up. He stood, walking over to the table behind him.

"Sure. Whiskey- dry." She said, putting the reports down and standing. Nora stretched moved towards the boards that were lined up against the wall- there were still several missing but putting them together would be the easy part once the reports were sorted.

"Here." she heard Brian said, holding the drink to her. Nora took the glass without turning to look at him directly. She could feel how close he was.

Brian watched Beatrice as she sipped the whiskey. His eyes moved down to her back, scanning her head to toe. She was a 10.

"You must have been working very long hours to get all this done." she said, looking at the boards. Brian nodded.

"Yes, but I did have some help from the analyst and marketing team." he said. " I suppose I need to hire some extra help." His eyes were still on her. Nora was nervous, she could feel his gaze burning into her skin.

She should turn to face him, anything... but instead she panicked, moving instead around him and going back to the desk. Brian watched her, knowing his proximity had made her nervous. With a smirk he moved to where she stood, her back to him.

Nora took a deep breath, preparing herself to turn and face him but when she turned, she was not prepared to find him right in front of her. She was caught between him and the desk, with very little wiggle room in between.

Brian leaned forward, putt the glass he was holding on the desk behind Beatrice and closing that final gap between him. He could practically feel her shivering- she was nervous. He looked at her, her bottom lip trembling as one of his hands gently stroked her arm.

Nora repeated to herself silently that she needed to be brave- reminding herself that he was her enemy and she needed to make him pay for what they planned to do to her but it was hard. His fingers only made her more insecure- his skin was so warm.

"Bea- I'm really glad to have you here. You've done an excellent job this week." He said, his voice soft and deep. Nora tried to respond but her voice was caught in her throat.

Brian's hand moved onto her shoulder, massaging it gently as he worked it towards the back of her neck. Nora stared at his face- a look on his face that could make any woman melt. His cologne invaded her senses as she looked up at him. She was afraid she might turn to a puddle on the floor. Overwhelmed by the sensations of his fingers on her skin, she closed her eyes, trying not to let his eyes mesmerize her. Then she felt him lean in, his lips lightly grazing her ears.

"Little Bea." he said with a chuckle- oh god, it made Nora's toe's curl.

"Excuse me." A voice from the door made Nora's eyes shoot open. Brian stepped back, putting his hands in his pockets and turning to look at the elderly janitor.

"Yes?" He asked, annoyed by the disruption.

"May I vacuum the office yet?" He asked. Nora's breathing picked up, aware of how strange she felt.

"I have to go." she said, moving quickly out of the office.

Brian stared after her as she left, a slight smile forming on her face. Her skin was so smooth and warm- he knew right then and there that they were going to have a very nice time together.-