s*x Chained

Dream Lover

Chapter 4

Now, after Ellis finished her sandwich, she continued with the curious prodding. "So, that's it? I don't get even a little bite, let alone a juicy morsel about the guy?"

Her friend's words brought Nat back to the present. Glancing down, she realized she had been stirring her yogurt for several minutes. "Sorry, but there's nothing much else I can tell you about him. He's a decent enough guy and very pleasant. I'm sure he'll go far in the company."

"Oh well, keep it to yourself then." With a sigh of resignation, Ellis started on her Little Debbie chocolate cupcake.

Friday afternoon and the end of the work week. Nat made a decision. She would go through with the transformation as planned. Come Monday morning, she would be the new, striking Natalie; a virgin, yes, but a revamped one. Of course, she couldn't help that, nor expect everything to happen all at once. Take baby steps, she warned herself. First things first...

The minute she walked into the bull pen Monday morning, all eyes turned her way, some in surprise, some in appreciation. Besides the new, lower-cut dress, Nat had splurged on a pair of sleek pumps to replace her usual flats. Giving her beauty consultant carte blanche, she had her russet hair trimmed, shaped, and highlighted with a few champagne blond strands; and after a quick introduction to makeup, Nat had purchased a variety of beauty products, including a rich lip gloss in pink parfait and a rose blush to compliment her complexion. And her new contact lenses gave her bland brown eyes an emerald sparkle.

Once she settled at her work station, Ellis came huffing in her direction, bakery box in hand. "Nat! You look simply fabulous!" Her friend continued with her jaw-dropping appraisal. "No, make that elegant and chic. Love the hair highlights, and your eyes! They look fabulous with that green tint!”

"Thanks. New contact lenses and a new me!" Nat smiled happily. Today she felt on top of the world, and decided to bypass her friend's offer of a Danish, if only for the fact she could stand to loose about ten pounds.

Ellis lowered her voice. "I know what you're up to, so go for it, girlfriend! He'll soon be putty in your capable hands."

Despite herself, Nat blushed. "That's not the reason I decided to spruce up. I needed the change. That's all."

"Well, the change has done you good, and I hope he notices." With that pronouncement, Ellis threw her friend a wink and started back to her work station.

Twenty minutes later, Merrill Strang made her way down the aisle and over to Nat. As usual, the woman wore a tight skirt hiked up her slim thighs and a low-cut pullover to emphasize her voluptuous breasts. As Merrill swayed her hips, her honey hair swung in rhythm; and she soon focused her ice-blue gaze on the new executive assistant.

"Is Chris in yet?" she asked curtly without even a "good morning."

"Not yet," Nat answered pleasantly. "Shall I have him call you when he does?"

The blond smirked. "No, I'll text him later; although, it will be quite a letdown, considering the hot, hot communiques we traded this weekend." Turning on her stilettos, Merrill sashayed back the way she came.

Nat felt a slow burn work its way up her neck. Today of all days, she didn't need to hear that Chris spent the weekend with the voracious Merrill. She had to be at least thirty-two if she was a day; and the slut had no business pursuing a man who had yet to turn thirty. Chris deserved a smarter, more sensitive, and younger woman to make him happy; a woman astute enough to understand his needs, and make sure to assuage them two-fold. As if on cue and swinging his sports coat over his shoulder, her boss made his grand entrance, especially attractive today in a periwinkle, button-down shirt and navy slacks. He almost bypassed Nat with his usual, chipper "good morning," but he paused abruptly when he noticed her new look. He gave her a quick, judicious study with those incredible eyes, their color a perfect match to his shirt.

"My, my, Nat, you look lovely today. Nice hair cut, too."

"Thank you," she muttered demurely, and hoped he didn't notice the flush that had worked up to a heat wave along her cheeks. As the boss continued to his office, she managed to rise and follow along with his messages.

She began to recite his agenda with a dispassionate voice. "You have a two o'clock this afternoon with Mr. Vorheiss. Mrs. Kurtz called to remind you about those invoices to accounting. Oh, and you just missed Ms. Strang. She says she'll text message you later."

As Chris settled behind his desk, Nat kept an eye on his expression for any signs that the blond's name evoked a look of excitement. Instead, he offered his usual amiable but very sexy smile.

My God, he's so handsome he almost takes my breath away!

"Thanks, Nat, I appreciate the heads up. Would you mind terribly if I ask you for a cup of coffee? I have a zillion phone calls to make before lunch."

"Not at all." But before she left, she added, "I hope you had a pleasant if not restful weekend."

Chris looked up from the keyboard of his computer. His gaze held just a tinge of pleasurable recall. "It was perfect; and you, Nat? Obviously, you went shopping this weekend. Nice outfit."

"Yes, I did. Thanks. I'll bring that coffee right away."

As she made her way to the coffee station, Nat wanted to lash out at something, anything. You look lovely today. Nice hair cut. Nice outfit. Would it be too much to ask for an additional "terrific" or a "fabulous" to his compliments, or even a "beautiful?"

But what did she expect? That Chris O'Connell would immediately take her in his arms and fawn all over her? Pepper her with terms of endearment, or get down on his knees and tell her she was so beautiful he worshiped the ground she walked on? Natalie Joan, she chided herself, you are delusional! If anything, he had his fill of compliments and passion this weekend with Merrill Strang. For one forbidden moment, she thought about adding a touch of strychnine to his coffee along with the creamer. Better yet, something to make him impotent and disinterested in buxom blonds.

Once she brought the boss his coffee and shut his office door, Nat returned to her station to begin typing up the quarterly report. On impulse, she opened a side drawer and extracted her ipod and ear phones. She hadn't used them since she started her new assignment, but today she felt in need of some uplifting music to calm her jangled nerves. Despite the mental berating she gave herself, Nat couldn't shake her feelings for Chris O'Connell, let alone concentrate on work with an efficient air. When "Dream Love" began to caress her ears, she sang along in a low voice. Here in her little cubby, no one cared that she sang off-key except the rubber tree in the corner.