THE MISTRESS

Seven

▪︎ Risky Ride ▪︎

There he is!

Alex comes out of the dark, his phone pressed on his ear. I've been looking for him for the past couple of minutes. He quickly hangs up when he sees me approaching.

He seems restless.

"Where have you been?"

"On the phone. The cops are still filling me in on more information..."

I pull him closer to me and whisper in his ear.

"I have some news that will turn you on!"

"Turn me on, baby." He wiggles his eyebrows.

"You are looking at the new secretary of Harvey Ford."

"Liar." He scoffs.

"I'm serious, Alex. He just hired me to be his secretary."

He gasps and pulls me in a brief hug. A slight smile touches his face.

"The old man just set a trap for himself and he doesn't even know it."

"Our plan will work perfectly..."

"Better than we planned..."

"I can't wait to bring him down, Alex. I think I'll get a mighty o****m as I watch him from grace to grass."

He briefly glances over my shoulder and taps my shoulder.

"I have to leave. Your homo boy is coming..."

I scowl at him.

"His name is Miles."

He rolls his eyes and shrugs.

"I'm heading to my place." He pauses. "Stop giving me that look. My house is safe now, Mom."

Alex scampers away, looking ridiculous in that baggy suit. He's totally out of sight when Miles finally catches up with me.

"Rue..." He's panting. "My dad just told me that you lost your purse. Have you found it? Let's look for it..."

"Thanks," I show him the purse. "Got it."

A blush races over his face as he leans closer to whisper in my ear.

"I have done something terrible. I want to kill myself!"

Before he can even say another word, Prof. Smith suddenly calls him. He's standing behind him, wearing a stern face.

"Time to go home, Miles."

"Right behind you, dad," he says nervously.

"I'm not stepping out of that door without you, kid."

Prof. Smith is acting too harsh towards Miles. That's unlike him. Although I don't like this man, I know that he loves his son. Even though he's strict at times, he has always been a sweet dad to Miles. Or maybe he's acting all harsh and tough because I blackmailed him... And now he hates me. But he has always hated me.

Ever since I discovered his dirty little secret...

"Have to go," Miles pecks me on the cheek. "We'll talk over the phone... love you."

As I watch Miles leave, I can't help but wonder what it is he wanted to tell me. He is not okay. He clearly seems burdened with guilt and shame...

"Finally! We are back together!"

A raspy voice says behind me. I turn back to look at the man I hate the most.

Harvey Ford.

A grin spreads across his face.

"Where were we before that rude interruption?"

By rude interruption, he means his business colleagues. The minute he announced the secretarial job to me, they called him aside and he quickly left me at the balcony to be with them.

"You asked me to be your secretary."

"You still haven't given me a response, Miss."

"The answer is yes. But I will be working on night shifts because I have classes during the day," I explain. "I hope that is okay with you, sir."

"As long as you get to work on time."

I nod as he stretches his hand towards me, his eyes sinking into mine.

"Pleasure to have you on board, Miss."

"The pleasure is mine."

The glass of wine dances between my lips as I watch him turn back to leave, that disgusting grin still stuck on his face. I almost roll my eyes when he turns to talk to me again.

"Pretty little miss, I didn't catch your name."

I force a smile.

"Ruby Rey."

"Cute name," he says. "Send your CV and other documents to my email. Work begins on Monday."

He hands me his business card politely.

"Thanks again, Sir."

"Drop the 'Sir'. Call me Harvey."

"Good night, Harvey."

"Have yourself a good night, Ruby."

I heave a sigh of relief when Harvey Ford disappears into the crowd. I feel disgusted and outraged every second that I am in his presence. And the worst part about it all is that I have to act all calm and cool. I have to put on a smile and bottle up all the burning emotions.

How am I supposed to work for him when I hate him this much? How will I stand seeing that face every day? Until when will I keep bottling the anger and hate inside? What if all these bottled emotions erupt one day and he finds out who I truly am? That will f**k up everything! All the time and energy and sacrifice it has taken to get here will all go to waste!

There I go again doing what I do best. Overthinking...

"Overthinking, huh?"

I tilt my head to look up at Erik, standing right in front of me.

"Huh?"

"When my mom is overthinking, she tends to bite on the tip of the glass unknowingly. Seems you two have a lot in common."

"Overthinking is a big word," I lie. "I'm just bored."

He changes the topic.

"Got your purse?"

"Lost and found."

I feel a tint of embarrassment as I show Erik the purse. A part of me wishes he didn't have to see me causing a scene infront of all these people.

"Nice singing by the way..."

He glances away in discomfort and mumbles. "Thanks."

There is a brief moment of silence between us before he sighs, a small smile drawing on his face.

"You want a ride home?"

"I think your girlfriend would appreciate that more."

"Sabrina just left with her dad," he scoffs. "Plus, me and you have some unfinished business..."

I quirk an eyebrow.

"Unfinished business?"

"The denim jacket?"

Oh! I almost forgot that I had asked him to pick the jacket at my house tonight. I keep forgetting to give it back. 'Intentionally forgetting'. Look, I love that jacket. It's so cool and warm at the same time. Who would really blame me if I find it hard to give it back?

"At the back."

"What?"

I'm standing next to Erik's cool black bike at the parking lot. After wearing his helmet, he revves the engine.

"Get at the back."

"Don't bother. I'll call a cab."

Alex left in the limousine we rented. Now I don't have a car back home so I need to call a cab. There is no way in hell I'm getting on this hot bike!

"Soften the hard head and jump in the back!"

"I hate bikes, okay!" I lash out. "Everything about them screams death and danger! Plus, the horrible sound they make can almost make you deaf! And can we not talk about the cold that can turn you to ice!"

"You are wearing my coat."

"It's you," I tell him. "I'm talking about you. You are wearing nothing but a long-sleeved white shirt! You can freeze to death, you know?"

"I'm sure sitting next to a hot woman will have me melting..."

He hands me the black helmet.

"Now stop the talking and let's get riding!"

I roll my eyes and huff.

"Grab the helmet and my waist. You'll be just fine..."

|| || || || ||

The ride was fine until the f*****g RAIN happened.

I know a while ago I said something about loving the rain. What I forgot to say is that I love the rain when I'm in my living room, curled up on my couch with a warm cup of coffee or a glass of wine. Not when I'm on the f*****g road, on a f*****g bike, holding on to some hot dude while the rain beats every inch of my skin mercilessly.

We finally get home.

I'm dripping wet.

Erik is dripping wet.

We both stand at the doorstep of my house, looking like a bunch of confused kids who have lost their way home. Erik is trying to act stoic but it's evident he's freezing. I'm feeling insanely cold. I'm shivering and my teeth are chattering.

"We should... " Chatter. "We should have taken a cab..."

"We... should have."

One look at each other and we burst into a loud laugh, making me forget the cold. We both look ridiculous in drenching clothes and wet hair. As we stand at the doorstep, dying in bouts of laughter, it hits me just how fun that was! It was a risky ride but it was fun! I can't remember the last time I had such genuine, pure fun!

I dig into my purse to fish for my housekeys.

I let Erik into my house and the look of surprise on his face is hard to miss.

"Is this your house?"

I nod proudly as I watch him look around.

The grey puffy couches. The black wooden table sitting between them. The dotted black and white rug beneath it. The mounted flat screen TV. The burning fireplace under it. The green painting hanging on the wall. The growing cactus plant set near the window, where the grey curtains are beautifully hanging. He stares around in pure amusement.

"It's... such a beautiful home!"

"I'm flattered... I guess..."

"You live with your boyfriend?"

His eyes travel to the pair of sweatpants and hoodie lying on the couch. Stupid Alex had to leave them there!

"They are mine," I lie. "I like my sweatpants baggy and comfy!"

Before he can say another word, I throw the sweatpants and hoodie at him.

"Get yourself in those before your clothes dry up..."

He grabs the clothes and asks with that small seductive smile of his.

"Can I take a shower?"

|| || || || ||

I just took a shower and slid into my soft pajamas. I feel so warm and refreshed as I step out of my bedroom.

I'm shocked to see Erik already dressed up. He just took off the hoodie and sweatpants I offered. He's back into that grey tux and long-sleeved white shirt that he just dried up.

"Can I get the denim jacket?"

"Are you leaving?"

"I've overstayed my visit, don't you think?"

"I think the rain has gotten worse and you should stay."

"I wish I could, Ruby."

"The weather outside doesn't give you much of a choice..."

Sailing past him, I split the curtains apart for him to take a quick glance outside. He must be crazy if he thinks I will let him go out there with that kind of weather wearing those kind of clothes.

The storm roars as the rain batters the windows.

Erik grits his teeth.

"I have to go, Ruby!"

"The rain says no."

"You have to let me go!" He says desperately. "I can't stay here! Not with you!"

"Why?"

Silence.

"Because of you!" He blurts out.

"Because of me?" I ask in surprise.

My eyes bore intensely into his, aware of the tension building up between us. Aware of how drawn I feel to him despite the distance between us.

He looks away, a bark of laughter escaping his throat.

"Yes!" He raises his voice. "Because of you, Ruby! I can't stay here anymore because every second I'm with you, I want to kiss your lips and touch your body and grab your waist and bite your neck and-"

"What's stopping you?"

With a fierce look of hunger, he bolts to me and slams his stiff body on mine. He grabs the back of my neck, bending down to kiss me. I snake my arms around his neck, ready to devour those red lips of his.

The window suddenly bursts open in a loud bang! I let out a scream and throw myself in Erik's muscular arms.

I curse in shock and horror.

"WHAT THE f**k!!!!"

|| || || || ||