Regret From The Past

Chapter 3

*Chris*

Chris watched as the fiercely sexy women walked out his office and into the lift at the end of the corridor. He had never been so turned on in all his life or infuriated for that fact. Who did this woman think she was? When he had first seen her fumble into his office he was taken back. She wasn’t the same as the other woman he had interviewed she was sexier, curvier and more womanly. A fantasy he had thought.

Then when she had fallen exposing her breast and when her skirt was ripping up her leg. Even the thought of it started to cause him discomfort. He had wanted to take her right then and there on his office table. Rip the last thread holding the skirt and wipe his desk clean and just take her possess her on the table. When he had realized where he was and how this woman must clearly be a vixen trying to seduce him. He had used all his will power to pull himself back. Assuming she was just another woman in search of a husband and wealth.

He hadn’t expected such a response when he had spoken dully of what had happened. He was just as taken back by that, that he had to glance at her CV for a distraction. Why she didn’t want to be called by her name and her melodramatic act about her age. Obviously, all a ploy because no woman that sexy didn’t have an objective. She must have maneuvered this whole thing. Still he had never met any women like this. So incredibly attractive yet she was able to make him lose control. Never did he lose control. He most certainly wouldn’t let that happen again. She had witnessed a moment of weakness when her skirt had ripped. Although this hadn’t stopped him taking an interest in her which he rarely did when it came to people. She was unique and tempting. Almost too tempting he thought. He couldn’t allow a woman to control him not again.

“I wouldn’t bother” his sister Micaela said in Spanish. As she flounced in and plopped herself on one of his office chairs. Leading to Chris dismissing lady jones and closing the office door. Once back in the room he looked at his sister. Micaela was beautiful she was his youngest sibling who had come to London to study. She was like a free bird who was always open and involved. He loved his sister dearly and slightly envied her free spirit. She was free to love and care for people. This was something Chris didn’t possess he was too drawn back by his past. Still his sister was important to him even with her very inconvenient pop ins into his life.

“She’s too good for you” Micaela carried on with a shrug. Chris looked at his watch “Micaela what do you want I have a meeting in 5 minutes”. Micaela didn’t even move an ounce from her comfortable position instead she took a sip from his coffee and looked up mischievously. “Can I not see my brother without there being a reason”. He looked at her inquisitively and then said, “Micaela I am trying to run a company I can’t be interrupted every 5 seconds because you are bored”. Micaela not looking the least bit deterred replied while playing with his office pens “Please brother we both know you’re not that busy, besides you need a bit of excitement in your boring life, although that woman was feisty. I like her”.

Deciding he had had enough he said in his I am done now voice “Mica I will see you next week for dinner, unless you want to tell me something now that cannot wait until then?”. He could tell she had come for a reason. She wasn’t that hard to read unlike the feisty woman from early his thoughts already had started to trail to her. Micaela cut into them “Alright besides that it’s nice to talk in Spanish and the fact I do want to see my brother, your mother called again” She said it as silence fell and you could hear a pin drop.

The thoughts of the woman made him nauseous and the fact she had now kept trying to contact Micaela made him furious. “I will sort this out, you won’t hear from her again” he said it with a final note to his voice. “Chris no” Micaela said pleadingly. “She wants to see you, she’s not well and if ...” She was cut in by Chris’s icy voice “That’s enough Micaela” with that he beeped Lady Jones whose warm voice could be heard. “Yes Mr Jennings”. He responded with “Can you please escort Micaela to Ron who will drive her home”. Seeing the stress on his sister face made him look her in the eyes with certainty “I will see you next week for dinner”. With that Lady Jones had arrived and Micaela left with her.

Chris sat down in his office chair still reeling from the last two hours and then started to work. Work was his best distraction and throwing himself into his work always sorted his mind when it was jumbled. Although he knew another way that could help. Maybe he could call Stacy the women he was currently sleeping with. Then the thought of the woman from early crossed his mind. He was already hard just thinking about all the things he could do with her.

Suddenly there was a buzz as Lady Jones announced, “Mr Jennings Bart from finance is her for your meeting”. “Send him in” Chris said as he pulled out the Brosel File and analysed it. Not being able to get what the woman from early had said out of his mind. Bart walked in bold headed and in his 50s Bart was more your average accountant. Not Sassi Chris thought cursing himself for thinking of her by name. He needs to forget about this woman.

“Chris have you made your decision Lowdown is about to swoop in” Bart said. Chris was getting irritated at himself for even listening to the woman, but he responded with “Hold the deal until morning”. Bart started with “We don’t have that kind of time and..”. Chris cut him in “Next, What can you tell me about the employer Safina Murphy that was interviewing this morning”. Bart looked baffled and then responded with “Besides the fact she didn’t turn up for her interview nothing sir”. They concluded their meeting tying up other ends of the business.

Once Bart had left, he called Lady jones in. “Lady Jones I need you to organise that my sister stop being harassed by my …” he trailed off and then continued “By Lucy Jennings and also I would like to have more information on the last interviewee Safina Murphy”. Lady Jones looked at him nodded and then added “Chris if I don’t mind, you do need another PA. The front desk isn’t coping and quite frankly I cannot work these hours”. Chris nodded “Yes I understand. We will have something in place by tomorrow”.

With his head spinning he called it a night. Thinking about Sassi was making him frustrated so he called Stacy for a fix. He had to send her home because she was beginning to annoy him expecting more then what it was. Why were woman so frustrating? Stacy had said she didn’t mind just s*x and he had stated it clearly yet again she had tried to tie him down suggestion he meet her family. All just as gold digging as her no doubt. Then he supposed he hadn’t exactly been sleeping with her for her high morals and ethics.

The next morning after multiple early morning meeting and a skype call to his American branch. He had started some paper work reviewing the potential PAs. When he heard Lady Jones on the intercom “Bart is here Mr Jennings and very anxious to talk”. Bart sprang in and placing his laptop on the counter and raising his voice higher than usual “Sir how did you know”. Chris glanced at the report not only had Brosel watches sales and share value started to fall they were falling fast even as they spoke. “When did this start?” Chris asked. “10 minutes ago, how could you have predicted this sir?” Bart said and then he added with slight excitement “Lowdown bought them out last night for four times their current worth this morning”.

Lowdown was Soletos biggest competitor they basically did what they did but somehow where more environmentally friendly. In fact, their entire campaign and brand were factorised around the fact they bought businesses and rebranded them more environmentally friendly. This was a big win that the company needed, and Chris knew what he had to do. He had to have Sassi and he was going to have her.

*Sassi*

Sassi was gloomily looking through the Sunday times when Emma brought her a cup of tea. “It can’t have been that bad Sassi” She said endearingly. Sassi slumped down “It was worse than bad and now I will most likely never get a chance, I have had to start applying as an intern. I am not sure I will even be able to afford rent this month or next”. Emma put her hand on Sassi’s “Something will come up don’t you worry”.

With that Sassi phone had rung and her eyes lit up maybe she had got another interview. It was Lady Jones asking her to come in for a follow up interview with Mr Jennings. Her stomach turned at the thought of facing him again. Shock came across her face and she said, “Can I think about it Lady Jones and get back to you by the end of the day”. Lady Jones had agreed and provisionally booked her in for an interview the following morning.

Emma’s face was shocked “Can you think about it, are you mad Sassi you need this job and you need it badly”. Sassi’s mind was feeling hazy and she looked up wide eyed at Emma “Em that man he’s… he’s … intolerable and I don’t think I can contain myself” What she really meant was she was worried he would unravel her in more ways then one and that she wouldn’t be able to contain herself. She didn’t think she could pull herself together enough not to get taken by his playboy charms.

“Sassi he is the head of the company you have applied for a trainee position in finance he probably just wants to interview you to know you’re not insane” She laughed. Then carried on “what did you tell me he’s your bosses bosses bosses’ boss and the likely hood of seeing him even in the hallways is slim”. Sassi stayed quiet Emma was right she wouldn’t really be working with him it was one interview and then she had a job. Still she didn’t want to have to see him at all and she was very undecided.

The end of the day neared, and she thought of maybe just cancelling the interview when her phone rang. She looked down it was an Irish number. Just knowing the only person who would call from Ireland would be her mother made her hang up. Then immediately she dialed the number Lady Jones had given her. She was never going back to Ireland and without a job or income there may be a chance she would have to. That was enough for her to accept the interview. She would just have to face the man and prove she was level headed and put together. Even though he made her far from that.

She walked in to the lift hair up in a tight bun and her grey pant suit and jacket combo on. Wearing comfortable and practical shoes. She was going to be professional, polite and deter anything s****l. That hadn’t stopped her wearing one of Emma’s pretty white blouses though. She told herself she was wearing it because it helped the dull grey suit, and this was a modern company after all. He was just a man like no other she reminder herself as the lift doors opened and her pulse and breath quickened.

Lady Jones greeted her from behind her desk and to calm her nerves she admired the paintings again. Then she felt someone watching her and turned to see Chris standing against the frame of his door. His legs and arms crossed watching her every move. The sunlight was shining behind him making his frame stand out. With his gorgeous broad shoulders and masculine outline, she couldn’t help but admire him he was as beautiful as the paintings. Then she cursed herself and reminded herself he was a selfish playboy bedding different woman nightly.

With that she pulled her face to a stern look and her body matched as she walked up to him. “Mr Jennings” she said trying not to hold eye contact to long because his whole presence was making her dizzy. He led her in and gestured for her to sit but she remained standing by his desk instead. She didn’t know why. She supposed it was because she felt it was already too much and she needed to gain control. With that he watched her and slowly walked over. Staring into her eyes making her pulse thump so loud it was the only sound heard. As he neared, she backed into the table and he carried on so that he was so close and then he almost touched her. She wished her body didn’t react to him like it did her n*****s were hard and she could feel the warmth between her legs grow. He came closer and her eyes dilated wanting him and wanting his touch. Her breath fast and her legs suddenly unsteady.

Then he lent in and took a glass of water from his desk almost touching her but being so careful as not too. He pulled back and smirked “Don’t worry Sassi you’re not my type”. Her mouth could have fallen to the ground. Sassi was not a woman who worried much of whether she was someone’s type or not, but this man did things to get a reaction from her it was cruel. Two can play at this Sassi thought pulling herself back to earth.

With that she looked him in the eyes and took her jacket off slowly revealing her pretty blouse one size too small. It clung to her body shaping her breasts perfectly. She saw his pupils darken and she carried on. She stretched her arms out which exposed her curvy shape and watched as he started to lose his cool demeanour. Then she quickly sat down into the chair in one movement making her breast bounce and the raw desire was displayed across his features. She looked at him with a slight riotous air to her tone “Your right you’re more of a blonde’s only kind of man”. Clearly referring to the receptionist and all the other generic looking model woman she saw were usually around him.

She watched as he tried to pull himself together and she felt slightly satisfied. Serves him right she thought smirking as he sat down clearly annoyed at himself. Although his stern work demeanour returned instantaneously, and he said “So Sassi have you found another job”. Slightly wounded by his bluntness Sassi remembered he was her boss and she was acting like a fool. Sassi did not know why he had this power on her, she never used her body to control a man it wasn’t her. She couldn’t believe she had allowed herself to stoop that low. What did he do to her! She started thinking this was a bad idea and that maybe she should leave.

Chris interrupted her thoughts as if reading her mind “you need a job Sassi and I have asked you here to offer you one”. Sassi looked at him bewildered “Thank you” she exclaimed relieved. “Yes, as my personal assistant”. With that Sassi looked on in horror “Listen Mr Jennings I appreciate...” She started as he interrupted “Please call me Chris all my PAs usually do apart from Lady Jones who chooses not too”. She looked at him again her stubborn nature prevailing “As I was saying MR JENNINGS, I appreciate the offer, but I am a qualified accountant not a personal assistant”. With that he watched her and continued “This is not just about being my personal assistant, I want you to help the finance team as well and I am willing to pay you three times the amount originally offered”.

Completely stunned by his offer she considered rejecting it as she couldn’t be around the man without wanting to rip his clothes off. When her phone rang, and she flushed with embarrassment and rambled “I am so sorry I always turn it off. I was just nervous about the interview and…” She looked at the number as she turned it off. Her mother again and as if she had just been slapped into sense. Sassi looked up with her business persona returning and she sternly exclaimed “I am willing to take the position under very strict conditions”.

Chris looked at her to continue and she did “First my personal life is just that personal and I do not wish for it to be discussed. Secondly I would like a good reference if I should leave no matter what led to my dismissal and last...”. Sassi took in a deep breath and willed herself to look at him “I cannot work here if there are to be any intentions other than an employee and boss relationship”.

With that Chris nodded as if understanding her last request meant no s*x. “I agree to all terms Sassi” Then a shift became apparent to both of them as he returned to business which set the president of the work atmosphere “Now what made you not agree with Brosel watches?” Intent was displayed on his features as he awaited her response. She looked a bit taken back but the business tone and atmosphere made her relax. Business was something she was good at. Anything besides business made her uneasy. She replied with “I had been analysing their accounts ever since I received the interview. It was a combination of factors their sales were good, but I could tell by the output it wasn’t maintainable long term” Chris cut in “Yes but they were original their brand idea seemed to be taking off”. Sassi nodded and replied with “They seemed to me after watching an interview with the founder that it was more a five minutes of fame thing but that’s just my opinion.” After going into detail about Brosel watches and then other areas such as the reception the meeting was concluded, and the business president was set.