Chapter 6
1313 Words
Thursday. No Elijah yesterday. No more texts. I have gone from shocked to confused to angry to sad to over it. I just need to get through today and tomorrow and then I’m away from here for two full weeks.
“Have you got any plans for the holidays?” Sophia asks as we have a coffee together in the kitchen. The phase of wearing silly Christmas clothes has commenced. Sophia is wearing an ugly hat that looks like a Christmas tree but feels like cheap, scratchy tinsel. She looks ridiculous. I chose to wear a simple gold headband with large, sparkly icicles crowing my head.
“Not a lot, probably just chill with the parents. The usual. Too much food. Too much drink.” I shrug.
“Me and the boys are going to the Christmas markets tonight if you’re up for it? There will be alcoholic egg nog and mulled wine.”
“Yeah, f**k it. Why not! I haven’t seen my little besties in a while.”
“Oh, those boys have been asking when they’ll see aunty G. I’m sure they’re all crushing on you, the little scoundrels.” She rolls her eyes with amusement. “How am I going to manage three teenage boys, Grace?”
“My thoughts and prayers will be with you.”
“That’s a great help. Thanks.”
“Of course,” I wink, sipping some coffee. Our break should be ending now, but things have been so quiet that everyone is taking the opportunity to relax a little. Especially since the boss has been away.
“What’s the deal with Mr. Grumps?” Asks Sophia, chowing down on a pastry.
“Who? Elijah? I don’t know, why?”
“He’s never not been here! Maybe he finally got a life, but it would be nice if we all got an extra week off from Christmas!”
“Oh, yeah. I know, right.” There go those goosebumps again. Is it even possible for someone to have an effect on your body when you’re not even around them? The mere thought of them has you reacting.
“Are you okay?”
“Me? Yeah, why?”
“You just went somewhere then.” Sophia’s brows raise in question.
“Oh, sorry. Just tired, I guess.”
“Same, girl. Guess we should get back to pretending to work then, hey.”
“Yeah, I suppose.” I laugh. But my thoughts are back on Elijah now. I don’t know what’s going on with me. I’ve never been such a simp for someone. It’s honestly pathetic.
Eoin had booked today and tomorrow off to go away with his family for the holidays. Being alone in my space while it’s quieter does nothing to keep my mind occupied. The elevator dings and I put on my professional face, only to see Elijah emerge. His eyes are immediately locked into mine. He’s walking straight to my desk. s**t.
“Meet me in my office. Now.” Is all he says. A demand.
Fuck. He doesn’t sound too happy. The jovial Elijah from the cafe must have stayed at home. I suck in a deep breath before following his path down the corridor. Not too quickly. Boss or not, I don’t jump when someone barks an order at me. I wouldn’t want to come across as too obliging now, would I? Prick. The glass wall is fogged. s**t. Am I in trouble and he’s at least being considerate enough to spare me from embarrassment? I knock gently then open the door and slip inside quietly. I feel like a school kid who was sent to the head master. I don’t say a word. I stay close to the door, my hands behind my back. My finger can just touch the cool glass.
Elijah is pacing in front of his entirely too large desk. His fists are flexing at his sides. The energy pouring from him is dark. It seems to be sucking the oxygen from the room. He stops suddenly and turns to look at me. My furrowed brows must show him how concerned and confused I am, because he takes a deep breath and runs a hand through his jet black hair.
“What’s the problem?” I finally ask, unable to take the awkward silence any longer.
“You!” He says through gritted teeth.
“Me?”
“You, Grace. You. You’re a problem - for me. I cannot think. I cannot sleep. I cannot even work…”
“And how is that my fault?” I question, genuinely offended.
He doesn’t answer me, just speeds towards me. His hands grab my hips and I gasp, remembering to breathe. I can see that he is fighting an internal war. His face is so expressive. His eyes are glazed. They fall to my lips and then he loses whatever battle he was fighting. He claims my mouth with his own. His lips are demanding, urging mine to part. I become a slave to his mouth. I question nothing, don’t try to stop anything. I give in completely. I stop denying that I have been wanting this, not that I was doing a good job of that!
His body pushes mine into the glass wall behind me. His hands roam my waist and hips. They move around to my behind and squeeze roughly. A whimper leaves my mouth which is all the sobering I needed. I brace my hands on his chest and push him away. We’re both breathless. He moves to kiss me again, his expression one of a ravenous beast. It’s almost enough to completely undo me, but I remember where we are.
“Wait,” I breathe.
“I don’t want to.”
“Elijah…” My hands press into his chest.
“Grace.” He smirks.
“Stop. Elijah, please.”
A low growl escapes his chest. “I like the sounds of that word on your lips.”
“Elijah!”
I push off the glass and quickly put some space between us so I can clear my head. So he can come back to his senses. He stalks slowly towards me with a mischievous grin on his face. But I raise a hand to stop him and thankfully, he listens.
“Why… what is going on?” I stumble over the hundred questions I actually want to ask.
“I think you know, Grace. Why haven’t you collected your car yet?”
“What? I… I don’t know. It’s… strange. This past week has been strange!”
“You haven’t even asked me about the other key. Why not?”
“I don’t know…”
“Do you not want the gifts, Grace?”
“I didn’t say that. I just don’t know what they mean, Elijah. You surely understand why I’m confused this past week, no?” I’m puffing with how little I’m breathing.
He seems to snap back to reality a little. “Forgive me.” He sighs. “It’s complicated, Grace. I owe you answers. I promised more would be revealed and that we would spend more time together. Please, allow me the chance to do so.”
“Elijah…”
“Please.”
This is too much. How have things changed so much in the space of a week? He has been messing me around, playing with my emotions.
“Please, Grace,” he reiterates, seeming to read my thoughts. “Have dinner with me tonight.”
“I can’t tonight, I’ve got three boys taking me out to the markets!”
“Oh, really?”
“Really!”
“Tomorrow then?”
“Maybe,” I shrug and he grins devilishly. “I liked the sound of that please on your lips.”
I leave that foggy office before things get out of hand again.
- Writer
