Claimed By My Boss

Chapter 4

My phone beeping drags me from my deep slumber. I ignore it. It beeps again. Why didn't I put that on silent last night? Who is messaging on a Saturday morning? I turn over, and my brain objects to the movement, throbbing against my skull that now feels utterly too small. Too much wine!

I grab my phone and squint at the bright screen. It's horrible. A message from Amee, two from Sophia, and one from ... Elijah? I shoot up in bed and groan in pain. Why is Elijah texting me? Oh my God. This is getting too weird. Everything from last night comes flashing back to me and I cringe into my hand. How can I possibly face Elijah on Monday?

I open my messages and read Sophia's first.

Girl, you should have stayed. I'm dancing with Bernie! And Bernie kept groping my ass so I left. Should I have him done for harassment? Nah, he'll retire next year anyway.

I laugh. That girl is crazy. Amee is asking if I want to catch up for brunch so that I can tell her about last night. I reply that yes, we seriously need a debrief and make plans to meet in an hour. Amee is the only person I can talk to about this. She's my best friend, she doesn't work with me, and she can keep a secret like no other.

Finally, I work up the nerve to open Elijah's text. My heart is racing and I have to scold myself for being a little pleased and excited that he messaged me.

I'll need the paperwork for the Thompson v Jones case on my desk first thing Monday.

Oh. I hate how disappointed I feel. He has never text me about work before. And actually, to do so on the weekend is quite unprofessional. Prick. My disappointment turns to anger. f**k him and his games. He can piss off if he thinks I'm going to be playing along with this. Hell no.

I simply reply, They'll be on your desk by 8am Monday.

He probably expected me to gush about the gifts I received, ask about a hundred questions about the keys, bring up the kiss. But no. He can play his game and I'll play my own. Nobody does nonchalant better than me. I throw my phone down on the bed and go have a shower.

Amee is already at our favourite cafe when I arrive. The shower felt too good and I may have stayed under the water a little too long. Stewing in my hangover and my thoughts. Now though, now I'm ravenous with hunger and spite.

"Hey, girl. Sit and spill. I've ordered our coffees already."

"Oh my God, you're my life saver." I hug her then fall into the chair across from her.

"So, how boring was it?" She asks.

"Not boring at all, actually. More like f*****g insane! But not boring."

"Do tell..." She inches forward on her seat.

Our coffees arrive and I take a long sip of my hot flat white before continuing. I tell her everything from the moment I arrived to the stupid text this morning.

"Let me see that text. He was totally fishing for something with that nonsense." She laugh coughs.

"Yeah, for sure. What does he expect me to do? Fall at his feet, beg for another kiss, demand answers for the key? Well, not me. I won't be feeding into that."

"Oh my God, Grace." Amee's face falls as she stares wide-eyed at my screen.

"What?"

"He text again." She hands me back the phone.

I stare in shock at a new message that reads: Did you enjoy the way your body reacted to my kiss?

"What the f**k!" I exclaim a little too loudly.

"Oh, Grace. You're really in for it now. Work is going to be very, very interesting on Monday." Amee laughs. "Maybe it will be the start of a sexy work affair. Office s*x, elevator s*x, fancy dinners. Lord knows you need some excitement."

"Oh, shut it! I'm not even replying to that. What a perv!"

After talking some more, we finally order and when my pancakes are placed in front of me, my stomach grumbles in delight. I didn't even have any of the food that was in circulation last night. I really did drink too much too quickly. Maybe Elijah was right. Still, f**k him. I devour every bite on my plate and even pick at Amee's leftover bacon. Ravenous.

I struggle to keep my mind off Elijah as we talk and laugh for a full two hours. That kiss, that text, they're like obnoxious alarm bells that go off in my brain every five minutes. I turned my phone on silent again after that last message. I'm scared another will come through. Scared yet ... hopeful. Ugh, I hate myself. Shame on me for being so easily affected. Especially by someone who has been nothing but rude to me since I met him.

"Hop in, I'll drive you home," Amee offers.

"I think I'll walk, hun. The air and exercise will do me good." I smile and hug her tightly.

"Don't slip on the ice. And if you do, you can always message Elijah to come rescue you."

"Very funny! I'll see ya later." I wave goodbye.

The snow is sticking well, though none has fallen yet this morning. I button my coat and pull my beanie from my hand bag. All of the shops in the town are donned with the prettiest Christmas decorations. The window displays are miniature worlds of wonder. Such magic for the little children that pass. And I'm sure a nuissance to the parents that have to stop at each one and probably get dragged inside.

My fingers itch and I succumb to the urge to look at my phone. No more messages. Only more shame as my heart sinks again. But I stare at that last text as I walk. Where is he right now? What is he doing that made him think of me? Maybe it's boredom, maybe curiosity, maybe it's the truth, that yes, my body reacted to Elijah in a way it never has before, but Lord above, whatever got into me had me replying to his message. Not playing my own game very well at all. I wrote: If shocked and appalled is the reaction you're talking about then no, I didn't really enjoy that! Good, at least I can keep my wit while feeding into his game.

His reply comes almost instantly. One word: Liar.