Craved Affection

6. Tension

Click.

"We aim for the West Brook Financing to be able to keep up with the changes of the world. We need to do anything we can to tend to our costumer's needs and at the same time we need to expand the business according to the changes of the world."

I end my presentation with that. Everyone is looking at the copy of the proposal we distributed earlier. I study their expressions. Some of them are impressed with the proposal while some are hesitant to take the risk. It's all written on their faces.

The company is already approaching its twentieth anniversary and I plan to launch this project during that time. I have prepared myself so that not all of the board members will accept the proposal with enthusiasm. I know how most of them are scared to take higher risks.

"We are looking forward to your presentation, Catherine. But we did not expect this," Mister Foster said. He is the oldest in the group and the chairman.

"I like it. It also said that the partner company's feedback about the proposal was great. I think it will be great." All of them nodded in agreement as he continue.

"You can proceed with this, Catherine. I will wait until the anniversary of this." Mister Foster stands up and offers his hand to me.

"No problem, Mister Foster. I will not let you down." I take his hand and give him a firm shake.

"I know you will not, young lady."

I watch them leave the room one by one as I greet them on the way. When the conference door finally closes, is when I release the breath I was holding for a long time. Jackie is cleaning the tables as I slump at the chair I'm sitting in earlier.

"You did great earlier, Miss," she said to me.

"I know. But this is not the end of work. This is just the beginning." Jaqueline nods at me in agreement.

"Arrange a meeting with Genesis tomorrow morning. Inform Waterson about it," I continue.

"Yes, Miss. I will call them now."

~~~

"Hey Big D. How are you?"

I go to the hospital to deliver a piece of good news to David in person. I know Anna will be able to hear about it through Jackie that's why I didn't bother much telling her. She will ask about it herself after Jackie's report. And I wanted to tell David myself.

"My project received positive feedback from the board. They were looking forward to it. Can you believe it?"

I'm very excited as I tell him what happened at the meeting. I'm very close to David and it's normal for me to pour myself into him without holding back. I wish that he is there at the meeting to watch me. He would be very proud of me.

"I'm doing a great job, right? But I don't want to replace you, Big D. Why don't you wake up and go back to the office?" I hold his hand.

I'm not used to seeing David unresponsive. He is generous with his reactions whenever I tell him something. I'm still not used to this.

I stay silent for a minute until my phone breaks the silence. I fish out my phone from my pocket and see Jackie's name on the screen. I slide my finger on the button to answer.

"What is it?"

"Miss, there is a problem." Jackie is panicking on the other line.

"What is it?" I stand up from the chair and go out of the room.

"Uhm..." she hesitates.

"Tell me."

"It's Mister Watson. He's making a fuss in the office saying that he would not sign the budget proposal for the project. He is heavily drunk."

Of course. He is. What did I expect?

"Okay. I'll be there in ten minutes."

I end the call and go back to the hospital room. I pick up my purse and kiss David's cheek and whisper to his ears.

"I'm going to do something you might not like. I apologize in advance."

I go out of his room again and stand in front of the elevator. There it is again. That minty smell. I look around me to spot him but I couldn't see him.

Maybe I am hallucinating? Is that possible?

The elevator stops and I go inside. I try to remove the smell from my senses and press the button. The door was now closed halfway when someone stop it by holding the middle part. And then I finally see the person I'm looking for.

There standing in front of me in all his glory, the handsome guy at the coffee shop. He's also staring at me. I could try to ignore it but the tension is thick enough that a knife can cut through it. He takes a step forward, inside the elevator.

He is a little taller than me and there are at least a few inches away from me but the urge inside me to cross the distance was strong that I almost lose myself. Almost.

"We meet again."

My knees almost buckle when I hear his deep voice again. It was pulling me in, making me crave more. The tension only intensifies and my mind wanders from his hands to his arms and chest. Heat rises from within me and I feel feverish. My mind is in a gutter too. I imagine myself buried in his chest as he circles his arms around me. I wonder how would his body fit into mine as his breath fan my neck. My eyes wander to the veins that are popping on his arms, right now. What made it worse is that he is wearing a fitted shirt. I can see the bumps on his body.

"My name is Philip." I woke up from my daze when he talks again.

"Huh?"

Can you believe how stupid I was? I couldn't.

"I think it's kind of rude to undress someone in your mind without even knowing their name. But I like it, as long as I'm the one you're undressing," he said coolly.

I am stunned at what he said and also when he gives me a wink. I got even more stunned by myself. I'm enjoying it. He finally faces the door so only I can only see his back. But even his back looks sexy as hell.

Catherine, get a grip! Get your s**t together!

The air is suffocating. I couldn't take it anymore. One more minute in this elevator with him only would be the end of me. I need to get out. I still have three floors left but I don't think I could hold it in anymore. So, I press the nearest floor and when the door opens, I quickly exit the elevator without sparing him another glance.

He is not good for me and I need a walk. I need to release this tension in my body.

That didn't just happen, right? I'm just imagining things. I don't care how hot he looks in that fitted shirt. It's his fault for wearing such a vulgar shirt and having a sexy body.

I wonder how broad his chest was. And if he had abs. I'm sure he has

No! No! No! I'm curious about that. I wasn't thinking about it. It's nothing. Nothing at all. I should clear my mind. Walking can help. I need to think of anything except that.

Right! Waterson! I need to think about Waterson.

I am now inside my car and my mind is still filled with him, his body, and all the possibilities I could think of that includes me and him only in a dark room.

I should clear my mind. Clear it. Clean it. Catherine. Clear and clean.

I got startled when my phone rings in my pocket. It's Jackie again. I quickly clear my throat before I answer the phone.

"Miss, are you on your way?"

"Not yet. Why?"

"Mister Waterson is already taken care of. He is sent home by his subordinate. I'm sorry for calling you in haste."

I sigh and nod my head. I just suffered the longest ride on the elevator and probably tasted heaven and hell at the same time because of Waterson, only to hear that it's all for nothing.

Great! Just great!

When I look at my phone's clock, it's already seven in the evening. I left the office just before five saying that I wouldn't take long but I did. I guess I don't have a choice. I will be going home tonight.

I send a text message to Jackie telling her to go home and take a rest. She needs to prepare herself because we will get busier starting tomorrow. I start my car and set off.