The Alley Man

The Kiss and the Deal

I stare at him in shock. I don’t know how he knows any of that, I didn’t think anyone noticed any of that and Ms. Antonova hid her inability well, or so I thought. Wait! Did he compliment me, in a round about way?”

“Um thank you, I think. Does this mean I’m not fired?” I ask hoping that his compliment means he isn’t firing me and I still have a job.

He chuckles softly, “I am afraid as amazing as you are, I have no choice Zaika. I am a business man and it wouldn’t look very good if I pursued a secretary at my company. That is quite a cliche, and extremely bad for the company's image.”

“What?” I exclaim in shock.

He chuckles again, “you are cute when you are surprised Zaika. I mean really is it so unexpected that I would want to pursue you? You are an attractive and smart woman after all.”

“I . . . I am not sure what to say. I mean you are clearly rich, successful, and definitely hotter than all hell. Why me? I mean I am nothin” before I can finish he silences me with a kiss.

Damn this man can kiss, as his lips crash into mine, I freeze from shock. He takes advantage of that moment and pulls me into an embrace, biting my lip so that I open my mouth just enough for him to stick his tongue inside. His hands tighten around my hips lifting me onto the table. He continues to kiss me until I am breathless and dizzy.

We break apart slightly just enough to catch our breath, when he whispers in my ear, “Nobody will speak ill of you, especially not you Zaika.”

At that he stands up straighter but leaves me partially sitting on the table in front of him, my legs on either side of his. He doesn’t quite let me go but does allow for a little more space. Not that it matters. I can still feel the heat from his body and the tingles on my lips from where he kissed me.

He kisses the top of my forehead, “Take as much time as you need but eventually you will be mine. In the meantime I can’t have you continue to be a secretary. Any chance I can convince you that you don’t need to work and have you let me just take care of you? He asks, looking at me with an amused gleam in his eyes.

“No.” I answer him.

He chuckles, “Sad, I thought as much though. Well then I will just have to make you a business partner then.”

“WHAT,” I exclaim a little too loud with panic in my voice.

“First my business partner, then my life partner.” He states as if he didn’t hear me.

“Um, no. I can’t, I mean I am not capable. . .” I start to explain but he interrupts me before I can finish.

“Didn’t I warn you about talking down about yourself, shall I kiss you again?” I want to say yes because I kind of do want this crazy, scary, dangerous, sexy hunk of a man to kiss me again. Instead, I simply shake my head meekly.

“Use your words Zaika,” he says firmly.

“Yes, wait no, um I don’t know maybe?” I fumble around trying to figure out what I should say and what I want.

For the first time he throws his head back slightly and laughs. He looks so much lighter when he is laughing.

“Well, perhaps I should help you decide.” With that he kisses me again, gentler and less intensely than before.

It still takes me a second to gather myself after his kiss. “I don’t have any business experience.”

“I beg to differ,” He responds. “You have been running everything as Valentina’s secretary.”

“That’s different, I just did a bunch of tasks for her.” I say.

“How is that different? All the tasks you were doing are what is expected of a district manager.” He asks me, more like he is telling me in question form.

“I wasn’t the face of anything, people need to respect their manager; and I have never had to garner respect from anyone. I can’t be in command of other people.” I say worriedly.

He has a come back though, “you gained my respect even while doing everything in the background, and it isn’t like Valentina was well respected around here. Not that she didn’t try to beat it into people.” He adds as a side note.

“I’m not Ms. Antonova.” I respond softly.

He smirks, “that is probably for the best don’t you think?”

“I can’t run a business and I didn’t do anything to earn a business that I couldn’t even help run.” I try to explain to him, but he is having none of it.

“I am giving it to you. My future wife will be my partner in every aspect of the word.”

“We just met in an alleyway on my way to work, I don’t even know you.” I tell him.

“That’s easy enough to change.” He has an answer for everything.

“I don’t think I am up to the task, and we just met. I have no formal education or training to run a business.” I start to explain but he interrupts me again.

“Lots of business men and women have no formal education and training is easy enough to fix. Especially, with someone as brilliant as you.”

I decide to try a different approach, “what if you change your mind and regret this?” I ask.

“I won’t,” he answers simply.

“But you barely know me, I mean sure it seems like you read my file or something; we aren’t even dating.” I try but he simply says, “that is easy enough to change.”

“How can you possibly say you want me to be your wife some day when we just met? I ask.

“Because I do, and that is why the wedding is in the future, Zaika. I am giving you time to realize that you were meant to be mine.” He answers as if it were so obvious.

I am starting to feel extremely frustrated because he has an insane come back for each argument and yet he is making it sound so simple and obvious that somehow I am losing the argument!

He smiles and leans in once more, this time to whisper in my ear, “give up Zaika, one way or another whether it be today or 20 years from now I will win and you will be my partner.”

“Okay, but only if I start at the bottom and learn how to manage the business from the bottom up,” I say, realizing I am getting nowhere in this argument.

“Done,” He agrees easily.

So I take advantage of the moment, “and you won’t sign anything making me a partner of any kind for at least a year.” This way he has time to see clearly and change his mind.

“Very well,” he agrees. “During this time, you have to go out with me. Allow me the chance to win you over.”

He and I will probably go on a few dates and I will get some management training. He will come to his senses and realize that I am not good enough for someone like him. That we don’t fit together and then he will change his mind. I won’t end up his wife or partner or whatever other crazy thing he is thinking, but maybe I will get a job either with his company as middle management or with another company utilizing the training opportunity.

What is the worst that can happen? Famous last words.

“Deal” I answer him.