DAYS WITHOUT YOU

Stranger Danger

The soft rustle of fabric woke me before the continuous ringing of my phone finally forced me upright. Sunlight cut through the heavy curtains in defiant streaks, spilling across the tangled sheets.

I blinked rapidly, disoriented until the haze of last night returned in fragments, the rough press of his hands against my back, the relentless heat of his mouth, the hotel door snapping shut behind him, leaving me trembling and spent.

I sat up quickly, clutching the sheet to my chest as if his presence might still linger but the room was silent and clean. The only evidence of him was the faint ache in my body and the scent of his cologne woven into the pillow beside me.

He was gone.

My phone buzzed again, this time insistent, with a groan. I reached for it and froze at the flood of missed calls.

Dad(6)

Assistant (3)

Zoe(9)

Office line(2)

My blood ran cold.

I didn't need to check the time to know what I had done. Still I dragged my gaze to the clock. Ten-thirty.

“Shit.”

I shot out of bed and nearly tripped over something draped across the armchair. An elegant black dress with clean lines that screamed power. Beside it a white card, “You'll need this more.”

The cart filled with varieties of dishes, a bottle of champagne and white wine carefully placed in the ice bucket.

He didn't leave a name or number; it was just the dress and ghost of his presence. For a second the smallest smile tugged at my lips. Whoever he was, he was thorough, dominant and precise even in his absence. I like that. The warmth I felt vanished right when my phone buzzed again.

I had no time to dwell on him.

I got to the reception and called Zoe, I'm sure she'll be wondering where I was.

“I've been trying to call you since last night, where are you?” Zoe asked from the end of the call.

“I'd like to check out. Room 329.” I told the receptionist calmly.

“I'm sorry I missed your call but I'm going to give you every detail later.” I replied back to Zoe.

“Ma’am, the bills for the room have been covered.” The receptionist replied with a smile.

“Covered?” I asked to reconfirm what I heard.

Zoe was still on the call, “You nasty girl, why were you at a hotel.”

I chuckled. “I'll call you back.”

“Good luck on your meeting.” She yelled as she hung up.

I turned to the receptionist to give her my full attention. “Check again.”

“Yes it's been Covered and cleared.” She confirmed it again.

“Alright, thank you.” I said as she bidded me goodbye with a smile.

I didn't want to ask further questions, if the bill was covered then it was certainly him. I don't need confirmation for that either.

By the time I staggered into the office building, my hair tamed into a quick and sleek bun and the black dress clinging to my body like armor, the stares had already started.

Not at me, at least not directly.

There were subtle shifts of conversation as I passed, the stealthy glanced towards the glass conference room on the twelfth floor.

The company buzzed with the kind of anticipation reserved for either catastrophic news or memorable opportunity. My assistant rushed up the moment I stepped out the elevator, eyes wide with relief and panic all at once.

I handed him my purse and jacket as he approached me.

“You're late,” he hissed under his breath. “They've been waiting especially your father and-”

“I know.” I cut in right before he could finish. I didn't mean to sound sharp, my nerves are fraying. I love Leo, he is the perfect assistant, hardworking, focused, chatty and always up to date with information and the best part he's gay at least no one can say he worked his way to the top like my previous assistant.

I smoothed my dress with my palms, I inhaled once and forced a facial expression. “Is he here already?”

Leo swallowed, leaning closer. “Yes. The meeting started ten minutes ago.” He handed me my laptop. “And may I add you look stunning in that dress.”

I smiled at Leo and signalled him to leave. I shouldn't be this nervous but my dad has been trying to seal a deal with X-cross for months now and if anything goes wrong it will be all my fault and I'm already late for the first meeting.

I've heard rumors about him, especially the ones that roam in the office of how ruthless and impossible he can be. Some even compared him to a wolf due to his negotiating skills. I always passed those words like a cruel joke but now everything came rushing back to me.

I took in heavy breaths and pushed the glass door open.

The glass door of the boardroom swung shut behind me, the murmur of voices dying as all eyes turned towards me. My father had a disapproving frown on his face but he stood and hugged me.

“I'm sorry dad.” I whispered softly into his ears.

He patted me on the back, “don't stress it, darling.”

He released me and I stood facing the table and stakeholders present.

I watched dad sit back on his seat, while I turned to the table I bowed my head to greet and I could see their various heads nodding like a bobblehead. Just as I sat down, one of the directors stood and welcomed me.

“It's good to have you Ms Hale,” he started.

I nodded in response.

“I'll like to introduce our potential client, the reason we all are here,” he pointed his hands towards the man sitting in an emerald tux. “Damian Cross.”

I raised my head towards the direction he pointed and there I saw him sitted.

“This is Mr Hale’s daughter and the COO of Hale Industries, Ms Andrea Hale.” The director said, “And Andrea Hale, this is Damian Cross the Heir of X-cross Empire. He'll be overseeing the restructuring while you handle it from our end.” He ended his introduction.

Restructuring, the word should have reminded me that this was business, this wasn't personal, that the man sitting here wasn't the same person from last night but all I could hear was his name.

Damian Cross.

He didn't stand when we were introduced. He just watched me leaning back on his chair, his hands folded like he was saying a prayer.

“Mr Cross,” I said, forcing my voice to be professional. “Welcome to the Hale industries.”

His lips curved, “Ms Hale, I've heard a lot about you."His voice low.

My palms tightly folded, “I'm sure you have.” Not sure if he meant business or last night.

The meeting went on, words turning into numbers, proposals, arguments even negotiations. He didn't dominate the conversation loudly but anytime he spoke the room went silent and calm.

And me? I sat there, every nerve shaking, pretending to take notes while every stolen glance pulled me deeper into something. I just wanted this meeting to end.

I forced myself to focus but it was impossible. He seemed like a storm at the center of the room and I obviously was caught in it and everyone kept talking.

“Why him?” My inner thoughts began to question me. “Why didn't I just say no? Why didn't I ask his name?” different thoughts and questions kept running through my mind while I drifted slowly from the meeting.

“Ms Hale,” he called out to me.

I answered in shock.

“What's your final opinion on this proposal?” He asked.

Did he just ask me that?

I didn't know what to say, not that I didn't know what the meeting was about but at this point. My mind wondered.

“I'll just say X-cross Empire needs a partner like Hale.” I confidently started. “Everyone in this room can confidently boast about Hale, including you Mr Cross.” I stole a glance at him.

“And if you don't partner with us, who else would you partner with?” I smiled.

The room was silent for a minute.

“It's a deal then.” He calmly said.

There was applause in the room, hand shakes and pleasantries were exchanged.

When the meeting finally ended, chairs scraped back, voices began to fade. I gathered my papers and laptop, I wanted to flee and escape his presence. As the directors and stakeholders filed out, Damian Cross remained seated.

I hesitated by the door when his voice cut through, “you're not what I expected, Ms Hale.”

I froze.

I turned around to face him. In that moment to him it wasn't about the company or titles but about him. The way he looked at me, I wanted to leave but my feet refused to move.

He stood and walked quietly to where I stood.

“Till when next we meet.” He whispered closely.

His arms are now placed on my waist and chills running down my spine. “You look beautiful in that dress.”