The Dirty Deals

To Do Or Not To Do

"Good Morning Mr. Collins", I wished my husband at the breakfast table. He put his index finger to use and slid the upper edge of the news paper in his hand and nodded at me cursorily. It wasn't new to me we hardly communicated other than business and all the greets and wishes were mere formalities. We had a sort of a platonic relationship and I didn't quiet mind it. The marriage was nothing but a deal and so far I got what I wanted so I hardly cared.

Mrs. Lucy, our senior most house help laid the breakfast on the table and began arranging Mr. Collins's medicines. He didn't keep well these days and was mostly tied to his chair or the bed which was why most of the business was on my shoulders now. I never had to prude in much to take care of him well it could have been my responsibility though but Mrs. Lucy managed the chores related to him and I was free. I quietly munched my sandwich when the peaceful breakfast was interrupted by the most unwanted voice.

"Can I come in sir", he had unnecessarily said that as he knew the answer and was already walking towards me bearing a sly smile on his lips and the moment Mr. Collins closed on his newspaper Xavier shifted his look at him with utmost sincerity and humility in his eyes.

"You know you don't need my permission Xavier", he said with a wide welcoming smile. He was Mr. Max Collins my husband and the Chairman of Synox constructions. Well to be honest he was a handsome man in his early 60's. He was solely responsible for what Synox was today, he had devoted his entire life in building the empire and hardly gave a thought to his own life until 8 months back when he met with a major accident and was mostly restricted to home thereafter.

"Sir I needed you to sign these project progress papers", Xavier handed over the file in his hand to him and Mr. Collins asked him to join us for breakfast. I straightened myself when he left all the chairs and chose to sit beside me. He was one cunning man who knew to play his cards right especially in front of Mr. Collins but thankfully he called Xavier to sit beside him.

Xavier was a smart and confident employee at Synox, he was always impressive with his work especially his street smart tactics of dealing with problems that arose at the sites. I didn't know if it had to do anything with his extra ordinary charisma but most definitely his surname gave him the edge. He was a Collins too a good enough reason for him to bag the job in first instance. But nonetheless he was very capable when it came to work but off late he was becoming Mr. Collinss favorite, more than me he discussed the projects and progress with him and Xavier never left an opportunity to pin point that. He was definitely jealous of me for the fact that I was his boss now. We had joined Synox on the same day he as a site supervisor and I as Mr. Collins's personal assistant almost a year back. We never interacted much then yet always felt a spark when he was around. But our equations changed completely once I got married to Mr. Collins.

"Xavier you can always get them signed by Ayla besides I trust you with your decisions..I am sure you will make Synox proud", he patted on his shoulder encouragingly. Xavier hissed in pain purposely and Mr. Collins alarmed to take note of his injuries on his hand and his jaw.

My heart shuddered as he began enquiring Xavier and he passed all threatening looks to me. He was one vile and cunning fellow, he knew how to twist the old man on his fingers and under the given situation I would definitely be the scapegoat if Xavier opened up.

"Umm actually he got into a brawl with some street side rogues last night", I tried to cover up mincing a tiny bite on the apple slice. Mr. Collins looked at Xavier for confirmation and he nodded modestly after getting two pleading looks from me. However he loved bugging me.

"But sir I think they were not just random rogues...I mean", he suggested in a warning tone. I would be in deep s**t if he blurted out the truth.

"Yeah he has suffered pretty bad injuries..Mr. Collins did you see the one on his chest", I made the swiftest move and relaxed back on my chair. Xavier's face stiffened as Mr. Collins tried to feel his injury over the shirt with his fingers trailing over his shirt ever so lightly. I chuckled crookedly looking at Xavier's uneasiness. It was actually a treat to watch him like that but before I could enjoy the treat my phone buzzed. My face went pale in a blink to see the number I was trying to call last night flash on my display screen.

"Ayla how many times I have told you not to use phones on dining table", Mr Collins reminded me somewhat irritably.

"I am..I am sorry..please excuse me", I hurried out of there before Xavier could read the panic written on my face.

***

"You moron why the hell are you calling me now?", I blasted as soon as I reached a lone corner and answered the call.

"Madam we are yet to receive the payment for our task", the man from the other side demanded.

"Wow..you want money for an unfinished task...is that how you hurt him?", I erupted again clenching my fist then realized that I sounded more concerned than miffed so I rephrased, "I..I mean he is hardly hurt and on top of that he knows I was behind this..couldn't guys just plan it properly ", I cussed Victor for suggesting me such foolish set of people for a petty work.

"Listen Madam we did what you wanted us to do..now if he is smarter then we have nothing to do about it..you better give us our money or else"

"Or else ?? are you trying to threaten me??...Go and talk to your stupid broker Victor...useless bunch of fools", I swore on him twice and cut the call. Men were nothing but unproductive and useless. I felt someone giggle behind my back. I turned with a jerk to find Xavier now trying hard to control his laughter.

"So now your plans double back fired", he taunted amidst laughing, "Don't worry they will keep bugging you till you pay them or you never know they might just turn against you as well", he said in a low warning tone. I wouldn't be amazed to know that he turned those men against me. He just loved to see me caught up in these kinds of situations.

I pursed my annoyance, "Move", I tried to push him off me but rather he dragged me with him to the garden, "What the hell is wrong with you Xavier? Everyone is around... leave me", I tried to make him aware and free myself but he hardly paid heed.

"Should I care?", his thumb trailed over my lips that had dared to laugh at him. He loved to see me submissive to him. I didn't know if it was his nature or was just me. I tried to get his hand off my face and that bothered him, "I just needed to open my mouth and you would have been thrown out of the house", he reminded me my limits which he never bothered before crossing. But he was quite capable of doing that and Mr. Collins's growing fondness of him added to my troubles. He inched closer and I pushed him again.

"Xavier get off me I said", I pushed him and got out of his grip when my eyes fell on Mr. Collins who was watching us from the window above and he didn't look very pleased. Xavier looked at him and heaved helplessly and I fidgeted nervously. We quickly got out of there before anyone else saw us.

***

Xavier left for the site and I reached the office. Synox's office was growing busier. We were gripping in for the State land auction happening in Dehradun. A team worked on jotting the properties we needed evaluating their pros and cons. I too did my bit of homework as I would be representing Synox for the auction.

"Ma'm Mr. Bansal's wife wants to meet you", Navya my personal assistant popped her head in and informed me.

I looked at her for a whole minute. Even Navya knew I wasn't keen on emotional drama but still waited for my nod, "Send her in", I huffed and got back to the file in front of me.

Navya came in with the lady after 2 minutes clasping the hand of her 10 year old son and as soon as she saw me she went on her knees, "Please Madam I beg you please take my husband back...we will starve to death if he loses this job"

And there it went, this was what I was dreading and it happened so, "I didn't fire him to hire him back", I stated wryly.

"Please Madam have mercy on us...this job is the only source of income for the family", she cried folding her hands

"I think he is being compensated enough till he finds another job...we don't require his services and I am very clear about that", I made sure that I was in no mood to change my decision.

She tried to beg further trying to use her son as the shield but I kept firm and asked Navya to direct them out. Navya looked a little nervous but she knew I didn't like fussing so got them out of there. I had completely forgotten to talk to Victor regarding those morons. Victor was our lower end business partner Mr. Mohit Saxena's incapable brat son. He was another addition to the bandwagon worthless men but came in handy when I needed him for petty works. Initially he tried to flirt with me even but soon he realized I wasn't his cup of tea. I took the phone and called him.

***

Late in the evening in my room I mean bathroom.

I was having a hot water bath after the long tiring day at work when I heard loud knocks on the door.

"Ayla come out I said", Xavier banged the door incessantly. He wasn't this restless usually, I wouldn't have bothered otherwise but his loud bangs were sort of annoying. I came out tying my bathrobe to see Xavier pacing in the room like a mad bull.

"What is it?", I asked recklessly paying least attention to his soaring temper.

"Why did you fire Mr. Bansal?...he is one of the most trusted employees at Synox", he was cut to the point.

Okay so that was the reason behind his enraged behavior. He was usually at the sites and probably came to know about it pretty late and how was it possible he would rest without questioning me after all he was the self proclaimed godfather of the employees at Synox. I ignored him and walked to the dressing table and sized my wet hair neatly.

"Are you going to answer me...why did you fire him?? Dammit!!!", he roared again

I hushed him to keep it low. Even though Mr. Collins was down stairs but Xavier's raising voice was not very far from reaching his ears. He had already seen us doing a tussle in the morning and again a tiff that too at night wouldn't go down well with him.

"You are right... employee..he was an employee and I am the boss..I can throw him out if I want", I replied lazily applying the lotion on my hands. Xavier's patience was tested enough. He grabbed my arms and pulled me out of the chair to dash against his chest. I could see the wild fury in his eyes.

"I exactly knew how and what made you the boss", he accused with vile detest in his eyes. His raw piercing words pricked me to no end. I knew he hated me when he came to know I was marrying Mr. Collins but I was unsure if it was just jealousy or something more. But nonetheless I wasn't there to take his eccentric allegations.

"How dare you?", I raised my hand to slap him but he caught it in the nick of time and twisted behind my back and pulled me to his chest ruthlessly. I cried out in pain but he didn't leave me

"Huh!! Look at the boss struggling to free herself from the EMPLOYEE", he mocked maintaining his violent grip on me.

"Xavier leave me I said", I protested with whatever I could. He waited for me to mellow down but I wasn't one of those chicks who were easy.

"Beg me", he suggested with a shameless scowl.

"What?? in your dreams", I slapped his chest with my free hand scratching him all over and accidentally hit his injury.

"Ouch" Xavier winced in pain and immediately left me. My eyes widened to see him like that and I took a step towards him but then stopped. I part of my mind screamed loud that he deserved it for being harsh on me but the softer wanted to ensure if he was fine.

I was a little hesitant but I started again, "No..Now you know how you should behave with your boss?"

"Really??", he clenched his jaws together and rummaged to me and before I could save myself he fisted a handful of my hair and pulled me in for a ruthless kiss. He bit my lower lip to gain access and almost engulfed me in his roughness. He was so blatant and over powering that I was bound to submit. I clasped his shirt unable to cope with his intensity. His head rocked against mine as he deepened the kiss and then suddenly pushed me back with a jerk. I panted severely to catch up with the breath. Just a kiss from him was enough to drain out all my energy but I hated when he stopped at just that. I waited for him to do more but he looked severely pissed with me, even the kiss was more of a punishment for loud mouthing with him. He didn't move an inch closer or far neither gave me any hint of what was coming next and so I instigated him to react.

"You have no right to kiss me... should I remind you what are you here for?", I dared him and his furious look on me intensified more, "you are just an employee..you work for me and get paid for that..you remember your deal right??...You are here to just f*ck me till I get pregnant...you have no right on me beyond that", I hit his last ounce of patience.

I could see a wave of wild rage swim through his eyes. He hated to be reminded that and it pinched him more every time I pointed it out to him.

He stepped closer and grabbed me once again, "Fine so be it", he whisked me in his arms forcefully and tossed me on the bed.

He was so rough on me, at times he almost forgot that I am human being and not a stuffed pillow that he could toss and twirl on the bed. I lied on the bed breathing heavily in anticipation. He inched closer with slow dragging steps unbuttoning his shirt without breaking the gaze on me. I could still sense the anger in him; he was going to be very hard on me tonight and his lazy moves were a hint to it.

"Xavier..I am still down", I tried to sound reasonable. I was sure he wouldn't stop but at least he could be a little less harsh on me.

"That worked yesterday not tonight", he did the last button of his shirt and peeled it off his body.

His perfectly chiseled body was nothing less than a treat..ohh!! did I forget the H I mean a threat. He climbed the bed and crawled onto me in slow motion.

"Will you do the honors or should I?", he proposed in his seductive husky voice eyeing at the knot of my bathrobe. I breathed heavily at his classy advances, I needed to borrow two more nostrils to help me drag enough oxygen to keep me going. Honestly the bathrobe did hardly anything to hide my assets, my bare thighs and over exposed cleavage were nothing less than a invitation to him. I gaped at him nervously, who would believe that the ruthless boss in Synox was nothing more than a meek cat on bed at least on this occasion. I knew well if I protested he would be even more sordid.

I fiddled with the knot while he swiftly pulled his trousers down. He came of me in a whiff.

"You waste so much time and this is why I don't warn you"

I was still trying to comprehend his words without realizing that he had promptly placed himself in between my legs and before I registered, I felt an upward thrust and he was inside me. I gasped the very moment clutching his shoulders. Amidst all the fight and tension this was sheer pleasure, I moaned louder wanting to be silenced with a kiss but he troubled more as he hauled in and out.

I never knew being this close to a man could be this satisfying. I had always hated it but Xavier made me crave for more. There was something charismatic in him for sure that calmed me down serenely. I looked into his eyes his anger had reduced and his movement vouched for that. He didn't stop though but had slowed down. It was hard to decipher we were just having s*x or making love. However I never knew how it felt like making love may be something like what I felt now.

I so wanted him to kiss me now but he was adamant enough to not give in. It was his way of torturing me, after having several similar encounters he was well aware that I needed to kissed incessantly during the process to with hold the massive penetration. I never understood how he had so much of self control in the most palpable situations but he was one man who could make me lose it under any given circumstance not that I would admit it to him.

I had my tricks to make him do things. I gathered all that I had in me to blurt, "This was fine but you have no right to kiss me okay", I spoke in a whisper. A crooked smirk played on his lips as he caught what I was trying to do.

"Don't worry I won't kiss you", he replied annoyingly still maintaining his slow strokes. His hard headed behavior was getting on my nerves now. I raised my head and scratched my teeth over his neck and he flinched irritably digging his nails on my hips and pulling it closer to his. He poured in himself to the deepest corners and it was beyond my capacity now. I left his shoulder and grabbed his head and initiated the kiss and as expected he didn't respond, I fisted his hair harshly and deepened the kiss and finally he responded this time. No sooner he pulled out and collapsed by my side. Both of us tried to catch up with our breaths panting heavily .

It was strange we actually made out with my robe still on me. He had his ways and they were unique. He lied beside me without touching me let alone hug but that was again too much to ask for. I wondered why I was expecting anything out of him when it was just a deal for him, a dirty deal between him and Mr. Collins. Deals had been the word for me off late; it was business and give and take everywhere. Emotions and feelings hardly mattered and thank god for that. I mean they were capable of screwing the best of deals in the world. I was in one with Mr. Collins and he was in another with Xavier.

Strangely Xavier and I comprised the two ends of the deal but then we didn't have any pact with each other and I hoped we never needed to have one. I would have probably fallen in love with this man if I was leading a different life. He was everything that a girl could ask for but somehow I drew the worst out of him.

I looked at Xavier sideways, he had slept off already. At times I envied him for sleeping so peacefully whereas I would spend entire nights counting seconds but he made sleep easier. I just needed to wrap myself in his embrace. I don't know why today I wanted a little bit extra I draped his hand on my waist and buried my face into his chest.

They are not in love not yet or may be they are with a sublime stroke and dont want to admit it. It is mostly about physical tension and intimacy now but what will happen when the baby comes into the picture? When Ayla gets pregnant with Xavier's baby? Will he be able to forego the deal and hold onto the baby or would just stick to the deal. How will Ayla react? coz right now she doesn't seem to be emotionally drawn into something..she wants to run away or keep herself far away from the emotions. Will they ever be able to find love in each other? Wait for more to unfold.