Beyond Love

Chapter 2

Beep! Beep! Beep!

The sound of my alarm jolted me awake. I found myself tangled in the sheets and covered in sweat. What kind of dream was that? Am I that sexually frustrated?

What time is it? I muttered to myself. I sat up and checked the time on my phone.

Oh s**t! I’m late for work.

I’ve been having those dreams about Claude Jamieson ever since I saw him in the movie Forbidden Love. And somehow Tori always show up and would never leave. But for the moment we had together it was blissful.

I slipped out of bed and felt my nightgown stuck to my skin. I entered the bathroom and jumped into the shower and let the warm water spray on my body. I washed my hair with my new chocolate fragrance shampoo. I then got out of the shower and brushed my teeth and went over to the kitchen and brewed myself a cup of coffee. With an apple from the fridge and a toast covered in strawberry jam, I satisfied my rumbling tummy.

I went over to my closet and picked out an outfit. I finally decided on a thigh-high blue dress that gently hugs my curves. I chose my favorite pair of shoes, a blue suede high heel pumps. These shoes would even give Lady Gaga and Nikki Minaj a nosebleed. I quickly pulled my brown hair into a tight bun and added a little makeup. I glanced at my reflection one last time and grabbed my bag and head through the door. I checked my phone for the address of the new company my boss was sending me to.

 It was the studio of the new movie coming out. When I heard I was very excited, but Tori squealed for an hour and talked for another two or more hours. I swear that girl never shuts up but she's still my only friend. After tremendous efforts I finally got her to stop talking, but her enthusiasm was contagious as I could feel my heart pounding in my chest with excitement.

 I stopped a taxi and in ten minutes the taxi pulled up at the studio. I entered the studio and was amazed at the place.

"Risa you’re late.” I heard Tori exclaimed as she approached me slowly. She’s my friend but she has a talking problem, but I love her for it. She was there for me when I needed it the most. Her last boyfriend was a joke though. They had a date and he claimed that she talked too much and left her at the restaurant. He also made sure to eat first and left her with the bill. She cried for hours on my shoulders, and I shed a few tears too. Tori was a beautiful girl, so she had the boys lining up to date her. She had long slender legs and a tiny waist and her long golden drapes her shoulders. Her eyes were bold and plump lips, so the guys were automatically drawn to her. We met in high school, she was the popular girl everyone loved, and I was the book nerd the wore oversized clothes and ponytails. Tori’s not the nicest person in the world but no matter what she did I always forgave her, I guess it’s because I was glad that someone like her would want to be friends with me.

"I get to work with an actor! Hopefully I get a promotion so I can work up close and personal with him." she squealed.

"Work for and actor. Who will it be?” I asked

as I instinctively rolled my eyes.

"I don't know but I hope he's cute and hot

," she replied.

"I thought Joseph Morgan was your dream husband."

 I rebutted.

," she answered as she pulled out her compact mirror and quickly checking her reflection.

"I’m keeping my options open

"Well this is a once in a lifetime opportunity," I responded with my eyes not leaving the door.

I walked into the office and my jaws drop open. There he stood, with his golden blonde messy hair and dashing blue eyes, unique chin, and Cheshire cat smile. He wore a white shirt with the sleeves to his elbows and freshly pressed black pants and a pair of black shoes. My eyes traveled back up and our gaze locked. He then approached me, and I swear my heart somersaulted. My usual nonchalant expression faded as I yearned for him. I recognized him instantly, he was Claude Jamieson. Everybody knows him, he’s on every channel. He’s the center of attention in the studio.

"Hey, I’m Claude. Claude Jamieson.” He said with an arm outstretched and his smile widen revealing his perfect set of white teeth. There he was the man I have been fantasizing about for so long.

"The Claude Jamieson, I know who you are, everyone knows who you are. I’m Risa Parker.”  I replied shaking his hand with a toothy grin and praying that nothing was stuck in my teeth. As our hands connected I felt electricity run through my body. It was amazing. There was nothing professional about the way my body was reacting to him.

“You must be the new business advisor. It’s nice to meet you.” He said, his deep eyes staring into me as if reading my desires.

"Likewise. Are you an actor here now?” I asked

"That too, however, I own the place. I'm retired from acting, I want to try something new." He said calmly with his eyes never leaving mine.

"Oh, this is my friend Tori and she will also be working here," I replied as I tried to break the diamond tough tension between us.

"Nice meeting you." She replied

"Nice to meet you too, the pleasure is all mine. I look forward to working with you ladies." He said as he shook her hands and I could see her battering her eyelashes.

"Oh. Well, we must get back to work.” I said lamely. 

Ok. I’ll see you around then. He then winked and walked off. With that wink, my heart melted, and my legs turned to jelly. For an instant, I started to believe in love at first sight. I thought that he was simply just into me, I meant we (with Tori tagging along) but I was dead wrong. He was just being kind, after all, he was greeting and introducing himself to everyone. 

Tori tugged me roughly to the side.

“What’s going on?” I asked as I steadied myself.

"Why did you just do that?" She asked.

“What are you talking about?” I countered.

"You were flirting." She replied in an accusing tone.

"Is that against the rules of the workplace to be nice to your boss? And weren't you flirting with him?" I spat back.

“This isn’t about me. I saw you!!" she rebutted.

"No, I wasn't, I was just trying to be polite. There's a difference between the two." I answered as I folded my arms against my chest.

"You were the one giving him the shy smile and tucking the hair behind your ear."

"I need to get to work, I'm not having this conversation with you," I answered as I bit down on my lower lip.

"Just remember you have a boyfriend. And Luke is the jealous type." She mumbled as she tossed her blonde hair over her shoulders.

"I know that. And I'm not interested in throwing myself at my boss that I just met. I do care about what goes between my legs, wish I could say the same about you."

"Why do you have a problem? I'm single remember

," she answered with a cocky attitude.

"What about the guy you were seeing?" I asked curiously.

"Are we seriously discussing this now?" I asked.

She'll probably get nude and hide in his car tonight, it's a high school habit. Tori spun on her heels and stormed away. I felt like someone place chains around my heart and yanked on it.

I sat at my desk staring at pieces of the ensemble trying to add the finishing accessories to it. I decided on a red halter top, body-hugging dress. The material itself felt like satin and silk so I liked it immediately. It was gorgeous especially with the gold belt that was complimented it perfectly. I then paired them with a pair of red pumps with gold heels, a simple gold necklace and a bracelet with a red corsage rose on top. I then turned to the actress and showed it to her. She squealed and hugged me tightly.

Make sure they do your nails red to match, OK?”

"Yea, thanks," she replied happily and went to get ready. I collapsed into the chair releasing a heavy sigh. 

"Hard at work, I see." I turned to see Claude staring at me with those gorgeous blue eyes.

"Just doing my job. Wouldn't want to get fired on the first day for slacking off.” I replied trying to pull my gaze away but couldn’t.

"And doing it perfectly I see." He replied, and I couldn't help it but smile.

Suddenly my cellphone rang. I excused myself and answered the call. It was Like my boyfriend. The call was short, but he wanted to see me tonight. And I agreed.

I then returned to my attention to the conversation with my boss.