Because Of Love

“Don’t you have anything to say?” he demanded a little louder, making her flinch.

“I was notified of the meeting just this morning. And right after Mr. DeLuca hung up, I called Henry to let him know.”

“Why didn’t you call me?” he screeched, drawing the attention of those walking by them.

Fabulous! There was nothing Talia hated more than public attention, especially if she was being scolded.

“I did. I even sent a text,” Talia responded with strained patience.

She’d called him right after she’d called Henry to tell him about the meeting. It wasn’t her fault he never picked up, nor was it her fault he didn’t read the text message. He had the habit of never reading texts, playing the old school card of texts being a younglings thing.

Ha! I wonder how that excuse passed with the suits, she thought with a snide inner laugh. But then again, nothing was stopping him from blaming it all on her.

Talia watched as Mr. Perez went stalk still when the bosses passed by them, each one leveling a glare at him. She looked down to hide her smile. The petty side of her was enjoying those new worry lines forming on Perez’s forehead. This was definitely a teachable moment, a lesson to be learned. He’ll definitely be reading his text messages now.

“What’s going on between you and DeLuca?”

Her head went up in surprise. That definitely came out of nowhere. Had he noticed something?

“What?”

With eyes narrowed he asked suggestively, “What did you say to him to make him laugh?”

Yeah, she was definitely not telling him that. She shook her head, her eyes a little wide with false innocence and said, “Nothing.”

Mr. Perez’s eyes narrowed a little more. He didn’t believe her. She didn’t care, but she couldn’t have him spying on her too. The last thing she wanted was anyone finding out about the tension between her and DeLuca.

“I think that’s just his personality. He did laugh, but then went on to make sure Henry would have PTSD.”

The analogy was a tad bit severe, but needed. Also, Talia wouldn’t be surprised if Henry quit after that inquisition. Her nerves were fried just watching and it wasn’t her taking the DeLuca brand shots.

After a moment of pregnant silence, Perez said, “Next time, make sure I answer the phone!” Then he proceeded to stomp past her.

Talia rolled her eyes with a heavy sigh. When were things going to go back to normal? When would she be back to doing her job and not playing spy to a very astute man? Whatever the bosses were trying to do wouldn’t work, not with DeLuca. It was like playing hide and seek in a very well-lit, empty room.

She turned to leave, but right before she took that first step, something stopped her. She felt a shiver run down her back as all her senses became hyper aware. She looked to her left. There was no one there, well no one looking at her. Everyone was busy going their way, talking about the roasting that had just happened in the boardroom. She turned to her right and her breath caught in her throat.

Casually leaning against his open door, arms crossed over his chest, there he was, watching her. Her fingers rolled into her palms as her gaze caught his, steady and deep. Her heart beat a little faster as he stared at her unblinkingly. She wasn’t sure why but there was a pull right at the pit of her stomach, pushing her to close the canyon gap between them and take that first step towards him. With that look in his eye, he was luring her to him like a moth to a flame and all her resistance was quickly breaking down.

One hand lifted from under his crossed arms and he waved her over, calling to her. Without a thought, as if answering a siren’s call, her feet began to move. Placing one foot ahead of the other, the sound of her heels hitting the ceramic floor echoed in her ears, the sound getting louder as she drew nearer to him. Eight steps, within eight steps she was standing right in front of him, every nerve in her body coming awake like a live wire. He stepped to the side; she took the invitation and walked into the office. She heard the door close-no, to be accurate, she felt the door close in her chest. The soft click of the latch vibrated through her.

“Are you in trouble?”

She tightly shut her eyes and held her breath. That voice was way too soft and way too close. He was standing right behind her. She could feel how warm he was. How was that even possible?

“Talia.”

She flinched. Oh yeah, she was definitely in trouble. How in the world was this happening? Why did she feel this way, stuck in a web of emotions she didn’t understand? Her body was responding to unseen signals like dogs do to dog whistles. He hadn’t touched her, he hadn’t even made the slightest suggestion of any kind. Maybe she was imagining things, and if she was, she was in bigger trouble than she was. She needed to get out of there and fast.

“Nothing I can’t handle,” she said, wincing at how scratchy and strangled her voice sounded.

“Aren’t you going to turn around and look at me?”

There it was! The need in his voice made her shiver. He was right there, standing right at her back. She wasn’t imagining things. She wasn’t one of those people that made up relationships in their heads, then turned into stalkers, then destroyed not just her life but the object of her obsession as well. She should be relieved, but she only grew more anxious.

“Talia,” he said louder, more forcefully.

Don’t risk it!

She shook her head telling herself more than him that she wouldn’t. She wouldn’t dare turn around, she just couldn’t look at him. At that point in time, they stood at the precipice of making a huge mistake. She was sure now, more than ever, that the attraction was mutual, and right at that moment the air was too thick with lust for them to not avoid the inevitable. If she turned around now, if she looked at him, if he saw that need she had boiling inside her and she was sure it was reflected in his eyes… she was going to do something or allow him to cross a line they would never be able to go back over.

“Guardami!” he commanded.Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.