Office Play: Freaky Geek Series (10 page)

Adam looked at the phone and pressed the account button on it. “And I see here you have a lot of responsibly.”

Jake snickered as he passed by the office. Adam threw him a look. “It could be because of the trip too.”

“That’s right.”

“Let me grab a chair and show you how to use it. It can also be used as a walkie-talkie. That method is preferred when working in the offices. That way, you don’t use up minutes. You can text too, but sometimes it’s just faster to say, ‘Hey, I’m here and need such and such.”

“Very efficient.”

“We try.” He snorted.

He found a chair and pulled it along side her. “Now, this is the button you want to push when you’re in walkie-talkie mode. You see this light. Make sure it’s on. When you release the button it will go off and the other person will respond.

“Real old school.”

“Exactly.”

“The unfortunate things about these phones, is that they eat batteries. So every day before you leave, you charge it. Make sure this light comes on when you stick it in the charger. When you arrive in the morning, it will be off.”

“Great. Do I need to sign anything?”

“You’re beginning to see how things work around here. Yep, you gotta sign your life away before you get a new toy. Go back to your office and I’ll be right there to set this up.”

“See you there.”

When Jeanette got up, he didn’t move. He made it so that there bodies would have to touch. She felt warm and soft against him, which wasn’t hard to do. She was wearing a pick angora sweater. Her perfume was soft too. He wanted to melt in her arms.

She gently pushed him aside, but he continued looking at her. It wasn’t until she left his line of sight, that he snatched up the itinerary from travel and the release forms for the phone.

He stepped into her office about five minutes later. “Look what I got.”

“What?”

He handed her the itinerary.

“Oh you got yours.”

“It’s ours actually. You see, sometimes when a two or more people are trave—”

“What the hell! Did you see this?”

She shoved the paper in his face.

He had some serious explaining to do.

Chapter Eleven

Jeanette couldn’t be seeing this. No, her eyes were deceiving her; wishful thinking on her part. Her mind playing tricks on her. Thinking about Adam all night and all day had her mind acting funny.

That was the only way to justify what she saw.

“Well, do you see it?” She kept the piece of paper in his face, waving it like a flag.

“Like I was saying, if two or more people are traveling together, they put it on one ticket.”

“That’s not what I’m talking about! They have us flying first class, then they have us both staying at the Shangri-La Hotel Paris…oooh wait.” She looked closely at the paper again. Hmm, that was kinda nice, she thought. But then…. “No, no. They have us both in one room. One room! I thought you said they knew what they’re doing.”

“Here, let me see.”

Jeanette watched him as he looked over the paper. He studied it, flipped to the second page, then studied it too. He handed the paper back to her.

“Too late to change now.”

Jeanette’s jaw dropped. “Is that all you have to say?”

He shrugged.

“Adam, we’re in the same room…Shangri-La Hotel Paris! Next to the Ritz, that’s like the next fanciest hotel.”

“Yeah, we have the Eiffel Premier room too. Sweet.”

If he was trying to put on an innocent face, it wasn’t working. He looked nervous, which meant that he knew more about this reservation than he let on.

“Adam, what’s going on?”

“I don’t kno—“

“The hell if you don’t!”

Adam threw down the papers and walked over to close the door. He then came back and stood over her, his arms crossed over his chest. “Did you ever think that maybe travel is playing a little joke on us.”

“No, but I am thinking that you had your hand in this.”

“And if I did. What’s wrong with staying at the Shangri-La Hotel Paris?”

“Nothing. But that’s the problem now, money is going down the drainpipe and we’re supposed to stop it. ‘Our’ room alone, not counting the first class flight, is costing eleven hundred a night.”

“Don’t worry about the price, I’m picking up the difference—.”

“Ah Ha! I knew it. You did have something if not
everything
to do with this.”

“Alright. I did. What of it?”

She couldn’t believe it. He went totally
Perry Mason
on her.  He stood right there in front of her and admitted that he basically lied to her—and he had no shame! “I can’t believe you would do such a thing. Is it that important that you be with me?”

“Yes.”

“You know I can call Sam and have her cancel this whole trip?”

“You could, but you won’t. Your work ethic is too strong. You want to find out about this as much as I do. That’s what you were hired for. Besides, what would you say to Sam? That I did this on purpose? You wouldn’t want to get me in trouble just because you’re scared to be in the same room with me—alone.

“Scared? I’m not scared. I could care less. I…I was saying that there is enough money being wasted around here and just because you want to be near me, you shouldn’t waste anymore. Anyway, aren’t you afraid of the rumor mill?”

“Apparently not as scared as you. Look, I’m just as nervous as you, but it will be fun. Besides, we’ll be away from this office. The Paris group isn’t as nosy.”

In reality, she was frightened to death. It wasn’t the fact that they would be in the most romantic city in the world. They could have been in the trenches of Afghanistan. It was being with
him.
Who knows what kind of wild sex they would be having. She didn’t think she could take it. And would they get
any
work done?

And he had her just where he wanted her too. He knew she wouldn’t dime him out and he counted on that. She didn’t know what ticked her off more, the fact he went behind her back and made these cozy reservations, or that he knew she would shut up about it.

Right now, she couldn’t think straight. She would deal with this when they landed in Paris.

“So, are we going to sit here and fight about this, or act like adults and take the trip and do the work.”

“You don’t see a problem with this do you? Oh course not, what am I saying, you’re the one that connived to get this set up.” Jeanette turned on her laptop and printed out some more purchase orders.

“You act like it’s such a hardship to be with me.” Adam leaned over to her, his face in hers, their noses almost touching. “When we both know you know how sweet it can be.”

Jeanette resisted the urge to slap his face. It was hard, because her hand was shaking, almost itching to make contact with his cheek. But was it to slap him or rub her hands over that strong jaw and swipe her fingers over those sensuous lips?

“You are conceited.”

“No, it’s a fact. Remember I was there that morning.”

She felt her face heat up. Why did he bring that up? She almost had it out of her mind—for at least a few seconds

She couldn’t deny she was attracted to him, and she hated it. She hated spiraling out of control over this man. The first day she laid eyes on him, she saw trouble. The first time he touched her, that cinched it.

No way out. She was his, despite fighting him every step of the way; he was going to make sure it was a losing battle.

But give up, she wouldn’t.

“So you are willing to get called on the carpet with Sam, just to have me in the same room with you?” Jeanette asked cocking her head.

“No question. I don’t know about you, but I find some things worth taking a risk for. Including love.”

For the first time, Jeanette was speechless.

***

Adam was flying by the seat of his pants again. He had no other way to explain the reservations, so he decided to be honest with her. How ironic. He played on the fact she wouldn’t say anything, and he felt like shit for it, but desperate times called for drastic actions. He refused to give up on her and on them. They belonged together, whether she believed it or not.

“Love? You called what we did love?”

“Don’t cheapen it. I’ll admit it was spontaneous and a bit kinky. But you trusted me and you gave in.”

“I did trust you, that’s why I’m so pissed that you pulled this stunt.”

“I’m truly sorry…really. But I didn’t know what else to do. I couldn’t pass on Paris. I mean it was heaven sent.”

Jeanette tilted her head and gave a cynical smirk. “I wouldn’t go that far. Honestly, this is a new low.”

“Would you have agreed to these arrangement, if I asked you?”

She walked to her window and looked out. She sighed. “Probably not.”

“Then I had no choice. I want to be with you Jeanette. And knowing how you feel now, I knew as soon as that plane landed, you would try to get as far away from me as possible.”

“It’s not that I want to get away from you. I just want to slow things down. You have to admit, we’re going ninety miles per hour.”

He walked over to where she stood, coming up close enough to her, to smell her perfume, her hair spray, her bath soap. Anything and everything Jeanette. “Come on Jeanette, why not make the most of it. You’re staying at the Shangri-La Hotel Paris in one of their best suites. You’re in Paris. And you’re with someone I hope you can at least think of as a
very
close friend.”

She turned around and looked up at him. He couldn’t read her face so he didn’t know if that was a good thing.

“I guess you’re right. Damage has been done, so lets make the best of it.”

She made it sound like dental work. But he wasn’t going to push it. She agreed to go along with it, and that he was more than grateful for.

He had a hell of a lot of making up to do and he was probably going to pay for this trip in more ways than one. But as he told her, it was a risk worth taking.

The day was coming to a close. Co-workers came in and out of his office wishing him bon voyage and bring back this that or the other. He stepped out of his office to go to the break room. He needed an afternoon snack to get him through that last two hours of the day. That’s when he saw Renee, Jeanette’s cousin.

He had a brainstorm.

He quickly ran to the break room, inserted his money in the machine and got his candy bar. He nearly jogged to Jeanette’s office.

“Hey Jeanette, I was meaning to ask…oh, I didn’t know you had company.”

“That’s okay, Jeanette said, without looking from her laptop.

“Hi.”

Renee’s smile went from ear to ear. He had a good feeling about her and once again he was going to take a chance on something. “Hello. Always nice seeing you again. Here to keep your cousin company?”

“Yeah, and talking about her trip. I’m taking her to the airport tomorrow morning.” She looked at her watch. “Is the deli still open?”

“Yep,” Jeanette said, checking her own watch. “I was just thinking about them, they have these wonderful fudge cookies. I want to take a couple home.” Jeanette grabbed her purse and dug out her wallet.

“Mmm. Fudge sounds go. I’ll go down and get them. Where are they?” Renee asked, getting up.

“Right by the register.”

“Cool. Be back.”

“I need to make sure my crew can live without me for a week. Call me if you need me.” Adam said, as he was leaving her office.

“K.”

When he saw the coast was clear, he ran down the hall and out the back exit. He caught Renee by the elevator about to get on. “Hold the door!”

“Hey there. Those fudge cookies were sounding good, huh?” Renee chuckled.

“Nah. I need to ask you something. Actually I need to ask you a few things.”

She looked at him with a puzzled look.

“It’s about Jeanette.”

Immediately her eyes lit up and her ear-to-ear smile was back. “Go on.”

Adam took a chance and confided in her. He told her what he did and how he needed to fix things and ultimately get back on more friendly terms before they left Paris.

“I’m surprise she didn’t haul off and belt you one.”

“Me too, and I’m the first to admit, I would have deserved it.”

“The fact that she didn’t is a good thing. I know Jeanette. Don’t think a job would have stopped her from beating you down. Not that she could.”

She looked him up and down. Then smiled again.

“That’s some encouraging news.”

“So what do you need to know?”

They arrived at the deli and got the last six cookies. “Never hurts to have extra.” Renee took a bite out of one of the cookies.

“I need to know Jeanette’s taste, like in clothes, food, movies, plays. Things like that.”

“Ahhh.”

“I would ask her myself, but at this point, she is only tolerating my presence.”

“I understand. Okay, take notes. This is Jeanette 101.”