Substitute (4 page)

Joe’s was a little Italian café close to the office. Alexia was whisked along at a cracking pace by Romy and found herself propelled into the corner of the snug little eatery, almost breathless.

‘Right!’ said Romy, rolling up her sleeves. ‘Time for some lessons in office totty.’

‘Romy, please …!’ Alexia’s eyes darted around the room; she was terrified they’d be overheard.

‘I’m not listening. Right, then … Tony is gorgeous, we know this, and there are quite a few shaggable guys in there. I should know, I’ve had two of them. But most of them are fussy beggars because they get loads of women round them at press events. That shouldn’t worry you as they
all
want to get in
your
pants!’

‘What? Don’t be silly! They’re not interested in me. They’re really cool towards me. They don’t like me.’

‘Exactly!’

‘What?’

‘You’re the untouchable one, but they all want you. It’s easy to check them out. When they’re being cold, just see what’s going on in their pants. And when they think you aren’t looking, just look back quickly as you walk away and you’ll catch them ogling. You have to pay more attention to the signals.’

‘That’s ridiculous!’

‘I know what I’m talking about. I can see I am going to have to be your new governess and give you a thorough education in men. And as for Tony – he’s gagging for you!’ Romy took an enormous bite of the sandwich that had just arrived. Mayonnaise squirted out onto her lip as if to emphasise the point.

Alexia flushed again and felt wetness in her panties. She wanted to squirm. That ache seemed to have been there since last week, since last Friday night at the party – all weekend, in fact.

But Romy hadn’t finished. ‘And then there’s
la balena bianca
!’

‘The what?’

Romy’s family was Italian, and she usually broke into her mother tongue when she was being particularly naughty or needed a damned good swear.

‘The white whale, of course. Mister – drum roll, please – Naaaathan Fallon.’

‘Oh stop it!’ said Alexia, nibbling half-heartedly at her own sandwich.

‘Look, I’m his PA,’ said Romy. ‘And he asked about you this morning.

Alexia nearly choked on her bread. Romy knew she’d dropped a bombshell and was playing innocently with the spoon in her coffee, stirring in a slow, suggestive circle, the tiniest trace of a smile dancing on her red-painted lips.

‘What do you mean he asked about me?’ Alexia was panicked.

‘He just asked who the new girl was.’ Romy feigned an innocent air. ‘He doesn’t normally ask when we get someone junior in; he’s too busy to care about staff who come and go. You obviously made quite an impression.’

‘Oh God, that’s what I was afraid of!’

Alexia felt miserable again. She kept seeing his face glowering at her. The face that looked out at her from her laptop screen – dark, unforgiving.

‘Hey, don’t panic,’ said Romy. ‘He didn’t look cross, just …’

She didn’t finish her sentence but sat thinking about it for a moment, keeping Alexia waiting, playing to see if she’d reveal an interest in him.

‘What? What? He looked what?’ pleaded Alexia.

‘Hm, and you’re not interested in him?’ Romy smiled knowingly.

Alexia flushed.

Romy was pleased with herself. ‘He looked
intrigued
.’ She let the word hang in the air for a moment, floating like a parcel full of possibilities and secrets. ‘Yes, I’d say intrigued. It was like he couldn’t quite figure out what to make of you.’

Alexia sat staring. Romy went back to drinking her coffee. She’d dropped the stone into the pond and now she was watching the ripples.

But Alexia was sticking to her story. ‘I’m worried about my job.’

‘Hmm!’ Romy was theatrically unconvinced.

‘I am!’ Alexia insisted.

‘Don’t worry, you’ll keep your job.’

Alexia looked relieved. Romy arched an eyebrow.

‘And you can stop all that whale nonsense, he’s my boss and that’s it.’ Alexia pursed her lips.

‘Who happens to be the
one
guy in the office – no, in this whole business – every single woman wants to fuck!’

‘Well, he won’t be fucking me!’ said Alexia, a little too loudly, she realised, when several male customers turned to look at her.

‘Oh God, this just keeps getting worse.’ She sank down into her chair, trying to make herself as small as possible.

‘OK. Well, time for your first lesson in learning about men – properly. Back to the office, and this time you are going to pay close attention to whoever is paying close attention to you.’

They went back to the office in silence. Romy was almost skipping along; Alexia just wanted to go back to bed and pull the covers over her head.

They walked through the double glass doors that greeted any visitors to the agency, past the manicured and identically clad receptionists. As they walked down the corridor to the main office, Nathan emerged from the boardroom. Alexia’s stomach gave such a lurch she felt it was almost audible.

‘Nathan,’ said Romy with theatrical breeziness ‘I don’t think you’ve met Alexia … She’s new.’

Nathan regarded Alexia. His cool glance made her legs feel unsteady. He was probably the most magnetic man she’d ever met. Now she had more time to study him she realised what a presence he had. And there was that aftershave again, subtle but oh so sexy. The smell of it sent her right back to Friday night, standing in the boardroom. He looked at her. She felt a clutching feeling in her cunt. It was almost unbearable.

‘Alexia.’ His professional veneer was perfect as he repeated her name. He put out his hand.

He’s going to pretend we haven’t met, thought Alexia. She wasn’t sure if she was relieved or just very confused. She put out her hand and he grasped it. The warmth and strength of his fingers sent a warm rush up her arm.

‘Hello,’ she said shakily.

He obviously hadn’t told Romy
how
he’d seen her in the office, just that he’d seen her. But Alexia knew that Romy knew, and this pantomime was excruciating.

Romy was still playing hostess. ‘Alexia is also my flatmate.’

‘Indeed,’ said Nathan, releasing Alexia’s hand. She was relieved to be free of his grasp, but slightly bereft also. The energy from the touch of his skin was shocking to her.

‘Well, we’re not quite one big happy family here, but we’re pretty close …’ As he said the last word, he looked directly at her. He certainly hadn’t forgotten Friday’s encounter in the boardroom.

She smiled weakly, wanting the ground to swallow her whole, right then and there.

‘Welcome to the company, Alexia.’ As he repeated her name he inclined his head slightly. It was a small gesture but it induced a huge tug in her loins. Then, suddenly, he was striding away; elegant, tall, confident. Down the corridor, sweeping out through the double doors like a gunslinger from a saloon, and gone.

Alexia let out a pent-up breath, the exhalation one of relief and mortification, mixed equally.

‘Well,’ said Romy breezily. ‘That wasn’t so bad, was it?’

‘I need to sit down.’ Alexia hurried off to the main office.

‘Hey, don’t forget I set you homework. Observation class!’ Romy called after her, laughing as she sauntered away to Nathan’s office.

Back at her desk, Alexia couldn’t collect her thoughts. ‘Welcome to the company,’ he’d said. ‘We’re pretty close!’

Oh God, she thought, he really thinks I’m a tart. And that thought hurt, really hurt. But why? She hardly knew him. Yes she was attracted to him, but then Tony and Richard were both attractive. What was different about Nathan? But he was different. Very different.

She was in a daze, staring at her computer, unseeing. Her head was swimming, her lips felt numb, as if all the blood had drained from her head. She took a deep breath and looked up to orientate herself. But as she did she saw two of the jocks who worked at the company looking at her. They both looked away hurriedly. Alexia blinked. These guys were very good looking; she’d seen the girls flirting with them, trying to catch their attention. Alexia pretended to look back at her screen but she sneaked a look at one of the guys and, sure enough, she saw a small bulge in his pants. She suppressed a small giggle. Did I do that? she thought. Was Romy right?’

She felt a sudden jolt of power. It was a strange feeling, and one she wasn’t used to, especially after so long with Carter. She wanted to know more. Slowly, she got up and walked to the water cooler. She bent over to fetch a cup, but the cup store was empty as she knew it would be; she had seen it from her desk. She had her back to the boys and realised they would have a good view of her behind in her tight pencil skirt. She stood up very suddenly and whirled round.

‘Anyone know where the cups are kept?’ she asked.

One of the guys nearly fell off his chair. They had clearly been transfixed by her rear end. Neither spoke.

‘Oh don’t worry,’ she said, ‘I think they’re in the stationery cupboard.’

She smiled and walked away, suppressing a giggle of disbelief at her boldness and the reaction of the guys.

She left the office, and felt a jolt of pleasure as the door closed behind her, taking her out of sight. She knew their eyes had been on her departing figure. She was wearing borrowed heels from Romy. They were far too high for her, but she’d wanted to look her best today. She’d been a little unsteady on them all day, but now she stalked down the corridor with absolute steadiness. She felt taller and it wasn’t just down to the four-inch stilettos she was balancing on.

The stationery cupboard was tucked away at the back of the building, far away from any office space or people. She found the light switch and went in. There was a large table being stored in the room which made it hard to get at the supplies. She leant over it to reach the cups. She couldn’t quite reach, and had to strain forward.

‘Can I help?’

She wheeled round to see Tony. He’d come in silently and was closing the door behind him.

Alexia couldn’t form a word.

‘I just thought I should say hello properly as we haven’t really been introduced – formally, that is. Tony Schaeffer, at your service.’ He extended a hand.

She looked at it but didn’t move. He didn’t seem to be as wolf-like as he had on Friday night. His smile was warm and seemed genuine. She put out her hand and he took it. It was softer than Nathan’s grip, but his skin was warm and it felt good. He didn’t let go.

‘You’re still holding my hand,’ said Alexia, her eyes never leaving his. He was very pretty; not handsome but pretty. His boyish face was framed by blond curls. He looked like a slightly fallen angel.

‘I know,’ he said quietly. ‘I’d rather not let go.’

He held on to her hand with his right and, with his left hand, he traced up her extended arm until they were standing too close and his fingers rested by her armpit, grazing the side of her breast.

She gasped, but didn’t move; she couldn’t. There was nowhere to go in this tiny space. But then, she didn’t want to move. Her breast was aching with the brushed touch and it wanted more.

‘I’m sorry you saw me with Phillipa on Friday. I’m not always so rough. She likes it like that. You, on the other hand –’ He thought for a moment. ‘I think you deserve to be treated more
gently
, don’t you, Alexia?’

He knew her name. He was speaking softly as if trying to calm a skittish horse. She felt that now familiar spurt of wetness between her legs. His hand slid gently under her right breast and cupped the weight of it. His eyes never left hers; big, blue pools she could dive into. His face was angelic but, now she studied him, his mouth seemed quite cruel; his lips had a curl to them that wasn’t quite in keeping with the rest of his face.

He inched towards her. As he closed the distance between them, he bent his head and brushed his lips against the side of her mouth – not a kiss, but almost. She couldn’t breathe.

‘Very gently,’ he repeated.

He was right up against her now. She could feel his hardness, and she knew what was straining beneath the cloth of his trousers; she’d seen it on Friday. The hand she’d extended to shake his had found itself resting against his chest and he put his hands on the sides of her ribcage. He would be able to feel her breathing hard.

The wetness in her pants was getting warmer and her pussy was aching so much she felt as if her juices would stain her skirt. She wanted to press her pussy against his cock. She could picture it, just as she had seen it days before: rock hard, circumcised, the helmet marble smooth.

But he pulled back and looked at her. She couldn’t read the look in his eyes. Without taking his gaze away from hers he put his hands to work undoing the buttons of her blouse. The fabric was tight around her breasts, which seemed to have swollen, straining the buttons.

He expertly undid the fastenings, travelling down from her collar bone to her waist. Then, with one sudden tug, he lifted the sides of her blouse clear of her skirt, leaving her lacy white bra exposed. The shock of it made her gasp, but she didn’t move; she was transfixed. His gaze travelled down from her eyes.

‘Oh beautiful,’ he breathed. ‘Really magnificent!’

Her chest was heaving as he studied her breasts. The shock of his gaze on her exposed chest terrified and excited her. Carefully, with strong fingers, he teased down the fabric of her bra and lifted each straining breast so it was free of its cup. It made her tits stand even higher and prouder as they rested on top. Her nipples were engorged and pointing straight at him; dark pink, quivering, desperate to be touched. But he wasn’t going to give her what she wanted. He traced his fingers around the orbs of her breasts, leaving the nipples orphaned and unloved, aching for attention.

‘I knew you’d have gorgeous breasts. You look like a girl with really, really beautiful tits. Good enough to eat.’

He bent his head, his tongue escaping his mouth to touch her left nipple almost imperceptibly. It was barely a touch, but it sent a shock wave right through Alexia. She had never felt this kind of electricity in her life. Was it Tony? Or was it the fact that they could be discovered at any moment? She didn’t know why; all she knew was that she didn’t want him to stop.