The Arrangement (23 page)

‘You
impressed them.’ He patted Lucas on the shoulder. ‘Damn,
you impressed me.’

‘Thank
you, Mr Mills.’

‘I
think we can guarantee that all important negotiations will come
through your office. Keep doing the good work. You will be climbing
the ladder to success in no time at all.’ They reached the
elevator. ‘Why don’t you come for a drink? You earned
it.’ Mr Mills nodded his head in the direction of the function
room. His flabby face continued to wobble for several seconds
afterwards.

‘I
appreciate the offer, Sir, but I really must be getting back to
work.’

Mr
Mills slapped him hard on the back. ‘That is a great attitude,
Lucas.’

‘Thank
you, Sir.’

‘I
wish I had ten more like you.’ And with that Mr Mills walked
away.

Almost
instantly Lucas had his cell phone in his hand. It took several
seconds for the power to switch on. He had left Emma a voice mail,
but had been forced to switch off his phone when he had entered the
briefing room.

Had
she left him a message or tried to call him?

The
phone had no new messages and no missed calls.

He
quickly clicked a few buttons and within a handful of heartbeats he
was ringing her number. He couldn’t understand why she would
quit like that. Had he done something wrong? Had she not enjoyed
their night together? The phone continued to ring, as his thoughts,
doubts and fears continued to grow. The phone rang so much that it
went onto her voice mail.

Lucas
ended the call.

There
was no point leaving any more messages.

There
was only one thing he could do now.

***

Scarlett
tilted her chin back, as another wave rolled by and lifted her feet
off the floor of the ocean. Her arms and legs moved with the elegance
of a drowning dog. Swimming was not her forte. Brandon moved with the
grace of a dolphin, as he disappeared into the waves and came up once
they had passed.

‘Are
you okay?’ he asked.

‘Yes,’
she said, slightly breathlessly.

She
couldn’t remember the last time she had swam out of her depth.

‘You
don’t look okay,’ added Brandon. ‘Maybe we should
go closer to the shore.’

‘No,
I’m fi…’ Scarlett went to press her foot down on
the sand beneath the ocean, only there was no sand to find. She
disappeared beneath the surface and took in a mouthful of disgusting
salt water. Her heart nearly exploded out of her chest with fear, as
she kicked wildly to get her head back up above the waves, but in
that single moment of weightlessness meant she couldn’t tell
which was up and which way was down.

Brandon
grabbed her firmly by the wrist and pulled her up.

Scarlett
broke out of the water like some kind of ancient sea monster. She was
flapping and splashing, rolling and crashing. ‘It’s
okay,’ Brandon spoke softly into her ear, as he hugged her from
behind. ‘I have you.’ He told her.

Scarlett
instantly relaxed at the feel of his touch.

One
strong muscular arm was wrapped around her body. He was holding her
tightly. She could feel his firm muscles pressing up against her
naked back. If that wasn’t enough to make her heart beat faster
then maybe the location of his hand would. She wasn’t sure if
he had done it on purpose or not, but his strong powerful hand was
placed directly upon her breast.

Was
now the wrong time to point out she had sensitive breasts?

He
was squeezing it so hard that she nearly moaned. It would not have
been a moan of pain, but a moan of pleasure.

‘We
are nearly there,’ he told her, as he swam them back into the
shallows.

‘Okay.’

‘And
we are back on solid ground.’

Scarlett
lowered her feet and searched for a solid footing. It was a welcomed
relief to feel the sand between her toes. She stood up straight and
breathed a sigh of relief. The water level was part way up her
stomach. ‘Are you okay?’ he was still holding her tightly
from behind. Scarlett turned her head slightly to find that gorgeous
face practically on her right shoulder. There was only an inch or two
separating their lips. Unconsciously, she found herself looking upon
them. His good looks were intoxicating.

‘I’m
okay,’ she panted. ‘Thank you.’

‘Don’t
worry about it, but how about we stay in the shallows from now on.’

She
laughed. ‘Good idea.’

It
was here that they both exchanged a “look”.

It
was the same type of look they exchanged split seconds before kissing
the other night.

‘Is
this the proper way of saving a drowning person?’ she gestured
to his hand with a nod of her head.

‘It
is my preferred way.’ He smiled that charming smile.

Scarlett
giggled. ‘Do you plan to let me go?’

‘I
have to make sure you are safe first.’

The
feel of his groin pressing up against her ass was making her mind
numb.

She
had to distance herself from him before the temptation grew a little
too much. ‘I think I am safe.’

‘So,
you want me to let you go?’ he asked.

The
real answer was a big fat “no!”

Her
big cheesy smile gave away what she was actually thinking.

***

No
matter how often he glanced up at the clock, time didn’t seem
to be moving any faster. In fact, time seemed to be moving a whole
lot slower than usual. It was really starting to rub Lucas up the
wrong way. He had places to go and people to see. Emma had not
returned any of his calls or replied to any of his messages. He
didn’t know what to think or what to do. He wanted so badly to
head over there, but he didn’t want to raise any suspicion by
disappearing at an unusual hour and then no one knowing where he or
his secretary might be.

It
was nearly four o’clock.

‘Screw
it.’ Lucas pushed back his chair and rushed around his table.

He
had made up his mind.

He
pulled on his coat and chucked all important, semi-important and any
other files that were on his desk into his briefcase. He didn’t
have the time or brain power needed to sort through them. He could do
that later. He headed for the office door when a thought occurred to
him.

He
plucked his cell phone out of his pocket.

His
fingers danced across the keys, as he typed a lightning fast message.
It was short, but sweet and got to the point. A small bleep confirmed
the message had been sent and with that he rushed out of his office.

***

‘Thank
you for today.’ Scarlett was lying on her side upon the beach
towel.

‘I
should be thanking you for your amazing company.’ Brandon was
lying on his side in front of her. The two of them were lying closer
than people that were just “friends” should be lying.
‘Will you be coming back here tomorrow?’

‘Um…’
Scarlett thought about it for a moment.

Should
she really come back here so soon?

What
about her books?

What
would Lucas think if he knew she was seeing another man during the
day?

‘I
might not be able to come tomorrow, I don’t know.’

‘There
is no pressure.’ They exchanged smiled. ‘I just love
spending time with you.’

‘I
know the feeling.’ She couldn’t stop the blush even if
she wanted.

‘We
can do some more swimming next time you come by.’

‘Is
that so you can rescue me and touch my breast again?’

‘Yes,’
admitted Brandon.

Scarlett
giggled. His confidence was so hot.

‘Are
you going to keep pretending you can’t swim so I have to save
you?’

‘Yes.’
A naughty smile split her soft red lips.

The
atmosphere in the air between them was getting naughtier and
naughtier.

Scarlett
let out a sad sigh. ‘I should go or Lucas will wonder where I
am.’

‘Are
you sure? You could come back to mine for coffee.’

Scarlett
raised an eyebrow.

Brandon
laughed out loud. It was a deep laugh that emanated from his core.

‘I
am not trying to be funny. We can hang out and have some coffee.’

‘I
don’t know.’

‘If
I was going to make a move on you I would have already have done it,’
admitted Brandon. ‘Believe me, the thought has crossed my mind
once or ten thousand times. I mean I have the most beautiful woman I
have ever seen lying practically naked beside me, on a beach we have
all to ourselves, and I have already, accidentally, touched up her
boobs.’

He
dropped his eyes towards her chest.

Scarlett
loved the fact that he didn’t care that she could see him
looking.

The
voice of doubt continued to whisper in her ear.

‘I
should really go.’

She
sat up to leave when her cell phone bleeped within her back pack.
Scarlett rummaged inside until she found it hidden away in one of the
side pockets. There was a message from Lucas. It read. “I am
working late tonight. Don’t wait up. Sorry.” It ended
with a line of kisses.

Scarlett
tucked the phone back in her backpack and sighed.

Was
he avoiding her again because of this morning?

She
turned to Brandon and smiled. ‘I think I will stay for that cup
of coffee.’

***

Lucas
knocked firmly on the door. It was the type of knock that showed a
person’s frustration. Many people might consider it a rude
knock done by an impatient person and these people would be right.
Before giving her any sort of real time to reach the door he thumped
his hand against the wooden door again.

The
door opened inwards.

‘Lucas…’
Emma seemed surprised to see him.

Lucas’s
brain suddenly went on vacation.

He
couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

Emma
was gorgeous.

Unconsciously,
he looked her up and down and then down and up again. Emma was
wearing a beautiful summer dress. He couldn’t tell if the dress
was actually beautiful, or if she made it beautiful. Perhaps, it
would have looked ordinary on any other woman. The base of the light
blue dress hung at the level of her knees. The fabric clung to her
slender body and mapped out every single amazing curve that god had
given her. The entire piece was held up by two thin shoulder straps.
His eyes spent a long time admiring her picture perfect cleavage. She
looked like a gift wrapped present.

‘What
are you doing here?’

‘I
came to see you.’ He entered uninvited and marched into her
living room.

The
place was still stacked high with boxes. It didn’t look all
that different from the last time he had come here. Emma seemed to be
living out of the boxes and taking things out only when she needed
them. It didn’t appear like she had attempted to unpack a
single thing.

‘I
didn’t think you would want to see me,’ replied Emma.

‘What
would make you think that?’

‘Lucas,
I seduced you.’ She slumped herself down between a pair of
boxes on her couch. ‘I know it was wrong and I know you are
engaged, but I really like you and that night when we were alone I
couldn’t help myself. I wanted you so badly. I had to have
you.’

‘And
now that you had me, you’re going to quit?’

‘It’s
not like that.’ His words had stabbed her like a knife. ‘I
am crazy about you. I know we haven’t known each other that
long, but I am head over heels crazy about you.’ She dropped
her head into the palms of her hands. ‘I am not a bad person. I
really am not. I know you are engaged and I know you love your
fiancée, but if I continue to work for you I won’t be
able to help myself.’

‘So,
you’re going to quit?’ he sat down on the edge of an
unpacked box.

‘I
have to do what is right.’

‘What
is right for whom?’

‘I
am doing what is right for you.’

‘Did
you ever consider how I might feel?’ he asked her. ‘Did
you ever consider what I might want?’ Emma looked up at him
with a confused expression upon her angelic face. ‘I am engaged
and I do love Scarlett, but that night with you was perhaps the best
night of my life. I can’t stop thinking about you and the
things we did. I know I said it couldn’t happen again, but it
was so amazing.’

Emma
tried to hide it, but her smile shone as bright as the sun.

‘I
don’t know what I want. I have never cheated on Scarlett
before, but I know I don’t want you to quit. I know I want you
in my life. Will you please come and work for me again?’

‘I
can’t. You know what will happen if I do.’

‘Yes.’
Lucas shrugged. ‘From what I remember you liked it a lot.’

Emma’s
split spread even wider. ‘You know I did, but that is not the
point.’

Lucas
spoke over her. ‘The point is I am staying here until you agree
to come back and work for me.’ He reached down and opened up
one of the boxes. ‘And whilst I am here why don’t we
unpack the rest of your stuff.’

***

‘This
is amazing.’ To say Scarlett was in awe was an understatement.

‘I
am glad you like.’ Brandon headed straight into the kitchen.

Scarlett
moved on autopilot into the living room area. She had to walk down
several marble floored steps. The entire ground floor of his home was
one giant room. There were no walls or barriers that sectioned off
different parts of the house. It was literally one giant sized living
room, dining area and kitchen. In the middle of the ground floor was
a stair case that led upstairs.

‘If
you love that, then you will love this.’

Brandon
flicked a switch on the wall.

Suddenly,
all of the long flowing cream coloured curtains, which covered every
inch of the four walls, of the ground floor, began to slide back like
the opening act at a theatre. Scarlett’s jaw nearly collided
with the floor it hung so far open. All four walls were made up
entirely of glass. She walked over to one of the windows and looked
out at the rolling waves of the ocean, as they crashed against the
shore. In some kind of strange zombie state of mind she walked from
the east wall to the west wall, and the west wall to the south wall,
and the south wall to the north wall. No matter what direction she
looked, it was just the most picturesque views of countryside or the
ocean.