03

03

My one opportunity to better my skills and hone in on my abilities. Plus, working at this company was a great start, and the possibilities were endless for my near future. Reese, my direct superior and owner, was a well-respected editor. With her direct recommendation, I could soar to great heights on top of the highest mountain of success.

I quickly got up and ran to the coffeemaker, as my life depended on it. Which it did, if she didn’t get her coffee she turned into a raging monster. Flying off the handle at the littlest mistake and I definitely wanted to spare myself from that monster today. Making Reese’s coffee was always a chore. Getting the right temperature, the right foam, or whatever she wanted, was a pain in my ass.

Just like her. Giant pain in my ass. But I only had a few more weeks and this internship was over. On to bigger and better opportunities !

She found sick enjoyment in sending me back multiple times until I got it just right for her particular taste. Which to me seemed counterproductive, but she was the boss. Nothing I could do to change that. I dreamed of the bright day when I could move on from being an intern to something better. Much better. Somewhere far away from these walls and my persistent crazy ass ex who followed me like a little lost puppy dog everywhere I went.

But Neil’s possessive ass was a different story for a different time.

« Your coffee, Miss Collins, » I said through a fake smile, coming into her office and setting the piping hot cup and saucer on her desk.

Her eyes dripped in annoyance. Directing my attention with a flick of her wrist to her guest, situated in a chair across from her desk. My hair stood on end as I stared at the same tattooed, sexy writer from the night before. Who had humiliated me with one word.

No.

« Aren’t you going to ask Mr. Cole what he wants ? » Reese asked through gritted teeth, rubbing her temples at my slow reaction.

I swallowed hard, his stormy eyes glaring at me again, locking me in place. A spark of recognition igniting within the vast blue of his iris’, a small smile pulling at the corner of his plump lips.

« Black, » he said, his deep voice vibrating through my weak brain. My limbs fell limp at the mere sight of him. Could I move ?

« Right away, Sir, » my shaky voice betrayed my confidence with him. My shaky jelly legs taking me out the door straight to the coffeemaker to collect myself before I went back into the lion’s den.

‘Black coffee… black like his ruthless soul.’ I muttered to myself, as I made my way back through the doorway.

« Your coffee, Mr. Cole, » I softly said, my jitters disappearing for only an instant. Handing him a large, hot coffee cup trying not to spill it all over him.

That’d just be my luck ! Spill hot coffee all over the lucrative writer. Scarring him further, fucking over my career.

My body froze in his memorizing gaze, getting lost in the vastness of his eyes again. Just like the previous night, except I was the one towering over his body. His pink parted lips heaved small breaths through them, turning my brain to mush. My eyes fell straight into their trap, eyeing them like the horny bitch I was. I leaned down, unable to move an inch from the song his storm sang with the turmoil buried deep in his eyes. Like I was truly staring into the windows of his bruised soul.

« It’s C.J., » he said in his deep voice again, taking the coffee from my hands.

Our fingers brushed against each other, for a split second. I swore I could feel the heated spark jolt from our brief touch. My core vibrated from the unfamiliar sensation rocketing through me, searing through my blood like a wildfire, flamed on by him. My fogged over brain secretly craved to touch him again, run my fingers through his brown locks, down his backside, and oh fuck. Stop staring. But I couldn’t pull away, even if I was coherent enough to. I was drunk on his lust. Drunk on the needy look in his eyes and I couldn’t stop myself.

« That will be all, Meyers ! » Reese said again in annoyance, making my body jump, pulling my mind out of the dirty-dirty rabbit’s hole it had spiraled down.

« S—sorry ! » I squeaked again, looking like an incompetent fool in front of C.J. I ran like a runaway bride back to my desk. I wanted to hide my scarlet laced face for the rest of eternity. Hoping the very ground I sat on would swallow me whole like a sinkhole and shield me until he left. How could I face him again ?

I leaned my head against my desk, lightly banging it into the cool metal. What a dummy I am. He must think I’m a blubbering idiot who doesn’t know how to do her job.

Fuck fuck. I grumbled to myself.

I had one new development with him though. He finally fucking talked to me. Even if it was just his name and the words Black coffee, I still got words out of him. That was more than I could say about our experiences with each other. Where he’d casually blow me off with a shoulder shrug or a wave, but today. Today I did it !

I felt oddly accomplished, taking it as a small, but victorious win for all the women in the world who had hoped to speak with him.

My Girls :

‘Me : ‘shit !! C.J. is in the office today ! The man speaks !!’

I nearly squealed typing it out, eyes darting around the office to make sure no one saw me gushing like an idiot over C.J. Cole.

Amanda : Did he finally recognize you ?

Me : Yeah… I think he did, we will see.

Yvette : does he look hot today ? God did us a favor sending him into our lives. Praise Jesus !

Me : When doesn’t he look hot ? (What a stupid question, the man was a walking sex stick on display for every woman to eye fuck.)

Amanda : I need to come down to your department more often. Take pictures ! Lots and lots of pictures !

Me : Oh Shit !.. here he comes.

Yvette : busted.

I shoved my phone back into my desk in a hurry, trying to look innocent. Eyeing him as he walked by my desk with a determination set on his face. His muscles looked strangled in his plain white t-shirt and his jeans clinging to all the right places, leaving my mind to wonder just how big that bulge in his jeans. Wondering what it would be like to sink my French-tipped claws into his shirt and rip it wide open, exposing all the sexy ink he had hidden below. It should be illegal for him to walk around like a sexy, non-talking bastard. Especially in front of me and my overly stimulated brain, because apparently, I needed a less dirty mind and a new pair of panties every time I caught sight of him.