Not By His Wealth

This man isn't going to bully me into returning to work for him. Not I would not be tempted. Not by his wealth and not by the deep desire I have to turn to him, unbutton his shirt and run my palms over his chest.

Good Lord, isn't an AC in this car? I am burning up. The car comes to a stop outside and I realize Maria's car is in the half-opened garage. Drat! If only I had waited and allowed my friend to get the groceries instead.

But what would that have changed? Nothing. One way or another he would have found me. If he had travelled all this way to Birmingham, nothing would have prevented him from finding me.

I push the car door open as soon as the car comes to a stop at the porch. The trunk is popped and I go to retrieve my groceries. James is there ahead of me, already having most of the bags.

"I can manage," I tell him. "You can go back to where you're coming from."

"You'd like that, wouldn't you?"

He finally speaks! He walks ahead of me towards the house bold as you please. I trail after him with the two bags clutched in my hands. I peer at the two men sitting at the front of the car.

Are they just going to sit there and wait? That means James couldn't be planning on staying, is he? Foolish girl, why would he be staying? The man is here only for you to squirm a bit. He cares nothing about you or are you forgetting the way he treats you?

"Wait!" I call after James but he waltzes through the front door of the house as if he owns the place. Really! The man's conceit has to be legendary. I hurry after him, not wanting him to scare my friend with his unexpected presence.

"James, you can't just walk into my home," I begin to chide him but then Maria walks in from the back door and my heart sinks.

"Mr. James, you've found her," she says with a smile. "I was afraid you might miss her."

"Wait a minute," I respond to her. "You knew he was coming and told him where I was?"

She walks into the kitchen after James and I have to do the same. What in the world is going on?

"Of course, I didn't know he was coming," Maria replies. "As soon as you left Mr. James shows up and introduces himself. He's such a nice man."

"Nice?" I exclaim, looking from a smirking James to her contented face. Doesn't she see that smirk that he is wearing?

"Yes, he's a very nice man," she continues, then scolds me. "While you've been very rude dear. I can't believe you ran out on your job like that without even two weeks' notice.

That's not very professional of you, Emmy. And when he's just taken over the company too and needs someone familiar to work with him."

My mouth falls open in astonishment and I would have dropped the grocery bags, hadn't James reached out and taken them from me. Just what lies has he been feeding Maria for her to be taking his side instead of mine?

"He and I cannot see eye to eye," I tell her. "It's in both our interest for me to quit."

"But the way you did it dearly," she insists.

"Did he tell you—"

"Emmy, don't bore your friend with unnecessary details," James interrupts me. "I'm sure whatever problem you have working for me, all we need to do is to sit and talk it out and you'll realize I'm not such an unreasonable man after all."

"There's nothing for us to talk about," I respond in a waspish tone.

"Emmy!" she continues her scolding. "Now that's no way to talk to your boss. It would do you well to be grateful he's still trying to let you keep your job given the way you are acting all insubordinate. This is your boss!"

"you don't know him!" I protest for all the good it is doing me. The man has weaved some sort of spell over her and she refuses to listen to a word I am saying.

"I forgot to put some items on that list," she remarks. "I'll run on down to Walmart and pick them up. Also, give you two some time to talk."

I begin to panic, wanting to ask her not to leave me here with him but that's rather childish.

"Thanks for being so understanding, Maria." James smiles fondly at her.

"Emmy, don't forget what we talked about this morning," she comments before walking out.

What did we talk about this morning? How does that relate to James? We had spoken about relationships and the only relationship I want with James is the one where he is my ex-employer. Nothing more.

The front door closes, announcing Maria's departure. My whole body is rigid, ready to flee as I become conscious that I am now alone with James. I want to run after her, jump into her car with her and drive away.

Away from James and the confusing things he makes me feel for him. Even at this minute, I am furious at him but can't help feeling a little excited at the thought that could she be right?

Is James attracted to me and I am not reading his mixed signals right? I couldn't believe that. I sense nothing from this man but contempt for me. Why make the life of someone you are attracted to a living hell?

"You ran out on me," he says in a steely voice. "You thought I wouldn't know what you were up to?"

"I didn't run out on you," I refute his claim. "I resigned. You have my resignation letter on your desk to prove it."

"You're forgetting something Emmy. I didn't approve your resignation letter."

"I don't give a rat's ass if you do. Threaten me all you want, I won't let you intimidate me."

With one long stride he has me cornered, the imposing wall of his chest to my front and the kitchen sink to my back. I think about running to the left or right but he places his hands firmly on the countertop on either side of me, trapping me within the imposing box of his masculinity.

"You've not begun to see intimidation yet, baby," he hisses at me and my belly bottom drops at the term of endearment. But the way he says it, is unflattering. "I get you not showing up for work but why leave your apartment? Why leave your city and run halfway across the country? Are we playing Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf?"

He does seem like the Big Bad Wolf right this minute the way he is staring at me like he is going to snap my head off my body.

"I- I wanted to see my friend," I respond, licking my lip nervously. He is too close and I am not sure how much longer I could manage to breathe with him so close to me. We are almost chest to chest.

"You're lying. Honesty isn't your strong suit, is it Emmy?"

I confirm his prognosis by blushing bright red.

"By the way you should know Emmy, anywhere you go I'll find you," he threatens in a quiet voice. "It might not be as quickly as I found you today because you were dumb enough to leave your computer screen up with your flight information on it.

But even if it takes me a whole damn year, if you run to the ends of the earth, I'll find you and bring you back."

Fear runs through me and I shudder. I would think he is joking but the look in his eyes says he is dead serious. His face is hard and unreadable.

I snap and push hard against his chest. "You're insane. Please go away."

He takes both my hands in his and holds them to his chest. "Be honest with yourself Emmy. You don't really want me to go away, do you? There was a part of you waiting for me to find you, wasn't there?

Weren't you disappointed for the last couple of days when I didn't call you and demand you return to your job?"

I swallow hard and try to pull my hands out of his but he isn't about to let that happen. Suddenly he lets go and I feel disappointed but before I could register why I feel that way, he takes my face between his hands and his lips claim mine.

The touch of his lips against mine is unlike anything I've ever felt. His lips are softer than they seem when you look at them. They cling to mine, sucking on my bottom lip, teasing my mouth open. On a gasp, I involuntarily part my lips and he plunges his tongue into my mouth.