Chapter 28

Becca Simmons knew something was bothering her boss. She could not tell for obvious reasons except all feminine intuition told her something weighted heavily on his mind this morning that had not been there yesterday or the day before and before then. Usually whenever he showed up for work he was all jovial with his morning felicitations; today, he had barely made like he noticed her when he strutted past her desk into his office. She had been his secretary for two years and thought she knew him intimately enough to know that he was upset about something.

She ran through several clichéd scenarios on her mind while she went through a final company policy draft he had demanded her to look into a couple days before. Possibly it had to do with family: his son was having issues with school . . . drugs. Nah, sounded way too easy. Only thing that clicked in her mind was it had to do with his wife. That brought crooked warmth to Becca's lips as she continued typing on her computer. This could definitely be the possible opening he had of cracking her boss's exterior to get at him.

She printed out copies of the document when done working on it and stood up from her chair and stretched her limbs. She was twenty-three years old, average height, shoulder-length chestnut hair with long eye lashes and a round face. Her eyes were turquoise and she loved batting her long eye lashes especially to catch the attention of someone such as her boss, Howard McLauren. Her worrisome gripe regarding her body features was that her breasts were not big enough to appear eye catching. Still her push-up bras made a little compensation for that.

She knew it was wrong but she could not hide from her most pressing desire and that was the chance of spending a terrific evening in bed with her boss. The thought had weight on her mind for so long it was surprising she had bided her time waiting for an opportunity to angle a way of grabbing his attention. Not that she had not tried before. She had sent him tempting gifts on his birthday, simple stuff intended to help pass the idea that she was so available.

And still it was wrong.

The thought of fucking her boss was an entirely bad idea. A good thing she had her secret all to herself. Her hand touched her collar while she continued speculating whatever means to apply to successfully nab his attention.

The copy machine made a pinging noise to indicate it was done printing her document. She scooped the printed papers and arranged them into a file folder. She went and knocked on her boss's door before entering.

Howard sat forward at his desk writing on a long note while glancing up at his computer screen. He did not look up to observe Becca approach.

"Here's the new policy document you wanted for your upcoming board meeting," she presented him the folder.

"Uh, oh yeah, that board meeting, how can I ever forget. Just drop it down on my desk. Thank you."

He was still writing away and not looking up at her. Becca did as he wanted and turned to leave but then stopped to note the time on her watch.

"It's soon going to be lunch break. Would you mind if I get you a sandwich and soda?"

Howard was not listening; his face was still buried at his work on his desk.

Howard's door opened and it slammed against the back loud enough for him to finally look up to see his company President and overall boss Steve Ailes shuffle his rotund frame into his office, beaming a wide smile. Howard's air conditioner was in good working condition and yet his boss was sweating as if he just walked out of a sauna. No matter how cold it was, Steve was always sweating. He pulled out a handkerchief from his breast pocket to dab his brow and bald-plate. Howard came from around his desk to shake his hand. Becca stepped backward and made like she was not in the room with them, not like they seemed aware of her presence.

"Morning, Howard," Steve slapped Howard by the shoulder then returned his handkerchief to his pocket. "How's everything going today?"

"Going just fine, Steve." His boss was an affable gent who loved nothing but being on first-name basis with his firm's junior partners. It was not often he left his fifth floor office to walk lower-tier hallways, but when he did, you knew it was something important. In this case, what was important was the presentation Howard had to give to the firm's senior partners in two days.

"How's thing going with your . . ."

"Just fine," Howard answered. "I'm still going through my brief, but we'll be ready."

"That's good to hear. This just might be the leg up you've been looking for. Well, I'm not going to take up your time; just thought I'd drop by and wish you all the best on it."

Howard escorted him out of his office then returned to his desk, his feature resumed its cloudy outlook as before. Becca came forward once again.

"Sir, I said can I get you—"

"Look, I don't care what you want, okay?" he snapped. "Go have your lunch break and leave me alone, please."

Becca, thrown off by his response, lowered her head and left his office. She wore her jacket and threw her purse and office keys into her pocket and was about leaving when her intercom started to buzz. She pressed the answer button and Howard's apologetic voice spoke from it.

"I'm sorry about my manners, Becca," he said. "You're right, a sandwich and a soda will do just fine for me. Even better make it two. Thank you."

"No problem," she replied.

Becca was all smiles as she left the office. She had her lunch at a Starbucks less than a block from the office and while she was there ordered a turkey sandwich, a bag of fries and soda for Howard which she brought back with her office. She knocked at his door and entered his office. He was not behind his desk and her first thought was that he had somehow changed his mind and left on his own for lunch. Then she came further into the office and saw him relaxing on a lounge chair beside his window. He had a lethargic look about himself; Becca felt her heart bleed at the way he slumped on the chair. Whatever crisis he was going on, she intended getting to the bottom of it.

"I brought you these," she took out the turkey sandwich and everything she had purchased out of the paper bag she carried and laid them on a coffee table beside him.

"Thank you. I really appreciate it," he said as he pulled the table towards him.

"I don't mean to pry, but is everything all right?"

Howard took a bite off his sandwich and grunted what seemed like a chuckle. He reached for a napkin to wipe his mouth when he got done swallowing.

"It's no problem," he said. "Just a little . . . it's something you wouldn't understand."

"I'm willing to if you care to let me in on it."

"That's the problem. I might not even know how well to explain it to you, or if really I should. It's more of a private thing really."

"It might help if you get it off your chest," she suggested. "And I promise not to tell anymore," she added

Howard laughed at that. "You're seriously wanting me to trust you with that?"

"I've been your secretary long enough to earn your trust, and I'm not leaving here until you do."

Howard looked at her and there was a curious look in his eyes as if he were just starting to see her under a different light. Becca felt a sense of pride highlight her features. All these months of attempted tries and without much effort she was finally digging into his skin in the best possible way.

Howard was silent for a moment and Becca almost thought she had gone too far with her request until he then said, "Pull up a chair then."

Becca did just that.