Chapter 3 – Changing Faces

Nicole fumbled with the stack of papers in her hands, carefully balancing them so she could pick up the steaming hot mug of coffee she'd made for Stu. Every morning at 9.15am, she'd take it to him. Black with one sugar. Today was no exception; she entered his office with a smile on her face and no expectations on her mind. She just hoped he wouldn't resist when she needed to talk to him in private. She couldn't hide the fact that his wife had accosted her in the parking lot, bribing her to swindle Stu's fortune.

"Here's your coffee." Nicole smiled as she entered Stu's small office, light spilled in from the separated blinds, the early morning sun beaming through the fluffy white clouds that scattered the sky. It was a beautiful day for such a sullen conversation.

Building up to looking at Stu, Nicole felt ridiculous. She was getting carried away with her emotions - that was all. He was just a fling. Just a bit of fun.

"Thank you." His tone was lower than usual, probably matching his mood. Perfect.

"I need to talk with you." Nicole glanced at Stu who had his eyes glued on a piece of paper in his hand.

"Go on." He didn't even look at her, he hardly even acknowledged her presence. She'd thought of taking some of her vacation days she'd built up but had laughed it off, telling herself she was being silly and that things wouldn't be that different.

Nicole clutched the papers in her hands closer to her chest as she said, "Stu, it's actually really important-"

"Mr Bennett." He looked up, eyes dark and intimidating. Her mind spun and flashed back to her first day the company, her first run in with him. He'd been the same that day too. Burly and uncompromising.

"What?" Shocked and a little confused, she felt like the smallest person in the world. It shocked her even more that Stu had made her feel like that. She wanted to go back to yesterday, when he made her weak at knees, all of his focus on her.

"You can call me Mr Bennett."

"Is that really necessary?"

"You tell me." Stu stood up from the table and his gaze darted over her shoulder. "Mr Harris, pleasure to see you again."

Nicole spun around to see Donald Harris being escorted into the room by Claire. The man in his early sixties had his usual light grey three-piece suit on, matched with a ridiculously bright pink tie. His grey hair was combed to one side, aging eyes were still bright though and he gave her a warm smile.

"Nicole, get him a drink and then get back here, I want you taking notes."

Mr Harris laughed and set his briefcase down before getting settled in one of the leather chairs facing Stu's desk. "It's a tight ship you run around here."

Traipsing back to her desk, Nicole dropped the stack of papers down before heading to the staff room to make another coffee. After a few minutes she had the fresh coffee – made exactly how Mr Harris liked it - in one hand and her notepad and pen in the other then returned to the room in silence. She'd walked in on a joke that probably wasn't that funny, but Stu was smiling, creases lining his eyes as he laughed a long with Mr Harris.

"Here you go Mr Harris." She set the coffee down and took her rightful place in the office, which was out of the way in the corner on a plastic chair. Now some of the lust had disappeared, she could finally remember that she hated most of her job. Was Stu really the only thing keeping her there?

Clicking the top of the pen and flicking to a fresh page in the notebook, she jotted down the date and time and started to make notes of the meeting. Nicole rolled her eyes at the changes Mr Harris wanted to make. He wanted money moved here, money moved there. God the old man had too much money – it explained why his new wife was forty years younger than him.

Shuffling on the un-comfiest of seats, Nicole cross one leg over the other garnering the attention of Stu. His intense stare continued as he swept over her legs. She had still dressed to impress Stu – a black pencil skirt stopped just above her knees, a silky red blouse was tucked into it, the sleeves rolled up to her elbows and of course patent black heels on her feet. Just for Stu.

Stu shook his head before turning his attention back to the old man still ranting about the movement of his money. Nicole didn't know if Stu was displeased with her or if he was just having a bad day. She hoped it was the latter. Once the meeting wrapped up, Nicole finalised her notes whilst Stu said goodbye, promising that his request would be dealt with immediately.

Knowing she would have to type up the notes and have them on Stu's desk as soon as possible, Nicole made a hasty retreat towards the door. She didn't want to see any more of Stu's bad mood.

"Stop right there." Stu commanded before she even had her foot out of the office. "Shut the door."

Nicole swallowed hard, before she gently stepped closer to the door and closed it shut. Her heart fluttered and her stomach coiled with lust – she couldn't control it. Stu's presence had an overwhelming effect and when they were alone it only made it worse. Turning around, Nicole gasped in shock, Stu was right there behind her. He took her notepad and pen and threw them onto one of the leather chairs. One big hand settled on her hip, gently rubbing against the silk blouse. Almost stumbling backwards, Stu had her against the door. He said nothing, but his hand reached for her skirt, lifting it up towards the top of her thighs.

Nicole closed her eyes and held her breath. Desperately she wanted to wrap her arms around him, feel his lips on hers. But she couldn't do that. All she could do was let him do whatever he wanted. Thick fingers stroked her thigh, rough, harsh movements over the lace band of her stockings.

"These need to go."

"Right now?" Nicole managed to choke out, but Stu just chuckled.

"These outfits-"

"You like them." Nicole defended herself, remembering exactly what he liked and wanted.

Stu's hand moved higher under her skirt, cupping her backside and giving a light squeeze. His lips were right next to her hear as he replied, "I like them too much, and I only have so much self-control."

"I miss you." Nicole blurted out, feeling her cheeks flush with embarrassment. She hadn't meant to confess that. "I just mean, I thought you were mad at me or something."

Nicole stilled as Stu's lips pressed softly against her cheek. Why was he doing this? Stopping things was his idea, not hers. This was making everything a million times harder, especially with what she still had to tell him. She pressed her hands against his chest in an effort to push him away, but the heat seeping from his body made her hold her hands still, hard muscles moved under her delicate fingers. This was cruel. She wanted him but she couldn't have him.

"Thirteen days. That's all." Stu uttered, his hands leaving her body as he stepped away.

Still with her back pressed against the door, she knew she looked a state. Cheeks red from lust, skirt showing more skin than intended and her chest rising and falling with each deep breath she took. Quickly she pulled her skirt down and stood up straight.

"I still need to talk with you."

"Quickly."

"It's about Joanne." Stu shook his head, a fowl expression clearly settling on his features. Just hearing his wife's name could do that, suddenly she didn't want to be the one to tell him what had happened the night before. "She's out to get you."

"You don't think I already know that." Stu scoffed as he paced the room.

Nicole couldn't quite believe his drastic change in moods but prepared herself for worse as she finally said, "She waited for me last night in the parking lot."

The sharp turn of his head, the narrowing of his eyes, flexing of hands – he was already pissed. Nicole opened her mouth to tell him why, but a knock on the door quickly stopped the conversation dead.

"No' interrupting am ah?" Stephen opened the door and stuck his head around, his gaze darting between the two of them.

"Yes." Nicole blurted out with all intentions of finishing the sore subject before she lost all courage. "I'm sorry Mr Farrelly, I just have an issue that Mr Bennett is helping me out with."

Nicole was sure Stephen knew but decided to just smile politely and hope he left. He nodded once before turning to Stu. "Two minutes." The door banged shut behind him and Nicole felt herself let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding.

"What did she want?" Stu raised an eyebrow, suspicion and anger still dancing vividly behind his green eyes.

Licking her dry lips, Nicole crossed her arm looked Stu dead in the eye as hard as it was to do so. "She wants me to set you up. To put it nicely – seduce you and take your money."


A/N – Thank you Blackhat, boston246, xj0j0x, shakeitsalome, Jenni, charmedbyortonbarrett, ThatGirl54, ANP87, Reddream72, prettybaby69 and VolcomStoneBabe for the amazing reviews. So glad this story is going down well :D! Lou x