Part 4

Adam went into the office the next morning. Originally Sophie was to work Saturdays as well, tying up business for the week, but she was so quick in finishing her work that Adam had told her a few weeks ago that she didn't need to come in anymore on Saturdays-and he assured her that her pay would remain the same. She had thanked him but Adam hadn't been able to get past her look of disappointment. It wasn't that she would lose money in her pay so Adam dared to hope that it was because she wouldn't see him, that Sophie had enjoyed being with him on those Saturday mornings when he came in to finish up paperwork or have quick meetings with investors and Adam had realized the first Saturday morning that Sophie didn't come in that he missed her. Not only was she pleasant to look at but she was interesting to talk to; she knew about the arts and good books and she was learning quite a bit about the mining business, quite a bit more than many of the investors who came in knew. And Adam always noticed that the men who came in to talk to him always let their eyes follow Sophie as she moved around the office pouring coffee or offering some sweet biscuits. But he would have to parry crude remarks about whether or not he had her easily, if they did the deed on his desk or hers, or how much they would like to have someone like Sophie dangling on the end of their cock.

So Adam sat in the quiet of his office and thought about the day before and how Sophie had looked to him and he sighed and shuddered with the remembered sensations. How he had gotten through the evening at home, Sophie's mouth and eyes, he didn't know. Since he had never before been unfaithful or really seen any woman who was worth his breaking his marriage vows, he worried about how to handle the guilt. He was sure Laura would notice but she didn't. And she seemed almost relieved when he didn't try to persuade her to have sex. And that morning, she had mentioned how well she had slept in case he considered taking her that night.

Adam sighed deeply and opened up the ledger. He pulled out the check stubs and started to balance his debits when there was knock at the office door. He had the door to his office open just for that reason. He walked to the front door and two men were there with a couch.

"You Mr. Cartwright?" one of the men asked.

"Yes. What is this?" Adam was confused.

"We're to deliver this couch this morning. Where do you want it?"

"Wait a minute. I didn't order any couch."

The man pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket, unfolded it and read, "One leather couch and two chairs to be delivered to you. It was ordered yesterday afternoon by a Sophie Chance for delivery to this office. Now where do you want it?"

Then it dawned on Adam. Last week he had suggested to Sophie that he should have a couch and chairs in his office so that when he had more than a few investors, they could sit in a more casual manner and enjoy a glass of brandy. Adam considered declining the delivery but the idea that perhaps the couch might serve in the future for another purpose made him decide to accept the furniture. Just the thought of rolling on top of Sophie on the leather couch made Adam begin to sweat.

"Carry it into the back office." The two men carried the large couch to his office and Adam moved the two wooden chairs and his desk away and indicated for them to place the couch against the wall. Then then brought in the two large stuffed chairs and placed them at angles per his instruction. Adam tipped them generously and they left. Adam ran his hands over the leather. It was soft and rich to the touch and the two arms of the couch swept up and away from the seat like the wings of a large bird. He could almost see Sophie bent over one of the arms, her rounded buttocks raised in an invitation. He shuddered thinking about it. Then he remembered Sophie's hips in her skirts, how they undulated and moved.

"Goddamn idiot—stop thinking about her!" he told himself. He rose to go back to his desk and complete his work. "Back to work. All hot and hard just because a pretty girl with a lush mouth and a tight skirt works for you."

The front door opened as he hadn't locked it and he saw Sophie, a worried expression on her face, come into the office, closing the door behind her.

"Oh, they've already delivered them…" Sophie walked in and stopped just inside Adam's office door. She looked at the furniture. He stood up but said nothing and Sophie became nervous. "I forgot to tell you, Mr. Cartwright, with the dinner invitation and such it went completely out of my head but I ordered these pieces. Mr. Canwell—you know—the man who imports furniture and such, well, he had these pieces on his loading dock and they seemed just perfect for the office—not too feminine or such—no flower designs or pastels or anything like that, and so I told him to deliver them here unless I informed him otherwise—I was afraid someone would buy the pieces before you had the chance to even see them. I mean you had said that it would be nice to have a casual setting where you could entertain investors and such…." Sophie wished Adam would say something but he didn't. "Because of so much going on, I forgot to tell you and get your permission…." Sophie's voice died as Adam was staring at her in an odd way. She stood with her hands clasped in front of her, feeling like a child about to be reprimanded.

"You overstepped, Miss Chance. You had no authority to make purchases on my behalf, especially such an expensive one. Fortunately for you," Adam said, coming from around his desk and stepping closer, "I have the money to pay and I like the pieces but I am tempted to take part of the price from your salary each week." He felt cruel for a reason he didn't understand, and wanted her to feel bad. It was her fault that she was so lovely and so desirable and she should be punished somehow or someway… "Or perhaps I should let you go."

Sophie looked at him wide-eyed, tears starting and Adam suddenly felt like a cad. She deserved to be chastised as she had been presumptuous and exceeded her position as clerk; she didn't even handle the books and had no idea how much money he had going out versus coming in-for all she knew, he could be close to bankruptcy. Fortunately, he was doing well—so well that Adam hesitated to even tell Laura lest she would want a larger house in the finest end of town.

Sophie covered her face with her hands and began to cry. "I'm sorry, Mr. Cartwright! Of course, you're right." She looked at him, her eyes glittering with tears. I was brash and presumptuous—but I only wanted to please you. I only wanted to fulfill your expressed wish. I want you to be happy—to do everything for you—everything to see that you're pleased and comfortable. You seem so….sad all the time."

Adam moved closer; she saw his unhappiness, noticed his restlessness. "Miss Chance….Sophie, please don't. Don't cry. It's fine, the couch and the chairs—they fit in here perfectly. Please…don't cry…" He pulled Sophie to him, to comfort her and with her so close, so soft and the smell of her skin and hair, he tilted up her chin and kissed her fully. Initially she seemed surprised and then she seemed eager and responded with a fervor he had never felt with his wife and his blood sang with desire. He leaned own and swept Sophie up in his arms.

"Yes," she whispered as she kissed his neck. "Yes…oh yes." Adam lay her on the couch and Sophie stretched like an exotic cat as he ran his hands over her. "Oh…I've thought about this, imagined this for so long—so very long," she said. She reached up for him and Adam bent to kiss her and she received him with sighs of delight as she wrapped her arms about him.

Three quarters of an hour later, Adam stood and adjusted his clothing, picking up his discarded trousers and boots from the floor. "I don't suppose after what just happened that Mr. Canwell would take the couch back anyway so we may as well keep it." He grinned at her and Sophie, her mouth swollen with their kissing and looking as if she had just been awakened from a deep sleep, lightly laughed.

"Perhaps this was the reason I purchased it—for us. I do care for you, Mr. Cartwright…Adam. May I call you Adam when we're alone?"

"Sophie…Miss Chance, I…" He pulled on his boots. "I shouldn't have taken advantage of you—I am sorry. Well, not sorry as I did enjoy it but…. I wish you would leave now. I need to consider what just happened." Adam felt guilty although he was surprised that he didn't feel as guilty as he should, as an adulterous man should. "Let me help you up." He reached down and helped her up. Her chemise was open to her waist and before she buttoned it and despite his rational, logical mind telling him to resist Miss Sophie Chance, he slipped one hand inside her chemise and caressed one small, firm breast, then cupped it and kissed its tip. He sighed deeply—what the hell was he doing? "You know I'm married and that I have two children. There can never be anything more between us than this. You need to know that so that you can decide whether or not to put an end to it—to anything between us. If you decide to leave, I will write you a letter of recommendation—this is all my fault and I know that I will have to pay for it—in some way or another. It always works that way—every action has consequences. And no, that's not punishment from some divine power, it's a physical law. But I swear, if you should decide to stay and have only a working relationship, I'll honor it and never lay another hand on you."

Sophie smiled enticingly. "Adam you forget…I'm of a generation that believes in free love with no ties or entanglements. What is marriage anyway? Isn't it rather provincial to expect two people to repress any attraction they may have to one another due to some outdated ritual? I don't expect nor do I want you to leave your wife for me. This is all I want…Adam. Just this. But I do have more to offer than just falling on my back. Much more. I hope to make you a happy man. You please me so that I want to please you" She stood up and continued to button her chemise. And while he watched, he noticed every movement, how gracefully she stepped into her skirt and the way she tucked in her shirt after buttoning it, watching him the whole time. He realized Sophie was performing just for him and it only served to make him want her more. But she had to leave now; Laura sometimes came by on Saturdays along with others and he couldn't take a chance on being caught. Not when things had just started.