Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from SVM. The characters belong to the talented writer Charlene Harris. I just like to play with them.

Previously in A Second Chance

Bill stared at her one more time while the elevator door closed right in his face. He finally gained control over his body and moved to the elevator in the far right as Sookie indicated. He looked one more time to his watch realizing that he was 5 minutes late already. Fuck... Oh well... better late than never… beside these was were the best 10 minutes of my life.. Worth every second to be late... hell... I would be late everyday if I get to see her or talk to her again…Sookie… I even like her name… Sookie… and with that the elevator bell rang one more time and he stepped in ready to start his first day at work.

CHAPTER 4

SPOV

It was Wednesday morning and I started the routine I had been following for the last months. Get up, take a quick shower, dry and do my hair. Today I decided to let my hair loose in soft curls. I applied slight bit of make up and some soft perfume. I slid in my pencil skirt and dress shirt, which is typical office attire for NYC. The only thing I hate is to walk in high heels in the snow. Good thing my apartment is not far from the subway station. I wasn't running late but close. Alcide, my boss; has been very busy putting together a forecast for the Board of Directors meeting this Friday and I have been running analyses right and left. I know I am going to be swamp with work until the very last moment.

I get onto the subway and as the car starts to move my mind drifts to Bon Temps. I miss my Gran and her cooking. I lost some weight right after she died but I recovered them as soon as I moved here. I have been able to keep myself active after work. I joined a gym with my friend Amelia and the exercise helps me to clear my head.

So about 30 minutes later I made it to NORTCOM and as I walked toward the elevator speeding my pace in my fuck me heels; a guy out of nowhere bumps into me. My portfolio fell open onto the floor, and my pile of paperwork flew all over the place. I was so worried about picking them and getting them in order and into my office, I didn't notice all the looks I got from the people around me. As I scrambled to gather my paperwork, I felt a strong hand holding my forearm. I raised my eyes to see a pair or blue eyes staring at me and his face in shock, probably for the mess of papers. He could just muster something about being stupid. I just brushed it off saying, "Oh, it is ok. Don't worry. Nobody got hurt". Right, nobody but me, no only I am on a tight schedule but I have extra work to do thanks to this guy! So I just picked up the paperwork and hurried into the elevator. The guy followed me and introduced himself as Bill Compton. And to my surprise, he is the new COO! He was handsome and polite, but still, as soon as I knew who he was I felt a bit intimidated. We had a small chat and thankfully the doorbell of the elevator rang and I was able to move on. I got to my office and it took me about 20 minutes to get everything in order for the start of my day.

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BPOV

I got to Eric's office and his staff was already there. As soon as I opened the door I felt all eyes on me and I just walked into the room fresh as a cucumber with nothing more than the intention to finish this meeting as soon as possible, go to my office and figure out a way to find Sookie.

"Good morning everybody. Before we start this meeting I want to introduce you our new COO, Mr. William Compton". Eric wasted no time in introducing me and everybody looked at me and nodded or said "Welcome".

"Thank you Eric. Hello everybody, as Eric said I am the new COO for NORTCOM and you can call me Bill. William was my father. I am looking forward to working with all of you. With that, this let's start our meeting."

The meeting went on and on over different issues and by the time we were done it was around 11:30 am.

"You were late. What happened to you? It is not usual that you are late." Eric asked me.

"I woke up late. I am still jet-lagged. But I am happy I was late".

"And why is that? You know that is not a good first impression with the CEO, hahahaha".

"As I was walking towards the elevators I bumped into the most beautiful woman I have ever seen."

"Yes Bill I think I have heard something like that quiet a few times, hahahahaha!"

"I am serious Eric, she is stunning and has the most beautiful skin, eyes, voice, hair.." Eric just interrupted me with a healthy laugh and said, "Let's go to get lunch before it gets too late. I have a meeting right at 1 pm. Then you can tell me everything about your Wonder Woman".

As we were leaving the elevator, I saw Sookie walk by with another blond girl. I started walking toward her, at the same time Eric barked at me "Hey, where are you going?".

"That's her, Sookie. Come on! I want to talk to her".

I followed her across the hall and into the cafeteria. She and her friend walked right into the line to get lunch and I had to try to get inline behind them. A pair of guys cut in front of us. I was ignoring Eric, until he grabbed my arm and said, "What the fuck are you doing? What are we doing here? Let's go to eat and then you can come back and chase some tail".

By the time he was done barking at me, Sookie was already seated at a table and I grabbed whatever they had and walked towards her with my tray. Eric was throwing a fit and just followed me. I stood in front of Sookie and her blond friend and said "Hello Sookie! What a coincidence to find you here". She looked at me "Oh. Hi Bill. This is my friend Ginger, we work together in Finance".

"I see, a pleasure Ginger. Forgive my manners, this is Eric Northman." But fucking Eric is looking everywhere but at the girls. "Eric, Eric!" Finally he turned and says "Yes, Sorry".

"Eric, this is Sookie Stackhouse and Ginger" Eric didn't respond, just looked at them and nodded.

Sookie turned her eyes to Eric and said "Nice to meet you Mr. Northman" while extending her hand. Eric did not even bother to take it, he was holding his food tray with two hands and his knuckles were white of the pressure he was using to hold to it. I noticed Sookie was very embarrassed by Eric's behavior and Ginger kept looking from Eric to Sookie back and forth.

Suddenly I remembered why I was here and I asked them "Can we join you for lunch?".

"Sure, please sit." Sookie said with that melodious voice of hers.

"So you work in Finance. What is it that you do?" I asked them.

"We are Cost Analysts" Sookie responded staring at her food.

"Who do you work for?"

"Alcide Herveraoux" Ginger said.

" I have not had the pleasure to meet him" I told them.

And as the talk developed, we chatted about the city and how different was from London, and the differences in the language, etc. As I pushed for some more personal information from Sookie, she would respond with a question about the city or my job. I just chewed a bit of the ham sandwich I got and I noticed that Eric hadn't touched his food and he was just looking at girls. For a player like Eric this was very odd. He had not made a sound and I can tell he was extremely uncomfortable. Sookie must have been feeling this way too, because she started to shift non-stop in her seat and play with her fork.

Suddenly she directed a question to Eric. "Mr. Northman, how do you like NYC, is it very different from Sweden?".

Eric took his time to answer not taking his eyes off off Sookie. "It's different in certain ways, the weather and winter is pretty much the same, but there are new things in this city that make it certainly very interesting and new… to me".

At that moment I looked at my watch and it was 1 o'clock. "Eric it is 1 pm I think we must to get going".

"Yes, of course".

"Sookie, Ginger, it was nice to see you. Maybe I will see you tomorrow here for lunch.. again".

"Um.. Yeah.. Sure.. Bye Bill.. goodbye Mr. Northman".

"Goodbye Miss. Stackhouse, Ginger".

As soon as we here out of the cafeteria I turned to Eric "What the fuck was that? You where plain rude!" and before I could keep bitching at him, Eric turned to me while shooting me an ice look said "Shut the fuck up Compton. You ruined my lunch". Then he kept walked to the elevators in silence. I have no idea what was the matter with him, but I was happy I got to talk to Sookie.

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SPOV

Where do I start? Eric Northman is the most obnoxious, arrogant, jerk in the world and I hate that I have to say that he is also the most gorgeous man I have ever laid eyes on….. Shit!. I know… nothing is perfect... He, can not be perfect.

As we were setting in the cafeteria ready to eat, Bill, the guy that I just meet this morning, appeared out of nowhere and he started talking to us. I have no idea what he was saying because my eyes and all my other senses are focus in the guy behind him. He was tall, blond and smocking hot. The guy in questions turned to see us and Oh My God, I stopped breathing… our eyes locked and I was done.. I was wondering how it would feel to be touched and kissed by a guy like him.. mmmmm.. but Bill woke me up from my day dream when he said "…Forgive my manners, this is Eric Northman." Eric Northman?. OMG.. Eric fucking Northman!

Yes, the new CEO. So politely I extended my hand saying "Nice to meet you Mr. Northman" and the jerk did not shake my hand. I felt so embarrassed and mad at the same time. I wanted to get up and leave, but my manners prevailed and I stayed put. Eric just looked at me and nodded, just nodded! He is so arrogant!. He probably thinks he is too good to be polite to an employee like me? I turned to see Bill and decided to ignore Eric as he ignored me. Funny, after that he was just looking.. not.. not looking… more like staring at me. I felt his gaze boring holes in me. He did not speak a single word, nor touch his food. Maybe it is below him to share a meal with the employees. The only thing I know is that he is as much as a jerk as he is the most handsome man I have ever seen. My stomach was a mess, I felt knots and the pressure on the top of my belly from being upset and nervous. I could tell Ginger noticed the tension on the table because she just kept looking at Eric and me. I was very quiet which is not usual. Meanwhile Bill kept talking and asking questions. I kept responding with more questions so he would be talking while I stayed quiet. I wasn't really listening, but feeling Eric's gaze and counting the minutes to leave. I wasn't even hungry at that point.

So finally, Bill reminded all of us that it is 1 o'clock and lunch time was over. Eric got up as if he was a spring and Bill followed right after him. Bill said goodbye, and Eric dry as a toast just said "Goodbye Miss. Stackhouse, Ginger" and turned around and left. W.T.F.! He called Ginger by her name but he gets too formal with me calling me by my last name? This time I did not bother to respond or even nod. Hell, I did not even look at him!. Definitely, Eric Northman is not my cup of tea.

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EPOV

I thought I had seen it all. I was wrong. When Bill dragged me into the cafeteria I was just annoyed that we were there to chase one of his conquests.

I was looking at my surroundings, and it was the first time since my years in college that I set foot in cafeteria, let alone the cafeteria of NORTCOM. Then he called my attention to introduce me to the girl and when I saw her my being was in shock. She was beautiful, exquisite and with an air of innocence that I just couldn't resist. Wait, what the fuck I am saying?… I am Eric Northman… I have dozens of woman ogling me, searching for a minimal sign of my attention! And I am here talking about a girl I just met? No.. no woman has EVER left an impression like this on me.. Damn it! Sookie…oh God..she was beautiful..

Not only beautiful, she was perfect. Blond long curly hair, big blue eyes, a darker shade that mine, she had big breasts that seems ready to burst out of her dress shirt. Fuck., I get turned on with the whole sexy office get up and she looked good enough to eat. I couldn't take my eyes off her full lips, pink and luscious…. I couldn't avoid to wonder how they would look around my hard cock… Oh shit!.. I am getting hard… keep it together Northman, you are behaving like a fucking teenager!

So in order to compose myself I just stayed quiet but I failed miserably trying to keep my eyes off her. My brain was shut down, not listening to the conversation. I was admiring the movement of her hands, watching her chest to raise with every breath, observing how she wrapped her lips around the fork when she ate. I was enjoying her smile that flashed perfect white teeth. And, watching her lick her lips so often was amazing! The only thing I needed was Sookie moaning with every mouthful and then I would have come right in my pants like a freaking teen.

Fortunately for me, Bill reminded us that lunch was over. I got up as soon as I could to leave. I really needed some relief! So I said my goodbyes and left. Fucking Bill! Now what I am going to do?. I like Sookie, just like him… maybe I should call dibs…

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SPOV

It's been two weeks since the lunch fiasco. Bill tries to talk to me all the time. I was starting to feel like he was stalking me. I mean, he is cute and polite and rich and… he is not the guy that occupies my thoughts day and night…

I have not been able to get Eric Northman out of my mind. Maybe it is the way he behaved that he pissed me off so much that I can't stop thinking about him. But why do I lie to myself?. Come Stackhouse, get your head out of the shit hole and accept that the guy is drop dead gorgeous and you like him

I have to say that my feelings are kind of being encouraged by a small detail. I have never seen him in the office before that day but now I see him almost every day in the hall. As soon as I walk in, he is there right by the elevator, but as soon as he sees me he takes the elevator to his office. I like to think that he waits for me to go.

This morning something let me know that I was right. As I walked to the elevator I saw Eric and then someone sneaked up behind me and said "Hi Sookie!"

I recognize that English accent immediately and I turned around and said "Hi Bill, Good morning", but my voice didn't show much excitement.

"I just wanted to let you know that I will be out of town for the next two weeks. I was wondering if after I come back you would like to have tea or coffee with me? You know, just to talk. That is if you want to of course."

The whole time we were talking I kept an eye on Eric. Instead getting in the elevator as soon as he saw me, he just hung around there, right by the elevator doors. I told Bill "OK. Why don't you call me once you are back and then we can decide?" I am not sure I want to go out with him for 3 reasons. The first is because I don't like him the way I suspect he likes me. Second is because I like Eric and I feel I would be wasting Bill's time. And, third is because he is the fucking COO and the last thing I need is people at the office gossiping about me going out with the second biggest boss of the company. Or any boss of the company for that matter!

"Yes, that sounds great". He said and I could see a spark in his blue eyes.

"Ok. See you Bill" In that moment my elevator was there and as I turned to get in, I saw Eric's eyes lock on me and his face was not a happy one.

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EPOV

These past 2 weeks have been hell for me. I keep thinking of Sookie and I cannot bring myself to go and see her in her office. I have no fucking reason to show up there! I don't want to go to the cafeteria since I know we would not be alone and she is probably having lunch with a friend. And forget about showing up at her apartment, even when I know perfectly well where she lives. I have driven by almost every day at night after work. You are probably saying I am a stalker.. YES I am, we are in America… sue me!

I figured out a way to see her everyday without being noticed by anybody but her. I think… I usually get there a few minutes before she comes in through the front door of the building. I park my car on the first level, and I take stairs to the hall, then I pretend to speak on the phone or I actually take a call while waiting for her. Once I see her, once I get a glimpse of her, once I see her hips and her hair move in harmonic waves and basically once our eyes lock for a few seconds I take my leave.

But today was different, as I saw her coming in, fucking Bill surprised her and started to talk to her. I was seeing red! How dare he get that close to her. He has been quiet about Sookie. He has not made any comment about her and I have not asked because I really did not want to know if they have been going out. I hope they haven't, I am guessing from the way Sookie looked at me. I lingered long enough to keep an eye on the action while I held my phone to my ear. Finally I saw Bill leave her and walk towards me. I pretended to hang up and I said "Hi Billy boy. How are you this morning?"

"Good. I am dreading my trip to London. "

"London? Are you leaving? When?" Yessss! I have to give thanks to the gods for this, I thought!

"I am leaving tomorrow Saturday. Don't you remember? I still hold the seat for the board of directors in Sweden and my mother needs me to be present, plus I have some other matters to take care of and I will be gone for two weeks. By the way, My apartment will be ready next week. My secretary will arrange for my few things to be picked up and moved into my place."

"Oh, sure. Who is taking care of your matters here?"

"Victor Madden is. But ,I will be in contact everyday if an emergency comes up."

"OK. Well have a good trip." I really hope you don't have to come back! Please stay over there at least until I can get close to Sookie, because once that happens, Bill, you will not see even her shadow! She will be mine, WTF! she is mine already!.

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SPOV

It was almost 5:30 pm on Friday and it was pouring rain outside. I love rain but not cold rain. I can't wait to get home, take a hot bath and relax with a nice glass of red wine while I listen to some of my favorite tunes. Aaaawwwww

I got down stairs, opened my umbrella to cover from the rain and started to walk to the subway station when the worst thing possible happens! A fucking cab goes by flying and splashes me with cold dirty water and I am soaked! "AAAARRRRGGGGGG I fucking hate NYC!" I was so mad that I wanted to cry! I started to cry! And as I started to move after my shock, something else happened…

"Sookie? Are you okay?" Eric Northman rolled down the windows of his flashy corvette while staring at me.

"Do I look like I am OK?" I snapped at him. I saw the amusement on his face and a small smile starts to appear in his face. Then I felt embarrassment and in a small voice I said " I am sorry Mr. Northman, I am just very upset about getting splashed by a flying cab". He called me by my name! yay!

"I see. Please get in, let me take you home. You will get pneumonia if you go on all wet like that". And then he opened the door of the car from the inside. I stayed out for about 5 seconds and without any further thinking I jumped in the car. Once I was seated, I realized that the car was new and I started to apologize for getting the seat all wet and the hideous smell on my clothes.

"Sookie… I am sorry... May I call you Sookie?"

"Yes, Mr. Northman".

"If I call you by your name, I would like you to call me by mine, please call me Eric, just Eric."

"Ok. Eric."

"As I was saying, Sookie, don't worry about the seat. Maybe when we get to your place I can have a towel to dry it?"

"Oh Absolutely! I will dry it myself!" If the situation would be different, I mean if there wouldn't be a valid reason for him to come inside my apartment like I was soaking wet, it was fucking cold outside and he needed a towel to dry the leather seat of the brand new flashy top of the line red corvette. I would have never allowed him to come up to my place. At least, not on the first date. Did I just say date?... Fuck…

"That won't be necessary, but I appreciate the offer, Sookie". God I love how my name sound on his lips…. As we were talking I noticed that he just kept driving. The funny part was that he actually was driving in the right direction! Suddenly he asked me which way to go and I gave him directions. About 40 minutes later, we were in front of my building. He parked a few doors down and we walked as fast as we could to get inside, it was freaking cold! We took the stairs to the 4th floor. I opened my apartment door and turned on the light. "Please come in Eric".

My place was very small, but cozy. It was home to me. I noticed that he took a deep breath like savoring the smell and started to scan the four walls of my kitchen/dining/living room area. I ran to my bedroom and grabbed a towel from my bathroom, "Here's a towel for the car seat."

"Thank you Sookie. I will be right back."

"OK. I will leave the door open for you. I need to get in the shower really quick."

"Sure. Take your time. I am not going anywhere."

O.M.G., I thought, He is not going anywhere! OK Stackhouse,keep it together and get in the shower. And, do not get any ideas! Behave like a lady and keep your legs closed!

I jumped in the shower and I was ready in 5 minutes. Instead of my regular flannel pajamas or my ratty sweat pants, I went for a set of lounge pants and jacket. I blow-dried my hair for as long as I could until I heard my front door opening and then I put it up in a messy ponytail. I went to the living room to find Eric holding a very humid towel. "Ready? It is completely dry?" I asked him.

"Yes, don't worry".

I looked at him in the eyes and I said "Eric, thank you so much. I really appreciate that you brought me home. It would have sucked to have taken the subway being wet and all. I owe you one".

Then with a grin like a cheshire cat, he said, "Then I would like to cash in that one you owe me. Please have dinner with me tomorrow night."

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EPOV

I think somebody must really like me because when I left work to leave the parking building, Sookie walked by right in front of me! I saw that very familiar body swaying from side to side and I couldn't avoid but to see the scene. As she was walking down the street a fucking cab goes by and splashed her! It was very funny, but after a couple of seconds I realize that is cold outside and she was soaking wet. I stoped in front of her immediately and without thinking I rolled down the window and said "Sookie? Are you okay?" Fuck! I just called her Sookie! Oh well, she better get used to it, next thing I call her will be lover. Make no mistake, She responded infuriated "Do I look like I am ok?" and I just love the look in her face. When she is mad and she looks sexier than ever. I like her feisty. mmmmm I bet she is a wild cat in bed…

I offered to take her home and she accepted it. Great! I started to drive to her apartment when I realized that she has not told me where to go. Shit! I wasn't supposed to know where she lives! So pretending not knowing where to go I asked for directions. She gave me directions and finally we get to her building.

Since she offered a towel to dry the car seat, I have the perfect excuse to go into her place. It's neat and clean. It's very small but it reflects her personality. It smells like her, of vanilla and fresh flowers. She came back with a towel and told me she was getting in the shower. Do I need to say where my mind went thinking of her body naked and wet under the hot water? I imagined water dripping off her perky nipples all way the down to her sex. Mmmmmm OK I had to go and dry the car seat before she noticed the bulge in my pants. I kept rubbing the seat while thinking of Sookie and all the things I would like to do to her in the shower…. Once I was done I came back to to her apartment and a moment after I walked in she came already showered and looked good enough to eat.

She looked at me with her big blue eyes and thanked me for bringing her home and she said "I owe you one". Oh boy, that was all I needed. I had no intention to waste this golden opportunity to see her again so I said, "Then I would like to cash in that one you owe me. Please have dinner with me tomorrow night." And with a big smile of her own she said, "OK. What time do you pick me up?"…

I can not wait until tomorrow…