Chapter 15
Jennie
I'm flustered and hot and turned on. I can barely focus on the file in front of me as Lisa happily rambles on about land values. Two hours ago, she went down on me. In her office. At work. And I let her.
I'm mortified but mostly I can't stop replaying it in my head.
She was so good at it. Her tongue and—my God those teeth—knew exactly what they were doing. I remember enjoying oral sex with Kai but I'd been half fucked up out of my skull whenever he'd do it.
This was different.
This was real.
I enjoyed every second of it no matter how wrong the location was.
"I can see someone's a little distracted," she says with a smirk from across her desk.
At having been caught, I feel my cheeks heat. "Sorry. I was just thinking about lunch."
She gives me a knowing wink before leaning forward. "I could eat again."
"Honestly, Lisa," I huff but I can't keep the smile off my face. "You're so crude!"
Her chuckle is warm and reverberates its way to my core. "I've been called worse. Seriously, though, what's wrong?"
I miss the way your lips kissed mine. I was thinking of how the inside of my thighs are raw from where your cheek scratched me. My pussy has been throbbing ever since you gave me that orgasm.
"Nothing."
She reaches across the desk and takes my hand. "I want to do that again soon. Your taste is addictive, little quitter."
A couple of days ago, I bristled at the pet name but it's starting to grow on me. Especially coupled with the words before it. "I think I want that too." My eyes drop to our hands that are now threaded together.
"I want so much more than that too, though," she tells me, her voice deep with insinuation.
I chance a glance at her. Her eyes are sharp and focused on me. I love the way she seems to zero in on me. It's as though I'm her primary focus. After everything that went on with Kai, you'd think I would be opposed to that kind of attention. But…apparently I have issues because I like it.
"How much more," I breathe, unable to refrain from baiting her into more naughty words.
Her eyes drop to my lips. "For starters, I can't wait to feel those pouty lips around my dick. I'm not sure your little mouth can even take my cock." She flashes me a smug grin that has my thighs clenching. "And I can't wait to strip you bare so I can taste every inch of your flesh. I want to run my tongue along every dip and curve you own. I want it in every single hole."
My eyes widen. I'd done anal plenty of times with Kai, but I never had his tongue in my ass. The thought both disgusts and delights me.
"I also can't wait to spread your sexy thighs apart so I can look at your needy cunt. I bet it'll always drip for me," she muses and scratches her jaw with her free fingers. "I know you'll want me to wear a condom, because you don't know me, but I'm fantasizing right now about how you'd feel bare. I bet my cock would slide right into your tight pussy and you'd come just from the way I stretch you out to capacity. I can almost see your juices running down my shaft and—"
"S-Stop," I breathe and squirm in my chair. "I can't think about that right now."
"My dick inside you?"
I let out a sharp breath. "Yes. Oh my God. Stop talking about it." My voice sounds whiny but really it's because I'm needy for all those things too. "Please."
Her eyes darken with lust, but she nods. "We'll pick this conversation up later tonight."
The promise of pleasure sends excitement coursing through me. "Later," I agree with a smile. "Now let's talk numbers."
~
After four hours of me showing Lisa my many ideas on how to improve not only the way she does things, but the company overall, she announces she's taking me to lunch. She stands and then offers her hand to help me out of the chair once she's rounded her desk. I take it but immediately hate how affected I am by her touch. All thoughts dissipate as she becomes my only thought. My mind reels with all of the things she said earlier—all the things she wants to do to me. God, how I want them too.
She guides me over to the door, and when I attempt to pull my hand from her, she turns to frown at me. "What's wrong?"
"We can't leave this office holding hands," I tell her, my voice shaky.
She scowls. "And why not?"
"Because you're my boss!"
I'm pulled against her, and she attacks my lips with her. Within moments, I'm lost in her deep kiss. She eventually pulls away and regards me with a dark expression that sends a chill skittering down my spine. "Fuck all of them. You're mine." Her lips are back on mine. Owning me. The possessiveness rippling from her should scare me. I should be running for the hills. How is it that I find myself attracted to these severely intense people?
She's not like Kai.
At least I hope not.
"Listen to me," she murmurs against my lips as she strokes my hair in such a reverent way I think I might melt. "I'm going to take care of you now. Just let me in, baby."
God, how inviting that sounds.
"This is all too much," I whisper.
She drowns out my words with a kiss that has me dizzy and weak. Once I'm putty in her hands again, she nuzzles her nose against mine. "You deserve everything. It'll never be enough."
Years and years of loneliness threaten to tear my heart wide open. For the first time since I ran from Kai, I feel the desire to be with someone else. I don't have to be so hard and guarded around Lisa. Around her, I feel relaxed. Safe even. And considering Kai could be stalking me at this very moment, I am glad to have Lisa's presence cloaking me.
"I'm scared," I admit with a frown. "And Kai could be—"
A growl silences me. "He is not a threat to you. Not while I have a say in it. You have to trust I'll take care of you."
I stare up at her serious eyes. Her jaw clenches as if she truly believes she has the power to protect me from my psycho ex. I almost laugh because Kai will stop at nothing. I hope to God it was an intruder from my crummy building who broke into my apartment, and not him. If it truly was my ex, I'm more than screwed. Even big, powerful Lisa wouldn't be able to save me.
"How about we start with you buying me lunch first?" I tease in an attempt to lighten the mood. Intense is good in the bedroom. But sometimes intense is too much for everyday life. I worry Lisa has those same tendencies as Kai. The obsessive ones. However, Lisa doesn't share the empty, soulless gaze Kai always had. Lisa's eyes dance with secrets and curiosity about me and desire. I feel like those are normal for a budding relationship between two people. And they probably mirror my own.
"Lunch first," she agrees with a bright grin that has my thighs clenching. "But I'm holding your fucking hand."
I'm still laughing at her fierceness as she drags me out the office door. She's on a mission, but my eyes lock onto Junhoe, who happens to be standing near my desk. His eyes narrow and he shakes his head in disgust.
Lisa doesn't notice him and hauls me out of the building in no time. Once we're outside, she slings an arm around my shoulders and pulls me to her side as we head down the sidewalk. It feels good being like this with someone. It's hard for me to believe that a few days ago, Lisa didn't even see me. Now, I feel like I'm all she sees. I'm not stupid. They don't call her Mad Man for no reason. But her eccentricities are endearing now that I'm on her radar.
"Where are we going?" I question as we stroll down the street.
"Someplace good." Her tone is sure and smug. I can't help but laugh.
When we walk up to Ziggy's, the city's most popular pizza parlor, I stop in my tracks. The heavenly aromas of garlic and other deliciousness invade my senses. "Ahh," I groan and glare at her. "You're so mean to tease me with this place. You know we can't get in. There is always a three-hour wait." I gesture at the long line of people wrapped around the building to make my point.
She chuckles as she grabs my hand. "Good thing I know people."
"No," I gasp, excitement flitting through me. "Tell me you can get us in."
She steals a chaste kiss and waggles her brow. "I can get us in."
I squeal all the way past the line, ignoring the annoyed glares, and nearly die when we step inside. The place is small with only a few booths lining the walls. Every seat is packed except a booth in the corner. When she starts for it, I panic a bit. "Are you sure?"
"Positive," she tells me, flashing me another smug grin.
We slide into the booth together on the side that faces the wall, rather than the crowd of people, with me on the inside and her on the outside.
"Someone was probably waiting for this booth," I tell her, my nerves still eating me alive.
"The owner was," she says with a shrug as she grabs a menu from the table.
"We should go then—"
"I'm the owner."
I jerk my head to gape at her. The shit-eating grin she wears so well is sometimes annoying. Okay, so it's not annoying at all. What's annoying is how I melt every time she does it. "You own this place?"
"And this is my booth. Bull and I come here all the time. They know to keep it open for me," she tells me, mischief glittering in her gaze.
"Wow," I utter and steal the menu. "You're full of surprises, aren't you?"
Her palm rests on my thigh just below the hem of my skirt so that her fingertips graze my sensitive flesh, sending quivers of desire dancing through me. "You have no idea, little quitter."
The rest of lunch goes amazingly well. She wasn't lying when she said she owned the place. The wait staff knew her and seemed eager to please her. We were brought Lisa's favorite items, as well as a few things I wanted to try. By the end, I was stuffed.
"I'm so full," I groan and pat my stomach.
Her palm covers my hand and she leans forward, her hot breath on my ear. "I could still eat."
Desire washes through me and I squeeze my thighs together. "You're crazy," I breathe but don't stop her when she slides her palm under my skirt, between my legs. Her mouth kisses me slowly along my earlobe and along the side of my neck. All of her touches are making me lose my mind. "I wish we didn't have to go to work," I admit as I tilt my head to the left to give her more access to my throat.
"We can go home," she suggests, her teeth grazing along my tender flesh.
God, how I want to.
"Baby steps," I remind her just as her fingertip grazes along my pussy. I jerk my gaze over to see if anyone can see us. From our position, we're hidden from prying eyes. Which is exactly why I find myself parting my legs. A mewl escapes me the moment her finger is back inside me. "Too fast," I tell her. "All of this is too fast."
She sucks on my neck and then presses a soft kiss to my skin. "I can't slow down with you. Everything in me screams to devour you. I won't stop until I've had all of you, Jennie."
Her finger slowly fucks me, which drives me borderline insane. My entire body shakes with the need to orgasm right here in a restaurant full of people. She's corrupting me.
"Lisa…" I bite my lip to hold back a moan.
"Give me what I want," she growls and then flicks her tongue at my ear. Coupled with her hot breath in one of my most sensitive places and the way her finger owns me, I come like she wants. I come hard and not-so quietly. Thankfully, the restaurant is fairly loud and my sounds are drowned out by forks clattering on plates and people talking. When I come down from my high, she slides her finger out of me and drags my wetness along the inside of my thigh.
"I'll clean that up later," she assures me before pressing a kiss to my cheek.
I'm in a daze as she pays the tab. Nobody is aware this woman—my boss for less than two more weeks—just fingerfucked me in this booth. I'm almost giddy from my orgasm and the fact that we just did something super naughty. Lisa appears cool and composed whereas I feel as though everyone in the restaurant knows what we were up to. She takes my hand, her finger still wet from my juices, and tugs me from the booth. Her eyes are dark with lust and hunger. I wish I could repay the favor.
Tonight.
I shiver at her promises. She wants to continue this later. In my bed. I'm nearly delirious with the thought of having sex after so long. After everything that happened back then, you'd think that I'd be opposed to sex. And maybe, for several years, I was. But after some intense therapy, I was able to work through the things Kai made me do. I'm normal again.
"What's wrong?" Lisa questions once we're back outside. The sky has darkened as a storm starts to brew. Wind howls between the buildings and I shiver. Her brows crush together as she shrugs out of her suit jacket and wraps me up in it. It smells just like her, and I inhale the scent.
"I was just thinking about…" I trail off.
She stops and pulls me up against a building to block the wind. Her palm cradles the side of my neck as she regards me with concern. The look in her eyes causes my heart to flop. I could easily fall for Lisa Manoban. "We're friends," she tells me, her eyes searching mine. "And we're going to evolve into more. We already are. I want you to tell me things."
I swallow and chew on my lip for a moment to draw up the courage. "It's horrible."
"There are things about me that are horrible. Tell me."
My curiosity is piqued but I decide I'll probe more on her horrible secrets later. "Kai…he…he prostituted me out."
Lisa's face becomes murderous. "He fucking did what?"
My bottom lip trembles as I desperately fight tears. I'd gone so long without even thinking about it regularly. But just saying it out loud, to someone other than my therapist, makes it all come crashing back down around me.
"H-He made m-me have sex with men for m-money," I chatter out. I'm not cold, just overcome with emotion.
She pulls me to her in a brutal hug that sucks the air out of me. When she starts whispering assurances into my hair as she strokes my back, I collapse in her grip. Lisa is strong and fierce and holds me against her so I don't fall on my ass.
"I'll kill him. I'll fucking kill him." She chants this over and over and over again as if those words have the power to heal me. And magically, they do. I feel myself latching on to the furious way she says them—so sure and confident—that I believe her. I believe if she has the chance, she'll do it. God, how I want her to. But Kai is a ghost when he wants to be. Nobody is taking him out. Not even the beautifully intense woman who is holding me together.
"Are you okay? Did they hurt you?" she demands suddenly, pulling back slightly so she can see me.
I tilt my head up and admire her face and fiery eyes. Her nostrils flare and if she grits her teeth any more, she might break them. "Mostly it was just sex. And on the occasion when someone hurt me, he hurt them." I shudder. "I just…I didn't want to do it." More tears well in my eyes. I feel dirty and used and disgusting—just like when I confessed it all to my therapist. But instead of seeing pity or sadness, like I did in my therapist eyes, I find hate and vengeance in her.
"I'll find him and I will end him, Jennie. I swear it on my own life," she vows in a low growl. "Oh, sweetheart." Her forehead rests against mine and we both close our eyes. Despite unloading one of my most embarrassing secrets, I feel better. Lighter and freer.
"Thank you," I murmur, my voice catching.
"For what?"
I let out a sigh. "For everything. You're slowly chipping away parts of me that I didn't realize were weighing me down. Thank you for that."
Her palms find my cheeks and she tilts my head up again to look at her. "You deserve to be free of all of it. I'll do whatever I can to make that happen."
She presses a soft kiss to my mouth.
Everything is going too fast, but somehow I can't find it in me to care. I'm getting sucked into her vortex but I feel like that'll be okay because she'll keep me in the eye of her storm. Nobody will hurt me as far as Lisa's concerned.
And what if the storm becomes too intense?
I've survived much worse.
~
As soon as we got back from lunch, Lisa got caught up on a phone call so I busied myself with some cost analyses. Despite her telling me I didn't have to make her coffee, I can't help but notice the time. A scheduled coffee time. And normally, I'd resent every second of having to go into the breakroom to make it for her.
Today is different.
I want to make her a cup of coffee.
She has been nothing but good to me since I turned in my notice Friday. Doting and attentive. A good friend. And…more. A smile tugs at my lips as I walk into the breakroom and pull a mug from the cabinet.
When heat cloaks me from behind and two hands rest on the countertop on either side of me, I let out a surprised squeak.
"I see you're back to doing your job," Junhoe seethes.
I freeze and glare at him over my shoulder. "Get away from me."
His eyes are manic and furious. Terror claws its way up inside me, but I squash it down. He is not Kai. Nobody will ever be as frightening as Kai.
"So help me if you don't step away from me, I'll scream bloody murder," I threaten.
He pins me against the counter and his mediocre erection presses into my ass. I'm stunned for a moment as to what to do. "You scream and I'll deny everything. You think they'll believe the office slut who's clearly banging the boss to get out of doing her damn job?"
I elbow him in his gut and he stumbles away. When he starts for me again, I twist and crack the coffee mug against the side of his face. We both stare at each other for a long moment in surprise. Then his fingers touch his eyebrow. The moment he pulls them away, I realize they are smeared with blood.
"You fucking hit me," he hisses in disbelief.
I grip the handle of the mug and ready myself to use it again. "You fucking touched me," I bite back.
I'm still pressed with my ass against the counter and my arm poised to swing if necessary when I sense a comforting presence. My senses are right because a second later, Junhoe is shoved away from me.
"What the hell is going on in here?" Lisa thunders, her body between Junhoe and me. With her back to me, I can't help but feel as though she's chosen this stance as a protective one. My heart cracks and breaks because I can't take her kindness. It's too much. Too addicting. I'm going to crave it like an alcoholic needs her booze to survive. I want to get drunk off her. To let her hold me and fight all my battles that I'm too tired to fight anymore.
"She hit me," Junhoe accuses in a venom-filled tone as he snags a paper towel from beside the sink. "With a coffee mug."
"Boardroom," Lisa booms. "Both of you."
I stiffen and want to choke Junhoe when he shoots me a satisfied smirk before he storms out of the room. Once he's gone, Lisa turns her murderous attention on me. I almost cower beneath her hard stare, but soon she softens and strokes my cheek.
"You okay?" she questions, her eyes assessing me.
I nod and hold up the mug. "I had a little help from my friend."
"I'm so sorry." Her apology is a knife to my heart. It guts me.
"He got handsy and threatening. I took care of him," I tell her, confidence bleeding back into my voice. "This is not your fault."
Her fingers run through her messy hair and she growls. "It is but I'm going to make up for it. I swear." Then, her gaze falls to my lips for a moment. "Let's get to the boardroom."
"Am I in trouble?"
"Fuck no," she snarls. "We have a meeting. A meeting you're going to want to be a part of."
"What?" I stare at her in confusion, but she grabs the mug and sets it down, her gaze narrowing.
"You won't be needing that because you have me." Her lips quirk up on one side in a sexy, playful way. "Now come on."
I let her take my hand, no longer concerned about people seeing. I won't be here after two weeks anyway. Besides, she's the owner. What are they going to do about it? I smirk at Chanwoo from HR when I pass him in the hallway.
I grow nervous, though, when we enter the boardroom. Eight men are seated around the table. The eight men I hate most at this company. But then my eyes lock with Bambam's—or Bull as Lisa calls him—and he gives me a reassuring smile that has all the air in my chest rushing out in relief. He's one of the few I don't hate. Lisa pulls out a chair at the head of the table—her chair—and motions for me to sit. All eyes are on me as I take my seat. I flit my gaze up to her and give her a questioning look.
Instead of answering me, her voice thunders as she addresses the group.
"You all were called here today because we have something very important to discuss. But first, I want to ask you all what Jennie Kim does for Manoban." Her voice is low and deadly.
Bambam winks at me before turning to regard Ralph Darden at his left. "What do you think, Ralph?"
Ralph huffs and shrugs. "She's a secretary. Lisa's secretary."
Lisa crosses her arms over her chest and walks over to Ralph. "Wrong."
At this, I scrunch up my nose in confusion but I don't dare interrupt. Whatever it is that's going on, I know Lisa has my back. She wouldn't treat me the way she's treated me all weekend and today to suddenly throw me under the bus.
"She does special favors for the CEO," Junhoe quips, disgust in his tone.
Lisa's fist slams so hard down on the table beside Ralph, it's surprising that she doesn't break her bones or the table. Everyone gapes at her in shock. Then, she places both palms on the mahogany and leans forward to glare at Junhoe from across the table. "That," she clips out in the coldest tone I've ever heard, "is sexual harassment."
Junhoe's eyes widen in surprise and Ralph starts to protest.
"No!" Lisa thunders. "You all will listen really well. Bambam and I became aware that many of you are sexually harassing our employees. Specifically, Jennie Kim. And in case you didn't know, sexual harassment will not be tolerated at my company."
Chanwoo peeks his head in the doorway and clears his throat. He looks scared as hell. "That's right," he says in a wobbly voice. "According to our HR policy, many of you have violated the rules."
"This is ridiculous," Ralph hisses. "Just wait until the board hears—"
Bambam slides a piece of paper over to Ralph. "Actually, the board already knows. The motion has been approved to remove you via telephone conference earlier today. As of now, you are no longer an active board member."
"You've got to be kidding me," Brent Adams, the VP utters.
Lisa rises to her full height and pins the VP down with a vicious glare that has him hunching in his chair. "I don't joke about sexual harassment."
Brent has the sense to shut his mouth. His face turns bright red. I have to bite back a smile. That asshole has been one of the biggest thorns in my side here.
"Ralph, you may leave," Lisa says dismissively. "As far as the rest of you, you're fired."
A roar of arguing voices all start up at once, but Lisa once again silences them with a fist slamming down on the boardroom table.
"This is not up for negotiation. Chanwoo and Mr. Bhuwakul will handle it from here. I want you gone within the hour," Lisa hisses, her fiery glare meeting each and every one of them.
Junhoe, the arrogant prick, just can't leave well enough alone because he stands abruptly and points an accusing finger at me. "Sexual harassment isn't okay but it's okay for this bitch to suck you off in your office. Double standards, man."
Lisa starts around the side of the table, a loud growl rumbling from her, but Bambam stands and blocks her.
"Enough, Junhoe," Bambam bellows. "Talking shit after you get fired isn't changing the fact that you no longer work for this company."
Lisa shoves past Bambam and pulls my chair out before offering me her hand. Once I'm standing, she addresses Chanwoo this time.
"Jennie is now our VP. That is what she does for this company. I'll send you an email with the details, but understand this," she tells the wide-eyed HR guy. "She is your boss. You report to her. And if any more of this sexual harassment bullshit slips through again, it'll be your job next."
He gapes at Lisa but nods like a bobble head. "Yes, miss."
I'm still in shock, even after we make our way back to her office and she closes the door. "What just happened?"
She stalks back and forth in front of her desk like a caged lion. "I did what I should have a long time ago."
I swallow and stand in her path. Her chest bumps against mine. A hot glare is affixed on her face. When I reach up and run my fingertips along her jawline, her gaze softens. "I don't know what to say," I murmur, my lips tugging into a frown.
"There's nothing to say," she says gruffly. Her palm finds my shoulder and she grips me gently. "They shouldn't have lasted as long as they did."
"But me? I don't know, Lisa…" I trail off. Why promote me right before I leave anyway?
"You're more qualified for that position than anyone in this damn office," she argues, her jaw ticking.
"Won't they think…that…I don't know…"
"That we're fucking?"
I gape at her. "We're not, though."
Her eyebrow quirks and she flashes me a smoldering grin. "Not yet."