Andrew gave Cora off for four weeks, so she could give her body time to heal. He had visited her and she knew he didn't believe her story.
The first days Adeline had stayed with her. Every time Anthony visited, he had left the minute he saw Adeline.
Cora was sitting at her desk, she had filled her chair with cushions so she could sit straight up, her ribs still gave her some discomfort. Her face was healing and there was almost no sign of the abuse. She felt a hand on her shoulder and fingers stroking her neck.
"Hello beautiful." Anthony said, lowering his hands into her shirt.
Cora tried not to winch. "Hello." She said, Turning her chair around. "I didn't know you were coming."
"It was a surprise." Anthony kissed her neck. His hands rested now on her upper legs and moved inwards.
"Anthony, not now, I need to finish this."
Anthony touched her cheekbone. "I said to you before. I need to be your priority."
Cora quickly saved her work and got up. She put her hands in his neck. "You have my full attention."
When Anthony pulled her close, Cora felt her ribs hurt, but she didn't say anything. She went along with him.
"You are the best I ever had." Anthony stroked her breast, lying next to her. "Just imagine how good you are when your ribs are healed again."
Cora brushed with her finger tips over Anthony's arm and smiled. "I did my best."
Anthony rolled on top of her, which caused Cora to winch, but he didn't seem to notice. "We will try if you can do even better." He positioned himself and his thrusts were hard and steady.
Cora tried to move with him, giving him better access, but her body was protesting. This was too soon, especially twice in a row.
"John. I have a meeting with Silver Linings this afternoon. Can you write down what you want?"
"Finally. I already made a list, it is in your mailbox." John said.
"Oh yeah, sorry, I saw that one yesterday. How is your leg?"
John smiled. "It's fine. I can walk without crutches again."
"Good, we will have another special guest next week. And I need you in the kitchen that night."
"Only that night?" John chuckled. "Who is coming?"
"We will have the lady's of our national football team in our restaurant." Robert said.
"You are joking?" Anne said, popping around the corner.
Both Robert and John chuckled. Robert looked at John, who had a special glow in his eyes. Did he fancy Anne? It could be, she was a lovely young woman. When he looked at Anne, he saw she was looking at John in the same way. "Yes Anne, you heard it correctly, we are hosting a dinner for your heroes."
Robert entered the building of 'Silver Linings'. He was guided into a small office where he was offered a chair and some tea.
"Mr. Murphy and Miss Levinson are coming soon." The receptionist said.
Robert nodded. He was surprised that there would be a woman, he wasn't expecting that. Although he didn't know why he thought the designer would be a man.
He got up and admired a painting on the wall, when he heard the scraping of a throat. He turned around. "I am sorry, my attention got pulled by this painting."
"Don't you worry, it is a beautiful work of art by our miss Levinson here."
Robert's eyes moved to the woman standing next to Mr. Murphy. He stepped closer and offered her his hand. "It's good to finally meet you. I am Robert."
The woman looked up at him. "Nice meeting you, I am Cora.
He recognised her blue eyes, but couldn't recall from where. "You have a special talent miss." He said.
"Thank you sir, shall we sit down and discuss your wishes?"
Robert followed the womans lead and sat down at the table. She was sitting across of him and he had trouble focusing on the subject. He got distracted by her looks and especially by her eyes. They were blue like the ocean. Blue like the sky in a bright sunny day. Where did he see her before, because he was convinced he had seen her.
"Mr. Crawley?" Cora asked. "Did you already have some ideas for the menu's and the website?"
Robert shook up from his thoughts. "I am sorry. Yes I have, and you can call me Robert." He opened his laptop and showed her John's ideas.
"I don't think there will be problems between you and Mr. Crawley. That collaboration will workout perfectly." Andrew said.
Cora felt that she was blushing. "Why do you say that?" She tried to keep her voice steady. But she was pretty shaken up by that man Robert. His slighty darker toned skin and his blue eyes did something with her.
"No reason. You two just seemed to click. That is all."
Cora smiled. Andrew was right. She felt an instant connection with Robert. It was a strange feeling, she felt like she had seen him before. "I hope we can make a good advert campaign for him."
"It feels like it will be more than advertising only. We are going to redesign his whole brand." Andrew said.
"If that is what he wants? We can deliver it." Cora said.
"As long as he pays, we can make anything." Andrew frowned. "By the way, why are you still together with Anthony?"
Cora was surprised by the question. "What do you mean?"
"I only want to say that Anthony isn't the only available man. That's all." He turned around and walked away.
Cora leaned back in her chair. Why was she together with Anthony? Especially after what he did. 'I could leave him' she contemplated. 'But I do love him in a way.' She thought. 'Right?' She wasn't so sure of herself anymore. She had been together with him since high-school. He had always protected her. 'He just lost control, he didn't mean to hurt me.' She shook her head and tried to focus on her work again.