Cora closed the door behind her, she just said goodbye to Adeline. The move suddenly happened very fast. Her boss decided he needed her in Sheffield right away. He arranged an apartment for her. So instead of weeks, it had been days.
Cora was happy she was going to Robert tonight. She longed for him, not only his kisses. Mostly she longed for his presence. How could this feeling be so strong already? They only decided to see where it was going yesterday. They had met just over a month ago. She remembered seeing him standing in front of her painting.
He was a tall man, not ripped, but just in the right shape. She remembered looking at his bottom and moving her eyes over his back, to the back of his head. His hair was slightly curly in his neck. And when he turned around, she had seen the most beautiful blue eyes she had ever seen. His smile had made her weak inside.
There was a knock on the door, without checking who it was, Cora opened the door. She looked up in the face of Anthony. He was holding a bottle of wine and roses in his hand.
Cora stepped back. "What…. are….. you….. doing….. here." She stuttered.
"I owe you an apology." He said, stepping inside her house.
"You can't be here." Cora tried, stepping further back. "The restraining order……."
"Let's forget about that one for a minute and hear me out." Anthony closed the door behind him. "I brought you something." He offered her the roses, then he walked towards the kitchen to open the bottle of wine.
Cora stood, frozen to the ground. He was in her home! What should she do, text Robert? Call the police?
Anthony's head popped around the corner. "Is it alright if I make a cheese plate? I am quite hungry."
Cora nodded. She wanted to scream that he needed to go, but she was afraid of what he would do. He was in a good mood and she knew how easily that could change. But she didn't want him here.
"Are you coming?" She heard coming from the living room.
Anthony was sitting on the sofa, gesturing she should sit down. Cora slowly lowered herself on the sofa. Anthony took her hand.
"I cannot express how sorry I am for what I have done." He looked at her. "I hope there is a way you can forgive me?" He scooted a little bit closer.
Cora felt her body stiffen up. "You have crossed a line." She said very softly.
"I know, but I am sorry." He moved his hand to her cheek and his thumb brushed away a tear. "Don't cry my beautiful."
Cora scolded herself for showing him weakness. Why was she allowing him to be here? She didn't want him in her house. She looked at how Anthony devoured the cheese and chucked his glass.
He leaned into her and kissed her neck, moved his kisses up towards her cheekbone. He kissed the tip of her nose, the corner of her mouth and then stopped. "This is what you are missing out on." He whispered against her lips.
Suddenly he got up and left. Leaving Cora dazed behind. What had just happened? Why was Anthony doing this? And why was she allowing it.
"Robert, can I borrow you for a minute." Anna's head popped around his office door.
Robert looked at the clock; it was five to eight. "Just for a minute, yes you can." He got up and followed her.
In the kitchen the whole staff was waiting for him. "Yesterday it was so incredibly busy we never got the chance to celebrate our new star." Anna said.
John popped open a bottle of champagne and filled the glasses. They all raised their glass. "To our success." They said in choir.
They were all hugging each other and toasting their glasses, when Robert spotted Cora standing in the doorway. He smiled at her, but the smile she returned worried him. It wasn't the smile he had seen yesterday.
He stepped towards her, his hand on her waist kissing her cheek. "Are you alright?"
Cora nodded, she didn't want to ruin the celebration. "You all seem to have fun." She looked at the glasses.
Robert chuckled. "You want one too?"
The alcohol could help her settle down after the confrontation with Anthony. She nodded and waited for Robert to return with a glass for her. She followed him further into the kitchen.
Anna gave her a big smile. "How wonderful seeing you again.
John stepped next to Anna and put his arm on her shoulders. "It's good Cora is here. We need to talk about new menus."
Robert stepped next to Cora, his shoulder touching hers. "Not tonight, you two have to go back to work and Cora and I will not be talking about work tonight."
John chuckled. "There is enough champagne left for a nice evening." He handed Robert the bottle.
Robert looked at Cora. Something was wrong. He gave her a reassuring smile. "See you tomorrow." He held up the bottle, smiled at both Anna and John and gave Cora his arm. She hooked her arm in his and they walked out.
The taxi drive home had been quiet. Cora wasn't really present. Robert touched her leg, which made her jump. "We are here."
Cora blushed and she was ashamed of her reaction.
"Shall we go in?" Robert got out and opened the door for her. Cora took his hand and walked next to him to his front door. His hand in hers felt safe. She was debating if she should tell him what happened. He would be furious if he found out Anthony had been in her home again and that she didn't kick him out.