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"You sound like my mother" It completely caught her off guard. 'His mother?' Chloe was extremely confused, but surprisingly enough she hid her confusion well and instead plastered a smile on her face and played his comment off as smoothly as she could. "Oh now, Brady, don't tell me your one of those men who has an obsession with his mother?"
"Not to my knowledge" he replied with a quick look up and down her frame. "Don't get me wrong my mother, stepmother that is, is an amazing women, and perfectly suited for my father, but no you won't find any obsessions with her here" finishing his statement he took a giant bite out of his warm BLT and his world went in to ecstasy.
With is eyes closed and head thrown back completely and totally enjoying his BLT he asked, mouth half full. "Why is it no one informed me such a creation existed for breakfast?"
"You didn't ask" her reply came out smoothly and his head snapped down and his eyes pinned her. His mouth broke out in a grin at her suggestively daring words. He took a step closer and she could feel the warmth radiating off him as his sheer height and breadth over took her small frame. "All I had to do was ask?" his eyebrow rose and his grin went into a sly smirk. The intensity of the moment and the sheer sexual tension that was starting to control her was almost making her forget how to breathe properly. He kept her gaze locked in his and couldn't help but catch the sharp intake of breath after his equally suggestive question.
What was coming over him? This is certainly not why he had chosen Chloe over the more experienced and well-suited applicants, well not entirely. Was it wrong that he wanted something more than a drone to talk to everyday? With Chloe he saw something interesting, something that captured him and never let him go. Everyday he kept finding himself wanting to know more about this mysterious woman. As the air in the room slowly changed around her she realized this wasn't right. "I.I'll just get you another coffee Mr. Black" She broke his intense gaze and made herself walk briskly out his door.
Brady thought about the interesting change of events and decided that this, whatever it was, that was on the verge of forming between him and his pretty secretary was not good. He glanced at his desk squinting his eyes at the Clarkson file, 'You can't lose your focus' he said determined. Chloe however, had a harder time returning to a cool state. She sat down in her chair and finished off the rest of her workday.
As she sat outside her new cottage and watched Natalie play in the freshly fallen snow her mind started to wander, which usually happens when she had nothing better to do. She went back to her favorite topic of recent weeks, none other than Brady Black. At least now she could admit he was undeniably attractive with an unheard of seductive quality about him. The only thing that bothered her even more was that he didn't even think about his sweet little secretary in a romantic sort of way, she could only imagine what he would be like when he was actually attracted to someone. The thought alone made her bite her lip as she could picture the many ways one Brady Black would go about seducing someone.
But then something stuck her. Would he just shower them with expensive gifts? Or show off his high society life style? As this new thought occurred to her Chloe's mouth turned into a frown and her brows furrowed and she started noticing the similar qualities Brady Black had to one evil spawn of Satan, Phillip. Her eyes darkened and she told her self with conviction "Every other woman might fall prey to his charms, but this woman has been there, done that, is immune, and will be immune to him."
The next morning Chloe arrived and naturally Brady was already there. She went to her desk, looked over the outline she had set up for Brady today and then went to get him his coffee. She stood at the door and took a deep breath before planting a light smile on her lips. She walked slowly toward his desk noticing him intently studying a file. "Morning Chloe" came his stiff reply, as his eyes never even looked up to acknowledge her. She set the tray down and walked toward the door. She turned around and took one last look at him before closing his door quietly. Walking back to her office and sitting in her chair, she was needless to say slightly unnerved. Yes she had told herself she wouldn't fall prey to him, but still inwardly, she felt slighted. 'Come on now Chloe don't be a hypocrite. You, yourself, said you wanted that business like atmosphere back didn't you?' She had said that and now she was being ridiculous to be analyzing his every move or comment, but that feeling continued to stray within her.
A little before lunchtime Chloe received a call from one of the managing directors of Clarkson International, and not a moment later did Brady poke his head in her door. "I put a tape on your desk of the new contract with Clarkson. Work on getting that typed, and we're meeting with them for lunch in a few so book a table at Castriotti's.
Chloe's eyes widened as she turned in her chair to look at him for the first time. "Are you saying I'm to accompany you?" she even managed a slight smile and lightness to her voice even though her agitation was getting the better of her. "Yes, and bring a pad and pencil with you" his voice was distant even though he was only a few feet away. His eyes weren't focused on the person in front of him instead he was in full out work mode. "Yes Mr. Black" she replied.
At half past eleven Chloe waited in the reception area on Brady to show. He had told her to be ready early, so they could make it in a timely fashion. Chloe sighed as she looked at her watch. Suddenly his shadow covered her and she looked up and almost gasped, but caught herself. This man being so close always had an effect on her, and she couldn't deny that. She stood and he walked briskly toward the elevator all the while taking a firm hold to her elbow. As they walked into the elevator and stopped, she moved a step away from him. She thought her actions had been discreet enough he wouldn't notice, but he did. He turned to look at her, confused. "What's wrong?"
"I'm sorry?" she asked. She met his gaze and noticed how leisurely he leaned against the side of the elevator. "You don't like me touching you" his voice was smooth and certain as his eyes pierced through her. "Is it me? Or is it Men in general?" his voice still steady and certain took on a challenging quality that she couldn't really describe, but the fact that he actually asked the question without any hesitation or thought she couldn't believe. Well if he was challenging her she wasn't one to run and hide. "As a matter of fact Mr. Black, I don't like physical contact" she said lifting her head and turning her face away from his. His eyebrow rose at her statement.
"Chloe, if you have a particular problem with me, I think it should go ahead and be delt with now. We can't have a healthy relationship if there is something bothering you. And what I did I certainly wouldn't call physical contact." For some reason, once he started he couldn't stop. Something about her just made his blood turn to fire. "And another thing I'm not some pervert who goes and jumps unsuspecting women Chloe. I do have strict rules about mixing work with pleasure. Do you understand?"
Chloe felt like she was going to suddenly turn to goo and have her body fall into a large puddle on the floor. She had never been so embarrassed in all her life, and just from one simple statement. She stared at him completely taken aback. Why did he make her feel like this? How did he do it? She secretly fell back into the dark, evil part of her mind and suspected that he found some sick amusement in seeing her like this. "Brady.I..I simply stated that I didn't like the physical contact. That's all," she said in a small unsure voice. "Well you better get over it fast because I'm not about to rethink all my actions and words just make sure you don't get offended" he said sharply.
What had happened? Yesterday she was fighting her sexual tension and today she felt like a small child being scolded by a parent. She broke his gaze and looked down, scared to even look at him anymore, afraid she would lose her resolve. They walked over to his expensive car without a word. She got in quietly and just stared straight ahead careful not to touch anything. Her mind was made up. She with out a doubt hated Brady Black. Why had he been so cruel? How could he have been so unfeeling? She was stupid to think there was something else there besides a ruthless, money hungry scoundrel, and she hated herself for letting her walls down to even think he was different. No man was different. They were all the same.
He got settled and turned to look at her. The emotions on her face became his undoing. What the hell was a matter with him? "..Chloe.look" he stopped and fully turned to face her. "I handled that horribly.I.I'm sorry" he said making his last statement turn into more of a whisper. "It's.just.you made me.feel like some kind of perverted sexual predator" he said slowly. She finally turned to face him. They both took in an audible breath as they saw the raw emotions on each other's face.
".Brady.I..."
"It's.just. That has never happened to me before" Brady said quickly interrupting her.
She was found breathless and she couldn't form words. She wanted to take a picture or scream out loud to the world that Brady Black finally showed her some emotion. He admitted that what she had said made him actually feel something and he reacted. Forgetting her earlier statements of hate she took notice that this was the closest they had ever been to each other. His after-shave was floating around her trying to seduce her senses, and she just wanted to close her eyes and fall into a deep sleep, but she couldn't. She could never close her eyes when those magical crystal blues were looking at her face so intently. They were begging for an understanding, something to show them it was OK. Chloe obliged and gave them a small smile of understanding and they immediately grew soft and he left out a breath of relief.
"It was your marriage," he said so low and husky the sexual awareness all around them was going to fog the windows soon. "Yes." she said in a near whisper, as they continued their soul dancing stare.
"You sound like my mother" It completely caught her off guard. 'His mother?' Chloe was extremely confused, but surprisingly enough she hid her confusion well and instead plastered a smile on her face and played his comment off as smoothly as she could. "Oh now, Brady, don't tell me your one of those men who has an obsession with his mother?"
"Not to my knowledge" he replied with a quick look up and down her frame. "Don't get me wrong my mother, stepmother that is, is an amazing women, and perfectly suited for my father, but no you won't find any obsessions with her here" finishing his statement he took a giant bite out of his warm BLT and his world went in to ecstasy.
With is eyes closed and head thrown back completely and totally enjoying his BLT he asked, mouth half full. "Why is it no one informed me such a creation existed for breakfast?"
"You didn't ask" her reply came out smoothly and his head snapped down and his eyes pinned her. His mouth broke out in a grin at her suggestively daring words. He took a step closer and she could feel the warmth radiating off him as his sheer height and breadth over took her small frame. "All I had to do was ask?" his eyebrow rose and his grin went into a sly smirk. The intensity of the moment and the sheer sexual tension that was starting to control her was almost making her forget how to breathe properly. He kept her gaze locked in his and couldn't help but catch the sharp intake of breath after his equally suggestive question.
What was coming over him? This is certainly not why he had chosen Chloe over the more experienced and well-suited applicants, well not entirely. Was it wrong that he wanted something more than a drone to talk to everyday? With Chloe he saw something interesting, something that captured him and never let him go. Everyday he kept finding himself wanting to know more about this mysterious woman. As the air in the room slowly changed around her she realized this wasn't right. "I.I'll just get you another coffee Mr. Black" She broke his intense gaze and made herself walk briskly out his door.
Brady thought about the interesting change of events and decided that this, whatever it was, that was on the verge of forming between him and his pretty secretary was not good. He glanced at his desk squinting his eyes at the Clarkson file, 'You can't lose your focus' he said determined. Chloe however, had a harder time returning to a cool state. She sat down in her chair and finished off the rest of her workday.
As she sat outside her new cottage and watched Natalie play in the freshly fallen snow her mind started to wander, which usually happens when she had nothing better to do. She went back to her favorite topic of recent weeks, none other than Brady Black. At least now she could admit he was undeniably attractive with an unheard of seductive quality about him. The only thing that bothered her even more was that he didn't even think about his sweet little secretary in a romantic sort of way, she could only imagine what he would be like when he was actually attracted to someone. The thought alone made her bite her lip as she could picture the many ways one Brady Black would go about seducing someone.
But then something stuck her. Would he just shower them with expensive gifts? Or show off his high society life style? As this new thought occurred to her Chloe's mouth turned into a frown and her brows furrowed and she started noticing the similar qualities Brady Black had to one evil spawn of Satan, Phillip. Her eyes darkened and she told her self with conviction "Every other woman might fall prey to his charms, but this woman has been there, done that, is immune, and will be immune to him."
The next morning Chloe arrived and naturally Brady was already there. She went to her desk, looked over the outline she had set up for Brady today and then went to get him his coffee. She stood at the door and took a deep breath before planting a light smile on her lips. She walked slowly toward his desk noticing him intently studying a file. "Morning Chloe" came his stiff reply, as his eyes never even looked up to acknowledge her. She set the tray down and walked toward the door. She turned around and took one last look at him before closing his door quietly. Walking back to her office and sitting in her chair, she was needless to say slightly unnerved. Yes she had told herself she wouldn't fall prey to him, but still inwardly, she felt slighted. 'Come on now Chloe don't be a hypocrite. You, yourself, said you wanted that business like atmosphere back didn't you?' She had said that and now she was being ridiculous to be analyzing his every move or comment, but that feeling continued to stray within her.
A little before lunchtime Chloe received a call from one of the managing directors of Clarkson International, and not a moment later did Brady poke his head in her door. "I put a tape on your desk of the new contract with Clarkson. Work on getting that typed, and we're meeting with them for lunch in a few so book a table at Castriotti's.
Chloe's eyes widened as she turned in her chair to look at him for the first time. "Are you saying I'm to accompany you?" she even managed a slight smile and lightness to her voice even though her agitation was getting the better of her. "Yes, and bring a pad and pencil with you" his voice was distant even though he was only a few feet away. His eyes weren't focused on the person in front of him instead he was in full out work mode. "Yes Mr. Black" she replied.
At half past eleven Chloe waited in the reception area on Brady to show. He had told her to be ready early, so they could make it in a timely fashion. Chloe sighed as she looked at her watch. Suddenly his shadow covered her and she looked up and almost gasped, but caught herself. This man being so close always had an effect on her, and she couldn't deny that. She stood and he walked briskly toward the elevator all the while taking a firm hold to her elbow. As they walked into the elevator and stopped, she moved a step away from him. She thought her actions had been discreet enough he wouldn't notice, but he did. He turned to look at her, confused. "What's wrong?"
"I'm sorry?" she asked. She met his gaze and noticed how leisurely he leaned against the side of the elevator. "You don't like me touching you" his voice was smooth and certain as his eyes pierced through her. "Is it me? Or is it Men in general?" his voice still steady and certain took on a challenging quality that she couldn't really describe, but the fact that he actually asked the question without any hesitation or thought she couldn't believe. Well if he was challenging her she wasn't one to run and hide. "As a matter of fact Mr. Black, I don't like physical contact" she said lifting her head and turning her face away from his. His eyebrow rose at her statement.
"Chloe, if you have a particular problem with me, I think it should go ahead and be delt with now. We can't have a healthy relationship if there is something bothering you. And what I did I certainly wouldn't call physical contact." For some reason, once he started he couldn't stop. Something about her just made his blood turn to fire. "And another thing I'm not some pervert who goes and jumps unsuspecting women Chloe. I do have strict rules about mixing work with pleasure. Do you understand?"
Chloe felt like she was going to suddenly turn to goo and have her body fall into a large puddle on the floor. She had never been so embarrassed in all her life, and just from one simple statement. She stared at him completely taken aback. Why did he make her feel like this? How did he do it? She secretly fell back into the dark, evil part of her mind and suspected that he found some sick amusement in seeing her like this. "Brady.I..I simply stated that I didn't like the physical contact. That's all," she said in a small unsure voice. "Well you better get over it fast because I'm not about to rethink all my actions and words just make sure you don't get offended" he said sharply.
What had happened? Yesterday she was fighting her sexual tension and today she felt like a small child being scolded by a parent. She broke his gaze and looked down, scared to even look at him anymore, afraid she would lose her resolve. They walked over to his expensive car without a word. She got in quietly and just stared straight ahead careful not to touch anything. Her mind was made up. She with out a doubt hated Brady Black. Why had he been so cruel? How could he have been so unfeeling? She was stupid to think there was something else there besides a ruthless, money hungry scoundrel, and she hated herself for letting her walls down to even think he was different. No man was different. They were all the same.
He got settled and turned to look at her. The emotions on her face became his undoing. What the hell was a matter with him? "..Chloe.look" he stopped and fully turned to face her. "I handled that horribly.I.I'm sorry" he said making his last statement turn into more of a whisper. "It's.just.you made me.feel like some kind of perverted sexual predator" he said slowly. She finally turned to face him. They both took in an audible breath as they saw the raw emotions on each other's face.
".Brady.I..."
"It's.just. That has never happened to me before" Brady said quickly interrupting her.
She was found breathless and she couldn't form words. She wanted to take a picture or scream out loud to the world that Brady Black finally showed her some emotion. He admitted that what she had said made him actually feel something and he reacted. Forgetting her earlier statements of hate she took notice that this was the closest they had ever been to each other. His after-shave was floating around her trying to seduce her senses, and she just wanted to close her eyes and fall into a deep sleep, but she couldn't. She could never close her eyes when those magical crystal blues were looking at her face so intently. They were begging for an understanding, something to show them it was OK. Chloe obliged and gave them a small smile of understanding and they immediately grew soft and he left out a breath of relief.
"It was your marriage," he said so low and husky the sexual awareness all around them was going to fog the windows soon. "Yes." she said in a near whisper, as they continued their soul dancing stare.