Chapter 2, Gray's POV. Yay for him :)
Alright, now that the aftermath of At the Office is being ended, the next chapter will start with the new plot. w00t for that. Be looking for it soon.
I groaned in protest as I opened my eyes, hearing some annoying beeping sound so darn early in the morning. I blinked into the darkness of the room, noting that it was ungodly early, and then relaxed more into the plush pillow, opting to tune out the persistent beeping of an alarm I was unfamiliar with and didn't know how to turn off. I could feel light breathing on my neck, and I turned some, a small smile playing on my face as I pressed my lips softly to the woman's forehead.
I shifted some so I was turned more towards her, and couldn't help but to feel content with her resting so peacefully next to me. I let my large hand glide over her small form, revealing in the silkiness of her skin and letting my hand rest on the curve of her ass a second and squeezing it gently before running it down lower, over her thigh and then back up before she began to stir. Over the weekend I had found this the most efficient way to wake her up.
"Morning," she mumbled out, slowly forcing herself up and reaching over me, turning off the alarm. She hesitated and sighed out "Close your eyes. I'm turning the light on."
"Let's stay here today," I muttered out, my voice husky from sleep. I closed my eyes anyway and gripped her thigh playfully, just as she turned on the lamp.
"Don't you have a company to run?" she murmured out, head resting lazily on my chest. She grew quiet and finally sighed. "You have an important meeting today that you can't miss." I chuckled some, glad that she had thought my suggestion over. I brushed her hair back from her face and she blinked tiredly up at me.
"I don't recall an important meeting," I said as I thought back to my schedule, not recalling what I would be doing today that was important, but I had obviously not thought it to be.
"You're supposed to be meeting with Jillian Rogers today," she managed out through a long yawn.
"I'm sure Kai will be more than happy to manage the affair," I began to protest but stopped when Claire's index and middle finger rested over my lips. She glared down at me half heartedly and shook her head.
"Just get up and get ready. I've never been late to work before, and I'm not about to start now." That being said she pulled the blanket off the bed, wrapping herself in it as she stood. I let out a small snort, finding it funny that she didn't want me to see her body when I had become quite familiar with it over the weekend. But I suppose it was Claire, and she naturally a modest person…
_-_-_-_
"Why are there so many cops here?" Claire murmured as the taxi pulled up to the company building. I furrowed my eyebrows and looked out the dirty window, wondering the same thing myself. I released her hand and reached for the door handle as I mulled over the possibilities.
"Perhaps there was a break in," I offered, opening the door and getting out. I stood on the side walk for a moment, blocking the door and examining the surroundings before finally allowing Claire to get out of the car herself.
"Do you think it's a good idea to go in together?" she said softly, her right hand resting over her chest as she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. I had known Claire fretted over many things in her years working with me, but I don't think I had ever taken the time to notice how often she had to calm and compose herself. I shrugged in response and stuck one of my hands in my suit pocket.
"It doesn't matter. We could have met outside the building. Just because we walk in together- that doesn't mean anything. But if you want…"
"There you are. Everyone and their mother is looking for you, you giant oaf," I jerked my head to the direction of the voice, seeing Kai standing there with his arms crossed over his chest. He looked frustrated, but at the same time he was grinning.
"What? Why?" I mumbled, tilting my head to the side and narrowing my eyes on him.
"Well…your mom has reported you abducted by the mafia or something by now. Seems that when you disappear for a few days people begin to worry…"he trailed off as he began to tap his foot on the sidewalk impatiently. "Dad is up in your office with the police, and your charming mother is on her way- which by the way is just how I wanted to start my week, being harassed by a woman who loathes my existence."
"My office?" I muttered, eyebrows furrowing together as I tried to piece what he was saying together. But without my morning cup of coffee- which had been denied to me at my lovers house due to her lack of a coffee pot- my brain was functioning at a very low level, unable to complete the picture.
"Well yes. It doesn't help your mother's abduction case when your office looks like a struggle took place. What with the scattered papers, the items on your desk being strewn on the floor, the knocked over chair…and I believe dad said the found shirt buttons all over the damn place."
I felt my face becoming red, both from embarrassment and from anger. I clenched my fists together, closing my eyes and trying to gain my composure. It damn sure didn't work fast enough, and I turned to the office, angrily storming towards it and ignoring the protests from the woman behind me. I pushed through the glass doors, hearing two sets of feet hurrying behind me. I got to the elevator, opting to punch the up button and by the time the elevator doors opened I was breathing somewhat heavily. The doors closed slowly and the elevator started to move before I realized I wasn't alone.
"Gray you need to calm down." I looked down at Claire, who was biting her bottom lip nervously. Kai was leaned against the elevator wall, watching the scene with amusement. "Going in there upset isn't going to fix anything," she began to explain and I interrupted her.
"I'm a damn grown man. If I want to leave for the weekend, or if I want to be left the hell alone and not have contact with my family I should be able to do it without my office being a goddamn crime scene on Monday morning," I hissed, one of my hands coming up to grip my hair tightly, yanking on it some in frustration. "No one acts this way when Kai disappears for days on end."
"That is because they expect it from me," Kai chimed in, looking at Claire bemusedly and shaking his head. "You've no self control, do you?" he asked, eyes flickering to mine and then back down to Claire. I narrowed my eyes at him and he discreetly pointed to his neck and looked meaningfully down at Claire again. I side stepped looking down at her and then grimacing.
"Oh good Goddess," I muttered, rubbing the back of my neck nervously and shaking my head. "Claire…you need to let your hair down." She blinked at me, her hands running to her ponytail hesitantly, blinking at me somewhat confused.
"You have a nice sized hickey right here," Kai offered, pressing the spot on the side of her neck that was just out of her sight in a mirror. Claire immediately snatched the ponytail down, finger combing through her hair and blushing all the more.
"Popuri has a brush in her desk I'm sure she wont mind letting you use," Kai said reassuringly, and then looked at me over Claire, a knowing grin on his face. "I certainly hope it was worth it then," he said quietly, just before the elevator doors slid open. Sasha looked up from her desk, a relieved sigh leaving her as she stood, walking over to my open office and sticking her head inside.
"Mr. Cameron- your sons are both here," she said quietly, causing a small commotion in the office as a few police men came out and stood in the main part of the room. My father followed closely after them, a relieved and agitated expression on his face.
"Mr. Cameron," one of the police said, gaining my attention. He shrunk back some as my intense glare cut over to him. "I trust that you're fine then? There is…nothing you wish to report to us as to why you disappeared for the weekend?"
"I'm a grown man, well out on my own and have my own place. If I so chose to leave for a few days to get away from this hell hole, I see no reason to contact anyone," I snapped angrily, my eyes immediately cutting to my father. The man stroked his mustache and seemed to be trying to hold in a chuckle.
"Very well sir. Your mother was quite worried…so…the next time, perhaps you might ring her and let her know that you will be off?" The police man offered before gesturing for his men to leave.
"My mother should mind her own damn affairs," I snapped back, walking over to my father angrily and crossing my arms over my chest. "What is the meaning of all this old man?"
"Well…" he began leaning against the wall behind him lazily as he returned my angry glare. "While it is like you to blow off your mother, it isnae like you to blow me off. I know you received my message, being as that Ms. Brooks took it, and I know how adamant she is about her job," he began to explain, and I felt my ears heat in embarrassment.
"I forgot," I replied lamely, hearing the police gather into the elevator and the doors shutting soundly- leaving only Claire, Sasha, and my family in the room.
"It isnae like you to forget son," Dad replied, patting the top of my head like I was toddler again. "I am sure you had something important on your mind, but that doesnae excuse it. You havenae any one to be mad at but yourself." I stayed silent for what seemed like forever before nodding, my eyes shutting in frustration.
"I'm sorry dad," I muttered out, shaking my head in defeat.
"I am verra interested in knowing what was so important you couldnae remember to return my call."
"Well Dad, you ought to know as well as I do," Kai drawled out coming in between us and resting an arm on each of our shoulders as he gave me a knowing smirk. "that it's difficult to think about such petty things when a beautiful woman has you trapped between her thighs," he finished in a low whisper, his grin growing after he finished.
I stiffened at his blatant statement, my face turning a scarlet red as I clenched my fist together and gathered all my will power to keep from punching the bastard. I glanced nervously around, thankfully seeing that Claire was out of earshot, brushing her hair and quietly conversing with Sasha.
"Gray here has just learned all about that," he continued on, shaking my shoulder vigorously. "Aren't you proud of him? I know I am."
"I highly doubt that my son disappeared for the weekend to be shacked up with some gutter whore like you do," came a too familiar voice, much too loudly in my opinion. I turned slightly, inwardly groaning when the strong scent of magnolia perfume hit my nose, almost making me nauseous in the process. Kai had done the same but he kept a smile painted on his face as he looked down at my mother.
"Samantha…such a pleasure to see you, as is it always," Kai said cheerfully.
"Don't start with me you abomination," she muttered, eyes cutting from him to me. "Darling where have you been?" she inquired, causing me to narrow my eyes at her and shake my head.
"Where I wanted to be. I don't see how that is really anyone's business but mine," I said lowly, doing my best to keep my voice down so my mother would do the same. "I've no idea why your acting so damn concerned about it. It's not like I mattered much when I was in your care, and now that I'm out of it I damn sure don't need you mothering me now," I added harshly, jerking my shoulder out of the grip of who could only be my father.
"That is no way to talk to your mother," I heard him saw lowly. I couldn't believe he was defending her!
"She has no right to be in here stirring up all this mess and presuming something is wrong. It's none of her business. She isn't my mom- she's just the woman that gave birth to me," I hissed out lowly, causing my mother to take a step back and place her hand over her chest. But at the moment I didn't give a damn about that. Because when I needed the damn woman she had never been there for me. "Manna is more of a mother to me than she ever was."
"Gray, you need to chill out," Kai said quietly, tugging me backwards and leaving my father and mother to begin to exchanged murmurs and mutters.
"It's your own fault he feels that way about you. You cannae expect a nanny to do a mother's job," my father said slightly louder, gaining the attention of the two women in the corner.
He was right though. And you couldn't expect the nanny to do a wife's job either. That was how Manna became my step mother. She was already raising me and being my father's mistress. When she became pregnant with my sister my dad decided to end things with my mother. But you couldn't be a cold hearted bitch and expect people to love you and want you to stay around.
I waked briskly over to my office, snatching my chair up and beginning to pick up the scattered items from Friday night. I could hear the soft clicking of heels on the hard wood floor and didn't have to turn around to know who it was. I could tell just from the calming affect the woman's presence had on me. She didn't say a word, and simply knelt down, gathering papers and pens and a few buttons.
"Don't worry about it Gray. Parents…they mean well," she offered as she stood, beginning to organize the items on my desk appropriately. I didn't say anything and turned towards my prized liquor cabinet, the temptation being just a little too strong. Claire followed my gaze and frowned, shaking her head. "And stay away from that. At least until after the meeting."
I opted to sit on the edge of my desk, sulking some as Claire walked over and turned on my coffee pot. I gripped the edges of the dark redwood desk, wanting so badly to just leave this damn place. There was no way in hell I would be ready for a meeting in a few hours. I was still going to be frustrated and easily irritable.
"Gray…your tie is crooked again." The soft murmur brought me out of my thoughts and back to the small woman that was standing on front of me, her hands beginning to unknot my tie, nimble fingers pulling and slackening it. That gentle smile was on her lips as she did it, her eyes focused on her task. Before when she had done it I had just…awkwardly stood there and resisted the urge to grab her. But Goddess I had the damn right to do it now, and I was pretty sure I needed a physical distraction. I released my desk, my hand slowly coming up and fingers barley grazing the side of her waist.
"Get your hands off my son!" came a shrill shout, causing Claire to jump and myself to groan.
"Get the hell out of my office," I muttered, thought my words seemed to have the opposite affect, seeing as how the damn banshee came barreling inside.
"Sammy calm down. She was just fixing his tie," my father's tired voice came through and the office door shut behind him.
"Oh she was, was she? Much like that little tart out there fixing that little bastard's tie, huh?" she hissed, approaching me and Claire. Claire stood firm, not moving though her back was now to me.
"Don't talk about my son like that," dad growled, evidently at the end of his rope when it came to dealing with her.
"Why not? It's the truth. Where the hell do you hire these women in here? Do you go get some hookers from the street," she continued on, causing Claire to stiffen somewhat and though I couldn't see her face I could sense her shift in mood.
"Excuse me?" she forced out, somewhat quietly but it got my mother's attention.
"I don't believe I stuttered," she retorted, shoving her nose upwards as if the sight of the blond disgusted her. I narrowed my eyes, as did my father. We needed to get her out of here, but the question was how did we go about it.
"No ma'am, you did not. But I'm sure you didn't mean to be so insulting to someone you do not know," Claire began, her voice strained as she tried to remain calm.
"I did meant to be. I've no reason to be nice to you or that other woman out there. Both of you are nothing more than gold diggers trying to seduce wealthy men," she began, and I saw Claire flinch at the accusation. That was one of the things she had been worried about, after all.
Listening to that raving woman, hearing her shrill voice was grading highly on my nerves, and I wanted her to stop and I wanted her to stop now. I reached forward, grabbing the back of Claire's blouse and pulling her back towards me and onto my lap. I wrapped an arm around her waist and the other around her shoulders my chin resting on her shoulder as well as I held her to me. Her reaction couldn't have been better.
"M-Mr. Cameron!" her voice came out as almost a squeak and she flushed so deeply I could feel her skin heating through her clothes. My mother gapped at us while Dad just stood there with a bemused expression.
"If you want me to have anything to do with you, you will stop acting like a snob and quit talking to this woman that way," I muttered lowly, my darkened eyes meeting my mother's dark brown orbs. "I'm going to say this clearly, and only once, so listen closely. What I do and whom I do it with are none of your concerns. You don't have to like it, and I don't care if you disprove. But you will respect certain boundaries, and heaven help you if you cross them." I was surprised out how calm and firm my voice was, but I credited to the small hands gripping my forearm and the fingertips moving soothingly over it.
"You will respect this woman, and any woman employed here, or you will no longer be welcomed. You will stop harassing my brother, as he is not the reason that your marriage fell apart. You want to be a bitter old woman, then take it else where. No one here wishes to deal with you when you're like that." I saw the older woman shrink back, her hands coming up absentmindedly to smooth over her flawless hair, fingertips stopping when they reached the tight bun.
"V-very well. I shall talk to you later, when you are more at yourself," she whispered out, hurrying out the door. I sighed when it shut firmly behind her, forehead burying into Claire's slender shoulder and loosening my grip on her.
"Sorry to have embarrassed you," I muttered out, feeling suddenly drained and in desperate need of whiskey. The intercom on my desk buzzed and Kai's voice rang through the office.
"Ding dong the witch is gone," he sing sung, earning a chuckle from my father. I released Claire completely and she quietly made her way out of the office, leaving me and my father alone.
"That was quite a performance," he chuckled, opting to sit in my chair. I looked up at the ceiling and shook my head, smirking some.
"That was no performance," I retorted, crossing my arms over my chest and letting out sigh. "I was with Claire this weekend," I offered as a smile made its way to my face. Dad's eyes widened and her turned his head to the side, curiosity getting the better of him.
"Oh? And how did that happen?" The question caused me to frown and I bowed my head, glaring at the grain of the hardwood floor beneath my loafers.
"She was planning on quitting," I stated, which only caused Dad's eyes to widen more. "and after some arguing, and other events, I convinced her to stay."
"Events that resulted in your incapacitation for the weekend?"
"I was anything but unwilling, I assure you," I mumbled, feeling my face heat. It was amazing that I could listen to this man and Kai exchange sexual encounters as if they were talking about the weather, and yet I was embarrassed and unwilling to give more away than that. I was not about to get near as graphic as I had heard some of these father- son conversations get.
"It just doesnae sit right with me, this relationship," Dad finally offered after several moments of silence. I narrowed my eyes and scowled at him, standing up straight and feeling my fist clench at my sides.
"And what is your concern with it then?" I forced out, trying my best to keep my voice from rising. Dad chuckled at me and stood up, his hand resting on my shoulder.
"She's a wee little thing. She might have trouble having some grandchildren for me," he said, slapping my face lightly and shaking his head. His words sunk in and I felt my face become painfully hot, and I shook my head exasperatedly.
"Dad that isn't funny," I muttered as he walked towards my office door, waving over his shoulder as he left. But then I felt my chest tighten up as a thought hit me. I...had not used any protection at all this weekend. Not once. And Goddess help me I hadn't even pulled out. It hadn't even occurred to me…
All I had been focused on was her, and how good it felt to be with her. The thought of a condom hadn't even crossed my mind, not that I had one anyway, but it should have at least occurred to me to think about the possibility of pregnancy. I heard the soft patter of heels on the hardwood floor once again and I heard the door shut soundly behind the woman.
"Mr. Cameron?" I looked up at Claire, chewing on the inside of my cheek as she approached me, a worried look on her face. She stopped in front of me and tried once again to get me to answer her. "Gray, are you…" I interrupted her by pulling her against me, fingers gripping her shoulders roughly.
"Claire…I just realized...I mean I should have thought about it sooner," I began to mutter, earning a concerned look from the petite blond. But she hadn't said anything about it to me, not once. Maybe she hadn't been worried about pregnancy. "Are you…on the pill?" I mumbled, feeling my ears tinge bright red as the words left my lips. She blinked at me, her mouth opening slightly before her lips pressed into a firm line.
"Do you think I would have not said anything if I wasn't?" she mumbled in reply, her face heating as well. I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding and gave a small relived laugh. "That…is something that you don't have to worry about right now, okay Gray?" she added, her fingers rubbing under my chin playfully before she stepped back. "Now, we have to get back to work," she cleared her throat, and then continued in a professional tone. "Mr. Cameron, Jillian Rogers has arrived for her meeting. The Vice President and CEO are already in the board room, and are awaiting your arrival."
I nodded and pulled the folder from my desk drawer, the paper work all ready to be reviewed and signed. With it in hand I escorted Miss Brooks to the board room, happy to know that for the most part things were as normal as could be at the office.
I love Kai in this for whatever reason, and yes I made Gray's mother a stuck up woman. Though that is how I tend to see that particular woman in HM anyways. New plots begin next chapter. Should update a lot sooner this time. Lot's of random stuff for this laying around my laptop. :)