First of all thank you to everyone who read the first chapter, for your review riaam and for the favourites and follows.
And second I apologize for the rubbish first chapter, I had worked on it over and over and couldn't get it to really work and so I just posted it, because that was the chapter that was causing me more trouble I knew if I didn't post it now then the story would never get posted. And now I am posting chapter two, I reworked it a little but I am happy with it enough to post it :) So I hope you all enjoy it!
As always the support is very much appreciated, thank you so much!
xXxXx
Part 2.
Putting her phone receiver down, Clarisse looked up just as Joseph appeared in the doorway. "I will expect your letter of resignation on my desk by morning." She said and stepped back from her desk.
"Clarisse, I didn't mean it." He exclaimed as she shook her head, starting to walk over to the sideboard.
"Take a seat," She said and motioned towards a chair opposite her desk.
"I will remain standing if it's all the same," He said and watched as she bent over to grab the first aid box from the cupboard.
"As you wish." She said while standing back up straight and started walking back over to her desk. "Did it hurt?" She asked while slamming the box down in front of her and opened it.
"Yes," He nodded and looked down at his hand as he stood beside her.
"Good," She snapped while dabbing some TCP liquid onto some cotton wool "And, was it worth it?" She asked while turning to face him.
"Not really," He answered as she grabbed his hand and pulled it towards her.
"Then why did you do it?" She asked, pressing the cotton wool hard onto his knuckles causing him to gasp in surprise.
"Because I was angry." He answered honestly as he looked away.
"Angry at me?" She asked and looked up at him as he shook his head.
"No," He answered and looked into her eyes "That man, Lord Vladimir.. there's just something I don't like about him." He said while turning his head away as she continued to dab his knuckles "I hate how he is with you."
"So you're jealous, is that what this is about? You hate seeing me with someone other than you?" She asked and looked back up at him.
"No, it's not that.. I want you to be happy and be with someone, I just didn't expect it to be him." He asked and looked back at her, catching her glancing at him before looking back down at his hand "What do you see in him?"
"There, all done." She said and turned back to her desk, avoiding the question. "You will need to keep it clean," She added while putting the contents of the first aid box back inside the box as Joseph watched her.
"Do you love him?" He asked, rubbing his knuckles as she stopped what she was doing.
"I don't know," She answered and continued tidying up the box.
"What do you see in him?" He asked again while studying her body language as she closed the box.
"Because, out of all the men out there he's been the only one to pay attention to me I guess." She answered and turned her head to look at him. "After Rupert died I swore that I would never be with anyone else, but over time I realised I missed having someone there. Not for the sex," She said with a slight shake of her head while looking away "But for the company... I used to love taking walks before, and I miss that. I miss having someone there waiting for me when I would return to my suite after a long day.. I missed so many things, I missed having someone to love." She said sadly and looked back down at the box on her desk. "He was Rupert's best friend, I can trust him."
"He's a slime ball Clarisse." He said softly and watched as she looked up at him in surprise.
"How dare you!" Clarisse exclaimed and grabbed the box.
"You can do so much better than him,"
"Someone like you, you mean?" She snapped and started to walk away, only when she felt his hand gripping her arm she stopped "Get of me." She exclaimed while looking up at him.
"Not until I have said what I want to say, if we are being honest then fine.. yes someone like me, I showed you attention and told you I loved you everyday but you didn't want to know, you danced with me, you let me kiss you, you led me on before you turned your back on me. What do you expect me to say!" He said and watched her look away. "He doesn't deserve you and you know it!" He exclaimed, suddenly feeling her hand slap across his face, causing him to gasp.
"How dare you, he deserves me more than you will ever do." She snapped.
"Why, why Clarisse? What's he got that I haven't?" He asked and watched as she began walking away "Is it because I'm just a body guard, your head of security and don't have a title. Is that why you want nothing to do with me?" He asked and watched as she stopped. "Because I don't have a title?"
Looking down at the first aid box in her hands a moment before she slowly turned back to him "No it's not actually," She said softly and started walking back to him "Maybe there is truth there, maybe part of it is because you are my body guard but it has nothing to do with you not having a title." She said and looked down at the box in her arms once again as tears filled her eyes. "It's because you are, well you was my best friend." She said sadly and looked up into his eyes "I didn't want to ruin that, you were my only friend here and I really didn't want to destory that bond we shared." She said and looked away.
Studying her, his heart broke. "I'm sorry."
"It doesn't matter," She answered and looked up as he moved to stand in front of her.
"Yes it does matter," He said softly while putting his hands on the tops of her arms. "I'm still your best friend, everything I said I didn't mean, and honestly if you want to be with him then I am happy for you."
"Even though you hate him and think I can do better?" She asked.
"Yes," He nodded and watched as she looked away, shaking her head "I'm sorry but I can't help how I feel about someone."
"He shows me affection Joseph, something every woman loves." She exclaimed while looking up into his eyes.
"I showed you affection," He said sadly.
"It wasn't the same," Clarisse answered, studying his face as he averted his gaze away.
He nodded a little while looking back at her "Will you open your heart, let me show you affection."
"No, Joseph," Shaking her head she looked down while turning to walk away. "I can't, it wouldn't be right."
"Just give me a chance, please?" He asked, begging for that chance and watched as she stopped.
Turning to her desk, she took a deep breath and placed the box down. And after a moment she slowly turned to him "Alright, show me affection." She whispered, hoping she wouldn't regret it.
Stepping closer, he put his hands up onto the tops of her arms once again "Thank you." He whispered, slowly running his hands down her arms.
"It's okay." She answered and watched as he took hold of her hands a moment later and raised them both up to his lips, her heart racing as he kissed the back of them.
And just a moment later he raised one of his hands up to cup her cheek, caressing her cheek bone with his thumb as he placed his other hand on her side. "You know that I have loved you for a very long time, don't you?" He asked and studied her face as she slowly nodded.
"I do," She whispered, her heating beating faster and faster.
Stepping closer he let his hand fall down onto her neck, his thumb caressing her jaw as he watched her close her eyes. Smiling he tilted his head slightly and gently pressed his lips to hers. As he let the kiss linger he could feel her chest heave rapidly against him.
Suddenly the door opened "I have your...ice pack... you..." Charlotte tried to say, but was unable to finish at the sight of Joseph quickly stepping back from the Queen.
"Wow," Clarisse found herself whispering to herself as she turned to find Charlotte stood open mouthed. "Charlotte?" She exclaimed in surprise.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry..." Charlotte exclaimed and noticed the Queen avert her gaze down to her hand "Yes," She said and looked down "I have the ice pack you requested, Your Majesty." She exclaimed and hurried over to her.
"Oh yes," She nodded, forcing a smile as she took it from her assistant. "Thank you."
"It was no trouble." Charlotte nodded "Can I get you anything else," She asked trying not to smirk as she looked towards Joseph a moment. Looking back at the Queen stood before her as she looked down at the ice pack in her hands.
"No," Clarisse finally said a moment later and shook her head while turning to Joseph "Here," She said and reached out for his hand, placing the ice pack on top of his knuckles before walking out.
"Clarisse?" He called after her, but to no avail. "Listen Charlotte," He began while looking at her as she turned to look at him "You didn't see anything, understand?"
"What are you talking about, Joseph?" Charlotte asked.
"Can we trust you?" He asked and stepped closer.
"Yes of course, you should know that by now." Charlotte exclaimed.
"Thank you." He smiled and passed her the ice pack back "Thank you so much." He exclaimed and hurried out the room.
"Not a problem," She smiled to herself and looked down at the ice pack in her hands, shaking her head she headed back to the kitchens.
A few moments later Joseph hurried through Clarisse's suite door, just as she downed a shot of whiskey.
"Ugh!" Clarisse exclaimed and placed the glass down with a thud.
"Now that's a surprise." He laughed and closed the door behind him.
"This isn't funny Joseph, she saw us." Clarisse exclaimed as she began pacing the room "She saw us kissing," She said and came to a stop "Oh this isn't good, she's going to tell and then everyone will know."
"Will you relax?" He asked as she began pacing the room once again. "She isn't going to tell anyone."
"How do you know?" She asked and stopped to look over at him "She will tell someone I am sure of it, and then it will be everywhere by morning. What about that Shades guy, your member of staff? What if she tells him? She tell's him everything." She said with a sigh and clasped her hands together.
"Listen to me," He began while walking over and stood in front of her as she came to a stop "She isn't going to tell him, nor anyone else. She's your assistant.. which means that you trust her, you trust her with many things actually and has she ever told anyone anything?" He asked and took her hands in his, holding them down between them.
"No," She said a moment later and shook her head "No she hasn't, and I do trust her."
"There you go then, you can trust her with this. She won't tell anyone, I promise you that." He said and stepped closer.
Nodding, she looked up into his eyes and smiled "You're right, I'm sorry I panicked."
"I know you did, and that's normal to do that." Joseph nodded with a chuckle as he put his hand up to cup her face. "Are you okay now?" He asked.
"I think so, yes." She nodded before looking down and placing her hand on his chest as he studied her face. "Joseph?"
"Yes?" He answered and watched as she looked up into his eyes.
"The kiss before... I didn't feel anything, I didn't feel that spark. I guess that's why I didn't want us to continue on as a couple, well as well as the other reasons." She said and watched as he nodded.
"And this time?" He asked, watching her as she looked back down at her hand on his chest.
"I... I felt it," She nodded "I felt the spark." She said and slowly looked back up into his eyes "Somehow this time felt different, like it meant something." She added and stepped back.
"Maybe it was too soon before," He said and watched as she walked over to the windows.
"Maybe," She answered while turning her head to look over at him "Maybe that's what it was." She added and looked back out the window. "If we went on to become a couple, how are we going to make it work. How are we going to keep it a secret?" She asked and upon hearing him making his way over to her she turned to him.
"If it's something we both want, we will find a way to make it work. Yes, it will be in secret, but we will make it work between us." He said, taking hold of her hands.
"How?" She asked, studying his face.
"We will find a way," He answered and studied her face "But is it something you really want?"
"I think so, yes." She nodded "And you?"
"Of course yes, it's been something I have wanted for such a long time." He said smiling as she smiled back and tilted her head.
"Joseph?"
"Yes?" He asked, his gaze meeting hers.
"I love you." She smiled and laughed out in surprise as he stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her waist, swinging her around as she locked her arms around his neck.
Stepping her back down on her feet a moment later, sharing a kiss or two as she moved one of her hands to the back of his head.