Chapter 11

CHLOE DUARTE

"Miss Duarte?", a familiar voice sounds on the other end.

Holy crap!

"Mr. Colucci?", I ask, hoping it's not him calling me at this moment.

"It's hard to help without seeing the lingerie, but the color red besides being very sexy highlights the sensuality of the woman, but I also like white since it gives off a vibe of innocence, of purity, which makes the body and woman in question more interesting."

Did I hear right?

"Mr. Colucci, how can I help you?", I ask shakily and red with embarrassment.

"I know I'm not who you expected, but I hope I helped you pick out the pieces. I am sorry to be calling at a late hour, but I need your help in finding the contract that needs to be reviewed before it is delivered to the investor at lunch tomorrow."

I put the call on speakerphone on the bed while I finish waving my hair, removing the hair clips, and removing my robe, staring at the two lingerie sets, opting for the red color.

"Sure, how can I help you, Mr. Colucci?", I ask, putting on the lingerie and putting on the dress before looking at my reflection in the dressing table mirror.

"Eva left this contract organized and ready, all that was missing was the review before the client signed, but I can't find it.", he says with a tired tone of voice.

"Have you looked through the folders she left organized?"

"Yes, but nothing is referring to Mr. Walker..."

"Have you looked through the files saved on the computer? Most of the contracts and documents are there.", I said, smoothing the wavy strands of my hair before starting my make-up.

"I managed to access some folders with files, but it is asking for a password, are you nearby?", I frown, stopping to apply concealer to my face.

"I'm at home, but I've arranged to go out with some friends in a little while.", I speak the truth.

"I know it is asking a lot, but could you come to the company and help me look for it? Or maybe help me reformulate another one?"

"Now?", I ask in amazement, staring at the cell phone on the bed as if I were staring at Mr. Colucci himself.

"Exactly, but I don't want to get in the way, you can deny it if you want, but you would help me a lot, I could leave this matter for tomorrow, but I have a business to attend to out of town and I won't have time until noon?"

Damn it!

He is my boss and he is asking me to help him with something work-related and I am his assistant, so this is my job, but we are outside of working hours so I don't have to accept.

"Yes, but I can't stay long...", I say.

"Perfect, no problem! It's late, do you need a ride?"

"No, thank you! I don't live very far away and walking is good for me.", I remember that he has my address, but I don't want him to come here and take me to the company at this time.

It would make things more awkward than they already are.

"Are you sure? It wouldn't be any trouble at all."

"Yes, I'll meet you at the company in half an hour, can you ask the security guard to clear my entrance?", I ask, remembering when the big guy didn't want to let me into the company that day to get my bag.

"Of course! Thank you very much, Miss Duarte!", he thanks me with sincerity in his voice.

After ending the call, I finish my make-up quickly, add Mr. Colucci's contact in my cell phone's contact list and then look for Sam's to start a call.

"What's up? Have you arrived yet? Then you have to wait for me because I'm still in the shower..."

"What? No, that's not it. I called to tell you that I will be a little late because Mr. Colucci called me and asked for help to find an important document.", I say, hearing the sound of water over the call.

"Now? Are you returning to the company at this time?"

"Yes, I am his assistant and it is my job to take care of this kind of situation Sam, I promise I won't be long."

"Hmm, just the two of you in a huge company, I can even imagine the amount of things you could do?", I roll my eyes listening to his hysterical laughter.

"Okay, I have to go. I'll meet you at the new club when I leave the company."

"Okay, but call or text me when I'm leaving or going to the club, take care! Love you!", she says in an affectionate tone denoting the concern she feels for me.

We spend most of our time, joking or making fun of each other's faces, but our friendship is a gift for both of us, she is the sister that I never had the pleasure to have.

"I love you too, you crazy girl!"

"Take advantage and grab your hot boss, it's not every day that an opportunity knocks on your door and...", with a smile I end the call before hearing any more nonsense from my best friend.

I put my wallet and cell phone into a small handbag and make sure I am also carrying my name tag in case I need it for something.

I check my look in the mirror and smile enjoying my appearance, I feel beautiful and want to show it on this night, I tried not to overdo the makeup, because I intend to dance a lot and it would be very bad to get my face all smeared with sweat.

Realizing that the night is nice, I don't take any coat, I caress Mia and lock up the apartment going down to the street afterward, my feet sore from the heels I wore all day, I opted for a pair of low comfortable sandals, the kind that won't leave me with corns or blisters on the soles of my feet the next day.

My walking distance to the company is about twenty-five minutes, many would find it long, but I like to walk, it is one of the few things that make me relax.

I also remind myself to update my story to my followers who wait patiently for the next chapters, I regret that I am not having much time to continue with my Hobbie, but I am happy for my achievement, but I will not abandon the story, I am sure.

As expected, the two security guards standing near the hall of the company release my entrance after saying my name, amazingly enough, the company is the same as it was that day I got stuck with a stranger in the elevator.

I walk through the empty reception meeting another one of the security guards on the way to the elevator, we greet each other with a silent nod as I get in and press the button for the last floor.

When the heavy metal doors open, I walk directly to Mr. Colucci's office.

I knock twice before pushing the door open and entering the room to find James reading something on his cell phone, but I'm gifted when his blue eyes land on me quickly.

"Miss Duarte, thank you for coming!", he gets up from his chair and goes around the table to face me.

"As you wish, may we begin?", I ask, noticing that his gaze lingers on my body covered by the wine dress with its bare back.

"Of course, if I may say so, you look very beautiful this evening. This color matches perfectly with your beautiful skin.", I feel my face flush with embarrassment at his words and at remembering what he told me about the lingerie.

"Thank you!", I thank him clumsily.

He seems to come back to himself as he lifts his head to look at my face and moves his body forward, opening the door and waiting for me to leave first.

I nod with a shy smile as I walk past him, as we walk to my living room I do not fail to notice his attire, he has changed clothes and is wearing casual, but very nice and chic pieces that mold perfectly to his body.

I think maybe he was at home and came quickly to the company as soon as he remembered Mr. Walker's contract.

I touch the doorknob and push the door away so that he can enter my living room space, I close the door while he waits for me to open the notebook.

"Did you try to access the files from this computer?", I ask, but he denies it with his head.

"It is your living room and I would hate to invade your privacy..."

How?

It is his company, and he has every right to enter the room that is on his floor and in his company, but I liked knowing that he did not do this without my permission, even without anything to hide.

"I understand, but you wouldn't violate my privacy because I have nothing to hide here?"

I occupy my chair and open my notebook to start our search, which will be very difficult since he is very close to me, when I say very close, I mean he is very close, if I move an inch our bodies will touch.

When he asked me for help to find the corresponding contract I couldn't imagine that he would also stay to look at me, this took me totally by surprise and I am not liking this, because I know how my body reacts when it is so close to him.

I type in the password on the notebook and check the file folders realizing that it is asking for a password to enter.

"When you tried your computer, did it say the same thing?", I ask, turning my head to find his face next to mine, uncontrollably, my eyes lowering to his full lips.

"Yes...", he confirms in a low tone also facing my lips.

Realizing that the looks I give him are unprofessional, I focus my attention on the computer screen that keeps asking for a password to access some documents.

I try anything, starting with the name of the former assistant, but access is denied.

"She didn't mention any password to you.", I ask, trying to decipher the password but failing again.

"No, I didn't know that the files that were under her responsibility needed a password to be accessed, but maybe she left it written down somewhere."

"You may be right...", I also start looking through the papers and folders contained in the room.

I also take the two agendas left by Eva and leaf through them in search of the damn password.

"James, call me James. We're not in business hours and we don't need to treat each other formally,", he asks, making me turn my head to look at him.

"Fine, then just call me Chloe..."

"Okay, Chloe!", my whole body shivers as I hear my name being spoken by him for the first time.

"Can't you contact the last assistant and ask her for the password?", I ask, reading and leafing through each title in the folders and books arranged on the shelves.

"I can't, I have no further contact with Eva..."

Is this serious? What happened for her to quit this company and for them not to keep in touch or even speak to each other anymore?

Lost in thought, as I am about to pull a folder labeled "important documents" from the shelf, my hand accidentally bumps into a glass vase with a beautiful flower inside.

The delicate piece falls to the floor and shatters with a loud sound and the impact narrowly misses my feet.

"Sorry, James!", I say, crouching down desperately to clean the pieces of glass.

"Leave it alone Chloe, you'll end up cutting yourself..."

"Ohhh!", I scream as a piece of glass enters and pierces the palm of my hand, grunting at the sting and pain I feel, then hurried footsteps are heard and seconds later James crouches down and picks me up.

That's it! He has just picked me up from my lap and placed me sitting on the table.

"Let me see, Chloe!", with a grimace I open my hand seeing the shard and blood coming out of the cut.

I close my eyes by reflex, one of the things I hate the most is blood, I hate to see blood, it's even worse if the blood is mine.

"My God! AHHH!", I scream and open my eyes seeing James carefully pulling out the piece of glass and analyzing the wound.

"It doesn't look deep, but I better go to the hospital for some stitches and..."

"NO! I don't need a hospital, it hurts, but I just need a bandage and it will get better soon!", I say too fast seeing that James looks at me with attention.

"Don't you like hospitals?", he asks, frowning and nodding.

"I have always hated hospitals. I hate to stay or enter a place with such a heavy aura, where many suffer daily. I go to hospitals only when necessary, and this is not the case."

"I understand perfectly, places like that bring back many memories that I would love to forget forever..."

"Wait here!", before I can question or say anything, he leaves the room leaving me alone sitting on the table.

I inspect my aching hand, seeing that the cut is not that deep or big, but a significant amount of blood flows from the wound, noticing the reddish liquid I close my hand trying to stop the bleeding.

The door opens seconds later, James enters and comes to me holding a white suitcase, I watch him open it and my attention is focused on the various boxes of medicine as well as first aid supplies.

Silently, I read each title written on the medicine boxes not recognizing any of them, it makes me wonder internally if they are all his.

But it has been several years since his illness was cured, and it doesn't make sense that he has so many medicines stored with him, I am taken out of my thoughts when he removes a transparent glass bottle, absorbent cotton, and a bandage from the white box.

"Gimme your hand, this might sting a little...", taking a deep breath I see him dip a piece of cotton in the liquid and bring it close to my cut.

"Oh my god!", I scream and bite my lower lip to hold back a grimace of pain as he continues to carefully clean the cut on my hand.

"Just a little more and...I'm done!", I lower my eyes as I watch the palm of my hand being bandaged.

I test my muscles as I open and close my hand seeing that the bandage made by James doesn't hinder my movements.

I raise my head and look at his grateful face, he is so perfect that he doesn't even look like a human being.

"Better?", he asks in a low tone.

"Yes, thank you!", I thank him with a smile.

"Why do I have the feeling that day in the conference room was not the first time I met you?", I ask the question that was suffocating me inside.

"Maybe because you have seen me before and forgotten?", he moves away to pick up the briefcase I found before he broke the vase on the floor.

"My God, look at the mess I made...", I say wide-eyed as I notice pieces of glass, earth, and a beautiful plant lying on the floor.

He must have read my thoughts because he turns around with the folder in his hand also seeing the damage I caused and says in a nonchalant tone:

"Leave it there, someone will come to clean it up tomorrow morning."

Before I finish the sentence he comes to me and lifts my chin with his thumb, making me face him.

"No problem, the worst is that you got hurt over something so small, so relax Chloe..."

Oh my God!

I could have an orgasm just hearing James Colucci pronounce my name in that sexy way.

"Here...look! We find the contract we were looking for and the password to access the locked computer files.", he removes some stapled sheets from the folder and shows me a post-it with the password made by Eva.

"Is this the contract you were looking for? Is it all right? Or do you need me to make some adjustments?", I ask noticing that he is reading and checking the sheets he is holding.

"Everything is fine, thank you, Chloe!", he thanks me with a smile.

"Okay, if you won't need me anymore, I have to go. I'm supposed to meet some friends in a few minutes.", I reveal, jumping up from the table to grab my purse.

"Oh sure! I'm going too, I just needed the contract and then I would leave, can I give you a ride?"

I think for a few seconds if this is a good idea, James' ride or going to this nightclub with my hand hurting, but I promised myself that nothing would get in the way of my night with my friends, so yes, I'm going!

It's later and it would be dangerous to walk alone to a side of town I don't even know yet, it would also be faster by car...

"I don't want to bother you, James!"

"It wouldn't be any trouble at all, where are you going?", he asks putting the sheets in an empty folder before turning off the computer.

"To the north side of town. A new club opened and my friends called me to the opening."

"Oh, I heard about that opening too, I live on the other side of town, so it would be no trouble at all, Chloe, let's go!", I nod my head and follow him out of the room and out of the Company.

As we pass through the hall of the company, the security guards wave and greet James who leads us to a luxurious black car, I smile in appreciation when he opens the passenger door and invites me to get in the car.

My curious eyes wander all over the leather interior of the car, it is as beautiful as the owner himself, I settle into the comfortable seat while James also gets in and settles in before starting the car.

I shudder at the powerful roar of the engine as he begins to drive through the brightly lit roads of the city, clutching my bag tightly I can't help but stare at his hands that are on the steering wheel of the car.

I never quite understood, but one of the things that attract me most in a man is his hands, yes male hands enchant me.

It may seem strange, I never understood this hand fetish of mine either, but I am like that and I find them incredibly sexy.

And now I'm staring unblinkingly at my boss's attractive hands, the veins bulging out as they grip the steering wheel with a certain pressure that...

"What's up, Chloe?", I lift my head, meeting my boss's blue eyes and staring at me with just a little bit of amusement.

"Sure!", I huff, leaning my head back in my seat as I shift my gaze to the car window and feel my face flush from the fact that he has caught me scrutinizing him.

To the north side of town being driven to the nightclub by my boss, I try to keep my eyes fixed on something other than James Colucci.

Inside this luxurious car I have reached my peak of discomfort, it is a strange and unfamiliar feeling to me when I am so close to him in this way.

I am taken out of my thoughts when the car is parked in an exclusive spot in front of the club, before I unbuckle my seatbelt, my eyes meet Sam and Matt who are waiting for me just a few meters from where we are.

Oh, shit!

I sigh covertly before noticing James quickly get out of the car to open the passenger door for me, by now my friends' hawkish eyes must have seen us together getting out of the same car.

I avoid looking back and find more reasons to be embarrassed when I get out of the car with James' help, I gather my courage as I lean against the car's body to face my boss.

"Thanks for the ride, James. You didn't need it, but it was very helpful!", I say with a smile in appreciation.

"You're welcome, Chloe. Are you sure you're going to be okay?", he points to the palm of my bandaged hand, which has stopped bleeding, but still hurts when I make a fist.

"I'll be fine, don't worry, I just have to stop being so clumsy like this.", I nod my head at the injury I caused.

"It wasn't your fault, Chloe. And thanks for helping me even outside of your shift, I knew you were the best when I hired you...", he smiles, blinking one of his eyes in complicity.

"Good night, and see you tomorrow, James!", I say goodbye, turning and starting to walk towards the entrance where my friends stare at me dumbfounded.

"Wait, Chloe!", I turn quickly finding James who stops in front of me touching my elbow.

"Will you be alone? Are your friends here yet?", before answering I look at Sam who looks at us with a mischievous smile while Matt continues to look shocked.

"Yes, they are here and there they are!", I point in their direction making James turn around.

But I regret my action when I see Samanta pull Matt by the arm as she approaches us with a huge smile on her red lips, a huge smile.

I know I should say something and say goodbye to James for good before my crazy friend comes to us, but it is already too late...

"Good evening, James Colucci isn't it? It is a great pleasure to meet you, Mr. Colucci. My name is Samanta and I also work in your company.", she says extending her hand in length that James accepts out of politeness.

"I know perfectly well who you are, although we have never met in person."

"Of course. And this is our friend Matt, who you may also know who he is.", my friend remains silent and just shakes the hand that James offers.

"It was great to meet you in person, but I have to go, I only came to bring Chloe and I am trusting you to take care of her from now on."

I piggyback away from the tempting body of my boss as I stand next to my friends, I just want this embarrassing situation to end soon, because I know that Samanta will make many jokes about this encounter.

"I know you are very busy, but wouldn't you like to join us for a few drinks? I am sure Chloe would like that idea...", my eyes widen as I elbow Samanta hard in the back and she just gives me a malicious smile.

I turn my gaze back to James and realize that his eyes are fixed on my face, I have never felt so ashamed in my entire life!

Please say no!

"It will just be a few drinks if you don't mind..."

"Samanta, I am sure Mr. Colucci has more important things to do than to drink with the employees...", I interrupt my friend with an icy, deadly stare.

And she finally seems to realize that she is out of line with me when she nods her head and removes the annoying little smile from her lips.

I hope that Matt also says that this is not a good idea, but our friend remains silent beside us as if he is bothered by the presence of the big boss here.

"Chloe is right Miss Parker, unfortunately, I can't stay as I have a long night ahead of me, so some other time!", I almost breathe a sigh of relief when James denies it to my total happiness.

"We understand perfectly, Mr. Colucci!", I say seeing James frown when he hears me treating him with formality, but the crease in his forehead is unformed when he seems to realize that it would be very strange if I treated him the other way around in front of other employees of the company.

"Have a good evening guys, and have fun!", the three of us nod our heads as James begins to walk away with slow steps.

"See you tomorrow, Miss Duarte, and thanks for the pleasant company!", he smiles teasingly as he blinks one of his eyes before getting into his car.

Before Samanta has a chance to finish her sentence, I come out of my bubble and turn to face her with an irritated expression.

"What the hell was that all about? Why did you invite him to drink with us, Samanta?", I pronounce her full name, revealing the extent of the anger I am feeling.

"Calm down, Chloe! I only invited him out of politeness, and stop trying to cover it up, because it's obvious that you're completely attracted to him!", she retorts, making me snort.

Before I can snap at my best friend in the middle of the street, Matt gets in between us, holding me by the shoulders as he realizes that we are about to fight in public.

"I agree with Chloe and Sam. It wasn't a good idea to invite the big guy out for a drink, but what do you say we just drop the subject and go inside?", he points to the entrance of the club where the long line is now enormous.

Without saying another word, we head for the double doors where two huge security guards bar our entrance to the club, but to our happiness and relief, we are soon released when Samanta shows us our VIP tickets that she got by some means that I don't know yet.

The muffled music that was heard outside is more audible and louder as we pass through the double doors of the club, I cringe between the tall bodies that sway to the enveloping rhythm of the beat that is playing, my low height doesn't help me at all in a situation like this.

I am about to give up reaching the bar when I notice that several people are in front of me blocking my way, seeing my desperation, Matt holds my hand and opens a passage through the crowd that opens when he passes.

"Thank you, Matt!", I thank him and sit down on one of the few unoccupied stools there at the bar counter of the club.

"Anytime princess, if I get my hands on you, it will always be a great pleasure.", he jokes, blinking one of his brown eyes and smiling at me.

"Come on, our night is just beginning, my friends!", Samanta stands on tiptoe to call the barman, who soon arrives to serve us.

"What would you lovely ladies like to drink?", the brunette with the tie and white blouse bends over the counter with a gallant smile.

And as expected, my friend soon falls into the trap of the handsome bartender, I know Samanta well and I know when she gets interested in a man.

First comes the fatal smile on her red-painted lips, her posture becomes straighter as if she wants to show off her bust in the neckline of her dress, and finally comes the little flick of her blonde hair.

"I'd like sex on the beach, please.", she answers with a smile...

The bartender also seems to fall into our friend's trap when he nods quickly before turning back to face me in search of my order.

"Vodka!" I mumble immediately seeing that his gaze on me is making me a little uncomfortable.

Matt pissed off snorts as he mutters in an annoyed voice to the poor bartender:

"I'll have a Jack Daniels with coke and ice, and thanks for asking!", I want to smile as the bartender focuses his attention on our irritated waiting friend.

"Coming right up, boss!", I smile as he quickly walks away when he notices that Matt is not in many patients.