FOUR

    Thursday was busier than usual at the diner. Bella struggled to keep up with the orders and the customers. Her late night was wearing her down. She’d settled herself into a system with her two jobs, and going out to dinner with Clark had disrupted that.

    By four she was exhausted and ready to go home. Instead, she finished her shift at the diner before making her way across the city to the Anderson Corporation building. Her feet ached, but she refused to give in. Her hair was tied in pigtails down either side of her shoulders. It was seven at night when she got inside. She’d missed lunch and was hungry. Ignoring the pangs, she grabbed the cleaning trolley, smiled at the security guard before making her way over to the elevator. She pushed the trolley inside, pressed the button for her floor and waited. Wiping the sleep from her eyes, she pulled the trolley onto the floor. The light inside Clark’s office was on.

    Nibbling her lip, she wondered if she should go and talk to him. Shaking her head, she went around gathering the used sweet packets and bits of screwed up paper from people’s desk with a trashcan in her hand.

    She didn’t look at the family pictures as she made her way around the large office. Her feet hurt even though she wore flats. She’d never worn high heels and doubted she’d ever be able to walk in them. Picking up the duster she made her way through the office once again cleaning down the desks and putting everything away neatly.

    “You’re not even going to acknowledge my presence?” Clark asked.

    Bella turned to see Clark leaning against his office doorframe. “I’m working. I need to get this place clean.”

    Getting the office clean meant she could clean and then go home. She liked the thought of getting home and having a bath. A bath sounded like the best thing in the world.

    Clark moved closer to her. “We went out to dinner. You’ve been cleaning for an hour, and you’ve nothing to say.”

    Staring at her hands on the duster, heat filled her cheeks at his assessment.

    “I don’t know what to say.”

    “How about hello? Or ‘how are you doing’ would be good,” he said.

    He’d moved close enough for him to reach out and lift her chin up with a finger underneath.

    “Hello, Mr Anderson. How are you today?” she asked.

    “Call me Clark. We’re past formal names.”

    “Clark,” she said. She’d called him Clark last night. In the office it didn’t feel right calling him by his name.

    She pulled away from his touch. “I need to clean.”

    “You’re exhausted.”

    Bella nodded. “Yes, I’m exhausted. I need to get this place clean so I can go home.”

    Her stomach growled. Tears filled her eyes as her emotions got the better of her. Clark smiled, taking the duster from her.

    “What are you doing?” she asked.

    “I’m going to help you get this place finished, and then I’m going to drive you home and we’re going to eat together.”

    “You really shouldn’t do that. You’re paying me to clean.” She tried to take the duster from him.

    “No, I pay the cleaning company. I want to help you. You’re exhausted, and I’m looking forward to having dinner with you again.”

    She dropped her hand. “You’re not going to let me win this, are you?”

    “No. I get my own way all the time. You may as well give up.” He smiled down at her. Bella couldn’t help but smile back. He made her smile.

    “Okay, fine. You win. Are you sure you know what to do with that?”

    “I’ve watched you using it for months. I think I can handle it,” he said.

    He watched me?

    Pleasure travelled up her spine at the knowledge.

    They worked together around the office. Watching Clark in his expensive business suit working a duster was one of the best sights she’d seen all year. He went around the desk and occasionally grumbled.

    “I’m going to ban personal items,” he said.

    “Why? Personal items are great. They allow people to bring their family to work. I bet if you took their personal items away, they’d work slowly.” She turned the vacuum on and started buzzing around the office. When they were finished, Bella took the duster away from him. “Maybe you’re in the wrong profession,” she said.

    “I’ve watched the best.”

    She smiled at him enjoying his compliment.

    “Right, why don’t you put this away and meet me down at the parking lot?” Clark turned to her, cupped her cheek and leaned down. The air whooshed out of her at his nearness. “And you better be there within ten minutes. If you don’t I’ll take you over my knee and give you what for.”

    Her mouth opened in shock. “Are you threatening to spank me?”

    “You bet I am. Are you going to tell the press? I can see the headline now,notorious billionaire threatens to spank his cleaner,” he said.

    “One, I wouldn’t go to the press. Why would I? And second, you’re a billionaire now?” she asked, smiling. She tapped his chest then moved toward the elevator.

    “Why wouldn’t you go to the press?”

    “I’m not that kind of person. You don’t mean what you say, and I don't like causing fuss. The press turn everything around anyway. I like your billionaire comment though. Maybe I should ask for a raise,” she said.

    The doors to the elevators closed.

    Should I go with him?

    Indecision struck her as she looked at her bland features in the reflection of the steel of the elevator doors. There was nothing stopping her and Clark from being friends. He was fun to be around and playful at times.

    Bella enjoyed his company, and watching him clean had been a pleasure.

    Placing the cleaning trolley away, Bella headed toward the parking lot.

    Clark waited for her. She was aware of the security guard giving her the once over. Bella knew what he was thinking and didn’t care.

    ****

    Clark watched as she got in beside him. He wanted to fasten her seatbelt to have any excuse to touch her. Settling for watching her, he waited for the guard to open the security barricade. He gave the guard a wave and then was on the main road heading toward her house.

    “I thought I’d have to come and get you,” he said.

    “Not tonight. Your offer of food is far too tempting. Besides, you’re not a rapist or murderer, and that’s points in your favour.” She joked with him.

    “Finally the lady starts to relax.”

    “Actually, I’m far too tired to argue with you. Help and food were too irresistible to turn down.”

    He chuckled, loving the banter with her. Clark couldn’t remember a time when he’d spoken with a woman about anything meaningful. There were his friends’ wives, but other than that, there was no one else he talked to of the opposite sex.

    Bella was by far more refreshing just from her conversation. They pulled up outside her house. “I want you to go in and buzz me up. How do you feel about Chinese?” he asked.

    “I’d love some. There’s a great Chinese place a few blocks from here.”

    She got out and went inside. Tonight she didn’t look back to give him a wave. Heading in the direction she pointed, he drove until he found the Chinese place.

    After ordering half the menu, Clark waited a good half an hour for his order. The box that came out made him feel good. The box was loaded with several different dishes. He bid them goodnight before making his way back to Bella’s house. The food made his stomach rumble. He couldn’t wait to get inside her apartment.

    Parking the car in the available parking lot around the back, he grabbed the food before heading back to the main door.

    He buzzed the bell waiting for her to respond.

    “It’s open,” she said. “I’m on the third floor, fourth door from the stairs.”

    Opening the door, he walked up the stairs. She was stood waiting for him with her arms folded. The apartment was nice but small.

    “Hi,” she said. He was struck by her. In the time it had taken for him to get the food, Bella had showered and changed into something far more comfortable and seductive. The jeans and black t-shirt moulded to her body like a second skin.

    “Hi,” he said, averting his gaze.

    “You’ve ordered enough food to feed the entire apartment block.”

    “I didn’t know what you liked. I bought enough for both of us.” Her stomach growled at him. “And I think it’s time for us both to eat.”

    She invited him in.

    He noticed how clean her apartment was before he noticed the few pictures on the wall. There was nothing personal. The artwork showed someone lived in the apartment but not who that person was.

    “Can I get you a drink? I don’t have any beer.”

    “What do you have?” he asked, setting the box of food on the coffee table. Clark noted the used appearance of the table but didn’t say anything.

    “I’ve got coffee, tea, milk, juice, and water,” she said.

    He chuckled. “I’ll take a coffee.”

    She turned away from him. “Do you need plates?” she asked. “No. I’m happy to eat out of the cartons if you are?”

    Bella left him to go fix drinks. The sound of the kettle filled the silence. He removed his jacket and then started unloading each carton of Chinese food. The oriental scents were intoxicating, and his mouth watered. He’d skipped dinner so he’d get a chance to eat with her.

    She came back minutes later carrying two large mugs of coffee.

    He noticed she grabbed a coaster and wiped the small spillage of coffee from the table with a tissue. She kept a box of tissues on the table.

    “You’re not a fan of mess, are you?” he asked.

    “Is it that obvious?” She sat next to him. A blush stained her cheeks. Clark chuckled.

    “I’m a guy. I’m supposed to notice these things.”

    She laughed. “I guess you are. What did you get?” She rubbed her hands down her thighs. He wondered if that was natural or if being with him made her nervous.

    “I got noodles, of course. Egg fried rice, curry, and chow mein. Also, spring rolls, prawn balls, and pretty much everything else on the menu,” he said.

    “Okay, I guess I’ll try something from every box.” The black shirt she wore showed a great deal of her chest. Her breasts were pressed together and looked so tempting. When she leaned forward he got a good look at her chest.

    Licking his lips, he grabbed the first carton and then handed her some chopsticks.

    Get your shit together. You’re not some horny teenager.

    “Aren’t you going to try something first?” she asked.

    Pushing his chop sticks into the carton, he pulled out a prawn ball. He didn’t taste a single bite as he ate it. Clark kept his eye on Bella as she pressed the ball into her mouth. Her full lips closed around the chopsticks. He was losing his mind. There was nothing sensual about eating Chinese food.

    “Thank you for getting me this,” she said. “It has been ages since I ate food as good as this.”

    “It’s a pleasure. So, Bella, tell me about yourself,” he said, wanting to know more about her.

    “There’s nothing to tell.”

    “Sure there is.” He picked up another carton for her to try. Together they munched their way through the food. Clark pulled a pillow across his lap to hide his growing erection.

    “I’ve got nothing to say. I work two jobs, and this is my place. I like visiting the library in my spare time, and I’ve got an addiction to baking,” she said.

    There had to be far more to her than that. Scooping up some noodles, he took a quick look around the room. There were no personal photos. Most people had pictures of friends or graduation days. Inside Bella’s apartment there was nothing.

    Turning back to her, he grew more intrigued by the woman he knew next to nothing about.

    “Tell me more about you,” she said.