5. Are You a Pervert?

Channing hurriedly clambered out of his car and made his way to the private elevator leading to his pent office. Just as his PA, Leighton, stepped out of it. The latter looked relieved as he sighted his boss, as if the weight of the world had been placed solely on his shoulders and was just lifted. 

Channing rolled his eyes and tossed his key at him which he caught. 

'Finally,' his PA said. 'I was beginning to think you'd disappeared from the surface of Earth.' 

'What's on the agenda for this morning?' Channing said curtly, getting into the elevator. 

His PA quickly did the same. Channing wasn't in the best of moods today, so he had to be careful. The PA knew when to back off, although Channing was just a few years older than him he was still his boss and the one who paid his salary. 

'You were supposed to be at the board meeting forty-two minutes ago, then you've got a staff audit at the Vineyard at eleven ten, then later at three you promised to visit the Wears, and of course, normal work.' 

If Channing heard, he made no indication of this, instead he stared stonily ahead. The PA didn't know whether to start panicking or not. Channing must had woken up on the scratchy side of the bed today, if not the floor. What else could have put him in a very dark mood today? Obviously, something was wrong with him; first arriving late to a conference — which had never occurred before. Then yesterday night he'd completely disappeared. The last thought reminded him of something. 

'Boss, last night -' 

Channing whipped his head towards him so fast that he stepped back in fear. Channing blinked and stared at him. 'What about last night, Leighton?' he said in a strange voice. 

Leighton was sure he was going to go bananas if this continued. Something was definitely not okay with his boss. He was acting rather strangely and it scared him. He took a breath and made sure to avoid Channing Chevrolet's honey eyes. 'I was working rather late last night and a call came through, it was from an angry man who claimed . . . who claimed to be your . . .' 

The elevator reached the top floor and slid open. Channing stepped out and Leighton immediately ran after. 

'Leighton, I've got business to attend to, I've got no time for your bullshit.' 

'Yeah, sorry, sir. He claimed to be your father.' 

That got Channing's attention and he raised an eyebrow. What could his father want? 

'Was mad that you didn't pick your private cellphone number, said you intentionally ignored him. Then he said to tell you that he had something to do in Europe and may make a detour to the USA to see you and your brother. So I left the office immediately and headed to the club to tell you that but I couldn't find you anywhere, I was told you'd gone out with a chick, so I presumed—' Channing's death glare shut him up and fast. 

By now, they'd reached his office and Channing was already taking off his shirt. Leighton didn't need to be told before he went to the private bedroom adjourning the office to get clean, fresh, ironed suit for him. 

'I'm afraid I won't have time to step into the shower,' Channing said, handing the blazer and shirt to Leighton. Then he dug into his pockets to empty it. His left hand touched something soft and he frowned, pulling it out. Funny he didn't remember putting a handkerchief in. He removed his hand from his pocket and opened his fist to see the hanky. 

Leighton gasped loudly, turning beetroot red. A panty! It was black with pink lace edging and was ripped. What was Channing doing with a lady's undies. He felt shocked to speechlessness. It was no secret that Channing Chevrolet went through girls like water through a sieve, he never spent more than one to two days with a girl, no commitments. So who had last night's girl been for him to keep a souvenir of her? 

'B-boss, are you a pervert?' Leighton had now found his voice. 

Channing's face went dark with anger. 'Get. Out.' 

Leighton didn't need more telling, he dropped the clothes and scampered away, grateful he had made it out alive and in one piece. He really needed to watch his bloody mouth. He wasn't ever going to mention what he'd seen. Ever. 

Channing aspirated a sigh as the door closed. That was so embarrassing, he'd forgotten to keep the panty in her car. Well, he wasn't going back to return this one, she had many others to wear. 

Suddenly, the thought of Taissa in nothing but panties gave him a raging boner. Fuck, he needed to clear her out of his head. It didn't help matters he could still feel that strange attraction — which he failed to understand — for her. Come to think of it, he'd started having those feelings the moment he laid his eyes on her, had wanted her and at the same time wanted to protect her, having that feeling that she needed help, protection. But she was just going to call him psycho and get the cops. More's the reason he should banish any thoughts of her from his head. She was just a one night stand . . . right? 

Yeah, right, and my name is Scooby-Doo. 

He sighed and tossed the panty into a basket. He'd dispose of it later. Now, he had to face the boardroom battle.

                             •~•~• 

Seven hours later, Channing Chevrolet Silverado found it difficult to not have a tantrum like a six year old. Heck, even six year olds don't tantrum. But his father was seriously provoking him. 

'I told you, man, you don't need to come, what's a cellphone for?' he said to his father. He seriously didn't want him to come. His father always made him feel like a kid. Like he was never going to be old. That really irked him, not that he was being proud, but still . . . you get the point. 

'Whatever, I'll be coming in, like, two weeks, and tell that obstinate brother of yours he's getting a dressing down from me for ignoring my calls. As for you, I've decided you won't get punished no more as per you've called back.' 

Channing held back an eye roll, his father was really a character. 'Dad, just go back to Singapore.' 

'No, thanks, I'll pass, son. See ya.' The disconnect tone beeped and Channing stared at the computer screen in anger, he'd not won, he hadn't expected to win, but at least he would've tried to convince his father not to come. 

He ran a hand through his hair. 'I'd better call Chauncey.'