chapter 7

Once worktime approached again, we got up.

"Already leaving?", my boss asked while looking only at me.

"We have to", I breathlessly answered.

Jess wriggled her brows as I met her eyes again. "See you later, Michael."

"It's Mr. Beaumont, Mrs Brown", he chided with a stern voice. She shrugged with a smile.

While Jess put away her trey, and as I squeezed through the chairs, Mr. Beaumont caught my arm by the elbow.

I swirled back to him.

"You on the other hand", his eyes were burning, making me stop breathing. "You can call me Michael anytime."

"Sara, hurry!", Jessica called for me.

"Now go. I'm waiting for your files."

♡

"Naturally you'll stay until you finished them", Mr. Beaumont decided without even looking at me.

I had to grip the files harder, so I wouldn't launch them into his face.

"You are making mistakes on your corrected files. Until you haven't done them all perfectly, you can't leave", he snarled, slamming his pencil angrily onto the table. He wasn't in a good mood at all.

"As you wish, Mr. Beaumont", I breathed through my nose, annoyed, swirled around and quickly left his office before he could call after me.

I wouldn't work in your office again!

I moved my mouse and the computer screen went from black to the Excel programme. I grumbled silently in case he was near, punching in the numbers again. I took out my cheat sheets with all the correct ways to do my work, which I constantly updated with the mistakes I had done and flew over it to see if I could find something.

My computer let out a ping. Who writes an email at this hour?!

I opened it and my breath stocked.

It was from Mr. Beaumont.

'Who said you could leave?', was all he had written. I swallowed hard and thought about whether if I should answer it or not, when the door of my office flew open.

His angry face met mine. I shrunk in my chair.

"When I say you can go, you must do so. When I don't say anything, you have to ask me for approval for whatever you are doing. Understood?" 

"Yes Sir. I'm sorry Sir." 

"And stop calling me sir!", he barked. 

I jumped back. "I'm sorry, Mr. Beaumont." 

"Good."

He rubbed his nose. "Look. It's been a long day. I'm sorry I yelled at you. But you have to learn how to behave properly around me." 

I have to learn how to behave? Excuse you!? The pencil dropped out of my hand in disbelieve.

"For one, my parents shouldn't be discussed in the canteen."

I sunk more into my chair. Oh god, he had heard us!

"I'm so sorry!" 

"It's only natural to be curious, but my family is nobody's business." 

"It won't happen again, Mr. Beaumont!" 

I watched him come closer to me. He took Jess's chair and sat down in front of my table. "Good. I don't go around and ask about your marriage situation, do I?" 

"You don't. I'm sorry."

My heart stung. I just wanted to forget Noah. He still didn't speak to me. His lawyer pressed more charges against me, all while I still searched for a lawyer I could afford. And just paying the mortgage of the flat was expensive enough. I could barely afford groceries at this point.

"Good. I hadn't meant to be this stern with you, but I had to say it." He leaned back, crossing his feet. "My parents are a touchy subject. You don't need to know more." 

"Understood. Again, I'm sorry Mr. Beaumont." 

He raised his hand. "Apology accepted. Now don't worry about it anymore."

I noticed a certain stiffness about him that he hadn't borne before. Maybe I was just imagining things, because I only knew him for about a week now. But today after lunch he had seemed stiff too, and a few hours ago he started to get angrier than usual. It couldn't be because of the loss from before, as he had taken that rather calmly at lunch ...

"What's on your mind, Mrs Atkins?" My eyes fluttered up in surprise. "I caught you staring at me. What is it?" We looked at each other. His brows were dangerously low above his beaming blue eyes, his mouth pressed into an angry line. He was tapping his foot constantly. "Out with it." 

"Are you ... are you alright, Mr. Beaumont?"

His eyes showed his surprise. "Excuse me?" 

"It's just ... you seem so", I waved my hand around. "Stiff?" 

"Stiff?", he repeated with furrowed brows. 

"Uncomfortable?", I tried with a nicer approach. 

"I'm comfortable around you Mrs Atkins, if that's what you mean." 

"No – it's just. Ok, no, forget it. I'm sorry for assuming things, Mr. Beaumont."

I went back to my file and worked through five pages when he spoke again.

"I am tense." He ran a hand through his hair with a heavy expression. "My mother wants to visit the company in the next few months. And no, there's no use in feigning ignorance because I'm sure Mrs Brown told you about my strained relationship." 

"She did say your mother was", I shut my mouth. 

"A she-devil?", he asked with a raised brow. "That's flattering her a bit too much."

My eyes widened in surprise. Mr. Beaumont took a file and started writing. "I just hate it." 

"I understand", I said a bit helplessly. 

"... Thank you for worrying though", he was looking at the file as he said that, his lids a bit lowered as he seemed thoughtful. 

"N-No need to thank me", I stuttered, fixating my whole attention on the work in front of me.

It was one a.m. once I was finally done. I dragged myself and the last pile to Mr. Beaumont's office and he instantly checked them.

I stood at his door, leaning against it while fighting to stay awake. My eyesight got hazy several times, but I forced myself to stay awake by widening my eyes and shaking it off. My feet were hurting from the heals. My breasts were hurting from wearing a bra for so long. I was tired and hungry.

Just let me leave.

"They seem fine", he finally spoke. "You can go home now." 

"Thank you", I mumbled. 

"You may leave my office", he waved me away while he still read the turnover. I yawned heavily in the elevator and made my way to my desk.

I sat down and started gathering my things. Keys. Phone. Wallet. Chapstick.

My eyes got so heavy I could barely keep them open. Numbers were spinning around in my mind. Classes of accounts rattled down my mind.

A little bit of rest won't hurt, right?

I'll just close my eyes for a few minutes ... then I'll ... go ... home.

____

Mr. Beaumont's POV

"You on the other hand", I said, and waited until she looked at me. Her brown eyes lit up and moved unsurely. "You can call me Michael anytime."

Sara's mouth parted o so lovingly into a soft 'o', before her cheeks got red. I had to stiffen a laugh at her cute reaction. She nervously lifted her hand to brush back her hair, a shy smile on her face, and before she could speak Jessica called for her.

She quickly ran off – per usual.

'Too cute for her own good', I thought, leaning against my hand with a smile. 

"What's gotten you in a good mood?", Philipp's voice sounded. I looked up to my university friend, who beamed at me. "I thought we lost some money?" 

"We did."

Philipp put his trey on the spot Jessica had sat before. I watched after them before I turned to Philipp. Sara looked back to me, and as our eyes met she forced herself to look forward. I wanted to get up and draw her into my arms; that cute woman was making me crazy.

I wanted to kiss her – I wanted to kiss her eyes, her nose, her lips, until she called me Michael and not Sir. I wanted to have her all by myself, I wanted to make her mine only. I wanted her on my desk, naked, panting my name and begging for release. I wanted her to grab my back, yell my name. I wanted her to carry my children, my name.

Stop it. Or else you'll get a boner in the middle of the canteen.

My eyes followed her hand. Anger boiled in my stomach. That stupid ring. Why was she still married? Jessica had told me she wanted to get divorced, so why didn't she hurry up already? Eleanor and I had done it in a week after we had decided to get divorced. Sara had informed Jessica about the divorce about a month ago.

A month ago.

What took her so long?

He had followed my eyes. "Is that the new employee?"

"Yes." 

"So that's the woman who fought with Peter over the phone?", Philipp laughed. 

"That she is." 

Philipp stopped, scanning me. "Wait, wait. No comment on her behaviour. A smile on your lips." He leaned forward. "Have you fallen for her, you old fox you?" 

"I'm 29 years old!", I offendedly grumbled. 

"You got offended over that? Boy, she sure stole your heart." 

"I'm not hopelessly in love, Philipp." 

"Oh, you aren't? Is that why you poured salt into your coffee?"

I snarled at him.

"To think our Beaumont would lose his cool just by talking about this girl. She really must be something." 

"Oh, she's something alright." Philipp eyed me amused. "Didn't mean to tease you Mike. Just enjoying your good mood, that's all. It's been a while you looked after a woman." 

"Eleanor did leave a bitter taste", I pushed away my coffee. 

"I was joking with you at first. You poured sugar into it." 

"You are annoying", I grumbled at him, taking a sip.

I frowned. It was too sweet.

Unlike my ex.

"Anyway, when has she caught your attention?" 

"The very first time I saw her." 

"When was that?" 

"A week ago."

Philipp lowered his fork. "Wow. That's fast for your standards. You took a year to fall fully for Eleanor." 

"I forced myself to fall for her", I pointed out. "You know, our marriage supported our businesses. It's the only reason we got married." 

"How did your mother find her again? And why did you agree?" 

"I don't know, and I don't want to know where she dug that witch out. The only good thing about that marriage was it got my mother off my back for a good year", I said, sipping at the coffee.

Still too sweet.

"Tell me, how's the relationship moving along?" 

"I didn't even get to know her more personally. I asked her a bit about her background. I was alone in the office with her and she ran off. I offered to drive her home and she declined."

I stopped. "Am I forcing myself onto her?", I asked shocked. "God, I don't want to seem like a pervert." 

Philipp leaned back with a surprised expression. "I'm marking my calendar for a future wedding." 

"Philipp, I'm being serious!" 

"I know you are. You just never doubted yourself when it came to women." 

"Well", I ran my hand over my hair, frustrated. "Usually I only have to pull them closer and they are at my mercy. Not with her though."

"I see what's the problem", Philipp nodded confidently. "You, my friend, are flirting too aggressively with her." 

"Too aggressively?" 

"She ran away twice. Do I need to say more?"

I slumped into my chair. Her sudden nervous behaviour, the way she panicked when I got her where I wanted her to be - "Shit, you are right." 

"I mean, she seems shy to me from the little bit I saw of her. Your way of flirting won't bring you anywhere, you are overwhelming her with it." 

"What should I do then?" 

"Compliment her softly. Say she looks good. Smile at her. Ask her how her day has been. Don't just pull her close and kiss her. Don't take her home instantly. Don't suggest things if the time isn't ripe yet. Look after her. Don't be the asshole you can occasionally be."

I raised my brows. 

"I saw how you sent back every file, Mike. I heard you yell at Nina and Clarissa. I saw the management cry because you fired them. Don't lie." 

"I won't. I take my job seriously." 

"As you should; you are the boss. But she's your worker and you like her. Just keep that in mind."

I went to my office thoughtfully, logged into my email accounts and checked the current turnover as well. The errand boy continuously brought piles of files over, my old personal assistant, who was close to her retirement, brought me a few letters and directed phone calls to me.

Melinda's good mood affected me too and soon I was humming a tune as I checked the work from my workers. Her elderly voice filled my office as the phone next to me blinked. 

"Mrs. Beaumont wants to speak to you, Mr. Beaumont."

I froze for a split second. I swore, instantly feeling sour. "Transfer the call, Melinda."

The music stopped, and I suppressed a heavy sigh. "Beaumont." 

"You kept me waiting, Michael", my mother's voice angrily dripped. 

"I'm busy, Mother. I'm leading a well-known company." 

"As am I", she snarled. "Yet I find some time to check on my only son." 

"Because you need something." I crossed my legs. 

"I don't only call when I need you, Michael."

I laughed. The nerve this woman had. "You aren't? What did you want to talk about then?" 

"Your finances", I heard my mother type something on her computer. "You lost turnover today." 

"Which is none of your business." 

"It is; you are my son." 

"Because I'm linked with you. If I look bad, you look bad", I rubbed my temples. Of course she called because it affected her. If I stood there homeless she wouldn't care. If she were in danger of becoming homeless then it was a problem.

"Exactly. Since you know that, why do you let our image down like that? Stop being so humane to your employees or I'll fire them on my own! I'm checking your company as soon as I'm back from this god-awful business trip!" 

"Stay in Malaysia, or Hong Kong, or wherever you are, and do us both a favour that way." 

"How dare you talk like that to me!? You are worse than your father!" 

"Maybe I'll leave you too if you aren't careful", I yelled back. 

"That's it – next month I'll be at your door and I'll force my way inside you ungrateful brat!"

She hung up.

"This fucking woman!", I yelled, slapping the ear piece onto the table.

In pure furry, I took my biro and went over the file with shaking hands. I was shaking from pure anger.

Incompetent. All of them! How hard was it to do the accounting right for fuck's sake!

Sara's bitter face kind of made me regret I had forcefully tackled the files. But I was still angry from the call, just her voice had been enough to make me gurgle somebody.

When Sara left without me saying anything, it became too much for me. At first she sighed annoyed. Then she just left wordlessly without getting my approval to do so.

On my way down to her office I angrily typed an email before I lost my patience.

Sara stumbled back as I yelled at her, fear reflecting in her eyes. I felt bad.

I felt so bad.

I rubbed my nose, trying to calm down. She's not the reason you are angry, Michael. "Look. It's been a long day. I'm sorry I yelled at you. But you have to learn how to behave properly around me."

Her face dropped. I could tell she wanted to say something but didn't mention it.

I on the other hand, couldn't shut my mouth.

"For one, my parents shouldn't be discussed in the canteen."

Sara sunk more into my chair, open realization spreading on her face. "I'm sorry", she cried out, shifting heavily in her chair. Breathe, Michael. You are scaring her. Philipp said I should be nice. Aggressiveness won't lead me anywhere.

And she wasn't to blame.

"It's only natural to be curious, but my family is nobody's business." 

"It won't happen again, Mr. Beaumont!"

She looked so scared.

God, I didn't mean to scare her.

Well, what did I think would happen when I stormed down the office? The other had made way for me the moment they had spotted me; I couldn't imagine how I must have glared at her.

I took Mrs Brown's chair and sat down in front of her table. I chose my words carefully. "Good. I don't go around and ask about your marriage situation, do I?" 

"You don't. I'm sorry."

Her face twisted in pain. Shit. I shouldn't have said that.

"Good. I hadn't meant to be this stern with you, but I had to say it." I leaned back, crossing my legs. How could I defuse the situation? "My parents are a touchy subject. You don't need to know more." 

"Understood. Again, I'm sorry Mr. Beaumont." 

I raised my hand. "Apology accepted. Now don't worry about it anymore."

Sara's eyes didn't avert from me like usually. Instead, they scanned me slowly, a bit worryingly. Her eyes were still holding fear.

God, that annoyed me. Don't be scared of me. If there's one person who doesn't want to do anything bad to you, then it's me!

"What's on your mind, Mrs Atkins?" Her eyes fluttered up in surprise. "I caught you staring at me. What is it?" Surprisingly, she met my eyes without looking away. I felt how angry my expression was, but I couldn't stop it. I was tapping my foot as she stayed quiet. "Out with it", I demanded.

Her voice was careful, she looked away, and then slightly at me again. "Are you ... are you alright, Mr. Beaumont?"

My shoulders dropped. "Excuse me?" 

"It's just ... you seem so", she waved her hand around. "Stiff?" 

"Stiff?", I repeated with furrowed brows. 

"Uncomfortable?", she suggested with a sorry smile. 

"I'm comfortable around you Mrs Atkins, if that's what you mean." 

"No – it's just. Ok, no, forget it. I'm sorry for assuming things, Mr. Beaumont." She rushed to take a file and worked like a maniac.

I watched her for a while, remorse spreading in my stomach. Be kind to her. Let her know about you. Get to know her.

"I am tense", I admitted, feeling a bit better after I had said these words. I ran a hand through my hair, feeling tired. How had she read me so easily? "My mother wants to visit the company in the next few months. And no, there's no use in feigning ignorance because I'm sure Mrs Brown told you about my strained relationship." 

"She did say your mother was", she stopped talking and pressed her juicy lips together. What a beautiful shade of pink. I bet her lips tasted sweet. 

"A she-devil?", I finished with a raised brow. "That's flattering her a bit too much."

Her eyes widened in surprise and I saw her relax. Don't push her. I took a file and started writing. "I just hate it", I told her, and stopped. I still couldn't talk about my parents. 

"I understand", Sara's tone was soft.

I felt my cheeks warm up. "... Thank you for worrying though" 

"N-No need to thank me", Sara stuttered lovely, staring at the file only.

So cute.

Once she disappeared from my office, I shut down the computer, locked all the important drawers, took my coat, locked my office and went down to the most beautiful woman I had ever met.

Soft snoring met my ears as I entered the office. Astonished, I carefully opened the door as I saw her sleeping through the glass door.

Sara was resting her head and chest on the table, sleeping with her mouth softly open.

I held my breath. She looked so peaceful while sleeping. No unsureness as she met my eyes, no concentrated frown when she worked through her files, no lovely laughter lines around her eyes and mouth as she laughed with her co-workers.

Her features were soft, her brows high, her breathing even and soft. Her lovely chest was pressed against the table, her inviting broad hips even more charming as they presented themselves on the chair.

I struggled between wanting to kiss her, leaving her be and taking her.

I craved her. I had started craving her once she had laid her chestnut brown eyes on me when we had first met each other.

"What are you doing with me?", I asked silently, brushing her caramel brown hair out of her perfect face. Her stern Bosnian nose set off this even stronger craving to kiss her. "Have you casted a spell on me? I can't get you out of my mind, no matter what I do."

Sara responded to my touch as my fingers lingered behind her ear, softly smiling.

My heart beat unevenly.

I took off my coat and draped it over her shoulders. "Sleep well, my beauty. I'll see you soon."