Chapter Five
He saw how beautiful she looked in her work clothes. Her soft crepe blouse clung to her body, showing off her shapely, big, rounded breasts. The skirt clung to her hips and down her shapely legs as she got up from her seat to get some coffee for herself. He wanted to hug her to himself, feel her body against his. It had been so long since he touched her. He could feel himself get aroused just by looking at her walking away from her cubicle. She came back in three minutes with her coffee. He sighed heavily. He had to think of a way to get her near.
River went through the emails sent to her. She checked out Tyler's schedule and marked his important deadlines and meetings for the entire month. The intercom buzzed,"River, come to me, now," said Tyler's husky voice.
River jumped up and hurried with a notebook and pen. What did he need now?
She knocked and opened the door and went inside. "Yes sir," she said in reflex action as she proceeded towards his desk.
"I'm Tyler for you, " he stated and she looked up at him, staring at her.
"Ok, did you need anything," she asked, standing in front of his desk.
"Yes, sit," he ordered and she sat down.
"I have a meeting tomorrow in Los Angeles. Be ready, you're coming with me," said Tyler, looking at her for her reaction. She stared at him with her mouth hanging open.
"Ok, at what time?" She asked, not showing how mad she was feeling. How would she spend half a day in Los Angeles in his company? She had to control her heart.
"We have a flight at 9 o'clock in the morning. I will pick you up from your home," he said, looking back at his laptop.
"Oh and pack a small overnighter. We might need to stay for a day or two," he said casually without even glancing at her.
"Ok," she said and turned to go.
"I too need a coffee," he said and she nodded and left.
Too? How did he know that she had coffee? Is the coffee froth sticking to her lips? How embarrassing! She wiped her mouth with a paper napkin and went to fetch Tyler's coffee.
Tyler chided himself for his slip of tongue. Why did he have to add the 'too' to his sentence? He was very excited that she agreed to accompany him to Los Angeles. He hated personal assistants and never hired one in his entire professional career. He travelled alone and preferred to deal with his work his own way. He was very methodical and calculated therefore managed his work himself. Now he would love to depend upon River and have her around him all the time. Travelling with her and working with her should be fun.
River returned with his coffee and placed it on his desk,"Your coffee, sir," she said.
He got up from his seat and walked up to her. River's eyes went round with apprehension. Would he throw the coffee at her? Why did he get up?
"What did I ask you to call me?" He asked, impatiently, coming to stand in front of her.
"I'm sorry, it just slipped out," she said, casting her eyes downwards to her feet.
"You used to call me by my name before, didn't you?" Asked Tyler, looking at her.
"That was different, " she said, not looking at him.
"Why? What's the difference?" He prodded on, irritated at her for not looking at him.
"I didn't work for you before, " she said, going a little backwards to leave some distance between themselves.
"You will call me Tyler. Now say it," he insisted.
"Ok, Tyler," she said and his expression softened.
"Good. Is this week's schedule ready?" He asked and she nodded.
"Yes," she said.
"Send me on my mobile and it's your duty to remind me," he said and she nodded.
"Is that all?" She asked, eager to go back. Why did he have to come closer to her again? Didn't he remember that he was married?
Tyler didn't answer. He just watched her beautiful face from so close. The wish to touch her smooth creamy skin became too much to control. His hand went up and he tucked a loose strand that had escaped her bun, behind her ear.
"Leave it untied, I like it that way," he murmured and she looked up at him with her jaws dropped.
She turned away from his touch. "Ask your wife to do that, sir," she retorted and went to leave the room. Tyler caught her arm and pulled her into his arms.
She gasped when her chest touched his hard torso. "Firstly you will call me Tyler, else I will do what I want with you. Clear?" She looked down, feeling her heart beat like thunder inside her chest. "Secondly, I'm not married, I divorced Meredith last year," he said as his arm held her tightly around her waist crushing her to his body.
She stared at him with surprise. He wasn't married anymore? He was available for her? No, he didn't love her the way she loved him. She loved him but she wasn't available to warm his bed whenever he wanted her to.
"Tyler, I've got work to do," she reminded him but he kept looking at her, not loosening his hold.
Tyler held her soft, curvy body in his arms and felt too lost in the feel of her to hear her. He wanted to taste her lips, he wanted to kiss her neck and embed his face in her hair. "Hmm," he said, his eyes holding hers in a hypnotic stare.
"Tyler, I can't do this. You're my employer," she said, trying to free herself.
He left her like he was stung. "I I don't want to be just your employer, River," he said hesitantly.
"I can't be anything else to you, " she said, rushing to the door and leaving the room. She knew he didn't love her and he knew about her feelings for him. She had just come here to work. She couldn't throw herself at a man just to be his temporary fling till he chose another. He might be needing a rebound after his divorce and she wouldn't be it.
She had learnt to control her feelings for the last 9 years and she would continue to do so till Tyler terminated her employment.
The rest of the day, Tyler didn't bother her and she completed all the work he sent her via emails. By the time she completed her work, it was evening, she informed his receptionist and left.