Chapter Eight
Arianna knocked on Laurence's door, nervous for what was in store for her now. "Come in," he said in a displeased tone. Arianna opened his door and went inside. He was pacing the floor impatiently.
"What took you so long? You're five minutes late, " he yelled at her. He was disappointed to not see her since morning. He had the feeling that she wouldn't come to office.
"I'm sorry sir, I woke up late. It won't happen again," she said softly.
Laurence looked at her guilty face and felt bad for yelling at her. "Where are the contract papers for Garner Gems & Jewellery? I have a meeting with them today," he said going towards his desk and searching again. They were a big client with showrooms worldwide showcasing jewellery of many brands for retail. They were interested in a five year contract with Sparklez, offering a good profit.
Arianna went towards his desk and started looking into his drawers. She was so engrossed in her search that she didn't see him watching her minutely. "Why are you wearing this dress again?" He asked her with disapproval. The skirt was too loose for her and the top was buttoned to the chin and he didn't like it one bit. "It doesn't fit you."
"Oh, it's Isabella's. They all are. I'll buy some clothes next month," she said absentmindedly, searching for the documents. Laurence stared at her. No wonder the clothes were so loose. He felt bad for his behaviour towards her. While his sister hardly ever repeated her clothes, this girl borrowed her friend's clothes because she didn't have any. How much hardships had she gone through?
He didn't answer her but decided in his mind that he would take her shopping. "Here sir, the contract papers for Garner Gems and Jewellery," she said taking out the file containing the papers. He took it from her and placed it on his desk. Arianna turned to go but her shoe got caught in the wheels of his chair and she tripped. Why was he sitting so close to her? She was expecting to fall and hit the floor backwards on her butt but thankfully she landed on a warm surface. Wait a minute, a warm surface? She looked around and blushed to the roots of her hair to see where she was. On her boss's lap! She was clueless about how she landed there.
"I'm sorry sir, " she said trying to get up but she couldn't. Looking down she saw that his arm was around her waist. She closed her eyes as strange butterflies started fluttering in her stomach at his warmth. Her back was against his chest and his face was inches away behind hers. It felt as if she belonged there, in his arms. It felt so right although it was wrong. He was her boss after all, way beyond her league. He was forbidden for her. She opened her eyes.
"I I get your c coffee," she said struggling to get up. Laurence slowly and reluctantly released her. Arianna rushed out of his room with flushed red cheeks and heart beating fast. She went to the kitchen to make his coffee for him.
Laurence just sat there dazed. He didn't want to release her at all. She was so soft and fitted into him perfectly as if she'd been made for him. He wanted to embed his face in her neck and smell her addictive scent. The door opened and she came in with flushed red cheeks. Placing his coffee on his desk, she looked at him. His piercing blue eyes were gazing into her own and she blushed more at his scrutiny.
"Your coffee sir," she said but he just kept watching her and she didn't know what to do. "Is there anything else you need sir?" She asked hesitantly.
"No," he said, looking back at his laptop. Arianna left his room and went back to her cubicle, ready to start her day. She was busy rescheduling his meetings for the next two weeks to accommodate an upcoming business trip to London next week. She expertly handled all the phone calls and Mrs Drewett was glad that Arianna had learnt everything so fast. She would be released next week or earlier if Arianna could pick up everything at this rate. There was a meeting with the marketing department heads and Laurence left his office to go to the conference room on the ninth floor.
After four hours Laurence came back. He had an important meeting over lunch with Michael Garner, owner of Garner Gems and Jewellery at JW Marriott. He freshened up and summoned Arianna into his room.
She hurriedly came inside, "Yes sir," she said, nervously.
"Did you have your lunch?" He asked her.
"N no, I mean I'm not hungry, " she said looking at her feet. Laurence looked at her curiously. How could she not be hungry? Mrs Drewett knocked and came into the room.
"Sir, sorry to disturb you but here's the revised schedule that you'd asked for. Arianna has made it completely on her own. I've sent it to you as a mail attachment too," she said handing Laurence his schedule.
"Thank you," said Laurence taking it from her hands. "So how can you not be hungry after working for six hours?" He said with concern.
"I I sir. I'll eat later," she mumbled.
"No you won't. You always skip lunch to save money. Only yesterday you ate since you brought food from home," scolded Mrs Drewett. Laurence stared at Arianna and felt his heart ache for her. Was she so short of money that she couldn't afford a meal for herself? He had to do something for her.
"Get ready in five minutes. I have a lunch meeting at JW Marriott with Garner Gems and Jewellery and you're coming with me," he ordered. Arianna's jaws dropped. She wasn't adequately dressed to go to JW Marriott. She'd never been at such an extravagant hotel and would feel out of place.
"Sir, I'll eat a sandwich or something. You don't have to take me to JW Marriott. I'm not adequately dressed," she mumbled and Mrs Drewett smiled and left the room. Her work was done.
"It'll do and you're coming. Be ready in five minutes. I'm getting late," he said in a stern voice. Arianna sighed and left to freshen up. She had no idea what she'd do at such an important meeting. She was ready in three minutes and went into Laurence's room to get the files and papers ready for the meeting. Watching her sort the papers, getting everything ready for the contract signing, he realized that she was actually quite intelligent.
"Ready?" Asked Laurence and Arianna nodded nervously.
They went to the elevator and downwards silently. Arianna nervously stood beside him looking at all the stuff that she was carrying for the meeting. Was she missing something? She didn't want something to go wrong. She had never done anything like this before and she wanted to do everything to perfection.
Laurence simply watched the fleeting expressions on her face with interest. She was like an open book. His gaze went to her soft, plump moist lips which she kept licking out of nervousness. She had no idea how enticing she actually was. Laurence just hoped that Garner came alone without that young personal assistant of his. What was his name? Yes, Gavin Jenkins. He had completely forgotten about Gavin when he decided to take Arianna along with him.
They reached the main door and climbed into Laurence's black Porsche waiting outside. His chauffeur, Tim Fletcher drove them to the meeting venue. Arianna was exceptionally quiet, fidgeting with her fingers nervously as Laurence worked on his tablet, watching her at the same time. The skirt rode up a bit revealing her creamy smooth legs. He wanted to run his fingers along their long length. Her chest heaved up and down as she breathed deeply to calm her jumpy nerves.
"Relax Arianna. Michael Garner is an old acquaintance of ours. He's quite friendly and nice," said Laurence to calm her and make her more relaxed.
"Oh," she said with a faint smile. Laurence noticed that she had tied her hair in a tight bun for the meeting. He didn't like it at all. He wanted her to untie it and leave it open, cascading down her back so that he could embed his face into the thick tresses.
"Focus Laurence," he muttered to himself. He had meeting to attend, a contract to sign. He couldn't allow these thoughts to invade his mind now.
"I beg your pardon sir?" Squeaked a nervous Arianna.
"Nothing, " said Laurence. It was good that she hadn't heard him. They reached the hotel and were warmly welcomed by the manager himself as Laurence was a regular guest there. They escorted them to a smaller conference room where they would have the meeting first followed by lunch.
Laurence thanked the manager and settled down. The door opened and a smiling man with salt and pepper hair walked inside. "Hello boy, you've grown up," said the man.
"Hello uncle Garner, how are you?" Said Laurence.
"I'm good. How's your dad?" He asked sitting down.
"He's good too," Laurence answered. A man in his mid twenties came inside too and closed the door after him. His eyes fell upon Arianna and twinkled with excitement. Laurence's jaws clenched and hands fisted at the sight of Gavin Jenkins.
