Simply His (+18)

"Feeling the Fever"

*Meadow*

Monday came too quickly. I was still trying to wake up while I drank my 3rd cup of coffee at the boss's office and I was doing my best to ignore Gideon, my supervisor, in the staff meeting. He had been arguing how people had slowed down their 'production, ' and we were not meeting our standards. I just wanted to tell him people would actually work better without seeing his face staring at them constantly. I could not say that out loud, though, as it would be too bold of me after Friday's argument.

Instead, I decided to think of a pair of dark eyes, and that thought made me blush instantly. I was thinking about our lunch yesterday, how we both were just carefree and relaxed. I've never felt him tense, or as if he was hiding something from me, he was only open and fun. Except for that moment when I caught him at his study wrecking his cellphone, he had been a gentleman with me. I could still smell his earthy cologne after we hugged each other when we said goodbye. I almost forgot to give him my number, but he made sure I would remember. He recorded his one on my phone before handing it to me with a kiss on my forehead.

"So what's so funny Delane?" Gideon's question brought me back to the meeting. Crap! I was smiling from ear to ear, and everyone was looking at me. He was furious.

"I am sorry, Gideon." I cleared my throat and sat straight, pulling a few papers out from my folder. Here goes nothing! "I do not think it is funny, far from that, I think you are completely right." He was in shock, I could see him ready to shoot something back at me, but I caught him off guard. So I kept going. "I think our people have slowed down their 'production' and Gideon has been entirely accurate on his view of the situation. This is why I made this strategic plan to offer some new incentives to our most valuable employees, and we all know that if we encourage the key players, we will have a considerable increase in the overall performance of the staff. They will spread the word, and even the newest agents will be doing their very best to meet our standards...” I concluded. I wasn't sure at first, but I had this ace under my sleeve. I had been working on it for the last two weeks, and he just gave me the perfect opportunity to bring it up to everyone.

Oh, he wasn't happy at all, but my boss encouraged me to continue, and so I did. When we finished, my boss approved me going forward with elaborating my strategy and presenting it again to him at the next staff meeting Friday morning. I was really excited, this was my big chance to show how much I like what I do and that I want to help the company with my knowledge. I sat at my desk, and after a few minutes, I felt my phone buzz. I rushed to take it out of my pocket and saw it was from him. I took a deep breath before reading it.

*Caleb- Good afternoon Meadow, I wasn't sure what time you woke up, and I didn't want to interrupt your work, so I thought I would wait for lunchtime to say hi. How is your day going?

I gasped, looking at my phone's clock it was already past noon. I was too excited I forgot what time it was. I started to get my things to go out and quickly replied.

*Meadow- Good afternoon Caleb! You can't imagine how well timed your message came! I actually forgot to go get lunch, can you believe that! You are saving me yet again :)

I chuckled and felt the phone buzz back, I didn't look at it right away, so I took the elevator down to the lobby. We had a security staff that made everyone who entered and left go through a scan to make sure no one was armed. I always thought it was silly to do it on the way out; if they did their job well, no one would get in with a weapon, so why check on their way out? They would never listen to my point anyway.

I was on the short line of 4 people to get scanned and leave when I felt my heart beat faster; I wasn't sure why, perhaps the excitement of the earlier presentation. Two more people to go then I was going to be out in time to at least get a sandwich from the store at the corner. When there was only one person left, my eyes caught a darkly coated gentleman of a familiar figure outside at the entrance. My heart pounded faster, it was him, and he laid against the door of one of his expensive cars. I blushed immediately as I caught his eyes looking back at me, his smile was disarming.

I walked out still a little shaken and surprised, and he chuckled with his phone on the hand. "You didn't get my last message?" He said as he leaned to kiss my cheek. I knew he noticed how red my cheeks were.

"I am sorry! I rushed to get out as soon as I could and was going to check once I left..." I said almost breathlessly. He chuckled and extended his arm.

"Can I accompany you to lunch then? Even if it is only for a few minutes." I nodded and took his arm. "Where to?" he said, looking around lost.

I chuckled. "Well, since I don't have much time, I was thinking to get a sandwich in a store, right at that corner." I pointed out where and he walked towards there with me.

"This morning I realized we both didn't think about lunch today, we just went straight to dinner tonight or lunch tomorrow. So why lose time now?" We both laughed, and as we reached the small place, I went to a line to get the sandwich while he grabbed us a table. I was smiling from ear to ear again, he had that effect on me. I got to the cashier, ordered my sandwich and two juices, then paid.

As I got back, I noticed he had changed his smile for a more neutral look; he was staring at the window until I sat down and he looked back at me, a small smile reached only his mouth, not his eyes.

"What is wrong?" I asked as I gave him the juice he allowed me to get him. And I say this because he wanted to buy all for me, but I refused.

He looked at me and shook his head. "Nothing to worry, Meadow. And thank you for the juice, you didn't have to."

He made me chuckle. "Of course I had to, you did much more for me with a fancy lunch out in the open." He laughed, and I could stare at him like that for hours.

"So, I think you have a fan. Well, one more besides me that is." He said just casually, and I almost choked on my drink.

"What?" I managed to say. Did he just admit to like me? I don't think I can eat anymore after hearing that, and another ‘fan’?

He shook his head and pointed at my food. "You need to eat Meadow."

"I am sorry, I think I misheard you," I said when I grabbed the sandwich, not really intending to eat it.

"Well, I have a bodyguard that follows me around, and he told me there was this guy, blue suit, and blonde hair, who was waiting for you in the corner of your work, and he was about to rush into you before you walked to me. He stopped and waited, and then followed us over here. He was looking at both of us enter then went back to your building. You know who I am talking about?" He said, and I was still processing his words, but I nodded. Did Gideon want to confront me?

I sighed. "I just lost my appetite." I laid against the chair and looked down at my sandwich before dropping it back on the plate.

"Meadow?" he asked, and I looked back at him. "Who is he? is he giving you troubles?" I was putting together my thoughts when I felt his hand take mine. "I meant it, what I said a few moments ago. I like you, and I feel that there is a small chance you might like me back. That is why I took the risk to come here uninvited. I wanted to see you again before my trip. Was I wrong?" I shook my head and bit my lip. He took a deep breath and sighed as if it was in relief. "Good, that means I worry about you too. So please share with me."

I nodded and looked at the window. "His name is Gideon, and he has been the cause of all my stress at work. We both work in the same department, but he is my supervisor and is always pushing me. He sometimes asks me to stay extra hours. But then he stays with me too sometimes and always has an excuse for me to go over my reports forever and ever, they are just never good enough." I sighed and shook my head, then felt a gentle squeeze from his hand to mine and I felt warmth take over me. I smiled at him as I saw his face full of encouragement. "Last Friday he asked me to come work on Saturday, and I refused. I have this routine every two weeks to go visit my mom, I miss her so much still... well maybe I overreacted, and maybe I could have come and visited my mother on Sunday. He just insisted, and I got defensive, we started arguing really loudly, until our boss came to break us and sent me home. Then today, I was... distracted at the meeting, and he called me out right in front of everyone! I was lucky I was prepared with some strategic plans I had been working on and was able to turn things around, which made him angrier. So I guess you rescued me again without even planning to." I chuckled the irony and shook my head. He released my hand, and I instantly looked up at him.

"Well for one, he is an asshole." He said as he ran his fingers through his hair. "Pardon my language." He added looking back at me, and I smiled. "I think you did well, there are limits to what an employer can request from its employees, and he has been pushing that line one too many times with you. I am pleased I took the chance to come find you today. Please promise me to take care of yourself from now on, this guy seems overly interested in you, and I don't like it. At least, be careful until I can come back from my trip and keep you safe." He said with a smile, and I just melted right there.

"So you will come back to town?" I admitted, my hopes were high.

"Did you doubt it before?" He said almost offended. I blushed and lowered my head. He retook my hand and pulled my chin up with his other one. "I am a man of my word. I will be back by the end of the week, and we will go out on a proper date if you allow me to take you out. I really want to get to know you better Meadow." I was sure I stopped breathing, these type of things don't happen to simple girls like me. I nodded, and he smiled. "Now finish your meal before I walk you back to your office." He laid back on his chair and smirked.

I chuckled and started to eat as if my sandwich was the most delicious thing ever. His smile made me want to do everything for him. I blushed as he perked a brow, almost as if he could read my mind, and I had to look away to the window until I was done.

When we stood in front of each other at my building's entrance, I felt a bit nervous. Were we rushing this? Definetly.

He admitted to being interested in me, and I sure as hell was interested in him. But I started to think it was perhaps all happening too fast. He caught my distracted look and took my hand gently in his. "Meadow... I think I am going a bit out of my mind here. If you want me to stop just say so. I have always been too busy and too caught up on things to look at anything or anyone until I met you, and now I can't stop thinking about you... I just want to get to know you. But I don't want you to feel pushed to say yes to any of my invitations if you are not sure or..."

The hell with it, he was just as insecure as I was. I reached up and kissed him, feeling my own lips burn in contact with his; he was surprised but didn't resist it, my heart was about to come out through my chest; what on earth possessed me to act like this? I was about to pull back and say I was sorry when I felt his arms wrap around me and hold me gently. He kissed me too! His lips moved oh so softly against mine, it just felt right. We were like teenagers with innocent first kisses; he didn't push it for more, and I held my greed for wanting it to be more. When we broke apart, I was panting and felt as almost losing balance. He gently caressed my face, and a painful look showed in his eyes. "Now I really don't want to make that stupid trip..."