Page 28 of Far

Mary

I pace my office, clutching my third cup of coffee in my hands.

“Hey, Dad… uh, so, last night, there was a stranger in your office.”

I imitate my father’s voice. “There was a stranger. What did you do?”

“Funny story, actually. I made out with him.”

How do I tell Dad a stranger broke in last night? That I kissed said stranger who took my phone. The security who didn’t even notice the break-in. And after getting a room, I had a sex dream about the guy.

I stop in my tracks.

Yes, sounds completely sane.

I press down on my neck, wincing as my fingers graze the tender spot. The unmistakable mark I noticed this morning in the mirror.

It was real. All of it. Was it?

Am I losing my mind?

I brush my hair over it.

It can’t have been real.

“Dad always appreciates honesty… right? Stay calm, be honest, and focus.”

I’ll start with the security issue and ease into the stranger showing up out of nowhere. Leave out the making out part… and the sex dream.

Definitely leave that out.

I drink my coffee, grimacing at the bitter taste. Who made the coffee this morning? I rub my clammy hands on my skirt and glance at the clock. Eight fifteen. Time to face the music.

With a deep breath, I straighten my back and stride towards my dad’s office.

He’ll tell me he hired the guy, and it was nothing out of the ordinary. Everything will be fine.

I paste a smile on my face and knock at the door. “Dad? We need to talk.”

With my rehearsed speech ready, I open the door, but the words die on my lips. The hot stranger from last night sits casually across from Dad at the desk. He turns to face me, a slow smile curving his lips, and I’m struck. Shock. Confusion. Anger. And beneath it all, a traitorous spark.

“Mary!” Dad rises from his chair. “I’d like you to meet Connor Milton. He’s consulting us regarding our security. Connor, this is my daughter, Mary.”

Connor rises. “Pleasure to meet you, Miss Wempton.”

God, he’s even more hot in a suit.

I stare at him, my mind reeling, as he steps forward and his fingers close around mine, warm and rough. The same fingers that...

My father clears his throat. “Connor came highly recommended. With his background, I have full confidence in his ability to enhance our security swiftly. Break-ins, data leaks. Can’t be too careful these days.”

I know exactly what kind of ‘break-in’ happened recently.

“Yes, you can’t,” Connor says.

And the perpetrator is standing right in front of me, looking far too pleased with himself. There’s no point in causing a scene with Dad right there.

“Lovely to meet you.” But fuck you, Mr. Milton, is what I would rather love to say. This man broke into this very office, kissed me senseless, took my phone, and now he’s buddy-buddy with my father? Unbelievable.

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