Page 23 of Forbidden Desire

“Wow,” I whisper to myself.

“Do you like it?” asks a voice to my right, making me jump.

I turn to see Marco standing there, leaning against the wall, watching me.

“It’s… nice,” I say, trying to hide the fact that I’m genuinely impressed.

“Good,” he says, biting back a smile.

“The movers should be here any minute. Everyone else will be here after lunch. I told them to work from home this morning. Better not to get in the way.” I shrug.

“See, I knew I hired the right person for the job,” he says, impressed.

I try to ignore how good his words feel.

“Care to see your office?” he asks.

“My office?” I ask, confused.

“You think you’re going to be in a cubicle forever?” He laughs softly. “A well-earned promotion deserves an office. Come. Let me show you.”

He gestures me to follow him as we walk through the echoing room. I watch how he walks with a cool confidence, wearing a navy suit that fits him like a well-worn glove. He walks like he owns the place, which he does. All sixty floors.

He stops outside a large, empty office that is encased by windows.

“This is my office,” he says before continuing to the nearly identical office directly next to it. “And this is yours.”

My eyes grow wide as I look at the space. I can’t believe I have my own office.

“You can decorate it however you like,” he says. “I’ll give you the company card.”

For being a temporary position, this certainly feels permanent. And intimate. My plan of avoiding him is laughable now that I think about it. Did I really think I could avoid my own boss? I feel my coolness toward him diminish slightly as I step into the room, already envisioning what it could look like. I want to hatehim, but all I feel right now is gratitude. I feel him watching me as I turn in place, taking it all in.

“This is adequate,” I say with a nod.

I hear him chuckle softly as he walks away. I bite back a smile as I hear his footsteps fade. Through the excitement I feel, a little bit of fear creeps in too. Being this close to him means it will be harder to hide the truth.

Chapter 14

Marco

I glance at the time on my watch. It’s nearly 7 p.m. I tap my foot impatiently as I watch two delivery men carry a large midcentury desk into Erica’s office where she’s filling the new bookshelves that were also delivered. I can’t tear my eyes away from the close-lipped smile she has on her face. She looks happy, something she hasn’t looked since she came into my office for the first time.

I relish in this moment, as I take her all in. Her hair is pulled into a messy bun held up by two pencils, and she’s wearing a black pencil skirt and a soft, white button-down paired with a black patent leather heels. I think she took me up on my offer of buying some new pieces for her wardrobe, along with furniture for her office. I like spoiling her, even if I have to pretend it’s for business.

These delivery men are taking their sweet time and I wish it was just us. They had called to let us know they were running late, which is why we are still here long after the rest of the employees have gone home. At least this little hiccup has forced us to be alone together. Well, almost.

Erica insisted I go too, but I made an excuse to stay, saying I had to work late. I mostly have been typing gibberish on my laptop, trying to look busy as she oversees the delivery guys. She had spent most of yesterday shopping for her new office, which had been so satisfying to surprise her with. It was hard not to laugh as she pretended not to be impressed.

When I see the delivery men leave to get the next load from the truck, I knock on her door. She looks up and gives me a faint smile. A real one. It takes my breath away, but it only lasts for a moment before she realizes her resolve has temporarily weakened because she puts back on her cool exterior.

“Yes?” she asks, turning back to the bookshelf and placing a book in the row she’s started.

“Looks good in here,” I say, looking around the room.

“It’s coming together. I think they just have one more load. My office chair and a lamp.”

“Good, good.”

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