Endless Obsession

“Fine, just running a bit late. How’s Margret?” I stop for a moment at the desk and take a breather. I’m late, and I know I shouldn’t stop, but Jared’s wife recently had emergency surgery for a ruptured appendix. There’s no way I can walk by without finding out how she’s doing.

Although he smiles kindly at me, I still see the worry on his face. “She’s doing better. Getting around more and more every day.”

Jared and Margret were high school sweethearts and have been married going on thirty years. Their love story is sweet, something I wish to have one day. I can’t imagine how scared Jared was when he got the call at work, saying his wife was in the hospital and had to be rushed back for surgery. This is his second day back at work since she was released from the hospital.

I reach over and give his hand a squeeze, just as the phone on the desk rings. Nathan, the slightly younger guard, answers it. I don’t know much about Nathan. He’s generally quiet and seems pleasant. He’s only been with the company for a few months. I haven’t really gotten a chance to chat with him yet, except for a few pleasantries here and there as I walk in and out of the building. He looks to be in his mid-thirties. He has thick, dark brown hair and stunning blue eyes. From what I can see from his uniform, you can tell he’s stacked with muscles. He rarely smiles

and has the ‘badass’ vibe going on. With his size and the serious way he carries himself, he makes a formidable security guard. No one in their right mind would go up against him.

His eyes land on me after listening to whoever’s on the phone.

“Yeah, she just walked in,” his deep voice rumbles.

My eyes go wide, and I shift nervously in my heels.

“I’ll let her know… Right… Thank you, sir.” He hangs up the phone, but keeps his eyes pinned on mine.

I already know before the words leave his mouth.

“That was Mr. Knight, wanting to know if you were in the building yet. He says he needs you in his office right now.”

“Shit,” I mumble and pick up my purse.

Nathan keeps his gorgeous baby blues on me, while Jared’s face carries a smirk. Mr. Knight makes me nervous, something that Jared’s picked up on from whenever his name’s been brought up. Being nervous around him really sucks, considering I’m his personal assistant. My job consists of me having to be near him eight hours a day, five days a week.

He doesn’t look like the typical businessman. He’s tall, well-built, extremely smart, and he has multiple tattoos covering his arms. I noticed this my first day here when he walked out of his office with the sleeves of his black shirt rolled up to just below his elbows. His dark brown hair is longish, and most of the time looks like he just ran his fingers through it. His green eyes are piercing and often pin me in place. I can’t help but get caught up in them. He also has an eyebrow ring, which totally conflicts with his business image. But he pulls the two contradicting looks off well. The man is pure sex on legs and shouldn’t be allowed out in public. It really is a sin against womankind for a man to look so damn good.

I wave good-bye to Jared and Nathan and jog as best as I can in heels over to the bank of elevators. Minutes later, I’m on the twelfth floor and rushing past Beth, the receptionist. I make it to my desk outside Mr. Knight’s office just as Liv walks over. The look on her face has me pausing as I place my purse in the bottom drawer of my desk.

“What’s wrong?” I ask.

“You got another one,” she says, a smile playing on her lips.

I roll my eyes, but can’t help the thrill that flutters through my stomach. I know exactly what she’s talking about, so I don’t bother asking her what she’s referring to.

“Where are they?”

“In the breakroom. And they are gorgeous, as always.”

Knowing I need to get to Mr. Knight’s office, but needing to see them, I follow Liv to the breakroom instead. I see them as soon as I enter. Sitting on the counter in a silver vase with a black ribbon wrapped around the neck are a dozen sterling silver roses. They’re my favorite.

I walk over, pull the small envelope from the stick thingy clipped to the vase, and slip out the card. Just like every other time, it’s white with purple letters that simply read, Always yours, A.

I’ve been getting them for eight months now, one delivery a week, and I have no idea who they are from. The mysterious A has never shown himself. I’ve tried pulling the info out of the delivery guy, but he claims they are always ordered anonymously. I don’t know how to feel about this weekly surprise. On one hand, I’m flattered that someone noticed me enough to spend so much money on me every week. Not all floral shops carry sterling silver roses, and they don’t come cheap when they are found. On the other hand, it’s kind of freaky. I mean, how did he know these were my favorite? And why send them to me every week, but not introduce himself? He could be a serial killer for all I know. Or some old pervert. He could be anybody. Where did he see me to develop this fascination? Is it someone I know? Could it be someone I’ve talked to before? I’m curious to know, but I’m also scared to find out.

From beside me, Liv bends to smell the lavender petals as I put the card back into the envelope.

“They always smell so sweet.” She sighs and stands back up. “You know I’m jealous of you, right?”

I scoff at her and pick up the vase of flowers. With her trailing behind me, we walk back out to my desk.

“I don’t know why you’re jealous. You have Tony, and you know he adores you.”

I put the flowers down before turning to her.

“True, but he doesn’t buy me flowers every week. I only get them occasionally.”

She reaches out and fingers one of the petals with a look of envy. I reach out my own hand and run the pad of my finger along the thornless stem. Besides the beautiful color, they are my favorite because you don’t have to worry about being poked while handling them.