One More Time

I slipped into the elevator and pressed the button for the fifteenth floor, straight to the top. This time, we wouldn't be meeting in a conference room, but rather his office. I'd get to see where Malcolm Crane worked and controlled the empire. When the doors chimed and slid open, I stepped into the hallway beyond and found myself looking at another desk with a pretty brunette behind it. The name plate said her name was Alyssa Matthews, and she was the Executive Assistant. I assumed that meant she was Malcolm's assistant, so I stepped up to the desk.

“Hi there,” I said. “Malcolm Crane is expecting me.”

“Sure thing,” she said with a smile. “What's your name?”

“Casey Melville,” I said.

“One second, Miss Melville,” she said.

This was so much easier than the first time I'd stopped by. What a difference being there during business hours made. Alyssa got on the phone, and I heard her talking in a low voice. When she'd hung up, she looked at me and smiled.

“Mr. Crane will see you know,” she said. “Here, follow me,” she said.

She stood up and guided me down a hallway and to a corner office. Of course Malcolm would have a nice, corner office on the top floor. I'd have been surprised by anything less. Alyssa knocked on the door, and Malcolm's voice called out from behind it.

“Come in.”

She opened the door for me and motioned for me to go inside. It felt so formal and businesslike – which made me sure I stood out like a sore thumb. Alyssa closed the door behind me, and I stared at Malcolm Crane, future CEO of Crane Enterprises, behind his large wooden desk. He was a gorgeous man in a business suit that hugged his sculpted body in all the right places.

Malcolm stood up and walked across the room toward me, his blue eyes full of concern.

“Casey, is everything okay?”

He took my hands in his, which was disappointing since part of me had hoped for a kiss or even a hug. But, I guessed that a handshake would have to do. We were at his office, during business hours after all, and he had a reputation to uphold.

“Yes, everything is fine,” I said. “I was actually just hoping I could ask you a favor?”

“Of course,” he said, leaning up against his desk.

There were two chairs in front of him, and he motioned for me to have a seat. I sat down, crossing my legs at the ankles and smoothed the dress down, my heart fluttering wildly as I tried to work up the nerve to ask my favor of him.

“Are you sure you're okay, Casey?” he asked.

I looked up, and there was concern etched upon his face. His eyes studied me carefully, and I felt a flutter of hope in my chest. Maybe he really did care. The windows behind him overlooked Los Angeles, and I found myself staring out that way as opposed to looking at him.

Because looking at him was dangerous. Confusing. When I looked at him, my body reacted strangely. I remembered the way he'd made me feel when we'd had sex and I'd turned into a quivering pile of goo, amazing sensations I'd never

felt before coursing through my body.

“Yes, I swear, I'm fine, Malcolm,” I said.

I licked my lips, not wanting to come right out and ask for the money. Not straight away. It felt wrong to be so demanding. And besides, I enjoyed his company and wanted to know how things were going in his world. So, instead of coming right out and asking for a handout, I took another tack.

“It's been a few days since we – you know -- and I wanted to see how you've been.” I said.

He tilted his head to the side, and he grinned at me, his baby blues sparkling like the Caribbean Sea. I felt my insides turning to liquid from just that one stare.

“I've been good,” he said. “I've been wondering about you too. I'm glad you stopped by.”

“You are?” I choked.

“I am,” he said, chuckling. “Why are you so surprised?”

“It's just the nature of our relationship – or rather, our business relationship – Ack, can I start that sentence over, please?”

I placed my head in my hands, wanting to crawl into a hole and disappear and maybe one day, come back as someone who could actually talk coherently. If it wasn't a snarky comment or scathing reply, I just couldn't seem to get it out around him.

Something touched my hand, and it took me a moment to realize it was Malcolm. He was pulling my hand away from my face. I looked up and saw him standing above me now, taking my hands in his. A small smile touched my lips and I let him pull me up from my seat. He was laughing, clearly amused by something I'd done.