Chapter 9 - Ben
It was a long and exhausting day. Maybe that's because I spent parts of it avoiding thinking about Cece. I had the housekeeper fire her. I'm starting to feel like a big kid for doing that, but what else can I do? After the way I left things with her, this is the only option. It is also the best option.
The house is quiet when I get home. Katie must be asleep or upstairs with Cece at least. That's good news for me. I can't face her, nor do I really want to. I keep telling myself that a clean break is what is best. I already have some potential candidates lined up to fill her position.
I walk through the house cautiously, checking every room before I go in. I know it sounds silly, but I don't want to risk running into her. It looks like the coast is clear as I make it to the hallway outside of my office. I can't wait to sit down and take a load off for a few minutes, then it's right back to work.
I'm helping Rick out with this new investment opportunity he's working on. We got together at the office yesterday to discuss it, and it sounds very promising. I can get a lot done with it, as long as I don't allow myself to get distracted again. I do this every day, staying late at the office and coming home when I know no one will be around. It's the best way to avoid Cece.
I open the door to my office and turn on the light. As I walk in, I nearly drop my briefcase in shock. Cece is sitting in the chair in front of my desk.
“What are you doing in here?” I ask her as I try to regain my composure.
“I needed to talk to you. We have something important to discuss,” she says. She doesn't sound like her usual sweet and innocent self. In fact, her back is straight, and her arms are crossed. She’s angry.
“All right, fine, I guess we can do that,” I sigh.
I walk over to my desk and set my briefcase down. I try to keep myself busy by looking at paper copies of the proposal. It's no use, though. The fact that she is right here in the office with me is driving me insane. I'm also upset that I couldn't have predicted something like this was going to happen. I feel completely thrown off my game right now.
She looks around the room. I try to ignore it, but I know she sees all the pictures of my ex-wife. It seems as if she is studying every one of them till she turns to me. “Are you still in love with your ex-wife?” she asks bluntly.
“That is none of your concern,” I say coldly.
“Answer the question,” she demands, glaring into my eyes.
“For your information, Isabel is also Katie's mother. I keep these pictures as a reminder of that. I feel bad that Katie is growing up without a mother,” I say, trying to make my lie sound more convincing.
Cece uncrosses her arms and looks at me. “I don't buy that for a second,” she says, almost getting into my face.
My head feels hot, and anger rips through me. I throw my papers down on the desk in a rage. I've had it. Who does this woman think she is to come in here and question me like this? None of this concerns her.
“What do you want me to say? That she broke my heart?” I yell. I grab a picture and throw it on the ground. The glass breaks. “Is that what you want? For me to admit that all women are the same? That all they do is hurt you?” I snap, grabbing more pictures and throwing them on the ground. I start knocking things off the shelves, not just the pictures.
Cece stands up behind me. “Yes. That's exactly what I want. You need to let go and move on. This is good for you,” she says calmly.
That is also infuriating, so I smash more pictures. She has some nerve thinking she can come in here and change everything around. She’s too young to know what is right for me. I have a good ten years of life experience on her, yet she thinks she knows best! Maybe Cece is like all the other women I know. She just wants to take over and be in charge. Well, I can’t have that.
Panting with rage, I turn to look at her, slamming my fists into the desk. Cece’s eyes meet mine. Her mouth opens just slightly. “Oh, and I suppose this is good for me too, huh? This is obviously what we both want?” I growl angrily.
I walk around the desk and grab her for a hard kiss. She doesn't argue. Her mouth opens willingly, and I can feel her tongue against mine. I run my hands over her hips, feeling the curve of her waist then the swell of her ass. She allows me to pick her up. I seat her on the edge of my desk, lift her skirt, and pull her panties aside. Wanting to feel all of her and impose my will, I stick my fingers inside of her pussy. Moaning, Cece leans back, opening her legs wide and inviting me to do as I please.