Surrender (A Dangerous Man 4)

The security guard directs me to the main reception, where I get some curious glances form the front desk personnel. I expect them to call, to confirm from someone in David’s office that he would want to see me. However, the efficient looking girl in charge hands me an access card almost as soon as she hears my name, even though I used my maiden name.

“Why don’t you show Mrs…Ah…Miss Bennett to the elevators?” She asks one of the security guards.

So they know who I am, I think as I follow the guard to one of the elevators. Had David always anticipated that one day I’d come here wanting to see him, and taken steps to make himself accessible to me? I frown, more confused even than last night. When it comes to David, I don’t know what to think anymore.

A pair of glass security doors slide open almost as soon as I step out of the elevator, and I walk into the large reception area. The receptionist smiles a greeting at me, but before I can talk to her, David’s assistant, Linda Mays, emerges from behind another set of wide glass doors, impeccable as always in a white silk blouse and another beautiful pencil skirt.

“Hello, Mrs. Preston.” She says, her smile almost managing to crack her efficient manner.

“Please,” I shake my head. “Sophie.”

She shrugs elegantly, “Well come in.” She says, leading me inside the office floor. “Mr. Preston has been in a conference call, but it should be over in a few seconds,” She gives me a look, “So he doesn’t know you’re here, yet.”

I nod, wondering if David will be pleasantly surprised or whether he’ll feel the opposite. I follow Linda to a door at the end of the floor, past an office where a guy in a suit and nerdy glasses is talking emphatically into an earpiece.

“That’s Cole.” Linda tells me, gesturing towards the guy, “He’s Mr. Preston’s other assistant.”

The guy looks up at us and smiles, but keeps talking into his earpiece.

We stop in front of an opaque glass door. Linda glances at her phone screen. “You can go in now.” She says, surprising me with another small smile.

“Thanks.”

She leaves me standing at the door. I take a deep breath and push it open, stepping into David’s office.

It’s larger than any office I’ve ever been in, with about three different seating areas each one larger than my living room. There’s a huge screen with various news channels showing all at once, and a huge desk, which dominates the room from the center. It’s an office for a successful man, a powerful one. A man who can have anything he wants, anyone he wants.

What am I doing here?

I step farther inside the office, letting the door swish shut behind me. David is seated behind the desk, his back to me, and his face turned towards the glass windows that look out onto the city.

“Yes Linda?” he says, not bothering to turn around. He sounds tired, and I get the feeling that he would rather be alone.

“It’s me David.”

He shoots out of his chair, turning to look at me, his expression turning from surprise to wariness, before the shutters come down, and his face is unreadable again. “What are you doing here?” he asks.

Last night you said you love me, David, is that true?

The words are on the tip of my tongue, but I don’t say them, instead, I shrug. “I wanted to talk.” I say lightly, “and I thought it would be nice to see where you work.”

“Did you?” He regards me coolly, his impassive mask already making him look distant, as if just yesterday he didn’t say the three little words that made my heart almost explode.

I nod.

“Well now that you’ve seen where I work,” He says, “What do you want to talk about?”

I move forward, towards the desk. “I’d like to know that this won’t end like our ‘talking’ did at the restaurant.”

His eyebrows go up, and he chuckles, eyes glinting dangerously. He seems so in control, so relaxed, while I’m still reeling from what he said last night. He leaves his place behind the desk and walks towards me until he’s so close I can feel the heat from his body. I stiffen automatically. Being this close to him does things to me, things I shouldn’t even be contemplating.

“I wouldn’t touch you unless you ask.” He says with a shrug, turning to go back to his desk. “I was just about to leave.” He continues. “So you should tell me whatever it is you want to say. Although,” he pauses. “If it’s another request for me to stay away from you, perhaps you shouldn’t bother. I’m done banging my head against that particular wall.”

I can’t believe what he’s saying. He can’t mean that he’s just going to let go, even after last night”

You said you love me David.

I swallow. “I…” Why am I stammering? “Where’re you going?”