ROSALINE
The sliding door pulled open, giving way for me as I stepped foot on the pavement and made my way in. It felt like it had been years since I last visited my father’s company. I wouldn’t have, but I must say, they were good at convincing, and I also needed to wipe off the mess that I’d made with Harry.
I haven’t talked with him since he disappeared on the day of the party. Aware of pairs of eyes gauging my movement, I proceeded with my head up high, my stiletto heels clanging against the tiled floor and echoing wildly through the vast reception. I was nervous to a fault, and the thought of facing my father after all of this made my stomach churn with more anxiety.
I clenched my fist and stormed on anyway. Rather than get settled in my office, I’d see my father first and then decide what to do next. After the wedding sham, I wasn’t sure I wanted to be around him yet, which meant working under the same roof wouldn’t work for me either.
The door opened immediately after his secretary sighted me. A middle-aged woman whose nearly perfect poker face I knew so well and the one she wore today was faltering. She had a question in her eyes and looked at me, scanning me as though she was searching for something.
“They’re inside,” She quietly relayed. Although I asked no questions, the word bounced on and off in my head. They? Who are they? It wasn’t until I was led into his office that I got the response.
Two heads swung in my direction the moment I strolled in, and all the air in my lungs vanished. Gerald?
“Oh! Speak of the devil,” My father exclaimed. The good kind of exclamation before turning to Gerald, who seemed to be completely pleased watching me, confused.
Why was he here? I tucked my hair behind my hair and approached them. My mind turned into a blank slate as I was completely intimidated by the sight of both of them. I pulled a chair back and took a seat next to Gerald. “The devil? Isn’t that a rather cruel name for your precious daughter?”
My father’s gaze flicked to mine, and his smile widened, wrinkling the corners of his eyes further. “Your husband was just talking about you and how we completely misunderstood the situation. The news sure has a displeasing way of interpreting situations!”
“Oh really?” My hand went over my mouth, and my eyes widened flirtatiously. I blinked slowly, giving him a bug-eyed stare before finally turning my entire body in his direction. “Really? You took it upon yourself to explain to my father?” I slurred the last two words. “What did you tell them this time?”
Gerald’s hands reached for my hair, and I flinched, unable to stomach his adverse response to my poor flirtatious skills. My stomach quaked when his wark finger came in contact with my forehead, slowly pushing the tendrils to the back of my ears. “Of course, I did, my love. Anyone would want their father-in-law not to worry about situations like this.”
Whatever he said flew right over my head, and it took more strength than it should to follow the train of his words when he continued to stroke my ears like that. His mere touch awakened my entire body, and I gulped hard, unable to tear my gaze away from the allure of his presence.
“I do love to see young couples in love!” My father’s voice pulled me out of the trance, and I inched away from Gerald, causing his hands to slide off slowly. I could have sworn I saw him wear a disappointed expression.
“I bet you do, Father,” I giggled. God, it wasn’t even funny! “Especially when your son-in-law is the richest man in the country. It makes the love potion more potent, doesn’t it?”
Father leaned in, cupping the side of his mouth with his left hand, and whispered jokingly. “Of course it is! It comes as a bonus, and I’m here for it!”
“Ah. Ah. Ah,” I laughed dryly, suddenly irritated. Time slowed down a little, granting the unfortunate ability to feel like I was sold into marriage again for some deal I wasn’t even aware of.
It made me want to punch the wall and yell at the world, but seriously, how much more damage would an insignificant speck of dust do in a world so huge, in a world where only money mattered?
“Thank you for having me, Mr. Rivera,” Gerald began. I still couldn’t wrap my head around the reason he cared this much in the first place. “I just thought I’d clear the air before it waited longer.”
“And that’s very gentlemanly of you. I do not doubt that my daughter is in the right hands.”
I rolled my eyes, shunning down a scoff that laid at the very top of my tongue. My father continued, breaking my little moment of introspection. “Why don’t you show him your office, Rosa? I think Gerald would like to see all the important work you used to take care of.”
What? No! “I don’t think that’s necessary, fa-”
“I’d definitely love a tour of this place, especially her office!” Gerald responded, somehow unable to hold back excitement, or maybe he forced it.
“No, you don’t,” I said through gritted teeth, glaring at him. “Remember? You have to go to work?”
“No, I do not,” He probed. “And why are you talking so weirdly? I have all day, Rosa. I could do this all day!” Gerald’s brows pushed up, and I instantly recognized that he was just trying to torture me.
My heels found his shoes, and I stumped his feet. He yelped but remained relentless in his resort to make my life miserable. “Come on, witc- Wife, I mean wife. Show me your office. Let’s see all that important work you’ve been doing!”
One glance at my father and his cheeks looked so puffy, and they might tear if he tried to smile any wilder. Would he be just as happy if it were Julie and Gerald? Was this happiness on his face only backed up by the benefits he’d get out of this union?
“You two should have fun,” My father added. “There’s a lot for you to see in her office.” He looked at Gerald, then at me. “Any chance we’re getting little Gerald soon?”
My face instantly chose red as foundation, and I sunk deeper into my seat, feeling enough shame for a hundred people. The dumbest smile tugged at my lips for no apparent reason, and heat reached every part of my body, even the ones that shouldn’t be active in a weird situation like this. “Dad! Why would you say that?”
“Well, I do like the sound of that,” Gerald cut in, leaning in from his chair to my side, his face so close that only an inching movement was needed for our lips to touch.
How could he be so confident? It felt like it was an entirely different person before me, and even as I thought my boundaries were well defined, he did something like this, bringing me back to the very square one that I so wanted to avoid. It was all acting, and he was only doing this to solidify our faux relationship with my father.
I needed to keep chanting that in my head, until my thighs ached less and my inside subside their undying want to taste him.
My toes tingled, and then it traveled up my fingers at the speed of light, making my body susceptible to random joltings. I grabbed the edge of my skirt, and I pushed him off, stifling a laugh. “You’re impossible!”
“And you’re so breathtakingly stunning, ma’am.”
My mouth fell agape again, and my orbs grew impossibly wide. Someone get this man away from me!
“Ugh! I hate you!” I mouthed quietly, grumbling and getting to my feet. I walked to the door with a loosened purse and my hands tightly folded around my chest.
“I love you, too, Wife.”
I love you, too, wife. I heard it again in my head, and I stopped walking, frozen to the floor. That clause relentlessly replayed in my headspace- a thousand echoes of it, and my breath hitched. My heartbeat quickened, and I fell into my delusions once more. Did he just-
Oh, God. No. Why did he have to say that? I walked back and clutched his arm, keying it to mine. I made sure we were at a fair distance from my father before I asked, tugging him. “Why are you so weird today? Tone it down, Romeo!”
“You seem rather excited to be in a private space, wife. Eager to ‘discuss’ Gerald junior?” A smirk played on his lips, and for the first time, I didn’t want to knock it off.
I wanted to anchor him closer and kiss him like my life fucking depended on it. Why was he torturing me so? I looked up at him and was met with charm like never before. This must be why he’d earned the number spot with the ladies, and I hated that I was affected by those charms, too. I was merely a simpleton, just like everyone else.
“You’re gross.”
“Watch how sexy the word turns if you keep using it to address me. I have that effect on people…”
And he wasn’t lying. I didn’t let go of his arm. I’d lie to myself that it was in the spur of the moment and revel in the feel of it.
Because I liked it.
Because I… like this man. I liked him.
I led Gerald into my office after a small moment. It was on the same floor as my dad’s. I swirled and threw my hands to my sides. “Here we are,” I said to him. “My humble abode.”
Gerald scanned the room. It was furni shed in two simple colors- white and brown, but I especially loved it for the view from the balcony. “Humble abode? Humble, really?”
I hopped on the table and sat, facing him. “I suppose everything will be humble to you. I mean, you basically live in heaven.” The word strained from my lips, and I kept a straight face, pretending like I didn’t see him break into my personal space.
He was so close to where I was, his tall frame hovering over me. I was sure if he moved a bit closer, I wouldn’t find a voice to complain.
“I didn’t know you… had an office here.”
“Figured,” I sucked in my lower lips, gesticulating as I spoke. “There’s a lot you don’t know about me, Gerald.”
His eyes snapped to mine, and the temperature dropped into pure hotness as though my office was next to Lucifer’s. “I suppose.” His hands were tucked in his pocket as he talked. “And that’s what’s intriguing about you, Rosa.”
Now he was directly before me. One more step, and my legs would contract around his waist. One more step, and I might as well rip off this dress and give in to the pleasure of the moment. His eyes fell to my chest, and they lingered for a barely noticeable second.
Gerald checking me out only heightened my want, and I leaned back, my palms pressed to the table for support. My eyes never left his, and that gesture was my little way of giving permission.
He’s allowed to intrude. He’s allowed to lean in a bit closer and nuzzle my neck. The tension killed me, and my core throbbed, forcing my legs with no desperation to clasp around him.
“I want to know more about you,” His husky voice carried to my ears, and I felt my underwear getting pooled, my unsteady legs violently twitching. His demeanor was calm, effortless even, but in a position like this, innocence had left the picture.
All that was left was raging desire and a ravishing need to explore inches of each other. Beads of sweat formed on my forehead, and my breathing was labored. I couldn’t wait anymore.
My urgent hands found their way to his trousers, and I wound my fragile fingers around the leather waistband, pulling him in by his belts until his body finally crashed into mine.
“Fuck- Rosa…” His voice was breathy, and they sought permission, although not enough to stop his muscular hands from caressing the small of my back, sending sparks through me. “Too close…”
“What? Are you scared?”
“Rosaline,” He raised my head up to his with his index finger. “Do you not know what happens in enclosed spaces like this?” His voice was barely louder than a whisper.
“Show me, I permit you.” And I want to shut him up with a kiss.
Today, as friends. As foes. As anything. Let me just have today.