Echoes in Eternity (The Pella Series Book 1) (15 page)

“It
 wouldn't be appropriate for me to stay with my prospective new boss,” she replies in her singsong, velvety voice. I can see the inner struggle in her demeanor. She likes and desires me, too! It’s all in her eyes.

“I have a house... I can go there while you’re in my apartment. That way, you won’t feel crowded with my presence and I can have someone
provide care for your duration of the night. Please... You've just passed out in my building right after one of my security guards nearly hit you with my company car,” I say. I want to be in the same place with her. I want to gaze at her, talk to her, and hear her voice even if that’s all we get to do. I want to know she’s safe. 

“Don’t worry Mr. Pella... I’m not planning to sue. Like I said, I’m equally guilty,” she says and turns her attention to her lap as if it’s holding the secrets of the universe. I don’t want her to go. I don’t care that she would want to sue me for all I’ve got. I just want to be near her!

“You’re wounding me, Miss Duncan. I didn't mean to extend my courtesy because I thought you would sue me, although, it would be within your rights to do so. I am however, genuinely concerned for your well-being. You can call your family and let them know where you are if that’s going to make you feel secure,” I say appealing to her mercy, trying to get her real feelings out.

“No, it’s not that... I don’t want to put you out of your home, inconveniencing you,” she says in a stutter, finally looking up at me again, cooling and soothing my heart like the spring breeze.

“Well,” I reply relieved, leaning in with intense sensuality but making sure we don’t touch, “I have a couple of spare guestrooms in my apartment. You are more than welcome to use one of them... tonight. Do you wish me to stay in my apartment, Ellie?”

I can hear the fluttering of her heart beating like the jungle drum. Her throat swallows hard as if she’s
passing a boulder through. The heat rising from her body overwhelms me, heating up my core. Her lips slowly part as she’s trying to exhale her pent up desire without detection. Thank heavens! She fucking wants me! She leans down in an effort to look away and presses her legs together to suppress her rising desire for me. I don’t want to give any of my feelings away to her. It has to be her, wanting me, desiring me.

“It’s your apartment. I
 couldn't put you out... Do you make a habit of letting your employees stay with you?”

“No, never,” I reply
to her honestly and unequivocally with my impassive gaze never leaving her face, barely able to conceal my love and lust for her. “However, my close security detail as well as my personal assistant must know both my apartment and my home in and out as you may be required to work around the clock sometimes. Part of the job...” I add shrugging. “But, tonight, you would just. Be. A. Guest...” I add in a low, beguiling tone.

“Oh,” she says softly, and she sounds disappointed. I want to know whether she’s hurting or she’s actually disappointed with the nonchalance in my tone.

“Ellie, are you hurting?” I ask, automatically leaning in and holding her shoulders. I look at her, visually checking for any signs of distress as I'm willing her to talk to me. As soon as we’re connected, the electric current runs between us again and making us hyper aware of each other. She turns her head to look up at me, but all she can do is to focus on my lips, her gaze full of longing for a kiss. I don’t want to make it my decision. It must be her decision to kiss me. Because if I do kiss her, I won’t be able to stop until I completely make her mine again, over and over again! She blushes crimson and closes her eyes. She’s thinking of me. She’s not unaffected!

“Ellie? What’s wrong?” I ask, and unable to help, I run my hand gently on her cheek only touching her softly, sensually, conveying my love that I have not been able to express for a very, very long time. She leans into my touch, her breath hitches. But some ache makes her groan in pain. Maybe she’s worried. What is going through her head? Please angel, open your heart to me. She may be attracted to me, but I’m worried that she’s got someone else. Someone she’s not telling me about.

“Ellie? Please, talk to me,” I plead with a burning need to know.

“Yes,” she replies, and I am relieved beyond belief. I suppress a smile with the way she conveyed her answer.

“Are you alright? How do you feel?” I ask, my eyes fixed on her. Her reply is a nod. She makes a move to go. No! It’s too soon!

“I... should go. I have to pack. If I stay, I won’t have anything to take with me, and I’m sure you
 wouldn't want a less than presentable personal assistant,” she tries to get up.

“But you’re not well. I can’t take
the chance of my new assistant having an accident on the way home because I let you go. Clothing articles can be purchased here...” I say but she shakes her head. Please, angel! I can buy whatever you need.

“I’m alright, really... Since I’m going to be moving to LA, I
 shouldn't add extra expenses when I already have those items. I have to be careful with my finances Mr. Pella. After all, you’re only giving me a week’s trial, and you could easily say no at the end of the week...” she adds, and I open my mouth to say that I could get her necessities here, she holds her hand up to continue.

“Before you say, you pay for your close security’s and assistants’ required clothing, I’d like to express that I don’t want to be beholden to my new boss...” she starts saying, then amends her wording and adds, “new boss pending the trial week, I mean.” Of course! She’s still the same! Still proud, still fiercely independent! How I’ve missed that. Her response brings the ghost of a smile upon my lips. Fortunately, I know what gets her out of her shell. She can’t stand a challenge. I slowly and deliberately move my hands from her shoulders onto my own lap. The abrupt absence of our connection makes her face fall, making her feel bereft. I lift my right thumb and index finger up to my lips leisurely, and capture my lower lip between the two, caressing in a deliberate tempo, like I would with her nipples, and her sex. Her pupils dilate, and lips part slowly, hungrily. The tingle on her skin is apparent with the pale pink flushes. She’s aroused. Her breathing is shallow but rapid, a rosy hue creeps over her face, betraying her body’s response. After giving her an intensely provocative visual, I slowly speak.

“Miss Duncan, you would not be beholden to me in any shape or form. I’m the one who is asking you to stay. It is but a small price to pay for the peace of mind and to assure myself of your safety.”

Her eyes are still on my lips as if she’s ready to take possession of them, but barely holding onto her wits.

“Thank you but, I can’t accept it...” she replies in a barely audible voice. She’s fighting against her feelings. But, I never back down from a negotiation, especially when I’m this close to winning.

“How about a compromise then... Anthony drives you to Montecito, you pack, say goodbye to your family for the week and he drives you back to LA today,” I offer my only concession.

“Huh?” is her confused reply, but I don’t want to give her any leeway to make her change her mind.

“That way, you’re not beholden to me, and you can start acquainting yourself with my apartment or home since you will have to if you are working for me. As part of your job, you are required to be at hand at a moment’s notice in either location as well as here, or any other place I may require you to
be. You start your trial today. That’s the compromise I’m offering you,” I speak firmly, slowly, deliberately, and utterly sure of myself. I have every intention to win this negotiation. I don’t take the intensity of my gaze away from her face.

“Okay, Mr. Pella,” she finally acquiesces.

“Okay, you’re staying, or okay you start working today?” I ask without blinking, hoping her answer is the latter.

“I start working today,” she replies and my heart skips a beat. With my gaze still on her, I take my smart phone out, I speed dial Anthony.

"Yes, Mr. Pella," he answers his phone on the second ring.

"Anthony, you are driving Ms. Duncan to Montecito, and driving her back with her packed luggage," I order.

"In that case, I'm finishing the meeting with Miss Montesquieu, and Miss Collingsworth. When would you like me to leave, sir?"

"Within the next 10 minutes," I answer, and hang up without breaking my gaze. She looks up at me. There’s something she wants to ask me, but trying to assess how she's wants to word it.

"Mr. Pella, since I’m going to be working for you, at least all next week, is there anyone I need to acquaint myself with? Your other staff, family members, wife, girlfriend?” she asks trying to look nonchalant, but she's utterly nervous. And her question takes me by complete surprise, hitching my breath and her inquisitiveness makes me want her with an uncontrollable urge and an intense passion. I can't hide my surprise or my rising desire in response to her question.

"You will meet my immediate staff and the security detail soon
, tomorrow perhaps... My family members,” I say and pause as I try to hide the anguish I feel while trying to construct a truthful answer. Because she was my family, she was my everything, my lover, my wife, the woman with whom the sun rose and set, the mother of my babies whose fate I have never been able to uncover. I opt for the truth and simplicity in my answer, “are either dead, or we've lost touch. There are no women I care enough to acquaint you with,” I reply without elaboration. But her face fails to hide her risen curiosity and the reason behind her inquiry. She swallows, and then slowly opens her mouth to ask the second part of her question.

"Well, uhm... I’ve met two ladies downstairs after my interview with you, and I
 couldn't help but over hear their rather brazen conversation. They were indicating to each other that both of them were well acquainted with you in more ways than one. I thought maybe one of them might be your girlfriend,” she explains. Oh, fuck! She's met the rapacious bitches. She has nothing to fear, but her displeasure of them and her poorly hidden jealousy makes me hotter than Hades. I cock my head to one side to decipher her seemingly nonchalant expression. Her gaze is focused on her lap again, but I lower myself, getting my head in line with hers trying to connect with her eyes, force her to look at me. My gaze is intense, passionate, demanding her to express her honest feelings. There's concern and a tinge of jealousy in her sapphire blue eyes when she looks up.

"You will find many other women talking about me. Just part of the façade. I haven’t had anyone worthy of introduction in a very... very... very long time,” I explain, all playfulness gone. There is no one for me but her. I have had countless women in all my existence. When Elissa entered into my heart, everything else dimmed for me. In her absence, I have lost myself in the depths of darkness in my own abyss. I have not used sex even as the closest element to companionship; just something to soothe a physical hunger which always left me empty, depraved, worse than before. My craving, longing and grief over Elissa only got deeper,
 turning me into a starving and an arid man; never sated. Just like salt water can't sate thirst, no other woman can fulfill me and take Elissa's place.

The knock at my door brings me out of my reveries. It's Anthony. He walks in his measured strides, his unmistakable military instincts and vigilant gaze.

"Mr. Pella. I’m ready to drive Miss Duncan to Montecito. In her vehicle or one of ours sir?” He asks without a preamble, and then slightly but respectfully nods in Elissa's direction to greet her.

"One of ours," I respond. I want safety and convenience. All our vehicles are tracked which makes it easy to locate them in any given situation.

"Whenever you're ready Miss Duncan, I shall drive you," says Anthony, and turns to me to receive his instructions. I get up, and Elissa announces her readiness.

"I'll see you this evening Miss Duncan," I say, making sure that she understands that she's coming as soon as she's packed, otherwise I'll be forced to declare myself sooner than I intended. The feelings are mutual. She's completely affected by me. She gazes up at me with unspoken words, trying to remember something, unable to look away. I proffer my hand to her and she takes it, shaking. As soon as our fingertips touch, the delicious current goes through our bodies, firing up all our synapses, making us intensely aware of each other, and I feel the marks are moving upon my wrists. I wonder what they’re telling me. Anthony opens the door, holding it for her as she exits my office, and I follow her
out of the suite. Outside of my door I look at Anthony reminding him that I’m entrusting the most important person in existence into his hands which means he’s not allowed to fuck up under any circumstances. He needs to protect her, and bring her back to me as soon as she’s done packing. He nods solemnly, understanding. There isn't any other person I could trust as far as her safety is concerned, besides Henry.

"Until tonight..." I remind her again with a promise.

"Alex," she says in a soft velvety voice, nodding, then she and Anthony both disappear behind the closing elevator doors.

I
look down at my wrists, and see the spread out wings of the eagle, eyes focused on a target, talons spread as in a fight, and the arrows it’s holding with one talon are in action. When I look down at my other wrist, I see the eagle with a broken wing, wounded, falling from the sky! My body tenses, and worry oozes out of every single pore. What is waiting for her at home?