The Contract; A Billionaire Romance (18+)

EIGHT

Aden

Monday came too fast for my liking. I have been dreading this day ever since Saturday night, and I got in early to clear off Odessa's desk in my office and move everything back to her's. I arranged all her documents just as she left them and returned just as the clock struck nine.

            Odessa walked her way into my office wearing a black dress, far too short for my liking, with black stockings and the heels I gave her. She stops when she sees her usual spot is gone and points to where her desk used to be.

            "What's going on?" She asks, raising a brow at me.

            "I moved your stuff back into your office," I reply, not looking from my computer as I scroll through my emails.

            "Why?"

            "Because I trust you to do your work on your own, now. It's been a few weeks; you should be fine."

            "Are you sure it's not because—"

            "Leave my office, please. And shut the door on your way out." I cringe at the harshness of my words but know it's for the best. If we're going to keep this platonic, she can't be in my space, or I don't know how much longer I can keep myself off her.

She stares at me, completely dumbfounded, and I see a look of hurt flash over her beautiful features. She presses her plump lips together, then turns, exiting my office and slamming the door behind her.

            I flinch at the sound but return to my screen and busy myself with emails and preparation for my afternoon meeting.

            Once lunchtime comes and goes and I realize I haven't left my prison cell all morning, I step out to see Odessa's door open and her sitting on the floor. I furrow my brows at her legs that are stretched out in front of her and watch as she bends herself in half, reaching her fingers down the length of her legs to stretch out what looks to be her back and hamstrings. It's quite impressive, I notice as I watch the hem of her dress ride up her thighs. I'm sure if I looked hard enough, I could see beneath, but I avert my eyes.

            "Meeting is in twenty minutes," I say as I rap my knuckles against her door frame. She sits up quickly and adjusts herself, her cheeks turning pink. "How's yoga going?" I ask with a chuckle.

            "Sorry, I was just stretching. I'm still adjusting to being in a chair all day."

            "Are you prepared for the meeting?"

            "Prepared? Uh, yeah...All I need is my laptop."

            I nod, realizing just how stupid I'm sounding in the moment.

            The elevator dings from behind me and out steps a man who's the second person in my life who loves to give me hell, right behind my dad. I let out an audible groan without so much of a thought to repress it.

            "Don't act so excited to see me, brother." Alex steps forward and smacks my shoulder, his smile plastered on his face as if he's auditioning for a teeth-whitening commercial. He looks down at Odessa and does a double take, his head jerking back in shock.

            Here we go.

            "Wow, is my brother so cruel he revoked your chair privileges?"

            "No," Odessa stands and smooths her dress down over her legs as she looks between the two of us, but her eyes linger on mine with curiosity as if she can sense the tension in me. "I was stretching. I'm not cut out for an office, it seems. You're his brother?"