Storm Shelter

Chapter 8 - T-minus 2 Days

April 2013

Anna was in serious danger.

Danger of losing her heart to Dylan Freeze. 

He was everything she liked in men. Confident. Collected. Good looking. The way he talked to her was so intentional. No other man had made her feel like she was so seen.

But this was bad. He was her boss. The highest a boss could be really, her CEO.

It would be better after the conference, when she didn't see him every day anymore. When she wasn't behind a closed door alone with him for 2 hours every day. Then she would go back to her job on the 3rd floor and not think about his world up here at the top. Just 2 more days. She was excited and sad all at once.

"Anna, what do you think about this?" Mr. Freeze was speaking to her. Dylan, he wants me to call him Dylan. She reminded herself, smiling slightly. Dylan and Anna Freeze... nice.

"Anna? What do you think about this layout?" He looked up and met her eyes now, sense she hadn't spoken yet. She refocused on the PowerPoint projected up on the screen to her left.

"Sorry, I was daydreaming for a second. I really like the layout and the typing. It will be very eye-catching for the presentation." She hoped she recovered okay. Letting him know she was daydreaming when he was spending so much dedicated time with her was not a good look.

He leaned back from his computer across the table from her, putting his hands behind his head and showing off his strong looking biceps.

"This is getting a little redundant isn't it? You have this all down and now I'm boring you?" It was hard to read his face. Was his angry with her?

"No. No! I was just thinking about how great this is going to be. I've never been to Chicago before, its going to be so exciting." She hoped he believed that. It was her fall back when he caught her ogling.

"You say that a lot. Never did much traveling or adventuring in college?" He was smirking a little and giving her that look again. That he knew he caught her in a vulnerable moment.

"Well, it was a technical college, so there weren't much options for travelling. I was working my whole way through that experience. After high school I had to stop messing around and get a degree. As a teen I didn't have the desire to travel back then." Anna missed her small town a lot these days. Living in Dallas was great, but there was no homey feeling like she was used to.

"I see, quite different from my collegiate experience I assure you." He reached forward and closed down the PowerPoint. "Well, I'm excited for you. You are going to learn a lot and it will be great to have your enthusiasm along. That's why I love taking an intern. Usually I just travel with my bodyguard and a few associates." He closed the computer and walked over to his desk.

"How about he have a toast to weekend. Monday we leave for Chicago." He opened his left side bottom drawer and pulled out a decanter with two glasses. which he proceeded to fill and hand one out to her.

Anna stood up and walked over to him, tentatively taking it from him. 

"Sure, its 5 o'clock somewhere right?"

He laughed and threw back the shot. She took hers a little more slowly, the whiskey bite her moth and throat but it felt good.

"Anna, its 5 o'clock here. Time for us to head out. I'll walk you out." He walked over the coat rack and picked up his suit jacket. He handed over her soft red sweater which is all you needed in Dallas.

"Oh, thanks so kind of you Dylan. But I have some more work to finish, especially since we'll be gone all next week." She wished she didn't, wished they were going to the airport right now. That she wasn't going to go home to her tiny one bedroom downtown.

"Then I'll walk you to your desk." He open the door for her and put a hand to her back. She shivered a little and hoped he didn't notice.

"We'll have to make sure we have some fun in Chicago. I'll have Mona plan us a few outings. Do you have any suggestions?" Dylan lead her to the elevator and pushed down.

"I don't know anything about Chicago, wherever you think is best." Anything for more time alone with him. Garabge collecting would be okay with her. The elevator arrived and they stepped in

"I don't know if it will be best, but I'll make sure its fun." He gave her a wink as he hit the 3 and the 1 on the wall. Her stomach flipped real hard at that.

"I would be intriuged by any adventures you think are fun." Wow, Anna. Stop sucking up. You sound sicofantic right now. She chided herself.

"Well, I'll have to impress you then." His voice sounded just a little breathier than normal, but she must have been imagining things. The elevator pinged and the doors opened to her floor.

She walked out and looked over her shoulder. "See you Monday, Mr. Freeze," as she gave a little wave. She couldn't call him Dylan in front of the other employees.

His eyes were the last thing she noticed, and the flash of desire there she was shocked and a bit thrilled to see.