The Best Man's Speech

2: Meeting Disasters

✵ JAMES ✵

I sat on the edge of my table, staring at the floor. My tie was left untied, yet was still hanging around my shoulder. My top few buttons of my shirt were undone, as my hair was left in its messy nature. Much out of the distress of the late meetings that came one after the other, each offering nothing more than mere torture and more problems.

I stared up at the giant window in front of me, only to realise that the sky was lit up with lights while the building surrounded itself in darkness. I sighed before looking back down at the floor, wondering about how on earth I was meant to solve every problem that was pointed out in the board meeting... annoyingly.

I stared at the marble tiles that spread across the ground, while tapping my finger in an unknown rhythm, trying to develop a perfect chain of thought. Annoyed at my inability to think straight, I growled aloud. The thing that bugged me most was the board meeting and the topic that the men were willing to focus on... which was nothing related to the company's dealings.

The company was and is doing well, I do not see what the problem is with the board. All the money everyone was earning was coming from my own hard work and ideas. I did that all on my own! And now they want to remove me from my position as the CEO? I smirked at the idea of removing everyone in the board from their statuses and having them all replaced, by people I knew I could trust and deal with. But I couldn't do that just yet. I couldn't replace them straight away as it would be obvious that I was rebelling... I had to be patient. I had to wait for the right time to get rid of everyone, without anyone realising what my inner motives were.

But for the time being, I needed a distraction. A very good one. To keep my mind off of the troubles of work, while also keeping me sane.

✵ LYRA ✵

Tapping the tip of my pen away on my desk, I sighed out of boredom. I can't deny that I did overhear all of the things that were said in each meeting that my boss had to sit through. I was surprised by the things he was told... it wasn't even related to the business' dealings.

I shook my head, trying to get the details of the meeting out of my head. Looking up from my screen, I realised how silent and empty the whole office had become. I realised that the meeting details most likely negatively affected my boss, since they were all aimed at him. I felt the need to get up and check on him.

I walked towards the office after knocking, "Sir?" I popped my head in through the door and found him looking right back at me annoyingly. I realised instantly that the tapping of his fingers continued to sound, sending the both of us into an idle realm of silence and moments of awkwardness.

"Yes?" He coldly responded. I looked at him before standing inside his office.

"I just wanted to ask if there was anything I should do for you." I explained. I knew that by his tone and look he was definitely annoyed and frustrated. I wanted to help him and get his mind off of things. But I first needed to get my eyes off of his exposed bare chest and rolled up sleeves. His suit jacket was roughly dropped on the table that he was sitting on.

"What do you mean?" He asked, his eyes suddenly very attentive and focused on me. His tone of voice seemed relaxed and welcoming and made me feel more comfortable to talk to him.

"I heard about the meeting." I replied, trying not to meet his eyes as I admitted the truth to him.

I watched his body tense before he calmed down, just when he was about to talk, "Of course you did." He seemed to have gotten cold and harsh again.

"Is there anything I can do to make you feel better?" I asked him, smiling at him, hoping that he would open up to me.

I watched his hands let go of the table as his body lifted itself off of it. "What can you do?" He asked me, while walking towards me. I started to think, but was easily distracted by the challenging smirk that rose on his face.

"Anything?" I quietly whispered. A part of me knew that I would regret this more than anything else.

"Anything?" He repeated, his words were whispered seductively. I watched him stand in front of me, confidently presenting his body to me, making my core heat up as I looked down and bit my lip. "Well then, if you are willing to do anything..." His words trailed off.

I froze for a few seconds, trying to understand what he was actually asking, instead I was taken aback by his unfamiliarly dark eyes that took in my body. I held my hands close against my body, in an attempt to hide my body from him, only to have been left cursing to myself at the fact that I left my blazer on the back of my chair. I gasped for air when I felt his arm on my waist.

"Shhh." He whispered into my ears as he pulled me close against him. I wanted to pull myself away from him, but a part of me was failing to do so. I did hear the rumours of how good he was in bed, but I didn't believe in them. Being so close to him made me want to believe them, in fact even experience it myself.

"I can make you forget every one of your problems." he said, whispering into my ears. I could feel his warm breath against the skin of my lobe as he spoke. It did nothing but make me want him more.