Going Up | ✓

The Aftermath - (3)

The Aftermath.

The next morning, I glance up from my desk to see a pair of harsh, icy blue eyes glaring at me intensely.

I gulp. I left early this morning before Ivan got up, because I'd had such an amazing night, I didn't want to dampen it by being kicked out by him. That was how all one night stands had worked with me when I was into that sort of thing. I always made sure to be gone before they awoke.

'Hello,' I say, trying to keep my tone professional. 'How can I help you today?' There isn't anybody else in the room at the moment, because one of my co-workers is showing a man a car outside, while the others are in the coffee room, but I doubt he'll want anybody to know that I know him.

'You left. You left!' he almost howls. 'You left!'

I raise an eyebrow at him, struggling to keep my calm façade up. 'Wasn't that what you were expecting? I thought that was the way all one night stands worked. The key word being one.'

His eyes flash as he stares at me. 'Who said it was only one night?' he asks gruffly. 'I don't remember telling you to leave.'

'If I had left much later, I would have been late for work,' I point out, clutching at straws now. Of course that wasn't why I left.

'You could have at least had the decency to wake me up before you went,' he states bitterly, a harsh laugh escaping his mouth.

I frown. 'Why? So you could have kicked me out yourself?'

Ivan does a double take. 'So I could have kicked you out myself?' he repeats, seemingly dumbfounded by what I've just said. 'The men you sleep with kick you out afterwards?'

I shrug awkwardly. 'I've always left before they've woken up. It's the way it's always been. Why should I change it so you could do the honours?'

'Because,' he spits out through gritted teeth. 'I wouldn't have done the honours. I wasn't going to kick you out. You could have stayed for as long as you liked.'

I glance down at my computer, opening up an email. 'Which I did,' I return in the most bored tone I can manage, scanning the email and sending off a quick reply.

'At least look at me while we're having a conversation!' he snarls, slamming his hands down on my desk. 'Or somewhere relatively close to me, considering you're scared of looking people in the eye!'

'I'm not scared,' I reply stiffly, dragging my eyes up to meet his. 'It's just not something I do very often, that's all.'

He just grits his teeth. 'So tell me, why did you leave this morning?'

I glare at him. 'I thought I'd already explained myself. Last night was a one night stand, therefore it would only occur for one night. I'm not going to stick around and lie around on my back whenever you feel horny,' I spit out, my vulgar sentence surprising even me.

'Trust me, lying on your back for me was the last thing on your mind last night,' he shoots back. 'You were the one wanting to do all sorts of interesting things.'

I roll my eyes, internally cringing at his reference to last night. 'Whatever, that's not even the point. We're getting off topic. It was a one time thing that won't happen again.'

I study him for a moment. He was the one who told me yesterday that he didn't have time for clingy girlfriends, and yet he turns up at my work, demanding we see each other again. It doesn't quite add up.

'What if I want it to?' he declares boldly, his eyes challenging me.

I shrug, looking back at my computer. 'That's too bad. I'm not up for it,' I force out. Of course, I am, but I can't let myself get attached to somebody else. It won't do me any good.