Why Did it Have to be Him

The air seemed to crackle around us. Whatever had happened last night sat like an ignored and uninvited elephant consuming the consuming what space was not taken up by the three of us.

Gwen was wholly unaware of the predicament of both Warner and I. Of the kiss we had shared barely 12 hours before. Of the meaning behind his glaring gaze screaming across the room "I know you, and I know what you did last night."

Ignorance is surely bliss, because Gwen proceeded with the introductions, "Lyra this is Mr. Balton. I will leave you with him for now, but you can contact me via my phone or my email if you need anything.' She then proceeded to nod towards Warner and then left, closing the door behind her.

Warner stood behind his desk and walked around to where I still stood frozen by the door. I was trying to fight a growing blush as closed the space between us. Last night, I had been too preoccupied to really observe him, but now...

Handsome was too insignificant a word to describe the tower stalking closure to me. His suit was freshly pressed, hair still falling where it had been skillfully placed this morning. His eyes were under eye bag free, and the emerald green was even more sharp in the early afternoon light.

As he neared, I was able to pick up the scent of warm spice. I felt my pulse quicken as he extended a hand to shake my own. For a second, I was transported to last night, when his hand had interlaced with mine and told me so many little things with a simple squeeze.

When I took his hand, I half expected him to turn what would have been a business handshake into a kiss on the back of my hand, but instead he released my hand as quickly as was conventionally allowed, and began, "Ms. Lyra Cole, my name is Warner Balton, but I assume you already know that."

The same deadly look as last night now danced in his eye, but his lips twisted into an even sterner frown than when I had abruptly grabbed his arm as he tried to leave.

I tried trying to straighten the fading smile on my face as I replied, "Mr. Balton, it is an honor to meet you and get to work with Balton INC. I am grateful for this opportunity."

It was the textbook introduction for employees to say to their new bosses, but Warner didn't seem very pleased. He crossed his arms over his broad chest. Although he had backed away a step after our handshake, his presence was still dominating, and only grew more so when he spoke next. "So do you often try to bed your boss the night before starting a new job in the hopes they will be kinder to you on your first day?" His voice was nearly growling, and his gaze was boring into me, but he didn't let me respond before continuing in a more haughty air, "Because I must let you know that such practices would be against company policy and would be terms for immediate termination."

I felt my stomach drop and my eyes widen in horror. Of all the thoughts I thought he might think in this moment, that was not one. The last thought on my mind last night was sleeping with Warner, even before I knew he was my boss.

When I tried to clarify this to him, my words took on the tone of manic panic, "Mr. Balton, I promise I didn't know who you were last night when I asked for your help."

"A likely story." He snarls

Before I could think the better of it, I felt a retort bubble to the surface and burst forth in agitated humiliation, "If I recall correctly, you kissed me. If anyone was trying to bed the other, it was you trying to bed me."

Shit! That was not what I had meant to say. I was to embarrassed to see the wide eyed horror that now graced Warner's face as I was too quickly stumbling for better words then the ones I had just spewed.

"What I meant to say, is that you helped me a great deal last night and I appreciate it. At the same time I am all the happier to forget that it ever happened. I was not trying to bed you, and I need this job too much to waste it on whatever those other girls do it for. I promise that there will be no repeating of my actions last night for as long as I work under you or with Balton INC"

He scowled and still looked at me with great doubt, but nodded his head. "I think it best we agree to put last night behind us. If you mean what you say, that there will be no repeating of last nights actions, then I suggest we attempt to move forward. Besides Gwen will kill me if I fire another assistant on the first day."

My stomach dropped as he absent mindedly spoke of the assistants he had hired and fired within a day. However, he didn't see the look a gave him as he retreated to his desk and sat down again. A more pleasant expression now graced his face as he directed me with one hand to take a seat. It felt like accepting a deal from the devil, but I did so as quickly and quietly as possible, leaving my quick escape when I did so.

He waited a moment for me to get settled before beginning again. "Before we break for lunch there are a couple of questions I ask of all my assistants. They're off the record, but will affect my review after our probationary period."

He had changed the conversation with little warning, just like last night. However, this felt nothing like last night. This felt like an interrogation, as he turned his attention from his papers and then to me.

"Are you married?" The question was asked suddenly and dryly, but left me reeling. I felt my face contort as I stumbled over the first word that came to mind. "Pardon?"

He looked even more exasperated. Looking back at me with all the patience of a horse before a race, he retorted, "It's a simple question, are you married?"

"No," I snip. He seems unbothered as he continues in the same fashion as with the first question.

"Any children?"

"If I had children I wouldn't have been out at midnight getting drunk and falling over total strangers."

He didn't answer, instead he bypassed my statement with another question. "Any other relations that you are required to tend to."

"No."

"Good."

My eyebrows raise. Although this is n time to tease, something about the tension building between his creased brows makes be want to at least try and ease them, "Good as in I am the perfect victim for you next murder?"

He scowled at me and it took all of my strength to not laugh out loud.

His tone turned grave, but also reflective. "Good because my personal assistant is required to work just as hard as I do. I work very hard Ms. Cole. When I give you a deadline, I really expect it three days before that deadline. When I say you are done for the day, I mean you keep your phone on you because I will need you at some point. Good because if you have a family, I cannot in good conscious request that type of commitment." It was the longest length of time he had talked to me, and although I wanted to focus on the words, the way the vein in his neck shifted as he talked nearly stole just as much of my attention.

However, it was probably a blessing that I didn't respond, as it appeared I was submissive to his message and allowed him to continue. "Now, there is something I want to address. I'm going to give you 3 months. In that time you can either prove that you are not a dumb drunk brunette who falls all over random men in the bar. Or, you will be requested to look for another job before that time is up." He paused, and then shifted again now smiling, "With the pleasantries out of the way, I told Gwen that I would take you to lunch to welcome you to the company."

I had no appetite after the emotional whiplash of the last few minuets, but I nodded as realization dawned on me. Whoever had helped me last night at the bar, was not the man who sat before me now. Yes it was the same person, but no they were nothing alike. It would be wrong of me to think that Warner was the same as Mr. Balton, or the other person he reminded me of as his eyes once again shifted with an almost amused and mischievous look.