Chapter 5

• JULIA
• I was at work ten minutes earlier than my usual time the next morning. Unfortunately, I didn’t get much sleep. Heck, I didn’t sleep at all! I couldn’t stop thinking about the mind-blowing kiss Adam and I shared. I didn’t know how I was supposed to face him in the office.
• With excitement? Awkwardness? I wasn’t sure anymore. I decided to go to the coffee station and get him a coffee. It was my routine in the morning.
• “Boo!”
• I jolted in surprise when a voice echoed in my ear. I turned and found Henry with his bright morning smile.
• “God, do you want me to die early?” I couldn’t help but smile back. Nothing seemed changed about my feelings for him. Henry was still the man I wanted. I still found him desirable in his crisp navy-blue suit that impeccably hugged his body. He was sexier now than ever. He was a breath of fresh air. His presence alone could take me out of this world.
• He grinned sweetly. “You’re early.”
• “Yeah, something I don’t often do. And you’re early, too, why?”
• “Got something to do. Hey, can you make me some of that too?”
• “Sure.” I grabbed another cup from the tray.
• “Hey, are you sick? You are so red,” he observed, checking my face.
• “No, I’m not. I couldn’t sleep last night. Maybe that’s why.” I touched my cheeks.
• “Did Adam make you work overnight?”
• I shook my head. Should I tell him?
• “No!” I snapped. Don’t tell him. Maybe this was because I kissed Adam and I felt so damn guilty that I did.
• “I’ll wait for my coffee then. You see, I still don’t have an assistant.”
• I nodded. “I’ll bring it to you, but I have to get one to my boss first. Sorry.”
• “It’s okay. I can wait. I’ll go to my office then. I’ll tell you something later.” He winked and then turned away.
• As expected, Adam was already at his desk when I returned. My muscles agitated as butterflies filled my stomach. I didn’t know how to approach him. He was typing on his laptop. Damn. He was so gorgeous today in his gray pinstriped suit, and I suddenly want to run my fingers on his perfect hair.
• Did he sleep well? Did he feel what I felt? Was he going to act as if nothing happened? Or was he going to talk about it?
• “Good morning, Mr. Cavendish. Here’s your cup of coffee.” I nervously put the cup on his desk.
• “You’re early,” he whispered.
• “Yes. I sent you the document this morning. Did you get it?” He nodded; eyes focused on his laptop.
• “Julia, could you get me a cereal bar? I didn’t have breakfast this morning.”
• “Sure, sir.”
• I hurried to his suite room on the upper floor. Adam didn’t often use it, but I knew too well that he often took women there. I never cared for it and ignored it most of the time, but it made my stomach twitch now.
• I stepped into the suite then walked straight to the fridge. I grabbed a pack of cereal bar and closed it only to find Adam standing next to me. He grasped my wrist then pinned me to the wall.
• “Mr. Cavendish?”
• “Julia...”
• “What are you doing?”
• He pressed his chest against mine. This was how he held me last night. I remembered how he smelled when we kissed, and it was the same scent he was wearing now. I swallowed hard.
• “This is crazy,” he whispered. “We shouldn’t have kissed.” Adam pecked on the side of my lips. “It’s weird.”
• “It was weird for me too.” I bit my lower lip. “Believe me, it was so weird.”
• “I’d like to talk about it—to settle things. I don’t know if I can do this anymore. I may not stop.”
• “You said you would help me.”
• “Yes.” He groaned, and then he released me from his strong hold.
• “Here’s your snack.” I lifted the cereal bar. “You’ll still help me?”
• He nodded, but he avoided my gaze.
• I forced a smile. “Henry said he has something to tell me. What do you think it would be?”
• “I don’t know,” he whispered harshly. “But tell me everything.”
• I nodded. “Sure. Thank you, Adam.”
• He didn’t answer.
• “I said thank you, Adam. Aren’t you going to caution me? I called you by your first name.”
• “No. It would be odd if you call me with formal titles.” He grabbed the snack from my hand. “Thanks.”
• Then just like that, Adam turned away, leaving me alone, still meditating on what happened the night before.
• ***
• I delivered the cup of coffee to Henry as promised. I placed it on his desk; he was busy scanning through the pile of binders on his table. He paused as he lifted the cup.
• “Hmm... thanks,” he mumbled as he took a few more sips. He looked up at me. “About what I was going to say, are you free tonight?”
• “Oh, tonight?”
• “Yes, are you busy?” He placed the cup on his desk.
• I pressed my lips together. “I have a few things to do until seven.”
• “Then I’ll wait for you. I know an excellent restaurant. Join me for dinner.”
• Oh God, of course! I would love to. “Are you sure it’s okay?” I asked in a casual tone.
• “Yeah. I’ll be in my office until then.”
• I bit my lip. There was a part of me that didn’t want to tell Adam, but he clearly asked me to tell him everything. Of course, I should tell him. I could ask him what his brother would like to talk about.
• Henry chuckled huskily. “Are you worried about Adam?” he asked randomly.
• My mouth parted, but I couldn’t answer.
• “Don’t worry. You have to go out sometimes,” he urged. “It’s my treat! Since, you know, you worked so hard for Adam.”
• I grinned so widely that my cheeks hurt. “Yes! Thank you. Well, I should leave then so I can finish work before seven.”
• He smiled back. “Sure.”
• Gee, he’s so damn gorgeous! I still couldn't believe he asked me to go out for dinner. Maybe he was interested in me after all, but I should do this right. I waited for this for so long.
• I hurried into Adam's office but stopped at the door when I heard him shout.
• “Are you sure? Oh, please, Howard, don’t give me that—” he paused with an exasperated breath. “I gave you a simple job, and you can’t fucking do it right! How about Donovan? I asked him to tell the architects that I need the blueprint tomorrow … What?! … Don’t call me until you can give me a goddamn result!” He slammed the telephone down and then he slumped in his chair. He scowled at his computer screen.
• Okay. He was furious. I knew to escape at times like this, or he would vent his rage at me. I was about to go out of his office when I heard him call out to me. 
• “Julia.”
• I spun around. “Yes, Mr. Cavendish?”
• “What do you want?”
• “You’re busy. I’ll just come back later,” I said, wanting to just scurry out.
• “I’m always busy. Spit it out.”
• I stepped into his room and stopped in front of his desk. “Henry asked me out for dinner,” I said in a low voice.
• He looked up at me, still scowling. “When?”
• “When what? When did he ask me or when is our dinner?”
• He cleared his throat, shifted his legs, and straightened his back. “When is your dinner?”
• “Tonight.”
• “Tonight?” His voice raised again. “How about the contracts I want you to review?”
• “I’ll finish it tonight,” I promised.
• He snorted. “Then, why are you telling me this?”
• “You told me to inform you, and I need to ask you something.”
• “What?” His voice remained flat.
• I sat on the chair in front of him, glancing at the door cautiously before managing to speak.
• “I need to know what he likes to eat, his favorite drink, or maybe the topics he’s interested in. Something along those lines. Can you tell me?”
• His brows furrowed. “Are you going to cook for him?”
• “No, no. He said he knows a restaurant—”
• “Then why are you asking me these questions?” he said grimly that seemed annoyed. Maybe this was terrible timing.
• “I just want to know so that I would know what to eat. I want to know—”
• “Wait,” he snapped. “This is ridiculous. I told you to be yourself.” He sighed. “Alright. He likes meat—mostly everything, but he doesn’t like seafood. He’s allergic to that. He prefers white wine, sometimes he wants something strong, like whiskey.”
• “Too bad, I like seafood. What does he want to talk about?”
• “Don’t ask him anything about his past. You can talk about anything except that.”
• Whoa, that’s tough. I wanted to know him better. I guess I’ll save it for some other time then.
• “Anyway, does he kiss on his first date?”
• Adam gritted his teeth. “Am I supposed to know that? It’s not like I chauffeur him around while he dates. Come on, Julia. Give me an actual question.”
• “I have no more questions.” I bit my lip. “Thank you.”
• His jaw tightened. “Are you really going?”
• “Of course. I wanted this, and I already said yes.”
• He nodded. “Be careful. One more bit of advice... Don’t let him take you anywhere but the restaurant on the first date.”
• “Why?”
• “He’s a ditch prince. Henry doesn’t cling to girls after a one-night stand.”
• My jaw dropped. “Who said I’m going to have—” I cleared my throat. “Never mind. I’ll keep that in mind. Anything else?” And I always thought Adam was the ditch prince. Anyway, I should trust him.
• “It’s just a dinner, Julia. It’s not like you’re going on a trip with him.”
• Henry takes a girl for a trip? That’s very romantic of him. That was something I want to look forward to.
• “Fine.” I sighed in relief. “Be myself, he doesn’t like seafood, don’t talk about his past,” I repeated.
• “Be perceptive, Julia. I’m serious.”
• “Thank you for this.”
• Maybe asking him wasn’t a bad idea after all.