I felt a drip of hot coffee burning my knee and whined while trying to assemble all my stuff together, a pair or two of eyes observing my miserable attempt in the middle of the sidewalk.
I couldn't be less embarrassed to try to balance shopping bags, my purse and a cup of coffee on my two very hands. I couldn't have stepped out of the hotel lighter to meet the New York streets I had for so long desired to wander by.
In less than 4 hours I had already wandered a few parts of the Central Park, sat at a bench and sighed happily and lightly, shopped some clothes and souvenirs at a few stores and caught one or two chats around with people while stopping by a food truck to get me some nice street food.
I thought I might have been daydreaming for not having been interrupted for such a long time before I felt my phone vibrating on my pocket telling me to hold my chicken counting. I could tell who was calling even before I visualized the screen.
"Hello, Natalie! I've got contacted by another Software Supplier's representative and he's presented a briefing of their material. Since our meeting with the D&M is tomorrow, I managed to get him to dine with us tonight to present it formally. I expect you're not engaged tonight." Dan spoke at once without pausing to catch his breath. I breathed slowly and balanced the thoughts that came to my mind; I had already set up a night out with Julie, the hotel's receptionist with whom I talked until late after work for the last few days in New York. Apparently, like she pointed out, we had "the same vibe" and it'd be a good idea for me to get "acquainted with the city's night life".
The whole week was insanely busy with meetings and me crafting each and every random analysis Dan requested me to help his decision-making.
Maybe that would have to wait for another Saturday night. That was a business trip, anyways.
"Of course. I'm not engaged. I'll be there." I assured.
"Alright. So, I meet you at 7 at the hotel's lobby." He spoke.
A small curse left my lips after hanging up and I scolded myself mentally for doing so. Even though I wanted hard to party the stress of this week out, I had to maintain the focus in order to manage myself employed out of this trip. I finished up my Tacos after glaring my watch to check the time.
WHAT THE FUCK?! That was almost 6 PM and I was way far from the hotel we were staying. I immediately scrolled down the apps to search the nearest driver on Uber to take me back to the hotel. Fortunately, there was a driver near some 3 kilometers of me and while waiting the 3 to 4 minutes to his arrival, I planned on what I would be wearing for this meeting slash dinner.
I gazed my phone and the busy street I was in seeing that the driver was some meters away. He couldn't park, but I made my way in fast and confirmed the name of the Hotel.
Differently from Italy, Uber drivers in the US were way less tempted to chat while driving and due to my hurried situation, I was glad for that. While planning what I would be dressing, taking and saying I gazed out of my window to the buildings which got broader, higher the more I noticed. People making their ways to department stores, shopping malls and wherever else they ought to be at that time and I wished I had a little more of it… Time; to enjoy New York city freely.
The past week had been insanely busy. We had been in New York for a complete week but finding time to wander around such as I was doing just now was completely off reach. Dan and I had been attending around three meetings a day and after each of them I usually had to review my notes on the main topics, sum up the ideas and discuss with Dan in order to come up with a full report on the next day.
That usually meant me going overtime and him summoning me at the hotel bar a few times after arriving at the hotel. Those were three times already. On one of these occasions, I even joked about getting a bottle of wine, but I'm pretty sure it would do me no good being drunk around a sexy black T-shirt and blue jeans with wet messy hair Dan Barlowe after work. I could do my best not to be so obviously attracted to him when I was sober, but a drunker version of me? No, thanks.
But there was no time to think about these things when my Uber parked in front of the hotel. 6:15 PM. I grabbed my stuff and ran off the car while thanking the driver. As soon as I arrived at my room, I managed to ditch the bags somewhere near the door along with my purse and started walking and undressing myself towards the bathroom. A nice bath was needed.
The rest of me getting ready to the appointment was quick enough; I made my way into my social skirt which hugged my curves slightly down my knees, a soft-fabric mid length white shirt and my black stilettos. After adding some basic jewelry, a natural makeup and stilling my hair the best way I could on a basic bun in less than half an hour I made my way downstairs to our meeting spot.
Once the door of the elevator signed open, I looked around the quite crowded hotel lobby only to find a dark-grey suited version of my boss by the reception. He was speaking to another black suited man - way less interesting - and even though he hadn't seen me yet I could notice his hair was combed upwards in a sexy hair quiff. Gosh, he was dressed like a sin. Putting myself together, I stepped out of the elevator in his direction. As I was getting closer, I breathed in his musky cologne.
When he saw me, I noticed his eyes analyzing my entire outfit and he smirked at me before looking back to his company.
Did he just… Check on me? I shook my head softly trying to delete the thoughts that have just crossed my mind along with the ones I was nourishing ever since that elevator door opened.
"Mr. Smithson, please meet my analyst, Natalie Conti. She's been with me in this trip of finding the best proposal for our company." I approached the duo extending my hand for exchanging a handshake with Mr. Smithson. He was a little taller than Dan, had a soft expression and a gentle smile. Though he wasn't achieving my boss' grace on the ability to wear suit, he wasn't lacking beauty at all.
"It's a pleasure, Ms. Conti." He started. "But if you don't mind, please call me Matthew. I hate to be called Mr. Smithson. Sounds like you’re taking to my dad…" He spoke friendly and I chuckled.
"And you may call me, Natalie. No one really calls me miss in the 21st century." He chuckled back at my remark and I gazed Dan for questioning where we would be heading only to find he was gazing me tensely as though something had burdened him. I stared him confusedly, but returned my attention to Matthew who apparently didn't notice Dan' behavior.
"Well, if you don't have a preference, I can take you to a very nice Italian restaurant near here. What do you think?" Matthew suggested and I smiled at him.
"Good call Italian food."
"That's a good call indeed, Matthew. But I've planned us to dine at Monsieur restaurant. I've made the reservations already." Dan interrupted and again by the tone of his voice I noticed him a little tenser than the usual. Unfortunately - or very much fortunately - I wouldn't be the person to be so intimate as to question why he was so tense unless it started affecting the whole point of the meeting so I ignored and talked on.
"French it'll be. Next time we're around, we should have Italian then." I smiled.
"Shall we then?" Matthew proposed.
"Yeah, of course." Dan answered with no smile. I found all that behavior all too weird, but as I couldn't deny Dan was extremely skillful at doing business, I assumed that might be one of his strategies. But not mine, my strategy was to listen to Matthew's company proposal, analyze it and take strategic notes… I knew myself too well to know that I wouldn't be able to focus on these tasks if I invested my energy and concentration in bluffing or being an ass during the whole time. I'd save this role for the grand Dan Barlowe to perform.
We walked outside the building only to find a car parked outside waiting for us. It wasn't a limousine - which I imagine would be way too much for the company's budget and also what the fuck were we heading to a ball of something? Where did that thought come from? -, but a nice executive car.
Matthew moved ahead and sat in the passenger seat, next to the driver. 'A real gentleman', I thought to myself as Matthew probably assumed being the only woman in the group, I'd feel more comfortable next to my boss. I took it as a hint and moved to one of the seats in the back of the car; Dan followed along.
As soon as we all clipped our seat belts, the driver started the engine and we started moving. The drive was silent, I was about to check my phone for messages as I hadn't done it since early afternoon, but then the city lights looked too beautiful to ignore. I took my time for the second time on the day to observe the landscape of the bustling New York city.
"Pretty, isn't it?" I didn't notice, but Dan was observing me.
"Mesmerizing honestly." I replied absentmindedly. As I looked at him, I noticed his expression soften for the first time at that night… The lights of the city passed through the windows - even though they were darkened by the film on them - and shone on his light-brown eyes. His mouth curved slightly in a smile and gosh he was handsome… And shit he was my boss.
"I've lived here for 4 years already and I swear I'll never get tired of this landscape." Matthew broke the silence while gazing himself out of the window and since Dan and I had been staring at each other I saw his expression tense up again. There was something about Matthew that hit his nerves; maybe the other guy was a reminder that the trip was all about work and not leisure. "Do you see yourself living in New York city, Natalie?" Matthew asked.
"Probably not, Matthew." I offered gazing out of my window again. "I guess I'm more of a town girl. I like the rhythm, the sounds and landscape of the countryside better. What do you like about here?" I questioned back assuming it would be polite to engage the conversation he proposed. I heard Dan's hard breathing next to me.
"Too many things…" He started. "The culture, the cosmopolitan vibe, the options, the night life… 'The city that never sleeps' that's no joke. You can find anything at any time in here." He explained excitedly. "Where do you live in Italy?" I heard him question.
"I live in the northern part of the country. Completely different from here." Matthew moved on his seat and turned to face me. As I was seat behind the driver, he could only see me; not Dan. "Have you heard of Trento?"
"No, I haven't and I can't even try to pronounce this name… Thurren… Anyway," I chuckled at his attempt. "How is it in there?"
The rest of the drive was basically Matthew and I talking and laughing at each other friendly - under the professional etiquette as the moment required while Dan kept silent on his phone.
Every time I thought we had a subject covered, Matthew would basically make a funny comment which would engage us it for another few minutes. There were even a few times I noticed a hint of a flirt in his complimenting comments and I swear if it weren't the situation we were in I'd truly consider giving that guy my number. It was so that the 30-minute drive to Monsieur's restaurant passed by unnoticed.
As the driver parked in front of the restaurant, Matthew got out and I was on my way to do the same when I felt my wrist being grabbed.
As I turned confused, I saw Dan open the car window and talk to John.
"Just a second, Mr. Smithson, there's something I must bring to Ms. Conti's attention." John looked at him confused. "We'll just talk for a second, you may go inside and mention my name to the receptionist. They'll move you to our table." Dan instructed and Matthew nodded and made his way to the restaurant's entrance.
"Dan… Wha-?" Dan raised his index finger interrupting me as he moved to sit next to me. I've had him so close to me a few times, but I don't quite remember feeling his body touch mine as I was feeling his and my thighs right now; I felt my breathing intensify. He started speaking in almost a whisper for only us to hear. "Natalie, I'm sorry to interrupt what might be a very interesting conversation between you and your new friend,"
I stared at him confused and annoyed at his words and when I was about to talk back, he surprised for the second time at that night pressing his left hand on my thigh, right above my knee squeezing it lightly. I looked at his hand then to his eyes only to see him smirk at my surprised reaction and continue. "I've found some mistakes on your previous analysis on the Scott company which I'd like you to review for tomorrow." With his right hand he raised his phone to show me the PDF of the report I'd just sent him this morning. "After this meeting, I'll visit your room so that we can review it… Together." I looked at his hand still placed on my thigh and then at his eyes.
"O-ok." I confirmed stuttering; I didn't trust myself at that time to speak differently as I felt I was too much in risk of losing my job for doing any of the things that went through my mind. Dan smirked again at my response and moved away making his way out of the car.
What the fuck did just happen? I blinked a few times and managed my way out of the car as I noticed the driver clear his throat impatiently. I could just embrace all of my self-control to keep my mouth shut and not spill all the feelings that were overflowing my body.
I breathed deeply. I had to regain the control that selfish mother fucker had just taken from me… Honestly, what the fuck? I was first of all pissed at him not pointing that damn mistake before so that I could correct earlier today and also pissed at him probably ruining my night out with Julie. And the worst thing, I was also… A lot turned on by the way he pressed his body on mine and how his voice sounded to me when whispering those commands in my ears.
And I hated it. Absolutely hated how he could simply do that kind of stuff being my boss and I was in the place of only obeying. I should truly consider finding another job after this trip.
