“I’ll take that as a you feel great,” Marshall said tenderly, moving my tendrils of hair from my face and tucking them behind my ear. He looked so relaxed, happy, and content. It intrigued me, even at that moment of exhaustion, because he hadn’t expected anything from me. He had enjoyed giving me pleasure and that meant a lot. In that moment, my heart grew more attached to him once again. I didn’t understand how it could happen within the span of a week, but it had and I felt good about it.
“I’ve had a fantastic day. Thank you so much, Marshall. It’s really meant a lot,” I said.
“That’s good to hear because you deserve it. You’ve done so much for me,” Marshall said.
“But nothing like that,” I added, laughing and putting my hand up to his face. Something about that gesture made Marshall flinch a bit, showing that despite how great he’d made me feel he was still carrying his demons around. I pulled away, just patting his hand instead.
“Let’s get you to bed. I have a few correspondences to follow-up on before I settle down.”
“Okay,” I said. My heart sank. I was looking forward to lying naked next to Marshall that night and feeling his naked skin pressed against mine. It was what I had been longing for.
Marshall proceeded to tuck me in like I was a small child and kissed me gently on the forehead. I tried to fight sleep, wanting to be awake when he came back in, but the intense sexual experience, combined with wine and martinis made me lose that battle. I drifted off to sleep.
Chapter 14
I woke up, excited about the last two days that I was going to be in Las Vegas. Marshall and I had really made some progress last night and it was fantastic. I woke up energized and optimistic about how incredible it would be when we took our physical relationship faster. The only thing that wasn’t ideal was the voice in the back of my mind warning me to proceed with caution. However, listening to that voice this morning wasn’t an option for me.
Marshall was already up when I got up, just like he’d been most mornings. I put on my t-shirt and panties and peaked out into the sitting area of our suite. He was sitting there fully dressed and eating his breakfast.
“Good morning,” I said. “You been up long?”
He turned his head and looked at me briefly. “Busy day coming up. I’ll be glad when this Vegas week is over. It can be such a drag after a bit,” Marshall said.
My heart just dropped at his words and tone. He was back to the Marshall that seemed to be void of any emotion unless it involved work. Damn it! I reprimanded myself for doing something that I knew would set me up for disappointment and undoubtedly, Marshall really wouldn’t care.
“Yah, I’ll be glad to get back to LA too,” I commented.
“When do you expect the summaries of the information on the merger to be done?” Marshall asked, looking at me as if I was one of his peons. Why would he look at me any different way? Now I’m just one of many women who succumbed to him. Just a number, nothing more.
“I had expected to have them done today, but now I’m a day behind. I expect that they should be done by tomorrow, before we leave.”
“Some things have come up and we’ll be leaving tomorrow. Two days’ time will be fine,” Marshall said. Then he turned back to his paper, acting as if I was dismissed. I had so many emotions raging through me at that moment. I was as pissed off as I’d been at the restaurant, but I was also more hurt than I’d been in a long time…since Brandon.
I went back into the bedroom, feeling foolish for walking out in my t-shirt and panties. However, I was feeling more foolish for allowing myself to go into that dangerous emotional territory that I’d entered slowly over the past few days. I remained hidden in the bathroom until Marshall left. It didn’t take long. He didn’t even say goodbye or anything—just walked right out the door without so much as a second thought.
After getting dressed and splashing some cold water on my face to alleviate the puffy eyes I had from a minor breakdown and cry fest I got back to work, reminding me that I was hired to do a job. I wouldn’t fail at that. Heck, I’d even go so far as to admit that I had brought everything on myself by allowing me to become vulnerable to Marshall Kent. Ugh!
Work came fairly easily that morning because the project did require 100% concentration as I rounded up the facts and information, starting to put it neatly into a prospectus that Marshall would be able to read to assess everything. Before I knew it I looked up and it was 1:30. I was starving. Apparently Marshall wouldn’t be bringing me lunch any longer. I took a break and went down to the lobby of the hotel, deciding to enjoy a meal at the Lux Café before getting back to work.
I’d eaten alone before and had never thought twice about it, but eating lunch alone this day was completely different. Not only was I physically alone, but I felt all alone emotionally. No connection to anyone or even possibilities of one in the foreseeable future. I knew it was a pity party, but I couldn’t stop the self-doubt and plummeting self-esteem from consuming me.
“Excuse me, would you mind if I joined you?” someone asked. It jolted me right out of my thoughts and I looked up. A younger guy was standing there, wearing a business suit, and he was quite handsome. Despite that, I wasn’t in the mood for company and knew that I had to get back to work.
“I’m sorry. I was just getting ready to head back to work,” I commented.
“Must be one of those taxing type of days, huh?” he replied.
“It most certainly is,” I said. I smiled softly, not having the energy to fake having energy or joy at that moment.
“Well, whatever it is I hope it gets better for you. I wish I hadn’t been so late getting here. Maybe you would have said yes,” the man said.
“Maybe,” I said. I got up and walked away, making my way up to the suite level to get back to work.
That afternoon I was so distracted with sexual thoughts about Marshall and all the skills he’d shown me the night before. My emotions were on a roller coaster. I was ready to slug the guy one minute and just walk away from this job regardless of the consequences. Then the next minute I was ready to admit that I’d toss all that anger aside for another sexual escapade with him. I wouldn’t stop it again either. I wanted to hope that he was irate about that, but I knew that wasn’t the case. I was grasping and it was fairly pathetic—that much I could see.
I got back up to the room and found Marshall there. It startled me and I looked at him, trying to assess which Marshall I was looking at. It only took one word to see. “I’m sorry I didn’t get you lunch. I saw that you were eating at the Lux Café. I trust it was satisfactory.”