The cold shoulder

I take my time to walk to my desk at Sternpoint, I am wearing the black dress and black heels that Mark picked out for me. This dress hugs every curve of my body and it ends mid thigh. I added a black jacket that has three quarter sleeves. Jackie isn't by her desk to so I carry on walking. I see that Mark's door is open but I don't bother to look inside. I place my bag inside of my desk drawer and power up my computer. Everything is still as I left it on my desk.

I look up into Mark's office, he is glaring at me. He is sitting by his desk and Jackie is by his side explaining something to him with documents in her hand. He looks down, I guess I'm not needed in his office. I turn my attention to my computer and I go through all the emails. s**t, I left my files at home for my business. I pinch the bridge of my nose and close my eyes.

"Hey, I thought you left Sternpoint" I look up to see Sam standing by my desk, happy to see me.

"Well, I did. But Mar... I decided not to leave yet, I need to first get my business up and running. Some things I can't do by myself which requires a businessman" I say. I don't mention that Mark showed up at my house.

"You look beautiful today"

"Oh, thank you" I smile.

"I see that Mr Stern is in a fowl mood today". He looks into Mark's office, but they are still busy discussing work. "I wonder what changed his mood."

"I don't know" I shrug.

"So do you want to go out for drinks tonight?"

"Gray-Lynn has to work late tonight" Mark says as he walks past my desk to the photocopier machine.

"Well, that is my cue to leave, chat later" he says, giving me a wink as he leaves. I sigh.

"Do I really have to work late tonight?" I ask, he is printing documents. But he doesn't answer me. "Mark" I say, but he chooses to ignore me. I shake my head and I return my attention on the emails. I hate to be ignored, I try to look past it and keep myself busy with work. I do want Mark to talk to me, especially what he told me back at home.

I look at him again. He looks so good in his three piece suit. He walks past my desk again. Great,the cold shoulder. Not once does he look my way. In that case, I will go and get me coffee. As I get up from my seat, immediately I'm hit with that familiar delicious scent. I look up to find Mark standing at my desk with stacks of documents in his hand. His eyes give nothing away, like its just coldness in them. I'm at fault for that.

He places the documents on my desk, "These need to be attached, its another big meeting tomorrow. If you are comfortable working at your desk then by all means, but if you need more space to work, then my office is fine" he says coldly and walks away.

I don't like this side of Mark, I need to remind myself that I shouldn't step on his toes or make things worse to get him into this mood. I take the documents and I walk into his office, because I need bigger space to work. Mark sits by his desk. "I will work in your office" I say. He says nothing, not even looking my way as he looks at his laptop screen.

I scatter the documents on the coffee table, around it is a black leather sofa and two armchairs. I like his office. I start to get to work. "We will be working late tonight" he says, and I turn around to face him.

"I don't mind" I say. He still doesn't bother to look my way. "What is this meeting about?" I ask, he finally looks up at me.

"Its a partner that we have, this is very important. Part of their company assists with the travelling department, hotels and anything travel. I want to make better options, getting more clients to join, especially with all of the benefits. Travelling is one of the biggest departments in our company, last time we lost more perks in sport" he sighs.

"The day I spilled coffee on the booklets" I remember.

"Yes, so that is not to happen again" he says with a serious glare. I nod.

"I got it" I say, and I return back to the documents. The rest of the day we work in silence, except when Jackie comes into the office and when Mark has to answer calls. I still feel the coldness from him.

*****

Its dark when I look out of the floor to ceiling windows. The office light is on, I was so burried in these documents, not just making it into booklets but also highlighting certain things in the booklets. I'm sitting on the sofa. Mark isn't in his office, so I decide that I need a break and I need coffee. I didn't have anything to eat today and my head is throbbing with a headache.

As I walk out the door, holding my hand against my forehead. I walk into Mark, and I jump back almost falling over, but I regain my balance. His coffee is now spilled onto my dress. "Sorry" Mark says.

I shake my head "Its okay, I deserved that" I brush past him "Sorry about the coffee again" I say. I walk to the bathroom. Standing in front of the basin, I take a paper towel and after wetting it, I wipe the coffee off of my dress. I sigh, looking at myself in the mirror. This day is going great, I still feel the wetness on my dress, making me feel uncomfortable.

I walk back to the office, not even bothering about the damn coffee, when I enter Mark's office he is busy with the documents on the coffee table. I stop beside him, I check the clock on his wall, its 1am in the morning. s**t, its late and I'm starting to feel really tired.

"We got some things to still go over but that can wait until the morning." He stands up straight, looking at my dress. "Sorry about the dress" he says and it seems like the hunger is back in his eyes.

"Its fine, and its pretty late" I say, which is barely a whisper.

"Stay with me here" he breathes, his hands move to my shoulders and then he takes my jacket off. He drops it onto the floor. He takes the bottom of my dress, he pulls it up and over my head, leaving me in my black lace bra and thong. He throws my dress onto the floor, he studies my body with hunger and all I can do is hear myself breathing. Its like I'm glued to the spot. He removes his jacket "Here, you can take this. You can sleep on the sofa" he says, looking into my eyes as if he wants to eat me alive. I take the jacket from him and I put it on, its big so its like a coat for me. He takes my dress and jacket, and then he places it gently onto the back of a chair.

He walks back over to the sofa, he extends it and it becomes a sleeper coach. He takes off his waist coat and his shoes, I remove my shoes too. I lay down on the sofa, and he joins me. I lay my head onto his chest, listening to his heartbeat. Right now, I want more.