Chapter 1: Introduction
It was a long day to end a long week and all Laura could think about was getting home and relaxing for the night. 80-hour workweeks were something she was used to, but her husband was putting pressure on her to take weekends off with him and their daughter, even though she knew she'd end up stretching her hours later that night anyway. But as the primary bread-winner living in a town where jobs that pay this well don't come easy, she had no choice.
She glanced at the clock - 4:05 PM, barely an hour ago since she last checked.
"Laura, come on in," Ryan’s voice called, hovering on the other side of the door to his office. She hesitated for a moment, staying precisely where she was. God, what was she doing?
She knew she couldn’t avoid him forever. Laura took a deep breath, fixed her expression into something she hoped conveyed both professionalism and calm, and pushed the door open.
Ryan O'Connell was an absolute specimen of a man, from his jet-black hair that was just long enough to warrant the need for a decent comb to his sharply tailored suit molding to his toned physique. It was rare that she failed to be even a little impressed.
She pulled her thoughts together and stepped in.
"You wanted to see me, Ryan?" He leaned back in his chair, a calculated smirk forming on his perfect lips.
"Yes, take a seat," he gestured, indicating the empty chair opposite his. God, why did he always have to be like this? Sure enough, she could feel his eyes lingering in ways that made her genuinely uncomfortable. She tried not to frown, hating that he had the power to make her feel so unsettled. She slid into the seat, ensuring her back was poker straight. She didn't need to let her guard down just yet.
She could smell the expensive aftershave that claimed to be his signature scent. She didn't like it. It reminded her of his sexuality, which she hadn't forgotten about because her colleagues had frequently reminded her of it. She remained silent as Ryan locked his eyes onto hers.
"I know you have been working you ass off on this deal and we are so close to the finish line. I think one more hard day tomorrow and we can put it to bed."
Laura figured this was going to happen so she was prepared.
"I figured as much. I can be back in around 9AM tomorrow."
"Well, I thought we should switch it up location wise. It is going to be beautiful tomorrow, so why don't we finish it up in style on my boat?"
He asked, casually flashing a charming smile.
Laura hesitated, gripping the edge of her chair. The idea of spending an entire day on a boat with him made her very uncomfortable. She knew he had a reputation and wanted to avoid spending time alone with him at all costs. Unfortunately, she couldn't afford to risk her position in the company either. She mentally scolded herself for ever agreeing to work for such a man. She knew there were women he office with less well power and self-esteem that fell victim to his charms, but she was not one of them.
"Sure, if that's where we need to be to finish strong," Laura replied, forcing a smile.
Her heart raced as she quickly considered the mess she was making of her weekend plans. An innocent day out in the sun with her family would now be exchanged for a sail on Ryan's boat.
Ryan visibly relaxed at her reply, leaning back in his chair with a satisfied smirk that now회 seemed predatory. "Just what I wanted to hear, Laura. I'll send over the details tonight to your email. Make sure you pack plenty of sunblock and a change of clothes. It’s gonna be a scorcher, and there’s always a surprise coming from the sea."
She couldn’t hide the skepticism in her voice. "A surprise?"
His grin widened playfully. "Maybe; you'll have to wait and see."
Laura shook her head. She already knew she wouldn’t have a good time, but her determination to impress Ryan and land this deal didn’t leave room for argument or complaint.
She stood just as he walked over to the door, opening it for her as she stepped out of the office.
Laura could see some of her colleagues were still huddled around their desks, typing away at their keyboards or on their phones. They barely even looked up as she walked by, no doubt thinking that she was leaving only to reappear in the blink of an eye come the morning. She envied their carefree lifestyles, but she knew that their seemingly relaxed attitudes were unforgiving in the cutthroat world of corporate law and they needed to be just as - if not more - committed to their work than she was.
She got back home around 7PM where her husband Bob had dinner left over for her. Bob was the opposite of Laura in many ways. A free-spirit, artistic type who free lanced different jobs that was afforded by Laura's job. It did allow him to be more of a stay-at-home parent which helped with her hectic job. Still, she would have liked if Bob showed more determination in getting a regular steady paycheck so she did not have to work for such a demanding place.
While Bob and their daughter were disappointed that Laura would not be around Saturday, they said they would make the best of it and go to the museum instead. Laura lied to Bob about where she was going to be working, while Bob was not the jealous type, he might have been had he known where and who and the reputation of Laura's boss. Actually, Bob showing some backbone and jealousy may be a turn-on for Laura since he was always rather docile.
She smiled at the thought of her husband standing up to Ryan, but she quickly banished the idea. Ryan isn't just some random guy to get jealous over—he is her boss and can have a significant impact on her job security.
She spent the rest of the evening on her laptop, reading up on their latest project and familiarizing herself with the contract details and speculations that might arise. But, she couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that Ryan's invitation had set off.
The next morning she kissed her family good bye at breakfast and headed out.
To avoid suspicion, she did not pack anything the night before other than her computer, work material and that is it. She decided on white shorts, a flowing blouse and flip flops for what her husband assumed would be a casual day at the office.
A pair of sunglasses and a sunhat completed her light ensemble, allowing Laura to shield herself from both the sun and her boss's prying eyes. She headed down to the dock a few minutes early to give herself a moment and, more importantly, to avoid any awkward small talk with Ryan.
"All right guys, I will see you tonight...hopefully sooner!" Laura called out to her family as she left in the morning. Off to the marina she went for what she prayed would be an uneventful few hours.