Chapter 2: Disturbed, Unannounced

I put my phone on silent. Being disturbed whilst in the gym was the worst possible thing. One of the three things I hated the most, actually. I pulled off my hoodie and leaned down to tighten my laces. Weight training down, cardiovascular training to go. It was approaching nine and I had already been here for over an hour and a half. It was empty until ten minutes ago when that gorgeous girl walked in. I’d see her briefly over the past three months. She would come to the gym every few days. She was not one of those gym fanatics, I could tell. Her sports bra didn’t do justice to her massive boobs and that fat bottom was a creation of countless squats, not work at the gym. But, what was she doing here, on new years day? I thought I was the only idiot to spend the first few hours of new years in the gym. Guess I was wrong.

“Morning.” She said. She had never spoken to me before, unless it was about moving my bag so that she could use the equipment I was hogging.

“Morning, happy new year.” I said, making conversation.

“Happy new year.” She smiled, briefly.

“I’m Declan.” I wiped my sweaty palm on my towel then extending it to her.

“I know.” She said, shaking my hand briefly. “I applied for a job at your company. Got rejected because of lack of experience.” She walked over to the pull up bar.

“You did?” I wasn’t involved with the hiring process. The only time I interviewed anyone was when I would have to have close dealings with them. My PA, for instance. And, of course, any partners.

“Yes. I thought working for a large development company would be perfect for me.” She said, jumping onto the step which she strategically placed on the floor under the bar. “Guess I was wrong.”

“I don’t hire for…” Anything! “What position did you want to get into?” Shit, that came out dirtier than I had meant for it to… or was I just horny?

“I’m busy. Please don’t talk to me.” She said, jumping up and wrapping her tiny hands around the bar. She pulled herself up and I could see the skin between her jet-black sports bra and her grey leggings on show.

“Sure.” I swallowed and turned to go back to the treadmill. I needed to run off this boner I was developing or it would start to drive me insane. Girls with proper figures turned me on. And this one had that going for her, whether she gymed or not. “What’s your name?” I called out as I started a slow jog on the treadmill.

“None of your business.” She huffed between chin ups.

After 15 minutes of silence and a lot of de-stressing, I stepped off the treadmill, almost out of breath. My eyes caught the perfectly figured behind of the only other person in the gym. I wiped my face. With the need to make conversation, I walked over to her as she pulled 15 kilograms of weight on the rowing machine.

“What’s your name?” I asked, calm and collected, once my breathing had regulated.

“Tia.” She said, jumping to her feet.

“You don’t gym often?” I wasn’t great at flirting and my ex-wife was a bitch at reminding me. But I wanted to know more about this Tia hottie.

“No. Only the day after I’ve eaten or drank more than two thousand calories.” She said, shrugging her shoulders.

I let out a short laugh. “Tactical. I like that. What did you apply for? At, um, Waters Developments, I mean.”

“I applied for a PA position. I’m a skilled personal assistant for the CEO of another company. I thought this would be a great opportunity to branch over to a different industry.” She said, with a sarcastic look in her eyes. “But I guess the CEO of Waters Developments is a jerk.”

“What?” I almost shouted at the top of my voice, shocked by her outburst.

“Just being open, to my gym buddy, you know.” She winked. Oh, she was turning me on all over again.

“Don’t let him hear you say that.” I retorted. “How about we go for dinner. If you have anything more than two thousand calories, I’ll let you in on another secret exercise that will help you burn more than a half hour gym session.”

“Yeah!” She laughed sarcastically. “I don’t sleep with assholes.” She took her towel and headed out of the door! Fuck! She was mental and I was hot for her.

“No fucking way!” I shouted through the phone on my desk as I paced the office. It was new fucking years day and I couldn’t deal with John’s bullshit anymore. “I told you. I want this deal to be finalised, this week.”

“Dec, man, come on. They’re not budging. One mill is too less.” John said with a desperate tone through the speaker.

“The bloody place is a wasteland. No one is making anything over that land. I want it and I want it for nothing more than…”

“I know. I’m trying my best. You’re the devil when it comes to deals.” John said.

“Two. That’s the most. Get it fucking done.” I said, exasperated.

“Will call you in a bit.” John said, putting the phone down.

John did my head in. He was supposed to be my best friend, my business partner and the fucking negotiator in this deal. The land I was trying to obtain wasn’t worth anything more than two and a half million quid. A lowball offer was the easiest way to deter interest in the area so that my plan would work. John had to make it work.

It hadn’t been a full five minutes of me contemplating my next offer that John called again. “What?” I asked.

“Wanna come over for dinner?” He said.

“Really?” I asked. Was this a social call?

“Yes. Charlotte is making dinner and she’s asked if you want to come over.” John said. “It’s a good thing too. She’s got some news.”

“News?” Was this guy actually going to finally tie the knot? Or was Charlotte pregnant?

“News, man, you coming?” John said as if rushed.

“Yes, sure. What happened with the landowners?” I asked.

“Nothing. It’s on the back burner for today. It’s fucking New Year’s Day. They’re all celebrating and the office is closed. Not everyone works 365 days a year.”

“What fucking ever. I’ll be there around six, is that okay?”

“Sure.” John put the phone down.

I knocked on the door with a bottle of wine and box of chocolate truffles in my hand. If Charlotte was pregnant, the wine would be for John and me. Charlotte’s silhouette came into view and she opened the door.

“Dec! How are you?” She leaned in to give me a hug. “Wow! Choc truffles. I love you.” She pulled them out of my hand and walked back down the hallway.

“You’re welcome, Char.” I said, shutting the door and following her into the living room. “Evening, Johnny.”

“Hey! Oh! Red. Give it here.” He said, taking the bottle and walking through the French doors, into the adjoining dining room. “Char, do you want a glass?”

“Hmm.” She muttered, already indulging in a truffle. So, it was clear that she wasn’t pregnant.

Fuck she looked hot with her eyes closed sucking on that chocolate ball. My cock started twitching. Fuck! No! I turned to look at the TV, evening news on, filling the room with the latest information on global events. Anything would do to keep me from thinking about my best friend’s girlfriend inappropriately. I needed to get laid. Shit, I was such a horny prick. John and Charlotte had been dating for about three years. I had my eyes on Charlotte since I separated. Unfortunately, she wouldn’t date me because my divorce hadn’t finalised. It took long enough because that bitch of an ex-wife of mine wanted to milk me for every penny I had made. The prenup was drawn to her favour and she thought she won. Too bad for her that I had proof that she was a cheap slut that cheated on more than three occasions. By that time, John had weaselled his way into Charlotte’s arms and the two of them hit it off without a hitch.

“So… what’s the news? Char? John said you have something to say?”

“I do.” Charlotte smiled, glancing between John and me. “My sister has come over from Manchester. She’s actually living in your building. Her work arranged the apartment. I was wondering if you could show her around?”

“Your sister?” I asked. This was news. I didn’t know Charlotte had a sister.

“Yes, Tiana.” Charlotte said.

“Tiana?” Fuck, two Tia-somethings in one day! Wait!

The doorbell rang and my eyes fell to John who was seated on the sofa as Charlotte went to get the door. Fuck me! The same hot girl from the gym – Charlotte’s sister! I flexed the material of my jeans and stood up, locking eyes with Tia as she walked into the living room. Her cheeky smile flattened when she saw me.

“Hey Ti.” John called. “Want some wine? It’s expensive shit.”

“Hey, John. Yes. Go for it. I’ve worked out enough at the gym this morning.” She chuckled, not removing her gaze from me. Shit, I was done for.

“Hi, Tiana.” I extended my hand.

“Hi, Declan, I presume.” She said. Were we not telling of our earlier encounter?

“You presume right.” Charlotte said, pushing her way into the living room. “Dec, please take care of my sister. She’s doing pretty well for herself. But she is my baby sister.”

“Baby?” I asked. She didn’t look like a baby to me. I grabbed the wine glass out of John’s hand before he could extend it towards Tiana. “Babies shouldn’t drink.” I curled the corner of my mouth upward, locking eyes with her.

“Hey!” Tiana reached up for the glass and brushed her blonde curls across my face as she twirled to go and take a seat next to Charlotte. Her fucking smell even turned me on.

“Dinner?” Charlotte said, getting to her feet not minutes after Tiana had sat down.

“Yep, I’m starved.” John said, getting up and leading to the dining room.

“Hey, Tia, Tiana…” I whispered, walking towards her.

“Declan.” She acknowledged, getting up and walking to the dinner table.

“I didn’t know you were…”

“It’s all good, Mr Waters. Like Charlotte said. I’m doing good for myself.” She pushed past me and went to sit adjacent to John.

I moved my plate over and sat beside her. “We should get to know each other.” I smiled. “We live in the same building.”

Charlotte eyed me and then looked over to Tiana. “You haven’t told him, have you?”

Tiana shook her head and looked at her food. Her right hand lifted to her face and in a secretive manner she covered the side of her face so I couldn’t see what she was mouthing to Charlotte.

“Told me what?” I asked as I poked my fork into the luscious chicken.

“Nothing.” They both said in unison.

I looked at John, who had a similar confused look on his face. What the hell was going on? After a few awkward minutes of silence, we talked and chit-chatted about everything non-Tiana related, as we ate. Once the meal was over, I offered to drive Tiana home. Same building, it made sense.

“I wouldn’t have known that you applied for a position.” I said, pushing the doors of our building open. The car ride was silent, save for the music that played.

“I’m not hung on that. Don’t worry.” Tiana said.

“But…” I knew there was more.

“But I’m a little pissed off about the dismissive email you sent me.” She said.

“Email?” I didn’t. I wouldn’t.

“Yes, the one thanking me for my CV and then telling me that the experience didn’t match what you were looking for.” She pushed the button for the fourth floor. I decided not to press anything just then.

“It must be standard, from the HR department.” I said.

“It was signed off by you and came from your email. And, to top it all off, I know for a fact that my experience is everything you are looking for.” She said, pushing past me when the doors opened on the fourth floor.

“Wait, I didn’t. It’s a company email address.” I followed her. All I could think about since this morning was fucking her while she lay on her stomach on my bed. How the hell did my HR team ruin this fantasy for me?

“Look, Mr Waters, I’m home. You can leave. I’ll text my sister to let her know you dropped me. Now drop it. Or my anger towards your work ethics will become a vendetta against you.”

Oh, fuck! She had a fire in her. I stepped back. I was just as hot as I was this morning for her. I sighed. I knew what I was going to do when I got home.

“Good night, Miss Dixon.” I said, holding my breath. I retraced my steps to the lift. Charlotte’s fucking younger sister. How messed up was that?

I heard her door shut and that was it. Another girl I couldn’t have that belonged to the Dixon family.

My alarm went off and as always, I got out of bed and straight into my gym clothes. Would Tiana be down there this morning? I sprayed myself with deodorant. Counter-intuitive, considering I was going to sweat like a pig anyway. I pressed the button for the second floor as I got into the lift. Having a private 24-hour gym in the building was a necessity. As the doors opened, the lights through the hallway started to turn on. I walked towards the gym doors and noticed that the light was on inside the gym. Whoever was in there must have been there for at least 32 minutes, or the hallway lights would have still been on. I glanced at the overhead clock and saw that it was dead on seven in the morning. My timing was impeccable, but did Tiana know I would be here? I had texted John last night but still hadn’t heard back from him. I stepped in and was greeted by a man. Not who I was hoping.

“Hey.” He nodded.

“Hi.” I said, walking over to the weight bench.

“You’re always here in the morning, right?” The man asked.

“Yes.” I said, turning to face him. “I’m Declan Waters.”

“Hi, I’m Alexander Mason. Alex, for short.” Alex said.

“You’re new here?” I asked.

“Yes, just moved in a month ago. With my wife and two kids. Don’t get much time to work out anymore.” He said, pointing at is chubby abdomen.

“Yeah, handy having this place.” I got back to my working out as Alex returned to his activities.

Where was she? Was that it between us? Would I only ever see her again when I was at John and Charlotte’s? I needed to get out of my head. I added 10 kilograms more than I normally added to my bench presses. This was going to hurt. But I needed the strain so that I stopped thinking with my dick for 10 minutes.

I was pretty sure I’d pulled my shoulder in the gym. I ran the hot shower and stood under the pulsing stream for a good 20 minutes. I clicked my neck a couple times but the strain wasn’t going. Why was I so horny? I hadn’t slept with anyone for short of three weeks, but it felt like three years. Damn, this new year was going to suck. Things better change soon. I had high hopes since my divorce finalised a few months ago. I wrapped a towel around me and went over to my nightstand to unhook my phone off the charger. I saw three notifications from John so I unlocked it. This better be good news. I wasn’t in the mood for things not going my way.

John:                      Meeting tomorrow at 3. Location: bar on corner of Mayfair, address and timings sent to your Google calendar.

John:                      Yeah, Tiana is off limits

John:                      Don’t mess around with her bro, she’s not easy and she’s Charlotte’s sister man!

Meeting? The landowners. Shit, so soon. I thought the talks and negotiations were going to go on for a few more days. Well, all the better I suppose.

Declan:                  You’re gonna be at the meeting too? And yep, noted about Tiana. I will consider her nothing more than a friend.              

That was a lie. I wanked to the thought of her last night and will do that again if needed. But my focus was now this meeting. I knew I didn’t have to prepare for it. I just needed enough lean to get the landowners to agree a meet. Once they saw the benefit of selling the wasteland, they would happily sell the land in the centre of it.

It was finally the big day. The meeting with the landowners was impending. I got to my office and pulled out the papers I would need to study by lunch. But before that, I needed to sort something else out.

“Jenny, can you bring Fallon on the phone please?” I said through my intercom.

“Yes, Mr Waters.” Jenny answered, swiftly.

“Jenny, when are you leaving?” I asked.

“Six months, Mr Waters.” She said.

“Right. Is that when the baby is due?” I asked.

“Yes, Mr Waters. I’m off for a year after that. That’s company and statutory maternity leave. And I will find a replacement PA for the fixed term contract. I have it under control.” She said, depressing the button and turning off the link between us.

I got up to leave my office. Jenny was the perfect PA. She had been working with me for seven years. She had been my eyes and ears when I needed proof against my ex-wife. She went over and beyond. Then she went and got pregnant and now I was screwed.

“Don’t disconnect me.” I said to Jenny as I towered over her desk which was positioned to the left of my office door.

“Don’t underestimate me.” She said, standing up and letting her chair fall back. “Oops. Looks like you’ll have to help me there, Mr Waters. I can’t bend in my condition.” She snickered.

“What?”

“You heard me. I’m going to the HR department to get Fallon on the phone for you. Sort my chair out by the time I’m back.” Jenny said, walking past me in a swift stride.

Argh! She infuriated me. But then again, she was the only female friend I actually had. Not even 10 minutes later, Fallon was on the phone. Jenny was good at her job. I couldn’t fault her at all.

“Did a Miss Tiana Dixon apply for my PA role?” I asked.

“Um.” A short pause followed and I heard clicks of the mouse and taps of keys. “Yes, Mr Waters. I had a CV by that name.” Fallon, the HR manager said.

“Get me her CV now. And email her and apologise for pre-emptively dismissing her without checking in with me. Copy me into the email and set up a meeting with her and Jenny. Now.” I said, putting the phone down before Fallon could respond to anything I had ordered her to do.

“Jenny?” I called out through my open office door.

“Mr Waters?” Jenny called back.

“Turn the goddamned intercom on.”

“What?” She said in a low voice through the intercom.

“Tiana Dixon. Fallon is sending her CV and will arrange an appointment with you. Check to see if you can train her up to take over when you’re off.” I said, knowing Jenny would only call Tiana in if she thought her CV was worth it.

“Right, Mr Waters. Will keep you updated.” She said, depressing the intercom.

Now that she was temporarily off my mind, I scanned the papers that covered my entire spare desk. The area I wanted to develop on was surrounded by half an acre of wasteland on three edges and the other edge was backed onto the motorway. It was worthless as a piece of land on its own, but with the wasteland, I could redevelop the connections to the B roads and back up one access road to the A road that led to the motorway. This would work. This had to work.

“Declan.” A female voice called, followed by a knock on my office door. Another thing I hated with a passion; being disturbed, unannounced.