Mid Life Love (Mid Life Love #1)(38)

I almost choked. “Did you just say two thousand—”

“Not a problem,” Helen intervened. “I’m paying for everything anyway. Is there a way you could change what needs to be changed while we’re here so we can sign off on it tonight?”

“Sure, there’s an internet café right across the street. Can you give me ten minutes?”

Helen nodded and he walked away.

“Helen, two thousand dollars in addition to the original three thousand? Each? That’s a bit much don’t you think? I don’t think I’ll be able to afford—”

“Get over it, Claire. I said I was paying for everything and we all deserve this trip—especially you. Oh, and guess what the best part is?”

“Does it involve men?”

“You know me so well. The week we’re going is the same week the Chippendale dancers are having their annual strippers’ retreat! How great is that! You should be bowing in my presence.”

“You are a true piece of work, Helen...”

I felt my phone vibrate and saw a text message. Jonathan: “Photography room tomorrow. 5:00. You should wear something similar to what you have on right now.”

I paled. He’s here?

“Claire?” Helen fanned herself. “Why aren’t you bowing?”

“I think Jonathan’s here...I don’t want to turn around. Can you look around and let me know if you see him?”

She turned around in her chair and looked all around. “Um, no...I don’t see him. Did he text you or something?”

I nodded.

“I think I like him already.” She smiled. “You should know that Sandra and I have a running bet on how long this affair will last.”

“Do I dare ask what the time limit is?”

“I bet at least a year.”

“A year? Please. That’s a joke, right?”

“Not at all.” She pulled out her phone. “I did some research on him the other day—for your benefit of course. I couldn’t find anything on him before he dropped out of Harvard though...Anyway, he seems like a good match for you, temporarily anyway. His net worth is 9.5 billion, he’s only had two or three known girlfriends; the last one was over a year ago. And—”

“I don’t have any prior arrests or embarrassing public incidents on my record.” His voice sounded from right behind me, and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up.

“Took the words right out of my mouth...” Helen grinned.

“Nice seeing you again, Helen.” He ran his fingers against my bare shoulders.

“Same to you, Jonathan. Would you like to sit down with us?”

He walked from behind me and smiled. “No thank you. I need to get back upstairs to my meeting. I’ll see you tomorrow, Claire.” He looked me up and down before walking away.

“I can’t believe you, Helen!” I shook my head. “You did see him, didn’t you?”

“Yeah, but he motioned for me not to say anything.” She laughed. “I am definitely going to win this bet. We have to tell Sandra about this!”

“So team, we have narrowed the sPhone blue slogans down to two contenders. This week we’ll need to meet with the beta team regarding the newest tablets and data projects. We also need to plan our commercial shoots so we can—”

I couldn’t focus on anything Mr. Barnes was saying. I was in a state of euphoria and no matter how hard I tried to rejoin my coworkers in the real world, it never happened.

Every day for the past two weeks, I’d been having sex with Jonathan after business hours. At first, we were meeting in the photography room, but after the photographers started hosting later meetings, we took things to wherever an empty space was available—stairwells, janitor’s closets, employee lounges.

There were no deep conversations between us, no eye-opening revelations about our lives; it was just sex. Pure, mind blowing, out of this world sex.

It was like he knew my body better than I did; I’d never had multiple orgasms in my life. Ever!

I’d never thought having so much sex was possible or that sex could be that incredible. I mean, sex with Ryan was “good,” but it never left me getting hot just thinking about it, never left me completely ravaged and on cloud nine for hours after.

Jonathan was an Adonis in bed—well, we hadn’t actually had sex in a bed, but he was amazing nonetheless.

All it took was once glance from him, one slight brush against my skin after a group meeting, and I was wet and ready to go.

“Miss Gracen? Miss Gracen?” Mr. Barnes shot me a quizzical look.

“Yes?” I reluctantly snapped out of my thoughts.

“Do you want to introduce the interns’ presentations?”

“Certainly, Mr. Barnes.” I stood up and looked around the table. “All the interns were given the task of coming up with a commercial for the sPhone blue with animation. We have two groups that are going to present and they each have ten minutes. At the end of the presentations, we need each of you to send an email to myself and Mr. Barnes about which one you feel will better fit the campaign.”

I sat back down and tried not to roll my eyes.

While the first group was setting up their presentation, Jonathan walked into the room. “Hello everyone.” He smiled. “You all don’t mind if I sit in for this do you?”