Chapter five

CHAPTER FIVE

Jericho POV

Its late, I'm still in the office, I've been in meetings all day and the phones have been ringing non-stop.

Usually, I have Cassandra here to take care of this stuff for me, but she’s housesitting, for a friend, so she can go see her family for the holidays. I won’t see her until after winter break. Which, I don’t really care about, either way. Or do I?

I must admit, when she’s around, everything makes sense.

We haven’t spoken properly, since the incident, with the door in my office. The way she was looking at me that night, the way I was watching her, something’s changed. She seems different somehow, I can’t quiet put my finger on it. She caught me looking at her, looking at me. Does she feel the same? Is she thinking the same things? ‘God no, what am I thinking?’ I've lost my mind. I need to get out of here, I'm exhausted. That's definitely what it is.

I close down my computer and grab my briefcase, ready to lock up for the night. Everybody has left by now, I'm the only one in the office. I walk past Cassandra’s desk, expecting her to be there, she’s always the last one out, after me of course.

She's obviously not there, but a pile of fresh manuscripts for her to go through are.

‘I should call her, tell her about them. maybe she’ll want me to bring them to her.’

“No. Bad idea. I don’t have any business taking her these manuscripts. It's her job, I'm her boss. I'll call her and remind her of that. Whilst I'm at it, I'll also remind her, winter break does not mean she gets to slack off. She might not have to come in, but she still needs to read manuscripts.”

I pull my phone out of my pocket, I go to Cassandra’s name, I hit the dial button, ring, ring, ring, ring.

No answer.

She knows I hate being made to ring for ages. Straight to voicemail.

I end the call, without leaving a voicemail.

She'll know to call me straight back, when she sees that it was me that rang her.

I pick my briefcase back up and carry on out of my building doors.

I'm in the car driving back to my beachfront apartment when I realise Cassie hasn’t called me back.

It had to have been at least an hour after I've called.

She would of rang me back by now, maybe something has happened to her.

Maybe she’s hurt and needs help.

‘Why do you care?’ a little voice in the back of my head is saying.

The voice is right, why do I care?

I couldn’t possibly have feelings for her now, not after all this time.

Why would I?

I'm Jericho Theodore Dean for Christ’s sake. I'm the world’s most eligible bachelor.

I can have any woman I want.

So why?

Please tell me why am I fantasizing about my intern?

It definitely has to be the exhaustion.

I'm working too hard.

I need to rest.

Then maybe, just maybe, I'll stop having these idiotic thoughts about Cassandra Amelia Knox.

‘Or maybe you won’t.’

God, that little voice is annoying.

But what if it’s right?

I make it into my apartment.

Still no call from Cassandra.

Who cares?

I throw my stuff down, loosen my tie and head to the liquor cabinet.

I need to unwind.

Between work meetings and calls, oh and let’s not forget the insane, idiotic fantasies I'm having, this drink is well deserved.

I waltz over to my comfy chair, ready to relax, when, ring, ring.

I'm up and out of my chair in a flash.

So, fast I nearly spill my drink on me.

I look at the caller ID. “Fuck”. It's my mother.

“Jericho, you there?” I sigh.

I was hoping it was Cassandra.

What am I, some lovesick teen waiting for his crush to call?” “Yes mother, I'm here.”

“Oh, yes you are. I was just calling to make sure you were still coming over on Sunday?”

“Sunday?”

“Yes Jericho, Sunday. Brunch?”

I move my phone away from my mouth.

“Shit.” I'd forgotten, this Sunday was our annual family Sunday brunch.”

“Erm, yes mother. I wouldn’t forget our family brunch, this Sunday.”

“Good. Now remember your brother is flying in from California just for this, so make sure your there.”

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

“That’s my boy. See you then. Bye. Love you.”

“Love you too.”

I end the call and turn to the counter. I had forgotten about the family brunch, especially that it was this Sunday.

It's the last thing I need on my plate now, with all the workload I have and no Cassandra.

Now I know my brothers flying in from California, I cannot miss it.

I also told them I would be bringing a date.

I look through my contact list for potential date options.

I scroll down, then up, then down again.

Everytime, I'm hovering over the same name, Cassandra.

I wouldn’t dream of taking her to my parents, I mean what would the conversation look like?

I can just see my mum now, “So Cassandra. How did you and Jericho meet?”

Or my father “You’re dating your intern?”

My brother would be the worst.

He'd literally rip the shit out of me.

“She’s not even his real date. What’s the matter Jericho can’t get it up? Women have realised your so damn ugly, they don’t want to date you.”

Obnoxious prick.

How would I even get her to come with me anyway?

Just call her and demand she come to my parents if she wants to keep her job?

If that’s not an abuse of power, I don’t know what is.

No, I'll just have to ride this one solo.

My head is spinning.

I realise I’m making matters worse.

I drink my drink and head off to bed.

I hope the sleep makes tomorrow better, but then where’s the fun in that?

Right.

Jericho’s Dream

I dream of Cassandra.

Her icy blue eyes that look like the artic.

Her lucious plump lips that tell a story just with one kiss.

Her auburn brown hair that flows in the wind and her full and curvy body that just begs to be touched, by me.

We’re in the office.

It's the night I fell through the door.

She's watching me as I'm watching her.

Her eyes are begging me to hold her, which I have no problems obliging to.

I'm close now, I have her in my embrace.

I can smell the shampoo she uses; it smells like heaven.

I'm inches from her lips, they’re asking me to kiss her, but not a normal kiss, no.

They want to be kissed like no man has ever kissed a woman. Her bodies in my hands waiting to be ravished and I’m the man for the job.

I tower over her;

she looks up to me.

I inch closer, I can feel her breath.

It's sweet like honey. I want a taste.

To taste her sweet nectar.

I'm closing in, our lips brush each other, my tongue asks her mouth for permission, she grants it.

Were fully locked now, our tongues are intwined with one another.

Our breathing has created a rhythm of its own, our heart beats are one.

My hands start to travel to new destinations while she pulls me closer.

I'm lost in her sweet aroma.

I lift her up still kissing, afraid that if we separate, just for a moment we won’t have it again.

I walk back towards the wall, her still in my arms, her legs have now found a new place around my waist.

She thrusts her hips towards me, it drives me insane.

I start to grab the bottom of her blouse, just above the skirt line and lift.

Beep, Beep, Beep. I'm woken out of the dream, to, my bloody alarm clock.