'Working late tonight?' asked Colette as she checked her notes with Isabelle a few days later.
Isabelle nodded. 'Yeah, he told me to see what I'd like and have it delivered, but I don't know. Do you have any ideas?'
'There's pizza, pasta, spareribs and burgers around here of course.'
Isabelle nodded. 'I'm not really in the mood for anything fatty or fried like that.'
Colette pondered for a moment, then remembered what a friend mention a short time ago. 'There's a new Japanese restaurant in the neighbourhood. It also delivers and it's supposed to be good.'
Isabelle thought about it, then nodded. 'Sound good. I'll have to ask him.'
Colette saw Jean-Marie coming out of his office. 'Just in time.' she said, then leaned over. 'Mr. Bête? Your girl would like to order sushi tonight. Do you eat cold fish?' she asked, loud enough for most to hear and embarrass Isabelle while she heard giggling and snickering.
'Dear Colette, no fish I ate has ever been cold, but I do like raw fish, yes.' he said with a blank face.
Isabelle groaned at the whistles through the office. 'Colette...'
'What?' Colette asked, blinking her eyes innocently. 'It's not like anybody hasn't noticed by now..'
'In fact,' said Samantha, putting her hand on Isabelle's shoulder. 'they're glad to see him soften up and enjoy himself more often. You've really tamed the beast.'
'Or he can be enough of a beast at home to satisfy himself.' Colette chuckled.
'Guys..' Isabelle groaned, but couldn't hold back her grin at thinking of the beast she'd been sharing a bed with nowadays.
***
'Got it?' asked Linda.
'Yeah, I'll remember the code.' Avery said as she handed him a key card.
She leaned back in her bar seat at the backstreet bar and took another sip from her wine. During her talk with Jean-Marie she had gathered enough information about Isabelle to find out who she was and where she'd come from. The way he talked about her told her she wouldn't get a chance to ensnare him or pry some money or expensive gifts out of him so she had to find a way to get rid of her.
Through her contacts she learned more about Isabelle's father's company and found out an old acquaintance of her worked there. She knew Avery through mutual friends and had seen him several times before at parties. Once she got a hold of him he soon spilled the whole story and it gave her an idea on how to drive Isabelle away with his help.
Suggesting Jean-Marie would send Isabelle back and then being in need of a supportive shoulder was all Linda needed to get Avery's cooperation.
'To think this old key to the office still had a use.' she chuckled.
'I'm surprised no one had noticed you still have the key from when old Mr. Bête gave it to you.' Avery said, tapping his finger on the blank card.
'It wasn't very official, seeing how it would spread rumours of naughty things going on during overtime.' she sighed, remembering the fun times late at night.
'I don't really want to know..' he said, distracting himself with his drink on the bar.
'Just remember, only take the information in her filing cabinets and the unlocked ones from sales which benefit her father's company.'
He nodded. 'I know. He should only suspect her.' he said and looked at the last bit of liquor in his glass. 'Then when he tosses her out I'll be the warm and kind soul to comfort her, making her mine.'
Linda held up her glass and Avery clinked his with hers, toasting on the both of them getting what they deserved.
***
By the time Isabelle started to feel hungry she leaned against the doorway into Jean-Marie's office. 'Shall I call the restaurant now?'
He put down a printout and leaned back. 'Sure.' then changed his mind and called out to her before she disappeared. 'Actually, reserve a table. Sushi just doesn't taste the same in an office. I can finish afterwards at home.'
A few minutes later they went down with the elevator and she kept glancing at him.
'What is it?' he asked, turning towards her thinking something was off.
She looked him in the eyes and stroked his chest. 'I just want to thank you for the wonderful time you've given me.'
He leaned closer and spoke before touching her lips. 'It's only because of you. You've brought meaning back into my life, my love.'
She shivered at the first time he explicitly used love and kissed him passionately, gripping his jacket in her hands.
When he pulled back from the kiss that almost suffocated him he chuckled. 'What did I do to deserve that?'
'You said "my love"..' she whispered, her heart beating faster.
'I would have said it sooner, if I wasn't a little scared of losing myself into another perfect girl.' he whispered, his warm smile making her swoon, but then turned a little sad in worry. 'I still love her, you know..'
'It's okay,' she whispered as she wrapped her arms around his neck. 'I don't want to replace her.'
He kissed her neck. 'Will you be satisfied in sharing my heart with her? Because I don't want to let you go either.'
'I will be in good company then..' she whispered. 'Together with the girl who understands my love for you.'
They held tight until the elevator arrived at ground floor and opened its doors.
'Actually, I think I'll skip work after dinner tonight.' he said, clutching her fingers in his.
'Are you sure? Won't it cause trouble?'
He kissed her lips softly. 'I've been getting ahead of schedule because I wanted another long evening with just you and a bottle of wine. Might as well make it tonight.'
'Can I do something bad to get you to punish me?' she whispered with a little devious smile.
'I'll punish you for proposing something indecent like that.' he chuckled and smacked her behind gently.
She grinned a little. 'Thank you, master.'
The corner of his mouth rose and she liked the way he looked at her. 'Somehow I like the sound of that.' he said.
'Then I'll be a slave to the best master a girl could ask for..' she whispered, kissing him again.
The elevator doors closed again and they kept kissing while it went to the top and still while they send it down again.
***
Isabelle and Jean-Marie were enjoying a quiet evening huddled together on the couch a few days later when she received a call from her father.
'Hi dad.' she said. 'Yeah, I'm good.' she glanced up at Jean-Marie with a wicked smile as she lay with her head on his lap. He had ordered her to only dress in a big t-shirt and become his pet while they were alone at home and she happily complied. 'Not really.' she continued. 'He's being a mean old beast the whole time, but I can handle him.'