Hi, guys, Here's my second attempt. Heads up - it's a bit different from the previous part as I am trying out something different to bring a bit more depth to the story. I know it is best to carry out the theme with the one I started with but this is a trial and error system for me to figure what I can and cannot do. And regarding the other issues; it's a little hard to get an editor to fix up the issues but I tried to do the best I could so happy reading!
Jared
I hadn't heard from Caitlyn since our encounter - not that there was any reason to. Her work was done and any further interaction with the agency was with the agency's administration department, which was not handled by me. But I had to talk to her. I had called her several times. Hoping that she would pick at least one of them. It had become a part of my routine after a few days. But it'd always end up me leaving a voicemail.
"Hey, it's me again. We really need to talk about what happened that day. Please. Please call me back when you get this."
Why was she running away from her feelings when she clearly had them? If not, she wouldn't have kissed me the way she did. What responsibilities does she have that don't allow her to accept what she felt? Was she married? But I hadn't seen a ring on her finger or any indication of one.
I spend the next few days contemplating. My mind kept replaying what had happened that day. Wondering if it was me who had scared her? Had I come on too strong? Was it something I said? There were too many question and the scotch wasn't going to give me any answers. I had had enough and I was going to confront her. That was the only way for me to get some closure.
It was the last week before I had to get back to work so I moved out of the beach house and back into my apartment in the city. The next day, I went down to Studio Red Designs, where Caitlyn worked. I parked my car and sat there gathering my thoughts. I was here but had no idea what I was going to tell her. My hands holding the top of the steering wheel, I took a slow, deep breath and closed my eyes, and started picturing her. How she looked, the way she smelled, her lips on mine, the taste of her skin, oh so soft and smooth. I suddenly felt a large bulge in my lap and realised that my cock was responding to the thoughts rather than my brain. I couldn't most definitely walk into the office with that. I tried to shake it off because jerking off in my car in a parking lot was out of the question. Hard it was but, I managed to bring 'him' down.
I got out of the car before things got worse and headed towards the building. I walked up to the reception and saw a young blonde girl smiling at me as I approached her.
"Hi there, welcome to Studio Red Designs. Can I help you with anything?"
"Hi, yes, I'm here to see Caitlyn Conner," trying to hide my nerves.
"Do you have an appointment?"
Of course, I didn't. I had to come up with something and quick.
"Unfortunately I don't, but you see, she had worked on my beach house a couple of weeks ago and I am interested in getting another one of my place redecorated. And I was in the neighbourhood and was wondering if I could have a chat with her about it if she is free of course. If not I can come back later."
"Hmm. Let me just check. Was did you say your name was?"
"Jared. Jared Stone," afraid of giving my name for obvious reasons.
She nodded her head and started typing on the laptop in front of her. She was reading something on the screen and she raised her eyebrows. A few moments later, she looked up and said,
"Okay, Mr Stone, let me check with Caitlyn if she is available for a meeting. Please have a seat till then," directing her hand towards to the luxurious red lounge sofa.
"Thank you."
I took a seat, nervous and excited at the same time. Will she make an excuse and tell me to come back later or even worse, pass my 'project' onto someone else? And excited because either way, I was finally going to see Caitlyn again. Trying to calm my nerves, I picked up one of the magazines on the side table. I flipped through the pages blindly, when the young receptionist's voice freed me from my thoughts.
"Mr Stone," I looked up and noticed two figures standing there and I wasn't looking at the receptionist. The other figure caught my attention. It was Caitlyn, with one of her breathtaking smiles.
Caitlyn
I had to smile. I couldn't do anything else. That was the only way to hide what I was really feeling. Anger, fear, confusion and a sense of satisfaction and relief. I didn't know why I was feeling it but I did and I could do nothing about it.
"Hello, Mr Stone, nice to you again. Enjoying the new place I suppose?" I said trying to put up an act for Heather, who was standing next to me.
"Lovely to see you again too. Yes, very much, thanks to you," he replied with his charismatic smile which seemed to light up the room.
"I hear you are looking to redecorate another place of yours?" knowing that was a lie.
"Yes, I am and I thought I come to you again, given you already know exactly what I like and want," there was an undertone to that sentence, he wasn't walking about his preferences for the house and we both knew that.
"Why don't we step into my office and discuss this further," I said pushing away everything I was feeling and preparing myself for what was about to come.
"Sure."
I opened the door and stepped in holding the door for him to enter.
"Please have a seat,"
"Thank you," he continued, while I closed the door and walked to my chair, "so this new place I have, I was wonder..."
"What the hell are you doing here? I work here for god sakes!" I cut him off. Trying to keep my volume down despite the anger I was feeling.
He didn't seem surprised. He stopped talking and smile at me.
"Why are you smiling?" I asked, confused.
"No reason, just that it's nice to see you, that's all. I was afraid I might not." Leaning back in his chair.
He never smiled. That didn't sound anything like the person I had worked with a few weeks back. This was a completely different person.
"Well, this will be the last time if you don't tell me why you are here and make it quick, I don't have much time."
"I think we both know why I am here Caitlyn."
Walked right into that one. I looked away trying to hide my embarrassment. He must have figured that.
"Look," sounding a bit more serious, "I am sorry I had to come here, but you left me no choice. I left you dozens of messages but you never called back and I needed to talk to you. I needed some closure."
I looked at him and had nothing to say to him.
"I understand, you scared because you have responsibilities," his forearms now on the table, "but I am sure we can figure something out if you give it a chance."
If only he knew that it wasn't so easy.
"Are you married?"
"God no!" surprised at that question.
"So that clears out one theory I had," raising his right eyebrow.
"What else could it be then?" looking at the table and asking himself rather than me.
"Is it work? Do you have a boyfriend?"
"No and no," I found myself answering involuntarily.