ROBERT
It had been a difficult task ignoring her. Ever since that damned kiss, I couldn't help fantasizing what it would be like to actually have her pinned naked under me, filling her up with my huge member and having her digging her nails into my skin as I taught her the consequences of being a naughty child crossing boundaries. And I'd teach her in ways she would never forget.
"Who was that?"
The jealousy in her voice was pretty obvious? Was my little Isla going to guard me jealously now? The thought of it made a smile curve up my lips, but it disappeared immediately.
"Just a colleague." I said, keeping my voice flat. We were at work, what was she thinking? After all, she was also here as my secretary.
We stepped into the elevator and were joined by a group of employees. They bowed slightly at me, their eyes, filled with curiosity, were drawn to Isla and I. It was easy to feel their scrutiny. They were going to be seeing a lot of her anyway. When we reached our floor, I led her to her new office. It was a large space, equipped with everything a modern office should have.
"This will be your workspace," I said, scanning the room. Mia had done a nice job putting this up. She gave a small nod without uttering a word.
"If you need anything, you could…"
Just then, a knock came on the door and it swung open, interrupting us. Mia cat walked in holding some files, a self-assured expression on her face.
"How is our new secretary settling in?," she asked, her voice purely dripping with sarcasm. "Well, I suppose I'll have to show her the ropes."
I watched as Isla's face flushed with annoyance. Mia could be a pin in the ass but I was shocked she could see my little Isla as a threat. She was being really fussy. It was obvious Isla was going to get clawed at.
"Mia, I think Isla can handle it," I said, trying to assert my authority.
"Oh, can she? With obviously zero work experience I bet she can." Mia was persistent. She turned her gaze to her "But it wouldn't hurt to have a little guidance, right, Ms. Turner?"
I gave Mia a knowing look and she shrugged a 'what?'
"Seeing that she already bypassed the interview phase." Mia rolled her eyes at me.
She handed me the file she had in her hand, a smug smile playing on her lips. "These are the quarterly reports for the North Sea project," she said, her voice dripping with pride. "I thought you might want to take a look."
I took the file, my fingers tracing the embossed company logo. "Thanks, Mia," I replied, trying to keep my tone neutral. I knew the North Sea project was a critical part of our business, and I had been closely monitoring its progress. However, Mia was always a step ahead in everything. She was such a great and dedicated head of operations. She gave a final accessing look at Isla and then she walked out in the same manner she had walked in, closing the door not-so-gently behind her.
After she left, I turned back to Isla, trying to regain our earlier focus.
"The North Sea project is a top priority right now. We need to ensure that the drilling operations are running smoothly and that we're meeting our production targets. You'll be responsible for coordinating with the project manager and keeping me updated on any issues." I explained and she nodded mutely.
I paused, trying to gauge her reaction. She seemed to be taking it all in, but her eyes held a flicker of hurt. I knew she was probably upset about last night and I didn't really think now was the time to talk about it. As a matter of fact, I didn't want to talk about it.
"I'll be here to guide you. If you have any questions, no matter how small, don't hesitate to ask." I said handling her a stack of documents. "These are the project files. Familiarize yourself with the details, and if you need anything, just let me know."
As I reached the door, Isla's voice stopped me in my tracks. "Robert," she called out, her voice soft but insistent. I turned to face her, her eyes filled with a mixture of hurt and defiance.
"Why did you pull away last night?" she asked, her voice sounding shaky and unsteady . "Why were you so upset?"
I felt a surge of anger. I had tried to forget about the kiss, to bury it deep within my subconscious. But now, she was bringing it up again, forcing me to confront my own feelings, forbidden feelings.
"Isla," I said, my voice uncontrollably stern, "you know it was a terrible mistake that shouldn't have ever happened in the first place. You're my best friend's daughter for Pete sake!"
"Is that your excuse? But that doesn't mean we can't feel something for each other," she retorted, her voice rising. "You kissed me back, Hardy. You didn't stop me!"
Her words hit me like a ton of bricks. She was right. I had responded to her kiss, had given in to the temptation. But I knew it was wrong, a forbidden desire that could only lead to destruction.
"It was a mistake," I insisted, my voice growing uncontrollably louder. "A mistake that should never repeat."
Her eyes flashed with anger. "A mistake?" she echoed, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I don't think so. You seemed to enjoy it."
I was speechless. She had a point. I had enjoyed it, perhaps even more than I had let on. But I couldn't give in to my desires. I had to think of the consequences of the damage it could cause.
"We need to move on," I said, my voice firm. "Focus on our work, and forget about what happened."
With that, I turned and left the office, leaving her alone in her fury. As I walked down the hallway, I couldn't shake the feeling that I had made a huge mistake last night?
How was I going to get away from this sick mess?