Free Avoiding Mr. Right by C.J. Ellisson Page B

Carla in a better mood. Standoffish, shrewish, and confused
     is more than I can handle after no communication for the rest of the weekend.
    “Morning, Carla.” I stop at the entrance to her cubicle, trying hard not to look too
     interested. “Feel like getting lunch together later?”
    “Er… umm. I have plans.”
    “Really? Sure you’re not just avoiding me?”
    “Shhh!” she says while looking to see if anyone is listening. “Not at work, Andy!”
    Tension seems to coil every muscle in her body and I’m thinking she could do with
     a little distraction at work. Let that tightness out. “Really?” I run a finger down
     the cube wall, squelching the desire to touch her creamy skin. “You’ve been working
     hard lately, Carla.”
    “Yeah, well, my dream isn’t corporate work forever and I need to pay my dues to build
     a name.”
    I lean in over the cubicle wall, lowering my voice, “I never said my dream was corporate
     work forever, either. You underestimate me.”
    “No! I didn’t mean you… I just need to—”
    I interrupt her. “You need to lighten up.”
    “Lighten up?” The red creeping up her cheeks is not from embarrassment. “Working my
     ass off is the only way I’ll be able to control my life and start my own advertising
     firm one day.”
    I thump the cubical wall lightly, eager to get her to meet my eyes. “Giving up control
     is another way to take control.” She’s staring down at her desk again, ignoring me.
     “Who do you have lunch plans with?” I ask on a whim. I think I’ve got her number.
    “Oh? Um… no one you know.”
    I thought she was lying to blow me off, but maybe I’m wrong. I tilt my head to the
     side and smile. “Try me.”
    “The big guy from the bar. Brian.” A smug look forms on her pretty face, almost like
     a challenge. “He’s a stockbroker. Did you meet him?”
    Bile churns in my stomach. I can’t fucking believe after Saturday she’s running to
     another guy. I won’t be so easily dismissed. I hold my emotions in check, unwilling
     to let her see what her admission does to me. “No, but I remember him.” Easing away
     from the steel and fabric partition, I head down to my own little corporate cube.
     “Have fun.”
    The idea of Carla and Brian having lunch together haunts me while I pass over a spreadsheet
     again. My Dury is a complicated woman. Mine? Do I have the right to think that after
     a one-night stand and a few stolen moments? I know she likes what I’m doing to her—I’ve
     never had a woman be so responsive to a few little slaps on the ass.
    While I have no hidden desire to become a true dominant or submissive, I did do research
     online over the weekend about the lifestyle. She definitely fits the classic mold
     of a controlling woman who needs to let go to enjoy sex. In a submissive role, she’d
     be trusting her lover to fulfill her every desire. But, I doubt she’ll listen to me
     explain it, especially after she just announced she’s having lunch with someone else.
     I’ll have to show her.
    As the idea percolates, I smile. This is going to be fun.
    At eleven-thirty I mosey down to her desk. “Can you spare five minutes?” My innocent
     smile firmly in place.
    “Huh?” Carla looks up at me, a distracted look on her face.
    “Give me five minutes, Carla. I’m not asking for a lot.”
    Her expression turns suspicious. “What are you up to?”
    Walking around the partition I grab her hand and pull her up out of her chair. “Shhh…
     Just follow me.”
    “Andy… I’m not interested in playing your games at work. And I need to leave to meet
     Brian in a little bit.”
    “Five minutes. That’s it. Surely you can spare that for an old friend?”
    I lead her into an empty, windowless conference room and lock the door behind us.
     “When did you make plans with Brian?”
    She blushes and looks away. “It was after I thought you were with another woman on
     Thursday.”
    “Ah yes, my sister . But now that you