Shane wrapped his arms around her and felt the gentle rise and fall of her chest as she slept in his arms. After he prayed for Dana and himself, he snuggled up to her, covering her protectively in his arms. He had woken up but she was still sleeping. Carefully, he moved away from her and watched her for a little while.
He found himself smiling as he observed that her facial expression looked like something between a pout and a cheeky smile. He sat up and looked at her again. Such a sweet baby, he mused. He glanced at his watch. It was 2:30 in the afternoon.
He wondered if he could still get his laundry done. He stood up and went to the plastic bag he placed his worn, sweaty clothes in. He would ask them to wash her laundry as well. He didn't want to wake her but he needed to.
He retrieved the bag with his sweaty clothes and placed it on the end of the bed, then walked around the bed to touch her arm. He squeezed and rubbed her arm gently, hoping that would be enough to wake her. She was unresponsive. He scooted onto the bed and decided he would take a more assertive but playful approach.
Climbing partially on top her, he buried his head in her blouse and began pulling on the skin of her chest. Using the index finger of his right hand, he pulled down the neckline of her blouse to expose the soft, tempting flesh of her cleavage. He suckled on the skin and felt her stir. She stretched slowly and opened her eyes. With his face still resting on her bosom he looked up at her and smiled. Dana smiled sleepily and touched his face.
"Hey," she said softly still smiling at him.
"Hey beautiful," he answered. He blew her a kiss and she giggled softly. She stretched with a quiet sigh. Shane basked in the feeling of her limbs stretching underneath him. She feels so good, he thought. I would never want to hurt her.
Dana yawned and patted his head playfully. He closed his eyes and sighed, then buried his face in her bosom again. She felt his light, feathery kisses and arched her body. His lips felt so good. She groaned softly. "I wish you were kissing my nipples like this," she said with a sigh.
Gently, he cupped her. Reaching inside her blouse, he tugged at her bra. He retrieved a perky breast and scooped it out of the neckline of the blouse. He bent his head and gently kissed the soft skin before suckling on her nipple. Dana groaned wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Shane, hmm," she moaned. "I love you so much."
"I love you too baby," he said, his voice husky.
He lightly brushed her sensitive nipple with his beard and felt her shiver. She gasped, her arms tightening by reflex around his neck. She whispered his name in a sultry tone.
She was a delight to touch and hold, but Shane knew they couldn't go further. Reluctantly, he decided he needed to stop. She was seeing her menstrual, plus there was something he needed to discuss with her---the way forward for their relationship.
He reached up and kissed her lips slowly. "We have to stop sweet baby, okay?" he said. With a heavy sigh Dana nodded. He raised himself up on his elbows and helped her tuck her breast in the bra. "I'm gonna take a shower, okay?" he told her.
He sat up on the bed and was about to stand up when Dana spotted the evidence of his arousal. A smile curved her lips. "Do you want me to?" she asked reaching out to touch his arousal. Her actions stopped his movement. He looked down at her and shook his head. "No," he said. "I want you to rest up."
"But I don't want you to be unsatisfied," she said sheepishly. "You're not going in that shower to help yourself are you?"
He chuckled softly. "No, I'm not. I'm not that hot to do that. But baby, I am very satisfied," he told her. "Seeing your beautiful face is enough satisfaction for now. Don't worry about it."
"You sure?" she asked smiling cheekily. "I feel better and I want to." She squeezed him and rubbed her hand over his crotch. "You feel so nice and thick. I want it in my mouth."
Shane looked into her eyes and knew she was serious. He swallowed hard. He could feel himself growing even harder, but Richard's words were still on his mind. He couldn't believe he was saying this: "Yes sweet baby, I'm sure. When I get out of the shower I want to talk to you about something, okay?"
She nodded. "Okay," she answered.
After seven minutes had passed, Shane stepped into the bedroom with a fluffy blue towel wrapped around his hips. He looked to his left and saw Dana sitting up in bed, staring at the balcony.
Quickly, he got dressed in a light blue jeans and navy blue polo shirt, and came to lay beside her. He rubbed her thighs. She looked at him and a faint smile curled up her lips. She bent forward and kissed him briefly.
"How you feeling?" he asked.
Her smile widened. "Much better, thanks for asking."
She brushed her fingers on his head. "You okay?" she asked. He sat up slowly and nodded, then smiled at her. "I'm sorry to wake you but I was gonna get my laundry done, well hopefully I'll get it done. I was wondering if you have clothes you want me to take for you?" he asked. He hugged her and stroked her back.
She nodded slightly. "Yeah, it's in the smaller grey bag inside the big bag. All the clothes in that smaller bag are what I've worn so far. My underwear I wash when I take them off. Just open the duffle bag, you'll see it," she said. He nodded.
He got up and went to the other side of the bed and unzipped her duffle bag and found the smaller grey bag inside. He took it out. She watched what he was doing. "I'll be back okay. Maybe you can get some more sleep," he told her.
He placed her bag on top of his, came and sat beside her again. "Dee-Dee, you remember we discussed taking it really slow--you know waiting," he asked. She nodded giving him her full attention.
He took a deep breath then continued: "We've kind of gone off track with that, but I want us to do it right. Meaning, I know we've done quite a bit, but I want to save some of it for later. I want you to be my one and only. It feels like we've been together for a decade. The reality however is, although I've known you as a colleague for some years now, being your lover is very new. Dana baby, you're a precious gem and you deserve to be treated as such."
"Which means?" she asked amused.
"Which means I don't want us to continue what we've been doing. I love every sweet inch of you, but I want to make sure I cherish you by waiting for real this time," he said. His eyes were sincere.
Dana reached out and touched his hand. "Shane, I love you. Feels like I've loved you all my life. Having you touch me is a dream come true. I don't want that to stop. I don't want you to be afraid to touch me, if you want to," she said.
He moved closer to her and touched her face. She closed her eyes, feeling his touch on her skin. With his left hand he reached down and cupped her right breast gently. He kissed her eyelids. The contact made her open her eyes and gaze longingly at him.
"Baby," he said looking deeply into her eyes, "I'm not afraid to touch you, and I'm not afraid to love you." He applied more pressure to her breast and she sighed, closing her eyes. He pulled her into his embrace and kissed her tenderly. After close to a minute of smooching, Shane leaned back to look at her face.
"You're all I want," he declared. He touched her face. "But I want to do the right thing." He touched her thigh with his right hand. "You believe in God, Dana?" he asked. She nodded. "Yeah, I do," she answered.
He observed how she looked at him. Those beautiful oval-shaped eyes taking all of him in. Her body relaxed in his arms as she listened to him. He was grateful.
***
Lissa watched as Prudence took her time getting to know Ryan. She could see that her friend was trying to be friendly and she appreciated it.
As they conversed, Ryan learned that he and Prudence went to the same high school, but he was a year ahead of her. Prudence said she didn't remember him. He chuckled and told her he was a quiet kid growing up. It wasn't until he left high school and began working for his dad that he gained self confidence.
While they ate Prudence put on a European football league game that was streaming live. She revealed that her uncle used to play football for the national team. When she told him her uncle's name, Ryan nodded enthusiastically. He definitely knew of him.
Lissa was happy her man and her best friend were getting along. She was relieved. She watched them, a smile forming on her face.
After Ryan ate dinner later in the evening, he kissed Lissa on the cheek and shook Prudence's hand. Both ladies walked him to the front gate and waved him goodbye as he drove away.
Lissa linked her arm with Prudence's and walked with her into the house. She decided that she would stay the Sunday night as well. Ryan would drop her straight from Prudence's house to work the next day so she could spend a little more time with her friend. But Lissa was more curious to find out what Prudence thought of Ryan.
She sat on her friend's couch, her eyes bright with expectancy. "So?" she asked, grinning. Prudence chuckled. "So, what?" she asked cheekily. Lissa threw a cushion at her friend. Prudence caught it and came to sit beside her.
"Come on Pru! Do you like him? What do you think?" she asked, pouting. Prudence laughed and threw the cushion back at her friend. Lissa caught it and placed it in her lap.
Prudence nodded. "He's actually nice," she answered smiling. "What I'm surprised about is the fact that we went to the same high school and I didn't know him."
Lissa was happy. "So you like him?"
Prudence smiled. "Yeah, he seems like a nice guy as I said. Quite handsome too. But you always know how to bag the handsome guys," she said.
She felt a twinge of jealousy, but she was happy for her friend. She just wished she could meet someone who was sexy, someone who wasn't afraid to fall deeply in love with her; someone God-fearing, and also kind. She suppressed the sigh that almost passed her lips. She patted Lissa's thigh. "Gonna clean up the kitchen, okay?" she said standing up.
Lissa moved to get up as well. "I'll help you," she offered.
Pru shook her head. "Nah. You need to start packing your clothes. You going back to your parents house tomorrow?"
Lissa rose to her feet. "Yes I am. Shucks! Wanna get rid of me?" she teased. She hugged her friend. Pru laughed lightly. She shook her head. "No, of course not, but eventually you have to go back to your real life and you have work tomorrow."
Lissa smiled ruefully. "That I do," she answered. "Look girl, I wanna say thank you for accommodating me this week and I promise you the next time I get leave I will spend a longer time, and make sure there's no drama," she said.
Prudence squeezed her friend in the hug. "You're welcome chica. You know I love you. Take care of yourself y'ere?" she replied.
"I promise," Lissa answered.
Prudence slapped her friend on her rump. "Now go pack," she said laughing.
Lissa guffawed. "You still remember that move!" she said still laughing loudly.
Prudence grinned. "University was still the best years of my life."
Lissa smiled at her. "Me too." She hugged her then walked into the bedroom she occupied for the week. She looked around. It had become like home for her. She would miss her friend.
***
Shane circled his arms around Dana as they slow danced in his room. They were listening to music on her cellphone. After playing pool and she thoroughly beat him, Shane went to collect their freshly washed and dried laundry. Later in the evening, they decided to spend time in his room, where they played cards for the rest of the day until 7 o'clock, then they ordered room service.
She tried lamb chops with mashed potatoes, while Shane felt for jerk chicken and rice and peas. For drinks, he convinced Dana to try a bottle of red wine. She sipped only a little bit then gave him the rest in her glass to finish. Luckily, he had asked for a half gallon bottle of water. He took a few sips then gave her the rest to drink. Shane drank half the bottle of wine but only seemed slightly tipsy.
Now he was holding her close to him. His body was moving seductively on hers. She could feel his arousal pressing against her pelvic bone and wished she could have him. He kissed her brow and eyelids, his dark eyes seemed almost black and piercing as he looked at her. She felt like he was looking into her soul.
She blushed and looked down at the floor. He gently lifted her chin with his index finger and smiled at her. "You okay?" he asked softly. His voice was husky and deep. She nodded but then shook her head 'no'.
"The way you look at me," she said, "it's like you see right through me."
He chuckled softly and tenderly kissed her. She could taste the flavor of the wine on his lips and tongue. It was a surprising turn on for her. Dana licked her lips. She wanted to moan his name.
Without warning he spun her around, dipped her in his arms then pulled her up to his chest. He was enjoying himself. He noticed the way she licked her lips and felt a little crazy inside. She turned him on in a strong way.
The swift, seductive way he maneuvered her body made Dana feel breathless. With her mouth open, she stared into his eyes. Her pulse racing; she never expected that, but it aroused her even further.
He bent forward and slowly moved his hands down to cup her bottom. He squeezed and caressed her. Dana's breathing became shallow, she whimpered softly. Moving his hands up to her hips, he spun her around again and lifted her in his arms. Dana gasped. His strength was making her weak with yearning.
"If I really could look into your soul, what would I see?" he asked. He gazed into her eyes, arms protectively holding her close to his chest. Dana touched his face. "You would see someone who adores you," she said, her heart pounding. "Someone who loves to feel your arms around her; someone who longs for you to make love to her."
Shane closed his eyes when he heard her say that last part. He wanted to make love to her too. It was almost torture not fulfilling the need he was feeling. He opened his eyes and touched her face, his voice raspy and strained, "Know this: I am yours, all of me. Every inch of me belongs to you." He brought her to the bed and laid her down. She looked up at him, her hands reaching out for him. He kicked off his shoes and lay down beside her.
Kissing her tenderly, he curled his arms around her waist. She turned on her side with her back to him, and he pressed himself on her. She sighed. She could feel his hard erection and his muscular thighs on her buttocks. "You feel so good," she groaned. "Oh god Shane, I really want you."
"I want you too baby," he said softly, his voice a little breathy. His longing for her was something he couldn't explain. "Bear with me. Just a little bit longer baby. I promise, I won't take long." Dana placed her hand over his and he clasped her fingers in his. "I love you," he whispered.
"I love you," she replied. She smiled and closed her eyes.
Later that night while she was sleeping, Shane went to visit the night auditor. He asked for the bill for their stay at the villa. He checked up everything and handed the man his credit card. When the charges went through, he smiled at the gentleman and took his card from him. He tucked it away in his wallet.
"I'll be checking out early tomorrow. My lady's work day starts very early. Can you make accommodations for that?" he told the man. He loved the way it sounded to him. My lady! Yes, indeed she is!
The man nodded. "Around what time?" he asked. "About 7:00 o'clock," Shane answered.
"I will inform the housekeeping supervisor to allow one of the staff to check you out," the night auditor replied.
Shane smiled at him. "Thank you," he said. He also gave the man extra five thousand dollars cash. "For anything we may incur tomorrow. Breakfast, etc."
The night auditor nodded. "Okay, Mr Crosby, we enjoyed having you stay with us. We hope you and your lady will return soon."
Shane nodded and smiled. "We may, yes," he said. Later this year as newly weds, he finished the thought in his head. "Thank you again," he said then returned to his room. She was still asleep. Removing his shirt, his wallet and his shoes, he climbed onto the bed. Curling his body around hers, he sighed happily and closed his eyes.
***
Monday
Derrick was going through some files when he received a notification on his mobile phone. He picked it up and went through his messages. He saw a text from Lissa. He opened it to see a picture of an ultrasound with a message underneath which said, "The twins belong to Shane. The doctor confirmed it a week ago. I'm sorry I'm just sending this to you. I hope you're okay." She sent a text about the window of conception. "Also, thank you for the help you gave me the other day. I'm grateful. Take care of yourself, Rick. You were my first real love. I wish you all the best life has to offer - Lissa."
He leaned back in his swivel chair and closed his eyes. He was trying to get in touch with her, calling her several times. He sighed. There was no longer any need for him to have hope that they could rekindle their relationship. She was pregnant for Shane and that was that.
He placed his phone on his desk. Maybe he could call Melody and invite her out for drinks and maybe ... Nah. He was done with that.
One thing he learned from this whole thing was he wanted to be loved--genuinely loved. And now he was at a stage of his life where he wanted to be in love and give love. He wanted a family. He was thirty-six years old. It was time he settled down. The next woman who came along he would cherish with all of himself.
Just then there was a knock on his office door. His secretary Tiffany pushed her head in and smiled politely at him. "The Marketing/Banking intern is here," she said. Derrick squared his shoulder and feigned a smile at her. He nodded. "Send them in," he replied.
Tiffany left. In the meantime, he gathered the files he was reading and placed them in the top right drawer of his desk. He however kept the Evers Group contract open, he wasn't done with it. Tiffany opened the door, and quietly ushered a young woman inside who looked as frightened as a deer caught in headlights.
Derrick saw that she was very nervous. Tiffany Carter walked with the young woman up to his desk and smiled at her reassuringly. "Mr Derrick Smith," she said turning to him, "this is Shauna Mason, she will be your Intern from the summer until the end of December."
He nodded at his secretary then turned his gaze towards the young woman standing before him. "Thank you Ms. Carter," he answered. Tiffany nodded then left the room. Derrick examined Ms Mason closely.
She was rather thin but seemed to have large breasts. She was brown skinned with beautiful dark brown eyes, full lips, cute little ears and a long graceful neck. Her hair was relaxed and cut short in a bob that made her look even younger than twenty.
She wore a smart looking brown skirt and jacket suit with a lemon green blouse showing underneath. The top button of her blouse was open, but barely showed anything tempting. On her feet were dark brown pumps with thick heels. The bag slung over her right shoulder was brown and tan coloured. He noted that she seemed to be good at color coordinating. She stood nervously, staring at the floor. He figured she was about twenty-two or twenty-three years old.
He cleared his throat. She lifted her head, her eyes nervously looking at his face, then darting to the large window behind him. "You may have a seat Ms. Mason," he said, his voice neutral. He still had the Evers Group contract before him. He was looking through it, before he deployed the paperwork to one of his subordinates to manage their account.
"Thank you sir," was the quiet reply.
He looked up just as she sat down and crossed her legs. Her brown skin was smooth and glowing. A slight smile curved his mouth. He leaned back and watched her closely. "How old are you Ms Mason?" he asked, suddenly feeling curious about her.
Ms Mason nervously cleared her throat. Her soft, pink tongue quickly moved across dry lips. Derrick noticed it and shifted slightly in his chair. He waited for her response.
"I'm twenty-two sir," she answered, her voice soft but clear.
He nodded. He extended his hand out to her. "Let me see what you have there," he said politely. Ms Mason leaned forward and handed him a large envelope containing her resume and other noteworthy documentation.
Derrick pulled out the papers and went through them one by one. As he continued to read his eyebrows lifted in surprise. He looked up at her. "You've made the Dean for your faculty's Honorary List?" he asked to confirm.
Ms Mason nodded. A slight smile appeared on her lips. He continued to look through. He was impressed. He placed everything in the envelope, except for her resume, and gave them back to her. She took it from him and leaned back, seemingly back into her shell.
Derrick observed her closely. Thin looking but not anemic. She had beautiful, light brown skin and a cute little face. He wouldn't say she was gorgeous, but she wasn't a plain looking girl either. However, her demeanor needed work.
Leaning forward he placed his arms on his desk. "You seem to have quite the credentials Ms Mason. I am concerned though about your demeanor," he said. He paused to see what she would say or do. She shuffled uncomfortably on the chair. "What do you mean?" she asked.
"You seem quite timid," he replied. "As a Marketing student I would expect you to have a bold and vibrant personality. And where it concerns the banking industry you have to be good at meeting people, building networks. You can't be shy or timid, or any of those type of adjectives," he told her.
She lifted her chin slightly and straightened her shoulders. "I am good at meeting and making friends with people, sir," she said. She sighed and sat up straight in the chair. "Please ask me any questions you have in mind." She smiled broadly at him.
Derrick noted that she did have a pretty smile, but the enthusiasm didn't carry to her eyes. He leaned back in his chair. "You are a second year student, am I correct?" he asked.
Ms Mason nodded. The slight smile on his face melted away. He picked up the Evers Group contract and extended his hand to her.
"Would you say you have a good eye for detail, Ms Mason?" he asked, his voice clipped. Ms Mason took the file from him. "You have half an hour to identify any typos in this contract and also any phrasing that may be problematic for the JCB. I'm going to step outside for a bit. You may scribble notes on the document but only with a pencil. Do you have a pencil Ms Mason?"
Ms Mason nodded. "I do sir," she replied. She went into her bag to retrieve one. He nodded tersely. Heading towards the front door, he said, "Be back soon." He closed the door quietly behind him.
***
Shauna sighed. She was a straight A student who was always conscientious with her work. That's how she made the Dean's list in her first year at university, and so far she was shaping up to be on the list again this year. When her professor told her about the internship she was elated. She wouldn't be paid much but she didn't mind, any money coming in now was a blessing.
She had student loan debt to pay at the end of all this, plus her dad was sick. She had no contact with her mom. After her dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer, her mom said she would go overseas to work and send money. And her mom did get through with receiving her work visa for the United States. But after hearing from her for two months, the money stopped coming and Shauna's calls stopped being answered. The last time she tried to call her mom, the number went to voicemail.
She squeezed her eyes shut. "You need to concentrate. You need this internship," she reminded herself. Taking a deep breath to calm her nerves she began to carefully look through the document Mr Smith gave her.
His presence was unnerving. She heard that he was a very influential figure in the bank though he was fairly young. He was driven and focused. But what they said about his physical appearance was a lie. They said he was a tall man with slouched shoulders and a slight paunch.
But from what she could observe there was no paunch, and his shoulders were broad and strong looking. In fact, he was quite muscular. She could tell by the way he filled his suite that his physique was far from over weight or pudgy.
She hissed her teeth. She had no time to think of men's physiques. She saw something notable to highlight in the document. She read the sentence again, drew a line under it and made a note at the right margin of the page.
He seemed to have a formidable personality. Seemed as though he knew a lot of things, quite experienced in many things, unlike herself. She shrugged her shoulders as she read. That doesn't matter, she thought, if I don't get this internship I won't have any type of experience. She sighed and continued to scan the document with her eyes.
***
Derrick used the restroom and stopped at the lunch room to talk to the GM of the Jamaica Commercial Bank. He spoke with him for twenty minutes then decided that he would check on his new Intern. He was about to move off when, Alexander Hall, the company's General Manager, asked him about his first impressions of the new Intern.
Derrick smiled politely then said, "She seems quite bright and may be capable, but being technically capable isn't enough." Alexander nodded.
"Any insights?" Alexander asked.
Derrick thought of what he should say. "She lacks personality. Maybe an admin role would be best for her. Nothing front office or conversing with clientele," he said.
Alexander had a slight frown on his face. "She specifically requested the opportunity to work in customer service," he replied.
"I know," Derrick answered. "We'll see. So far she hasn't shown me any spark that would warrant that request being granted. I gave her the Evers Group contract to peruse. If she does well with that I can offer her the opportunity to work in the Contracts Department.
"She's not a legal student," the GM pointed out.
Derrick nodded. "True," he said, "but every Banking/Finance student needs to understand the technicalities behind drafting contracts and their legal implications. If she's not flexible to shift to that role she's not suitable."
Alexander Hall smiled at Derrick. "I trust your judgement. Proceed," he said.
Derrick nodded. Thank you. Will do," he replied.
"Keep me posted," Alexander requested.
"Will do," Derrick replied
The GM gave him a curt nod and left the lunch room to go back to his office.
Derrick made himself a cup of coffee in one of the standard mugs available to staff and also bought a chicken sandwich from the concessionaire in the cafeteria/lunch room. He would eat the sandwich while in his office.
He checked his watch and sipped his coffee down to half the cup then took a coaster to cover the mug and turned in the direction of his office. Twenty-eight minutes had already passed. By the time he got back to his office it would be half an hour. He took his time walking. He was curious to see what Ms Mason had done.
***
Shauna was on the last page of the document. The document was eighty pages long but she had a lot of practice with speed reading, and was also able to pick up on context while reading a paragraph. It made it easier for her to browse over words and phrases and be able to get the general gist of a sentence or paragraph.
She glanced at her tiny watch's face. It was about 30 minutes past the time. She supposed he would be in any minute now. She took a deep breath and scribbled the last note just underneath the sentence she felt needed reviewing. She heard footsteps coming towards the door. The door clicked open and Mr Smith stepped inside.
She looked him up and down. He was quite tall, maybe about 6'2" or 6'3". He was clean shaven with a low hair cut. He was quite handsome with dark, smooth skin. He sat down and she observed the mug and a brown paper bag in his hands.
She watched his hands as they placed the mug and bag down carefully. His finger nails were clean and neatly cut. He seemed very confident and articulate.
He was wearing a dark blue suit with a baby blue dress shirt underneath and a grey tie. His shoes were expensive; black and shiny. He could probably teach her a lot about the corporate world and networking. Maybe if she got the internship she could impress him enough to be her mentor. She needed one.
Shauna watched him open the brown paper bag and pull out a sandwich packaged in Saran wrap. He unwrapped it and took a bite out of it. He closed his eyes briefly. It must be quite good, she thought amused as she continued to watch him.
"Are you finished with the document Ms Mason?" he asked after swallowing.
Shauna nodded. "Yes sir, I am," she said.
Derrick took out a square piece of paper napkin and wiped his hands on it. He reached for the document. Shauna handed it to him. He placed it before him on his desk and began to flip through the pages using the pinkie finger of his right hand. He still held the sandwich in his left hand. He bit into it again and read while he chewed.
Shauna couldn't help but notice that he had nice, soft looking lips. She wondered if he smiled often and what his mouth would look like in a smile. Uh? What was that? she thought. She blinked and cleared her throat. He looked up at her.
"Oh, I'm sorry," she said hastily, "Sorry, I felt like there was some phlegm in my throat. I didn't mean--"
"Would you like some water?" he asked.
She may as well continue the facade. "Yes," she said with a nod, "thank you."
He got up, went towards the door, opened it and stepped outside, leaving it ajar. He came back with a cold bottle of water with ice and extended his hand to her. Absentmindedly, she reached for the bottle and her fingers briefly brushed on his. She took it from him, recoiling as if something had bitten her. With her head down, she opened the bottle and took a few sips.
Derrick observed her body language. Did she also feel the tingly sensation that I felt when our fingers touched? He sat in his chair and watched her closely.
"Ms. Mason," he said. She looked up at him, her eyes wide. He leaned into his chair. "Why do you want to work here?" he asked. He noted that the slow rising and falling of her chest increased a little. She was a good looking young woman. He wanted to know more about her.
"The JCB has been around for over fifty years," she answered smiling. "It has helped launch many small businesses and been a catalyst in bringing innovations to Jamaican banking. The company also has a track record of caring for its customers in the products and services it provides as well as the children's foundation it created over twenty years ago. My older sister was actually a beneficiary of the scholarship programme. Also--"
"That's all well and good, Ms Mason," Derrick said, interrupting her, "and I commend you for being aware of all these things. I am also happy to hear that we were able to assist your sister. What you said is very good, but I don't want the rehearsed response." He leaned forward in his chair and placed his elbows on the desk. His gaze bored into her.
Shauna frowned. What is he asking me? she wondered. "I-I don't understand. You asked me why I want to work for the JCB. I am answering your question," she said feeling puzzled. "Sir, I really need this Internship."
He saw her furrowed brow, the way her chest rose and fell as she breathed in more rapidly. He smiled at her. "Tell me about yourself Ms Mason? Mother/father? Any siblings?" he asked her, softening his voice.
Shauna clasped her hands tightly together. Derrick also noticed that move and wondered about her.
She cleared her throat. "I have three siblings. Two sisters and a little brother. My mother and father are still alive."
"Where are you from originally?" he asked. He relaxed his shoulders. He noticed an interesting quality in her voice.
"I'm from Montego Bay, but I live on campus presently, at least for now," she replied. Derrick picked up something in her tone when she said the "for now", but did not ask what she meant. He took in the way the skin between her eyebrows knotted and felt the subconscious urge to smooth it out with his thumb.
"What is the one thing you like to do that your friends don't know about?" he asked.
Shauna felt her nerves frazzle. What does that have to do with the position of Intern?
"Um ... I don't see what that ..." She paused when she noticed his right eyebrow rising above the other. He had an amused look on his face.
He chuckled softly. "Answer the question Ms Mason," he said. This time when he smiled it was devastating to her senses. It was a charming smile and nothing like the half smiles he gave her before. She lost her train of thought--her mind went blank. She dug her nails into the palms of her hands to jolt her brain back into action. She winced at the pain and sighed.
"I love to write," she told him.
Derrick's smile broadened and Shauna felt her stomach flip over. He had beautiful white teeth. And those lips looked very tempting. She looked behind him at the skyscrapers visible through the large window.
He nodded. "I picked up on that while I was reading your notes. You have a very good eye for detail, but it's the way you express yourself that is impressive to me," he said. He leaned back in his chair.
He took a big bite of his sandwich to finish it quickly. While wiping his hands with the napkin, he said, "You applied to Intern in Customer Service, but I would like to offer you the opportunity to work with me in the Investments Division, but you will also be working directly in the Contracts Department." He wiped his mouth and crumpled up the napkin and placed it in the paper bag, then dropped them in a small trash can to his left. He finished his coffee in one gulp.
"But-but ... I-I was told an Intern position in customer service was available," she said. "And wouldn't I be working with you as an Intern in that position?"
"There are actually four positions currently available in the customer service department, but I think your eye for detail and writing skills are more useful in drafting contracts. Of course you will be taught the rudiments, but I think you have the potential to do very well in the Contracts department.
"Also, what I'm offering you is an opportunity to work with me, where I will teach you the tricks of the trade I have picked up over the years. As a customer service Intern you would be working with one of my team leaders not with me."
"I ..." Shauna felt her throat constrict. Was this some cruel joke? She swallowed hard. "Mr ... uh--"
"Mr. Smith," Derrick volunteered feeling amused.
Shauna lifted her chin trying to look confident. "Mr Smith," Shauna began focusing her eyes on him, "I know you said earlier that I didn't seem capable at customer service, but I assure you I am very good at it. I was just having a bad moment, that is all. I want to be given the opportunity to work in the Customer Service Department."
"Why?" Derrick asked. "What I am offering you is an even greater opportunity." His eyes seemed to have gotten darker as they swept over her face and body. Shauna felt flushed. Her mind was racing. Why is this man making my life difficult? she wondered. She sighed as frustration filled her. "I think I am a people person I have a passion for meeting new people and I love to serve."
"You say it well, but you haven't convinced me," he told her. He stood up. Shauna looked up at his powerful frame, her pulse racing. Turning his back to her, Derrick looked out of the ceiling to floor tall window.
With trembling lips, Shauna decided to be vulnerable. She was getting more frustrated. She had tried to impress this man but it seemed he already had someone else in mind for the position. But if she could try, she would one last time.
"I am the second child for my parents. We grew up in very humble conditions. I am not the most sociable of persons, but I know how to show empathy and consideration. Two traits a good customer service rep should have.
"Living in cramped conditions in my home, I've had to learn to get along with people and know how to negotiate as well as be considerate. I know how to gauge a person's mood and come up with the best way to communicate a message across to them so they understand what I am saying, and they feel like I understand their needs.
"I know how to deal with someone who expresses frustration and/or anger, and how to deescalate a situation like that." She took a deep breath. Her voice faltered as she tried to breathe in without giving away how emotional she was feeling.
Derrick felt something stir within him. He turned around and looked at her. He saw her beautiful eyes filled with a pain he understood too well. He walked to the front of his desk and perched on the edge of it. He looked her squarely in the eyes. "I want you," he said, pausing for effect. Shauna sat up straight in the chair, her heart pounding. Her mouth opened in shock at his bold statement. She gripped her bag to her chest, and was about to respond when he continued:
"I want you to work in Contracts as an Intern, as well as work in the Investments division, closely with me. If you do well, I will recommend that you work in customer service after December. I will recommend you personally, if necessary," he told her.
"Besides as an Intern working with me directly, you will be given lots of opportunity to hone your customer service skills." His smile melted away and was replaced with an expression that seemed to be etched in stone. Shauna didn't know what to say.
"I--" she started, but he cut her off.
"Take it or leave it, Ms Mason. Final offer is now on the table," he said tersely.
She felt tears well up at the back of her eyes. She looked away from him, staring at the floor, then back at his face again. She saw something hard in his eyes. He wouldn't budge. She nodded.
"Okay," she said quietly. She needed the experience and she needed the money. She sighed.
A faint smile curved the corner of his lips. He stood up from his desk and looked down at her. "Will you be able to start tomorrow?" he asked.
Shaun shook her head indicating 'no'. "I was told I would get Tuesdays off," she said quickly. "I have five classes tomorrow." She caught a strange look in his eyes, but then it disappeared. It was as if a cat cornered a mouse and was about to pounce, or maybe she was mistaken.
"Okay," he said walking slowly to his chair. He sat down. "If you aren't available on Tuesday, you'll have to work on Saturdays."
She was about to protest when she saw the strange gleam in his eyes again and bit her bottom lip. She nodded. "Okay," she said quietly.
Is he trying to frustrate me so I'll give up on the opportunity so he can recommend the Internship to a family member or friend? No! I won't give him the satisfaction! she thought angrily. She lifted her chin and pursed her lips.
With eyebrows raised, Derrick noted her look of defiance. "Okay," he answered. "Wednesday, be here by 1 o'clock," he told her, his voice terse, though he had an amused look on his face. Shauna felt like he was mocking her. She stood up. "Will do. Thank you for this opportunity. You won't regret having me on the team," she said politely.
Derrick rose to his feet as well. "I hope not," he said. Shauna blinked but did not respond. She walked to the door, he went towards it as well, and opened it for her. She glanced at him briefly then stepped outside. He closed the door behind him and took a deep breath. He went to his chair and sat down.
He looked through her resume again. Something told him he was about to meet Ms Mason's steely, strong-willed side. She had to have it in her to have accomplished as much as she did for her young age. He was looking forward to it. He was going to enjoy the intellectual sparring between them. He would see how best he could get her out of her shell. He wanted to see that side of her in action.
What she said about her background also resonated with him. He wanted to know more about her. Plus, he was looking for someone he could train to do the things he did, a protege in a sense. There were a few young, upcoming stars on the team, but none with the kind of drive and passion he was looking for. He wondered if he was staring that 'one' in the face a few minutes ago.
***
They checked out early. A young lady from the housekeeping staff was present at the reception desk as the night auditor promised. Shane carried both their bags to the car. Though Dana was feeling much better he wanted to be a gentleman.
He was able to convince the wait staff to heat up two croissants and make them two cups of coffee since the kitchen was not yet open at 6 o'clock. He made sure to generously tip the two young men who served them, and also slipped a five hundred dollar note to the room attendant who checked them out.
He drove quickly to Dana's home in Harbour View and sat on her tiny couch while she changed. She had already showered at the villa. When she came out to the living room in her police uniform she did a twirl and he whistled appreciatively.
"My dear, you are sexy," he told her. Dana giggled, then said, "Thank you kind sir. My boyfriend whisked me away for the weekend and I think I gained four pounds. Now I can fill this suit better."
Shane leaned back on the couch and laughed. "Is that right?" he asked amused.
"Mhm," she said grinning. "One of these days though, I want him to fatten me up with a baby." Her voice dipped low.
Shane stopped laughing. He looked at her. She was smiling, her eyes shining with affection.
He stood up and went to her. Putting his arms around her waist he looked into her eyes. "You're serious?" he asked. Dana nodded. "Yes, I would love to have kids with you," she told him.
Feeling touched by her words, Shane felt a stirring of emotions in his chest. He leaned forward and captured her lips passionately. After close to thirty seconds of kissing, he released her lips, but still hugged her tightly. He kissed her forehead. "I love you," he said.
She groaned softly. "Hmmm ... I love you," she replied. She loved feeling his body on hers.
"Let's get you to work," he said holding her hand and pulling her to the door. She giggled. "Why pull me? I'm coming." She grabbed her work bag off the coffee table. She packed extra sanitary pads and underwear just in case.
"If I don't I'll be tempted to practice making a baby with you, right here and right now," Shane growled. His dark eyes stared at her intensely. Dana laughed softly. "Okay," she said, "let's go then." She felt her loins respond. Hopefully very soon, she mused.
He opened the front door and allowed her to step through first. He took the house keys from her and locked the door for her. He handed her the keys, and closed the front gate, then walked hand in hand with her to his car. He opened the passenger side for her and closed it when she sat inside. She fastened her seat belt and he did likewise as he slipped into the car. Blowing her a kiss, he pressed on the brake, started the engine and slowly applied pressure to the gas pedal while putting the car in 'Drive'.
She reached for his hand nearest hers and held it, resting it on her lap. He made her feel happy. Shane squeezed her hand and maneuvered the vehicle with his free hand.
"There's something I want you to do for me," he said glancing at her briefly then focusing on the road.
"What is it?" she asked, smiling.
"I know we planned for you to go undercover, but I don't want you to do it anymore ..."
"Shane--" She tried to interrupt him.
"Baby, listen to me. Just hear me out, okay?" he said squeezing her hand. He lifted it to his lips and kissed it briefly. "I love you. I don't want to lose you. If anything were to happen my heart would break and it would kill me. Now that I'm with you, I can't bear the thought of anyone hurting you."
"But we spoke about this," she said with a sigh. "We even discussed precautions I should take, and I assured you I will take them."
He was coming up on an empty lot. He slowed the car down and carefully parked on it. Turning to her, he cupped her face with his right hand and pulled her in to him. He kissed her lips passionately giving her all the enthusiasm he could muster in the kiss.
Moving away from her, he saw that her eyes were closed, her lips puffy. "Baby," he said, his voice deep and raspy, "if you got hurt a part of me would be hurt too, and if-if ..." He couldn't bring himself to say it. He couldn't bear the thought of losing her.
Dana observed every detail of Shane's body language. A look flickered across his face then was gone. He was holding her hand too tightly, like he was scared to let it go. He was afraid she would be killed. She swallowed her saliva as she listened to him. She loved him. If anything were to happen to him she didn't know what she would do. She understood his fear. She felt the same way about him.
"With the job of being a police officer there's always serious risk," he continued while staring deeply into her eyes. "I know this. We've lived this together. Baby, I love you. I want you around to have babies with, to grow old, and make love to--lots of it, bucket loads of love."
Dana chuckled softly. Shane smiled and kissed her forehead.
"I want to share all of that with you. Now that we're together I can't live without you." He rested his forehead on hers. "I love you. Please do this for me. I asked you to go undercover, now I'm asking you to stand down."
Dana sighed. She kissed him and stared into his eyes. Reluctantly, she nodded her agreement. "Okay," she said, "I won't go."
"Promise me," he said.
"I promise," she replied. "I promise you, I won't.
He kissed her cheeks, her eyelids, her brow then finally he captured her lips. Groaning unashamedly, he pulled gently on her bottom lip, suckling and nibbling the soft flesh. His tongue brushed tentatively on the roof of her mouth and Dana lost control. She moaned and opened her mouth wider. Closing her eyes, she kissed him with a fervour she never felt before.
Shane grabbed the back of her head and kissed her deeply, his lips demanding more from her. Dana felt her loins clench. "Ohh!" she moaned against his lips. He groaned deeply and daintily bit her bottom lip.
"You bring out the freaky side of me," he whispered. Closing his eyes, he used his tongue to tease her. Dana gripped his shoulders and pulled him down on her. Shane's left hand brushed on her thigh. Dana opened her thighs by reflex.
He looked at her. She's so tempting, he thought. "Wish I could taste your sweetness right now," he said. He moved his hand from her thighs up to her crotch and cupped her. Squeezing gently, he listened to her moans. She was wearing a panty shield. It was so thin he could barely feel it. He just wanted to touch her. He unfastened her seat belt and his.
"Oh sweet baby, I really want you. I'm gonna make sure I do all the things you like on our wedding night," he told her.
He buried his face in her neck and suckled the sensitive skin. Dana arched up and moaned his name, "Ohh! Shane! Ohh! I need you please!"
Just one more time, he told himself. Pulling the buckle of her belt, he unbuttoned her pants and drew it down to her hips. Dana lifted her body bracing on her hands. He pulled her pants down to her ankles. He lifted her feet onto his lap and removed her boots while kissing her lips. He laid them down by his feet.
Taking his time, he lifted her left leg, and took it out of the pants so she could open wider for him. He kissed her tenderly and used the index finger of his right hand to pull her panties down to her ankles. She slid it off her left leg and adjusted herself for him.
Gently, he slipped his finger inside her and listened to her moans. With his other hand he pressed the window winder buttons to roll up the windows automatically. He was glad his windows were tinted. Slowly, he moved his finger in and out of her. Dana's eyes were closed, her body arching while she moaned his name.
Carefully, he inserted a second finger and she groaned loudly. His touch felt so good, but then she remembered the particular thing about herself that he loved, but still made her feel self-conscious. She opened her eyes and looked at him. His head was bent, his eyes were focused on her private area.
"Baby," she called to him quietly feeling self conscious. "Baby?" He looked at her face, his eyes black from pent up passion. "Yes sweetness?" he asked his voice tender. She reached down and stopped the movement of his fingers.
"Remember, I, you know," she said blushing.
"You what?" he asked, his voice husky. He put his hand on her upper thighs and squeezed.
"That I ... you know, when I get excited, I ..." She stopped short.
Seeing her embarrassed look, he realized what she was talking about. He moved his hand down to her pelvic bone and cupped her. "You squirt?"
She nodded. "I know my period is practically done, but I don't want to--I'm sorry."
Shane smiled at her. "It's okay," he said. He leaned forward and kissed her lips.
Pulling hungrily on both top and bottom lip, he groaned and grunted his need for her. When he leaned back they were both breathing heavily.
Lifting his head, he kissed her brow and sighed. They had to stop. He moved his head back reluctantly. Her mouth tasted really good to him.
"Mmh, you taste so good. I love you," he breathed passionately.
"I love you too," she said, biting her bottom lip. He helped her get dressed and buckled the belt for her. Dana wondered what she had done to deserve a man like him. She was grateful.
She took out a rose scented wet wipe from her bag and gave it to him. "For your fingers," she told him. Shane blew her a kiss and took it from her. Wiping his hands thoroughly, he said, "Thank you. Remember I told you I love when you squirt?"
She nodded.
"You don't have to feel awkward about it. Maybe we can't do anything here and now, but I don't want you to feel shy or embarrassed about how you experience pleasure. There's nothing wrong with it. Nothing. Okay?" He kissed her brow. "Okay sweetness?"
Dana smiled while blushing. "Okay," she said. He made her feel safe and desired.
That's my sweet baby," he said squeezing her left thigh. "Let's get you to work." He handed the crumpled wipe to her and she tucked it in a side compartment of her bag. She would dispose of it in the bathroom at work.
Shane moved back and pressed the mechanism to roll the windows down. He refastened his seat belt and watched as Dana did the same. Properly positioning himself behind the steering wheel, he started the car again. He drove off quickly.
As they drove, he engaged her in light conversation and realized he liked talking to her very much. He rolled up the windows as he stopped a few buildings down from the police station. "I'll come pick you up at this point. Just call me, okay?" he told her.
Dana nodded. "Okay," she replied. Her mind was still on that last kiss.
"Be good for me and be careful," he said teasing her. But she knew he meant every word.
She chuckled. "I will," she said. She hugged him then stepped out of the vehicle. She gently slammed the door shut and watched as he drove off. Hoisting the bag over her right shoulder, she walked the rest of the distance to the police station.
***
When Ryan came for Lissa to drop her off at work she was wearing a dark grey office dress with a bluish-grey jacket and black and white pumps. He complimented her about her clothes and she giggled with delight. She was hoping he would like it. He did, and told her so with words and cute little kisses he placed on her cheeks and lips. He packed her bag in his trunk and would retrieve it for her when he brought her home.
After he dropped her off at the front door he went to park. She stepped into the police station and signed in. Ryan came in five minutes later, signed his name and gave her a smile. "I have to report to Supe Dacres for duties," he told her.
Lissa nodded. "Okay. Please be careful," she replied.
He brushed his hand against her arm when he thought no one was looking. "I will," he said sincerely. "I love you," he whispered.
Lissa smiled. "Love you too," she answered softly. Ryan winked at her then moved towards Superintendent Dacres' office.
Based on the schedule that was emailed to her she had four clients today. All of them new. She sighed. She will do her best. Walking to her office she took out her cellphone and dialed her dad's cell number.
"Hi daddy," she said when she heard his voice.
There was a pause, then, "Lissa, how are you?"
"I'm okay daddy. I'm actually at work. Just letting you know. Ryan will take me home after work ends. You don't need to worry about that. He's also gonna let Jordan know about him taking me home today."
"Okay, baby, just be careful," Marcus replied. "Your mom is home. I know she'll be happy to see you."
Lissa smiled at hearing that. Her mom was more likely to cuss her out for leaving home and not telling them where she was.
"Daddy," she said her chest feeling a little tight with emotion. "You know I love you and mommy."
She heard Marcus sigh. "And we love you too Pumpkin. Always," he said.
Lissa was pleasantly surprised. Her dad hadn't called her that since she was fifteen years old. She felt the telltale stinging at the back of her eyes as she began to feel emotional. She squeezed her eyes shut. She opened them and tried to control herself. She opened her office door and entered, closing the door behind her. She sat at her desk. "Okay, daddy I got to go, okay?" she told him.
"Okay Pumpkin," he said quietly. He had something to tell her about her mom, but it could wait until she got home later. He ended the call.
Lissa smiled whimsically. My family's forgiven me, she thought. I am so grateful. God thank you.
She put her work bag in a desk drawer and looked at the files a clerk left on the desk for her to review. A domestic violence case was among the persons she would counsel today. She looked at her watch. It was 8:00 o'lock. She would wait half an hour then let her presence be known to Supe Dacres. Hopefully by then Ryan would have finished talking to him.
At 8:35 a.m. she knocked on Supe Dacres door. She heard him say 'Come in." She pushed the door and walked in quietly. Upon seeing that it was her, Superintendent Dacres stood to his feet and walked towards her. He reached out quickly and hugged her. Lissa was taken aback by the gesture, but decided to accept it. She hugged him back.
He put her from him at arms length and looked at her. "I'm so glad to see you. I heard that your parents couldn't find you." Lissa smiled ruefully at him. "I went to spend time at a friend's house," she replied. Supe Dacres looked at her quizzically, his eyes examining her face to the point she felt slightly embarrassed. She lowered her gaze. He released her.
"And you are okay now?" he asked. She nodded still looking at the floor. "Yes, I am better. I just wanted to make sure I check in with you," she told him.
He nodded. "Understood. Have you heard from Shane?"
She nodded. "Yeah, we discussed the way forward." Supe Dacres went to sit in his chair and adjusted it for his comfort. He gestured for her to sit. She sat down in a chair before him but said, "I won't stay long I have new clients today."
He nodded. "Of course. Understood."
He put a few files on his desk in a drawer then looked at her. "How is Shane? And how are you and he?" he asked. Lissa cleared her throat. He needs to know, she told herself. "Well, sir, I think Shane is okay. I saw him a few days ago. He seems to be doing well." She crossed her legs in the chair. "However as for he and I, we're not seeing each other anymore."
Supe Dacres expression showed his shock. "What do you mean?" he asked. "I thought you guys were doing well. Of course the irrational things he has been doing lately would be a concern, but to break up? What happened?"
She cleared her throat again. "That's the thing--the very same things you're talking about that was the final straw for me. Plus, the fact he hasn't come to see me in months, knowing the threat that was out there for me and his babies."
"How long hadn't you seen him before recently?" Supe asked.
"Three months," she said. "At first I heard from him regularly but during the last part of the three months I never heard from him at all. I kept wondering if Mr Z had killed him or something else had happened. And you know what happened at my house while Branno and his girlfriend were there. The threatening my life was the final straw."
"He threatened your life?" Supe Dacres sat up straight in his chair.
Lissa nodded. "Yes, he did. He aimed a gun at me and Ryan." she revealed.
Supe's eyes flew wide open. "Do me a favor," he said.
"Sure, anything," she replied.
"Do not say this to anyone. No one. Say nothing to none of the squad members and if anyone from the Professional Standards Branch asks to speak with you, do not tell them this. Not just for Shane's sake but for Corporal Stewart's sake also.
Why for Corporal Stewart's sake?" Lissa's heart was pounding
"He never mentioned that to the rep that spoke to him recently. If it is revealed that he held back information it won't be Shane's neck alone on the line.
"Okay, understood," Lissa said nodding. She felt a little light headed. She didn't know Ryan was trying to cover for Shane. It was a good thing she spoke to Supe Dacres about it.
Why did he aim the gun at you?" Supe asked his voice low.
Lissa sighed. "He thought I was cheating on him with Corporal Stewart," she replied.
And you weren't?"
Lissa shook her head. "No, we weren't. But ..."
Supe Dacres' left eyebrow rose above the other. "But?"
Lissa took a deep breath and released it slowly. "But now we are sort of dating," she disclosed.
"I see," he said. His face was an unreadable mask. Lissa felt awkward. She realized he had gone stone faced on her.
"Is this relationship serious?" he asked. He had a grave look on his face.
Lissa nodded. "Yes, it is," she said.
"You are pregnant for Shane right?" he asked.
Lissa felt uncomfortable. "Yes, the babies are his," she answered.
With a heavy sigh, Superintendent Dacres leaned back in his chair. "Ms Dixon, the private lives of our staff are usually no concern for High Command but this might cause a few raised eyebrows among your colleagues."
Lissa nodded. "I understand," she said. "Ryan and I will be very discreet about it. I promise."
Lissa lowered her eyes and looked at the trash can in the left corner of Supe Daces's office. She nodded. "Understood," she replied. "I will speak to Ryan about it."
Superintendent Dacres nodded. "Glad to have you back, but considering your 'situation', please be very discreet," he cautioned.
Lissa nodded feeling contrite. She hadn't thought of any possible backlash where her relationships with Shane and Ryan were concerned. "I will. Thank you for your advice."
Supe Dacres nodded and smiled at her. "You're welcome. You may leave," he said.
Lissa stood up. "Thank you," she said. She was moving towards the door when Supe spoke, "Also if you hear from Shane tell him to call my personal cell. He and I need to talk."
She opened her superior's office door and stepped outside quietly. She felt herself breaking into a sweat. She took a deep breath and headed towards the restroom. She felt the urge to pee.
***
Dana walked into the police station with a broad smile on her face. Her hair was in a ponytail but it was clasped at the nape of her neck, the way Shane said he liked it. She playfully poked Constable Walker in her side and laughed as she jumped and turned around to face her.
Sudanie eyed her friend's enthusiasm and was curious. "You're glowing," she said simply.
Dana laughed softly. "Am I?" she asked feeling happy.
Sudanie nodded. "Yup, you are," she replied. She came closer and snaked her hand in the crook of Dana's arm. "So tell me, who is he and what did you guys do on the weekend? Gory details please!"
"Give me a minute," Dana replied. She took out a small piece of toilet paper. Removing the soiled wet wipe from her bag, she wrapped the toilet paper around it and tucked it in her pocket. Growing impatient, Sudanie pulled her towards the female restroom. Dana laughed but did not resist.
"Well?" Sudanie asked, closing the door behind her.
Dana grinned. "Yes, I'm seeing someone," she said.
"Who? Who?" Sudanie asked surprised.
"You have to promise you won't tell anyone," Dana said smiling cheekily.
"Who will I tell?" Sudanie asked feeling amused.
"It's someone you know. Someone I've always wanted to be with, but I never thought it would happen."
"Is it Sarge Reynolds?" Sudanie asked. She knew that Mark was very fond of Dana.
Dana looked at her confused. "Mark? No!" she answered, shaking her head as if the thought was absurd. "Mark is like my big brother," she replied amused.
"Then who?" Sudanie asked her mind racing. "Is it Stewart or Simpson? They seem to be very fond of you."
Dana shook her head and chuckled softly. "Again, none of them. They are like my big brothers," she said smiling.
"Who then?" Sudanie said feeling frustrated.
"You have to promise you won't say anything--nothing to anyone. Swear to me," Dana cautioned. Sudanie sighed. "I promise," she said.
Dana looked at herself in the bathroom mirror. "It's Sergeant Crosby. Shane," she said.
Sudanie's eys flew open. "What?!" she shrieked then whispered. "What?!" Does that mean Shane is cheating on Lissa? What? Sudanie wondered. Her head was spinning. She came closer to Dana. "Dee-Dee," she called her by her pet name. "Shane's talking to Lissa," she said gently.
Dana shook her head. "Not anymore," she told her. Sudanie grabbed Dana's arm and spun her around to face her. "What do you mean? What's going on with them?"
Dana sighed. "Ms Dixon--Lissa is now with Ryan," she answered succinctly.
"Ryan?"
"Yes, Corporal Stewart," Dana said matter of factly.
"Wharrah?! When did this happen, and how come you guys, you know?" Sudanie asked in shock.
Dana chuckled softly. "After the criminals invaded her home Lissa went to cool off at a friend's house. When Shane came back from abroad he didn't know how to get in touch with her. Anyhoo, she eventually called him and they met at his house in Portmore and talked. That's where he learned that Lissa and Ryan were attracted to each other, Since then however, she's slept with him and they are together."
"And you know this how?" Sudanie asked. She couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"Shane went to see her while he and I were spending time together. When he came back from visiting Lissa he told me what happened," Dana answered.
"And you being with him--how?" Sudanie felt confused.
"He was hurting from the confrontation with her at his house," Dana replied. "She told him she no longer wanted a relationship with him. He sort of had a panic attack and when I went to see him he managed to open the door for me and passed out on the floor. I told him how I felt about him. At first he was saying no we're just colleagues, but I guess he saw how much I care about him."
"So Lissa is seeing Corporal Stewart now?' Sudanie asked, her head was beginning to hurt.
Dana nodded.
"And you're sure this isn't a rebound for Sarge where you are concerned? Dee-Dee you're a good girl. You know Sarge's reputation."
Dana smiled at her friend. " I know, but he's not the same and I trust him," she told her.
Sudanie sighed heavily. "Y'all crazy," she said lifting her hands in an exasperated manner. "I hope y'all know what y'all doing." She shook her head.
"Who's the y'all? I've always wanted to be with Sarge. It's Lissa you should be worried about," Dana said feeling a little annoyed.
"How so?" Sudanie asked.
"She's supposed to be back to work today. Is she here?"
Sudanie shook her head. "No, I haven't seen her," she replied.
"Exactly," Dana said. "She's your friend, so what I'm about to say may offend you, but she's unstable emotionally right now. She should never have been so rash in breaking it off with Shane."
Sudanie looked at her stunned.
"But if she didn't you wouldn't be here bragging about being with Shane would you?" Sudanie asked folding her arms across her chest.
Dana shook her head slowly and chuckled. "I am not bragging. I am happy. And you were the one who asked for details. Yes, if they were still together, I wouldn't stand a chance, but now I do. I am grateful they broke up. She doesn't love him the way I do. I'm gonna make sure I enjoy every minute of my time with him for however long."
"You afraid Lissa will change her mind about him and try to get him back?" Sudanie asked, her eyebrows raised.
"There's always the possibility," Dana replied softly, "but I won't let him go without a fight." Her eyes boring into Sudanie.
"Girl, don't look at me," Sudanie said her hands raised palms up. "I don't want your man!"
Good," Dana said simply. "He's mine." Sudanie rolled her eyes and huffed. "Oh please. I don't want him. He's been too many 'places' for my liking," she said feeling indignant.
Dana threw the crumpled wipe and toilet paper in the bin by the door, then turned to the sink and washed her hands. She dried them with a paper towel and walked back to the door. "Nothing wrong with a man having a little experience," she said looking back, smiling. Sudanie was about to say something but decided against it.
Dana dropped the crumpled paper in the bin. "We're on traffic duty today again, right?" she asked.
Sudanie nodded. "Right," she answered.
"Coming?' Dana asked.
"Be a minute. Gonna pee," Sudanie replied. Dana nodded. "Don't take long," she responded, then left the room.
Sudanie turned to the bathroom stalls.
"You heard her?" Sudanie said to the silence.
"How did you know I was in here?" Lissa asked.
"The lavender scent is distinct. I have a feeling Dana knew you were in here too. Which was why she said what she did about fighting for her man."
Lissa flushed the toilet, pulled back the lock on the bathroom stall and stepped towards a faucet. She pumped some liquid soap from the receptacle mounted on the wall and turned on the faucet. Lathering her hands, she thought about what Dana said. She rinsed her hands thoroughly.
Shane passed out? He had a panic attack? She sighed. I feel sorry about everything, but I don't want him back.
Lissa looked at herself in the mirror. "I heard her," she said with a sigh.
"And you're with Stewart now?" Sudanie asked.
Lissa nodded. "Yes, I am. Mhm."
"Are you sure that's what you want?" Sudanie asked.
Lissa stared at herself in the mirror. "Yes, that's what I want," she said. She turned off the faucet and looked at Sudanie. "Ryan is very gentle with me. I trust him and I think I'm falling for him," she told her friend.
"I hope you know what you're doing," Sudanie said, her mouth twisting into a frown.
"Me too," Lissa said with a soft sigh. Me too.
"We'll keep this between us," Sudanie told her. Lissa nodded. "For both you and Ryan's careers until the dust clears, you guys have got to be careful."
Lissa nodded again. "Agreed," she said, thinking of what Supe Dacres told her. "What about Shane's career?" she asked curious.
Sudanie shook her head. "High Command have accepted his resignation. Yeah, I know about that," Sudanie said when she saw Lissa's reaction.
"Supe Dacres was trying to hide it but High Command got a hold of the document. And now anyone associated with Sarge will be under scrutiny. As for Dana, she can take care of herself, but I don't think you should cross her. She's a little crazy if you ask me."
Lissa sighed.
"Mhm. Yup," Sudanie said in whisper.
***
Dana listened to Sudanie and Lissa's conversation. She knew Sudanie was lying to her. She could smell Lissa's perfume in the bathroom. And when she looked at herself in the mirror she saw a pair of shoes in view. The stall doors did not go all the way down to the floor.
So Lissa was with Ryan just like Shane said. And High Command accepted his resignation which meant they could treat him as a civilian and show him no mercy. She needed to let him know. She too needed to be very careful from now on. She was transitioning into a nursing career but she wanted no blot on her current career.
She heard footsteps coming towards the door and moved away quickly to sit at her desk. She waited for the ladies to emerge. She knew she heard Lissa's voice but she did not come out of the bathroom. Dana laughed softly. So we're playing cat and mouse games now? she thought amused. "Okay, I'll catch you another time," she quipped under her breath. She smiled sweetly at Constable Walker.
"Ready?" she asked her.
Sudanie nodded. She looked pale. "Ready," she answered.
Dana grabbed her work bag. "Let's go," she said, "I'll drive."
Sudanie nodded. Dana smiled at her and walked through the front door of the police station.
***
When Shane got home his brother was waiting for him. He parked his vehicle and removed his duffle bag from the car trunk, locked the vehicle, then armed it. Walking leisurely over to his brother's car, he smiled at his sibling. "I'm not even gonna ask how you knew I would be back today," he said.
Shaun looked up at his twin and smiled. "Your better half remember," he replied. He pulled his car door and stepped outside. He locked the car door and immediately armed his vehicle. Shane noticed the black shopping bag his brother was carrying, but made no comment.
Shane walked towards his apartment building. Shaun kept pace with him. "You come to cuss me out some more?" Shane asked. Shaun shook his head, then chuckled. "No," he said, "I came to make peace and to tell you that dad will be discharged tomorrow." Shane entered the elevator followed by Shaun. "That's good news," Shane said smiling.
They were the only ones inside. Shaun turned to his brother and said, "You know I care about you. You are a part of me, remember?" He put his hand on Shane's shoulder.
Shane snickered. His brother slapped his arm. "You forgive me?" Shaun asked. Shane looked over at him. "That depends," he said eyeing him cheekily.
An amused look appeared on Shaun's face. "Depends on what?" he asked.
"What kind of peace offering did you bring me?" Shane asked smiling.
Shaun gave an exaggerated sigh, then said, "Fine! I brought you Island Grill." He reached into the bag and handed a box to him.
Shane's face lit up. "You know me so well," he quipped. He nodded and brought the box up to his nose to inhale the spicy aroma of the food. "Yes, I forgive you," he answered, smiling. "You bought for yourself too right? You know I don't share."
Shaun chuckled. "Mi know!" he replied, laughing. Both men exited the elevator and walked to Shane's door. He opened it and they walked inside. Shane placed his car keys on a nail near the front door. "You had a good time with Dana?" Shaun asked.
Shane nodded. He bent down and took off his shoes but kept on his socks. He left his duffle bag by the door, he would unpack later. He was hungry, he couldn't wait to dig in. The croissant was delicious but it couldn't satisfy a high metabolism like his.
He figured by an hour or two from now Dana would be feeling hungry also. He promised he would cook for her before taking her home, or maybe he would allow her to stay over. He was thinking about it. Holding her in his arms while he slept was becoming his favorite thing to do. He lost control earlier but he would behave from now on. Maybe not a good idea to have her stay over, he mused. He would see how things went later.
He walked into the bathroom and washed his hands. When he returned his brother was already eating. He chuckled. "Yuh couldn't wait eeh?" Shane asked.
Shaun bit into the jerk chicken breast, then laughed. "Yuh know how long mi a wait pon yuh?! I had almost given up that you would show up today!" he said.
"How long have you been waiting?" Shane asked surprised.
"From 6:00 o'clock, then I decided to go get some food around 8."
Shane grinned at him. "Sorry, I was busy at that time.
"Really?" Shaun asked eyebrows raised. "Doing what?"
"If you're gonna get all preachy I won't tell you," Shane said.
Shaun sighed. "Okay. What's going on in the love life of my brother now? The soap opera is amusing."
Shane laughed. He picked up his box from the counter and opened it. He got a leg, a breast and three pieces of festival. Nice! he thought to himself. "Anything to drink?" he asked.
Shaun took out a Cran Wata from the shopping bag and threw it at him. Shane caught it while laughing.
"Well, my restless brother, what have you been up to?" Shaun asked.
Shane told him of his time with Dana at the villa, but held back on the more intimate moments with her. He also told him about his conversation with Richard, the restaurant owner. To that Shaun's eyes flew wide open. He vaguely disclosed his encounter with Dana in his car, and watched with amusement as Shaun lifted both hands to his head in disbelief.
"You take serious risks!" Shaun declared. When he saw his brother's raised eyebrow, he hurriedly continued, "Mi nah judge. I'm not judging, but I'm just saying, you are taking some serious risks. Suppose someone had seen and interrupted y'all, or worst yet videod what you guys were doing?"
Shane chuckled. "Well thank God no one did," he said amused.
"Thank God!" Shaun said. "But be careful."
Shane nodded. "I will," he said, feeling a little regretful. He would protect her better.
"You really like her, uh?" Shaun asked.
Shane nodded. "Yes, I do. I would say I love her," he answered
"How do you know?" Shaun asked curious.
"She shows me a love I've never felt before. She's so open with me. She makes me want to be better for her. When I'm with her it's all about her and making her happy. Bro, she says she wants to have kids with me. You know how much I've wanted children."
With eyebrows raised, Shaun listened to his sibling. Dana did seem like a nice girl. He remembered Kerry had once said if Shane wasn't so caught up with revenge, he would see the potential blessing standing right in front of him. She was talking about Dana.
"And Lissa?" Shaun asked sobering.
"I spoke with her. We've worked out our differences to an extent. I'm going to go to the next doctor's appointment," Shane told his brother.
Shaun nodded. "Sounds good." He looked at his twin and asked, "And you're sure it's done between you two?"
Shane nodded. "It's done at least for me. As sure as the sun rises and sets it's done. She doesn't want it either, and I'm okay with that."
"And if she wants to come back?" Shaun asked, his brow furrowed.
"If she comes back she will find a different Shane," Shane answered. "I've moved on." Speaking of moving on, he needed to make a phone call to sort out Dana's shift swap with Corporal Jackson.
"What I'm building with Dana is better. I want to build a family with her, and of course including my twins from Lissa. But I want to leave something behind, a kind of legacy if you will, and Dana is showing me she's down for that. I won't trade that for anything in this world," Shane asserted. He tore into his chicken leg.
Shaun bit into his boiled corn. He did like Dana. He hoped what his brother said was true.
***
He called her at 5:30 p.m. to confirm that she would be available for their dinner date at his house later. He had pulled a few strings for her with a friend from HR which allowed her to work nights for only one weekend for the swap she did with Corporal Jackson. Dana was speechless. "How?" she asked in shock.
"Let's just say I have friends in high places," he answered laughing softly.
"She has her niece's graduation coming up, that is the critical date. That's next week," she told him.
"Okay, you can decide to work that weekend then. We can switch it around where someone else works this weekend and you work that weekend on her behalf like you promised," he explained.
Dana sent kisses over the phone line to him. "Thank you! Thank you so much baby!" she beamed.
"You're welcome," he said chuckling. "But I also have selfish reasons." His voice dipped to a seductive timbre.
"Oh?" Dana asked, feeling her loins clench. "What's that?"
"I wanna spend time with you," he said simply. His voice was raspy with desire.
Dana blushed. "I miss you already."
"Me too," he replied softly. "We on for later?" he asked.
"You planning on ravishing me?" she teased. She wished he would.
Shane chuckled. The sound was deep and sensuous. "Believe me I want to really bad. But Imma behave tonight."
"Yes, I'll see you later," she said. Her voice was mellow and inviting to his ears. Shane couldn't wait to see her.
Later, in the evening, he picked her up at 7:15 at the spot he dropped her off in the morning. He took her to his apartment, and cooked fricasee chicken with plain rice. He made lemonade mixed in with some cool aid for them to drink.
After they ate dinner, they washed dishes together at Dana's insistence. She freshened up a little in his bathroom. He cuddled with her in the bed and kissed her brow at different intervals during their cuddle time. Dana felt very aroused by his body wrapped around her. She closed her eyes enjoying the sweet torture. "Hmm, Shane I wish you were inside me," she said her voice husky with desire.
He squeezed her tightly and grunted, "Mmh." He turned her around so that her bottom was resting on his hard arousal. "I want that too," he told her. She took a deep breath and made herself comfortable. She couldn't have him tonight, but she would bask in the closeness of his body.
She decided to think of her time with him at the villa and felt very content. She closed her eyes and realized she was sleepy. She wasn't going home tonight. She was wearing the same bra from that morning, but had changed her panties. She also lay in bed wearing an undershirt, but had taken off her work shirt, pants and boots. Shane was wearing sweat pants and a t-shirt. Scooting back on him so he could wrap his arms more securely around her, she took a deep breath and caused her mind to go blank. With a faint smile on her face she drifted into sleep.
Shane heard her steady breathing and lifted himself slightly to peek over to see her face. She had fallen asleep. He chuckled softly. He lifted himself slightly and pulled the sheets up around them. He circled his right arm around her again and closed his eyes. Within minutes he too was fast asleep.
***
Wednesday
Shauna stepped through the doors of the headquarters of the JCB Bank's Investment Banking Division, located in New Kingston. She barely had time to change from her school attire of blue jeans and a white t-shirt into a black formal skirt, a demure blue tank top and black jacket, and black pumps. She sleeked her hair back with Eco Styler gel and water. She was nervous about it but in the end decided to apply a dab of midnight blue eye shadow and a wee bit of her glossy fuschia coloured lip balm.
She hoped she looked confident. She was very nervous. She walked up to reception and smiled politely to the young woman seated there. She quickly glanced at her watch. It was five minutes to one o'clock.
"Good afternoon," she said. "My name is Shauna Mason, the new Intern for Mr Derrick Smith. I received a text message this morning that told me to meet him here," she said trying to sound calm and professional, but inside her nerves were frazzled.
The young woman looked at her for a good minute, observing her hair and clothing. She then nodded but did not smile. "Mr. Smith is expecting you," she said. She got up from the desk. Please follow me." She walked off briskly and Shauna made sure to match her pace. She led her to the elevator and gestured for Shauna to step inside. Shauna smiled politely and stepped into the elevator.
"Click on floor 3, as the elevator opens go straight ahead of you to a large glass door. Tell the person at reception why you're there," the young woman said. Shauna smiled and nodded. "Thank you," she said. The woman nodded and walked back to her desk. Shauna selected the 3rd floor and sighed as the door closed.
She hadn't had a decent breakfast this morning, just a cup of Milo tea and two slices of bread with butter. For lunch she drank some orange juice and her friend Anastasia bought her a patty. Her aunt promised that she would bring over some food for her and her dad and younger siblings. Her big sister had just gotten a job so she couldn't contribute anything yet.
As the doors opened quietly she came face to face with a young man who was nicely dressed in a grey suit, baby blue shirt and grey tie. He was wearing nicely polished black shoes. He looked at her, his eyes perusing her face then chest and was moving lower when she cleared her throat.
"Excuse me," she said, "can you show me to Mr Smith's office."
The young man smiled politely. "You are?" he asked.
Shauna adjusted the bag on her right shoulder. "I am the new Intern," she replied. It seemed as though his face lit up with her response.
"This way," he said, walking down the hall. Shauna followed him. He stopped before a large, round reception desk with another young man sitting behind it. "Gary," the young man said.
Gary looked up from a stack of papers and smiled at the young man who led her there. "Marsul, good morning." Gary looked at Shauna. "Good morning," he said, his smile widening. "how may I help you?" he asked.
Marsul chuckled. "She's the new Intern for your boss," Marsul said his voice holding an air of sarcasm.
"Ohh ..." Gary answered. He looked Shauna up and down. "Alright Marsul thank you for taking good care of her. I'll take it from here."
Marsul snorted, a faint smile graced his lips. He turned to Shauna and said, "If you need help adjusting, or you have any questions let me know. I work on this floor. My office is further down the hall, turn left and walk straight down," he said smiling at her.
Shauna smiled at him politely. "Thank you," she said. He nodded and walked back to the elevator. She watched him step inside and the doors close on him. She turned to Gary who had a strange look on his face. He stood up and walked towards his boss's glass doors. He lifted his right hand to knock then paused in midair. He turned to look at her.
"A bit of advice, Marsul Walker is a playboy who never takes any of his conquests seriously. Don't fall for his charm. It's not worth it, and if your Internship means a lot to you will avoid him like the plague."
"I'm here to gain work experience, not for a boyfriend," Shauna said.
Gary nodded. "Good. For your sake stay away from him if you want to be in Mr Smith's good graces. I'm Gary Palmer by the way. Your name?"
"Shauna Mason," she replied.
Gary nodded. He knocked on the door. They both heard the word, "Come", from the other side of the door. Gary squeezed and turned the handle. He entered the room first and stepped aside so Shauna could walk in behind him. "Your Intern, Ms Shauna Mason, sir." Gary said, his voice was cool, but very professional.
Derrick looked up from his desktop. He nodded. Gary nodded and left the room, closing the door quietly behind him. Derrick looked down at his paper work. "Come here and have a seat Ms Mason," Derrick said.
Shauna stepped forward. She sat in one of two chairs before him. He looked up at her briefly, then returned his gaze to the documents on his desk. "Closer Ms Mason," he said. His voice not allowing for protest. Shauna suppressed a sigh and stood up to pull the chair closer. Derrick got up, moved forward and picked up the chair. He placed it beside his on his right side and sat down.
"Sit down," he said tersely.
Shauna sat beside him. He was wearing a cream coloured formal shirt, blue tie and dark blue trousers. He wore nicely, polished black shoes; grey socks peeked out above the lace of his shoes. The shirt accentuated the squareness of his broad shoulders. She felt like a grass hopper in comparison to a bird when she compared herself to him.
He took a file jacket with papers stapled together. "Proofread these like you did on Monday and make your notes as before. You have an hour to go through it," he told her. Taking the file from him, she nodded. He turned his attention to reading again.
Shauna took out her sharpened pencil. Somehow she had a feeling she would need it. She was glad she came prepared. Taking a deep breath and releasing it slowly she began to read.
After an hour had passed, Derrick stretched. He had gone through half his stack of papers. She was impressed. She had fifty pages left of the two hundred page document he had given her. He looked over at her.
"Done?" he asked. She shook her head. "No," she said.
He looked at his watch. It was 2:20 p.m. "Are you hungry?' he asked her. He placed his read files in a desk drawer on his right. She looked up at him. "How many pages do you have left to read?" he asked.
"Fifty pages," she said feeling not so confident. He smiled at her. "Did you understand the jargon used?'" he asked smiling.
"For the most part," she answered, nodding her head, "though a few I was unfamiliar with." He nodded. "Okay, we can go through them on our lunch break," he replied.
"Oh, I already ate," she lied.
"Is that right?" he asked, right eyebrow raised above the other.
She sighed. "Well no, I haven't," she confessed, "but I am fine."
"Do you like fish or chicken more Ms Mason?" Derrick asked.
"I ..."
"Fish or chicken Ms Mason?" His voice softened as he turned his body to her.
"I like both," she said, but when she saw the way he looked at her with a disapproving stare, she felt like a naughty child. "I prefer fish," she said quietly. He nodded. He took out his cellphone and dialed a number. He ordered roasted chicken, stir fry veggies and fried rice for himself.
"What kind of fish: roasted, fried or steamed?" he asked.
"I can't afford any of that," she said, lowering her eyes to the floor.
"The rep is waiting for your answer Ms Mason," he said.
"I said I can't ..."
"Ms Mason," he said in an exasperated tone. "Neither the rep or I have time for you feeling sorry for yourself. I already know you can't pay. Lunch is on me. So what do you want?"
She cleared her throat then said, "I ..." She saw his impatient stare and spoke up. "Um ... Roasted fish, raw veggies and a side of rice.
He still held the phone to his ear. "Plain rice, pumpkin, fried rice or rice and peas?" he asked
"Pumpkin rice," she replied. She listened as he gave the rep on the line her order and repeated everything to confirm. "Yes, paying via debit card." She heard him say. He hung up.
"One thing you need to develop is knowing what you want for yourself and having the confidence to say it plainly, and boldly," he chastised her. He put his cellphone back in his trousers' pocket.
"I didn't know you would offer to pay for lunch," she said feeling slightly irritated.
"Okay, but after I made it clear you still faltered in making a decision," he said looking at her outfit. She looks good today, he thought. He noticed the hint of make up and zoned in on her eyes. The shade made her eyes look mysterious.
"I'm not used to that. I've never asked a man to pay for me, much less my boss. I think this is inappropriate," she replied haughtily. When she saw his nostrils flare she regretted her tone, but she felt awkward around him.
"Firstly, I felt like being generous. Don't expect me to do this for you every time you're here. Secondly, you're just an Intern. I'm not your boss yet, but I will act professionally around you as expected. Also, just because a man offers a helping hand does not mean he wants something sexual from you."
"I never said you--"
"Please read the remaining pages while we wait for our lunches," he said. His voice was quite sharp. Shauna sighed. With shoulders hunched, she picked up the document she had been reading and went back to work. He stood up. "I'll be back," he said bluntly, then left the room.
***
Derrick returned fifteen minutes later with their boxed lunches. He sat down and handed her lunch to her. "Thank you," she said. He did not look at her. She cleared her throat. "Sir?" she said quietly. Derrick opened his boxed food lid, unwrapped the paper napkin off the plastic fork and started eating. His food smelt delicious.
"Sir?" she queried.
"Yes Ms Mason?" Derrick answered, but he didn't look at her.
"I-I ... thank you for buying me lunch," she said.
Derrick stopped mid-chew and looked at her. He nodded at her. She ventured to elaborate. She didn't want him to dislike her. "I've never had someone offer to pay anything for me before," she said. Derrick released a soft breath. "My family is all I know, really," she elaborated. He leaned back in his chair and assessed her.
"Please call me Mr. Smith," he said. "You've never had a boyfriend?" he asked.
She looked at the disposable box in her lap and shook her head. "No, I've never had any kind of relationship like that," she said her cheeks slightly flushed.
"Never?" he asked, surprised. He looked at her face with the interesting shade of blue, and those soft lips in a shade that was quite alluring.
"No," she said shaking her head.
"Okay, Ms Mason," he said, "my intention was just to be generous, nothing more. I assure you. Your story about your family reminded me of my own upbringing."
With eyebrows raised she looked at him. Seeing her expression he chuckled. "Why that look?" he asked amused. She shook her head, a slight smile forming on her lips. He smiled at her. "Well?"
"You're so polished. Y-You don't look like you've been through anything bad or any struggle," she said shyly.
He laughed softly. "I grew up in Clarendon to parents who had five kids. We had two beds. My parents slept on one and all five of us slept on the other. Board floors, pit latrine, the works--no real kitchen, no living room and so on." He pulled the cuffs of his shirt sleeves and neatly rolled them up. He reached up, loosened his tie and pulled the top button of his tailored shirt.
Shauna watched what he was doing, observing the strong muscles of his forearms, and his thick collar bones showing through the top of the shirt. She swallowed hard. She looked down at her boxed lunch and opened the lid. She began eating.
"I've had a hard life," he continued, "but I am grateful for all the blessings I've received thus far. I've had mentors who helped me." He began eating again. Shauna looked at him sideways and smiled. "I worked very hard to get to where I am Ms Mason. What I am offering you is an opportunity to learn from me. I've been there and done that, and I understand the struggle. I actually want to help you," he told her.
She looked at him, her eyes wide.
His smile broadened. "I want to be your mentor, if you'll let me."
She nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, of course. I would like that," she said.
"Okay," he said, "so from now on if I offer to help you, take the help."
She nodded. "I will. Thank you," she said smiling. Not thinking of what she was doing, her hand brushed on his right thigh in excitement. Her eyes became large when she realized she may have jeopardized her internship. She moved her hand quickly, turning her head away. "I'm ... I'm very sorry. I didn't mean to," she said. Though her contact with his thigh was brief, she did feel hard muscle beneath his nicely tailored pants. She blushed, feeling very awkward.
"Ms Mason," he said. He felt that tingling again. "Shauna." Derrick softened his voice. He was surprised by what she did, but he wasn't offended. She turned towards him.
He smiled at her. "It's fine," he said softly. "We can bypass that little gesture, okay?"
She nodded.
"Don't worry about it."
Shauna smiled. "Thank you," she answered feeling relieved.
He nodded.
"You've never had a boyfriend?" he asked, his eyes resting on her lips. That beautiful pink-like colour kept drawing his gaze to them. She shook her head. "No," she said.
He couldn't believe he was asking this, but: "Ever been kissed?" he asked. She blushed. "Not really, no," she said quietly. The next thought in his mind would be the only natural conclusion, but he wouldn't embarrass her by asking.
He cleared his throat. He was more curious about her than he should be. "Okay," he said, his lips curling into a broad smile. "Let's eat and then get back to work. We can also discuss anything you have questions about."
Shauna nodded. "Okay," she said. He turned his body towards her and began eating again. His broad shoulders seemed to have relaxed a little. She picked up her lunch box and began eating. She was ravenous.
Derrick observed how she was eating, but said nothing. He continued digging into his lunch, watching her; his thoughts going back to what she said about her family. He wanted to know more about her.
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