There’s Someone in My Bed

TINA

I woke up feeling like some weight had been dropped from my body. For some weird reason, a smile appeared on my face. Yesterday was really something. From nearly being assaulted by some drunk perverts to being rescued by Alejandro—it was one hell of a twist. And I couldn’t help but think about what it had felt like when he’d caressed my cheek and touched my hair. And he’d said he liked me, or at least that he didn’t dislike me. It made me feel like a teenager.

I tried to stand up and then discovered an arm around me. There was someone in my bed? A gasp escaped my lips as I turned around.

Then I saw Kelly’s sleeping face. Her mouth was wide open, and her hair was a hornets’ nest.

“Holy shit!” I exclaimed. I’d forgotten she’d stayed over.

Her eyes fluttered open. She squinted at me a bit and then went back to sleep. It didn’t register to her until seconds later. Her eyes flew wide open.

“What the fuck!” she cried, immediately jumping out of my bed with surprising agility. Her actions exposed more of her nude body to me.

I couldn’t help admiring and yet being envious of her shape. I took in her wide hips, large breasts, and rather flat stomach. She was shaven, and her thighs were quite smooth.

I couldn’t help but wonder how she managed to drink so much booze and yet managed to have a trim and smooth stomach. Heaven knows if that was the case with me, I would be rivaling middle-aged dads with beer bellies. The sunlight making her body glow didn’t help matters.

I never thought I’d be interested in a woman, but before yesterday, I hadn’t thought I would feel something for Alejandro. What else was going to happen to me?

“What the hell happened?” She snapped out of my gaze. I felt embarrassed and hoped I wasn’t caught staring. It would be more embarrassing than the situation we already found ourselves in. “Tina, how did I get here?”

“You don’t remember clubbing and getting wasted?” I folded my hands and deadpanned at her. She scratched her head and stared into space. Honestly, how the hell was I friends with this woman? We had nothing in common except for work.

“Oh, that’s right.” She smiled sheepishly, and I rolled my eyes.

Her eyes scanned her nude body, then gave me an accusatory glance.

“What is it this time?” I folded my arms.

“My clothes,” she said. “Did you—”

“Of course not!” I snapped, knowing what she was implying. “Jesus, Kelly, I’m not pitching for the other team, despite my terrible luck with men. I took off your clothes because I didn’t want you to catch a cold. Sorry, I was being considerate.”

She caught the bitter, sarcastic tone to my last sentence and faltered.

“Sorry about that.” She rubbed the back of her neck. “It’s just that I’ve never been wasted before.”

“No kidding,” I thought dryly.

“Well, there’s a first time for everything,” I replied. I looked at the clock and groaned. In all the excitement of last night, I’d forgotten to set an alarm. “We have to get going!”

“Damn it, we’re already late.”

“Oh my gosh, we need to get going.” She paced frantically. “I need to go home and get new clothes. And my place is miles away from here. But if I can take the risk—”

“Not a chance.” I stopped her. “You’ll be more than an hour late if you do that.”

I nodded to my closet. “You can try some of my office clothes.”

Kelly stared at my closet as if it were a strange apparition, then she turned her gaze to me and her lips pursed.

“No offense, Tina, but I don’t think they will fit,” she said.

“Why not?”

She grinned as her eyes landed on my lower nude half. “Your skirt may be too wide for me.”

“Ha ha, real funny.” I rolled my eyes as I walked past her. “Get your ass in the shower, quick. We’re late as it is, and that is enough worry for me. I don’t need the worry of listening to your butt jokes.”

I shoved her gently toward the bathroom.

“We’re not taking a shower together, are we?” She gave me an amused grin.

“Just get in the bathroom!”

Thirty minutes later, we made our way to the office. It was busy, and everyone was running around as if they’d been there for hours already. I felt like they were rubbing our tardiness in our faces.

I inwardly groaned. This was a blemish on the perfect record I wanted to create in my new workplace, especially after I’d been warned that the last person who’d had my job was let go for being late.

We made our way to our seats, but before our tired backsides could caress them, we saw Alejandro come out of the elevator and make his way toward us. My heart lurched as I saw those green eyes reminding me of last night. Today those eyes looked cold and a bit angry as he walked toward us.

“You’re late.” His voice sounded edgy as he stood before us. “I was looking for you. I needed that presentation you were working on.”

“It was my fault, sir.” Kelly stood up. “I held Tina back.”

“I’m well aware of that,” he replied.

Mildly surprised, Kelly gave me a discreet side glance that was questioning.

My eyes gave her a subtle message: ~I’ll explain later.~

She glanced back to Alejandro’s steely gaze. I saw it coming. I saw it in those eyes, and I knew he wanted to do one thing—fire her.

“Wait, sir.” I stepped in. “It was both our fault. We overslept. It won’t happen again. Please.”

I saw him falter a bit. He looked indecisive. Kelly was still shaking. This was a first. I knew Alejandro was a powerful billionaire, but for him to make the feisty and strong-willed Kelly cower was a sight to behold.

“All right,” he said. “Let this not repeat itself. Just get me that PowerPoint.”

Kelly’s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. She looked at me, and I managed a small shrug with an equally small grin.

“Of course, sir,” I said.

He turned and walked briskly into his office. Kelly let out the huge breath she was holding for ages as she plopped into her seat.

“Jesus,” she muttered under her breath. “I thought I was a goner for sure. Something must have gotten into him. This is someone who has fired more than a dozen workers in one month.”

I didn’t reply. She turned to face me and gave me a suspicious gaze.

“And you,” she said. “You have some explaining to do.”

“I know, Kelly,” I sighed as I switched on my system. “I know.” I decided I’d just email him the presentation he wanted, so I wouldn’t have to see him for a while.

***

Hours later, after lunch, I made my way to Alejandro’s office. It wasn’t an easy feat as I had to avoid Kelly’s wandering eyes. She was onto me after I had explained the details of last night to her. Luckily, it only took one moment of distraction to get her off my back.

I sucked in my breath and knocked on the door.

“Come in,” Alejandro said from the other side.

I opened the door and stepped in. Alejandro had his eyes on the system as usual.

“I was expecting you,” he said, his eyes still on the system. “Is this going to be a regular habit?”

I saw the ghost of a smile on his lips, and I knew I was safe.

“Probably,” I replied as I approached his desk. I took in the circles under his eyes.

“You didn’t have much sleep,” I said.

“It’s difficult to do so when you’re trying to keep the company on top,” he replied.

The stress was back in his face.

“Thanks for not firing Kelly,” I said. “She’s the closest thing to a sister I have in this company.”

His eyebrows furrowed. “As much as I understand your empathy, keep in mind that a job should not be trifled with. Many people nowadays don’t get the privilege you ladies have had today. Don’t expect it to happen again.”

“I understand,” I replied.

He studied me for a while, and then his face softened. I saw the brightness come back to those green eyes as he regarded me. It was as if he’d taken his guard down and was letting me see him. I felt like melting on the spot. Out of the blue, he dropped an unexpected question.

“Are you free this weekend?”

“Come again?” I nearly lost my balance.

“I asked if you’re free this weekend.”

I looked around the office to be sure I wasn’t being pranked somehow. I stared back at him.

Now he was the one who seemed confused.

“Yeah,” I replied, my voice coming out in a tiny squeak. “Why?”

I saw his eyes shift to the laptop, then to Sebastian, then back to me. He was contemplating something but seemed hesitant.

“Is there a problem?” I pressed.

The tension was killing me more than the tight heels I wore. Kelly was right. I was definitely gaining weight.

“I want us to have lunch together.” His face had gone flat. That stoicism he used in interviews was back. But now I knew what it was—he was feeling vulnerable and trying to hide it.

I think my heart must have stopped beating at that moment.