Chapter Twelve
The mattress was lusciously soft beneath me. My head rested on a plush, feather pillow. I was completely and utterly comfortable. Well, I was until a heavy, warm arm slung around my waist.
I screamed, bolting upright.
Where was I?
The room was dark. Only a faint light came from an alarm clock that read 3:46.
“What’s wrong?” A deep, urgent voice called from beside me.
Eyes wide, I turned to my side. There, laying next to me shirtless, was Chance Burke.
I screamed again.
“What is it?” This time, he really sounded alarmed.
Lightning fast, he gathered me into his arms and pulled me to his bare chest. Anxiously, his fingers ran through my hair.
“Are you hurt? Did you have a nightmare? Tell me what’s wrong.”
“Where am I?” I whispered, my voice weak.
“My apartment.”
My heart sank. I became very conscious of the fact that I was not wearing the same clothes I’d been in earlier.
Instead, I was in a black t-shirt that I assumed was Chance’s judging by the scent of his cologne that lingered on the fabric. The only other item I wore were my black panties. I pulled the sheets around me tighter.
“Will you tell me what’s wrong?” Chance demanded. He reached over and flicked a lamp on. Immediately, harsh light flooded my eyes.
“Why am I here? What happened?”
Suddenly, a horrifying thought plagued me.
“Did we-?” I couldn’t finish the sentence.
Chance, knowing what I was thinking, relaxed and let out a low chuckle.
“If you’re asking if we had sex, then no. You would remember a night with me.”
“Then why did you bring me here?” I questioned further.
“You fell asleep. Instead of going through the hassle of dropping you off at your apartment, I simply brought you here. Besides, my bed gets lonely. I haven’t had any sleepovers lately…” He trailed.
My nose wrinkled in disgust. Something told me that ‘sleepovers’ with Chance Burke didn’t just consist of pillow fights and manicures.
Acting on autopilot, I picked up my pillow and whacked his chest with it. “You’re such a pervert.”
“Hey, they all agree willingly, in fact, they’re quite eager to be my guests. All women find me attractive, well, all woman except you.”
“What gives you that impression?” I asked, unable to hide my curiosity.
“Your hostility. You hated me from day one and that hate has only escalated since you agreed to be my assistant.”
“I don’t hate you, or anyone for the record. I just think you’re an ass.”
Chance smirked. “I’m not going to deny it.”
I rolled my eyes. “Admitting it is the first step.”
“The first step to realizing I’m an asshole? Please, I realized that in kindergarten when I’d hide all the toys from the other kids. The only reason I’m as successful as I am is because of my personality. You have to be frank and unforgiving if you want to be prosperous.”
I yawned.
“I see I’m boring you.”
“I can only endure so much of you in one day,” I grinned.
He scoffed.
I rubbed my eyes. If it wans’t for my fatigue, I would be freaking out at the fact that I was still wrapped in Chance’s arms, pressed against his chest. Through the thin shirt I wore, I could feel every ripple and ridge of his toned abdomen and pecs.
I longed to move my hand and trace my fingers over every inch of his chest. But instead, I ended up falling back asleep in Chance’s embrace.
~
I awoke to the sound of birds chirping and light flooding through the windows. Beneath the sheets, I was warm. Turning to my right, I snuggled deeper into the bed.
I expected to see Chance beside me, sleeping peacefully, bu his side was empty. Instead, my eyes fell on a tray placed on the nightstand next to my head.
Spread out on the tray was a still-steaming omelette, fresh strawberries, and a tall glass of orange juice.
Thirsty, I grabbed the glass, and emptied it contents in one gulp. As I went to grab the cloth napkin to wipe my face, my arms brushed against a sheet of paper. A note.
Written in his lazy, yet neat scrawl was:
Piper,
I hope you slept well. I know I certainly did. Since I had to leave early for an urgent meeting, I won’t be accompanying you to work today. However, I still expect you to go. Feel free to take your time, though. After last night, you deserve a small break.
Your Boss,
Chance Burke.
P.S. You snore. It’s quite cute.
My eyes widened. I didn’t snore! I knew for a fact that I didn’t. Blushing, I re-read the letter once more, than threw it back on the tray.
Glancing at the clock, I saw that it was nearing 10:30. I groaned and plopped back down on the bed, my thoughts muddled with Chance’s letter.
When it was almost eleven, I left the glorious bed.
I located my clothes, which were hanging on the back of the door, and quickly shucked them on. However, my black shoes were nowhere in sight.
Instead, there was a medium-sized box on the floor below my clothes. Cautiously, I opened the box, gasping at what was inside.
It was a pair of sleek, black Christian Louboutins. They had a towering platform heel that reminded me of the switch blade Cooper showed me yesterday.
The sole of the shoes were entirely red, reminding of one of the slutty cocktail dresses I’d tried on yesterday.
Grumbling under my breath, I slipped the heel on, using the wall as support. Surprisingly, they weren’t as uncomfortable as I predicted. They were more or less just a foreign feeling.
The highest heels I’d ever worn were five inches. Kate had forced me to wear them for homecoming.
As soon as we got to the dance though, I'd taken them off and threw them in a dark corner.
Shaking my head at the memory, I grabbed my purse off the floor and left the room.
Like his bedroom, the rest of Chance’s apartment was huge. His floors were a dark wood. All his appliances were sleek and modern, like his furniture. The walls were plain, not giving anything away.
But, when I looked at the far wall, I gasped. It was all windows. I could see the entire New York skyline from his living room.
Chance Burke’s apartment would be a penthouse.
After wandering around for a few more minutes, I found the front door. Without much difficulty, I found the elevator.
As I was waiting for the lift, something buzzed in my purse. Confused, I unzipped my knockoff Micheal Kors bag. My hand reached down and grasped the vibrating object.
It was a phone.
A brand new, white iphone.
Not really knowing how this piece of advanced technology worked, I fiddled around with it until I found the messaging app. I had one new message.
Opening it up, I carefully read:
There’s a driver waiting out front to take you to work.
-Chance
Sure enough, when I exited the elevator on the first floor and went outside, Trevor and his familiar black Escalade were waiting on the curb.
“Miss Mickelson,” he calmly greeted.
I nodded politely in return.
Like always, he went around and opened my door. I climbed in and pulled on my seat belt while Trevor started the car and pulled away from the curb.
Like yesterday, Trevor pulled into Chance’s private parking area. The flashy Audi was there again, but instead of Chance’s Mclaren, there was a black Range Rover parked in the corner.
Instead of taking Chance’s private elevator to the top floor, I opted to take the elevator to the lobby. When the doors opened, the familiar hoard of people surrounded me.
Without much difficulty, I swiped my ID and went through the security procedures. In less than five minutes, I was in the main elevator, slowly making my ascent to the executive floor.
Judy, my floor’s main secretary, greeted me with a smile when the doors opened. No one mentioned the fact that I was late. No doubt Chance had already covered for me.
“Is Chance out of his meeting yet?” I asked.
A surprised look crossed Judy’s face. “I wasn’t aware you knew about Chance’s meeting. But yes, it just ended. He should be in his office.”
I smiled and thanked Judy, before heading towards Chance’s office.
When I reached the imposing mahogany door, I knocked.
Not even a second passed before the door swung open, revealing Chance who was wearing a large grin. When his eyes landed on me, his smile widened even further.
“And finally, she has arrived,” he joked.
He gestured for me to go in.
Brow furrowed at his sudden act of kindness, I hesitantly entered the office and sat down on one of the soft, leather chairs.
“Why are you suddenly acting like Mr. Sunshine?” I asked. Chance never smiled. Let alone grinned like he was now.
“Well, Piper, I just got a call from Cooper. I have a meeting tonight with South America’s most prosperous drug dealer. And, you’re my date.”
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Ohhhh, Cliffhanger!!
Anyway, please vote and comment! I'd love to know what you guys thought of this chapter!
-Katherine