Romancing the Goddess 2 (working title)
an excerpt

Mary sat with her legs crossed in the chair across the desk from her boss. He looked at her with his hands together as if in prayer before his lips and his light eyes betrayed nothing. It was their first meeting since he had started in the office. She had never been so close to him, they met only in passing. His presence filled the room and there was something very predatory about the way he looked in his suit. He was a large man, tall, broad. His was bald by choice and his dark hair was beginning to grow back, a light dusting of stubble colored his skull. Mary rubbed her hands together and pulled at the edge of her skirt, avoiding his gaze. Finally his full lips parted and he spoke.
“Mary, do you know why I called you in here?”
She shook her head slowly. There had been no warning, just a note on her desk informing her that he wanted to see her. All she could think that this is not what she needed after three weeks of strange dreams and mostly sleepless nights. She had a feeling that he didn’t care for her very much.
“You’re not very vocal, are you? I haven’t been her long but I don’t think I’ve seen you speak more than five words to anyone in the office.”
Looking down at her tightly clasped hands against her pink skirt she answered him softly, “No, sir. I don’t talk much.”
“Is there a problem, Mary? Do you not get a long with your coworkers? If there is a problem in my office I need to know about it. If there is something going on then we can work together to resolve it.”
“No sir, there’s not a problem in the office. I’m just quiet,” she felt tears welling up behind her eyes and fought them down. “Sir, is there a problem with my work? If there is I would very much like to know so that I can correct it. If you just give me a chance. . .” she trailed off her voice barely above a whisper.
“Please, Mary, call me Aaron,” he said coming around the desk to stand in front of her. Unexpectedly he knelled in front of her and pushed her chin up so that she was looking into his eyes. They were a light hazel. Surprised Mary pulled back, shocked at the electric pulse that seemed to run down her body from his brief touch. She was worried that he would be offended but he just smiled. “That’s better. I hope you don’t think it to forward but I cannot stand talking to people who don’t look at me.” He stood up and walked back around the desk to resume his position in his chair. “Your work is great, you’re the best receptionist this place has ever had according to your coworkers and your annual reviews. It’s not your work that’s the problem, it’s your job.”