Page 40 of Fallen Roses

James pulls out just in time, his release painting my body in the stickiest of paints, and he growls, “We should really address this problem.”

“It’s fine. I’m on birth control, anyway.”

He pulls away and raises his eyes, causing me to laugh. “I’m also clean, well, usually.”

His cum is making a mockery of that, and I sigh. “Well, I will be after I shower. Thanks though, I could get used to waking up this way.”

“So could I.” He kisses me softly on the lips and it’s as if the whole of me flutters inside. I’m not used to this level of intimacy and now I’ve found it, I’m kind of keen to hang onto it.

Despite everythingthat happened last night, our day is no different. Work takes over and I plow through the list of donors and delve into their lives. It’s become a fun game and builds up a picture of humanity I never cared to study before.

There are the genuine people who want to help. Law abiding, decent human beings who have a social conscience. Some are obviously doing it for bragging rights. Companies who like to see their name on a banner as heroes, which is merely good PR, and several boxes ticked.

Their personal lives are interesting, many living normal lives and then there are the ones I’m most interested in.

The powerful, the rich, and the greedy.

My colleagues work hard and we enjoy an easy atmosphere in the office that I never appreciated before. A camaraderie if you like and when Eric returns from a meeting with James, he stands at the door and says loudly, “Wake up bitches and hail your new boss.”

We glance up as Eric takes a bow and grins. “Yours truly has been promoted, so you better watch out.”

“Wow, congratulations!”

I swear not one person is unhappy about that because Eric is the most likeable guy on the planet and deserves this more than anyone and as we jump up to congratulate him, he appears visibly moved.

“I’m happy for you, Eric.” I say warmly as I hug him and he whispers, “I can’t believe it, Ana. Nothing likethis has ever happened to me. I’m a little anxious, though. I mean, I’ve never been a manager before. What if I suck at it?”

“What if you don’t?”

I smile my encouragement. “Make it yours, Eric. Don’t try to be like David, or anyone, really. Just be yourself and your team will thrive. I believe in you.”

“Thanks, Ana, it means a lot.”

We are so busy we can only manage to send out for coffee by way of celebration, but decide to meet in the bar after work to celebrate properly. Then it’s back to work, which suits me just fine because that’s always where I’m at my most comfortable, anyway.

CHAPTER 22

JAMES

It’s already been a week since I confessed everything to Ana and we have fallen into a relationship of sorts. We work all day and then alternate between our apartments at night. I never realized the power of a relationship before. I guess that’s what this is, although we haven’t put any labels on it. We don’t need to. It’s as natural as breathing and yet I’m aware the clock is ticking down to judgment day.

Ana is making good progress with the information she needs and I’m aware she is feeding it back to her brother in Russia. I don’t ask her too much about it because I realize that one day she will be called back there and I don’t want to dwell on that. If I’m honest, it concerns me a lot. Ana has a business there, an extremely successful one and her family lives there. I’m an American citizen and my future is undecided.

I realize I can’t work here any longer. I must sever allties with The Rose Foundation and Adele Kenricky because it’s toxic and will break me in the end.

My heart sinks as the sand nears the bottom of the timer, because tomorrow is the day I devote to Adele. The last Saturday in the month is hers.

In a fucked up way I used to look forward to it. It was a cleansing of my demons that I needed so badly. Since Ana, those demons were unleashed and no longer hold the same influence over me. If anything, I have more power now and I know what I must do.

“You’re quiet tonight.”

Ana is sitting opposite me in an Italian restaurant, our usual arrangement after a long day at the office. We’ve ended up in the habit of grabbing a meal on the way home and then spending our evenings in bed.

“I have a lot on my mind.” I sip the wine and note the curiosity in her beautiful eyes, and set the glass down with a sigh.

“I should tell you, I’m busy tomorrow.”

Her eyes widen and my voice is laced with derision as I hiss, “I’m meeting Adele.”

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