Page 10 of Knocked Up By the Silver Fox

"Yeah, of course not." I felt my happiness shriveling up now as he apologized. Did this mean he wasn't really attracted to me, or that he just really understood how big of a mess it could cause? Or maybe he was having second thoughts because I was so much younger than him, impressionable too maybe.

"I just think it's best if we try not to blur the lines between the professional and personal boundaries we should have here. I crossed that line because of my own lack of self-control, and I shouldn't have. I'm sorry."

I looked him in the eye and I knew he was right, but it hurt. I kept the calm expression plastered to my face like a good professional would, but inside I was sad. It felt so good to think someone liked me, and I hated that the thing I loved and was confident about was the thing standing between us. If I didn't work here, I knew it would be different, but I loved this job and I loved being an analyst.

"I completely understand." I nodded at him, and I knew it was the right thing, but it didn't mean I had to like it. "I'll get your report for you and be right back."

"Oh, and Beth?"

"Yes, Mr. Caldwell?" I paused and waited for him to speak, but I wished I could run out of the room and just let the shame eat me alive.

"I want you to sit in on this meeting with me. You know this project inside and out and I feel like the client may have questions for you." He stood and picked up his coffee, and I nodded.

"Of course, sir." I turned and walked out of his office feeling rejected and defeated, but at least I still had my job.

And now whoever was sending me those stupid emails could just buzz off. There was nothing between Mr. Caldwell and me and there never would be.

8

WILL

Moments before my scheduled 8 a.m. meeting, my clients called to reschedule. It frustrated me, but things like that happened from time to time. Ms. Reid was kind enough to indulge me when I told her they wanted to meet at 4 p.m. and I requested that she stay to join us. It was a huge deal for the company, and we'd worked so hard on the numbers over the past week or so. I felt like having her present, so the potential client could see how capable we were.

Now we sat across from Gerard Thomas at the table in my office as he looked over the report she'd put together. Allen, my COO and good friend, sat to my right and Ms. Reid sat to my left. We'd been in discussion with Mr. Thomas for months, and it finally came down to this meeting. All I needed was a one-year contract from him to show him what my firm could do for him and his investments, and I felt like we were moments away from sealing the deal.

"This is really well put together," Gerard said thoughtfully and he looked up at Elizabeth. "You are sure these numbers are correct?" His eyebrows rose as Elizabeth sat up straighter.

"I've done the extensive research myself along with my team. We've checked and double-checked. Our projections show that in twelve months, your numbers will increase by 30 percent. Stick with it long enough and you'll see more than double the increase. All you have to do is trust our team." She folded her hands over her knee and gazed at him intently. It was a power move I'd done myself before, and it was hot. She looked so confident, and I felt even more confident in her ability to deliver.

"I must say, William, I'm impressed." Gerard closed the folder containing the report and dropped it onto the table between us. Allen shifted in his seat and rested his chin on his fingers and I moved in for the kill.

"What do you say then? You've seen the numbers all spelled out for you. I'm not sure what more we can do to convince you that your money is in good hands with us. Ms. Reid put a lot of work into this, and I hope you can appreciate that we have the best in the business working together with us to make your money work for you."

Gerard looked at Elizabeth, then back to me. Then he glanced at Allen. "I think we have a deal, gentlemen. I am impressed." He stood up and reached out his hand and the three of us stood too. "I'll start with something small, and we'll see how it goes. If you can do for me what you say you can, this may be the beginning of a beautiful friendship."

I took his hand and shook it firmly and then he shook Allen's hand. When he turned to Elizabeth, she looked pleasantly surprised to take a firm handshake from him too. "And you, Ms. Reid, are a star. I want you personally on my team." He eyed me. "Let's make that happen."

"Already done," I told him proudly, and he nodded.

We exchanged pleasantries with a plan to meet first thing next Monday morning to go over the contracts and Allen showed him out. I was so thrilled I felt like celebrating. Every new clientwith a closed contract felt good, but one of this sheer magnitude felt incredible. I turned to Elizabeth and smiled.

"Would you like a glass of champagne to celebrate closing this deal?"

Her cheeks flushed a little and she shrugged. "I'm not sure. It's late…" She glanced at the time on my wall clock, and I waved her over to my desk.

"Come on. We just hooked a major client, and I think we should celebrate." I moved toward my desk drawer where I stashed the bottle and glasses earlier, though I figured at the time that it would be Allen with me while I toasted to the successful contract.

Elizabeth followed me hesitantly and I knew why. After I told her this morning that our moment near the subway was a mistake and we shouldn't have done that, she probably wondered if this was crossing the line. I wondered that myself as I uncorked the bottle and poured a few ounces in each flute. But there really was no harm in two coworkers sharing a celebratory drink.

"To us and our success," I said, lifting a glass and handing it to her. I raised my own up and she tapped the rim of her flute against mine and brought it to her lips, eyeing me over the rim.

This day had ended perfectly with that deal, and I felt like I could conquer the world. I was full of hope and confidence for our future, and I had Elizabeth Reid to thank for that.

"I think we owe this contract to you, Beth." The way I said her name made her cheeks grow pinker and her lips darkened to the color of fine wine.

"Uh, I'm not sure what to say." She hid behind her champagne flute and I found myself being attracted to her again, despite what I told her this morning.

It wasn't very often that a woman as charming and talented as her crossed my path, and I found myself feeling conflicted. Iknew it was bad news to even think about getting involved with her, which was the decision I made last night after I masturbated to thoughts of her. I walked into this office with resolve to tell her it could never happen again, and I had. But now I regretted telling her that.

---