CHAPTER 9

 CHAPTER 9

         The weeklong vacation was finally coming to an end and Maddie was both grateful and fearful. She’d spent the days and, even more so the nights, thinking about Spence and what had happened between them after the Christmas party. He hadn’t called and she hadn’t tried to get in touch with him. Still, the memory of the time in his arms seemed to occupy her thoughts both awake and asleep.

          Maddie wasn’t sure what she was going to do when they met up again in the office, but she was determined she was not going to give up her job because of what had happened. And so what if the memory of Spence’s lips, his hands, his cock made her feel as though she were next to a furnace. And so what if her panties got moist every time her mind turned to their wild sex. And so what if there was nothing she wanted more if she were honest with herself than to fuck Spence’s brains, and her own for that matter, out.

          Maddie just knew she wasn’t giving up her job nor was she going to encourage a repeat experience, no matter how much she’d like it, going forward. If necessary, she would get downright nasty about it if need be. That first morning back would tell the tale.

          For Spence, the week seemed interminable. He wanted nothing more than to call Maddie or even just drop by her house, but he couldn’t bring himself to do that since the memory of how she’d run away after the hottest sex he’d ever had. Just thinking about Maddie would cause his cock to get hard. Just remembering his hands on her breasts, inside her cunt, the way her legs wrapped around him was almost enough to make him come in his pants. Spence both looked forward to getting back in the office, although he’d spent considerable time there during the week, and actually feared what would happen when he and Maddie met up again.

          One thing for sure, Spence was determined Maddie would resign and find a replacement so they could both see where their relationship could go. Spence already felt as though he were half in love with Maddie as it was, and it wasn’t because of the great sex. He genuinely liked everything about her, the way she’d assumed such a huge role in his company, the way she seemed to understand him, the way she offered support when he hadn’t even realized he needed it. Yes, Maddie was going to have to quit so they could have a relationship. And okay, a relationship that included more of that great sex.

          January 2^nd arrived as did Maddie at the office. She put her things away, picked up her tablet and pen, and standing in front of Spence’s office door, she drew a huge breath. As she opened the door, she pasted a big smile on her face and entering, said, “Well, Happy New Year Spencer. I hope you had a great week off. I certainly did, although I have to admit I was getting just a bit bored the last day or so.”

          Maddie took her usual place in the chair alongside Spence’s desk.  “So, have you looked at your calendar yet. It looks like a very busy week, actually busy month to me.”

          Spence leaned back in his chair and folded his hands under his chin. “Yes, well, I think there’s something a bit more important for us to discuss before we get to my calendar. I wanted to call you or even see you during the entire time off, but the way you left, well, I....”

          “Stop right there Spencer!” Maddie demanded. “We are not going to discuss what happened after the Christmas party. It was a mistake, one I believe we both enjoyed, but a mistake nonetheless.” Maddie held up her had as Spence opened his mouth. “No, no discussion about our lapse of judgement, our lapse of good office behavior, our lapse of imposing on the other’s personal space. We’d both had too much to drink and were so happy. The Christmas party was such a huge high. Well, what happened between us after, it was a huge mistake, one that neither you nor I need to pay for beyond what’s already happened.”

          Maddie looked at Spencer and raised one eyebrow. “Have I made myself perfectly clear.”

          “I think I ought to have something to say about what happened.” Spencer replied sitting forward and reaching for Maddie’s hand. “I’m not sorry and can’t believe you are either. We just need to find your replacement so we can see how our relationship develops.”

          “Spencer, I hoped I wouldn’t have to say this to you, but you aren’t leaving me much choice. I will not relinquish my position as your EA. If you are determined to make our combined lapse of judgement an issue, then I’ll have to bring suit against you for sexual harassment. Do you understand me now?”

          “Maddie,” Spece began, “Be reasonable….”

          Before he could continue, Maddie got up out of the chair and started for the door. Once there, she looked back over her shoulder and said, “I’ll have my attorney get in touch with you if you insist.”

          Spence could tell Maddie was serious. She wasn’t play-acting. She wasn’t trying to be difficult. She seemed to totally believe what they’d experienced had been a lapse in judgement. He couldn’t see a way around what was apparently his problem.

          “Okay Maddie, okay. I guess I put more emphasis on what happened between us than you did. I’ll not refer to it again and apologize for my behavior. Come on back and we’ll review my calendar.”

          The next couple of months found Maddie and Spence working together just fine; however, the ease they’d had before was gone. Maddie’s appearance changed slightly in that she stopped allowing curls to fall out of her bun. She’d also gone back to the looser clothing she’d worn before the Christmas party. It was if she was trying to make herself less attractive.

          Spence wasn’t happy with how things stood, but he couldn’t take the chance Maddie would seek out an attorney. And since her aunt had been part of one of the best law firms in the city, it was a foregone conclusion that her suit for sexual harassment would carry some weight. Neither Spence nor his company could afford such a scandal.

          So, Spence continued, as he’d done for most of Maddie’s employment…he stayed away from the office, only going in early mornings or late afternoons. It was a good thing he trusted Maddie and that she had such a great grasp of the company and its employees. If nothing else thrived between the two of them, the company certainly did.

Spence was thankful for that, but the memory of Maddie in his arms, her lips and mouth responding to his, her hard nipples, how hot and wet she was after he yanked her panties off just wasn’t erasable from his memory. There were many nights he woke with a raging hardon, reaching out for her only to find himself alone and so hard and horny it hurt.

As for Maddie, she was extremely grateful Spence had acquiesced to her threat without her having to actually follow through...she wasn't totally sure she could have followed through. Their experience hadn’t left her mind either and she often dreamed about Spence and being in his arms, responding to his physical demands to the point she’d wake up on the verge of an orgasm, her undies wet. In those cases, she pulled her little friend out of the bedside table and gave herself an orgasm…an orgasm that wasn’t anywhere near the one she’d had up against that door.

Maddie was also thankful that Spence continued to absent himself from the office during most of the days. It was gratifying to know he believed she was capable enough to deal with whatever might arise. Anything she couldn’t handle, she deferred to him via emails or the small talks they had either at the beginning or end of each day. Still, Maddie found herself daydreaming at times about what a relationship with Spencer could be like. It was a daydream that made her either very happy or very depressed depending on what else was happening in her life.

It was late spring when Maddie’s best friend said, “What’s going on with you? You’ve been sort of down lately and that’s not like you. Is everything okay with your job and that luscious boss?”

Maddie could feel herself blush but responded, “Oh Gwennie, you must be imagining things. I’m just fine. A bit tired from working so much, mostly outside in the garden. But, when everything comes into bloom, it will be worth it. I’ll sit there with my wine and enjoy the hell out of what I produced.”

Gwen wasn’t willing to drop it. “That’s a good try, but you’re not going to evade me or the fact you’ve seemed just a bit off for some time now. You haven’t made an effort to date anyone for the last couple of months. When I offered to introduce you to Henry’s best friend when he moved to Seattle, you didn’t appear the least bit interested. What’s really going on with you.”

“Nothing Gwen. Really, nothing. As for wanting to date Henry’s friend, I’m just at the point where I’m not the least bit interested in getting to know someone new. It’s such a waste of time when I know even before we’ve spoken that it would become just one more mistake in my dating history.”

“Stop it Maddie, just stop. Seriously, you seem to have lost your joie de vivre. If we weren’t such good friends, I probably wouldn’t have noticed, but I have. What’s really going on?” Gwen said quietly, leaning forward and grasping Maddie’s hand.

Somehow, those quiet words and gentle touch opened up the tear ducts and tears began to stream down Maddie’s face. They were accompanied by huge sobs. Gwen got up and moved to the couch beside Maddie. She pulled her best friend into her arms and held her, smoothed her hand up and down her back until Maddie’s sobs became huge shudders and hiccoughs.

“I think I’m in love.” Maddie whispered between hiccoughs. “and I don’t know what to do about it. I’m afraid I ruined any chance we would have had. Now, it’s too late and I’m so sorry.”

Gwen pulled some tissues from a nearby box and told Maddie, “Wipe your eyes and nose and tell me all about it.”

So Maddie did. She told Gwen about how wonderful the Christmas party had been, how successful she felt when it was over and how pleased she’d been by Spence’s gift and what had happened after.

“So, it was the best sex you’ve ever had. What’s wrong with that?” Gwen exclaimed.

“Spence is my boss and he has a strong and firm rule about relations between staff. That’s how I got the job. He fired his last EA because she attempted to seduce him. I didn’t do that, but I cooperated enthusiastically when he gave me the chance. And, when we went back to work, he wanted me to find my replacement and resign.”

“What’s wrong with doing that?” Gwen asked.

“I love my job. I don’t want to give it up. And, I threatened to sue Spence and his company for sexual harassment if he insisted I do that.” Maggie responded, blowing her nose again.

“So how are things between you now?”

“Fine, just fine. We are cordial. We get the work done, but there’s nothing personal between us at all. I miss the comradery we had before this happened.”

“Well, it sounds to me like the ball is in your court, so to speak. If you want your current relationship to change, then you’re going to have to do something to change it.”

“Yes, but what? What if he isn’t the least bit interested anymore? What if my threat killed any feeling he had for me? Oh Gwen, I don’t know what to do about this. It’s a mess.”

Gwen reached out and gave Maddie a big hug. “Hey girlfriend, you’re smart and clever and have always gone after what you wanted, at least until now. What have you got to lose if you let him know you are definitely interested? You have to ask yourself what you actually want. Do you want your job? Or, and this is the big one, do you want Spencer?”