Chapter 39 – Beginning with a Daring Encounter

“Are you certain you want the lady at the office or not?”

“Of course I want her, why?” Benne asked her, without turning to look at her.

“Do you? Cause it sure doesn’t look like it. The other night you went out on a date with another lady, and just now you were flirting with the sweaty girl,” Celsie accused, looking at him squarely.

Benne shook his head before asking, “Is there any law against a single male flirting with an equally single and obviously interested female?”

“What do you think are your chances of getting her if she realizes you hook up with random strangers, and flirt with every lady that gives you the slightest attention?” Celsie asked with a slightly raised brow.

“First of all Lu, I told you before, you were an exception. Does doing something once make it your lifestyle?” Benne asked incredulously.

“Well, I suppose that is why first impressions are important. How do I know that was the first time you were offering a stranger a wild night on your bed?” Celsie asked, making Benne snort.

“That hardly counts as a wild night,” Benne muttered under his breath.

“I beg your pardon?” Celsie asked, glaring at him.

Even though Benne was aware what he wanted to say didn’t make much sense, he went ahead, “How do I know it was your first time too? Who knows if you go to clubs looking for innocent young men to take you home?” Benne asked, ignoring her question.

“What? What do you mean by that? I’m sure you must have noticed I was a vi…” Celsie faltered there, feeling her face heat up in embarrassment

Thankfully the traffic light gave a red signal so he stopped and turned to her, “A what?” Benne asked innocently, blinking at her.

Celsie looked away and squared her shoulders, unwilling to backdown, “That isn’t the point of this discussion!”

“What is?” Benne asked as he returned his attention to the road.

Celsie drew in a deep breath, “I’m saying you shouldn’t flirt around while you’re interested in another lady.”

“I hope you realize I don’t owe her any loyalty until she gives me her heart? I’m interested in her, but I also have my desires and needs to cater for. So until she notices my existence and reciprocates my feelings, I’m afraid I can’t stay away from other ladies,” Benne said, meeting her gaze briefly until she looked away.

“I’m not going to help you get a woman when you can’t even control your so-called urges,” Celsie muttered under her breath.

“I guess you’re forgetting our deal? I could stop this car by the roadside and quit my job,” Benne threatened, and turned too flash her a grin when he heard her gasp.

Celsie wished she could relax, but she couldn’t. So she decided to voice out her major concern, “How am I sure I’ve not been infected with an STI?”

“You should probably get tested,” Benne suggested with a smirk.

“Did you get tested after we… You know, I mean later after we did it,” Celsie asked, and she could tell that her cheeks was very red by now. Luckily his eyes was on the road so he didn’t turn to look at her.

“Wow! You seem awfully interested in talking about it lately, why? Are you interested in another round of passionate love making or you’re just asking because you’re curious?”

Celsie didn’t miss the note of amusement in his voice, “Of course not! Why would I want something like that?” Celsie asked, sounding mortified by the very idea that he had even thought she would want a repeat of the experience.

“Do you really want me to tell you why you would want something like that? Or am I to assume that was a rhetorical question?” Benne asked with a small smile.

Celsie pressed her lips together and looked outside the window. She gritted her teeth when she heard him chuckle, but didn’t bother to look at him. It was too bad that she could only get mad, but couldn’t do anything else about her anger.

After that they both lapsed into silence until Benne drove into the company’s parking lot, “Have a nice day at work. I hope the CEO treats you nicely,” Benne called out to her as she got down.

“Thank you,” Celsie said stiffly as she shut the door, but hesitated a bit by the door, “Hang around today, I’d like to go to the nearest hospital or medical laboratory to get tested when I get the chance,” Celsie said before turning to walk away.

“That reminds me, Miss Miller?” Benne called, and she turned to look at him curiously, wondering why he was calling her that all of a sudden.

Benne reached into the pigeon hole and got out an envelope, “I believe that is yours,” he said, extending the envelope to her. His eyes gleamed with amusement as though he was waiting to see her reaction after she sees the content of the envelope.

Celsie looked at him with a curious frown, “What is that?”

“I believe you’d appreciate it best if you see for yourself, rather than hear it from me,” Benne said, giving her a nod so she would take the envelope. Celsie reluctantly reached for it through the window, while Benne watched her with a crooked smile as she cautiously opened the envelope.

Celsie felt her face flush a bright red with embarrassment when she saw the red lace panties she had worn that first night.

“I thought you’d like to get it back,” Benne said, and stifled the urge to roar with laughter when she turned around and walked away in quick steps.

Harry raised his eyes from the document in front of him and looked at Celsie who just walked into his office.

“He won’t be coming in today,” He said, in response to her unspoken question. While watching her closely. He had to admit that she looked more pretty wearing her hair down and without her glasses.

“Oh! So what am I to do?” Celsie asked, feeling very relieved that she didn’t have to face a boss she knew was likely going to be difficult. It wasn’t like she wasn’t curious to know what he looked like, but she just wasn’t ready yet.

“I already told you, your office changed no doubt, but your responsibilities are the same. You can have your secretary bring you all the work you need to take care of, and if the boss has an assignment for you, I will deliver it to you,” Harry assured her.

---