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“Yes.”
“Think about it, because I’m not willing to go through this again,” he says after a funereal silence. “I don’t care if you have breakfast with Miguel or whomever else you want, but I won’t accept that anyone—man or woman—touches you or kisses you without my consent. Good night, Jude. I’ll see you tomorrow in the office.”
And with that, he hangs up. I’m left in a daze.
How can I tell him what happened without causing a further erosion of trust?
Dumbfounded, I sit down on the couch, convinced I’ve just done something that will anger him even more if he should ever find out. My neck itches and I scratch it.
59
When I arrive at the office the following morning, I’m not surprised to find Eric working. I quietly put my things on my desk. My office phone rings. Eric wants to see me.
“Good morning, Miss Flores.”
“Good morning, Mr.Zimmerman.”
Then I notice Julio Merino, a young guy who works with the company, sitting at a round table in Eric’s office, surrounded by papers.
“Mr.Merino,” says Eric, leaning back in his chair, “could you get me some coffee, black?”
The young man stands up.
“Yes, Mr.Zimmerman ... right away.”
As he walks by me, he rolls his eyes, and I try to contain my laughter.
“How’d you sleep?” he asks once we’re alone. His tone is much softer.
“Terribly. I missed you.”
I notice his lips curving into a smile.
“Surely not as much as I missed you. Tonight you’ll sleep with me at my hotel.”
“Great.”
I’m delighted by this suggestion. This might be a good time to tell him what happened yesterday.
“Are you up for playing with company?”
My stomach tightens. It’s been a good while since I’ve done it. I swallow the knot in my throat.
“It’s fine by me if it’s fine by you.”
“Are you excited?” he asks, noticing I’m a little nervous.
It’s my turn to nod. He smiles and gets up.
“Please, Miss Flores, if you could come with me to the archive room ...”
Without hesitation, I head where he wants, and my breathing immediately accelerates. Once we are there, Eric presses against me, and my butt bumps up against the file cabinets. While his hip is resting on me, I feel his hand under my skirt, touching my right thigh.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve offered you, and I can’t wait.”
“Eric ...”
“I’m still mad at you. You deserve punishment.”