Dark Layers Volume 1: Volume 1 Read online

  Chapter Three

  WE WAKE MONDAY MORNING and I think Derek is more nervous than I am. He erratically paces my apartment, ironing my clothes - my shirt, to my skirt, to my jacket - and hanging them so formally to air them, bless him. He has stayed at my place all weekend and I don’t think he's planning on leaving anytime soon - not that it bothers me, I prefer to have someone around, I don't like feeling lonely.

  I nervously get ready for my first day at work, torn by whether to wear my overly wavy hair up or down. Hmmm? Definitely up. I know I will look like a blonde ball of fluff by lunch time if I leave it down.

  “How do I look Derek? Professional?” I ask worried as I stand tall in the groggy darkness of my open planned lounge. He's practically a fashion guru and he's told me on many occasions that I dress like a blind woman, so his opinion is more than needed. As he dramatically opens the curtains for the first time in days, he leans to the side to eye me from head to toe and wolf whistles.

  “Woot - woo, sweets, you look like Arabella Mansfield herself - black is definitely your colour. Go knock’em dead, I know you will, and I will be here waiting for you to return with all the gory details.”

  I shake my head, knowing he's referring to Mr. Darks. This sets my tummy in motion. I hate feeling like this because I start overanalysing everything and become a nervous stuttering wreck - I try to swallow my nerves. I blow Derek a kiss as I walk out of my door holding my briefcase - I need to buy a new one, this is old and brown with remainders of stickers that I used for my folders at uni, not desirable in the slightest - but it holds so many dear memories.

  Once I reach the ground level of my apartment building, I rush to get outside but not before I eye the freshly painted pastel blue walls in the lobby - it's about time they gave this place a lick of paint, we all pay enough communal rent. It's meant to look sophisticated with a hint of old charm oozing from the delicate mishmash cream to almost pink flooring.

  As soon as I step outside, I'm hit with the tranquil season, making my walk to the underground so refreshing. London is filled with noticeable Spring weather. Daisies bloom in their perfect flower beds as the cool air becomes warmer in the sunlight. Sadly, I reach the underground in no time at all, gutted that I will have no sunlight for the tube ride - maybe I should have walked to work, I wonder how long it would take? I should find out soon, especially now summer is on its way. As I walk into the station, I become overwhelmed - I think my job is only starting to really sink in. I feel trepidations to say the least, worrying how my first day at work will be. I watch everyone else travelling to work, not nervous, normal - this is their everyday routine and will also be mine soon. I cannot wait for that familiar feeling to settle in.

  I purposely left my IPad at home, knowing I would endlessly search up Darks Lawyers, trying to find a way to force people to like me with my extended knowledge of their company - a bad move really, no one likes a show off.

  I jump off the train and finish the final few steps into work as my mind quickly moves to the white clinical staff at Darks Lawyers. I know they will notice me instantly as I walk through the revolving doors. I'm not dressed in white, I'm dressed in a black virgin cashmere suit with an elegant pencil skirt to compliment my small frame. I'm trying to make a statement that I'm different from these manufactured office mannequins. I know someone - possibly Ms. Prynne - will address my choice of clothing but I'm not budging on this. No one can dictate what I wear.

  Just as I'm about to walk through the revolving doors checking my emails, something instantly catches my attention. Mr. Darks is standing outside of his building motionless, not even really looking at anything - until he sees me. Holy shit - he's hotter than I remember, and his locks are so shiny. The sun hits his raven strands and almost provokes an electric blue undertone. I suddenly catch his compelling stare and I fidget, not knowing where to put my face. - why oh why do I have to gawp at him! And why does he have to catch me every damn time! My entire body is hit with a feverish heat - this must be his own deliberate airborne illness, Darks flu!

  “Good morning Miss Gooden.” He says as he walks over to me, gliding with one hand in his dark grey trouser pocket.

  “Good morning, Mr. Darks.” I reply shy and bow my head. I don't stop to talk to him, I keep walking through the revolving doors - my weird dreams of him haunt my mind. I cannot look him in the face knowing he undresses me every night while I dream of him.

  I reach the lift and while I stand waiting for it to arrive - passively tapping my foot with a Spartan army of nerves smashing against my insides - I sense a strange feeling of darkness at my back. It hitches my breath and forces me to submit myself to see what's bothering me. As I turn to look around, I'm flabbergasted to see Mr. Darks standing almost flush against my back. I jump back in shock, dropping my briefcase and phone, but he catches my phone without breaking a sweat. He elegantly passes it to me, and as our hands touch, I get an electric shock - like what you feel when you touch a static balloon. I snatch my hand back as I frown wondering what the hell is going on in the air between us. It must be the Spring heat, right? My throat dries and I find it hard to swallow as this obsessive urge washes over me. I want him, shit, I want him, in every way! I feel... lust, need and everything south of me tightens - unexpected as I know nothing of passion or sex!

  I watch him swiftly crouch down, and my face screws up as I wonder what he's doing. He rises, smoothing out his beautiful crisp grey trousers and offers me my briefcase. As he passes it to me, I grab it with clumsy hands, trying not to make physical contact with him again. I look up at him, curious. I see a dark flicker in his smouldering eyes and a hint of a smile as he notices my uneasiness. I think he's enjoying himself, seeing the profound effect he's having on me. Bastard!

  To my surprise, he looks past my eyes and leans in on me, almost touching my neck with his mouth.

  “I think I am going to enjoy having you around.” He whispers.

  He takes a glorious long sniff of me. My tummy clenches further. Oh my God! I cannot help myself - his closeness is thrilling! I return his gesture and I close my eyes. I inhale his scent, becoming almost drunk off of his intoxicating fruitiness - hmmm. When I finally open my eyes, all I see are his hard shoulders walking away from me, gliding through the vast white lobby. I bite my lip annoyed, still sensing his presence lingering in the air around me. I stand open-mouthed, frozen in place. Damn it, I didn't even have a chance to say a thing, nothing, words literally failed me!

  Thankfully the lift pings, dragging my dumb struck eyes away from him. I mentally slap myself as I enter.

  "Get a grip Gooden. He has no control over you. You are a strong woman that can stand firm against the likes of him!"

  I deflate leaning against the steel walls, annoyed with myself. Oh who am I kidding, he is going to constantly knock me off balance and mentally take a hold of me - but I refuse not to recognize the wolf dressed as the sheep. My realization dawns on me as I fly up to my working level. Maybe that's why all the women that work here are dressed in white and are brunette; maybe he doesn’t want anyone to see the wolf among the sheep? Stop over analysing everything Gooden!

  The lift pings and the doors fly open, greeting me warmly with Ms. Prynne as she stands tall across the threshold.

  “Good morning, Miss Gooden! Are you ready for your first day?”

  “Please call me Anile, and I'm dying to get stuck in.”

  “Very well, please call me Hester. How are you feeling?”

  I think about her question - can I tell her that I'm absolutely shitting my pants? - No!

  "I'm feeling great." I smile, lying through my clenched teeth.

  "That's great, let's get started."

  She shows me to my side of the desk and helps me to get acquainted with the surroundings. She takes me through the computer system and the telephone system. I assumed I’d be in an office with someone, not at a public reception desk but I was sorely wrong; although working alongside Hester is not so bad, she really is very nice
.

  We sit at the reception desk all morning working on letters that need sending out to clients; boring stuff considering I'm a fully qualified Lawyer - yeah, minus experience, stupid!

  "Anile?" Hester says distracting me.

  "Yes?"

  "The letters you have written out, Mr. Darks needs to sign them. Press dial one on the phone and ask him if he is available for you to go up to his office to get them all signed."

  Holy shit! I cannot do that - can I?

  Breathe, breathe, I chant mentally as I start to feel even more nervous. I shakily grab the gray telephone and smile at Hester. I press the number one key too hard, hoping to break it.

  "Yes." He snaps before a dial tone sets in.

  "Um, Sir, Mr. Darks." I croak.

  "Hello Miss Gooden, how are you this morning - enjoying your first day?"

  How the hell does he know it's me? And, Jesus, he wants small talk! My mouth waters and I spit little specks of saliva as I answer him.

  "Eh, yes, Sir." Is all I manage.

  I quickly wipe the computer screen with my jacket arm before Hester sees my watery after affect of Mr. Darks and looks disgusted.

  "Is 'eh' a word, Anile?"

  What? Did I say that? Crap! And he called me by my first name again, wow, that sounded like music to my ears!

  "No, sorry Sir. Yes, today has been great, thank you. How is your morning?"

  I literally cringe at my returned gesture as Hester eyes me wryly.

  "My morning has been boring, but I think it will start to become, entertaining, very soon."

  He sounds like he's laughing about something and it annoys me, because I think he's laughing at me!

  "Mr. Darks, I have some letters that need signing by yourself. Is it okay if I or Hester comes with you, I mean up to you?"

  Shit! I don't fucking believe I just said that! I look at Hester and she's almost on the brink of laughing with her hand firmly covering her bright red lips. I tear my eyes away from her for two seconds because I think the line has gone dead.

  "Mr. Darks?" I say.

  I cover the phones speaker with my hand quickly.

  "Hester, I think he's put the phone down."

  She looks at me questionably as she holds her perfect translucent hand out to me.

  "Pass it here."

  She takes the phone from me and I stare at her with worrying eyes, hoping I'm just deafened by my stupidity.

  "Hello, Mr. Darks?" She asks but still, nothing.

  "Do you think he's mad at me?" I ask worried.

  "No, he will be fine Anile, he really is not as scary as you think."

  She smiles at me, trying to disarm me presumably, but it doesn't work. The lift suddenly pings louder than usual. Hester and I thrash our heads in sync to the lifts direction to witness Mr. Darks gliding out, looking fucking hot! But my memory of our telephone call rushes back to me. Shit! I try to sneakily get up out of my seat and sneak away but Mr. Darks forces.

  "Sit," with a long pointed finger.

  I obey him like I'm a dog, because I have no words. I feel intimidated and nervous, hot, flustered, the list is endless. My seat feels as though it's soaked by my generous amounts of sweat, pooling all over my body because of my uneasiness.

  "Anile, are you okay?" He asks in his deep dominating voice.

  I look up at him, momentarily paralyzed by his beauty as he towers over me, leaning over the desk with his huge hands pressed flat against the soft white worktop.

  "Anile?" He repeats.

  "Sorry, Sir. Yes, I'm fine. Have you come to sign the letters?"

  "Of course, why else?" He says as he flashed me a strange affectionate smile.

  Thank God he isn't mad. I deflate inside and start to relax a little. Honestly, sometimes I worry myself.

  "There are quite a few Sir. You might want to take them away with you."

  "Hester," he says.

  "Yes, Mr. Darks?"

  "Your seat." He says as he grabs the back of her chair, hinting for her to move.

  "And I'd like a coffee."

  "Right away, Mr. Darks." She replies.

  He pulls Hester's chair right next to me. He smiles at me with a strange expression - what's he thinking? The way he eyes me creates an overwhelming sense of curiosity, because he looks curious and that baffles me! He unbuttons his suit jacket as he lowers into the seat next to me. I pay extra attention to his skilled fingers as he unbuttons himself.

  "Anile."

  "Yes, Sir." I say almost in a whisper, looking right into his eyes. Suddenly he stares, forcing me to drown in his blue lagoons. We gaze at one another, connecting in the moment - I have a strange familiar feeling, down there, and my face becomes heated as I await his answer, desperate to know if he feels it to.

  "Your blouse."

  "Sorry, do you like it, Sir?" I ask confused.

  "Your blouse buttons are undone, Anile."

  "Shit." I curse embarrassed.

  He quietly laughs to himself - his eyes almost titter. He's taking the piss out of me. I narrow my eyes at him annoyed.

  "This is not funny!"

  "No, I know, sorry. And it is a very nice blouse." He jokes as he continues to laugh while he leans back into Hester's chair.

  Cheeky Bastard! Well, I suppose it was the gentlemen thing to do, he could have left me half naked and on display. I quickly button myself up feeling like the world's biggest idiot. I hope I can salvage this.

  "Shall we get started Miss Gooden?"

  "Started on what Sir?"

  He leans forward, placing his hands on the desk. His little finger brushes against mine. I have to hold my breath as I get a bolt of electricity from him. Although I like it, I feel funny. I get this strange feeling that I'm emotionally translucent, that he can see all my uneasiness. I start to breathe faster as I become heady - dizzy.

  "Anile, relax, I don't bite."

  I stare wide-eyed and become stressed further - I now have confirmation that he sees my anxiety.

  "Please relax, Anile, if you cannot, I will have Hester bring the letters up to me."

  "Sorry, it's just."

  I don't finish because he interrupts me. He completely covers my hand with his. Honestly, how can his touch effect me so damn much?

  "Just relax, I am telling you that you have to, so please listen to me." He whispers.

  I stare at him, and start to smile as this warm feeling enters my tummy. I think I feel all his tension somehow, and when he relaxes, I relax to, almost like we are one person.

  "Okay, sorry. Here are the letters."

  Sadly, I have to take my hand from beneath his to grab the file containing the letters. When I turn back to him, I notice a young Asian girl has appeared, looking disgusted.

  "What do you think you are doing disturbing Mr. Darks? Are you the new intern?" She snaps.

  "Who the hell do you think you are talking to?" I say harshly.

  Mr. Darks rises to his feet looking like Zeus, holy shit!

  "Apologise now!" He orders.

  What the fuck?

  "What the, why?" She says, almost mirroring my words, but she knows better than to say that out loud to him.

  "I will not repeat myself." He warns.

  She narrows her eyes at me and smiles. "Sorry."

  "Now get back up to your fucking reception desk and do not let me catch you speaking to her like that again."

  She looks as though someone has slapped her in the face, and well, to be honest, I would rather a slap then his commanding words, jeez, he's scary!

  He turns back to me, looking like stone while he takes the file.

  "I will see you soon Miss Gooden."

  Oh no, just when I thought we were getting somewhere, he emotionally shuts down. Damn him!

  I watch his back while he walks away from me - strong with all his achievements and wide enough for him to carry as many people as he desires through his world. The lift pings open and he turns to face me, I cannot tell if he's smiling at me, but I smile at
him, letting him know I appreciate his protective effort. Once the lift is closed, I sit for ages smiling like a giddy school girl who has a massive crush. I cannot believe he defended me again - I wonder if he's like that in public? Maybe I will have to find out one day, if there is ever a work function.

  Hester finally arrives back with Mr. Darks coffee in hand.

  "Where did he go?" She asks looking around.

  Hester, there are no hiding places in this sparse clinical hall, you can stop looking so hard. I joke with myself.

  "He went back up to his office, annoyed I think."

  I almost laugh at her baffled expression as she rolls her eyes at his aggravating tendencies; thank God it is not only me who he affects.

  LUNCH TIME FINALLY ARRIVES and I'm more than thankful because I'm famished.

  “Are you having lunch here Anile, or are you leaving the premises?” Hester asks.

  “I’ll eat here, it's convenient.”

  “Would you like to join me?” She asks and I’m mentally dancing at the fact that I’ve made a friend here. She's lovely - minus the white clinical clothing but I'm slowly getting used to her wardrobe choice.

  “Yes sure, if you don’t mind.”

  The phone rings interrupting us as we are about to leave. I stare impassively, nibbling on my bottom lip as my heart flips a thousand times, wondering if it's him.

  "Can you get that Anile?"

  "Sure." With pleasure!