Behind the Glasses

DarkCrusnikMagician: I'm glad you like the cast. Amber is actually roughly based off one of my best friends and Sterling's sense of humor is loosely based off of my bro's snarkyness. I'm glad you like my one liners, cause they never come out verbally, only when I write!

cade: Well, Aideen is quite different to the women that usually fawn over Alasdair, so he is intrigued with her beyond just sex. Yeah, she was totally planning to win that last round, but wait until the end of next chapter and see how things go ;) and squee for fanart! I'm totally dying of curiousity. Sorry about not updating sooner. See below >_<

thursdaywench: Yeah, I was originally planning to just write friday next, but we're taking a humorous detour for the good of m writing soul. Plus, I wanted to intro another hot guy character.

Scary Bear Hair: Shh! You're getting ahead of the game talking about whips and whatnot lol. and I have a pair of shoes like that, but they've got like more comfortable wide heels. But, if you make it like super-dominatrix stilleto heels, then those are the shoes I swear! LOL! Do I really have a thing for suggestive dialogue? It seems to be lost on my fiance in reality. Maybe I should file down those heels... I'm really pre-occupied with the idea of attraction that's so strong that all it takes is a kiss to make you melt into a pile of happy goo. I'm trying to write it that way, so I hope it's working! >.< Yeah, he's totally brazen and she's far more taken with him than she's even starting to admmit, but we're getting there i swear! Thank you so much for the praise and enjoy!

Okay, okay, I know I fell into the sky and disappeared. I'm really sorry for everyone who was reading this. All I can say is that I suffer from depression and it took a rather big hold of me this summer. School and work have me set in a routine now though and I've sorta been lifted out of my funk. It's kinda like I'm too busy to be depressed. Hopefully I'll be able to update regularly and once again, if you'd like to be emailed about updates send me an email at LadyAlexTheGoddessOfSmut@yahoo.com and let me know! I will email you about new chapters as I post them. Read and enjoy and thanks for sticking with me through the long hiatus. God, I hate that word... what a terrible word... hiatus...

Chapter 5

Tuesday morning came, the streets shrouded in fog as Aideen set off for the office. To her surprise, there was a lovely floral arrangement on the front desk. This time the arrangement was filled with more lovely exotic flowers that Aideen recognized as orchids but had never actually seen before. This was by far the most beautiful bouquet that Alasdair had sent her and she actually read the card, though she was still berating herself for giving in yet again.

My Dearest Aideen,

Looking forward to Friday night. I hope you like the flowers, though they’re not half so lovely as you. I’m curious, will you be bringing those documents back to me personally, or is that too much to hope for in one week? I suppose it is. How about Chez Camille around 7:00PM? I’ll come by your apartment complex. See you then.

With Deepest Affection,

Alasdair

Aideen was smiling as she returned the card to its envelope. Sterling was eyeing her curiously. She finally shook herself from her thoughts to find that she was being watched intently.

“What?”

“Mm, nothing. Just nice to see you smitten.” Sterling was smiling at her in a wistful sort of way.

“Smitten?” Aideen put her hands on her hips and threw her head back comically. “HA!”

“Yeah, yeah, laugh all you want. You’re taken, whether or not you want to be.” Sterling couldn’t quite choke down all his giggling.

“Yes, well... He did get us all that business.”

“And he noticed those shoes.”

“Oh lord, help me.” Aideen’s eyes rolled heavenward dramatically. “You’re still on about the shoes. It’s only because he’s got a kink streak.”

“Who’s a bondage master?” Amber strolled in, yawning, carrying the usual large cups of coffee.

“Alasdair Drake.” Sterling beamed and Amber looked over to the newest flower arrangement.

“Well, hell, if you don’t want him, I’ll fuck him.” Sterling almost fell out of his chair cackling and Aideen’s face lit up in a vivid blush.

“Good lord, woman, were you raised by sailors?” Aideen spluttered a bit while Amber grinned rather roguishly.

“No, just poor white trash.”

“Good lord, you two realize that your bodies were swapped at birth, right?” The two leveled her with rather unaffected gazes. Amber belched loudly, scratching at her crotch and Sterling snatched a small mirror from his drawer, fluffing his bangs. Aideen smacked her hand against her forehead and muttered something that sounded suspiciously like “shoot me”. The others burst out laughing and Amber followed Aideen to her office.

“So, where is this document the Mighty Drake thinks I messed up so much?”

“Ah, here you go.” Aideen handed her friend the folder and Amber promptly scanned all the highlighted bits.

“Ah, yes yes. Such a simple mistake, but I’ll get right on it.” Amber remained seated, looking expectantly at Aideen. Aideen looked around the office, rather confused.

“Er... yes?”

“Tell me! Sterling’s always getting the dish first.”

“What dish? There’s nothing to talk about.”

“Bull shit! What’s going on between you and Drake?”

“Alasdair? Nothing.” Aideen swallowed too much hot coffee and choked herself, flushing both from the interrogation and exertion of clearing her windpipe.

“Alasdair, is it? God, if he were a pole, I’d become a stripper.” Aideen’s jaw dropped, her brows scrunched in mortification.

“Jesus...”

“What?”

“You have a husband and children!”

“And your point?” Aideen sighed, lifting her glasses to pinch the bridge of her nose. “Are you honestly telling me that you don’t think he’s attractive? ‘Cause I’ll give you a buzz cut and force you into the ugliest flannel shirt you ever saw.”

Aideen couldn’t help but laugh at her friend’s antics.

“You and Sterling... Yes, he’s attractive! I’m not blind! Looks aren’t everything though. I don’t want someone who’s been around the block more times than that Earth has revolved around the sun.”

“How do you know he has?”

“Are you joking? Look at his attitude. He expects whatever woman he targets to just swoon and collapse at his feet the moment he smiles.”

“If that were true, wouldn’t he have given up on you by now and found a girl who does exactly that?” Aideen cocked her head to the side, staring at Amber as if she’d only just noticed her.

“I suppose...”

“Don’t be such a defeatist, Aideen. Is it so impossible for you to find someone that works?”

“I believe so, yes. I’m not lowering my standards so I can force a square peg into a round hole. I’d rather be alone than unhappy forever.”

“I understand, and I even agree, but don’t rule them out if they don’t fit perfectly the first time. People are more multi-faceted than squares and it may take a couple tries to line everything up properly and see that it fits.”

Aideen remained quiet for several moments, sipping her cooling coffee, mulling over Amber’s words.

“Where in the world do you get this stuff?”

“It falls out of my ass. Didn’t you wonder what that smell was?”

“Ah, and we’re back to the sailor routine.”

“Well, someone’s gotta act like they got balls around here.” Amber laughed outright as Aideen rubbed her temples. “All right, all right. At first I was only teasing you, but you know, it’s actually kinda fun to just be crude and not care. I can’t just do that at home, you know.”

“If you start farting, I’m putting you on unpaid leave.”

"You’d starve my children?”

“They wouldn’t starve. I’m sure if you walked into a grocery store with that foul mouth of yours, they’d give you whatever you wanted just to clear you out.”

“Ha ha. All right, well, I’ll go write this up again so we can send it back to Drake’s yes-men.”

“Thanks, Amber.”

“No problem, Boss Lady.”

Amber cleared out and Aideen was left to her work. Somewhere just before lunch, Sterling’s voice rang out over the intercom.

“Aideen?”

“Yes?”

“There is a Mr. Ashbrook on the phone for you.”

“Mr. Ashbrook? Put the call through please.”

“Certainly.”

Aideen let the light on line one blink a few times before she picked up the phone.

“Good morning, Mr. Ashbrook, how can I help you today?”

“Ah, Ms. Kelly! I’m so glad I’ve caught you before you stepped out for lunch. I actually must confess that this isn’t a perfectly business related phone call.” Aideen felt her stomach tighten at his small confession.

“Oh? What might it pertain to then?”

“Well, you see, my wife is out of town,” Aideen’s heart began pounding and she gritted her teeth, cursing herself silently for wearing that damned outfit to lunch the day before, “and I’ve got a dinner function to attend.”

“Oh?” Aideen’s heart quieted somewhat.

“Yes. You see, I was originally planning to go alone, but since we met at a business lunch, I figured you probably wouldn’t mind going to a business dinner with me. It’d be a wonderful way to make contacts and I would be most delighted to have such beautiful company.”

“A business dinner?” Aideen was glad the handsome middle-aged man couldn’t see the stupefied, slack-jawed expression on her face just then.

“Yes. Just a small gathering between old business pals. I believe Drake is going as well. You see, we get together every so often, just a little party for ourselves and our wives, then we usually let the gals chat and we chat about business, but seeing as my wife is currently visiting with relatives, I thought I’d ask you to accompany me.”

“Well, I don’t know...” Aideen hesitated, feeling sheepish about the assumption she’d made not moments before.

“No pressure, dear. If you’re worried about the crowd, it’s only about a dozen of us, maybe fifteen and their wives. I’d understand if it’s short notice.” Despite his reassurances, there was a subtle note of hope in his tone and Aideen had trouble saying no to the charming Englishman.

“Um, sure, why not?”

“Are you positive?”

“Of course, it will be lovely! When is it?”

“Tomorrow night.”

“Tomorrow night it is then. How formally should I dress?”

“Oh, just a simple evening dress should suffice, nothing too fancy.”

“Damn, so much for the jeans and t-shirt I had picked out.” Aideen attempted to cover up her nervousness with a little joke and was relieved to hear a chuckle from the other end of the line.

“No, jeans might be a little too dressed down for this occasion, though I’ve no doubt you’d look stunning in just about anything.”

“Why thank you, Mr. Ashbrook.”

“No, thank you, for humoring an old man.” Again the man’s soft chuckle rang over the line.

“Age is but a number, Mr. Ashbrook.”

“Oh! Heavens, you’re trying to steal my heart. I must tell you, stunning though you are, that my heart belongs to another.” Aideen chuckled herself as the man’s flirtatious air.

“Oh, you wound me, Mr. Ashbrook.”

“Please, call me John.”

“Only if you call me Aideen.”

“As you wish, Aideen. Shall I pick you up tomorrow night?”

“Of course. Let me pass you back to my secretary and he can make all the arrangements.”

“Lovely. I look forward to it. Have a wonderful day, Aideen.”

“You do the same.”

Aideen sat smiling to herself as she stared at the phone. She’d actually had a good bit of conversation with Ashbrook at lunch the day before and was quite charmed by him. He gave off an air of sincerity and welcoming that immediately relaxed Aideen’s nerves. While she usually detested parties of any kind, no matter the number of people in attendance, she felt she might be able to make it through the night if only Ashbrook stayed close to help fend off her own anxiety and the lusty stares of others. Despite her mounting excitement about her non-date, she wondered vaguely why Alasdair hadn’t invited her and what his reaction would be when he saw her arrive with someone else. Before she could follow her train of thought any further, Sterling burst into her office.

“Oh... my... God.” Sterling was trying, and failing, to contain a blinding grin.

“Becky...” Amber popped her head around the doorframe, grinning from ear to ear. Aideen broke into a huge grin herself, unable to keep her stoic face up.

“Look at her butt!” Aideen clapped her hands together, giggling despite herself.

“He’s English!” Sterling stomped his foot for emphasis.

“Is he hot?” Amber stepped into the office, plopping down in a seat.

“He’s an older gentleman, but he’s quite fetching. Unfortunately, he’s married.”

“So?” Amber and Sterling chimed in unison.

“So? He isn’t looking for a romantic date. His wife is out of town and he’s going to a dinner party.”

“Aww...” Sterling pouted, looking as though Christmas had been pushed back a few months.

“But...” Aideen grinned, trailing off.

“But?” The two pressed her, leaning forward so as not to miss a word.

“It’s a dinner with old business pals, so...”

“New business?” Amber’s face lit up as did Sterling’s, Christmas being set a few months ahead of schedule this time.

“In with the new. We’re going to be drowning in money!” The three of them squealed and Aideen kicked off her heels.

“This is fabulous! Do I get to dress you up?”

“I’m not a doll, Sterling.” Aideen’s grin dulled somewhat. She hated dressing up.

“I know it, but I love dressing you up. When I’m done with you, they won’t know what hit them!”

“Yeah, but if you make me look too good, I might actually have to beat them off with a stick, and that’s not much fun for me or Mr. Ashbrook.”

“You never know, some of the old farts might be into a little slap and tickle. Might get us a better business offer.” Amber winked and Aideen groaned under her breath.

“Well, if my success rested on my willingness to cave into the advances of the men I worked with, we’d all be poor. So, good thing I actually have talent for what I do.”

“Hear hear!” Amber gave Sterling a high five and the three of them left Aideen’s office, heading out for lunch half an hour early. Sterling and Amber had struck up a conversation about what dress Aideen should wear and whether or not she should bother to style her hair, but Aideen had mentally checked out of the conversation, her thoughts drifting back to Alasdair. She wondered why he hadn’t asked her to this stupid business function, since he seemed so keen to see her every chance he got. Had he already invited someone? The thought gave Aideen a sour feeling in the pit of her stomach, but she brushed it off, telling herself that she just couldn’t bare to see what sort of floozy he would bring to that kind of party. She resolved then to let Sterling do his best to make her stunning, just to get a one up on Alasdair. He would be very sorry that he hadn’t asked her to this function by the time Wednesday night rolled around.

Does anyone get the "oh my god, Becky, look at her butt" reference? I hope so...