Dirty Secret: A BWWM Office Romance Read online

  Dirty Secret

  Nicole Houston

  Copyright © 2020 by Nicole Houston

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Amazon Review

  Also by Nicole Houston

  Chapter One

  Skye sat still on the gold rimmed Italian chair that formed part of Aine’s bedroom furniture, her eyes peering into the round mirror from time to time to see what magic Aine was doing on her hair. There was something very familiar about this moment, something about Aine’s bedroom that held memories of their childhood when they used to play by the window whenever she went to visit; something about Aine’s touch that reminded her of their childhood when Aine would insist that she could style her hair.

  The sound of the hot comb as it traveled her thick, black fro startled her.

  “Must I always wear it straight?” Skye asked, looking at the image of the section of her hair that had been straightened out.

  “Yes darling,” Aine replied, smiling. “The straighter, the better.”

  “Says the person who considers herself a blonde.”

  “But I am blonde,” Aine replied, lowering her head to Skye’s so she could see her face clearly in the mirror.

  She dragged her ponytail towards her shoulders. “See the color? It’s gold. Look at those charming pupils. Aren’t they blue and lovely?”

  Skye found herself looking at the image of the chubby cheeked girl that appeared on the mirror.

  Aine placed her left hand on the dressing table. “Just look at this skin tone and tell me I’m not blonde.”

  Skye laughed. “Alright, you win, blonde girl.”

  Aine smiled again, her gold canine sparkling through her snow-white teeth.

  “Can I get my hair straightened out before it begins to defy gravity again?”

  “Aye ma’am,” Aine replied and went back to working on her hair.

  Skye watched her apply a copious amount of coconut oil to her hair which now fell on her shoulders. Aine smiled the entire time.

  There was something reassuring about Aine’s smile, something about it that reminded Skye of how they first met at their elementary school summer party.

  “Done,” Aine announced, placing her oily hands on Skye’s shoulders while observing her.

  Skye peered once more into the mirror. There on the glass, an image of two large cornrows rested on her head, their edges neatly pulled backwards to reveal the roundness of her ebony face. Her pupils contrasted sharply with the surrounding whiteness, adding more innocence to her looks.

  She beamed calmly to reveal a set of flawless teeth that told a story of good personal hygiene.

  “Thank you Aine. You’ve got magic fingers.”

  Skye continued looking into the mirror, her attention gradually shifting from the image on the mirror to the mail she received earlier that evening.

  Aine was quick to notice her mood swing. “What’s wrong darling?”

  Skye forced a smile.

  “Oh no,” Aine objected. “You’re not going to shoo me off with that plastic smile.”

  Seconds passed and Aine was still looking expectantly at Skye.

  Seeing that Aine wasn’t going to let her be until she spilled the beans, Skye turned to face Aine. Then, she stood up.

  “I got another mail from the last firm I applied to.”

  “And?” Aine probed, afraid of what the answer might be, although she could rightly guess it.

  “I didn’t get the job.” Skye replied, looking away.

  Aine held her tightly. “It’s okay darling.”

  “Why is it so hard to get a good job?” Skye asked, almost sobbing.

  “It’s okay,” Aine replied. “I’ve been thinking of something. I could talk to my dad about giving you a job at his firm.”

  Skye’s face brightened up. “Really?”

  Aine nodded.

  Skye smiled. “Thank you.”

  Aine smiled back. “You’re always welcome.”

  There was a knock on the door.

  “Come in,” Aine replied.

  The two women focused their attention on the door. A stout brunette in her mid-forties walked in, dressed in a black dress and an apron.

  “Dinner is served, ma’am,” the woman announced in a deep Irish accent.

  Aine nodded. “We’ll be at the dining room soon.”

  The elderly woman nodded and walked out.

  Skye threw Aine a look of surprise. “We?”

  “Yes, darling. It will be more difficult for my dad to say no our request with you around to give him that innocent look of yours.”

  Skye smiled. “You’re a genius, girl.”

  “Thank you,” Aine replied, smiling. She pointed to the door. “Shall we?”

  “After you.”

  Finn Oscar continued his slow, thoughtful munch of his shrimps, occasionally peering across the table at the disturbed Skye whose white low necked cotton blouse had failed to cover her dark, luscious cleavage.

  Once, Skye’s eyes had met his slow, steady gaze and in her curiosity, she had followed his gaze and it led straight down to her open cleavage. Embarrassed, Skye dropped her spoon and pulled up her blouse, hoping that the fifty-three-year-old billionaire hadn’t seen much.

  Finn chuckled, amused at Skye’s futile attempt to hide that which he longed to see, to squeeze and to suck. As he tried briefly to redirect his mind back to the roasted shrimps that surrounded the creamy coleslaw and mashed potatoes on his plate, he felt a strange reassurance in his spirit that soon, his fantasy would become a reality. As he ate quietly, something about the taste of his dinner and the black, curvy beauty in front of him made his blue eyes pop, giving his smooth, oblong face a more youthful look. The few strands of grey hair – the only indication of his increasing age – that curled on his thick eyebrows glittered under the gold light and appeared to be an extension of his well-oiled brown hair.

  On the other hand, Skye savored her shrimps slowly, still wondering the reason behind Finn’s lustful stares which had become a regular occurrence lately. As her eyes roved between the small dining room that was an extension of the large Italian themed sitting room and her meal, one throbbing thought came to her mind.

  Finn desired her.

  Skye snapped the thought away as quickly as she could and focused her attention on her meal. She relished the taste of the shrimps she was now chewing more slowly as her eyes captured the large painting of a phoenix which hung on the dining room wall. The painting was encased in a gold rimmed portrait. She quickly threw a comparative look at the exotic dining room furniture – four Italian chairs with gold upholsteries, a sturdy table with similar finishing at the edges – and came to the conclusion that the Oscars favored Italian furniture in gold color.

  Skye cleared her throat, an action that attracted Finn’s and Aine’s attention.

  Aine’s eyes met Skye’s and she remembered they had a deal.

  “Dad,” Aine called out immediately.

  “Yes dear,” Finn replied.

  “Can I ask you for a
favor?”

  “It depends on what you want to ask for,” Finn replied sharply, spooning the mashed potatoes into his mouth.

  “Skye has been unsuccessful at finding a good job. I was wondering if you could give her a job at your firm, please?”

  Finn threw an unsettled look at Skye. “If the firms in Cork won’t hire you, why not try other places in Ireland?”

  “Dad, you know she can’t…”

  “Let her speak for herself,” Finn cut in.

  “Sir,” Skye began calmly. “I can’t afford to leave Cork for now because of my mom’s failing health.”

  Finn looked up. “Too bad, I don’t have a placement in my firm for you.”

  “Come on dad,” Aine intervened. “Your secretary doesn’t have an assistant and she’ll soon be going on maternity leave.”

  Finn looked sternly at his twenty-one-year-old daughter who had him well cornered.

  “Dad please,” Aine pushed. “Skye graduated with good grades from College and she’d make a good assistant…”

  “Alright,” Finn cut in again, seeing that Aine was bent on having her way. “The best I can offer her is the role of an intern, given that she has no prior work experience. If I’m satisfied with her work, I could consider absorbing her as permanent staff.”

  “Thank you sir,” Skye replied. “It’s better than nothing.”

  “It sure is,” Finn replied, throwing a look of disapproval at Aine and he continued eating.

  Aine winked at Skye.

  Skye grinned a thin smile at Aine, her mind wondering how Finn could so effortlessly transform from the man that openly lusted after her to the man who didn’t hesitate to say no to her request. As she spooned a few more pieces of shrimp into her mouth, she knew that her working experience with Finn would be a maze of hard work, reproofs and unbridled lust. Still, she decided to dive deep in.

  Chapter Two

  The yellow cab pulled to a halt in front of the five-storey office complex. Skye hurried out from the back seat and bent over the front passenger windscreen.

  “Five Euros,” the cabman said.

  Skye handed over the neatly folded note to the cabman who quickly threw it into his pigeonhole and drove away.

  Alone in the driveway, she had a good look at the building that served as the company’s administrative structure. The well-trimmed carpet grasses, the well-groomed ornamental shrubs that lined the driveway and the tall, leafless trees – the exact features she had seen on the internet impressed her. She hurried into the building and approached the receptionist with a courteous smile.

  “Good morning ma’am,” Skye greeted.

  “Good morning and welcome to FinCorp Inc,” the slim, blonde receptionist replied, smiling to reveal her spotless teeth. “How may I help you, please?”

  “I’m Skye Foster and I’m here on appointment to see Mr. Finn Oscar.”

  “Mr. Oscar is in his office.”

  Skye nodded. “Which floor please?”

  “Last floor. Just hit the elevator. You won’t have a hard time locating it.”

  “Thank you very much.”

  “My pleasure,” the receptionist replied. Her eyes fixed on Skye’s thick hair which she had packed into a bun.

  True to the receptionist’s words, Finn’s office was very easy to locate. In minutes, Skye was face to face with Mrs. Emer Dara, Finn’s secretary.

  After the preliminary introductions, the secretary welcomed her with a smile. There was something warm and welcoming about the secretary’s smile, one that eased Skye’s muscles, putting her tension to flight.

  “Please come with me,” she said as soon as she dropped the call.

  Skye trailed behind her and within seconds, they were in Finn’s large office. Finn’s table was a large wooden table with very fine grain lines crossing horizontally across the smooth edges. Two large cabinets were placed close to the entrance door. There were two leather sofas, placed at opposite ends of the room to allow for free flow of traffic.

  “Good morning sir,” Skye greeted him, taking her eyes off the office features and fixtures.

  “Good morning. You may sit.”

  Finn’s deep voice came up immediately his attention shifted from Skye’s physical appearance to the matter at hand. Something about Skye’s black pants and white shirt gave her an extra glow, one that Finn couldn’t easily ignore.

  “Mrs. Dara, Miss Foster here will be working with us as an intern and she’d be assisting you directly. So, just go ahead and put her through the basics of the job.”

  “Yes sir,” Emer replied.

  He faced Skye. “I believe you’ve received a mail from the human resources manager containing details of your employment?”

  “Yes, I have.”

  “Alright then. Get to work immediately.”

  Skye nodded. “Thank you sir.”

  “Oh boy,” Finn exclaimed beneath his breath as he leaned back on his chair to watch Skye’s round buttocks move up and down in quick succession while she trailed behind Emer.

  At the office, Emer didn’t waste time to put Skye through the basics.

  “This is where both of us will be working from, and that,” Emer said, pointing to a smaller desk by the window, “will be your desk.”

  Skye went over to drop her bag on her desk, her eyes making a quick surveillance of the room.

  It was a large cozy room with a desktop computer on each of the desks and a split unit air conditioner at the corner close to Skye’s desk. A large cabinet and two big bookshelves were placed at opposite ends of the wall, engulfing Emer’s and Skye’s desks in the centre. A four-seater office chair was kept close to the entrance door. Two large flower vases placed at opposite ends of the room gave the room the feel of a home.

  “This is perfect,” Skye said, looking at the secretary who had been quiet so far. “I like the place already.”

  “I’m glad you do. I’ll assign you your first task once you settle down.”

  Skye nodded.

  The settling down process was quite an easy one for Skye. She particularly cherished the location of her desk as it gave her a good view of the surrounding street. With her back pressed against her chair, her face looking up and her legs stretched under her desk, she found herself reminiscing on the events of the past two days. It all started with Aine offering to talk to her dad about giving her a job. Then, it had moved on to her having to send her CV and cover letter on Friday night to the HRM. And here she was with a pay that’s almost double what any firm would have offered an intern.

  She allowed a gush of wind into her nostrils and then, gently and gradually, she exhaled.

  “I’m ready to give this job my best,” she said in a tone low enough that she could barely hear herself.

  The secretary’s voice expelled the silence in the room. “Miss Foster, I’ve just sent a document to your inbox. Could you please proofread and edit it right away?”

  “Sure,” Skye replied, wondering if the secretary had heard her when she said she was ready to work.

  Skye’s English and Literary Studies qualification came in handy as she effortlessly completed the task in half the estimated turnover time.

  The intercom rang and the secretary answered it.

  “Yes sir,” she said after listening to what the obvious caller said. She faced Skye. “Miss Foster, could you please fix Mr. Oscar a cup of tea?”

  “Sure,” Skye replied.

  “The teacups and beverages are in the cabinet.”

  Skye was quick to prepare the tea. She set the hot beverage and a stainless teaspoon on the saucer and left for Finn’s office.

  “Here is your tea, sir,” she said and bent to drop the cup on his desk. Suddenly, the spoon slipped out of the saucer and she hurried to grab it. Unfortunately, she knocked the teacup and it began to shake. Seeing that a bigger disaster was about to happen, she let go of the falling teaspoon and hurried to stabilize the cup. But she was a second too late.

  There on Finn’s desk,
a murky pool of liquid meandered its way across documents and sheets, soaking all that crossed its path.

  Visibly shaken and worried about what first impression she would make, Skye struggled between picking up the cup and preventing the spilled tea from extending further.

  “I’m so sorry, sir,” she said, looking round the room for a towel.

  Finn drew back immediately. “What is wrong with you?”

  “I’m… I’m sor…” She had barely stuttered her apology when Finn’s roar came again, this time, louder than the first one.

  “Of course, you’ve got to be sorry, you’re pathetic! Look what you’ve done to the documents on my desk,” he said, pointing to the soiled documents. “Am I supposed to meet my investors with wet documents?”

  Afraid, Skye hurried back to her office and returned a moment later with a dry towel. She quickly wiped the tea off the table while doing her best to keep the unaffected documents from becoming damaged. She picked up one of the soiled documents and began to dab it.

  The sight of the soiled sheets sparked more fury from Finn.

  “Just look at that,” he shouted, pointing at the sheet. “How incompetent could you be? You couldn’t fix me a cup of tea without messing the whole place up.”

  “I’m sorry…”

  “Oh shut up, will you?”

  Seeing that her apologies only aggravated the issue, Skye continued dabbing in silence.

  “Make such silly mistake again,” Finn said, seeing that she was done and ready to go back to her office, “and I’d show you the way out of this firm.”

  The message sank deep. Skye nodded. “I’m really sorry, sir. I promise it won’t happen again.”

  “Get out!” Finn ordered.

  Skye scampered out of his office like a frightened kitten. At her desk, as she thought of all that had happened within the last five minutes, she found sobbing an irresistible action.”