A Corporate Attraction

By Belinda Wright

When Nicole's friend introduces her to Chris, the physical attraction is irresistible. An affair with a stranger seems like just the thing to take Nicole's mind off an impending work reorganisation. As redundancy looms, her weekend with the sexy businessman doesn't disappoint. But when the restructure rolls out, Nicole discovers Chris Reeves is the consultant driving her company's organisational change, which makes him strictly off limits.

Every time their paths cross in the office, Chris and Nicole are forced to pretend they don't know each other. Harder still, they have to fight their mutual attraction. Nicole is thrown into turmoil, faced with the choice of relocation to the other side of the world or redundancy. All this while presenting a professional front and staying away from the consultant she's intimately acquainted with.

Maybe taking redundancy would be the best option. Then their professional connection would cease, Chris would become available again and Nicole wouldn't have to move away from her friends and family. But is an affair worth sacrificing her hard-earned career for?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Belinda Wright
• Release date: Aug 17, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201354701

Belinda Wright

Thank you for reading. I'm a mum of two girls and a lover of books; both reading and writing them. I hope you love my books as much as I do. Belinda x

Book preview

Chapter One – Nicole

The front door buzzes open. I push it and step out of the warm evening air into the dark hallway. I shiver, draw my shawl tighter around my shoulders and hurry up the narrow staircase.

‘It’s open,’ Luna calls from the top.

‘Hi,’ I say when I reach her flat.

‘Hi, Nic.’ Luna smiles at me. ‘You look beautiful.’ She tucks a strand of blonde curls behind her ear and frowns. ‘But what’s with the shawl?’

‘Beautiful, huh?’ I stroke the black lace fringe that covers my arms. The fabric is embroidered with tiny black beads and iridescent sequins. It’s one I picked up on a business trip in India. Fabrics are my passion; I’m drawn to them like a magpie. I collect them – the shinier the better.

‘Yes, it is beautiful, but why are you wearing it?’ Luna asks, moving to the kitchen and taking a bottle of white wine out of the fridge. She fills a glass and hands it to me.

‘I thought it was perfect for a salsa evening.’ I shake my shoulders and the black fringing shimmies over my bare skin. She looks at me, turning her head slightly.

‘OK, and I’m cold,’ I mutter.

‘Nic, it’s, like, twenty-eight degrees outside and it’ll be hotter in the club. You don’t need a shawl. And what’s with the Doc Martens? You’re not seriously going to wear those?’

‘Of course not.’ I hold up the high heels I brought with me then drop down on the chair by the table and put my foot up to unlace my boots. I glance up at Luna as she heads to her bedroom; she’s wearing a black tunic dress embellished with silver sequins. It suits her curves, hugging her figure. Luna’s a good friend. I’ve only known her a year, since I started at Stylez, but it feels like we’ve been friends much longer.

‘So, take me through it again – we’re not allowed to mention our jobs tonight?’

‘No,’ Luna gasps, stopping halfway to her bedroom and staring at me as if I’m mad.

I swallow a smile. ‘Right.’ I tap my temple pretending to commit it to memory. ‘I’m not a menswear apparel developer. And you’re not a womenswear apparel developer.’

‘That’s right.’

‘We don’t work at Stylez?’ I confirm. We’ve already been through this today in the office, but I hate lying and I know I’ll mess up if I don’t get it straight.

‘No,’ she says as if talking to a child. ‘You’re a yoga teacher. Like me.’

‘Right, we’re yoga teachers,’ I repeat as she goes into the bedroom to finish her make-up.

‘Yup.’

‘I’ve got no idea about yoga, by the way,’ I call. ‘I do Pilates, not yoga. I know people think they’re similar, but they’re not that close. Not really.’

She puts her head around the bedroom door, mascara wand in hand. ‘They’re not going to ask you details, Nic.’

I walk to her bedroom and lean on the doorframe. ‘But tell me again. Why did you lie to Brent?’

She swallows and bites her lip. ‘It was an accident. If I’d have known I would see him again I would never have lied.’

‘So why did you?’

‘When I met him at the airport, I thought he was just some arrogant American businessman acting like he’s better than everyone else. I wanted him to think I wasn’t anything like him, nothing to do with the corporate world at all.’

‘Luna, being an apparel developer at Stylez isn’t exactly corporate.’ I sit down on her bed.

‘Stylez is a big American company, I just wanted him to think I was the opposite of everything he is. You know spiritual, caring, in touch with the senses.’

‘So, you told him you’re a yoga teacher?’

‘Yes, and it’s not a complete lie. I did teach yoga when I lived in Bali.’ I take a breath, and she continues. ‘I mean, we were in an airport bar, Nic. In Amsterdam. I had no idea I’d ever see this man again, let alone have a ... thing with him.’

I lie back on her bed, pick up an embroidered cushion and run my finger over the golden thread bordering the bright geometric pattern. ‘I like this.’ I wave the cushion at her.

‘It’s from Bali. Nice, huh?’

I study the cushion. I’ve got some fabric like this at home; I should make cushions out it. I could do it easily because I studied garment engineering and pattern making at college. I sit up, squeezing the padded cushion. ‘But why don’t you just tell Brent the truth about your job now?’

‘How can I tell him the truth?’ She looks shocked. ‘Then he’ll know I lied.’

‘But surely it’s better to tell the truth now rather than keep the lie going?’

She turns to me, pursing her lips. ‘Brent’s leaving at the end of this week. He’s in England for a project and his part is finishing, so he’ll be flying back to the US. I’ll never see him again after next week, so what’s the point of ruining the few days we’ve got left together? Please, Nic, it’s just a white lie. All you need to do is go along with my story.’

I hold up my hands. ‘I will, I will. I won’t mention Stylez. I’m a yoga teacher.’ I’ve only worked at Stylez as a menswear developer for a year. It’s not my dream job, but I like it. It’s in Reading, so I don’t have a long commute. When I was at school, I dreamt of being a designer. I’d spend ages doodling sketches of clothes I would create. Most people on my college design course just wanted to design, as in draw pretty pictures of clothes. I wanted to do more than just design. I was fascinated by creating clothes – I wanted to choose the fabrics, cut them and construct them into perfectly fitting garments. After college I studied garment engineering and pattern making. I was going to go to university and do a design degree, but then everything changed. My mum left my dad and my world fell apart. I couldn’t leave my dad too. So I didn’t. I stayed in Reading and gave up my place at Fashion Design school. I’m just as happy being a textile developer and I still do some design for myself.

I stand up and touch my toes. ‘Good job all those Pilates lessons have made me flexible.’

Luna looks at me, a bottle of perfume in her hand. ‘You really do look good, by the way. That colour suits your skin tone.’

‘Thanks.’ I swivel at the waist so the skirt of my short red dress flares out. ‘I thought it was right for a salsa night.’ I take my glass of wine and follow her out of the bedroom.

‘I’m looking forward to seeing what Cubano’s is like.’ Luna sips her wine.

‘I can’t believe you’ve not been there before. It opened months ago.’

‘I’ve been working a lot,’ she says. The doorbell buzzes. ‘That’ll be the taxi.’

I swallow the last of my wine, pull my shawl around my shoulders and follow her to the door.

‘You don’t need that shawl.’

‘No, I guess not.’ I drop it on her chair. ‘Let’s go. In the car you can tell me about Brent’s friend.’ I follow her down the stairs and out to the waiting taxi.

I climb out of the taxi, stepping carefully onto the pavement so as not to damage my heels. Reading centre is as busy tonight as it is at peak shopping times, only the street is full of people heading out for the evening. Saturday nights in Reading are always big.

A girl in a tight short shirt wobbles as she steps around me following her friends down towards O’Neill’s. They’re all talking loudly and laughing. It makes me smile, reminding me of when I was younger. I’ve been coming out in Reading on Saturday night since I was sixteen and used to sneak into the bars with my friends. There was always the thrill of whether we’d get IDed or not if the bouncers let us in. Even after all these years, the Saturday night excitement hasn’t worn off.

‘Ready?’ Luna asks, walking around the back of the car to join me. I slip my arm through hers and we head up Bridge Street together towards Cubanos.

‘So Brent’s business partner, Chris ...’ I say as we move out of the way of a group of guys. One of them whistles at us.

Luna’s pretty much my opposite to look at; she’s shorter, curvier, has blonde curly hair and blue eyes. I’m tall, skinny, straight dark hair and brown eyes. I guess opposites attract because we’ve been good friends since the day I started at Stylez.

‘What was I saying? Oh yeah, Brent’s partner, he’s flown in for the weekend on the spur of the moment.’

‘He’s come all the way from the US just for the weekend?’

‘He wasn’t supposed to be here until next week, to take over when Brent leaves, but he’s flown in to meet me, apparently. Can you believe it?’ She looks at me, her blue eyes shining. ‘He’s going back to New York on Monday morning and then he’ll be back here again in a week to take over from Brent on the project.’

‘Great for his carbon footprint. He’ll have to plant a lot of trees to offset that one,’ I mutter, holding her tightly as we step over an uneven part of the pavement and I almost lose my heel in the crack.

‘These guys travel a lot. And they always go business class.’

‘Huh, lucky them.’ Stylez never pays for us to travel business. We’re always cramped in economy when we fly to Asia for development trips. One time I was upgraded because the flight was overbooked. It felt like I’d won the lottery: the reclining flat seats, the Champagne in real glass; it was pure luxury.

‘Why did Chris want to meet you so urgently?’ I ask. ‘This thing with you and Brent is just a fling, right?’ I give her a side glance, but she doesn’t meet my eyes. There’s a trace of a smile on her lips. It makes my stomach knot. I’m sensing she really likes this guy. And he’s going back to America soon.

‘Brent meeting someone when he travels is unusual, apparently.’

‘And he’s not married? No girlfriend?’ This guy sounds too good to be true if you ask me. Although I haven’t seen him yet; he might be totally unattractive.

‘Nope. Chris says Brent’s a workaholic. That’s why he was so shocked to hear about me.’ The hint of pride in her voice makes me grimace. This all sounds too serious for someone who’s supposed to be ‘just passing through’.

‘I’m glad I get to meet this Brent before he leaves – sounds like quite a guy.’

‘He’s not totally unattractive. Not at all. You’ll like him.’ She squeezes my arm.

‘I’m sure I will. And the other one? Chris? You met him at lunchtime today?’

‘Yeah. He’s funny.’

‘I hope I like him,’ I mutter. ‘It’ll be a boring night if I don’t.’

We slow as we reach the bar. It’s still early and there’s no queue, which makes me happy and nervous at the same time. I hope I haven’t made the wrong choice deciding on Cubano’s for tonight.

‘Evening, ladies.’ The doorman steps aside and holds the door open for us.

‘Good evening.’ I attempt a flirtatious smile. The doorman gives me a wink in response, which I chalk up as a success.

Inside it’s warm and dark; the music pounds, vibrating through my body, making my heart tingle. My hair is loose down my back and I feel it sticking to my bare skin. I reach up to pin it up on my head then stop – loose hair is a sexier look. I drop my arms and swallow, realising my mouth’s dry. I need a drink.

I glance around the club trying not to think about how much this feels like a blind date – Brent and Luna, his friend Chris and ... me. A flutter of adrenaline runs through my body, and my blood pumps in time with the loud music. Do I want this? I’m not sure yet. I haven’t dated for a long time.

I take a breath and lead the way further into the bar, Luna’s arm still tucked in mine; her closeness is comforting. I take care as we walk across the polished dance floor in our high heels because falling on my face wouldn’t be a great start to the evening.

‘This is a nice place,’ Luna shouts into my ear over the loud music. A stray curl sticking to the middle of her forehead makes her look cute. She brushes it aside.

‘Cool, huh? I love the Latin vibe. And the salsa dancing. Thursday nights they do a beginner’s class. We should try it.’

‘Not this Thursday.’

I glance at her. ‘Oh yeah, I forgot. Brent’s last night here is Thursday.’

We keep walking and I scan the tables, looking for the two men who could be Brent and Chris. I wonder what they’ll be like, whether it’s possible for someone to be as great as she’s making out.

It’s dark; spotlights project a red glow up the walls giving it a cool vibe. The air is warm and humid and the fabric of my dress clings to my skin like a wet cloth. I don’t see any empty tables, so I turn back and guide Lue towards the maître d’s stand.

I give my name, the maître d’ glances down at his computer, running his finger along the edge of the monitor to check for my reservation.

‘Brown? You said?’ He looks up and raises an eyebrow.

‘Yes, Nicole Brown.’ There’s a moment when I think he’s not going to find it and my pulse speeds up. ‘We’re meeting people. They might be here already.’

‘Ah yes. The tab is already open – your friends have arrived. Please follow me.’ He leads us through the club, weaving past the groups of people, to the standing tables at the back. We struggle to keep up with him in our heels.

Luna pulls at my arm as we get close to the tables, stopping me. I follow her gaze to where two men are deep in conversation. The maître d’ realises we’ve stopped and looks around, his eyes flicking from Luna to me. ‘Everything all right?’

‘Yes, that’s the table,’ Luna says, but she doesn’t move or release her grip on my arm.

‘I can leave you here. Someone will be along in a moment to take your drinks order.’ He smiles and walks away.

‘Thanks,’ I murmur, my eyes not leaving the table where two men are standing talking to each other. One of them has his back to us. I know immediately that the one I can see is Brent. He’s tall with dark wavy hair that’s gelled back. I can also see why Luna has fallen for him. He has broad shoulders and tanned skin; the buttons of his black shirt are open at the neck and his sleeves are rolled up to show strong tattooed forearms.

Chris is taller, with dark-blond hair cropped neatly at the nape of his neck. As I stare at his back he lifts a bottle of beer to his lips and his white cotton shirt tightens across his shoulders. He turns his head slightly and I get a glimpse of stubble coating the sharp lines of his jaw. From this angle he looks like Brad Pitt; it makes me gasp, and I draw a mouthful of the thick warm club air into my lungs and almost choke. Nerves descend on my stomach.

I breathe slowly, forcing myself to calm down. This isn’t a blind date. This man isn’t here for me, he’s here to meet Luna because she’s hooking up with his partner. I’m only here tonight to make up the numbers. There’s nothing to be nervous about.

Chapter Two – Nicole

‘T hat’s them,’ Luna whispers into my ear.

I look at her. ‘Who’s who?’ I ask as if I didn’t already know.

‘Which do you think?’

‘Brent’s the one facing us.’

She gives a proud nod. ‘C’mon, I’ll introduce you.’ Luna pulls me forward and I follow her to the table. Brent glances up as we approach. A look of recognition flicks over his face and a smile forms on his mouth. We reach the table. Brent slips his arm around Luna’s waist and pulls her to him. He kisses her; she snuggles into his arms and he presses his face against her frizzy blonde curls. Seeing them together, it’s obvious she’s completely smitten by this guy despite her denial. I’ve never seen her so happy and it makes me feel good, but there’s a nagging sadness – what happens when Brent leaves next week when his consulting project is over and he goes back to wherever it is in the US he comes from? What then?

‘Think we should leave them alone?’ his partner whispers to me, his breath warm on my ear sending tingles of excitement through my body. I turn to him and smile, looking at his face for the first time. He has light blue eyes flecked with green and they’re fixed on me. I tip my head upwards and find myself unable to look at anything but those eyes. He’s close enough that I can smell his aftershave; there’s a smile in his eyes and the way he speaks it’s as if we’re together in a private joke. I’m drawn to him. Is this what they call instant attraction?

‘Maybe,’ I whisper.

‘Guys? You wanna get a room?’ Chris says loudly. Luna peels herself out of Brent’s arms, pushing his chest until he releases her, and turns to us. She’s grinning widely – her whole face seems to have taken on a golden glow. This guy really does look good on her.

‘Hi, Chris, good to see you again.’ She reaches up to kiss him on the cheek. ‘This is my friend, Nicole.’

‘Yes, we just met,’ Chris says, looking at me. We exchange a smile and I get that ‘private joke’ feeling again. He holds his hand out and I stare at it, focusing on the expensive-looking silver watch on his wrist and the golden hairs dusting his forearm. I place my hand into his; his fingers close around mine and he holds my hand tightly. Goosebumps break out on my skin in spite of the warmth of the club. I drag my eyes from his hand up to his face.

‘Pleasure to meet you, Nicole.’ As he says my name that hint of a smile returns to the sides of his mouth. ‘I’m Chris Reeves, Brent’s partner.’

‘I figured,’ I manage to say.

‘Nic?’

I pull my eyes away from Chris, realising I was staring, and look at Luna. She’s looking at me, waiting.

‘Sorry? Did you say something?’

‘Nicole, this is Brent,’ Luna says. I move closer to Brent, happy to be out of Chris’s magnetic field for a few moments, and take his hand. I breathe deeply, my heart thumping so loudly I can almost hear it over the music.

‘Brent Costner.’

‘So, you’re the one, are you?’ I look him up at him.

He chuckles. ‘The one?’

‘The one who’s got my colleague here in such a spin. It’s a pleasure to meet you.’

He puts his arm around Luna and kisses the top of her head. ‘I know – it’s crazy to think we just bumped into each other in the airport.’ He looks at Luna.

‘Literally,’ Luna adds. ‘I poured green tea all over him.’

‘Interesting technique. I’ll have to try that one,’ Chris mutters. I don’t turn to look at him, although I’m hyperaware of how close he is.

‘I’m glad we bumped into each other,’ Brent says, pulling Luna to him. ‘And then finding out that you live in the town I’m going to work in. It was fate.’ He says it to Luna, not to us; she looks up at him and for a moment no one speaks. Fate? This thing is worse than I realised. How do they plan to deal with next week when Brent goes back to New York? Will that be fate too?

‘Shall we start with some Champagne?’ Chris suggests. Brent glances away from Luna at his partner. I take a relieved breath – that was kind of heavy.

‘No, let’s start with Mojitos. They make a good one here.’ I look at him. There’s something in his eyes ... curiosity? Interest, maybe?

‘Sounds like a plan.’ The sound of his voice sending shivers through my blood; his American accent, New York I think, is sexy as hell. I glance away, suddenly embarrassed by his effect on me.

He flags a waitress to order the drinks and I glance at Brent and Luna to see if they noticed the energy between us, but they’re too wrapped up in each other. As far as they go, I’m alone – with Chris. I rest my arms on the table and realise I’m shaking. Why am I shaking? Get a grip I tell myself. This guy is intimidating, intimidating and hot. But I can handle that, so why am I acting all silly?

Chris picks up his beer bottle and grins at me. ‘Cool place. Your choice, I hear?’

Ah, that grin, it makes my stomach flip. I take a slow breath to calm myself. ‘Yeah, it’s not been open long. I’ve been here a few times.’ I glance around, flicking my hair over my shoulder in what I hope is a flirtatious way. I’m trying to play it casual, not as though every move I make I’m doing for him. ‘Do you like to dance?’

‘I never dance.’ He smiles and nods in Brent’s direction. ‘My buddy here’s the dancer of our partnership.’

‘Luna mentioned that Brent used to be a dance teacher or something.’ I glance at Brent, and back to Chris.

‘He could have been a professional dancer. He’s mad good.’

‘Hope tonight won’t be too boring for you, then. If you don’t ... you know, like to dance.’

Chris takes his arms off the table and shoves his hands in his pockets, standing up straight as he does, his eyes fixed on mine. ‘I don’t think tonight will be boring at all.’

Wow. He feels it too, the attraction between us, I mean; with a comment like that he’s got to. I try to swallow but my mouth is dry as I force myself not to break his gaze.

The waitress arrives with the cocktails and places them on the table. I focus on them, happy to be able to break the tension for a moment. I reach for one of the glasses; it’s filled with ice and mint and feels cold in my hot fingers. I want to hold the glass to my blazing cheeks, but that would show Chris how much he’s affecting me. Instead I discreetly press my now cold hands to my face.

‘Here’s to a great weekend.’ Chris holds up his glass.

Great weekend. I hope I get to spend it with him, I find myself thinking. He’s older than me, I don’t know by how much, but closer to forty than my thirty-two. He’s a businessman, a rich and clearly successful one, and he’s attractive. Really attractive.

I touch my glass to his. ‘To a great weekend,’ I repeat.

‘Nicole,’ he says my name as if it’s in a foreign word and he’s testing how it sounds on his tongue. ‘It’s a pleasure to meet you. Your friend seems to have had quite an effect on my partner.’ I look at Luna and Brent and then back to Chris, and nod.

‘You’re both yoga teachers, huh?’ he asks, tipping his head and looking at me.

Yoga teachers. I swallow. ‘Yeah, that’s right.’ I tell the lie with a straight face, remembering my promise to Luna earlier. His eyes don’t leave mine and I bite my lip. Does he know I’m lying? Can he see it? I struggle to breathe, it’s so warm in here. God, I hate lying. I feel panicked, I need to get away. ‘Mi Gente’ pounds from the speakers. I turn to Luna. ‘I love this song. Can we dance now, please?’ I stare at her, willing her to see that I need to get away.

‘I’ll have another drink before I’m dancing,’ Brent says.

‘Just us then. C’mon, Lue.’ I pull at Luna’s arm, unable to look at Chris. I know his eyes are on me, I can feel them like the lasers of a gun. I just hope he doesn’t know I’m lying.

‘You two go, I’ll join you in a minute.’

I drag Luna with me