My Naughty Little Secret Read Online Free Page B

was really irritable all morning; why had I not confronted him? So distracted was I that I almost forgot about trying on that dress again. I went down to ladies’ fashions. I had to admit, Gloria was right, it was amazing. The soft floating silk clung to me in all the right places and the rich red added colour to my pale Irish complexion. I felt wonderful in it. I came out of the changing room to show the women.
    “See, I told you,” Gloria said smugly.
    “Oh, save it for the paying customers,” I said shyly. “Even with the staff discount I can’t afford this, it’s fifteen hundred quid!”
    “Look at your man, that new fellah, what’s his name, with his gob open—he obviously thinks it looks great too,” Gloria said, pointing towards the shop floor.
    I turned around to see Michael walking through the store with a Subway bag in hand. He was literally stopped in mid-stride, staring at me. Damn him, he always caught me on the hop. I scurried into the changing room to put back on my work clothes. When I came out, Michael had disappeared, but Gloria and Kate were still laughing.
    Several times after that I bumped into him. It seemed there was no escape from my mortification. He still looked me up and down, but he was more inclined to make small talk, sometimes even stopping by my office for no obvious reason. By Friday, I wasn’t terribly surprised to see him in the staff canteen before me. If I wasn’t so sure he disapproved of me, I would have thought he was waiting for me as his eyes were trained on the door as I came in. I still wasn’t sure what to make of him, but I was gone past anger or intimidation and readily accepted the proffered seat. In the middle of chatting about work, out of the blue, he said something that nearly sent me flying off my chair.
    “Siobhan, I’d like to take you out this weekend.”
    I spluttered on a mouthful of water. Fuck! I really didn’t know what to think. It was a statement, not an invitation or a request. Was I even permitted a say in it?
    I hated him and yet I wanted him. He scared me, but he excited me. But the bottom line was if I went out with him this weekend, I’d still have to face him on Monday, and he was one of the managers. I meant to say no, I really did. But somehow the words that came out of my mouth were:
    “Sure, I’d love to.”
    I don’t know who said them, but I’d almost swear on my life, even to this day, that it wasn’t me. I hoped my voice and face were showing less shock than I felt. My heart was pounding and I wouldn’t have been surprised if Michael could hear it from where he was sitting. I was almost wondering, had it really happened or had I been hallucinating?
    It took him a second to register my reply and it dawned on me that he hadn’t intended to ask me out either. He seemed as stunned as I was. There was this awkward pause where both of us seemed to be wondering what to say or do next. Michael was first to recover control.
    “What do you enjoy doing, Siobhan?” he asked.
    “Oh, I dunno; theatre, cinema, and nice food. I love sightseeing, even just going to a pub in the city, clubbing…” I blurted, not even sure what I was saying. I just seemed to need to talk…to fill up that void of disbelief…
    “Give me your number and I’ll organise a surprise. I’ll call you tonight and arrange a time to pick you up,” he said in his demanding way.
    “I think you probably already have my number. And while we’re on the subject, where did you get my address?” I asked tetchily. For one brief moment there, in my astonishment, I had almost forgotten the real Michael. But the spell was broken by the mention of the phone number. I’d find out how he’d gotten that information somehow.
    “Oh…” he said suddenly, touching my arm. Had he changed his mind already? And maybe it might be for the best. “…I almost forgot; would you prefer to go out tomorrow or Sunday?”
    An unexpected relief washed over me and I was aware of the