Into the dark
TWO
CHAPTER TWO
That smell! I would know it anywhere. I craned my head around and peered towards the door. There he was walking bold as brass my way. Oh, crap! I dived into my office, closed the door and turned the plastic cord on my blinds so that I would be safely hidden behind them. What was he doing here? Who was he? And why the heck did he make me feel like a blooming teenager in heat? Okay, so I might get the answer to the first two questions before long but I was certainly in no hurry to find them right at this moment. Taking a quick swig from my cup I braced myself for the inevitable. Sure enough, a few seconds later a booming voice rang out.
"Lily Evans to the manager's office."
I straightened up my blouse, flattened my hair a little, skimmed my hands across my figure hugging skirt and took a deep breath. This was it. Now I was going to meet my new boss. Hopefully, I would make a better impression with her than I had the old one. The old one. It felt weird to call her that considering she hadn't physically left yet, though I was glad to see the back of her. She had been a difficult boss to work for, expecting me to work sixty hours a week on barely over minimum wage and to cater for her every whim. Granted, certain parts of my job description did warrant me being used as a dogs body but she really took it to the extreme. It wasn't just at work she expected me to do her bidding but after it also. Needless to say, my social life had become almost non-existent. Hmm maybe that helps to partly explain my draw to that man. Oh, I don't know, I guess it was as good an explanation as I was capable of making to myself as any other.
My feet had moved along the corridors of their own volition and I found myself standing before the manager's office. I could hear voices from within and to my horror it wasn't two women but a deep and velvety toned male who seemed to be chuckling at whatever my boss had just said. Standing up to my full height, I pushed the door open and walked in. There he stood with an air of authority emanating from him. His hair dripped wet but it only added to his allure. I hadn't noticed just how well dressed he was until then either. Though, I suppose the mere inches away from my face didn't help when I had met him earlier. Now, standing in front of me, I could see he had on a black designer shirt that was open at the top giving a slightly casual look and a pair of snug fitting black trousers. His long black coat draped across his arm.
"Lily, this is Severus, Severus Snape and he will be replacing me," Tracy said, pulling my gaze away from him.
I nodded curtly and held out my hand. "Nice to meet you, Mr Snape," I said as indifferently as I could.
He smiled and took my hand. "I hear you are an exceptional worker." His fingers brushed delicately across my skin as he held my eyes. I tried not to blush at the intensity and turned to look at Tracy. Surprised was an understatement. Had she truly given a compliment to Severus about me? Note to self - never call him Severus! It sounds too casual and perfect in my head. Severus, Severus, Sever...
"Hello, Lily? I was just saying you would be delighted to go to lunch with Severus," Tracy said, drawing me back to the present. "It would give you a chance to get acquainted properly and he can fill you in with any requirements he may need."
"Oh, uhm, yes of course," I said, turning to smile weakly back at him.
"Then I shall see you at noon." He dipped his head slightly and walked out the room.
I couldn't help but watch as he strode away. The tightness of the black material against his skin, the perfectly formed mounds... I could hear him chuckling, his voice tingling against my skin as though caressing it, but how? He was at the opposite side of the room now! Puzzled, I turned to Tracy and wished her well before leaving and heading back to my office. He was a conundrum and at noon today I was going to be having lunch with him. Please, please don't let me make a fool of myself, I begged.