‘No, I like being ugly. People underestimate you. You thought I was ugly when you met me. I saw you looking at me in the boardroom,’ he said, without any accusation in his voice.
Carlotta pursed her lips. It was true but she would never say it to anyone because it wasn’t true any more. The more time she spent with Chris the more she found him attractive. His brown eyes, his long eyelashes, the curve of his mouth. He had straight white teeth and forearms that were brown and hairy and so sexy, she noticed when his cuffs were rolled up. He had strong wrists, she whispered to Birdie one evening when it was her turn on duty, and long sensitive fingers.
‘When people think someone is ugly they are often rude to them, they get straight to the point. You are asked to list the problems at the company straightaway. Not wanting to find out information about me or why I said the things I said. When people are attracted to someone then they dance around more. People don’t dance around me.’
‘And how has that worked out for you so far?’ asked Carlotta, smiling at him.
‘I have a good life. It’s not perfect. Alexia’s accident, the death of her mom. These are the things I think about at night.’ A shadow crossed his face.
‘I can only imagine,’ said Carlotta, staring unseeingly at the view.
‘It’s hard to change,’ said Chris, taking his feet down and standing up.
‘But not impossible?’ asked Carlotta.
Chris felt his heart skip a beat. ‘Nothing’s impossible, Carlotta.’ He picked up his papers and suit jacket and opened the boardroom door. ‘But I’ll tell you one thing. Ugly men are never lazy in bed.’
Carlotta felt her mouth open in shock. She was used to being the one who shocked people, not being shocked.
Chris looked at her face. ‘You don’t need to say anything. I do fine. Women get over my initial resemblance to Klinger fromMashand then they see me for my pay check and my incredible ability to fuck them.’
Carlotta felt like she was having an out of body experience. ‘What?’ she almost screamed.
‘It’s true. I’m great at fucking,’ he said, smiling. ‘Some people are excellent at sex.’
Carlotta felt her stomach lurch like she was going over a huge jump on Amante. ‘Should I be intrigued or offended?’ she asked, as she crossed her arms.
‘Now Ms de Santoval, don’t go and get all upstate and uptight on me. It’s not an invitation and nor am I boasting, it is what I said. We’re all good at something. You, it’s riding horses. Me, well…’ He let his voice drift away.
Carlotta sat still.
‘Did I shock you?’ asked Chris, almost gleefully.
‘I’m not shocked about what you said. Not the subject matter, sex doesn’t scare me. I am just so surprised you said it aloud,’ she lied.
Carlotta spun the wine glass around in her hand. It was true, Chris’s admission of sexual prowess was not as interesting as the reason he would say it and for what purpose. Now Carlotta was curious. It had been a long time since she’d had a decent session of sex and Chris, even though he did look like a donkey in fine clothing, certainly piqued her interest.
She eyed him off. ‘Do you want to fuck me?’ she asked suddenly.
Chris didn’t miss a beat. ‘Of course I do. I think most men would like you on top of them but you know, never shit where you eat.’
Carlotta shook her head at him. She had never met anyone so crass and yet so charming.
‘So you do but you won’t try,’ she asked to be clear.
‘Well, I might one day but not now. Too complicated, don’t you think?’
Carlotta almost felt disappointed. As he spoke, she could feel the wetness between her legs and she took a deep breath.
‘Well, Mr Koch, you certainly know how to shock a girl. And yet I am strangely not offended,’ she said, smiling at him.
‘Sex is natural. There’s nothing to be shocked at,’ he said, getting up.
Carlotta stood up also.
‘Dinner tonight?’ he asked casually, as though they had just been discussing stocks and shares instead of sex.
Carlotta smiled at him. ‘OK,’ she said, still confused.
