Take My Breath Away

"Yes, Mrs. Huo!" Raymond took the box from Erica, turned, and left the floor where the CEO's office was located.

Seeing this, the female assistants finally breathed a sigh of relief and returned to their desks. Maybe they could get some work done before their shifts ended.

Before entering his office, Matthew instructed Paige, "Paige, I need a change of clothes for my wife."

"Yes, Mr. Huo."

When she heard this, Erica grinned broadly at Paige. "Thank you so much!" she said enthusiastically.

Paige shook her head. "You're welcome, Mrs. Huo! That's my job." She really liked Erica. Although Erica had a mischievous streak a mile wide, she was cute and polite.

Erica followed Matthew into the office.

The couple walked into the lounge together. He changed his jacket, and she went to take a shower.

She was in there for what seemed like forever. Matthew took the opportunity to get some work done. He was sitting at his desk, engaged in some kind of negotiations by phone. Hearing the sound of the lounge door opening, he raised his head and looked in that direction.

Erica was wrapped in a white bath towel, standing at the door to the lounge. She stared at him. There was meaning in her gaze. Her fair shoulders were bare, and her small feet were covered by his big open-toed slippers. Her small toes were poking out, made more visible by the nail polish she applied. It was the latest style—opaque taupe gray with hints of purple.

It had the intended effect. "I have to go," Matthew said, and ended the call quickly. Erica trotted over.

Gripping the bath towel with one hand and propping her head on the desk with the other, she winked at him and grinned, revealing pearly white teeth. "Dearest Matthew..."

Matthew's hackles raised when he heard these words. "Go on!" He was sure he wouldn't like whatever she was going to say.

With a giggle, Erica walked around the desk, making the movement as sexy and flirtatious as she could. She whispered in his ear, "Well, my period came, but I don't have a pad."

Yes! She finally got her period! She really wanted to shout it out loud, with Matthew right there.

But she felt a little embarrassed, so she decided discretion was the better part of valor.

Matthew could detect a faint fragrance, and he wondered what it was. Then it hit him—that was Erica's scent. As he was lost in it for a moment, he didn't pay much attention to what she said. "What did you say?" he asked.

Erica's face turned even redder. "Well, I'm on my period. Can you buy me some pads?"

'So she got her period? And she wants me to buy her feminine pads?' He decisively picked up the office phone and was about to have Paige do it.

However, as soon as he put his finger on the button, a pair of soft, gentle hands descended on his own hand. When their eyes met, Erica smiled sweetly and lied, "You know, honey, there's a book out that says it's better for a husband to buy this kind of thing for his wife. It goes on to say that if he doesn't want to, then he never loved her. But if he does, then that means he's a keeper and loves her a lot."

Matthew, though immersed in his wife's beauty, still had his pride. "Ridiculous! What book is that? Sounds like the author's an idiot." Whoever published this drivel would pay! He'd have the author blacklisted, the publisher bought out and the company sold off piecemeal.

"Oh, the book is called 'Erica's Wisdom'!"

Matthew's lips twitched. "Clever. I'll have Paige do it," he insisted.

Erica was persistent. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and whispered in his ear, "Honey, you should think about it. Why would you have some other woman do this? Aren't you afraid I'll get jealous?"

"Oh?" He fixed his eyes on her and asked, "Will you get jealous?"

"Of course, I'm also your woman and I have feelings for you. How could I not be jealous?"

"But I haven't done this for anyone!" said Matthew flatly. He couldn't imagine how it would look if he went to the supermarket to buy sanitary pads. The mere thought of it embarrassed him.

"That's good. Then I'll be your first!" she laughed.

Matthew was speechless again. That sounded so weird.

Erica suddenly felt a warm stream sliding down her legs. She knew what that meant. She let go of Matthew, grabbed her bath towel and made to run to the lounge. "Oh, crap!"

Matthew grabbed her wrist before she could run off. "What's wrong?"

This was so uncomfortable and embarrassing that Erica was almost in tears. "I may have stained your bath towel. I should have stayed put. Go ahead and ask Paige to buy the pads. I gotta hurry!"

It was her own fault sticking around trying to convince Matthew to do it for her.

Matthew understood what she meant. He let go of her wrist and stared at her running back to the lounge. But her running posture caught his attention. It looked so strange, like she was loping along with her legs as close together as possible.

Twenty minutes later, Erica almost fell asleep sitting on the toilet. Finally, she heard footsteps at the door.

It was Matthew. He came in, frowning, and handed her a bag. "Here you go," he said.

Erica took the bag and looked inside. There were several brands of sanitary towels inside. "Thank Paige for me."

Matthew opened his mouth like he wanted to tell her something, but decided better of it and said nothing. He walked out of the bathroom without another word.

More than ten minutes later, Erica came out of the lounge again. She had gathered her long hair into a bun and sported the clothes Paige had fetched for her.

She wore a short pink coat over a set of pink sportswear of the same brand. She looked happy and ready to tackle anything.

It was just that she looked like a teenager in that outfit. Even if Matthew wanted to touch her, he'd feel guilty. The illusion of youth she projected was almost creepy.

Noticing the familiar glint in the man's eyes, Erica shivered. She crossed her arms over her chest and told him proudly, "Sorry. I'm on my period for the next week or so, give or take. Humph." Matthew rolled his eyes at her. Did he look like a man who was desperate for sex, no matter what?

Looking at the man's gloomy face, Erica thought for a while.

"How about this? I'll find you some young hottie. I'm sure they'd jump at the chance to get with you!" She tried to sound him out on purpose.

"Erica Li!" he warned her coldly.

A figure appeared in her mind. "I know a girl with a perfect figure! Her face's very beautiful! She's a good person, too. Very gentle. She's a bias-wrecker for sure. I'd turn gay for her..."

Matthew asked calmly, "Really? Is that what you're into?"

Erica grinned and scratched in the air, imitating what Matthew usually did to her. "Yup! She is so nummy! I'd love to spend a night with her!"

Oh! He seemed to understand something. His wife was probably bisexual. She loved both handsome men and beautiful women.

To Erica's surprise, Matthew agreed readily this time. "Okay, bring her here!"

"What?" This was not the reaction Erica expected at all.

Was she hearing things?

Didn't Matthew always behave himself? Why did he agree so readily this time?

Before she could say anything, he urged, "Why not bring her by? Get her on the phone! There's no time to waste!"

She was a little embarrassed and she stammered, "Bring her... by?"

"Yes. Here. As in my office."

'Oh my God!' She began to construct a scene in her mind, and she wasn't sure she liked it. "Didn't you tell me the office wasn't a good place to have sex?"