1. Put the blame on tea

                                    

                                              
Important note!!!
                          
I've received a number of messages about some confusion and I'm hoping to clear it up. The first part titled "All of me" is a prologue and the events from this chapter going forward occur 2 years before the prologue. I took down the prologue hoping to un-confuse (is that even a word haha) but if you had already read it then its fine, just keep in mind it's a prologue. Thank you so much for being understanding darlings!
                          
2 years ago...
                          
I totally blame the tea. 
                          
If it hadn't been so hot, I wouldn't have focused so much on trying to keep my fingers from burning and I would have looked up and seen the giant backing away from a storeroom, right into my path with boxes piled high in his hands. 
                          
And most importantly, said giant wouldn't have bumped into me making me drop my tea and fall into a stranger's lap. 
                          
"Well I've had a lot of women fall for me but not quite as literal as this," the stranger whose lap I had landed on said, a look of humor playing on his face.
                          
"I fell on you not for you," I said looking up at him.
                          
"Semantics," he shrugged, "No need to be ashamed. I've been known to have that effect on women." 
                          
Urghh arrogant toad.
                          
 I pushed myself up into a sitting position, bringing my face level with his. I stared into his blue-grey eyes mesmerized now that I could see him properly. If I were to write one of those picture books for kindergarten, this guy would be the illustration for handsome (and the book would totally be a bestseller). 
                          
"A little early in the day for a lap-dance don't you think?" he snickered and I turned red. He leaned forward toward me and his lips lightly brushed my ear as he whispered, "But I'm totally up for it later." 
                          
I didn't think it was possible but I turned three shades redder (one shade from embarrassment, second shade from anger and third shade from the current of electricity that had traveled through my body due to the contact of his lips with my ear).
                          
I stood up hastily, accidentally knocking over the cup of coffee that was on his table. The coffee spilled on some papers that were scattered on his table.
                          
"Oh my gosh. I am soo sorry!" I said trying to lift the papers before they got completely soaked but it was too late. All the papers looked like soggy bread and the writing had blurred.
                          
"I hope that wasn't something important," I grimaced. The guy just looked at me amused and folded his arms over his chest.
                          
"It kind of was but it's okay. You can make it up to me with that lap-dance you started," he said winking. And just like that any shred of guilt I was feeling disappeared and I stormed out of the café, got into my car and drove to work.
                          
I made it to Cornerstone Estates on time despite my breakfast mishap and I entered the building in a huff.
                          
"Uh-oh. Who was it this time? Daddy or Stalker ex?" the receptionist, Tessa, asked when I walked up to her desk as she handed me some post-its with my messages.
                          
"My dad pretty much only remembers me when he needs money to drink himself into a 3 week long stupor and forgets about me until he's sobered up and Michael only stalks me on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays so check back with me tomorrow on that one," I said flipping through my messages, "Today it's a pervy guy from the cafe."
                          
Tessa laughed. "Hie Emily."
                          
"Hey Tessa." I frowned when I read my last message, "Cole wants to see me?"
                          
"Yeah he said to call him as soon as you get to your office," Tessa replied.
                          
"Any idea what this is about?" I asked and Tessa shrugged and shook her head. Cole Peterson was the manager of the real estate agency that I worked for and usually left me to my own devices so it was rather unsettling that he had asked to meet with me. I took the elevator up to my office on the second floor and called Cole as soon as I had settled down.
                          
"Cole Peterson," he answered on the third ring.
                          
"Hie Cole, it's Emily. Tessa said you wanted to talk to me?" 
                          
"Oh Emily, yes I have a new client for you," he said. I frowned. All new clients went to Tessa who sent the list to Cole and he would assign them to one of the five realtors in the agency and send the list back to Tessa who would then inform the respective realtors of their respective clients. So why was Cole breaking protocol now?
                          
"I'm listening," I said.
                          
"He's high priority and he asked for discretion so I'm assigning him to you because you're my most trustworthy realtor and I know you'll respect his wishes for privacy," Cole said.
                          
Priority. Discretion. Privacy. Who was this new client? The President?
                          
"Okay. When and where do I meet him?"
                          
"He'll be coming over shortly. I'll bring him over to your office and we'll discuss further on the matter," Cole replied. 
                          
I thanked him and hung up then tried to get some work done but without my morning tea my focus was exactly zero. It didn't help that it was a Monday morning either. 
                          
I gave up any attempts at working and went down to the office kitchen and poured a cup of coffee from the machine. It was tepid and tasted crappy but it would have to do. I went back to my office and nearly had a heart attack when I found someone sitting on one of my visitor's chairs.
                          
All I could see from the door was the back of his head covered in dark brown hair, neatly cut short and brushed. He was probably the new client Cole was talking about. I recomposed myself and walked over to my side of the desk.
                          
"I'm sorry I kept you waiting sir. May I get you anything? Coffee, tea or..." I trailed off, frozen when I finally saw my visitor's face. A look of surprise passed over his face but it was quickly replaced by a smug smile.
                          
"Coffee would be nice seeing as how you cost me mine earlier today," he said.
                          
"How the hell did you find me?" I yelled at him but he continued to smile at me un-perturbed. "You know what, I don't care. Just get out of my office right now or else I'm calling the cops."
                          
"Go ahead," he said laughing. I couldn't believe the nerve of the man. He must have followed me to work and somehow got my office number from Tessa.
                          
"I'm going to say this one last time. Get out of my office. Now," I bit out angrily. He crossed his arms over his chest and kept smiling.
                          
"Make me." I lost it right then and emptied the contents of my cup onto his head making him jump to his feet. Good thing it was cold or he would have suffered some burns on his face which would have been quite a shame.
                          
"Emily Troth! What the hell do you think you're doing?" Cole yelled from my doorway.
                          
"I'm sorry Cole. This man is stalking me and I asked him to leave but he wouldn't. I'll call security right away and have him removed," I said picking up the phone. Cole stormed towards me and yanked the phone from my hand before I could even dial.
                          
"What the hell are you talking about? This is Kyle Clarkson, the new client I told you about!" Cole said angrily. I looked at pervy café guy, horrified as he attempted to wipe away the coffee that had run down his face.
                          
Well shit.
                          
***