Saved By The Firefighter
Chapter 30

Anders Point of View

I stifled a yawn, as I walked up the stairs to my office. It is only 5 am, but I cannot sleep. Yesterday's near-death experience has me on edge, and the memories of the past haunted my dreams.

I was a young kid, showing off to my mates about swimming. I cannot remember my age, but I know one thing, I was far too young to be on a beach without adult supervision. That was my life though, one of four kids, all just left to their own devices, allowed to roam the streets, till God knows what time of night. Nobody cared, as long as we did not disturb them.

That day we had wandered to Hendon beach, deciding to go into the water. We were too young to know what the hell the flags meant, and so off I went, jumping the high waves under a double red flag, which I had no clue indicated it was too dangerous to swim and the water was closed to the public. A large wave crashed over me, pulling me out to sea. Sinking under the water, I remember thinking I was going to die a young kid, terrified out of my wits.

Not sure what happened after that, it is all a blur, but thankfully some adults were walking their dog along the beach, and the man ran into the water, risking his own life, and got me out. I never knew his name, nor did my parents thank him. All I got was a clip around the ear for creating a scene, along with causing the police to come to my parent's door, so they could take them to the hospital. Yeah, my parents were not pleased about that, given they liked to deal drugs on the side, but us kids never saw a penny of what they made from their illegal activities.

Needless to say, I never went near the water again. After I left school and was old enough to fend for myself, I never saw my family again either. My three brothers, well, they got caught up in 'working' for my father, and each of them had done time in a young offender's institution. I am not sure what they do now, probably more of the same, never learning from their mistakes.

The only time I ever heard from my mother and father after leaving home was when I made my first million. Basically, they came begging for money. Yeah, they went away empty handed, and it seems calling them out on how s**t they were as parents offended them enough so that they never bothered me again. Good riddance to bad rubbish, is all I can say about that.

I log onto the laptop, again another yawn leaves my lips, it is funny how things I have never thought about for years have come back front-and-centre in my mind after yesterday.

The other thing that kept me up most of the night was Josie, my feisty firefighter. That woman is doing something to me, and I am not sure if I love it or loath it. She is causing me to feel stuff. I learnt a long time ago, that feelings hurt in the end. I had originally wanted to pursue the woman because she is sexy as f**k, then she became a challenge, a game that I wanted to win. She did not have to insist on helping me, nor did she have to rescue me from the pool, but she did. Normally, if I set up a date with a woman, I would not give it a second thought, other than the time I was to be there. But with this woman, ... I am planning on where to take her for one drink and hoping beyond hope that she agrees to another one with me as well.

I let out a sigh. I know I will see her tonight, and the thought both terrifies me and excites me equally. Fight or flight is in full swing now, and the only thing that is not making me run for the hills, rather than go swimming again, is the thought of Josie in her swimming costume, teaching me to swim, and hoping it includes some physical contact.

I open some emails that have arrived over the weekend, then look over the operations of my other businesses, all of which are going well. My only concern is getting this place up-and-running, turning a profit, then I can put someone in overall control when I head off and start something new. I have given it two years, to make-or-break, and for that time, it will have the majority of my focus, as my other business interests are being run by people who I can trust.

I see an email from Lucy Dixon and opened it. She is just informing me that she has a phone now, and that her address has changed from the one she gave me at the interview, along with the fact she will see her doctor on Tuesday to find out if they will sign her off sick-leave. Good, because I am putting recruitment on hold for Business Development Managers, so that she can choose her own team. I have a couple working now, and we got three deals last week, not a lot of money, but a start.

I drop her a quick response, thanking her for the updated information, which I sent directly to my HR team, then worked through my other emails.

I answer a few when I find one from Station Officer Webber, a thank you for the donation, and an invitation to their family fun day next Sunday. A wry smile forms on my lips, as I respond with a definitely going to attend, knowing all too well, this is going to piss Josie off. I chuckle as I think about her face when she sees me there, just imagining it causes my length to go half-chub.

My mind wanders then to her sitting beside me under the shower in her swimming costume, and my half-chub turns full blown erection instantly. f**k, I would love to have a shower with her one day, and not one where I am sat on the floor having a panic attack. I continue to work, when I hear the staff start to arrive, and glance up at the clock to see it is just before 9am. I gather my stuff together, ready to do the Monday morning "Hurrah" meeting and get them all geared up for the week ahead.

A knock at the door disturbs me as my receptionist, whose name I still cannot remember, that is really bad of me, but the woman keeps giving me "Come to bed" eyes, and that will never happen. I never mix business with pleasure, plus the only girl I want in my bed is resisting me, making herself worthy of my time, along with enjoying the chase. So, this woman is here to do her job, and only her job, nothing more, nothing less, and part of me giving her that message loud and clear, is choosing not to remember her name, and not correcting her to call me Anders, as I do with the rest of my staff, hoping she gets the hint.

"Mr. Maxwell, would you like a tea or coffee?" She smiles at me, fluttering her eyelashes.

"No thank you, tell the team I will start the meeting in ten minutes," I informed her, without even glancing in her direction.

"Oh, and you had a phone call from that rude firefighter. I told her you were too busy to speak." She smiled as if she had saved me from some heinous beast.

I snap my head up and glared at her. "If Firefighter Edwards calls me, you put her through, no matter what I am doing!" I growl out, seriously pissed off she had stopped me talking with Josie.

"Well, she left a message to say that there is a change of plans." The receptionist shuffles her feet, her cheeks flushing red.

"What change of plans?" I growl back at her.

"Erm, sorry Mr. Maxwell, she didn't say."

"Tell the team, the morning meeting is postponed till 9:30," I barked my order to her, then reached for my mobile.

Thinking better of it, I pick up the land line on my desk, just so Miss feisty cannot dodge my call if she sees it is from me.

The receptionist stands, like she is frozen to the spot, or some s**t. I let out a frustrated sigh and dismissed this woman from my sight with a wave of my hand. Not sure she is going to get past her probation period if she doesn't get herself in check. I dialled Josie's number, waiting impatiently for her to answer.

"Josie." Her sexy voice echoes down the phone.

"What change of plans?" I immediately ask, my annoyance clear in my tone.

"Hello to you too, Arsehole," she sasses at me.

I instantly smile, then lean back in my executive chair. "Hello Firefighter Edwards, please may I enquire as to what change of plans you were referring to when speaking with my receptionist?" I respond, not able to keep the smile from my voice. "Glad your guard dog gave you the message. I tried to text but for some reason the message kept failing," she responds, sounding a little irate.

"Guard dog, is that code for, 'Anders, your receptionist is a f*****g b***h'?" I cannot help but tease her. I am rewarded by a small laugh, which hits my groin, and I firmly believe it is now my favourite sound in the world.

"Well, she is sure protective over you, and I believe she thinks herself above those she speaks with on the phone," Josie continues.

I imagine her smiling at the other end of the phone, and once again I find myself getting firmer in my pants. What is it about this woman?

"So, what is this change of plans you called about?" I ask, swivelling my chair round to look out at the river.

"I forgot that I promised my mam I would go see my Nana tonight at her sheltered accommodation. Apparently, she has bought a load of food for me to go, so I really do not want to cancel her. So, I cannot make it tonight." Disappointment floods through me. I mean, how am I disappointed about getting out of going back into a f*****g swimming pool? I should be kicking my heals like Bert in Mary Poppins, but no, I just feel, dare I say it, sad! "However, you really need to get into the water, so do not celebrate just yet. I am off today, so if you are free and can take a slightly extended lunch break, you being the big boss and all that jazz, we can go then," She offers. Okay, so now I am Bert from Mary Poppin's, full on dancing on the roof of houses, my chimney sweeps, brush in hand and everything.

"Okay, come to the office around mid-day, I will drive us over to the gym," I say, not sure why I did not just meet her there, and wait for her to pick up and argue that fact.

"Erm, why not just meet you there?" She asks.

Thinking on my feet, I look out the window of my office, and see the Guard Dog, as Josie calls her, staring at me, f*****g heart bubbles coming out of her head!

"Honestly, no joke, but the guard dog has developed a crush, and is practically humping my leg when she sees me, so I need the rescue. If you come here and leave with me, pretending you are oh so happy to see me, then maybe she will get the hint." With that Josie laughs, and again I cannot keep the smile off my face as she does so.

"Oh dear, the big bad boss man scared of a little yorkie poo. If I give you the rescue, what do I get in return?" she laughs.

"Me committing to at least four swimming lessons from you, when I only intended to do two, then have that drink and never get back in the water again," I admit.

"Now that is just silly, because you can get over this. It will take 16 lessons, so that is my offer. 16 lessons until you can swim, and not be terrified of water, and I will rescue you from your horny guard dog." Josie laughs again.

"Oh, so we are negotiating, are we? Well, how about 8 lessons, and two drinks," I counter offered her.

"12 lessons, and one drink, with food," Josie bites back straight away.

"12 lessons, one drink, and one meal out separately." I chuckled back at her.

"Done," she responds.

"Oh, you will be," I reply huskily.

"Behave, before I change my mind. Now, see you mid-day," Josie tells me and hangs up the phone, leaving me grinning like an insane i***t, having just agreed to twelve f*****g swimming lessons, but now I get a drink and a f*****g date!