by Read, Calia
Louise nods. “Yes, consider this your first warning, Ms. Claiborne. If there is a second warning, your pay will be docked. And if there is a third, I’m afraid you will be let go.”
I can feel my cheeks getting hot as I absorb her words. This is all centering around a ribbon.
A simple ribbon.
I wasn’t being fired but would this infraction be put on the warning board? The very thought that the rest of the ladies could read what I did makes my heart race with embarrassment. I could see them talking about how ridiculous that girl had been to put a colored ribbon in her hair.
“What’s the problem, Ms. Walker?” Asa says behind us.
Louise pulls her shoulders back and looks over my shoulder. She points to my hand as though my ribbon is a bomb about to go off at any moment. “I’m afraid Ms. Claiborne has a dress code violation.”
Asa approaches. His gaze moves to the ribbon and then to me. His brown eyes scan my face for no more than a few seconds, but I feel those looks as though they’re caresses. When his gaze moves back to Louise, his eyes are blank.
“It’s a ribbon,” Asa bluntly states.
“Yes,” Louise replies, undeterred. “Ms. Claiborne knows that while she’s working, we appreciate the girls to wear muted tones, and yet she had this red ribbon in her hair. I was in the process of telling her I needed to write her up when you walked down here.”
“Since I came in the middle of the conversation, why don’t we all go to my office and talk?”
Judging from the way Louise’s eyes widen ever so slightly, I know this is something that doesn’t often happen. But still, she doesn’t object. And neither do I. I don’t know what Asa’s doing. Or what he’s going to say. His face is impossible to read at the moment.
Asa gestures for Louise and me to walk ahead of him. Although I would’ve preferred for him to go first. The entire way to his office I can feel him staring at me. His eyes are on my back. I can feel them trail down my legs and slowly back up my body.
I take a deep breath and grab the handrail to my left for balance. We reach the second floor and Asa takes the lead. He walks past me, but not before his shoulder brushes against mine. My skin tingles in the spot our bodies touched.
Once the three of us reach his office, Asa closes the door. Louise and I take the two seats in front of his desk. He sits in the large leather chair, looking like a king observing his kingdom.
Asa moves closer to his desk, bracing his elbows on the surface, and looks to Louise. “All right. Tell me from the beginnin’ what happened.”
Louise, in her curt voice, does just that. The entire time she speaks, Asa’s face remains impassive. I think someone could confess to murder and he would keep a straight face. He has the ability to absorb anything. No matter how big or small.
Louise finishes and Asa turns to me. “Is that what happened?”
I can lie to him, and he’ll believe me over Louise. I can see it in his eyes, in the firm set of his jaw that he doesn’t want to write me up, but if he has to, he will. He always follows the rules.
“Nathalie?” he pushes.
I take a deep breath before I answer. “Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I forgot I put a colored ribbon in my hair,” I answer truthfully.
Quite honestly, I still cannot believe we’re talking about a ribbon.
Asa nods and sits back in his chair. He regards me carefully. “Are you perfect every day?”
Is this a trick question? Hesitant to answer, I look between Asa and Louise. “No,” I start out slowly. “I am not. If that’s a requirement for Southern Bell then I’m afraid I won’t suffice.”
Louise lifts both brows. Asa merely blinks, taking my reply in stride.
Asa turns his attention to Louise. “Nath-—I mean, Ms. Claiborne has been a dutiful employee since she started workin’ at Southern Bell, correct?”
“Yes. However, her call rate remains low, and—”
“That will come with time. She will learn as she goes,” Asa impatiently cuts in. “I’m referrin’ to her overall work ethic.”
At that, Louise hesitates. I hold my breath while I wait for her reply. It’s apparent I have to earn Louise’s respect and trust. Lasting longer than a slew of girls isn’t going to cut it. I need to show her I intend to go nowhere.
“Ms. Claiborne works hard, yes.”
Briefly, I close my eyes and sigh with relief. Asa nods and looks down at his linked fingers before he looks at me and Louise. “Given she is still relatively new, and that it takes at least a year until the girls are one hundred percent confident in their jobs, I think we can let this red ribbon debacle go for now.”
“The rules are in place for a reason. We don’t need colorful finery to become the backdrop of our workplace. It will surely distract the ladies and—”
“She didn’t mean to,” Asa barks, causing Louise’s eyes to widen. “Don’t bring the issue up again.”
From the way Louise sits straight in her seat, I’m positive she’s never seen this side of Asa before. To be honest, it’s a rarity for me, too.
Louise swallows, knowing if she says anything further, she places her own job at risk. “The matter will be discussed no further Mr. Calhoun.”
Asa nods. “That’s good to hear.”
After a few seconds, Asa turns to me. His gaze is cold and dismissive. “Do you need anythin’ else?” Asa’s always kind and gentle with me. When I see him at work, it’s in passing, but people have spoken of his shrewd like tone and manner. I’ve simply never been on the receiving end. I don’t know why he’s behaving this way. I want to ask just that. But we have an audience and I’ve clearly just been dismissed. “I don’t believe so,” I reply, my tone stiff.
“Excellent,” he looks away. “Now would be a good time to take your lunch.”
Without another word, I stand and walk out of the door.
As I walk to the first floor, my heart is furiously beating. I know I should be grateful. Asa made sure I wasn’t written up. But it’s this one minor contribution that will potentially change how people view me here, and I didn’t want that. If I earned respect here, I wanted it to be based on my own merits, not given out of fear of the boss.
My anger doesn’t dissipate as I walk into the lunchroom and put together a measly lunch to eat. I find Leaf at one of the tables and place my plate on the table.
“What did Louise need?” Leaf asks, as she reads a Life magazine and eats her lunch.
“She wants me to answer calls faster,” I lie.
I chew my food slowly, seething. I don’t want anyone to think differently of me here, and if they discovered Asa came to my defense that is sure to garner attention.
Leaf pauses, mid-turn on a page and looks over at me. “You’re truly upset.”
I don’t say a word; I’m afraid that I might tell her the truth.
Leaf reaches out and pats my hand. “Oh, Nat, don’t worry. It’s happened to all of us.” She turns in her seat and looks at the girls in the room. “Right?”
They nod and murmur agreements.
“I once got a write up because I laughed at a caller’s joke,” a nameless lady says.
“My first infraction came because there was a four-minute delay between two of my calls,” Susan chimes.
“See?” Leaf says. “That’s only just a few.”
I smile, grateful for their attempt to cheer me up. But this has more to do with Asa’s involvement than the infraction itself.
I don’t know how long I sit there, but when the anger doesn’t diminish, I push back my chair. “Excuse me for a moment.”
My steps are quick and sure as I walk down the hall and up the steps. Not for a moment do I doubt this is the right decision. When I return, Louise has long since left, and Asa has resumed his position behind his desk. His large shoulders are hunched over as he furiously writes something down.
I don’t bother knocking; my heels make enough noise. Asa’s brown eyes flick in my
direction. Slowly, he looks me up and down before he looks away.
“May I speak with you?” I ask.
“Absolutely.”
If it wasn’t for his clenched jaw, I might believe him.
I shut the door behind me and turn, mouth open, prepared to let free all the words that have been gathering in my head when I stop short. Asa is standing with his back to me as he rifts through the top drawer of the oak file cabinet behind his desk.
“What can I do for you?” he calls out.
I take a deep breath and walk deeper into his office. “I need to talk to you about what happened with Louise.”
“What about it?” he asks, without bothering to face me.
I know he’s attempting to ignore my presence by keeping busy. He doesn’t want me here anymore than when Louise was in here, but I’m not the same little Nat he knew. I have something to say, and I am going to say it.
“It was kind of you to defend me with Louise, but you shouldn’t have. I need to be seen as the same as everyone else, otherwise they will treat me differently.”
“And how do you want them to see you, Nathalie?”
Even though Asa has his back to me, he’s more than engaged. I hear the double meaning to his question. He’s waiting for an answer.
Slowly, I approach him and only stop at the corner of the desk where I’m afforded the perfect angle. The sharp planes of his face make my stomach twist.
He senses me. I can tell by the way a muscle along his jaw jumps. “Well?” he says, a little too loudly.
“Someone who is workin’ hard. Just as hard as them.”
By now, Asa’s stopped searching through the filing cabinet. His gaze remains fixed in front of him. “I think they see that.”
“Not if you intercede any time someone looks in my direction.”
With those words, Asa whirls and angrily faces me. “I’m tryin’ to protect you!” he practically shouts.
“That’s what Étienne said. I might as well go back to Belgrave and spend my days roamin’ the halls.”
“Are you goin’ to leave?” Asa challenges, and takes a step toward me.
With narrowed eyes, I mimic his actions until he’s a step away. “No, because I can handle myself.”
Asa dips his head, but it’s only to hide the faint, sardonic smile on his face. He doesn’t believe me. Like Étienne, he thinks my confidence is misplaced. I continue to seethe as I approach him.
When Asa lifts his head, the smirk is gone, but it lingers in his eyes. “Is that all?” he asks.
It’s a rarity that I ever become truly angry. It’s simply not who I am. I rationally think things through and find a solution. But I’ve been working so hard at this job, trying to find meaning in my life, and while it may seem small to some, I have something to look forward to. I will not lose that.
And Asa’s smirk couldn’t have happened at the worst time. I want to erase all traces of it. I want him to think twice before he ever doubts me again.
I do something that is very un-Nathalie-like. I grab him by the lapels and kiss him.
If this is breaking from the confines of myself, I should do this more often. Because it’s amazing. Blood thrums under my skin and everything in my mind quiets. I breathe deeply through my nose as my hands travel up his chest and curl around his neck. I stand on my tiptoes and press myself against him as close as possible.
I have a handle on the kiss for the amount of time it takes for Asa to gather his wits. His tongue moves against mine and his hands wrap around my waist.
Moments ago, I could hear the noises from downstairs and footsteps in the hall, but now, I hear nothing but my breath mixing with Asa’s. My tongue glides against his in a dance he had taught me long ago. I pull a groan from him, and my heart leaps in victory.
Clothing shifts as our hands move. They never stay in one place for too long. We’re frantic with our touches but move in unison. My hands trace the shape of his shoulders and biceps then move back up to his neck. His large hands easily span my waist, and my blouse is yanked from my skirt. I feel his calloused fingertips on my stomach and suck deeply on his tongue.
Asa grabs a hold of my face while my hands begin to unbutton his shirt. When his shirt parts, my nails drag across his stomach and up his chest to link around his neck.
He spins us around and with ease, picks me up and places me on the edge of his desk. Instinctively, my legs part. With heated eyes, Asa steps between them. I want him going nowhere else, and my legs wrap around his back, holding him in place.
Asa looks down at me and cups my face while he pants, “I’ve missed you so much. You don’t know how much I’ve missed you.”
I swallow, desperate to hear more, but craving his touch even greater. My arms move around his waist, pulling him as close as possible as his mouth sweeps back down on mine.
My girlhood infatuation gave Asa power he probably never knew he possessed. I was willing to give and did give so much to him.
But if I learned anything from the mistakes of my life, it was this: we are born unto ourselves and no one else. What you give, you are not guaranteed to get back. That includes your heart.
I knew better now.
His hands trail up the sides of my thighs, the same time his lips touch the side of my neck. Tipping my head back, I close my eyes and gasp.
“Nathalie, I need you,” he groans. His words are desperate and sink into my skin. They clutch my heart and refuse to let go.
This is everything I want to hear, but they are only perfect for this moment. Later, when his hands are gone, and his lips leave mine, his words will become hollow. That’s almost worse than never hearing them.
Asa’s thumbs brush against my garters. And his touch, so close to where I want him to be, makes my eyes snap open.
“No. Stop.”
At once, he pulls back. His brown eyes are dazed, and his lips are parted. He remains so close; his breath mingles with mine.
I want his lips back where they once were. But they don’t belong there. They never have.
Panting, I look down at our bodies. At how close they touch. Asa’s pants never became unbuttoned, but somehow, his belt is unbuckled, and his shirt… it reveals his strong chest. My heart gives a lurch at the sculpted row of abs. I feel them beneath my fingertips but seeing them is far better.
He does not belong to you.
My eyes close. “We can’t,” I whisper.
I open my eyes as Asa takes a step back, his hands at his sides. Silently, and with my eyes down, I button my shirt.
This is why I was afraid of taking this job. Of working this close to Asa. We have far too much history between us to try and have a friendly working relationship.
I give him a sneaking glance. He gives me his side profile as he finishes buttoning his shirt, his jaw tightly clenched. I can only imagine what he’s thinking.
Once I’m finished getting dressed, I take a deep breath. I look around the office and then at the door. “Well, I should be goin’.”
Without another word, I hurry toward the door. My hand starts to turn the doorknob when Asa’s hand slams against the door. “No wait.” I stand perfectly still and wait to hear what he has to say. “I’m sorry how I behaved. It was inappropriate of me.”
Slowly, I tilt my head back to meet his gaze. “I kissed you first.”
Asa flinches. “Nonetheless, I am sorry. It won’t happen again.”
How many times have we said that before?
When I don’t reply, Asa leans in, his eyes desperate and he links his hand with mine. “Nathalie, we tell no one about this.”
My eyes move between his hand and those heartbreaking brown eyes that have never changed. They blink at me, waiting for my reply.
Exhaling a shaky breath, I say, “Who do I have in my life to tell?”
CHAPTER TWENTY
Nathalie
“I must say, you’re far more composed the night before your weddin’ than I envisioned.”
Rain
ey takes a sip of her champagne and shrugs as she sits on the edge of the bed. Tonight, we’re all staying at Belgrave. It is one last night for the three of us before Rainey becomes Raina Lacroix. It was Serene’s idea, but the way Étienne keeps barging in every fifteen minutes and glaring at me and Rainey, you would think we suggested the idea. I don’t think he cares much for sleeping apart from Serene. I’ll be surprised if Serene stays the entire night with Rainey and me in the guest room.
“It’s Livingston. Why would I be worried? I know that man better than I know myself,” Rainey says.
I tuck my legs underneath me and smile softly at my best friend.
“Well, that wasn’t the case for me, I was a nervous wreck on my wedding day,” Serene says to my left with a large tray of cucumber sandwiches on her lap.
“Why?” Rainey asks with a short laugh. “Étienne is perfect for you.”
With raised brows, I wait for Serene to answer. She looks at the quilt and clears her throat. “Oh, it was just typical nerves. That’s it. I know I made the right decision with Étienne. But… there were a lot of sacrifices made. It’s worth it for love, though.”
It was the perfect explanation. Rainey nods in understanding and takes a hearty sip of her drink while Serene shoves another cucumber sandwich down her throat.
“We should talk about tomorrow and which groomsmen will be escortin’ you down the aisle.”
I knew Asa was in Rainey and Livingston’s wedding party. But up until now, I never gave it a thought that we would be paired together.
“I have Beau Legare walkin’ with Serene.” Rainey hesitates. “And Asa with Nat.”
My heart drops to my stomach at her words. Asa and I have been doing an excellent job of avoiding one another since our kiss. If I hear his voice coming down the hall, I turn and walk the other way. If I have to go upstairs, I take the opposite staircase to avoid walking by his office. Anything to prevent seeing one another. Yet there are many occasions I feel a tingling between my shoulder blades, and I know he is watching me. At some point, we will have to come face to face, and avoidance is simply allowing the tension to grow between us.