by Hamel, B. B.
He hesitates. “I’d better get that,” he says.
“Sure.”
He finds his phone tangled in the slacks we threw on the floor earlier and frowns at it. He glances at me with an apologetic sigh and holds it up.
“Poland,” he says. “Gotta take it.”
I nod as he turns and walks into the hallway. I hear him answer in Polish then say something else in English but his voice gets softer as he walks away.
I sigh and fall back into the sheets. God, his bed is comfortable. No wonder I fell asleep.
He worked me hard. I think I came three, four times at least. I feel bruised and incredibly good, this strange mix of pleasure and pain that’s still lingering. I didn’t know I could feel this way, but it’s pure satisfaction.
I get up and head into the bathroom. It’s gorgeous, of course. I start the shower and check out my ass in a full-length mirror. There are already bruises from his fingertips.
They make me smile.
I grab a clean towel from a little closet before getting in. I let the hot water run down my body and sigh as some of the tension slowly relaxes from my muscles.
Okay, so I’m conflicted. On the one hand, the father of this baby says he wants me and he wants this child. He says he wants to take care of me, and he definitely has the financial means to make that happen.
But on the other hand, I know Finn’s type. I know that kind of man can get bored easily, maybe start to resent a baby and a woman he has to take care of. If I become that burden, I risk losing this job and losing a potential future.
Being Finn’s assistant isn’t like my dream job or anything like that. There are a thousand other jobs like it out there. But it’s the next place I can go, the jobs I could get with a recommendation from a person like him, that I really want. That’s the reason I took this in the first place and it’s the reason I don’t want to let it go. I have dreams and aspirations and this is a stepping stone to some of those.
I just don’t know if any of it can happen if this thing between us doesn’t disappear.
I shut off the water and get out. I dry off a little bit, squeeze some water from my hair, then wrap the towel around me.
I step into the room and find Finn sitting on the bed. He looks up at me and I stop dead in my tracks at the look on his face.
“What’s wrong?” I ask softly. He looks livid, so angry I can barely believe it.
“That fucking shit Maxwell,” he growls.
“What?” I ask, blinking.
“He spread rumors about me, rumors our Polish friends heard and aren’t happy about.” He looks away from me, his body tense as his hands clench and unclench over and over again.
“What did he say?” I ask.
He doesn’t answer right away. I can see the tension all over his body, like he’s about to explode. Suddenly he stands up.
“You should get dressed,” he says quietly before leaving the room.
I watch him go and I push back against the disappointment blooming in my chest.
It’s okay. I was going to leave now anyway. It’s fine if he wants me to leave. He needs to deal with this the way he needs to deal with it. If that means he needs space then I’ll give him space.
I dress quickly. I drape the towel over a hook in the bathroom before putting on my shoes. I feel stupid for putting myself through this but maybe it’s better this way. Maybe it’s better that we got that out of our system and now we can just move on.
I find him sitting downstairs in the kitchen.
“I’ll see you on Monday,” I say.
He looks up at me. “Wait,” he says.
I hesitate before drifting toward him. “It’s okay,” I say. “You’re dealing with something. I can go.”
“Listen.” He turns to me, takes a deep breath, lets it out. “If you hear something…”
“It’s none of my business.” I can barely meet his gaze.
He nods slowly. “Good. I need you to do some things for me.”
I bite back an angry comment and just nod. “Whatever you need.”
“Groceries and dinner. I’ll be in the office. Drop the groceries here, I’ll leave the door open. Leave dinner with security and they’ll bring it up to me.” He looks away and opens up his laptop.
“Sure,” I say, trying to keep the annoyance from my tone. I know I’m his personal assistant, but still.
“Thank you,” he says, not even noticing.
I hesitate another second in case he’s going to say something else, but he doesn’t say a word. It’s like what just happened… didn’t happen.
Maybe it’s for the best.
I turn and leave his apartment, feeling like an idiot.
I was really thinking for a second that it might work out. Some part of me thought he might actually be interested in me. But no, of course not. He’s only interested insofar as it doesn’t affect his real work, his job. He can’t have someone like me getting in the way of that.
Whatever. It’s fine. I don’t care.
This is all for the best.
Except I don’t know why I don’t feel happy.
8
Finn
It takes all my energy to keep my mind off Eden and squarely on this Maxwell problem.
I’ve never liked that man. He’s older than me, but he comes from privilege and money. We’re opposite people. I’m a self-made man and he’s made entirely on the dime and the name of his father.
He thinks that makes him better than everyone else.
We’ve always butted heads, but we were never in the same industry, so it didn’t matter. When I started Alternative, suddenly his company pivoted into the same space around the same time. He says that was just by coincidence, since 5G is the hot new thing, and it’s possible. But there’s some part of me that thinks he’s doing this just because he wants to show me that he’s better than me.
Fuck that. He’s nowhere near what I am.
I built what I have with my own sweat. He was given everything with no effort at all. If he thinks he can beat me in anything, he’s got another thing coming.
But there is a problem. When it comes to business, Maxwell is a fucking amateur. However, in the political world, he’s one of the best.
His word carries a lot of weight. So when he’s out saying things about me, people tend to listen, which is exactly what’s happening now. Our Polish friends heard Maxwell’s little rumor and they were pretty worried that I was going off the deep end.
The thing that pisses me off is that he’s not even trying to hide. He’s proud that he’s the source of this fucking miserable lie.
I’m on edge for days, but I set up a meeting for Tuesday. I hope Eden doesn’t think I’m blowing her off after we slept together, but I really need to take care of this and she’s going to be a huge distraction. Fucking hell, I don’t know what to do.
Doesn’t matter. I stay focused. Tuesday rolls around and I drag myself to this lunch meeting in one of the most exclusive clubs in the entire city. It’s a cigar bar tucked away in the back of an ancient church. The front church section is dilapidated and barely holding together, but the hidden back club is…
Well, it’s absurd. Wood paneling, fine china, crystal drinking glasses, all that shit. The haze of cigar smoke clings to the air and I almost want to cough as I follow the hostess back to Maxwell’s table.
We have a private room in the very back. He’s sitting with two of his associates, a lawyer named Niles James and Maxwell’s right-hand man, Richard Holmes.
They’re all upper-crust rich boys. They probably went to some private school together, met when they were rapey frat-boy fucks in training.
Now they’re rich and powerful men in this city, and I hate their fucking guts.
“Gentlemen,” I say.
Maxwell stands. “Finn, so good to see you,” he says, his fucking affected accent making my teeth hurt.
We shake hands and it feels like shaking with a snake. I shake the other two as well
before sitting down.
“Now, friend, why did you call this little meeting?” Maxwell asks. “You know this is a critical time. I hear you’re making some strides in the European market.”
If there’s any irony to his words, I’m not sure I hear them.
“We have business to discuss,” I say.
“Business or personal matters?” Niles asks almost casually.
I glance at him then back at Maxwell. “Do you really need your cronies for this?”
He smiles back pleasantly. “They’re my friends, Finn. I know you’re not used to friends, but come on.”
“They don’t need to be here.”
He hesitates then sighs dramatically. “Niles, please,” he says.
Niles glares at me before standing. The lawyer turns and leaves the room without a word.
Richard doesn’t move though. I glance at him and he just smiles back, his beady little eyes staring straight into mine. He makes me shudder. I swear, if he hadn’t grown up rich and privileged, he’d be a fucking serial killer somewhere.
“Now, what do you want to talk about?” Maxwell asks. “The lawyers are all gone.”
I roll my eyes. “You’re all fucking lawyers.”
“True,” he admits. “Though I didn’t actually complete my degree.”
“I did,” Richard grunts. “Just not currently practicing.”
“Good for you.” I keep my gaze on Maxwell. “Listen, I know what you’re doing.”
“Oh? And what’s that?”
“Don’t pretend, Max.”
He winces and I smile sweetly. He hates being called Max.
“I’m not pretending anything,” he says and his affected nonchalance starts to crack a bit, anger seeping through.
“I spoke with my Polish colleagues. Apparently, one of your lackeys called them up to complain about me.”
“Ah, did they?” Maxwell smiles at me. “I didn’t know.”
“Of course not.”
“He’d never do something so low,” Richard cuts in with an irritating smile.
“Don’t bullshit me,” I growl at the men. “I know you’re behind it. If you want to compete with me, that’s fine, but you’re making this personal.”
“How so?” he asks softly. “Just because I told them the truth about you?”
I glare at him and choose my words carefully. “You fucking lied and you know it.” Okay, not so careful, but still.
He shakes his head slowly and tsks at me. “Oh, Finn.”
I want to wring his fucking neck.
“I didn’t lie,” he continues. “I told them the truth.”
“You told them that I slept with the Polish diplomat’s daughter,” I growl at him.
Maxwell blinks. “Well, you did.”
I hesitate a second. “No, I didn’t.”
“You did,” Richard cuts in.
I frown at the men. Could this be true? It’s not like I used to keep track of my conquests… and even if it were true, it doesn’t matter now. I’m not sleeping with anyone but Eden.
I lean forward. “Whether I did or didn’t doesn’t matter. I’m not now and won’t ever again. You’re making something out of nothing.”
“Our Polish associates disagree,” Maxwell says, smiling sweetly.
I’m seething now. I’m angry at myself, angry at Maxwell, angry at this whole fucking situation.
And just as I’m about to explode, there’s a knock at the door. I half turn as Eden steps into the room.
I curse myself softly.
She drifts over to the table. “Gentlemen,” she says.
“Ah,” Maxwell answers, standing. “You’re the personal assistant, yes?”
“I am.”
He shakes her hand and I want to tell him to never touch her ever again.
“Lovely,” Maxwell says. “I can see why he keeps you around.”
She glances at me and I force myself to nod. She sits down next to me and Maxwell returns to his seat.
“Keep it to business,” I growl at him. “Do you hear me?”
“Why?” he asks. “You think I’m not going to use everything I have against you?”
“I don’t care what you do have to do, Max,” I say. “You don’t need to drag bullshit from the past into this.”
“Actually, I do.” He leans forward, grinning wickedly. “And you’d better watch yourself, Finn, because you have a lot of dirt in your past.”
I meet his gaze coolly. “You’re making a mistake.”
That smug smile makes me want to hit him in the teeth. “I doubt it.” He turns his gaze over to Eden. “And what about you, pretty dear? Is he fucking you, too?”
I gag and half stand. Her blush is all the proof Maxwell needs and he cackles with pure delight. “Oh my god, he actually is!”
“You fucking—”
Richard stands. “Throw a punch and the police will be here in moments,” he says to me.
I take a breath and put a hand on Eden’s shoulder. “Come on. This was a mistake.”
“That’s right, you should leave before you make a fool of yourself, Finn,” Maxwell says, laughing like a fool.
Eden gets to her feet and we leave together. I’m seething, barely able to keep it together. I want to hit something, break something, or kill something.
I want to do all three to Maxwell’s fucking face.
“What was that back there?” Eden asks.
“Something stupid,” I say. “I wanted you to see him, see what he’s really like.”
“Why?” she asks.
“Because he’s the one spreading rumors about me.”
“He seems pretty awful.”
“He’s a living, breathing pile of dog shit.”
That makes her laugh a little. “That’s the impression I got, too.”
“Good.” I sigh and shake my head. “I shouldn’t have brought you there. I should’ve known he’d use you to taunt me.”
She’s quiet as we walk. I have no direction, no real plan. I’m just heading back toward the office.
“What’s the rumor?” she asks softly. “I mean, what would make the Polish people want to pull out of the deal?”
I glance at her. “Apparently I slept with the Polish ambassador’s daughter.”
She winces a little and turns red. “Oh.”
“I don’t even remember it,” I say. “If that helps.”
“It doesn’t.”
“Look, Eden—”
“It’s okay. You don’t owe me anything. You had a life before me.”
I clench my jaw. That fucking bastard, he has no clue what he just did. I’m going to pay him back tenfold for this.
“Eden.” I stop and she turns to face me. “I was a different person before… you and me. I did some things…”
“You don’t have to explain.”
I meet her gaze. “I don’t regret any of it. And I’m not sorry for any of it. But that doesn’t mean that’s the person I am now.”
She bites her lip. “Okay, Finn.”
I sigh, frustrated. “Okay. Let’s get back to work.”
I stride off again, walking down the sidewalk with purpose. Eden catches up and we walk together, side by side.
I’m pissed. I’m livid. But I’m not going to let that slimy fuck beat me, no matter what sort of fucked-up tricks he decides to pull.
9
Eden
The rest of the week is uneventful, and the weekend passes in a blur. We’re working hard, with Finn leading the charge. We don’t talk about that meeting with Maxwell anymore, but I can tell it’s weighing on him.
Monday is particularly busy. We’re finalizing deals and expanding territory, so we’re doubling our contracting force. That means double the work from Finn. He doesn’t take a break, doesn’t even take lunch. He just works all day long.
I’m sure he worked all weekend, too. I actually worry about him a little bit, although that meeting keeps replaying in my mind.
Those men, th
ose assholes, the anger in Finn’s eyes.
And that admission. He slept with the Polish ambassador’s daughter. I guess that’s not so bad, all things considered, but…
I know he has a history. I know the man he is. That’s just more proof that I might be right when I think I should stay far away and raise my baby on my own.
It’s probably not fair. He’s trying and he wants to do right. I should give him that chance, I just…
It’s my baby. I can’t risk that.
We work hard all day, my mind swimming with problems and possibilities. I keep thinking about that morning in his apartment, about the way it felt, so good and so easy. And I keep seeing the way he returned to work, forgetting all about me.
I double down and try not to think about it. It’s going to be another late night, I can already tell, and sure enough I’m right. Five rolls around and he asks if I can stay, which of course I do. Everyone else slowly clears out until it’s just the two of us left.
I glance up at his office and quickly back down. It’s starting to feel like maybe he’s keeping me late for reasons other than work. I mean, it’s not like he’s staring at me through the window or anything, but…
No, I can’t let myself start assuming that. He’s made himself clear already and I don’t need to spend my whole life second-guessing everything he does just because of this little situation we find ourselves in.
God, what a euphemism. “Little situation”….
I’m starting to think he really did keep me for work reasons because six rolls around and there’s no sign of slowing down. He keeps sending me tasks, real tasks that genuinely need to get finished like collating proposals and emailing partners over in Poland. It’s six-thirty by the time he appears in the door of his office, looking tired.
“Hey, can you come in here a second?”
I look up at him. “Sure, hold on. Let me send this email.”
He nods wearily and heads back inside. I frown to myself, surprised at how exhausted he looks. I know he works hard and is pretty much always at it, but he normally seems so energetic and on top of things, like the pressure doesn’t affect him at all.
Maybe I was wrong about him. Maybe he isn’t actually some cyborg sent from the future to control us all.