by Sienna Grant
I gather some files for her and go into her part of the office. “Is everything okay, Margie? You seem a little distracted today.” I ask.
She drops her cell on the desk, making a hell of a sound in the quiet office. I hope she’ll talk to me. I’m not that much of a dragon that I can’t see when someone is having problems.
“No, Ms. Quinn. I’m good.”
“Alright. Could you sort these out for me? I need them back on my desk by the end of the day.”
“Of course.” She smiles but doesn’t make eye contact, keeping her gaze on her computer screen.
“Okay, well, as long as you’re alright. I’ll be leaving by five today.”
“Are you seeing Ev—Mr. Brooks?”
“No,” I answer sharply. I don’t understand why she’s so interested in Everett and me, and I don’t like it. Something just doesn’t feel right. I need to get out of the office for a while.
Going back into my office, I grab my jacket and put it on. I pick up my purse, make sure I have my cell and wallet, and pop my head into Margie’s office. “I’m going out, I need some air.” Before I think better of it, I ask, “Would you like me to bring you back some lunch?”
“Oh, no. I’m good, thank you. If you want some lunch, I can order it, I don’t mind.”
“No, it’s okay, but thank you. I have a headache, and the air might do me good.”
She nods and turns back to her computer.
“I won’t be too long.”
As soon as I step out onto the street, I inhale a deep breath of fresh air into my lungs, but it doesn’t help, the air out here is even thicker with the humidity. I walk to my favorite deli and order a tuna sandwich, water, and chips. After paying, I take my paper bag from the young kid behind the counter, thank him, and walk to Central Park.
I sit down on an empty bench and take out my lunch. As I eat, I watch people walking their dogs, small families having picnics. It was nice. It was peaceful. It was what I needed.
My cell rings, cutting into my serenity. With a sigh, I place my sandwich on top of the paper bag and put it down on the bench. I take my cell out and answer.
“Hi, Mom,” I greet her with a smile. I know she can’t see me, but at least she can hear the happiness in my voice.
“Hi, darling. Are you still coming for dinner?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Oh good. You know, if you wanted to bring anyone with you, that would be okay. You know that don’t you, sweetheart?”
“Yes, Mom, and thank you, but it’ll just be me.”
“Okay, then.” She sighs.
“Why are you saying this?” I know my mom wouldn’t be asking without a reason.
“Just extending the offer,” she answers, way too quickly for my liking.
“What has Hayden told you?” I say a little firmer than I actually mean to.
“Nothing really. Just that you were seeing that man you were talking about a while ago. I just want you to know you can bring him around anytime you’d like.”
“Well, thanks, Mom. I’m on my lunch break and I really have to go. Love you.” I locked my screen and threw it back into my purse. When I get to Mom’s tonight, I am going to kill my brother.
I pulled into Mom’s driveway just after five thirty.
The traffic leaving New York was crazier than usual, and that was saying something. I turned my key in the door and walked in, placed my purse down on the table by the door, and took out my cell before searching for Mom.
I saw Hayden first. I sat down next to him and punched his arm. “Thanks, dickhead.”
He rubbed at his arm and frowned. “What have I done?”
“Telling Mom about Everett ring any bells? You have a mouth wider than a Venus fly trap, surely you know that?”
“Oh, come on, Reag. You can’t keep him your dirty little secret forever.”
“You’re a moron. You know she’s going to be on my back now. Why can’t you get a girlfriend, so she’ll be too distracted to get onto me about getting married.”
“Who says I don’t have one?”
My eyes widen at his statement and I needed to know everything. “Tell me.”
He shakes his head at me and scowls. “You’re like a little bird, one little breadcrumb and you just want more.”
“Yes…and?” I tap his leg until he gives in. “Just tell me.”
“She works in sales and I’ve been talking to her for a bit now. We’ve had a couple of dates already. She’s your age actually.”
“And what’s she like?”
“Dark hair, pretty…she’s nothing like Penny.”
“That’s not a bad attribute.”
He smiles at that.
“When do I meet her?”
“I don’t know. We’re taking it slow.” He picks up the remote from the arm of the couch and turns it on, effectively dismissing me. He slumps down into the cushions as he settles in to watch baseball.
“Is that it? Is that all I’m getting?”
“Breadcrumbs have run out. Sorry.”
“Asshole.”
All of a sudden, I feel like a teenager again. “Mom, did you know Hayden has a girlfriend?” I call out as I walk away. I laugh when he calls me a bitch. I’ve settled the score, and a victorious grin tugs at my lips.
Twenty-Four
Reagan
My arms above my head, my whole body is exhausted, deliciously sore, but totally sated. I glance down at the dark head of hair currently nestled between my breasts. Everett lifts his head and I can see the sheen of sweat on his brow. He gives me a sexy smirk. “You’re a bad girl, Rae Quinn.”
I run the tips of my fingers down his cheek and across the coarseness of the short, stubbled look he’s sporting. It’s sexy as hell, showing off the definition of his chiselled jaw. He drags himself up my body until we were nose to nose.
“You bring the worst out in me, Everett Brooks.”
He smiles at me. “Is that a bad thing?”
“Definitely not.” Closing my hands around his handsome face, I pressed my lips to his and indulge myself in a post orgasmic kiss, taking what I wanted from him as his tongue slides into my mouth, owning every part of me. My fingers delve into his hair and I tug him closer. It wasn’t long before I could feel myself getting turned on again.
I pull away just an inch and look carefully at Everett. “Can I ask you a question?”
He rolls from me and onto his side, holding his head up with his hand. Gripping the sheet, I tug it up to cover my breasts. “If you have to, yeah.”
“Where do you think this is going with us? I mean, you know I love seeing you, I love what we have…”
“But? I know there’s a but, Rae.”
I can’t help but smile. He obviously knows me better than I thought. “But!” I exclaim just to humor him. “Where do you see us going?”
“Do you want to put a label on us? Is that what you’re asking?’
“Maybe. I don’t know. I don’t know how you feel, I don’t even know how I feel. I’m not even sure if you feel anything for me.”
“Really, Rae? Can you honestly lie there, look me in the eye, and say you don’t know if I feel anything for you?”
“I just want to know for sure. That’s all.” I shrug.
“You want to put some roots down.” His eyes turn a little darker.
“Not necessarily. I mean I don’t want to get married or shit…”
I look away from him, but he captures my chin between his finger and thumb and gently brings my face back to his. “When I woke up with you this morning, I’ll admit something was changing in me.”
My heart begins to beat a rapid rhythm against my chest cavity, so hard I think it might cave in.
“I liked it.”
I’m momentarily speechless. “You did?”
“I did. Now you. What do you want from me Rae?”
“I want to know that…that…”
I sit up, and Everett does the same. “I want to know that I’m you’re only one. That sounds stupid, right?” Fuck. I close my eyes, covering my face with my hands, trying to get the words right in my head so I can explain. “I want more. I want to be able to think we’re not just getting together because you’re horny and want a hook up.”
“Baby,” he takes my hand, “I’m always a horn dog.” I sigh. “Rae. Look at me.” I hear the seriousness lacing his voice, practically commanding me to take notice, so I do as he asks. When I look in his eyes, I see something different lingering in their depths. “I may always be horny, and yes, this started because I wanted to find out what it was like to have you beneath me, but since then, it’s changed. I don’t fuck anyone else. I don’t randomly take anyone else to dinner. The only associates I take to dinner are boring old men who only care about their fucking money. If I can get them to pile some of that unused green into my company, then I will.”
His hands are gentle as they frame my face. He brushes his thumbs across my cheekbones and leans in, his lips capturing mine in a sweet kiss. He pulls back and his green eyes bore into mine, and my heart stutters a little bit. “If you need to put a label on us and take it a step further, then I’m with you every step of the way.” Curling his hands around the back of my head, he pushes me down onto the mattress and covers my body with his.
Twenty-Five
Reagan
The last couple of weeks have gone so well, I feel like I’ve been waiting for the other shoe to drop.
I look up to see a delivery driver holding a huge bouquet of flowers standing at the entrance of the main office. One of the sales agents gives him directions and he goes straight to Margie’s office. As much as I try to ignore it, I’m curious as to which of us they are for. Margie smiles politely at the driver and signs his paperwork before taking the flowers from him. The next thing I know she is knocking on the door between us and walking in.
“Aren’t you the flavor of the month?”
“Me?”
She wiggles her eyebrows knowingly and laughs, then hands off the flowers to me.
I move some paperwork out of the way and set them down on the desk. I pluck the small envelope from inside and take out the card: Everett’s name is written inside a heart. He has never needed words to get me.
My cell rings from my bag, and I grab it from my purse, smiling when I saw his name. “Do you mind? I just need to take this.”
The smile drops from Margie’s face.
“Thank you, Margie.” As soon as the door is closed, I accept the call before it sends him to voicemail and say hi.
“Hello, gorgeous. I see you got my flowers.”
“How do you know I got the flowers? They only just now got delivered.” I pluck a white daisy from the mass, hold it to my nose, and walk over to the floor-to-ceiling windows.
“Turn around.”
With the cell to my ear and the flower at my nose, I spin around, and standing there behind the glass partition is Everett. Hanging up, I open the door and grab his hand, pulling him inside.
“They’re beautiful, thank you. What’s the occasion?”
“No occasion. I just saw them and thought you’d like them. What woman doesn’t like flowers?”
I fist the lapels of his jacket, jerking him closer. “You’re going to have the whole office talking. I don’t like gossip.”
His hands go to my hips and hold me close. “Why is that, because they’ll think I’ve melted the ice around your heart.”
“That’s not even funny.” I take his hands from me and move away, but he stops me with a hand around my wrist.
“Hey come back here.” Tugging on my wrist, I collide with his hard body. He twists his hand into my hair and puts his mouth on mine, my tummy does somersaults.
“People can see, you know.” I gasp getting my breath back.
“I don’t fucking care. You said you wanted to put roots down, that’s exactly what I’m doing. I want the world to know that I’m with you. That we’re together, and if the rest of the corporate world doesn’t like it, they can fuck off.”
I smile. Not because he is in front of me, and not because of the flowers, but because he’s doing what I asked a couple of weeks ago. He’s giving me the more that I wanted.
“Have you been told about this dinner party at the Plaza next Saturday?”
“Yes,” I sigh. “Do I have to go?”
“Well,” he wraps his arms around me, “if you want to please your boss, you’ll have to. You know that since Terry will be there, you’ll be expected to be there.”
“Great.” I look away, through the glass, and catch Margie watching us. I attempt to smile but it comes out more like a grimace. Why is she watching us? I step out of Everett’s embrace and step back. I don’t feel right doing this in front of her for some reason.
“We can make it fun. Do you want me to come over later?”
I don’t hesitate to answer. “Yes.” I smile at him but stay on my side of the desk.
“See you later.” He pulls on the door, throws me a wink and leaves while I sink back into my chair.
Twenty-Six
Margie
Why does she get everything?
I wonder what it would be like to be Reagan Quinn.
She has Everett Brooks running around after her like a dog in heat. It is rather embarrassing. But still, it must be good to be that powerful, to be loved that much.
Folding my arms across my chest I realize that to get what I actually want in this business; I need to be more like her. No not like her–better than her.
I open Reagan’s mail and put aside what needs her immediate attention and everything else that I can deal with later. One piece of mail is an official invite for an annual ball. I expect it’ll be accountants, shareholders, and the most boring of bureaucrats. But if I can get there, I may be able to get myself noticed. I look into Reagan’s office again and see that she’s still talking to Everett. Maybe I could get him to notice me? I need to get in Reagan’s head, her world. I have to show her what it’s like to be the odd one out. The one that gets walked all over no matter what she does. I watch Everett saunter from the office. He turns slightly and lifts a hand to me. “See you soon Margie.”
“Bye Mr Brooks.”
It’s time to put my plan into action.
Twenty-Seven
Reagan
“I need you to come shopping with me,” I say to Ruby.
“What, why?”
“I need a ball gown. Please,” I beg, hoping the pout that I’m currently wearing will help sway her.
“Can’t you take Margie? I fucking hate shopping.” My best friend can be so dramatic. “No, scrap that, I hate shopping with you.”
“Me? Why?” I frown, pouring more wine into both of our glasses. “Okay don’t answer that, I know why, but you’re my friend you should want to help me.”
“But you have issues. Like Rachel Green shopping issues.”
I gasp. “I’m not that bad,” I mumble, sulking. “Please? I’ll buy you lunch?” I’ll bribe her with anything to get her to come with me.
“You’re such a suck up.”
“I can’t take Margie.” The pout returns full force, I even give her the puppy dog eyes. “I need someone who has an eye. Please help me.”
“Reagan, you don’t need help to shop, you could practically sponsor Saks.”
“Ha-ha, you’re so funny,” I deadpan.
She sighs, defeated, and I know I have her. “What’s the event?”
“A stupid fucking charity ball. It gets held every year. It’s actually an auction, I think. Who knows, I just donate. All the proceeds go to a charity that has been chosen by the organizers. I think this year it’s for homeless kids and shelters. As CEO, I’m expected to go.”
“Well, you haven’t given me much choice, then, have you? When is it?”
Fluttering my eyelashes, I smile to give it th
e full effect, and promise that she can have anything that she wants. “This Saturday.”
“And will the sexy Everett go too?”
“Of course. We’re going together. I’ll also need you to do my hair.”
“Done. Come by late afternoon. You’re gonna be a knockout. Not that you aren’t already, but I’m talking drop dead fucking gorgeous,” she says before taking a big sip of wine.
“Was me telling you that I was going with Ev all you needed to be on board?”
“Reagan, Everett Brooks isn’t just a man. He is the man. I don’t think you need me to tell you that.”
She’s not lying. Everett has been so successful with his company, he made it on the front cover of one of New York’s biggest magazines. He was one of the most eligible bachelors in the business. Not anymore though.
“You know what you could do for me? Find me a wealthy man. I’ve heard these things are full of them, so it shouldn’t be too hard.”
“Rue, no. I’m not setting you up a date with a stranger, wealthy or not.”
“You could find me a sugar daddy. I wouldn’t have to work again…”
“You, not work?” I laugh way too much at that.
She scowls at me. “If the right man came along, I could give everything up and become his personal sex slave.”
“Oh please, you wouldn’t give up your salon if the guy was a fucking billionaire. You forget how well I know you, Ruby Spencer.”
“And no one is a bigger workaholic than you, Reagan Quinn.” Her tongue pokes out from between her lips.
“Mature. But I agree with you on that. Wanna order pizza?”
“Good call. I’ll open another bottle of wine too.” She went into my kitchen and grabbed another bottle from the fridge.
“So, you never actually gave me an answer. Will you come shopping with me?”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake, Reagan. Yes, I’ll go, but you owe me big time for this.”
I launch myself at my best friend and hug the shit out of her. “Love you, Rue.”