by Brenda Ford
“Tami is much too young for me,” I shoot back instantly. “She’s in her early twenties.”
“Right?” Oliver shrugs. “And what does that have to do with anything? What does it matter how old she is? It doesn’t change what sort of person she is, does it? Why would that make any difference?”
“Because… well, of course it does, doesn’t it? You can’t deny that age is a huge factor. What would we even have in common? There are so many ways in which we are poles apart.”
“But Angelo wouldn’t have recommended her if he didn’t think that you were perfect for one another. Would he? Angelo and you are very close, he probably knows you better than anyone. He wants what is best for you as well. If he has suggested Tami, then you should at least give her a chance…”
“No.” I shake my head hard. “No, you’re being silly. Even if that was Angelo’s intention, it isn’t ever going to happen. If I’m going to be with someone then it needs to be a woman who has life experience, who understands me and what I have been through. It can’t be some college graduate.”
“Do you think that she is attractive?” Oliver surprises me by asking.
“Erm, I don’t know. I suppose so. She is beautiful, but that doesn’t mean…”
“So, talk to her. Just get to know her a bit. See what Angelo was talking about. Aren’t you at least intrigued?”
I guess I am and that’s the problem. But I have tried to talk a little bit to Tami today and we’re just uncomfortable with one another. Surely, you aren’t supposed to be awkward with ‘the one’… if that concept is even real. Having not seen any evidence of it myself, I’m not totally convinced.
“Urgh, I don’t know, Oliver. Life is simpler when you’re single, isn’t it?”
“Is that the reason you haven’t ever had anyone serious to be with before? Because it’s easier? But if I’m honest, Brad, it seems like one night stands aren’t really working out for you either. Some of them have created all sorts of drama, haven’t they? Wouldn’t it be better to meet someone nice for a change?”
“Maybe, but I have a lot of responsibilities. I don’t have time for something long term…”
“You need to stop using that as an excuse, Brad. It can’t hold you up forever. We don’t need you as much as we used to. It’s time for you to start living your life for yourself, for a change.”
I nod and rise to my feet, needing to leave Oliver if he isn’t going to blindly just agree with me that I’m right. I wanted someone to vent to, someone to tell me that yes, Angelo is being a pain. I don’t need to be over analyzed and to go too deep about my feelings and life choices. I have enough going on right now.
“Well, I’m off now,” I say quietly. “But I will see you tomorrow if you’re staying.”
“You headed out?” he knows me all too well. “Going to the bar?”
Normally, I would but his lecture about one night stands has caught in my throat and I don’t know how to feel about it. I’m not quite as in the mood as I should be. Maybe it’s because they do often bring drama along with them. The older I get, the harder it is to have no strings attached fun without any trouble attached.
“I don’t know. I’m pretty tired. I will probably just go home. Get a good night of sleep.”
“Oh right.” Oliver’s eyes open wide with shock. “Right well, see you tomorrow then.”
What is it? I think as I lean back in my office chair and I watch Tami doing some filing. Why does Angelo – and Oliver so it seems – think that this woman is perfect for me? I can’t see that at all.
It doesn’t help that I’m shattered. But not from a night of debauchery and fun, from lying in bed all night long and thinking about Tami. I hate to admit it, but I suppose Oliver is right. Angelo does know me best and if he thinks that Tami is perfect for me then maybe I should try and work out why. He did hint that’s why he sent her to work for me, so I guess I should just try and figure out what he’s up to.
I just need to stop looking at her and admiring her beauty and actually talking to her. Find out what Angelo thinks we have in common because we must have a connection somewhere. But where the hell do you start with someone who you don’t know anything about? Before now I have only seen her in and around the office. It wasn’t even me who interviewed her and gave her the job in the first place. That was all Angelo, since it’s his department.
“Do you need help with anything?” I ask, my voice sounding strained. “The erm, filing I mean.”
“Oh no, I got it, thank you. I get Angelo organized all the time.”
“Ah, so you’re one of those rare organized creative people. That’s good to know.”
As she giggles and she tucks a stray strand of hair behind her ears, I find my eyes darting down to her silky thighs. The black skater dress she’s wearing grazes the top of her legs, making my heart race much faster. She does seem to wear these kind of dresses a lot, but it’s the first time I’ve really thought about underneath her dress…
Shit, not that I should be thinking about underneath her dress. That’s not me getting to know her. It’s like thinking about her body in a way that I shouldn’t. She can’t be a one night stand. No one from work can. That’s where I draw the line. There’s no way I can deal with all of that drama in the work place.
But those lips of hers… oh my God, I would love to kiss those sexy plump lips of hers…
“Do you need to keep this document?” She takes a step closer to me, closing the gap with ease. The awkwardness is still there between us, but it’s definitely less than yesterday. Maybe we’re getting more comfortable or perhaps it’s just because we’re one day down in this week already. “Or should I shred it?”
“Erm…” I inhale deeply and the soft scent of her perfume hits the back of my throat. It’s a sweet smell that speeds my pulse up. “Yeah, er…” Fuck, why is it so hard to focus? “I think it’s best to keep it.”
“Sure.” Her sweet smile manages to light up the whole room. “I will file it then.”
“Right, yes. Perfect.” Then if I need to chuck it away, I will do so later. I can’t make a decision like that right now while I’m so close to her and my brain is like mush. “Thank you, Tami.”
As our eyes lock, I can’t help but wonder if she’s feeling the same chemistry as I am. It’s sizzling, undeniable, almost overwhelming. But as she takes a step back, it all vanishes and I find myself able to breathe so much easier. It must have just been a moment, that’s all. Oliver and Angelo getting into my head.
“You know, it is easier with you here,” I muse. “Maybe I do need an assistant full time.”
I see her eyes pop, as if she’s afraid that I might ask her to be my full time assistant. Nope, I guess it’s just me then. She isn’t feeling anything at all, or she would want to spend more time with me. Okay, well that’s probably a good thing. If we were both feeling the same way, then it would be about to get a whole lot more complicated. Instead, I get to tell Angelo ‘nice try but it didn’t work out’.
Then it’s time to take control of my own love life. If I want something more permanent and to leave the quick fling life style, then I should do it myself. I should start to make more time for myself – even if that does feel impossible – and to try some actual adult dating to see where that leads.
Urgh, that feels fucking terrifying. Completely out of my comfort zone, but that is something I’ll need to do if I want to turn my life around. I just need to get through this week first…
Chapter Three
Tami
“Is that… Ronnie Milsap?” I can’t help but ask as I step into Brad’s office, feeling far more comfortable than I did on Monday. I think I was just freaking out, because Brad doesn’t quite seem like the arrogant pig that I thought he was on my first day with him. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt your musical moment.”
Brad is much less chaotic, and I can relate to that much easier. He needs me as well. More than he knows. He seems like he has it all under control
, but he definitely needs someone to keep him organized.
There are other reasons why I like it in this office too, but I’m not quite ready to admit that to myself yet.
“Yes, it’s Daydreams About Night Things. How do you know this song? Isn’t it a bit before your time?”
He turns it down, not quite switching it off, as he gives me a narrow eyed confused look. I guess it makes sense because this is a really old song… older than him, I’m sure. From the seventies.
“It was my dad’s favorite song, so I always listen to it when I miss him.” I force myself to smile thinly.
“He… isn’t around anymore?” Brad looks at me with that serious face which used to scare me, but now I realize it only comes out when he’s really thinking about things. Yesterday when we actually started speaking to one another I started to see a different side to him. So far, it’s been an eye opening experience.
“No, he died three years ago. It was Cancer that got him in the end.” I gulp the thick ball of emotion down.
“Hmm, my parents aren’t alive anymore either. They both passed away in a car crash when I was younger.” His eyes fall to the floor. This is still hard for him. “When all of us were younger, so that wasn’t easy.”
“Angelo told me.” I’m not sure if this is the right thing to say, but it’s truthful and I figure honesty is best. “He said that you raised all of them afterwards. So, that must have been very hard for you.”
“It wasn’t easy, but we all had one another to rely on, so that was good…” He looks at me once more, his eyes basically burying into my soul. I don’t know what it is about his gaze, but it penetrates me, sending a shiver down my spine. It’s like he sees me in a way that no one else does. “Do you have any siblings?”
“Nope,” I reply, popping the P. “It’s just me on my own. Even more so now that my mom has moved to Texas to be with her new family. But I’m good on my own. I enjoy the life here. I have my friends and my amazing job which I’m so grateful for…” I trail off, wondering if I’m saying too much here.
“I don’t think you should be an assistant.” His shocking words make my blood run cold. I should have been less honest; it seems like a few days with Brad are enough to get me fired. “You’re too good for this position. Once this week is up, you’re getting a job that suits you. You should be doing so much more.”
“What?” I gasp out, completely stunned by his words. “What do you mean more? I’m happy…”
“I mean I have already seen what you’re capable of, and I also went back through your resume as well. You should be higher up in the company, doing something more important.”
I want to scream and shout, to dance like crazy. I want to kiss Brad to thank him, to run into the other room and toss my arms around Angelo too. This must be what his plan was all along. This is why he basically forced me on Brad, because he wants me to go far. I can’t believe that it worked as well. Brad thinks I’m so much more worthwhile.
I’m grateful. This is everything I have ever wanted and more. This is my career finally coming together. I left college expecting to have to work for a long time to make anything of myself… but it’s happening already. I don’t know what I did to end up being so lucky, but I’m so happy for it. I can barely catch my breath.
“Oh wow, that’s…” I clutch my chest. “I don’t know what to say. I’m blown over.”
“Well, you deserve it.” He nods, satisfied. “I was going to wait until the end of the week to tell you, but now feels right. I want you to be in charge of your own creative accounts. You’ll be great at it.”
There’s a moment where I really don’t know what to say. I’m all choked up with happiness.
“Now, I should probably turn the music off, shouldn’t I?” Brad gives me that heart stopping smile once more. “It’s work time and we need to focus. Although I could listen to Ronnie Milsap all day long.”
“Do you mind leaving it on for just two more minutes?” I plead with my hands clasped together. “It’s making me remember all the good times with my dad. It’s been so long since I really thought of him.”
Brad nods sharply and he leaves the music on while I take my temporary seat. I slide my eyes closed for a moment to just really listen to every part of the song, to remember what my life was like when I had my daddy around, when everything was perfect, and when I pop them open again, I see that Brad is doing the same thing.
“Does this song mean something special to you as well?” I ask without thinking. That probably isn’t exactly the best question to blurt out, to ask my boss. “Sorry, I didn’t mean… I was just…”
“Yes, it’s actually the song I remember listening to with my mother. So, I will always love it.” He grins. “And don’t feel like you can’t ask me anything. I’m an open book if you want to talk.”
Wow. That is something I never expected my boss to say. He has always seemed very closed off to me. But it seems that I have been wrong about him in a lot of ways. Maybe we do have something in common after all…
“Hey, guys…” I jump as someone knocks on the door, reminding me that there are other people in this building. I jump backwards as if I’ve been electrocuted or caught doing something naughty.
“Oh, Angelo.” Brad nods at his brother as he turns the music off. “Come in.”
Angelo slides in the room and darts his eyes between me and Brad. There’s a bit of smugness there, almost as if he can sense that his plan has worked, and my career has been advanced. Or at least it will be once this week is over. Maybe the brothers have discussed what’s going to happen and he does know.
“I just wanted to see how you guys are doing.” Angelo grins. “And I also need to talk to you, Brad.”
“Oh, well I can go and make some coffees.” I leap up from my seat, needing to get away from this weird atmosphere. “Give you some time to talk or whatever.”
I race from the room before either of the men can say anything, and I practically run towards the break room to use the coffee machine. I keep my eyes downwards so no one can talk to me as I go. I don’t know if I’m in the right frame of mind to have a serious conversation with anyone right now. My heart is in my mouth, my stomach flipping over, my breath struggling to get out. Frankly, I’m a mess and I don’t know why.
I grab out my cell phone and text Ruby. I need her damn advice right now.
Tami: Ruby, help me! I don’t know what the hell is going on xx
Ruby: Yeah, gunna need a bit more context than that… xx
Tami: I think me and Brad might have bonded a little bit xx
Ruby: Ooh, you and the hot boss? That’s exciting. Any passion? xx
Tami: I don’t know. I have to be honest, I’m really not sure xx
Ruby: I knew it! I could sense that there was something there xx
Tami: So, what the hell do I do about it? xx
Ruby: Spend as much time with him as you can. Get to know him better. Try to see what this chemistry could be. After all, he might be the one to finally make a woman out of you xx
Tami: Will you stop it? The man is older and my boss xx
Ruby: So what? Just give him a try. You don’t know what will happen xx
Tami: I could lose my job… xx
Ruby: Or you could land the man of your dreams xx
I don’t know what to think about this. Could Brad be the man of my dreams? It seems very unlikely, but there really does seem to be something in the air. Listening to that song together and learning that we have something in common has unlocked something. I think it started to grow a little yesterday, and today it’s on fire.
Do I need to do what Ruby has advised and try to spend more time with him? It could be good for me. Even if it doesn’t end up that Brad is the man of my dreams, I might learn more about what I like. Ever since Daniel, I have been a bit flat. I do need some excitement. This could be a good start.
I stir the coffees carefully, spending time just thinking while I make these drinks right. I’m g
oing to find some work to try and stay a bit late tonight, just to give him a chance. I might have done all the main filing but there are still stacks of paper in Brad’s office that could be sorted out. I can make it my business to do that.
God, the idea of being alone with Brad in this big office sends a shiver tearing up and down my spine. It’s utterly terrifying but exhilarating as well. I don’t know if this is exactly how it’s supposed to feel but since it’s unlike anything I have ever felt before it has to mean something.
The sounds of the bitchy receptionists entering the break room is enough to get my ass in gear and back to the office. As scary as it is to face Brad once more, it’s even worse being stuck with Tawny and Beth. Oliver’s assistant, Amy too, if she’s with them. They are the sort of people that I wouldn’t ever associate myself with so I’m not going to start now when I’m all stirred up already. I don’t think my self-esteem can take it.
“Here we are.” I hand a coffee to Angelo who thanks me quickly, sending a wink my way as he does.
“And here is yours…”
As Brad takes his drink, his fingers graze against mine and electricity bolts through me. I gasp, unable to stop the sound from flying out of my mouth. He looks just as stunned as me. He definitely felt it. Shit, everything else melts away, even Angelo. It’s just me and him looking at one another with all kinds of feelings swirling round us. I don’t know how we have gone all the way from hate to this, but I need to find out. I didn’t even like him at first, I thought he was arrogant and miserable. How am I all emotional and full of lust only a couple of days later? After just a few conversations? Is that even normal? Do other people go through this?
Yep, I’m staying late tonight. I’m working out what the hell this is. I won’t be able to focus again until I do.
Chapter Four
Brad
“There we are.” Tami shakes her long pale blonde hair out behind her and smiles happily at me. She really is beautiful; Angelo was right about that. Sometimes, I catch her in the corner of my eye, and she takes my breath away. Especially when I think about the electricity that comes when we touch. “All organized. I’m glad I stayed late to get this finished because then I can sort the rest out before I have to leave you at the end of the week.”