by Penny Wylder
“So what, who cares about them, let them stare.” I start moving my feet, then my hips. Sylvia is moving even slower, her eyes darting all around the other diners, watching them watch her. Gripping her chin with my fingers, I turn her face back to mine. “Don't worry about them, just live in the moment. Be right here, right now with me.”
Letting out a slow breath, she nods nervously. “I'm just not used to this spontaneous stuff.”
“You have to learn to let go,” I whisper softly in her ear. The squeak of a chair comes over my shoulder, then another and another. Circling around, I can see an older couple is now dancing next to their table, and so is a couple against the far side of the restaurant. “See, look, you inspired others.”
Sylvia twists to look over her shoulder and smiles. “That wasn't me, that was you.”
“It takes two to tango, isn't that the saying?” Pressing my palm firmly against her lower back, I grab her hand and dip her. “What would Daniel say now?” Swooping her around, I lift her back up, pulling her in close.
Our bodies are touching, I can feel her tits with each breath she takes. Her nipples are hard, teasing me as they scrape my chest over and over. Sylvia is breathing heavily, her eyes set on mine, smile broad.
More and more people around us start to dance, but they're all a blur in my eyes. All I can see is Sylvia, with her gorgeous eyes and striking body. My hands slip down her back, moving over her ass.
She doesn't refuse me, taking a small step in. “Thank you,” she whispers against my cheek as we slow dance. We're moving in tandem, our feet and hips rocking and stepping to the beat.
“You don't need to thank me.”
“Yes I do,” she says quickly, pulling her face back so she can look into my eyes. “I don't get to do this. Daniel has a set of expectations for me, and they've been there since I was little.”
“Expectations are fine, that's normal, but everyone deserves to find themselves in one way or another.”
“You don't understand, Phade. I was a wild kid, it was bad.”
“Get out of here.”
“Seriously. My birth father left my mother when I was young because I was so terrible. Daniel told me how terrible I was, he made sure that I never acted that way again so he wouldn't want to run off too. Daniel set the rules for me, he gave me what I needed to succeed in life.”
“He didn't do that. You succeeded because you wanted to. Daniel didn't do that for you.”
“Yes he did, you don't know what it was like for everyone when I was a kid. My father actually left because of me when I was three.”
Holding her shoulders, I stop us so we're not moving. “Sylvia, your father didn't leave because of you.”
“Daniel said—”
“Daniel said,” I bark, cutting her off. “Who cares what he said, listen to yourself. You were three years old, there's no way you had anything to do with your real father taking off. Daniel is an asshole. Daniel will make you believe what he wants, just so he can get what he wants.”
“That's not true, you don't know what you're talking about.”
“Sylvia, come on, you can't be that gullible. Daniel doesn't see how incredible you are, he only sees what you can do for him. The truth is he's an asshole for telling you it's your fault your father left. It's never the child's fault—never.”
Taking a step back, she folds her arms across her chest and frowns. “You don't know shit about my life, Phade. Daniel has been the only father figure I've had, he's the only one that's pushed me and helped me. Yes, sometimes he's a bit much, but most parents are.”
“No, not like that. Parents don't tell their kids that another parent left because of them. That's cruel, Syl, you can't see it?”
“You know what,” she snaps, throwing up her arms. “I knew this was a bad idea.” Her brows drop, her mouth curls into an angry frown. “You don't know what the hell you're talking about. Daniel has been there for me, and he's been there for my mom. You have no right to judge him this way.”
“I'm not trying to upset you, but you can't let him treat you this way. You deserve more from life than this.”
“Did you ever think that this is what I want?”
“Syl—”
Holding up her hand, her jaw clenches as she speaks. “Don't, I'm not really looking for an answer. I'm done.” Her arms go limp as she whips her body around and storms off.
I stand dumbfounded for a moment, just letting it all sink in. I never meant to hurt her feelings or upset her, but I couldn't let her go on thinking that it's all right for an adult to tell a child that someone left because of them.
Dropping down into my seat, I let out a sigh. This isn't what I wanted for tonight. I had plans to take her home with me, to give her a night she'd always remember.
Picking up my head, I notice the binder still on the table. She left behind all her hard work, her imaginary life that she created for us.
Damnit. Why the hell am I doing this to myself?
7
Sylvia
Clutching my temples, I drop my head onto my desk and groan.
Why did I go out with him last night?
It was a dumb decision to go. I should have stayed in, watched a movie, finished a bottle of wine, and passed out on the couch. Instead I became subject to his ridicule, and narrow minded thoughts.
Ugh, I'm such an idiot.
Turning my face toward the window, the sun shines on my cheek, warming it up. Any other day I would be smiling, enjoying the way it streams in and makes rainbows off the crystal paperweight on my desk, but not today. Today my head is killing me, and I've been staring at the computer screen since six in the morning trying to redo everything I lost.
All the work I put into this engagement story, and I leave it on the damn table because Phade fucked with my emotions and pissed me off. I wish he would have just left it alone, keeping his opinion to himself.
But that's not who he is, and you know this.
Why are you surprised?
Phade's one of those guys that likes to hear themselves talk. I've already seen it with his interviews, and the articles in Sports Today and Pro Glove. He doesn't know when to shut up.
Now, I'm starting over from scratch, rebuilding the most important task I've ever been given. My step-father's going to base his next decision, and where I stand with this company, on this. I can't screw it up.
Closing my eyes, I let the sun soak into my skin and just breathe. I got this.
“Whatcha got there?” Claudia's voice rains down on me from over my shoulder, her face almost against my ear.
Throwing my body upright, she jumps back with a light yelp. Immediately, I click my computer screen off and turn to face her. “Nothing, it's nothing, just trying to organize some stuff.”
I feel weird about this whole thing and how she'll react to it. None of it's real, but inside I feel like it's going to hurt her feelings. I've seen how she looks at him, like a horny schoolgirl, ready to drop onto her back if he looks at her just right.
Her eyes get all googly, her fingers get twitchy, grabbing at thin locks of her hair and sliding them between the pads of her fingers. And the giggle, her damn giggle goes from normal to a high pitched cackle.
Maybe she should be the one doing this. . . The thought flickers to life for a second, then quickly dies out. This is my job, given specifically to me, by the man who has guided me my entire life.
I can do this. It's just for show.
A flash of Phade bending me over pops into my head, causing my heart to flutter. I can't escape that night. It's always there. It's in my chest, in my muscles, in my belly, and between my legs, like a shadow I can physically touch and smell and see.
Leaning back against the partition, Claudia bounces her hands in the air. “Okay, okay, I'm just asking.” Sighing, she crosses her arms and forces a small smile. “It's just you've been super weird lately, Syl. Always sneaking around, closing down your computer, or bear hugging a binder. What are you working on,
what's Daniel got you doing?”
Looking up, Claude's eyes are wide as she plucks at her lip with a curious smirk on her face. With pin straight hair and square bangs, Claudia looks exactly like you might expect a girl from New York to look.
She's tall and lean, almost too lean. She always dresses to the nines, wearing some fashion designer I've never heard of, and could never afford. Her father is some big wig lawyer who still funds his little girl monthly.
In a white, knee-high, pencil skirt and a crisp blue blouse with a large ruffled collar, Claudia looks like she stepped out of Vogue magazine. Her makeup is bold, but perfect, her jewelry is expensive, and her hair looks like she had it done in the salon before coming to work.
She has a quality about her that I love; her desire to just be normal. No matter how much her family has and can give her, she still wants to do something on her own. So, here she is, working in PR with me, trying to get her name out there.
Her dream is to manage a famous actor one day, and with her drive, I know she'll get there. It all comes with connections, and what better way to get connected than professional fighting?
Bouncing her brows up and down quickly, she grins. “Come on, spit it out, what he's got you doing? Maybe I can help.”
He's killing me slowly, but you'll see that soon enough once the tabloids get a hold of it.
I should just tell her.
Phade was such a jerk about Daniel, I should let her know so she can learn who he really is. He's more than just a good looking face and sexy smile, with muscles on top of muscles; he's a judgmental asshole.
He has no right to say anything about how I was raised. He doesn't know what my life was like before Daniel, and he doesn't know how much that man has done for my mother—or for me.
He became more than just my mother's husband, he's become a role model, a person I’m inspired to be like; he's become my father.
Daniel taught me how to ride a bike, he taught me how to drive a car, and how to protect myself if I need to. Daniel is always there for me.
So when Phade calls him an asshole, it doesn't just put Daniel down, it hurts me too. No one is perfect, not even Phade Brass Knuckles Manson, but at least Daniel tries. He tries to be a dad to me, that's all that really counts in my book.
“It's silly really, Dan—” The rest of the words are at the edge of my tongue, but that's as far as they make it. I'm rendered speechless as his face appears behind Claudia from out of nowhere, as if just my thinking about him made him manifest from thin air.
“Hey, sorry to interrupt,” Phade says as he taps the partition and then touches his chest.
Claudia's face instantly explodes into a smile as she steps further into my cubical. Turning to face him, she playfully slaps his hand. “Phade, you scared me.”
“Sorry, I didn't mean to, Chris—” he starts to say, but is quickly cut off.
“Claudia, Claudia Tanner, we met awhile back, I helped you fill out your information for HR.”
“Right, right, Claudia.” His eyes drift to mine as his voice fades. Phade smiles as he runs his eyes up and down my body. “Syl, you look nice today.”
I can see it in Claudia's face as her mouth parts slightly, and her eyes dart between us; confusion, disbelief—jealousy.
She's made it obvious to me how much she likes this guy and finds him sexy; just like every other woman in America right now.
And I fucked him.
The thought makes my thighs clench on impulse, sending a wave of heat through my body. In that same breath, my heart aches knowing that I've had what she wants.
All I want to do is slink down and hide under my desk. I don't like the way either of them is looking at me. I'm nervous and uncomfortable, and my legs itch to run in the opposite direction.
Brushing a strand of hair behind my ear, I adjust the planner on my desk and swallow hard. Sitting up straight, I try to act professional. “Can I help you with something?”
“I'm sure you can, you can always help me with something.” He grins wide, and winks. Claudia shifts her head between us, jaw crooking to the side hard as she lets out an audible breath.
Fuck, Phade! Don't do this here!
“What is it, Phade?” I try to keep the hiccup out of my tone, that little hint of nervousness. Claudia already looks suspicious enough, I don't want to have to explain anything to her here like this, with Phade standing in the background, gawking at me like a horny puppy dog.
I plan to tell her what's going on, but when the time is right. And now is definitely not the time.
He looks good today, a little too good in his fitted gray t-shirt that hugs his arms and shoulders, and dark blue jeans with work boots. His hair is slicked back, and he's wearing the sexiest shade of five o'clock shadow.
I can smell his cologne, and it's distracting. I can't concentrate with him so close to me. Rugged and strong, my heart skips and stomach drops. I'm blushing, I can feel the warmth in my cheeks as the blood flushes my skin.
No! Not happening!
I'm not letting him do this to me.
Phade steps into my space, his broad shoulders and thick arms enough to crowd my tiny office. Holding out his hand, he looks at Claudia. “I'm sorry, can I get a word with Sylvia in private?”
“No, she's fine where she is,” I answer quickly, not giving her a chance to say yes. I really don't want to be alone with him, not now, not ever. There's a weird blend of anger and lust that's filling my belly, and I'm not sure which one will win. “What is it? What did you come here for?”
Phade runs his hand over his head and sucks in a quick breath. “I have something I want to show you.”
“All right,” I say, shrugging my shoulder, “so, show me.”
His smirk deepens as his eyes glaze over with a sexy haze. “I love a girl who is ready and willing.”
“Phade, if you're just going to—”
“I know, I know, you're a very busy woman.” Softening his eyes, he lets his stare settle on my face. “But I really do have something to show you.” Glancing down at the watch on his wrist, he looks up at the ceiling, lips moving without sound. “We don't have much time, we need to leave now if we're going to make.”
“I'll go if you need someone,” Claudia says, holding up her hand like she's in class. “I don't have anything going on right now, and Sylvia has something important to do for Daniel, so. . .”
Taking a second to look at her, he frowns. “Sorry, but I really need to show Syl.” Taking a firm step forward, he grabs my wrist and pulls me out of my seat. “Come on, we can't be late.” He starts to move, then stops short. “What are you wearing for shoes?”
“What?” I ask, confused by the question. “I'm wearing flats, why?”
“Good enough,” he says sharply, tugging me out of my cubicle and towards the exit.
“I'll be back soon, Claudia, I have no idea what's going on right now.” My lids lower, brows folding in apology. “I'm sorry,” I mouth silently.
Crossing her arms, she looks bewildered and hurt all at once. I wish I had taken the opportunity to explain this to her earlier. Then she would know it's all business, and not a choice of my own. Daniel is the one pulling the strings on this, there's nothing I can do.
“I don't know what the hell you're doing,” I say, whispering to Phade as I follow him to the elevator. “But this isn't the Phade show.”
“Are you sure about that?” he asks, peering down at me from over his shoulder. “Because you and Daniel could have fooled me.” Chuckling to himself, he hits the button for the lobby and is smiling to himself as the doors close. “What's the deal with your friend there? She didn't seem very happy.”
“My friend is a little confused.” My voice is dry and short. I'm not in the mood for his games today; not after last night's dinner. “And you're not helping with that.”
“She wants to fuck me, doesn't she?”
“Full of yourself much? You do realize you're not the center of everything, right?”
“I call it how is it. Ain't no rose colored glasses here, sweetheart.” He nibbles on his bottom lip as he leans against the wall and fiddles with his fingers. “You should try taking yours off sometime. It'll blow you away, I promise you that.”
“Not everyone you meet wants to fuck you, Phade. I know you think they do, but you're sorely wrong.”
“You did,” he says, glancing at me from the corner of his eyes. “Did you tell her we fucked?” Turning his eyes back to the elevator doors, I can see his smile spread wider. I don't answer him, the silence is all he needs to know the truth. “That's what I thought. So, who's making this about me again?”
“You know what,” I snap, grabbing his bicep to make him face me. My hand curls around the muscle, it's solid and firm, and I can't stop my fingers from exploring a little bit. “You're not. . .” He flexes, I suck in a quick breath of air, choking on it as it goes down. “You don't. . .”
What the hell was I saying?
Shit! I lost my train of thought!
“I don't what?” he asks, tilting his head.
Yanking my fingers off his arm, I take a step back. “You don't make the rules, and you don't get to just show up unannounced like this and steal me away.”
“I don't?” Phade takes a step in, forcing me to take another step back.
“Like I said before, this isn't the Phade Show.”
Phade looks up at the camera in the corner of the elevator. Licking his lips, he mirrors my movements, staying with me. “Want to make it the Sylvia and Phade show instead? Think anyone is watching?”
“Oh no, no, no, no.” Shaking my head, my lids shoot open. “We can't and we're not. Not here, not now, not ever again. What happened between us was a mistake, that's all it was.”
“There's no such thing as a mistake in life.” He smiles wider, sinister and sexy all at once. “You do or you don't. And you did—we did.”
“It should never have happened.”
Moving his shoulders fast, a gust of his cologne washes over my face. Taking in a deep breath, I try not to let him see it. Phade really is a hard man to deny. Everything about him screams bad boy, dripping in sex appeal, and drenched in pussy wetting good looks.