by Sloan Storm
Getting up from my desk, I walked across my office to the well-stocked bar. I kept it for late night negotiations and the like, rarely using it myself. But with the day nearly over and my neck killing me from another sixteen hours of poring over briefs and data, I could use a stiff one.
After grabbing a rocks glass, I reached for the gin, followed soon after by a bottle of tonic water. Lining them up on the bar, I cracked the plastic top of the tonic water open. The hiss of carbonation filled the air as I placed it on the bar in front of me. As it settled, I reached towards the ice maker. Flipping it open, I scooped out enough for half my glass. A few seconds later, I’d added the gin and topped it with the tonic water.
I swirled it in the glass as I walked back across my office. The cubes tinked against one another and into the side of the glass. As I moved towards my desk, there was a knock at my office door.
“Come in.”
As the door swung open, Fiona appeared. After turning and closing the door behind her, she began to walk towards me.
“You know what, Fiona?” I said, as she approached. “Have a seat at the conference table.”
Fiona glanced at me for a moment and nodded her head. I noticed that as she took a seat, her old habit of clutching her sleeves inside her hands had made a return. Carrying my cocktail, I drew near the table and took a sip.
“Would you like something, Fiona?”
She shook her head. “No. No thank you.”
“Suit yourself.”
I pulled out the chair next to her and as I took a seat, I placed my beverage down on the conference table. With my hand wrapped around the ice cold glass, I looked at Fiona in silence for a moment. She returned my gaze and offered me a polite smile.
“Fiona, the reason I’ve asked you to come to my office has nothing to do with the work you’re doing in the lab or with the presentation.”
“No, I figured that.”
“All right, well, do you know why I have asked you here?”
“Yes, I think so,” she began. “Is it because of what happened at the resort?”
“It is, in part. But I think what happened at the resort is a symptom of some underlying issue between us.”
Fiona swallowed hard as I finished my thought. I paused and lifted my cocktail to my lips, taking another healthy swig. After placing it back down on the table, I continued.
“You see, Fiona, I’m having difficulty understanding what the problem is.”
Fiona straightened her arms beneath the table, closing herself off from me a bit.
“Like right now… Can you tell me why you feel the need to do that?”
Fiona exhaled a listless breath, and her shoulders slumped a bit. I watched her as she sat with her thoughts.
“Gabe, I’ve not done a good job of explaining my behavior toward you and that goes doubly true for what happened at the resort.”
I nodded and took another sip of my drink as she continued.
“I’ve just been confused lately, and the last thing I want to do is risk losing my job.”
“Your job is not at risk Fiona,” I began. Placing my hand on the arm of the chair I straightened myself up into an upright posture. “What I’m talking about here has nothing to do with your performance at work. I believe I’ve told you that more than once already. Frankly, I don’t understand why you don’t believe me.”
Fiona nodded and looked away from me. “I know. I don’t know why I don’t believe you either. I’m very sorry for that.”
I leaned back in my chair and draped my elbow over the back of it. “Fiona, is there something else going on? Something else in your life that you want to tell me about?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, let me ask you this another way,” I began. “Do you enjoy spending time with me?”
A hint of a smile came to Fiona’s mouth. I hadn’t expected it. She nodded and replied, “Yes, I do. Very much.”
“Okay, so if you were in my position, wouldn’t you naturally assume that there is some other problem?”
“Of course I have problems in my life, Gabe. I just don’t feel comfortable putting my personal issues out for the world to see, including you.”
I nodded as I looked at her in silence for a moment. “Do you think that’s fair to me?”
“I don’t know. No, I guess. But that’s just the way I am. I can’t help it. I’m sorry. I don’t expect you to understand.”
“I get it Fiona. I’m a private person myself, so I understand where you’re coming from. But here’s what I don’t do… I don’t take out my frustrations on other people. And that’s what I think you are doing here.”
Without hesitation, Fiona shook her head and looked at me. “Gabe… That’s not it. It’s just…”
I waved her off in the middle of her reply. “Fiona, I really don’t have a problem ending things between us. What I do have a problem with is you not being straight with me. As I’ve said before, you are under no obligation to sleep with me. I won’t hold it over your head, and I won’t allow it to affect anything relating to your work. Is that clear enough for you?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
“All right then. Getting back to what happened at the resort… My intention was for you to enjoy yourself and get rid of the stress.”
Fiona tugged a strand of hair behind her ear as she looked at me. “The picnic was nice.”
I smiled and nodded. “Well, at least there was that, right?”
“Yes.”
“But I did make a promise to you and I intend to make it right.”
Fiona shook her head. “Gabe, please, it’s not necessary. Everything is okay, really.”
“Not to me it isn’t Fiona. Look, I’m not expecting you to do or say anything in this situation, but we’ve got to do something to make this better for both of us right now, for the sake of the company.”
“I promise, Gabe. You don’t have to worry about it.”
Ignoring her, I got down to the reason I’d asked her to my office in the first place. “Tell you what. Let’s have dinner.”
Fiona didn’t hesitate. Shaking her head, she replied, “No, Gabe. I really don’t think that’s a good idea.”
I waved her off as she protested.
“It’s strictly business, Fiona. You and I still have a lot of work to do. The presentation is coming up fast now. Since that’s the case, I’m going to have to insist.”
Defeated, Fiona dropped her head a bit.
“Okay,” she said with reluctance.
FIONA
I waited for Gabe outside the restaurant where I’d had my jealousy meltdown.
Between work and going home to take care of my grandmother, I had no time to shower and barely enough time to change. But so intense was my disdain for Mandy, the Uber Hostess, that I would rather sit on a bench across from the parking lot than deal with that slinky tower of sex.
Just then, Gabe’s limo pulled up, and I stood and smoothed my dress. Squinting into the setting sun, I reached up and shaded my eyes with my hand as Gabe emerged from the rear of the vehicle.
“Hey,” Gabe began, as he nodded in the direction of the entrance to the restaurant. “Why aren’t you in the restaurant? It’s hot as hell out here.”
“Oh, I just got here,” I lied.
Gabe stopped and leaned away from me. “But you’re sweating and…”
But before he continued his thought, thank God, Gabe waved his hand with a casual flick.
“You know what. It doesn’t matter. Let’s just go.”
Of course it would turn out she wasn’t even at the hostess station as we entered. In fact, we passed right by it and continued straight through the restaurant. Gabe strode through as if he owned the place and walked right to his reserved table. As was the case with the last time I ate here, I looked up to several dozen pairs of eyes locked on me, as I slid into the booth.
What? Am I not good enough for him?
I was really beginning to hate this place.
I’d almost forgotten how much, in fact, until a nearly six foot tall living statue composed of tits and legs walked in our direction. As she arrived at the table, her gaze never wavered from Gabe and within a second, she leaned in, kissing him on the cheek.
Again!
I did my best not to stare but I couldn’t help it.
I really, really, really was starting to hate this place.
She stood and looked at me, as if she hadn’t noticed I was there when she walked up.
Please.
“Oh, hello again,” she said.
I nodded in her direction, and as much as I wanted not to, I offered her a polite smile in return, but no words to accompany it. As luck would have it, it didn’t matter much anyway. Her shift was just getting underway, so I hoped it was the last time I’d have to see her again.
Gabe was either oblivious or didn’t care, because as I stared her down, he’d ordered a bottle of wine. Before long, the waiter returned and after uncorking it, he filled both of our glasses. Gabe reached down and slid the tips of his fingers around the stem. Nodding, he gestured for me to touch my glass to his.
As I did, he smiled.
“I’m glad you’re here tonight, Fiona.”
“Thank you.”
When I tilted the glass to my lips, the scent of fruity alcohol hit me. I took a large gulp, more than I normally did, which I followed with another right away. I set my glass down and glanced towards Gabe. He hadn’t noticed, as he’d been distracted searching for something in his suit coat pockets. As we locked eyes, he’d found what he was looking for, but he kept whatever it was concealed as he dropped it into his lap.
I ignored it for the moment as Gabe leaned back into the booth and in one smooth motion, flung his arm over the back of it. I offered him a polite smile, but not much more. I still wasn’t even sure why I’d agreed to come here. We could just as easily discuss the presentation in the office, if that’s why we were really even here. I had my suspicions.
Gabe didn’t say a word, but instead moved an arm towards his lap. A moment or so later, it reappeared, and in his hand, Gabe held a jewelry box, which he placed in the center of the table. He set it down, but as he released it, he kept a single finger pressed to the lid of the box and looked at me.
“What is that?” I said.
Gabe flicked at the top of the box, nudging it a half-inch closer to me from where he’d placed it moments earlier.
“Open it.”
I narrowed my gaze at him. Gabe smirked in return and nodded towards the small box.
“Hmm,” I muttered, as I reached towards it.
Wrapping my fingers around the box, I picked it up and turned it in my direction. I had to admit to a sudden case of butterflies. I’d never been given a present by a man before, and knowing Gabe, it could be anything. Just then, I cracked the lid open and they appeared before me. I raised my hand to my mouth, covering it as I stared down at them.
“Gabe…” I whispered. “They’re beautiful.”
“Try ‘em on.”
Transfixed by their brilliance, I only half-listened to him. “But I don’t understand… why?”
Gabe finished another sip of his wine. “Well, you know, for the way I behaved at the resort.”
I glanced down at the diamond and jade encrusted earrings. Surely, Gabe would have saved what looked like tens of thousands of dollars in jewelry by just telling me he was sorry. They were beautiful though, more spectacular than anything I’d ever seen except behind glass at the jewelry store.
Of course, there was no way in hell I could accept them. Fortunately, I wouldn’t have to turn him down based on his motives but my own small problem with ninety percent of all jewelry.
“They’re exquisite, Gabe…” I paused, looking at them for emphasis.
“I sense a ‘but’ coming, Fiona.”
“Well, it’s just… Are they platinum?”
Gabe frowned and leaned away with a look of frustration on his face.
“What?” he scoffed.
“No, oh no…” I said as I leaned towards him. Draping my hand across my chest, I continued, “It’s just that I’m allergic to everything but platinum. See?”
As I finished, I raised the arm where I wore my bracelet. Gabe’s look of frustration melted into pure disgust as he exhaled.
“What? Gabe, I can’t help it. It’s not my fault I’m allergic.”
He looked away from nodding and waving me off with a few casual flicks of his hand. “Yeah, yeah, okay, okay…”
Not even sure what I’d done wrong, I slumped into my chair a bit and turned my head away from Gabe and out into the restaurant, looking at nothing in particular.
Why hadn’t I put a stop to this yet? What the hell was I doing?
It’d been weeks since I’d promised my grandmother I would, and yet here I sat, still unable to do it. But, I had to do it now, before things either got worse between us, or I reached a point where I couldn’t turn back any longer.
“Gabe,” I blurted out, before I hesitated for too long and lost my nerve. “I just can’t do it anymore.”
Lips pursed, Gabe rotated his head towards me with an unhurried swivel.
“Do what, Fiona?”
“I can’t sleep with you anymore, Gabe. I can’t. And as beautiful these are, I can’t, I-I can’t accept them.”
With that, I stood and placed the jewelry box on the table in front of him. “I’m sorry, Gabe. I’m so very, very sorry.”
Without giving him a moment to answer, I turned. With my head down and clutching my purse strap for dear life, I began to exit the restaurant.
“Fiona?” Gabe began, as I took my first couple of steps. “What the hell are you doing? We’ve got business to discuss.”
I turned back towards him. By now, several pairs of curious eyeballs glued themselves to our discussion.
“Gabe, I can’t. Please. I’m leaving.”
I looked down at him, and his blue eyes sparkled with defiance. For another second, maybe two, we looked at one another, until at last, he nodded. Spinning the jewelry box in place as he stared at me, Gabe spoke.
“All right, Fiona. Go ahead.”
I turned and left.
GABE
“Holly, get in here.” I said, as I held down the intercom button on my phone.
The door to my office was open and it wasn’t long before Holly rapped against it.
“Yes?” she said, as she peeked her head around the corner.
I looked up from my desk. Tapping my pen on the top of a stack paper with a series of quick strikes, I snapped, “Where’s the updated prospectus?”
Holly took a few steps inside the office and closed the door behind her. Afterward, without a word, she marched towards my desk and stopped about a foot away, crossing her arms at her chest.
“It’s right there,” she said in a stern tone.
“Where? Because unless I’m fucking blind, I don’t see it.”
Unfolding one of her crossed arms, she aimed her index finger to a separate pile across from the one I’d rapped against moments earlier. “There, Gabe. Where I told you it was an hour ago.”
I followed the line created by her stiff digit and reached for the white stack. I pressed the tips of my fingers on it and spun the pile of documents my direction.
“Well, why the hell are they here?”
“Gabe!” Holly exclaimed, as she stomped her foot.
“What Holly? What?” I barked.
“Stop it. Stop it right now! You have been acting completely ridiculous in the past few days and believe me, everyone has been noticing.”
I scoffed and leaned back in the chair, tossing my pen on my desk. I interlocked my fingers and dropped my hands to my lap.
“Holly,” I sputtered. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“Oh come on Gabe, you know exactly what I’m talking about!”
I raised my arms and slapped them down on the arms of my chair.
&
nbsp; “Holly, look—I don’t have time for any of this. Tell me what you’re talking about or get the hell out of my office.”
“I might. And not ever come back!” she said, as she bent from the waist, scowling at me.
I exhaled a shallow breath and reclined in my seat. “Go on.”
In less than five minutes she proceeded to tell me that since I’d returned from my ill-fated spa retreat, I’d been short and grouchy with her. That got even worse after Fiona informed me at dinner the other night she wanted to end our arrangement. Of course, Holly didn’t know about any of that.
“Holly, why are you being so sensitive? You don’t get upset like this. I’ve been grouchy or whatever in the past. So what?”
“Mmm, hmm,” she muttered, crossing her arms once more. For a moment, silence hung between us, until I heard the distinctive pat, pat, pat of her foot on the carpet in my office.
She unfurled her arms. They collided with the outsides of her thighs with a smack. “You’re really going to make me say this, aren’t you, Gabe?”
“Holly! Jesus! Say what?”
“Fiona. Fiona… Gabe.”
“Fiona?” I replied. My brow tightened in a baffled frown. “Holly, I swear. If you don’t tell me what the…”
Holly snapped her hands towards her face, cupping them around her mouth as she bellowed, “You have been sleeping with Fiona, Gabe! Something has happened between the two of you, and it’s driving everyone crazy! Fix it!”
I blinked and looked at her in stunned silence.
Holly just shook her head. “Gabe, everyone knows it. This is something you’ve got to fix and fix fast. The way you’ve been acting… It won’t be long before you have groups of people leaving at once. En masse…”
I really didn’t know what to say. The idea of everyone knowing something was happening between Fiona and me didn’t bother me. No. What bothered me was the fact I’d let the fallout from it affect not only my immediate future, but perhaps the future of Hawkins Biotech. The strangest part was, I’d been unaware of how I’d behaved.
“I’m being serious here, Gabe. With everything going on, you can’t afford to act like this. I wouldn’t be in here telling you this if I didn’t respect you and everything you’ve done, okay? Just please, fix the situation, so you can get back to normal.”