The Promise

by S. L. Jayne

  Rylee and I smiled back. “Good morning, Mrs Stevens. Great to see you again, too.”

  Still smiling, she shook her head slightly and rolled her eyes. “I told you before to call me Carol. Here are your swipe cards, you’ll need them to get through the door when you reach the first floor. Mr Ashby is expecting you.”

  “Thank you, Carol. Have a great day,” we took our cards and headed towards to elevators.

  We stepped out on the first floor, turning right we came to the door that needed the card to get through, I swiped the card and pushed the door open. On the other side of the door was an open office space with booths sectioned off by partitioning walls. Mr Ashby was talking to a guy, my guess was he waiting for us.

  He turned and greeted us with a smile. “Morning girls.”

  We smiled back and said good morning. He extended his arm in the direction of the offices gesturing for us to follow him.

  “Follow me, I’ll take you to your offices. I have emailed you both this morning with the schedule, your log in details are on your desks and Aimee will be able to answer any questions you have.” Nothing like getting straight into boss-mode.

  He looked round at Rylee with a furrowed brow. “Where did you say you girls are from again?”

  “Boston.” Rylee answered with a clipped tone.

  Mr Ashby nodded his head once and carried on walking. Through the next door was different to the other office space, this one looked like a fish bowl. The middle of room had three desks with two girls and a guy occupying them. The windows were on the left wall, and the other walls were lined with office doors. You could see inside each office through the glass door and window panels.

  Mr Ashby stopped by one of the desks and turned to us. “This is Aimee,” he said as he pointed to the petite girl.

  She looked around the same age as us, and was only around 5ft. Her auburn hair was in a pixie. “This is Ava and Rylee,” he said, pointing towards me and Rylee in turn.

  She gave us a warm smile. “Hi, nice to meet you both. Anything you need just ask.”

  We said our hello’s and turned to follow Mr Ashby to our offices.

  I settled in behind my desk and got stuck into reading emails and getting used to the system.

  After a long first day we got back to the apartment just after six, we were tired and wanted to relax. I had gotten a text from Matt at lunchtime asking how we were and if he would see us soon, what he really meant was if he would see Rylee soon. I really hope he is as genuine as he seems, I don’t want to lead Ry into the arms of a player. That will just prove her theory of men right. I told him he would see us this weekend, we’ll go to the bar.

  ***

  It is finally Friday and we had had a great first week at work, it was busy but not too much. Rylee was enjoying it too and Mr Ashby had even softened up on his ‘boss-mode’, I think he does that on the first day to show he means business. He had asked us a few questions about where we lived before here and what made us move, I’m sure we had gone through all of that with him when we met him the first time. Aimee was the sweetest, she had come to lunch with Rylee and I a few times and we got to know her a bit more. She is twenty five and has been dating a guy named Walker for a year now. She met him through friends and he works in the finance department of his family’s company. Matt had texted again a few times in the last couple days, he even said in one message that he couldn’t stop thinking about seeing Rylee.

  We had got home and changed in record time, and now on our way to the bar. I pushed open the door and we headed to the bar.

  Matt saw us and practically ran over to greet us with a huge grin on his face. “Hey! You finally came back in, how are you gorgeous girls?”

  I chuckled. “Hey, Matt. It hasn’t been that long since we were here last.”

  His eyes drifted to Rylee and back to me. “It’s been long enough. Let me get your drinks, they are on me because I’m choosing them,” he winked and turned to walk away.

  I looked round to Rylee, she was watching him walk away. I waved my hand in front of her face. “Earth to Rylee.”

  She flinched. “What? Sorry I was in my own world then”

  I smirked. “Yeah I figured. Was that the world where only you Matt and a few cocktails exist?”

  She laughed and flung her hand back to skim over my arm. “No! I was just wondering where his tattoo’s ended.”

  “I had thought that too, you’ll have to let me know once you find out,” I winked at her.

  She laughed. “I’m not going to find out, Ava. He’s pretty to look at and sure he flirts a bit too, but I’m positive he does it with every girl. It’s pretty much written in his job description.”

  I rolled my eyes at her assumption. “Well, I have a pretty good gut instinct and it’s telling me he likes you a little more than it tells him to in his job description. You saw the look on his face when he saw us walk in, it was for you!”

  “Whatever,” she said as she rolled her eyes.

  Matt came back with the drinks, he placed them on the bar in front of us.

  He looked at me and smiled. “Here you go, I made you a vodka cranberry like you always have,” then he looked at Rylee. “And I thought you looked like you could do with sex on the beach, and I wanted to be the one to give you that.”

  Rylee burst out laughing next to me. “Why thank you, I’ve never had that before.”

  I giggled at her double meaning.

  He looked at her confused. “You’ve never had what? Sex in general or just sex on the beach?”

  She looked up at him, saying nothing she just smirked and shrugged one shoulder. She turned to me shouting over the music. “Let’s go dance!” I looked back at Matt, the look on his face told me he is trying to work out which sex Rylee hasn’t had. I let out a laugh and nodded, I took her hand letting her drag me away from the bar and around to the dance floor. I loved this side of her, the side that she lets out when it is just me and her.

  We danced through a few songs and I saw a blonde guy keep staring over at her. I moved closer to her to whisper. “Blonde guy to your left keeps looking over at you every time you throw your hands up and wiggle your ass.”

  She giggled and turned to get a quick glimpse of him. “I hope he doesn’t come over here and try dancing with me. How will I break it to him that I’m not into blondes?”

  I burst out laughing. “If he comes over just tell him you’re not interested.”

  “Yeah, because all men listen to that in a bar, don’t they,” she said sarcastically.

  We carried on dancing for a bit longer, then I pointed in the direction of the bar to signal that I needed another drink, Rylee nodded and we made our way across the busy dance floor. I turned to see where Rylee was and spotted her with the blonde guy.

  I knew he would approach her!

  I saw her shake her head and take a step back when he put his hands on her hips, he stepped towards her again and I hear her tell him no again and to leave her alone but he wasn’t listening, he stretched his arms out to grab her again.

  I rushed over to her, walking up behind him I grabbed his shoulder to get his attention. “Get your fucking hands off her before I use my six inch heels to help ruin all chances of you ever getting laid again!”

  He looked at me and smirked. “Sorry, sweetheart, did you want some of me, too? I don’t mind, I can handle you both,” he winked.

  Prick!

  “I have standards, Sweetheart. I wouldn’t touch you with someone else’s!” I scowled at him.

  He tensed his jaw and gave me a dirty look before turning back to Rylee and grabbing her by the hips again pulling her into him, she brought her hands up to his chest to shove him away. I spun around when I heard glass smash, my eyes widened and my mouth dropped open. In that instant I saw Matt jump over the bar with a look of pure rage on his face, within two long strides he had the guy pinned up against the wall with one hand fisting the collar of his shirt and the other fist pulled back and raised in the ai
r ready to knock this guy into next week.

  I ran over to Rylee, who had now backed away and was standing by the bar and grabbed her hand, she was shaking. “Are you okay, Ry?”

  She nodded and we both jumped when we heard Matt shouting in the guy’s face.

  “I fucking heard her say no more than ONCE, asshole! You should have walked the fuck away the first time, not put your dirty hands on her again and make her try and push you away. If I EVER see you in my bar again I will make sure you don’t leave here walking. Now get the fuck out of my sight and don’t even try to look at her as you leave,” His voice is loud and harsh, if you didn’t know Matt and how soft he is then you’d find him pretty damn scary right now.

  He pulled the guy away from the wall and shoved him towards the doors. My heart was pounding and Rylee was still shaking as Matt made his way back over to us.

  He had a look of worry on his face as he spoke to Rylee. “Are you okay, babe?” He looked down at Rylee’s shaking hands. “Shit, did I scare you? I’m sorry I just saw red and flipped, I didn’t mean to.”

  She shook her head. “Don’t be sorry, it wasn’t you that scared me, Matt. Thank you for getting rid of him.” Her voice was shaky.

  I put my arm over her shoulder and pulled her into me. “I think I’m going to get her home, Matt. Thank you so much for doing that, I don’t know what we would have done without you here.”

  He gave me a small smile. “Anytime, I mean it, here or wherever you both are just call me and I’ll be there.”

  I smiled back at him. “Thank you.”

  He stepped closer to us and pulled us both in for a group hug. I felt Rylee stiffen at the contact so I rubbed her shoulder to help her relax.

  I woke up the next morning with the previous night’s events flooding my mind. I climb out of bed and head to the kitchen. I hope Rylee is feeling okay this morning, I don’t want her to let that bastard from last night ruin any chances of her wanting to go back to the bar in the future. I’m so glad Matt was there to defend her, I just hope Rylee see’s the good in him and maybe accepts that he may want to be friends. I walk into the kitchen to find Rylee already sitting at the breakfast bar with coffee, there is an extra cup next to hers.

  She turned and smiled at me. “Morning, I heard you getting up so I made you one.”

  I smiled back. “Aww, thank you, Ry. Morning to you, too. You’re up early.”

  “Yeah, I’m blaming the work routine. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to sleep in again!” She said, rolling her eyes dramatically.

  I needed to find a way to bring Matt up, after what he did last night I want her to trust him a little more.

  I kept my face blank of any expression as I lifted my coffee to take a sip. “So, I think you should maybe think about letting Matt have your number.”

  She looked at me. “If this is about last night, Ava, I didn’t ask him to do that for me, I don’t even know why he did it. He could have let the doorman handle him.”

  “He likes you Ry, he wants to be friends with you and I don’t see anything wrong in having guys as friends. Especially when they are so willing to jump to your defense like he did.”

  “I like him too, Ava. I just don’t know, being friends with him means getting close, and getting close brings trust and trust brings betrayal. In the time we have been here I feel like I have gotten stronger and moved on from there, but I’m far from being able to offer guys the level of trust they are going to want from me,” she said.

  I nodded. “I understand, Ry, but I do really think he is a genuine guy, and hand on my heart I don’t think he would try to push you out of your comfort zone. I’m not asking you to sleep with him, I’m asking you to give him a chance. That’s all.”

  She took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Okay, give me his number.”

  I clapped my hands together. “Yay! I’m so proud of you, Ry. You’re going to make his day!”

  She shook her head and grinned. “I can’t believe I’m breaking my own rule for you.”

  I gave her the number and went for a shower leaving her to it.

  Walking back into the kitchen I see her smiling. “I guess it went well?” I smirked.

  “Yeah, I think so. Here have a look at the messages,” she handed me her phone and I opened the message thread.

  Rylee: Hi, Matt its Rylee. Ava gave me your number, I hope you don’t mind I just wanted to thank you again for last night. You didn’t have to do that for me. :)

  Matt: Hey, gorgeous. Of course I don’t mind, getting a text from you has just made my day! You’re welcome for last night, I did have to do it. I’d do it again in a heartbeat. ;)

  Rylee: Aw, you’re easily pleased then! ;) Why did you have to? Don’t you have a doorman for that? :)

  Matt: I am when it comes to you, gorgeous ;) I do have doormen, but I did it for selfish reasons too. Xx

  Rylee: Lol, I’m sure you say that to all the girls. ;) What reasons would they be? :)

  Matt: No, I don’t say that to any other girls, but I have a feeling you’re going to find that hard to believe. My main reason was because you just don’t treat a girl like that, my selfish reason was that I couldn’t stand to see his hands on you for another minute! Xx

  Rylee: You’re right, I do find it hard to believe. X

  I stopped reading and looked up at her. “You didn’t mention his reasons.”

  She bit her lip and shrugged. “I didn’t know what to say to him. Keep reading.”

  Matt: I’ll make you believe. I’m not a mind fuck, Rylee. I’m not trying to be anything other than what you’re comfortable with right now. Xx

  Rylee: Friends. X

  Matt: Friends it is. Xx

  “See, that wasn’t so hard to do was it?” I grinned.

  She narrowed her eyes at me. “I’m staying friendly like you wanted, Ava. I’m not going on dates with him, I’ll put a little faith in him but if he pushes the friend thing I’ll freeze up. I know I will.”

  I gave her a huge smile. “Friendly with a little faith is all I’m asking for, Ry.”

  Chapter Eight

  “Speed dating?” I looked across the café table at Aimee, who has a huge smile on her face and her eyes are lit up with excitement. “You can’t go speed dating, Aimee, you’re already dating!”

  Rylee almost spat her orange juice all over her plate as she burst out laughing. “Ava has a point. How does that work? Are you going to bring Walker and sit at the same table with him all night?”

  Aimee smiled. “No! I was going to bring Kaitlyn with us, we can sit at the bar laughing at your facial expressions with each guy and then laugh about the gory details afterwards.

  “Jeez, thanks!” I laughed as I looked over to Rylee, who has a big grin on her face while staring at her phone.

  It has to be Matt!

  “Um, Ry? You know it isn’t normal to stare at your phone with a goofy grin on your face, right?” I smirked at her.

  Aimee laughed and Rylee looked up at me “Very funny, Ava! I don’t have a goofy grin!”

  Aimee cut in. “I think I need to hear more about this Matt guy.”

  Rylee smiled at her. “There isn’t much to know, we’re just friends.”

  There it was, the ‘just friends’ status she has clung onto like a comfort blanket for the past two weeks since she had gotten Matt’s number. I know she doesn’t want to talk about her and Matt so I change the subject.

  “When is this speed dating night then?” I asked Aimee.

  “Tonight, it’s in a bar down town.”

  I hope it isn’t Matt’s bar, watching Rylee speed date won’t be his finest hour. Rylee looked up at me, I could see she was thinking the same as me.

  I looked over to Aimee. “Which bar is it?”

  “It’s called The Night Owl, have you been there before?”

  I heard Rylee’s sigh of relief and I shook my head.

  “Okay so I’ll pick you both up at seven from your apartment. I’ll only be drinki
ng coke tonight, because I’m going to Walkers tomorrow and I don’t want to be hung over all day.”

  Rylee and I laughed. “Okay, sounds good. Seven it is.”

  In the past two weeks Rylee and I got into the routine of working. We had met with Aimee and Kaitlyn a few times and had become good friends with them, Kaitlyn is the other girl that works in the office with Aimee. We met Walker the other day too. He seemed familiar, even Rylee thought she had seen him before too but we came to the conclusion that he has probably been in the pub and that’s where we would have seen him. After Matt had agreed to be just friends with Rylee she had become more relaxed about texting him, I have a feeling he is just what she needs to blow her theory of guys out of the water.

  “Which top, pink or white?” Rylee asks as she holds up both tops in front of her.

  “White. The guys will need shades on sitting with you wearing that bright pink!” I said laughing.

  She laughed. “Yeah, it is a little bright. I’ll go with the white one.”

  We have fifteen minutes until Aimee gets here so we sit on the couch and have a drink. I’m feeling a little nervous about tonight, I don’t know why.

  “I have no idea what I’m going to say to these guys, I think I’ll let them do the talking. I’m not planning on dating them afterwards so they don’t need to know much about me,” Rylee shrugged.

  “You never know, you could meet a knight in shining armour tonight,” I gave her a full on cheesy smile.

  She shook her head. “No, Ava. This is not a place to find your future husband, please don’t start with the “finding your one true love” speech,” she laughed.

  I shoved her arm. “I’m not going to start, besides you have Matt for that! I’m sure he’d love to be your happy ever after.”

  She attempts her mean look again. “Stop building your hopes up on that one, Ava. We’re just friends. He hasn’t even been flirty with me on text, so I guess you’re going to have to find your own little love story to nurture.”

  I narrowed my eyes looking at her suspiciously. “He hasn’t flirted? Not once? Hmm… Winks has let me down!”