Acquired Asset

by ZN Willett

  “I know.”

  “No you don’t, fully. I only have myself to blame. I have loved you from the first moment I saw you.”

  My heart dropped a bit as my eyes widened. “Guy . . . we . . .”

  What the hell was happening?

  “Quinn, I have tried to show you all this time, but realized I never told you.”

  “You can’t love me . . . that’s not possible . . . I mean; I know we had those few moments . . .”

  “That meant the world to me. The moment I saw you walk across the hallway screaming some obscenities as you ripped a man’s balls off, I knew.”

  I couldn’t help laughing to myself. It was one of Colbys attorneys when we were going through the takeover.

  There was a knock on my door. “Quinn, sorry, Mr. Colby is on the line and he is being persistent and wants to speak to you, urgently,” she said, holding up the phone.

  “Tell him . . .” I yelled out, “Colby, I said I would call you back!”

  She cringed, and stepped back out.

  “Quinn, I may not be able to make you smile—like that guy—although there was a time when you looked at me like you do him. I just want a fighting chance.”

  As I walked around to Guy, I took a moment to think about what he said before answering. “Thank you for being there for me when I needed a friend. I’m sorry, but that’s what I thought of you. I was at my most vulnerable state when you were around. I can only blame myself for not being more sensitive to the fact that I knew you had feelings for me. And, I should not have crossed the line of friendship. Even though what transpired after was screwed up. You said some unforgettable things . . . yet, you were a good friend to have. I’m sorry, Guy. I can’t reciprocate your feelings in return. However, I can forgive you.”

  “Well, that’s a start,” he said looking saddened, yet hopeful. He stood as I walked him to the door. “I know you’re busy, but thank you for finally hearing me out.”

  “Did I have a choice?”

  He leaned over and kissed my cheek. “I’m not giving up.”

  “Please, don’t do this to yourself.”

  He didn’t say anything further as he walked out. I watched as he entered the elevator before the doors closed. I looked at Mia. “I’m sure Christopher’s pissed off?”

  “Very.”

  “Are you just going to breathe into the phone?” He said nothing. “Colby!”

  “Quinn, I waited for you, now you can wait for me!” He spoke to someone in the background before returning. “How can I help you?”

  I had to take a deep breath before I crawled through the phone and choked him. “You called me, Colby.”

  “I called after you hung up on me, Quinn. I do not like being hung up on.”

  “For the record, I didn’t hang up on you. It’s not my fault. Guy barged in.”

  “That’s the point. I wasn’t sure what was going on. You could have been in danger for all I know!”

  Yup, he was pissed.

  “I am at work, what could happen?” I asked.

  “Maybe you need to tighten up security in the building. If anyone can walk through the front door—”

  “Guy is a contractor. He has a pass.”

  “That proves my point. I’m having head of security fly down to overhaul your system—”

  I sat up. “What gives you the right?”

  “I don’t need any rights! Some man barges into my girlfriend’s office and all I can do is listen on the other end of the phone. Damn it, Quinn. It’s only you and Mia on that side of the building. I had the police on their way over there. What was so important that couldn’t wait?”

  “He told me he loved me.” Fell out, and then silence.

  I could hear Christopher’s heavy breath. “Now, I know the rest of the story.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “I know the reason why you are constantly pushing me away.”

  “What? I don’t love Guy. How could you think that?”

  “Look in the mirror. How could I not.”

  “Oh, so I’ve loved another man, while I had you in my bed? I never took you for a drama queen, Colby. At least Guy had the guts to say he loved me!” I huffed out, breathing sporadically.

  Which was the only sound heard through the receiver until. “I have a meeting.” Then, I heard the dial tone. He had hung up on me.

  Why did I say that? Of course, Christopher doesn’t love me.

  I threw my phone at the wall before shoving everything off of my desk. “Damn it!” I screamed out.

  Mia ran into the office. “Quinn, are you okay?”

  I took several deep breaths as I tried to hold back the gut wrenching pain that took over my body. “I’m leaving for the day.” I said, as she picked up pieces of what had been my cell phone. “And I may need a new phone.”

  I stared at the TV for hours eating ice cream and potato chips. My normal kale chips weren’t doing it for me, so I chucked them for something full of grease and calories. Who cared if I got fat? “No one loves me!” I screamed out pathetically. There were a few times I had lost it.

  I felt like crying, though nothing came out. All I wanted was for the pain to go away. I wasn’t one who could handle her heart being ripped apart by the man she thought she was starting to . . . well, who cared. Christopher was not speaking to me, and I messed it all up.

  “What happened to trying, Colby?” I yelled at the people on the screen. “And he is not the father!” I said. The same time Murray, the talk show host, reviled the DNA test.

  I stayed in my room all day until the next when I told Mia I was taking a sick day. I deserved one. I had never taken one in my life, but today I needed a mental break before I checked myself into an institution. Christopher had haunted my mind during the day and caused a sleepless night.

  He hadn’t called, but I wasn’t expecting him to. A part of me wanted him to barge in, Colby style, and take me into his arms telling me . . . well, telling me he hated me before we had hot, passionate, sex. Although who was I kidding. Christopher was angry; angrier than I had heard him before. I was afraid I had pushed him over the edge. So, I stayed in bed yet another day, hiding out from the reality I was afraid to face. That this could be it for us. Christopher would finally call it quits.

  As much as I rationalized why it could never have worked in the first place, and how we both were fooling ourselves; there was a big part of me that wanted to prove everyone wrong, including myself.

  I went to bed early that evening. I was exhausted from the wallowing in self-pity I had done all day. Tomorrow, I would have to face reality. But since tomorrow hadn’t come yet, I took the last moments to drink half a bottle of vodka, before passing out on my bed.

  There was some god-awful noise coming from outside. It stopped, and started again. As the drunk induced fog started to lift, I heard banging on the front door as the doorbell rang repeatedly. I looked at the clock and it was three in the damn morning. I stumbled out of bed, and the moment I opened the door, Christopher barged in. “Christopher?”

  “Like you’re surprised? What did you expect? God knows you wouldn’t fly your ass across the country.”

  That woke me up.

  “No one told you to come here!” I spit out.

  “That’s what people do, Quinn! If you care about someone, you do whatever it takes.”

  “You were the one who got mad, Colby! All I did was hear Guy out. It had nothing to do with you!”

  His eyes narrowed. “I don’t trust him!”

  “Trust? Trust seems to be something you lack. You wanted me to trust you, but this whole time you didn’t trust me. Damn it, Christopher. I handled it.”

  “How did you handle it if the asshole told you he loved you?” We glowered at each other for a moment. “How was that handling things? Did you make it clear to him that you are involved with someone else?”

  “He knows that . . .”

  “Exactly, and he still comes to you with his declaratio
n of love?” He ran his hands through his hair.

  We stood there glaring at each other. Guy knew about Christopher, yes. He seemed to only want to make peace. How could I be mad at that?

  “Guy was a friend. He was there for me when I needed a friend the most. I had to at least try.”

  “Try? Try, Quinn? What about trying with us, huh? I’m so damn tired of holding us together. You know, you need to make up your mind. Let’s not mention the lack of communication. You wanted me to say those words as well?” He stepped closer to me. The expression on his face turned darker. “Why the hell would I? Answer me!” I said nothing, as his bloodshot eyes bore into mine. “You have done nothing but put up walls in my damn way. Every time I have to knock them down. God forbid you have kept them down this long. I should have known when you started talking about my damn Mother! You either want this or not. I am so tired of fighting for this alone. What more do I need to do? Tell me!”

  I stepped back startled by the intensity in his voice. “Nothing . . .”

  “What was that?”

  We stared at each other while his words scrambled painfully in my head. Who did he think he was? I stepped bodily in front of him and yelled, “I know I have issues, you asshole! And you can’t blame me for not trusting you, yet I did! I pushed my common sense aside and trusted your ass. The billionaire playboy who tried to steal my company, and who has a heart like a snake. You’re all snakes.” I spit out. “You Colbys slither in and eat your prey—even the young mind you—and leave nothing for the vultures.”

  Suddenly, Christopher moved forward, pushing my body up against the wall. He tilted his lowered head as his eyes fixed on mine. “Why did you serve yourself up to me then, Quinn?” he hissed.

  My heart pounded harder as I said softer. “Like I said, no common sense.” He pushed harder against me. “Self-mutilation, I guess.”

  Christopher followed by lowering his voice. “When you’re screaming out my name it doesn’t sound like its torture to me.”

  His lips hovered over mine. “There’s a thin line between pain and pleasure, Colby.” My mouth opened, as his mirrored mine. I could taste his scent on the tip of my tongue.

  Christopher brushed the side of my cheek with his lips as he whispered in my ear. “Time’s up.”

  The moment I turned my head, he stormed out the door.

  I stood while my head continued to spin at the hurricane that was Christopher Colby. The moment I heard the car door close, my heart screamed out to move, while my head said to stay. The perpetual war that had gone on inside of me was at a turning point. There could only be one winner, and the battle needed to finally come to an end. No matter what was said, the last few days had been hell, and the thought of losing Christopher was no longer an option. I tore out the front door and rushed to the car as it backed out of the driveway. As soon as it pulled forward I jumped in front of it as it screeched to a halt. Christopher got out of the backseat and stood . . . waiting. . . .

  “Christopher . . . I am tired of fighting you,” I breathed out.

  He said nothing.

  “I want to fight with you . . . for us.”

  Waiting for his response almost crushed my heart, as we stood there leering at the other.

  Come on, Colby.

  Fight for us.

  “You have to show it, Quinn!”

  I stood wracking my brain, and for the first time, I was unable to rationalize my way out of it. I walked up to Christopher and stood in front of him as I mentally began to lay down my sword in surrender.

  “Christopher, when Guy told me he loved me . . . I wanted it to be you.” All the air in my body rushed out and the heaviness that I had been feeling inside was now gone. “There, I said it,” I breathed out. I looked deeper into his surprised eyes. “My heart is now laid out ready for you to fillet up and devour.”

  He stared at me for a moment longer before he said, “Say it, Quinn.”

  I shook my head.

  “You are one of the most powerful women in our field, and this is what weakens you?”

  “Maybe, because history has proven that love can destroy worlds.”

  “Yet, it can build them back up.” He stepped closer, as he took hold of my hands. “Say the words, Quinn.”

  “I hate you for making me.” I squeezed his hands tightly, with a grin.

  His brows rose. “You said you would fight.”

  I sighed heavily. “ . . . I love you. There! Why? Who the hell knows, though I must have a thing for reptiles?” I grinned wider.

  He smirked back at me before capturing my lips with his. I bathed in the taste and feel of him, even while inside, I was internally freaking out. He didn’t say it back, I thought. He leaned back and grabbed hold of both sides of my face. “You are waiting for me to say it, aren’t you?”

  I nodded my head.

  “Quinn Cordell, you are the only woman I have ever said this to and meant it.”

  I slapped him, as I circled my arms around his waist. “Say it, Colby!”

  He placed his signature smirk on those lips, before he kissed my nose and said, “I love you, Quinn.”

  We both sighed out, as I captured said lips.

  I should have ridden back to the airport with Christopher. What was I thinking? Oh, yeah. The vodka didn’t help. I wasn’t thinking. Damn you, Colby.

  Damn you, Colby! Cordell/Quinn

  I typed the text message, and continued to enter the figures. It had been two days since Christopher had done a fly by without all the benefits. He had flown in from New York with only time to yell at me before he had to fly back for a board meeting with the shareholders. He asked me to ride with him back to the airport, but I had been mentally exhausted, and still a bit inebriated. Now, I was a horny mess.

  I hate you! Cordell/Quinn

  That was quick. Colby/Christopher

  You left me a wet mess! Cordell/Quinn

  Good! But you’re my wet mess. Colby/Christopher

  Next time, we do it in the car. Colby/Christopher

  There better not be a next time, asshole! In the future, you had better have plenty of time to handle business. Cordell/Quinn

  Next time, you should listen. Colby/Christopher

  I sent angry emoji faces across the screen, before I finished the last calculations.

  What’s the matter? Does my girl need some attention? Colby/Christopher

  YES! Cordell/Quinn

  I’ve never pleasured myself at work, however I was about to throw my legs up and work things out myself. “Damn, Colby!” I yelled out. There was a knock on the door. “Come in!” The moment Christopher walked in, my entire being lit up. “How are you here?”

  He locked the door, took off his sports coat, and proceeded to unbutton his shirt and strip out of his pants.

  I stood up, a bit shocked, but followed him. I immediately unzipped my dress as I stared into his eyes. Christopher plowed toward me and threw me against the opened window. “Do you want me to explain now, or explain later?”

  He had my answer when I grabbed hold of his bottom lip with my teeth.

  We both lay on the floor; I was curled up in a ball, as aftershocks surged through my body.

  Christopher wrapped his arms around me, kissing through the wet strands of my hair as he caught his breath.

  “Was that worth the wait?” he asked.

  I looked up at him. “You are always worth the wait, Colby”

  We were both famished and needed strength because we weren’t through yet. Hence bringing take-out back to my place.

  As Christopher finished eating the last of the noodles, I started to clean up. “If you hadn’t come when you did, you would have found me indisposed with my shower head.”

  He chuckled. “You would have been disappointed.”

  “True, the real thing doesn’t compare, but don’t knock the head. It has turbo speed.”

  He laughed as he gave me his plate. “Why don’t we leave these, and take a shower of our own.” He wrap
ped his arms around me as he nuzzled through my hair.

  “Mmm, I think that’s a plan.” I wrapped my arms around his neck. “I’m glad the meetings went well, but happy you were able to return here afterward.”

  “It helps to be the boss. I said that I was needed in the West.” His hand slid down my side, lifting my dress, as one finger slid through my sensitive skin. “I was very much needed.”

  I played with Christopher’s hair as he sucked, bit, and nipped at my nub. We laid there after another round, resting until the next one.

  Christopher took his time playing with the extended bud, lavishing it with the tip of his tongue. Each flick spoke deep down, and my orgasm was building. “Mmm, if you keep at it, you’re never leaving this bed.”

  His hooded eyes looked up. “I don’t plan on ever leaving this bed, Quinn.”

  I smiled, grabbed his head and brought him up for a kiss.

  “Do we have to go?” I asked, as I put on my heels.

  Christopher leaned over and kissed my nose. “I love when you beg, although that pouty lip could keep us here all day.” He laughed, and put on his sports coat.

  I stood, grabbed my earrings and looked over to him. “Can’t we go away somewhere? I think time away from all of this would help.”

  “After the vote, maybe.”

  “That’s what I was trying to get away from.”

  Christopher walked over and wrapped his arms around me. “We are going to get through this, together.”

  With a raised brow, I bluntly admitted, “I don’t trust your mother.”

  “I wouldn’t either.”

  “See!”

  “Quinn, you have to remember this is her company too. She has every right to fight for it.”

  “However, what happens when I win?” I smirked.

  “You mean when Joseph wins?”

  “Same thing Colby, if Thomas wins, you will be in the line of succession.”

  “Why would that be so horrible? It’s every much mine as it is yours.”

  I pushed him aside and walked over to my bed. “If you take over, I would happily fall under you; on this bed.” I pointed. “But, I will never be under you outside of the bedroom.”