by Lexy Timms
“What happened to the mother?”
“She’s here, but she’s fading fast. We’re simply making her comfortable now. It’s only a matter of time.”
I felt my heart shatter into a million pieces right there on the floor.
“Is that dog still here? The one with the mother suffering from dementia?”
“He is. Would you like to see him?”
“I would if that’s okay.”
Maddie led me down a long corridor of dogs that were barking and scratching at the fencing of the places they called home. We stopped at a container way at the end, and she turned to look down at the puppy inside. The beautiful brown and black and white beagle puppy was staring up at me with big brown eyes, and I fell in love the moment he rose up and barked.
Which honestly sounded more like a squeak.
“This is Chipper. He’s a full-blooded beagle, from what we can tell. Neutered, up to date on his shots, and no illnesses to speak of,” Maddie said.
“Well, hello there,” I said as I crouched down. “You are just so beautiful.”
I stuck my fingers through the fencing, and the puppy began to lick me. Its tongue tickled my skin, pulling giggles from my lips. He was a playful little thing with his floppy ears and his bumbling body. He started twirling around in circles, encouraged by my laughter as his eyes lit up.
“How much would it be to adopt him?” I asked. “Chipper, right?”
“Yep. Chipper. The cost is two hundred dollars, and that comes with a custom collar we’ll do here. It’ll have his name as well as your phone number stamped on it. We’ll also give you some tips on how to care for a beagle puppy, what his diet should be, how to clean his floppy ears, and we’ll even hand over a leash for you to use to take him on walks.”
“Sounds perfect,” I said with a smile.
I felt a kindred spirit with this little puppy. I knew what it was like to feel the heartbreak of watching a parent slip away. Maddie opened the cage and scooped up the puppy, but he practically lunged from her and fell right into my arms. I cradled him close and nuzzled my nose into him, taking in the scent of his fur and the softness of his body.
I smiled against his fur as he turned in my arms, his tongue lapping out to lick my cheek.
“Come with me. I’ll get you all set up,” Maddie said.
I felt a sense of peace come over me. Like somehow everything was going to work itself out. If this puppy could be as happy as this after everything he had been through with his mother, then it gave me hope that I would be okay too.
“All right. Here’s your gift bag of information. Lots of stuff for you to read, so take a night or two and digest it all. Here’s your puppy’s new collar as well as his leash, and here’s a copy of his vet records from here. You can find him a new one, or you can call the number on the inside of the vet packet and bring him back here. We’d love to see him again. Chipper is up to date on his immunizations, like we said, and he’s also potty-trained. There’s a pet store right up the road we love and trust, so you can get a few of his immediate things there.”
“Oh, I’ll definitely bring him back here. Thank you so much. For everything,” I said.
“No. Thank you. Adopting a pet brings us so much joy here. I hope the two of you are very happy together.”
I put Chipper in the car with me and started digging through all the information. There were so many things I needed to get him to make sure he was comfortable. Food and a bed and some toys to play with. I drove across the street to the pet store and took him inside, cradling him close to my body. The peace I felt having him coming home with me was unlike anything I’d experienced in a long time.
I didn’t feel so alone anymore with him.
Three hundred dollars later, I was walking out with armfuls of stuff. I took Chipper back to my apartment and was suddenly ashamed to bring him back here. I hope I heard from the apartment complex soon. I wanted Chipper to have a proper home to enjoy. I got online with him on my lap and started looking up doggie kennels, a place I could take him for the day when I worked so he could run around and enjoy himself and have fun.
I stroked his fur as he sat on my lap, his tongue hanging out of his mouth. The smile that spread across my face ached my cheeks, and I couldn't wait for him to meet Cass. She would love his adorable little face and try to steal him from me. I simply knew it.
Finally, things were slowly coming together.
Chapter 21
Jimmy
I dipped into a local coffee shop I had yet to try. It was going to be a long day at work, and I wanted some time to decompress before the work week. I ordered my usual coffee at the counter before I went and sat down, gazing out the window. I wanted to sit and enjoy some time alone. I wanted to relish in the weightlessness of my new life. Nina was no longer in sight, and I didn't have to wake up to her asinine text messages about needing money. My phone was no longer ringing off the hook when the well on her end suddenly ran dry. I felt like a new man. A free man.
And I wanted to enjoy that feeling.
“Excuse me, Mr. Sheldon?”
I plastered a smile on my face as I turned my head, ready to face whatever person was trying to destroy my moment.
“I’m sorry, I don’t mean to bother you. It’s just, well, my name’s Melinda.”
“It’s very nice to meet you, Melinda. That’s a lovely necklace you have on.”
“Oh. Thanks,” she said as she blushed. “It was my mother’s. She gave it to me just before she passed.”
“I’m sorry for your loss.”
“Oh, it was a long time ago. No need to dwell on it.”
She obviously knew who I was, but I didn’t recognize her. She wasn’t a client or a girlfriend of any of my clients. Was I supposed to recognize who she was? Was she expecting me to draw on some imaginary memory I was supposed to conjuring up?
“You look like you could use some company. Do you mind if I sit down?”
I drew in a deep breath, nodding my head as my coffee was set down in front of me. I could tell what she was doing. Fiddling with her necklace and giggling in my direction. She was flirting with me. Hitting on me, I guessed. And she was a beautiful woman. Shapely legs. A tapered waist. Bright blond hair that fluttered around her shoulders. Her nose was pinched, and her lips were thin, but it lent a delicate frame to her features.
“So, Miss Melinda. What brings you to this coffee shop this morning?” I asked.
“They have the best matcha tea in Miami,” she said with a smile. “I’m addicted to the stuff.”
“I’ve never had the pleasure of partaking in it, though my friend Ross tells me it’s good.”
“Have you tried their cinnamon rolls here? They’re decadent. Though I can’t have too many of them. My hips wouldn’t allow it.”
“Nonsense. I’m sure your hips would look fabulous in a cinnamon roll,” I said with a grin.
Her bright hazel eyes sparkled with joy, but there was something lacking in them. The woman kept talking and smiling, leaning forward on the table to try and get closer to me. I felt her leg slipping against mine, pressing closer and closer as she continued our very one-sided conversation. But there were so many things about her that seemed out of place.
And then, I put my finger on it.
“Mr. Sheldon?”
“Yes?” I asked.
“Did you hear me?”
“Forgive me, Melinda. It takes a little while for my caffeine to kick in,” I said.
“Oh, it’s not a problem. I’m sure I probably ruined some quiet time for you or something.”
“Your beautiful smile couldn’t ruin anything.”
Ah, she was a self-deprecating flirt, a woman looking for a man who could give her the constant reassurance she needed and get his high off her constant need for him to compliment her. There were men out there like that. Ross was one of them. He enjoyed women that lit up at his compliments and his praise of them. But I wasn’t one of them. I enjoyed a woman with a quiet
confidence and a curvier body. I enjoyed a woman with intelligence who was unashamed of her knowledge of the world. I enjoyed a woman with rounder features and bolder eyes. Darker hair and a thirst for more knowledge.
Ashley.
I enjoyed a woman like Ashley.
I shook the thought from my head as my eyes fell to Melinda’s lips. I tried to keep up with what she was saying, but her voice kept going in and out. It was a grating sound, high-pitched and strung with stress and exhaustion. It wasn’t sultry like Ashley’s. She spoke from her diaphragm, not her chest like most women.
What the hell was wrong with me?
Why was I thinking about Ashley all of a sudden?
I had to stop doing it. I couldn’t be thinking of her like that before going in to work with her. I’d made Ashley a promise. I’d told her nothing else would take place that would ever make her feel uncomfortable. And yet, I was sitting in a coffee shop comparing a very bright and beautiful young woman to her.
Picking out every small little issue because Ashley was the measuring stick.
“Well, Melinda, it was wonderful talking with you, but I’m afraid I must get to the office,” I said.
“Oh! That’s fine. Well, if you ever want to give me a call or anything, here’s my number.”
She slid a card my way with her name and her phone number on it. She walked away with a smile on her face and a confident sway in her hips. I waited until she was gone before I stood from my seat, and then I carefully slipped the piece of paper she handed me into the trash can as I headed out the door.
I had no intention of calling a woman I couldn’t even pay attention to.
“Jimmy! Finally! I thought you’d never get to work.”
“I’m five minutes early, Ross.”
“And that’s five minutes late when I’ve got exciting news,” he said.
“What’s up?”
“Try a new coffee shop?” he asked.
“What?”
“That’s not your usual coffee cup.”
“Yes, I tried a new shop. So sue me,” I said.
“You did it, didn’t you?”
“Did what?’
“You broke things off with Nina.”
“How do you do that?” I asked.
“Like I said, I have many talents. So, how do you feel?”
“Like a boulder finally rolled off my shoulders.”
“Good, because I need you to pay attention. The numbers we have rolling in from Ashley and the investors look really good. I got everything up and running with our new warehouses last night.”
“You worked on a Sunday?” I asked. “Why didn’t you call me?”
“Because you had more important things to do. Like break up with Nina.”
“You don’t want the details?” I asked.
“No. I’m just glad you finally did it. Now, with the agreements we have in place, not only will we be making eleven million dollars off the top of this one contract, but the yearly maintenance he bought into will rake in another two million on top of that. And that’s just for a select number of hotels. If the man likes what he sees, he wants us to install what we’ve got going now in all of his hotels. Around the world, Jimmy.”
“Do you have those numbers for me?” I asked.
“En masse? Seventy-seven million dollars.”
“You’re shitting me.”
“I’m really not. That’s not including all the maintenance that would be guaranteed through us. That adds another fifteen million to the pot.”
“Holy shit,” I said. “We did it.”
“The company’s holding strong, Jimmy, despite what you thought would happen.”
“And Ashley’s run these numbers?”
“She has indeed. She’s working very well for our company. I think she’s the best decision we’ve made for this place in a while.”
“I think she is as well. Had she updated the investors on all this?”
“I gave her the numbers this morning to run. She’s getting to work on them now.”
“And she’s in her element? Adjusting well? Getting along with the investors?”
“Why are you suddenly so concerned about her?” he asked with a grin.
I shot him a look as a chuckle fell from his face.
“I know, I know. Go to hell. Got it. But I do have to ask one thing that’s going to make me look like a massive hypocrite.”
“What?” I asked.
“I set you up another meeting with the guy Nina showed herself in front of.”
“How the hell did you swing that?”
“Some alcohol, a free dinner, and a lot of ass kissing. The issue? This guy is big on commitment. He’s a bit of a sleaze when it comes to women, but his business history suggests he does favor men who are committed to things. It’s not going to be a good look that you just broke things off with Nina.”
“Yep. That makes you look like a massive fucking hypocrite. But don’t worry. I’ll go in and be myself, and if all goes well, Nina won’t even come up. For all he knows, we’re still together. She hasn’t shot off her rocker yet, so there’s nothing in the media to field or combat. I’m sure it’s coming, but we’ll figure it out once it comes. When’s the meeting?”
“Tuesday evening.”
“I’ll put it on my calendar,” I said.
“You sure going alone is the best thing? I could go with you again.”
“I’ll go as myself, and that’ll have to be enough. We knew we would run into this issue. I warned you about it.”
“I know, I know. I’m eating my words, got it. Let’s hope you can nail this thing,” he said.
“Yes. Let’s hope.”
Chapter 22
Ashley
“Knock, knock.”
“Hey there, Ross. What brings you around?” I asked.
“I wanted to drop in on you and tell you we’re moving you to a different floor.”
I felt my heart drop to my toes as the blood drained from my face.
“Oh, really? That’s a shame. Am I headed back to Accounting?” I asked.
“Oh, no. No, no, no. You’re coming up another floor.”
“You’re moving me to the top floor?” I asked.
“Yes. You’re part of corporate now. That’s where we all are. It’s taken us a little longer to clear out an office for you. It hasn’t been used in a while, and the window washers just left.”
“Window washers?” I asked.
“Oh, yes. They come by a couple times a month. Anyway, I’m setting you up with our office designer for the day. She’ll be coming by to get you in a few minutes, and the two of you will be picking out furniture for your new space.”
“Are you sure that’s necessary? I’ve settled in nicely here. I promise this is fine,” I said.
“Nope. You’re not staying here. If you like the furniture here, we can have it moved upstairs. But I figured you would rather want new furniture for your office instead of this used stuff.”
“Well, this ‘used stuff’ is pretty nice,” I said with a grin.
“I forget you worked in a cubicle a week ago. Her name’s Deborah.”
“Who?”
“The office designer. I believe those are her heels clicking on the floor now.”
“Ross? Is that you?”
A powerful voice wafted down the hallway as a smile grew across Ross’s face. A powerful woman came into my office, donning a powerful black pantsuit with a bright white blouse underneath. Her dark brown hair was neatly pinned into a twist on her head, and her jewelry was very muted. Sterling silver studs, a delicate silver chain that hung loosely around her neck, and something that looked like a wedding band around her left ring finger.
“Deborah, this is Ashley. She’s the newest addition upstairs. She’s never had an office of her own, so don’t let her skimp on you,” Ross said.
“Oh, a newbie. I love newbies. We’re going to make your office perfect for you, Miss ...?”
“Ternbeau.
But you can call me Ashley,” I said.
“Ashley, it is. You ready to go up and see your new space? I can’t wait to outfit it for you.”
Her cheery voice put a smile on my face as I stood up from my desk. I slipped all my work off to the side and grabbed my purse as Ross smiled broadly at me. I wasn’t used to being treated like this, to being spoiled with all these nice things. Being pampered like this was something I’d never dreamed of in my wildest dreams, but I was enjoying it already.
We took the stairs up to the last floor and made our way down the hallway. We passed by the waiting room and the receptionist. We passed by Jimmy’s office, and I felt my eyes lingering on his door. Deborah was talking a thousand miles a second about always having fun designing the female offices, and we rounded the corner before she stopped at a door.
“Well, this is you,” she said.
“Wait, right here?” I asked.
I looked back at Jimmy’s office. Just a few long strides away from mine.
“Yep! Ready to see it?”
Deborah pushed the door in, and I was rendered speechless. The room was massive, with floor-to-ceiling windows that covered the expanse of the back wall. The truncated wall to my left that created the corner of the hallway had built-in book-shelving and the carpet was plush underneath my feet. I walked into the middle of the room, my jaw swinging to the floor as my eyes took in the beautiful space.
It was mine.
This place was all mine.
“Why don’t we start with the three main pieces of any corporate office. The sitting space, the desk, and the closet.”
“The closet?” I asked.
“Yes. Most corporate offices have a closet that sits in the corner to hide a few outfits from sight in case they have to go from the office to a party or a dinner or a meeting of some sort.”
“Oh, no. No. I don’t have that kind of job,” I said.
“Trust me, you’ll want one. And if I’m not mistaken, through that door in the corner is your own personal restroom. I can help you stock that with things as well.”
I walked over to the door in the left-hand corner and tossed it open. I turned on the light and watched it illuminate a very spacious private bathroom. It even had a walk-in shower in case I needed to take one.