Compromising Positions (An Erotic Romance Novel)

by Tawny Taylor

  “No. I want to tell you in person. I’ll let you get back to work. See you soon.”

  Click. Buzz.

  What the hell?

  She went out to the main bank of cubicles. Maybe Gabe knew something. She couldn’t concentrate until she knew exactly what was going on.

  Gabe’s cubicle was empty. Damn! Where was he? Michael was gone. Gabe, too. Were they planning something? A joke maybe? Gabe was a schemer. He just might be…

  Her mind shooting off into a million different directions, she wandered back to her office and shut the door. But instead of ruminating, she forced herself to get busy. Her first task: call the bank and get the loan underway. That finished, she reached for her active files, what little she had.

  Gone. Her files were gone? Her whole file cabinet was empty.

  Oh, God! Had they called her and left a message on her answering machine? Had they fired her? She could understand a few files being missing. Gabe could have needed those for the report. But all of them?

  She felt sick. Dizzy.

  Arms out, hands on the desktop, she steadied herself and stood. And then she stormed from her office, making a beeline for the one place she knew she could get answers. Duncan’s office.

  She knocked.

  No answer.

  She tried the door. Locked.

  Where to now? She rushed downstairs to the conference room and hearing voices, she opened the door.

  Like one of those computer-aided missiles, her gaze went straight to Gabe, standing at the front before a screen, their report, larger than life, lit up from an overhead projector.

  “What the hell?” she said.

  Gabe set down his pointer and rushed toward her. But suddenly aware of all the people sitting at the long conference table with eyes on her, she turned and left the room. She was lost. Didn’t know where to go.

  “I know it looks bad—“ Gabe said behind her.

  She spun around. “It sure does. Can you explain why I shouldn’t be panicking right now? What is this? What are you doing in there? I thought we were supposed to make the presentation together. You and me. A team, remember? What the hell is going on?” Her nose burned. No way! She wouldn’t cry. She sniffed.

  “Duncan dropped it on me this morning, and I didn’t tell you because you said you weren’t coming in today.”

  “You suggested I take the day…” Oh, no! This situation had the distinct stench of deceit. “What else don’t I know?”

  He visibly swallowed. “A lot.”

  The conference room door opened, and Duncan joined them in the hall, his gaze hopping back and forth between them. “Is there a problem out here?”

  “Nope.” Gabe shook his head.

  “Yes, there is.” Why was he acting this way? “Gabe, why didn’t you want me here today? At least you can let me come in and finish the presentation.”

  “Please, Fate, let’s talk about this later.” He turned to Duncan. “I’ll be right there.”

  Duncan glanced at his wristwatch. “You better. You know Bradford has a plane to catch.”

  “Yep. One minute.”

  Duncan nodded and returned to the conference room, closing the door behind him.

  Gabe caught Fate’s upper arms. “Listen. I promise, we’ll talk. Just let me finish the presentation. I’ll come find you as soon as I’m done.”

  She ripped herself free from his grasp. This wasn’t happening! He wasn’t giving her the brush off. He hadn’t taken her job from her, had he? Oh hell! “Good luck finding me. You lying, scheming…” Shit there wasn’t an ugly enough word for him. “I can’t believe I was so stupid! Shit! You give me a little cock, and I’m ready to roll over and let you shove it up my ass. So, I suppose I don’t have a job anymore—except for the pathetic job at the tattoo parlor…oh, my God! You’ve known about this for a lot longer than you said, didn’t you?”

  “I’ll tell you later. Please!”

  She turned from him, couldn’t stand looking at that lying face for another second. What an idiot she’d been. So swept up in dreams of love—love! What a joke!—she’d missed what he was doing right under her nose.

  Never again!

  She went back to her office—correction, his office—and packed up her few personal belongings, and she was out the door within minutes.

  She had no idea where to go. It was much too early to meet Michael for lunch. Michael! She scrolled down to his name on her cell phone and hit the call button.

  He picked up on the second ring.

  “Michael, it’s Fate. Are you busy right now?” She felt a sob sitting in her gut. She forced it to stay down there.

  “No. Do you want to meet earlier?”

  “Yes.” Her eyes watered, and she couldn’t see. Still, she kept walking to her car. She ran the back of her hand across her eyes and blinked to clear them. “Somewhere close by…”

  “Where are you?”

  “Parking lot.”

  “Okay. I’ll meet you at the Star Restaurant, down the street. You know where it is?”

  “Yes.” Her hip struck a truck bumper, and she swallowed a yelp. She blinked a few more times.

  “Hang in there, Fate. I’ll see you in a few.”

  “Thanks.” Finding her car, she hit the end button and ran to it, sat, and cried until there weren’t any more tears left. How had things gone so wrong in such a short time? How had she been so blind?

  Almost composed enough to function, she started her car and drove the short distance to the restaurant. Her legs felt funny, squishy, rubbery, as she walked. Yet, they propelled her forward. She had to know the truth, had to confirm her suspicions, even though it would…it would just about kill her.

  Another sob shot up her throat.

  She yanked open the door, caught Michael’s gaze, so full of guilt and regret it could have been written in red ink across his face, and turned tail. She couldn’t hear this in a public place.

  “Fate!” Michael called after her. “I’m so sorry.”

  “Why are you apologizing?” She didn’t turn around to face him but kept walking to her car. She pulled open the door. “What part did you play in all this?”

  “They used me too. Just like you.”

  She sat, feet on the concrete, knees sticking out the car, and looked up.

  Michael looked like he might cry. “They are a bunch of bastards. Every one of them.”

  “Tell me.”

  He hunkered down and took his hands in hers. “I had no idea what they were up to. Gabe told me to stick with him, and I’d be okay—more than okay. He said I’d get a promotion.” He sighed. “I was such an idiot, Fate. I swallowed his lies, hook, line and sinker. Then this morning, Kathy from Human Resources called me at home and told me I was fired. Just like that! I still can’t believe it.”

  “They fired you?”

  He nodded. “Told me I’d get an official notice in a couple of days. Kathy apologized. She sounded mad, like she didn’t appreciate the way they were handling me.”

  “Well, that is pretty low. No company I’ve ever worked for fired people over the phone.”

  “Tell me about it! I’m still trying to figure out what happened.” He fell back on his rump, and she realized the expression she’d seen earlier wasn’t what she thought. He was dazed, overwhelmed, not guilty. “I know they are firing you, too. Gabe more or less told me that by insisting I stay in his camp. It killed me watching him sweet talk you the way he did. He told me if I said a word to you, both of us would be fired on the spot. And since I knew about your house problem, I didn’t want to take the chance…” His gaze dropped to the ground. “Damn it, I should have told you so you’d be prepared.”

  “You did what you thought was best, for my sake.” Her head was still reeling, unable to fully comprehend what she was hearing. “So, Gabe was behind all of this? He was scheming behind my back? Planning to take over my job?” God, it hurt like hell to say those things! “I can’t believe I was so blind.”

  And h
ow would she break the news to her mother? She couldn’t get the mortgage without a job. The house would be auctioned in days.

  Damn!

  Her cell phone rang and she swept it up and glanced at the display. “Speak of the devil!” Her heart jumped, and hot blood pounded in her temples. She punched the call button. “Gabe, what do you want?”

  “A chance to explain.”

  “Go to hell.”

  “You don’t know the whole story.”

  “I don’t want to. Go to hell, you lying piece of garbage. And don’t ever call me again.” She hesitated for a moment, wondering if there might, somehow, despite the way things looked, be another side to this whole thing.

  Stupid, blind hope! She punched the button, cutting him off.

  After tossing her phone on the dashboard, she turned her attention back to Michael, a man who looked as defeated as she felt. “You’re a fantastic assistant. I’m sure you can find another job.”

  “I’ve called every placement agency in the tri-county area. They’re all giving me the same story: the economy’s slow right now but they’ll keep my resume on file.”

  “Crap!” She slammed her hands on the steering wheel. “If I were a vengeful person, I’d do something to get back at that bastard. Something really nasty.”

  “But you’re not. And I’m not. And we’ll both carry on.” He rubbed her arm. “It was great working with you, Fate Doherty. You’re one in a million.” He stood, turned and walked away.

  “Yeah, one of the stupidest people out of a million.” She started her car and drove down the street. Best to get it over with and go tell her mother.

  And, just for the hell of it, she called John and made a lunch date for tomorrow. If nothing else, a friendly face might keep her from falling apart…completely.

  *****

  Gabe tried her cell phone again. Busy. Damn! “I told you she’d come in today,” he said to Duncan, who stood in his doorway, leaning against the frame. Stupid ass! He never should have agreed to this! He’d been so close to gaining her complete trust. “I’ll never get a chance to explain, now.”

  “Forget her. We don’t need her anyway. I only agreed with your crazy suggestion because I wanted to keep you.”

  “Well, maybe I should quit too.” His heart pounded so hard in his chest, he was sure his ribcage would explode. “She needs this job!”

  “Well, I couldn’t help it. Bradford’s leaving today. We couldn’t wait any longer. It’s purely business—”

  “To hell with business! And to hell with Bradford. This is his fifth marriage. It’ll end before he returns home from his honeymoon. To hell with this whole frickin’ place. Bunch of pompous assholes.” He hurled the Single Temptation binder across the room. It hit the wall with a loud thump, leaving a nice triangular dent in the drywall before landing on Gabe’s old metal desk.

  “Hey, I can understand why you’re upset, but that’s no way to talk about—“

  “You have no idea why I’m upset, and you couldn’t give a shit.”

  “That’s not true.” Duncan bent down and wagged a forefinger in front of Gabe’s nose. “I put up with your bullshit for a long time, even put my own ass on the line so you could get a little pussy. Now, be a man, take the disappointment and go on with your life. And for God’s sake, have a little pride. Don’t do anything stupid. And don’t go crawling back to her, begging for forgiveness. You’ll never get it.”

  “She thinks I lied to her. Used her. Manipulated her. And if she talks to Michael, she could think even worse. I have to find her somehow, make her listen—“

  Duncan straightened to his full height and shook his head. “She’ll never believe you.”

  “She has to. I’ll make her, somehow.”

  “She’s not the kind to be made to do anything.”

  “Yeah. I know. That’s why I love her.”

  Duncan shook his head and walked back to the door. “You’re lost, pussy-whipped. I never thought I’d see the day.”

  “I’m not lost. I’ve learned what’s important in life. Maybe someday you will too.” He stood, charged past the clueless man and headed out the door.

  “You’d better be back here by—“

  “I’ll come back if and when I feel like it.” He dashed down the stairs, across the lobby, and outside. “Now, if I were a pissed off Fate Doherty, where would I be?” He started his car and headed south toward her place, doubtful he’d find her there, but hoping he might.

  And of course, she wasn’t home.

  Parked in her driveway, he dialed her cell phone again. This time, he got her voice mail. “Hi, Fate. I can imagine what you’re thinking, but please listen. I did this all for you. Please. Believe me. Let me explain. I did it all for you. I love you. I want to marry you.” He punched the end button and drove home.

  He’d lost her. The only person in the world that mattered. “Shit!”

  Chapter 12

  Sometimes it’s easier to believe the worst about someone than the best.

  Fate checked the recent calls on her cell. Gabe, again? Would he never give up? That was the last human being she wanted to talk to at the moment.

  She punched the power button, got out of the car, and escorted her mother to the front door. “We shouldn’t be doing this. What if someone calls the police?”

  “No one will, honey. I just have to get one last look. You understand, don’t you?” Standing on the front porch, her mother swept her arms in a wide arc. “This place was my life for over thirty years. I raised you kids here, two from birth. I lived a lot of life here.” She sighed, and her shoulders slumped forward. “I can’t believe it’s gone.”

  “It will be very soon.” She drew her mother into her arms and fought back another river of tears. “I’m sorry. I tried, Mom.”

  “I know you did.” Her mother smoothed her back. “Thanks for trying.”

  Fate slid the key into the lock and opened the door. “Let’s get this over with. This day’s already been the worst. I don’t want to end it in a concrete-walled cell. I’m not supposed to have this key.”

  “Okay.” Her mother stepped inside and drew a deep breath, and it was all Fate could do to keep from sitting on the ugly linoleum floor and bawling like a baby.

  She’d failed her mother, again. How many times did that make? Hell, she couldn’t even begin to count.

  “Do you remember when you were little, and you used to roller skate in the living room?”

  “Yeah, Mom. I remember.”

  Her mother walked through the dining room to the kitchen. “And you remember all the fun we had a Christmas? The family room was so full of presents you could hardly walk through it.” She chuckled, but Fate knew it was a bittersweet sound, that of a broken-hearted woman who had been beat down by life.

  She wondered if someday she’d be doing the same thing: basically living in the past because the present was too painful to endure. She rubbed her mother’s shoulders. “Those were great times, Mom. And maybe sometime you’ll have those kinds of Christmases with your grandbabies.”

  “Are you?” Her mother turned and gripped her hands. “Are you trying to tell me something?” Fate was tempted to lie, just to see that hint of hope on her mother’s face remain, if only for a little while. But it would be cruel. Unforgivable. Like the kind of lies someone else had told her recently.

  She shook her head. “No, I’m afraid not.”

  “Oh.” Her mother dropped her hands and turned away. “Like you said, maybe someday.” She meandered through the rest of the main floor, looking uneasy, sad, defeated, much like Fate felt. “They’ve painted. I hate white walls. Did they have to paint the walls white?”

  “I know, Mom. But they like to make it look new. The people who buy the house will use colors, I’m sure.”

  Her mother nodded then climbed the stairs. “I have to go up.”

  “Please, just a minute more. I don’t want to get caught in here.”

  “I know. Only a minute.” She op
ened the door at the top of the stairs and stepped into the master bedroom. “They took out my carpet. My beautiful wallpaper. My curtains. They’re all gone.” She slid to the floor like a wilting flower, awake, yet looking too weak to remain standing. And then she covered her face in her hands. Her shoulders quaked.

  Fate watched her mother cry, not having a clue what to do. She’d tried, even endured long hours at that ridiculous tattoo place to keep the house in the family. But this was it. When the bank called her former employer to verify her income, they’d close their doors to her for good. No way in hell she could get another job by the auction. It was only a few days away.

  “We’ll make a new life together. You can move in with me. It’ll be fun.”

  Her mother dropped her hands, stood and hugged Fate’s waist. “Yes. We can do that.” She walked out of the room. “I’m ready. Let’s go now.”

  “Okay.” More than ready to leave, she followed her mother down the stairs. But no sooner were they at the bottom than her mom was dashing back up them. “Where are you going?”

  “I have to check something.”

  Shaking her head, she followed the distraught woman. What was she doing now?

  When she walked around the corner in the master bedroom, she caught her mother stacking boxes on top of one another in the closet. “What are you doing?”

  “I want to see if they’ve cleared out the attic.”

  “Here, let me. I don’t want you to fall.” Fate stood on the shaky boxes and pushed up the attic door. She carefully stood on tiptoes. “There are some boxes up here—“

  “Thank God! Can you get them?”

  “No. I need to get higher.”

  Her mother gave her rump a shove, a strange feeling being goosed by her own mother. But it worked, and she was able to pull herself into the attic. She handed down four boxes then dropped to the floor and closed the opening. “Can we go now?”

  Her mother, hugging one of the boxes to her chest, nodded her head. “Yes, we can go now.”

  They carried the boxes out to Fate’s car, and her mother opened one after one. The sound of paper crinkled as she sifted through the contents, and her mother sighed. Fate looked over her shoulder.