Layla

by E. L. Todd

  “You can print out anything you need to edit, but please refrain from doing so. We are advocates for the environment and we take it very seriously. We avoid printing at all cost. The only time we use fresh paper is for the magazine itself. If you need to send a letter to someone or attachments, email them. Never hand out hard copies.”

  I nodded. “That sounds wonderful.”

  “Also, we have competitions to see how much we recycle per year compared to our other stations. If anyone sees you throw away something that can be recycled, the employees will give you a hard time about it. Just a warning.”

  “Okay.”

  “And bring Tupperware to work, not plastic bags. People will automatically dislike you if you don’t.”

  “Thanks for the heads up.”

  Kyle smiled. “Other than that, no one will give you any trouble.” He stood up then came around the desk. “My office is right next door so you can reach me at any time. Please don’t hesitate to ask me anything. I would prefer it if you asked for clarification instead of doing it wrong. That just gives me more work.”

  “Of course, Mr. Benedict.”

  He shook his head. “Kyle.” He walked out and returned to his office.

  I got to work on a few papers and reports that needed to be copy edited. There was nothing from the magazine, and I wondered if I would be working on it. Kyle probably wanted to see how well I would do with smaller projects before he gave me the big stuff. When lunchtime came around, Kyle walked into my office.

  “Let me introduce you to the rest of the staff.”

  I stood up and rubbed the wrinkles from my dress. “Let’s do it.”

  “And don’t be nervous.”

  “Who said I was nervous?”

  “And don’t hit anyone,” he teased.

  “Well, I know who I’m going for first,” I said as I eyed him.

  We walked into the hallway then into the break room at the end of the corridor.

  “Hello everyone. This is Layla, our new copy editor,” Kyle said.

  I smiled at everyone and gave a slight nod.

  An older blonde woman approached me and shook my head. “I’m the designer coordinator. It’s nice to me you.”

  “You too,” I said politely. I went around the break room and made my introductions. Everyone was a girl except for the last person. He was tall and thin, slightly toned in the arms and the stomach. He had brown hair that was almost blond. He smiled at me, rubbing me the wrong way.

  “So one of the models is a copy editor?” he asked, extending his hand.

  I shook it, feeling my annoyance rise to the surface. “It’s nice to meet you.”

  “Likewise,” he said without releasing my hand. “If there’s anything you need, I’m just right down the hall. I’m Taylor.”

  I pulled my hand away but it took an effort for him to release me.

  He stayed directly in front of me, too close for an office conversation.

  Kyle came beside me, his shoulder touching mine. “Taylor, how’s Vanessa?”

  “Oh. She’s great,” he said, staring at me.

  “And how about your kids?”

  He waved him away. “They’re fine.”

  “You have kids?” I asked in surprise. I felt the perverted thoughts leak from him as he stared me down.

  “Uh, yeah. They’re little though.”

  Kyle placed his hand around my waist. The touch made my hairs stand on end. His hand took up my whole side because it was so large. If he placed both hands around my waist, he could cover me entirely. The embrace was innocent but still made my heart accelerate. I wasn’t sure why he was touching me like that.

  Kyle pulled me closer to him. “Layla is a dire asset to me. She’s very busy working for me, so please don’t bother her.”

  “Bother her?” Taylor asked. “We work together. We’ll have to collaborate at some point.”

  “You can collaborate with me,” Kyle said in a deep voice. He pulled me toward the door then dropped his hand when we were in the hallway. We didn’t speak until we reached my office.

  His stared at me with fire in his eyes. His shoulders were tense and his arms looked flexed. Kyle put his hands in his pockets, but he still looked threatening. “If anyone bothers you, let me know and I’ll take care of it.”

  “That won’t be necessary.”

  He stepped toward me, the menace becoming more intense. “You will tell me. As the department manager, it’s my responsibility to ensure the safety and protection of my workers. If anyone is bothering you, verbally or physically, you tell me immediately, Layla. I mean it.”

  I shook my head. “You’re acting like he just tried to rape me.”

  Kyle stared me down.

  “All he did was check me out. That’s normal. It’s in every office, every job in the world. It’s how life is. He doesn’t seem threatening or weird. You’re overreacting.”

  He rubbed his chin then looked at the ground. It seemed like his emotional moment had passed. “Just keep me informed.”

  “And I can take care of myself.”

  “I’ll take care of you,” he said quickly.

  I didn’t know what that meant but I didn’t push it. “I should get to work.”

  “You know where to find me.” He turned out of the office and left.

  I finished the assignment I was given by Kyle and was shocked when five o’clock arrived. The day went by so fast, I couldn’t believe it. It was so different than working at the bar. Every minute I was staring at the clock, begging it to go faster.

  Kyle walked into my office. “Did you have a good first day?”

  “Yes. I love it here.”

  He nodded. “Good. I was hoping you would.”

  I grabbed my purse from behind the desk then turned off my computer. We left the office then walked to the exit of the building. His hands were in his pockets as he walked, very casual.

  “Would you like to get a friendly drink?” he asked. “To celebrate your first day?”

  “I’m actually meeting up with my friends to do just that.”

  He nodded then stood in front of me, staring at me. I felt like has waiting for something to happen. Kyle didn’t move. I felt the strap of my purse then looked at the passing cabs.

  “Can I come along?” he asked.

  “Why?”

  He shrugged. “I would like to hang out with you as a friend.”

  “But my friends will be there.”

  “I’m sure I’ll like them,” he said. “If they can put up with you then they must be pretty awesome.”

  I rolled my eyes. “I’m not that bad.”

  “You’re one of the most stubborn people I know.”

  “That’s not a good way to get me to invite you.”

  He laughed. “Let me tag along.”

  “Fine,” I said. “But my friends won’t be interested in dating you either.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “That’s fine. I wasn’t looking for a date.” He waved down a cab and we got inside. After we arrived at the small bar, we spotted my two friends sitting at a table against the wall.

  “Hey, beautiful,” Janet said as she hugged me then kissed me on the cheek. “Did you kick ass your first day?”

  “Of course,” I said.

  Cassie hugged me next. “Congratulations. I know you hated that bar.”

  “This is so much better,” I said with a sigh. “It’s nice knowing someone isn’t going to try to shove a twenty down the front of my shirt.”

  “Well…” Kyle said with a smile.

  My friends looked at him, their eyes wide.

  “This is my boss, Kyle,” I explained. “He wanted to take me out after my first day.”

  Janet smiled at him as she shook his hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”

  “Likewise,” Kyle said.

  Cassie tried not to laugh. “Hi.”

  My friends were making it so obvious that I already told them everything about Kyle. I hoped he didn’t notice.<
br />
  “Yes, I’m the guy who was stalking your friend for a while,” Kyle said. “I can see that she already told you the story.”

  Janet laughed. “Do you have a bruise from the tazer?”

  “Yes, it looks like someone drew on me with a permanent marker.”

  Cassie laughed. “I can’t believe you hired Layla. You know she’s crazy, right?”

  I glared at her. “Thanks.”

  Kyle smiled at me then pulled out my chair. After I sat down, he sat next to me. “I like crazy,” he said.

  Janet gave me the eye and I rolled my eyes.

  We ordered our drinks and finger food and talked about my day. Kyle was talkative and got along with my friends perfectly. He made Cassie laugh so hard that her wine came out of her nose.

  Kyle looked at me and winked.

  I just shook my head, rolling my eyes.

  “So, they got karaoke here?” he asked.

  “Why?” I asked suspiciously.

  He pushed his beer to me. “I want to hear you sing.”

  “I only sing when I’m drunk.”

  “Which is why I want you to finish my glass.”

  Janet shook her head. “Believe me, you don’t want to see that. You would have to fire her.”

  “If I haven’t fired her by now, I think she’s safe,” Kyle said. He placed his arm over my chair casually, but my friends both caught the look. They played it cool and didn’t say anything.

  Cassie looked at Janet and a silent conversation happened between them.

  “Uh, we’re going to go,” Janet said as she stood up. “I have my yoga class.”

  “You only have yoga on Tuesdays and Thursdays,” I said.

  “Well, they changed it this week,” she said with red cheeks.

  “And I have to meet my mom for dinner,” Cassie explained.

  They were the worst liars I’d ever met. I glared at them both as they walked out.

  “I like your friends,” Kyle said.

  “They are bitches.”

  “Why?”

  I shook my head. “I know what they are doing.”

  “And what is that?”

  “Trying to get me alone with you.”

  He drank from his beer. “That means I have their approval.”

  “They just want me to get laid.”

  “Do you want to get laid?” he asked with a smile.

  “I’m not that kind of girl.”

  “That didn’t answer my question.”

  “No,” I said.

  He shrugged. “It was worth the shot.”

  “Have you slept with anyone from the office?”

  “Wow. That’s a personal question,” he said with a laugh.

  “You’re right. I’m sorry.”

  “No, I haven’t.”

  “Why?”

  “There’s no one I like,” he said. “And I’m very professional. I don’t like to mix business with pleasure.”

  “But you want to date me?”

  “I wanted to date you. You made it clear that’s never going to happen.”

  “Yet, here we are, having a drink together,” I said.

  “Which means you want to be here.” He gave me an intense stare, looking into my eyes with his beautiful blue ones. Kyle adjusted his tie while he looked at me. It was amazing how intimidating and powerful he could be so quickly. Sometimes it was a sudden mood swing. “Even though you hate me.”

  “I don’t hate you,” I said with a laugh, trying to diffuse the tension.

  “Really? Because I’ve never been so insulted and rejected in my life.”

  “That’s only because you didn’t accept my first rejection.”

  He drank from his beer again then watched the television. “What are you doing tomorrow night?”

  “I don’t know. Why?”

  “I have season tickets to the Yankees. You want to go?”

  “They’re playing the Giants tomorrow,” I said with wide eyes.

  “Which is why I’m asking you.”

  “That would be so awesome!”

  He smiled. “Good. I have some good seats. We’ll have fun.”

  I clapped my hands together. “I’ve never been to the Yankees stadium.”

  “You’ll love it. They have amazing chili dogs.”

  “I’m going to be craving that until tomorrow.”

  Kyle dropped his arm from my chair and leaned back in his seat. “Do you have any questions about work?”

  “No. It’s pretty straight forward. But am I going to be editing the magazine at all?”

  “You will. I just wanted to start you off slow. If you make any mistakes, only I will see them. If you work on the magazine, everyone will see them.”

  I nodded. “Thank you.”

  “I got your back.” He winked at me.

  “So, what did you do last night?”

  “I went to the gym.”

  “How often do you go?” I asked.

  “Every weeknight.”

  Do you go alone?”

  “I usually go with my brothers or my friends.”

  “And that’s all you did? That sounds pretty lame,” I said with a smile.

  “I made dinner.”

  “You can cook?”

  “Why is that so surprising?” he asked.

  I shrugged. “I don’t know a lot of guys that can cook.”

  “If I didn’t cook, I’d starve. I had to adapt.”

  “Tell me about your family.”

  He smiled. “I thought we were just out for a friendly drink, not a date?”

  “You got to ask me personal questions. Now I want to ask you.”

  “Okay,” he said. “I have two brothers and one sister. I’m pretty close with my family. My brother is getting married soon, actually. I thought that would never happen. And his fiancé is a catch. I’m not sure what she’s thinking.”

  “Well, that’s mean.”

  He laughed. “He’s my brother. I have to pick on him,” he said. “My sister has two kids, and a third one on the way.”

  “You’re an uncle?”

  “Their favorite uncle.”

  “Do you have pictures?” I asked excitedly.

  “Of course.” He opened his wallet and showed me a picture of a woman with two young children. They were standing outside in the snow.

  “They are so beautiful.”

  “I know.”

  “And your sister is gorgeous.”

  “Yeah. I tell her she’s ugly so it doesn’t go to her head.”

  I hit him lightly on the shoulder. “Don’t be a jerk.”

  “I’m not,” he said. “She knows I love her.”

  “What about your parents?”

  He was quiet for a moment. “They passed away a few years ago.”

  “Oh. I’m sorry.”

  “It’s okay.”

  I wanted to ask what happened but I decided not to. “Your favorite movie?”

  “The Godfather.”

  “That’s so cliché. What about your favorite band?”

  “I love Elton John.”

  “Really?”

  “He’s the inspiration to my music.”

  “Oh, you play the piano. I forgot.”

  He nodded. “I love it.”

  “I would love to hear you play.”

  “You would?” he asked with a smile.

  “Yeah.”

  “Come over for dinner sometime and I’ll give you a show.”

  “Dinner too?”

  “Yep. I’m a man of many talents.”

  I smiled at him, watching the excitement in his eyes. Kyle was easy to talk to and be around. The longer I was around him, the more I liked him. He seemed like a nice guy, but I’d been wrong before. Now that he finally stopped asking me out, I felt myself grow more fond of him. It was a stupid reason but that’s how I felt.

  I turned away and looked across the crowded room. When I saw a familiar face, one that I loathed with every fiber of my being, I wanted to v
omit. It was John, standing with two guys while they waited for their drinks. Now I was getting worried. Was he following me? My palms started to sweat again and I felt faint.

  “Layla, are you alright?” Kyle asked.

  “Uh-huh.” My blood was pounding in my ears. I didn’t know what to do. John would approach me and I knew he would be angry after the way my friends treated him the other day. I wished he would just leave me alone. I ran all the way from New York just to get away from him. Didn’t I make my feeling perfectly clear? Kyle was the only person I had to help me. And actually, he was probably the best choice.

  “Layla, what’s wrong?” He was staring at my face, seeing it turn ghostly pale.

  I turned to him, controlling my breathing. “I know this is going to sound weird but just hear me out. I need you to do something for me but you have to promise me that you’ll never question me about it—ever. If you do, I’ll quit my job and never speak to you again. I’m being serious.”

  He stared at me, his eyes wide.

  “Please do this for me,” I begged. “And never speak of it again.”

  He took a deep breath. “I promise.”

  “Thank you so much. Put your arm around me and act like I’m your girlfriend.”

  He stared at me for a moment before he turned his head to look at the bar.

  I grabbed his hand, steadying him. “Don’t look.”

  Kyle stilled then looked at me. He placed his arm around my shoulders then leaned close to me, rubbing his nose against mine. For a moment, I forgot it was just an act. His face felt warm against my skin. I loved the way he smelled. His warm breath fell upon my face, exciting me. Kyle looked into my eyes before he pressed his lips against my forehead, kissing me gently. It felt so good to feel such an intimate touch. The only man who kissed me on the forehead was my father. It felt surreal to have a man do it. He brought his face back to mine while he ran his hand up my thigh.

  “Can you take me home?” I whispered.

  “Yeah.” He leaned in and kissed my cheek. I wanted him to kiss my lips but he didn’t. The heat between us was evident despite the fear in my chest. For a second I forgot about the danger lurking nearby. He pulled away then threw the cash on the table before he grabbed my hand and pulled me to his side, wrapping his arm around me protectively.

  We got into a cab and I told the driver my address.

  Kyle turned toward me and ran his fingers through my hair. The gentle touch of his fingers made my heart slow down and return to a normal rate. The farther away from the restaurant we were, the better I felt. If John somehow followed me, he would see that Kyle came with me. Hopefully that would make him back off.