Unavoidable Bond

by C Bradley

  Maybe I spoke too soon. Well, this ought to be interesting.

  “2-Zip, big man.” Micah smirks with raised brows, after he grabs the ball, quickly passing it to me.

  “You’re up Lucas. Looks like your dribble is worse than Hannah’s,” he taunts.

  Taking a few steps back, so that my feet are behind the arch, I spread my legs shoulder width apart and slightly bend my knees, while my eyes remain focused on the net.

  “I’m sorry. What was that Micah?” My words are dripping with sarcasm, but he seems amused.

  Bouncing the ball off the broiling pavement a few times, I line up and take my shot.

  “Holy fuck!” Hannah shouts, as the ball swishes through the net with perfectly timed precision.

  Raising my hands straight above my head in celebration. “That’s THREE fucking points!” I shout, making three invisible tally marks in the air with my finger.

  Micah nears and shakes my hand, before offering a half hug. “Nice move, man. I didn’t think you’d go for the three-pointer right out the gate. What do I owe you?”

  Grabbing his hand, I stop the shake midway and lean in. “You owe me the respect and privacy that I’ve given to you in your relationship with my best friend, Addison. I love Hannah, and I won’t hurt her, which means you and I need to swallow the macho bullshit we’ve got going on. She needs you, and I respect that, but she’ll be my wife one day, and I need you to respect that. And respect us.”

  His face registers my words, “Deal, but if you hurt her, I’ll run you into the ground Lucas. No mercy.”

  Releasing Micah’s hand, after giving his shoulder a firm pat in agreement, Hannah approaches giving me a quick peck on the lips.

  “Was that a pissing contest we just witnessed? Can you both put your dicks away now?” My girlfriend’s assumption is spot on as usual.

  I glance down, giving my crotch a quick pat, “He’s away for now, baby.”

  She watches in disbelief and shakes her head. “Fraternization,” she silently mouths, waving her pointer finger at me.

  Leading the way, we navigate the second-floor halls of my parent’s house, back to my childhood bedroom. The bedroom we made up from our first fight in. The bedroom we mentioned love in our relationship without actually saying the phrase to one another.

  “So many memories in here,” I recount.

  “Like losing your flower?” She smirks, encouraging our banter.

  “Like rubbing one out to the Sears lingerie catalog or that poster.” I admit, pointing to the Baywatch poster, safely hidden behind the door of my boyhood bedroom.

  Hannah’s laughter resonates through my room, putting her gorgeous bright smile on display.

  “Hannah, come here,” I coax, patting the bed next to me.

  She moves to the opposite side of the bed, laying down beside me.

  Scooping up her hand, I hold it between my own. “Baby, I need to say something.”

  “Brody, you’ve said an awful lot in the last 72 hours.” She warns.

  She turns on her side, and her eyes meet mine. I continue to trace small circles along the palm of her hand, fully aware of her ticklishness.

  “I’ve said this twice already, but neither seemed to be the appropriate timing. So, here goes nothing, third time’s the charm,” swallowing hard I continue. “Hannah, I love you. I’m in love with you.”

  Her dark eyes instantly lighten several shades, and her breathing increases slightly. “Brody Lucas, you chaotic mess of a man, I love you, too.” She scoots in closer, pressing her lips against mine.

  “Now, how about some fraternization to end the night?” I suggest, returning her kiss.

  Humor takes over Hannah’s features, as she climbs and sits on top of my abdomen and purrs out her agreement. “Fine, but remember in here, I’m the boss!”

  “Yes, ma’am.” I nod my head in agreement, as Hannah pins my hands to the bed.

  It literally takes me three hours to deliberate on an outfit. Who have I become? Throwing my hands in the air, I pull out my navy boat neck dress that hits just below my knees and fits me like a glove, professionally that is, and matching heels. Oh well, it’ll have to work. It’s not like today is a huge day in terms of career steps, but yet, it is. I’m due to meet with the Chief Human Resource Officer in an hour, you know the whole, “Yes, I understand that while I’m fucking the potential CEO, I have only the power my position truly holds, and this means the standard I’m held to only increases with my relationship ties.” Now, the actual good news - my office is finished. My team and I can set up shop today and get back to regular business. No more shuffling things back and forth; no more disruptive environment.

  Okay, forget the thought of a disruptive environment. With my meeting over, I quickly make my way into my office only to find all my staff in the middle of the room, in their office chairs, and discussing something in hushed tones.

  “Good morning,” I offer an unheard acknowledgment to my team. Clearing my throat, I speak louder. “Good morning, everyone.”

  I don’t think I’ve seen grown women jolt to attention and begin dismantling their conversation so quickly in my life. Maybe in movies, but that crap is a production. Insert repercussion number two of fraternizing with Brody Lucas, and now the owner of the company that employs me. Obviously, the first was the uncomfortable meeting with the creepy CHRO old man.

  “Okay,” I drawl out. “Let’s use today to get situated in our newly remodeled space. The BL Contractor’s team did a great job on our work area, so please do your part on keeping it nice.”

  “You mean your boyfriend did everything you wanted,” Cassidy snickers so quietly I almost didn’t hear her, but I did.

  “Cassidy, if you would like to share your commentary with the team, please by all means.” I take my stand at the front of the room and wait, but she says nothing. “Moving on, this board is similar to a larger scale in my office.” Pointing to the 3x5 foot Plexiglas structure secured to a slate gray wall, designed to be a dry erase lined calendar. “I’ll be using this for our important deadlines, and you’ll be using this to indicate your special project work.”

  “Fancy,” Cris sasses, offering me a smile. Trust her I do not, as she was part of that very secretive group conversation that abruptly ended, when I entered.

  “My office was separated from the group workspace, a decision that the late Mrs. Lucas thought appropriate. However, I had asked the contractors to build me a workspace in this room as well.”

  “I bet it was the last Mrs. Lucas’ idea,” Cassidy smarts off to Bekah who sits beside her.

  “Cassidy, you’ve just earned yourself the first viewing pleasure of my office, now.” I turn quickly on my heel, navigating to my office located on the backside of the slate colored wall.

  Brody and his team did an amazing job with the entry facing wall of frosted glass to allow privacy, the massive dry erase calendar on the wall both perpendicular to the entry way, and the back wall of my office. The opposite facing side houses filing cabinets built into the wall for space saving, and a presentation monitor bigger than my 48-inch plasma television at home secured to the wall.

  I hear my door click shut and turn my office chair to face the door, as Cassidy approaches my desk, her face pulled into a sneer.

  “Sit, Ms. Johnson.” I direct her to the conference table to the right of me with a nod. I follow her by a few steps, and then take my seat.

  “You really need to lighten up. A month ago, you would have laughed at my commentary.” Cassidy’s case, while she’s a smidgen right, is very weak and wrong.

  “A month ago, I was dating Brody Lucas, the contractor. Furthermore, I halted all the nonsense babble then just as I am now. However, for your gossiping pleasure, I’ll have you know that I had no clue the connection he had to this corporation,” I begin again, as Cassidy opens her mouth to interrupt. “No, you may talk, when I finish. As I was saying, I was unaware of that connection. Not that any of you ladies passed that info along.”


  “Fine, I’m sooooorry,” she taunts.

  “That’s not the entire problem. It’s also the fact that you found it appropriate to disrespect the late owner in an assumption that I had somehow fixed the remodel.” Taking a much-needed inhale and exhale, I continue, “If you want to act like a jealous, catty teenager, then you do that on your time not mine, and definitely not the time of this corporation. We are professionals, and I expect you to act as a professional. Do you understand?” I seethe.

  “Yeah, sure,” she mumbles, and my stare hardens. “Yes, we are clear. I understand.”

  “Please feel free to forward this discussion on, and then, I won’t need to repeat it six more times.” I say dismissing her from my office and make my way back to my desk.

  “Ms. Scott, there’s a delivery for you. May I send it back?” The office receptionist’s voice fills my office through the speaker, breaking my concentration.

  “Yes, please. Thank you, Margo,” I respond, continuing to mark up the calendar that takes up a large section of wall near my conference table.

  I spin on my heels, when I hear a knock on my partially opened door and see Nina’s head peeking past the door. Smiling brightly, I hurry towards the door to open it the rest of the way, and finally notice the beautiful spray of blue heart lilies.

  “Oh, my word. These are gorgeous!” I gush in admiration.

  “I too agree, but these are yours. I’m simply delivering because the sender is tied up in boring meetings and has to break your standing lunch date.” Her laughter fills the room, and I quirk my brow, wondering why it’s so odd to have flowers or a standing lunch date. Noticing my confusion, she clarifies her laughter. “It’s just that well, Brody has never been a hearts and flowers kind of guy. It’s well, odd, yet so enduring.”

  “Oh, well I guess everyone evolves over time.” Shrugging, I take the vase from Nina and place it in the center of the conference table, admiring the contrast of the light blue flowers to the dark cherry wood.

  “No, Hannah. You’ve changed him and given him a purpose.” I shake my head at her words because Brody has had a purpose. He loves his contractor work, and he embraces his talents. “You’ve given him reason to be better. It’s something my mother noticed, and my father appreciated. They would have loved to know you, as his better half, Hannah, and not just as their employee.”

  “Nina, thank you. That means the world to me. Listen, Brody and I have a table reserved over at Dough Balls for lunch. Well, it’s not reserved more like he scares patrons away, so we can sit under the awnings.” I laugh and grab my purse. “I’d love for you to join me, if you’re free.”

  “I’d love to, but isn’t Dough Balls just a doughnut shop?” She asks, confused.

  “Oh, God no. You’re about to get schooled my friend.” We laugh in unison, walking to the elevator bay.

  Uncrossing my ankle from the opposite knee, I lean forward to receive the manila envelope that Micah holds out. “These are the items that were removed from your parents upon arrival at the hospital. Personal belongings, I assume.” He states, reaching his hand across his desk to hand the envelope to me.

  Nina glances at the package, “I’m sure Dad’s watch, that you’ve been looking for, is in there, Brody. The man never took the damn thing off, since you gave it to him on Father’s Day five years ago.”

  Emptying the contents of the envelope onto the red leather executive chair beside my own, a smirk tugs the corner of my mouth, as I witness the watch, a titanium wedding band, a locket, and a blue stoned woman’s ring slide out of the package.

  “See, I told you not to worry.” Nina adds. Placing all the other items back into the envelope, I grab the watch, sliding it onto my wrist and fasten the back, before cleaning the face with my tie. Nina shoots a horrified look in my direction, blurting out “As you can see, my brother is not the polished suit and tie type.”

  Micah chuckles, “It takes some getting used to, and I’m sure he’ll get the swing of things in no time.”

  “I would much rather go back to manning my crew in jeans and a t-shirt, than to answer to a bunch of stiffs wearing this monkey outfit.” Running my hand over my Ralph Lauren slate gray suit, with the matching vest, completed by the white button up shirt, and navy tie that Hannah picked out, color coordinating her own outfit to match.

  “Well, I think you look dashing, B.” Micah teasingly winks and offers his hand, as he stands.

  “Thanks for all your help man.” I shake his hand once I too stand.

  “Of course, let me know if you two make the decision to part with the house.” Nina rises also shaking Micah’s hand, slinging her purse over her shoulder, making the brisk walk back to her forest green Beemer convertible.

  “Good luck on your first day big brother. Knock ‘em dead!” She calls out, before offering a hug and a kiss on the cheek and slipping into her sportster and driving off.

  After what seems like endless hours of mind numbing meetings, I’m finally free to eat my first meal of the day. This must have been why my dad maintained such a thin frame, even as he got older. Damn, I bet he barely had time to eat or breathe in this place. As I step off the elevator, I stop for a moment to admire the wall that displays my surname in bold backlit lettering. Closing my eyes momentarily, I swear I can almost hear my mother’s soft tone encouraging me from beyond the grave. Inhaling a sharp breath and opening my eyes, I turn on my heels towards the west wing, where my father’s spacious office is located.

  Reaching my father’s office, my eyes are quickly drawn to his name and title etched into the glass. He spent thirty years of his life building this corporation, and it was all summed up in the two words of his title. It seemed so diminutive. The etching was a fond memory, and one of the last projects that my crew had worked on prior to wrapping up the remodel of JLC. A reminder of how simple my life was just a few weeks prior.

  Wrapping my hand around the brushed nickel bar handle of the oversized glass door and pulling it open, I step inside. My breath instantly quickens, and my hands begin to clam up. Being in this office, makes the events of the last few weeks that much more real, and it hits me so hard that I stumble, reaching for the leather sofa nearby. I manage to lower myself onto the sofa before my knees give out. Removing my cell from the interior breast pocket of my suit, I quickly type up a message to the one and only person I’d allow to see me in this state. My Hannah.

  Me: I’m not sure what a panic attack feels like, but I think I’m having one. Can you come to my dad’s office?

  Setting the phone face down on the couch beside me, I use my hand to apply pressure to my chest, hoping the tightness eases. Bending forward to place my head between my knees, I try to steady my breathing. The office is so quiet you could hear a pin drop, but my ears focus on the steady sound of a pair of heels nearing. The moments that pass feel like hours, before she walks in.

  “Brody?” She questions, scanning the room looking for me.

  “Right here, baby.” I somehow muster a smile, when her cocoa brown eyes spot me.

  Hannah walks over, sitting on the coffee table in front of the couch. Leaning forward, she cups my face, “Hey, I’m here. What’s going on?”

  Closing my eyes and embracing her hand, I reach gently, placing mine over hers to keep her hand there. “Hannah, I don’t know if I can do this. My dad left some pretty big shoes to fill.”

  “Brody,” her soft voice comforts me in ways that normally require prescription medication.

  Hannah is like a drug, and one that I need a dose of at a least once a day, if not more. I just don’t feel right when she isn’t around. Like something is amiss or wrong.

  “You are going to be an amazing CEO. Your passion, determination, and fresh set of eyes will take this company to heights it’s never been. I have nothing but faith in your ability to wow the board of directors. Breathe, Brody. It’s your time to shine.” Ending her sentence with a smile, she pulls me into a hug that immediately relinquishes the pain in my chest
.

  I place my pointer finger under her chin, planting a feather light kiss across her lips. “Thank you, Hannah.”

  “Thank you for telling me that you needed me this time,” she soothes.

  “Tell me about your day?” I implore, while she stands after me, fixing my tie.

  “Dull meetings. I did receive these flowers from a secret admirer, but don’t tell my boyfriend. I went to Dough Balls with Nina, since my said boyfriend who sent the flowers, stood me up. Oh, and one of my staff mouthed off about our relationship.” She shakes her head in disapproval, as a frown marks her beautiful face.

  “Dough Balls is not lunch, Hannah, even if you get the protein packed version. And I’m glad you liked the flowers. Micah’s assistant picked them out.” I tease her, and she smacks my chest.

  “Not funny.” Raising a brow, she places a hand on her hip.

  “My meetings were just as awful, and I give you permission to fire the big mouth.” Wrapping my arms around her waist and pulling her body against mine, I whisper, “The glass is frosted, so no one can see in.”

  “No! We are not having sex in the office,” she admonishes me with her voice lowered to a whisper. “And I’m not firing my staff,” she continues, pulling her head back to avoid physical contact.

  “Give me a kiss, before I throw you over my shoulder and haul you into that private bathroom to have my way with you. I’m sure your staff would enjoy talking about your freshly fucked look.”

  A grin tugs at her lips, before she leans in, pressing them against my own. “You can throw me over your shoulder later, when we get home, Mr. Bossman.”

  Hannah gently bites my lower lip and tugs at it, before releasing it, sauntering out of the office, and swaying her hips the entire length of the hall. She knows my eyes are locked on her, and I know she loves every minute of it.

  Hmmm, maybe this won’t be so bad after all.

  Turning my key and pulling it from the ignition, I reach in the backseat to grab the bags of ice Nina sent me to retrieve. Holding the ice bags arm’s length in front of me, to prevent them from dripping on my clothes, I spot Nina setting up the rotating spit, for the pig roast that our family hosts for July Fourth weekend every year.