by Eva Luxe
“Your wife called, Mr. Ashdown,” Oliver says, looking up at me over his desk.
“I believe, you mean, my ex-wife,” I say and I give him a look that sends him scurrying into himself. He nods his head at me and stares back at his computer. “Did you want me to…”
“Yes, fine. Put her through in a minute.”
Oliver looks at me, anxiety radiating through him. I can’t help but think that he won’t be able to survive in this environment for very long. “She’s on line 2,” Oliver says, and goes back to staring at this computer screen.
“Thank you, Oliver,” I say, in the nicest tone possible and give him a strained smile. Whether or not I just sealed my fate of being without another assistant, I don’t care. The last thing I want to do is speak to Shelley.
I walk into my office and stare at the blinking light on my office phone. I take a few moments to gather myself before I answer it.
“Boyd Ashdown,”
“Hi, Boyd,” Shelley says.
“Shelley, I thought I told you not to call me at the office anymore,” I say, thinking back to all the hours we’d spent on the phone whenever we each had a spare moment to talk. Now, the memories feel sour.
“I know, Boyd,” Shelley says, her tone sweet. “But I needed to talk to you.”
“What could you possibly need to talk to me about?” I say, not wanting to relive the moment when I confronted her about her infidelities but knowing that that’s exactly where this conversation is going. “Your latest relationship crumble yet?”
She doesn’t say anything for a moment and I know I’ve hurt her feelings. But I truly don’t care. She never cared about how I felt. Why should she start now?
“Okay, I deserve that,”
“What do you want Shelley?”
“I just wanted to tell you that I know I made a huge mistake with Gabe. It never should have happened. And I know I’ve made things hard for you at work considering…”
“Considering the fact that he still works here?” I say, my fingers tightening on the phone cord. “And constantly trying to undermine me?”
“Yes, and I’m sorry for that… I just…”
“You just what? I’ll ask again. What do you want, Shelley?”
“Fine, I just wanted to tell you that I’m no longer with Miles and that the reason I’m calling is…”
“You want to get back together?” I say, sitting down in my chair, unable to comprehend exactly what I’m hearing.
“Well, yeah,” Shelley, says, her voice small.
“You know, for months after you left me, I would have given anything for you to say the things you’re saying right now. I would have gone back to you in a heartbeat, regardless of what happened. Because I’m an idiot and I would have rather been with someone who hurt me over and over again than be alone. I felt like I didn’t deserve to be in a good relationship with someone who actually valued me as a person. But you what? That’s not true anymore and I know for a fact that I deserve better than what you’ve given me. And you have no idea how much pleasure it’s giving me to tell you that it’s not going to happen. Goodbye, Shelley,” I say and hang up the phone before she gets a chance to speak.
Just the mere act of slamming down the phone leaves me feeling liberated. I know what I have to do now.
I duck my head out of my office door and get Oliver’s attention.
“Next time my ex-wife calls, block her number,” I say, with a smile on my face. “Also, I’m taking the rest of the day off. Hold all my calls,” I say, heading back into my office to gather my things. I come back out a few minutes later and pass Oliver’s desk.
“You’re doing great, by the way, Oliver.” Oliver manages to smile sheepishly back at me.
I head towards the elevators with a new lease on life, not knowing how to wipe the smile from my face. I know that I could be risking everything to be with Grace but I know in my heart that it’s the right thing to do.
Grace is the only woman I had ever meet that made me forget about how awful things ended with Shelley. She was the only one who made me realize how selfish Shelley was and how she only gave when she could ensure she would get something in return. Grace is giving and loving and caring and most of all, she doesn’t expect anything in return. She’s everything Shelley wasn’t and clearly still continues to be. She’s the one that I want to spend my life with. Her and only her.
I’m just about to enter the elevator when I’m stopped by Jeremy. He steps into the elevator with me.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Jeremy asks, hitting nearly every button on the floor panel.
“What do you think you’re doing?” I ask, indicating multiple lit floors. “We’ll be here forever.” I’m anxious enough as it is and I can’t handle J’s stalling tactics.
“Good, that will give us a chance to talk,” Jeremy says, crossing his arms. “You’re not going after her are you? I heard what you told your assistant back there.”
“I have to, Jeremy,” I say, turning to him. “I need her in my life.”
“Even if it means risking everything? This could have major blowback on the company. On us! Is that what you want?”
“She’s worth the risk, Jeremy,” I say, simply and he just gives me a dejected look. He’s fighting a losing battle. I just hope that I’m not doing the same.
“There’s nothing I can say that will change your mind?” Jeremy asks, his eyes pleading.
“Nothing,”
“Then, I wish you luck,” Jeremy says, surprising me. He puts a hand on my shoulder and gets out on the next floor. “I hope you get what you want. You deserve some happiness.”
I smile at him as the doors close, feeling relieved and confident in the outcome of my endeavor.
Chapter Seventeen – Boyd
I drive to Grace’s house, knowing full well that my doing so could lead to a confrontation with Andrew. But I’m prepared to do whatever it takes to win Grace back.
I park on the side of the street, not wanting to draw attention to myself and I take a moment to gather myself together before going inside. My grip on the steering wheel is tight and my breathing feels labored. After a few minutes, I compose myself and get out of the car, my heart beating out of my chest.
I knock on the door and hope beyond hope that it’s Grace that answers.
The door swings open and there she is. Just as beautiful as the day she walked out of my office. It takes my breath away.
“Boyd!” Grace says, excitement and fear crossing her face within seconds of each other. She looks behind her and lowers her voice. “What are you doing here? Andrew and Colleen are home.”
“I don’t care about them. I care about you,” I say, reaching for her. “I came here to tell you that I was crushed the day you quit. I can’t get you out of my head. I need you, Grace. Please, just hear me out.”
“Boyd,” Grace says and she hears something behind her. “You can’t be here.” She closes the door in my face, leaving me standing there dumbfounded.
I’m just about to walk away, defeated, when I hear the door open again after a moment. I look up and see Andrew glaring down at me. Grace stands a little way behind him in the doorway.
“What are you doing here, Boyd? You’re not welcome on my property,” Andrew says, crossing his arms.
“What’s going on?” Someone calls from the hallway and we’re joined by who I can only assume is Colleen. “Andrew?” she asks, unsure of what to make of the situation.
“Grace, go to your room. I need to have a talk with your boss,” Andrew says and Grace makes to do as she’s told. But then she stops and turns back to me.
“No, I want to hear what he says to say,” Grace says, crossing her arms. I watch as the shock of this defiance crosses Andrew’s face. “And I’m not a child. I’m 19 years old. I won’t be told to go to my room.”
“Grace,” I say, wanting her to find her way to me, away from these controlling people. She moves toward me but Andrew stops her.
“She doesn’t love you, Boyd,” Andrew says, matter-of-factly. He glares at me, so confident in his assessment of the situation.
“Grace,” I say, ignoring him and looking directly at her. “He’s just jealous of what we have. He’s jealous that I’m in love with you. He wants you all to himself. You even told me that he was thinking of leaving his wife. He wants you to be with him.” I don’t look at Colleen, but out of the corner of my eye, see her move further into the house. I can’t help but feel bad for her. “Please, Grace. Come with me. I’ll take care of you. You can come back to work and you’ll be given a raise. You can live on your own. Or, with me.” I look at her, pleadingly, and our eyes meet. She gives me a small smile that lifts my heart.
“She’s not going anywhere with you,” Andrew says, trying to close the door on me. But Grace places a hand on the door and stops him from closing it further.
“Yes, I am, Andrews,” Grace says, and pulls the door open. Andrew stands there in shock and lets her go. “I love him and I’m going with him.” Grace moves past him but he grabs her arm.
“Grace, you don’t belong with him. If you belong with anyone, it’s me. We’ve given you everything. Don’t give that up. Can you imagine what God must be thinking right now?” Andrew says, desperation heavy in his voice.
“God can think whatever he wants and so can I.” Grace pulls herself out of his grasp and walks down the steps toward me. I reach out towards her, enveloping her once she reaches me. She even smells the same. I take in every moment as I place a gently, yet desperate kiss on his lips.
“You won’t be welcome back at the Church, Grace,” Andrew says, in one last ditch effort to get Grace to change her mind. “Or this house.”
She turns around and looks directly at him and takes my hand. “I don’t want to go to a church that doesn’t have my best interests at heart and makes me feel guilty about things I know shouldn’t feel guilty about. Thank you for all that you’ve done for me but it’s time I found my own path. And that doesn’t include living here anymore.”
She turns her back on Andrew and we walk back toward my car, an extra spring in both our steps.
Chapter Eighteen – Grace
Boyd and I sit across from each other at a fancy restaurant. This is our first real date and I couldn’t be more thrilled. The excitement of being out with him is radiating through my entire body.
“To us,” Boyd says, holding up his glass of wine and I clink my glass with his, unable to keep the smile from my face. “Grace, I should have never let you go that day at the office. I should have fought harder for you.”
“It’s okay,” I say, taking his hand across the table. “Honestly, until I learned how to let go of my guilt, it would have all been in vain, no matter how hard you fought. Guilt, I now know that I should never have had in the first place. Thank you for helping me see that.” He kisses the top of my hand and I can’t help but smile.
“I love you, Grace,” Brain says, squeezing my hand in his. “I love you so much and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I know it may be way too early to say that but I know it. You’ve given me everything I’ve ever wanted and everything I didn’t know I could have. So, thank you.”
“I love you, too,” I say, and lean across the table to kiss him. I sit back and look at him for a long moment, taking everything in.
“What?” He asks, with a smile. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“What do you say we get out of here?” I ask, a wicked grin forming on my face.
“Our meal hasn’t even come yet,” Boyd says.
“I have a better meal in mind,” I say, winking at him.
At that, Boyd tosses his napkin on the table and gets up from his seat. He comes over and pulls my seat out for me. I take his hand and he leads me in the direction of the car, but I stop him before he gets to the door. He looks back at me in confusion.
“I didn’t say we had to leave the restaurant.”
“What are you…?”
I take his hand and lead him towards the bathroom.
We enter the ladies bathroom and I push him into the handicap stall. I immediately start taking off his pants and tug them to the floor. He kisses me deeply and trails light kisses down my neck. I run my hands along his shirt and rip it open, the buttons flying every which way. He bites his lip in anticipation and I tug his briefs down and am presented with that all too familiar cock, looking at beautiful as always. I hike my skirt up and tug my panties down to my ankles. He lifts one leg up and enters me swiftly. He pounds me back and forth for several minutes and I don’t bother to try and stifle my screams. In this moment, I don’t care if every single patron in this restaurant hears me. He lets loose his entire load deep inside my vagina and I squeal in release. Our breathing is very and labored. He smiles at me and kisses me deeply. I slide off of his cock and adjust my outfit.
“I can’t wait for more of that,” I say, with a satisfied smile.
“And without so much as a single guiltily thought about it,” Boyd says and I take his hands in mine. We walk back out to the restaurant and find out table. If anyone working or eating here had heard us, they make no indication. We sit back down and our food arrives a few minutes later.
Chapter 19 – Boyd
The next day, I meet with Jeremy and Rod in the main conference room. They’re unsure as to why I’ve called them into this meeting, but they can tell they’re about to hear something good just by the look on my face.
“What’s with the shit-eating grin, Ashdown?” Rod asks, leaning against the table. He looks at me with pure amusement.
“Yeah, why did you call us in here?” Jeremy asks, looking between Rod and I. “It better be good. I was busy not getting work done.” I can’t help but laugh at the joke.
“Well, I just wanted to let you know that Grace and I are officially together,” I say and wait for their reactions.
“I’m glad to hear everything worked out,” Jeremy says, sincerely. Rod looks more surprised but takes it in stride.
“You knew this was going to happen?” Rod says to Jeremy, raising his arms up in the air, questioningly. “Why didn’t anyone tell me? I’m trustworthy!”
“I knew he was planning on going after her,” Jeremy says, shrugging. “I didn’t know if he was going to get her or not. For all I know, he was coming in here to tell us he quit too.”
“Of course, he was going to get her! How could you ever question that?” Rod says, looking at me. “He gets every girl he lays his eyes on.”
“There’s only girl I have eyes for now,” I say to them but they don’t look entirely convinced.
“Whatever you say, man,” Rod says, getting up from the table and heading towards the door. “As long as you stop fooling around in the office, I’m happy. I don’t need you being a continued liability.” Jeremy nods his head in agreement.
“And I’m just glad you’re over Shelley,” Jeremy says, also heading towards the door. “She really laid you out. This girl better not do the same.”
“She won’t,” I say, confidently and I follow them out of the conference room.
When I get back to my office, Grace is there waiting for me. I pull her into my arms and kiss her deeply, pulling her tightly to me.
“How did they take it?” Grace asks, pulling away from me. She runs her finger along my bottom lip. I nip at her touch, making her smile.
“Well, they were just glad to know that I wouldn’t be fooling around in the office anymore,” I
say, with a large smirk on my face. One that might be considered shit-eating. “Little do they know that it’s still going to happen,” I say and Grace raises her eyebrows at me. “But only with you.”
“Good answer,” Grace says, wrapping her arms around me. “So, tell me. Are you a man of your word?” Grace asks, running her hand down my leg.
I jump at the touch and smile down at her, grabbing her ass. “You could say that again.”
I throw her up against the desk and fling her skirt up around his waist. I can’t help but silently bless the making of skirts. I’m pleasantly surprised to see her bare ass staring right in front of me.
“Well, someone thought they were going to get lucky today,” I say, teasingly and slap her ass gently. She giggles at my touch and turns her head toward me.
“I’d say you were about to be the lucky one,” She says, wiggling her ass.
“You can say that again,” I say, and turn her towards me and kiss her deeply. She grabs a hold and my tie and tugs me over to the sofa. She pushes me down on top of it and start rubbing my stiffening cocks with her now expert hands. I harden within minutes and she begins licking the tip of my pulsating member, taking in the pre-cum. She then slides onto my penis slowly, rocking back and forth in a teasing motion. She moves faster and faster with each passing moment and she grabs my hands and presses them on her firm breasts. I squeeze them gently and she leans forward and swings her boobs in my face. I take one of her nipples in my mouth and suck, hard, her back arching in response. She continues pounding up and down onto my penis with growing vigor. I watch her face as she reaches climax and she lets out a loud moan that I’m sure can be heard around the office. She slaps a hand to her mouth and I pull her down to me and kiss her. I can’t help but laugh.
She rides the wave of her orgasm and continues until I start to reach mine. Her second one comes just as mine does and I explode deep inside her, releasing the built-up tension. When we’re both finished, she slides off me and lays down beside me.