Starving Faithful

by Amy Lynn

  The afternoon sun streamed through the windows, the furniture casting light shadows onto the floor, the plants thriving, green, and leafy with a hint of pine in the air.

  “Ava Lauren?” a womanly voice asked.

  “Yes.” I said, as I spun to face her.

  Mia Hart was an attractive woman, blonde, petite, and dressed impeccably.

  “Lovely to meet you,” she said extending her delicate hand to me. “I really do appreciate you taking the time to meet with me on a Saturday. My schedule is a bit hectic at the moment and while convenient for me, I realize I may have spoiled any weekend plans you may have had. For that, I apologize.”

  “No, not at all,” I reassure her as I picture Brad stretched out on the sofa catching up on episodes of Mad Men. “It’s wonderful to meet you.”

  Mia leads us to her office and shuts the door behind us. She asks standard questions during our interview, and I answer them honestly without hesitation. She wears a slender wedding band on her finger accompanied by a large princess cut diamond that glitters with the slightest movement of her hand. I glance down at my wide gold band absent of any kind of sparkle and cover it with my right hand as ring envy sets in. Brad had proposed spontaneously without a ring but assured me I’d have his grandmother’s ring, an heirloom that she had passed to Brad and was in the safekeeping with his mother. Disapproving of our relationship, his mother has selfishly held the ring hostage since. However, Brad promised either way I’d have a diamond ring before our first anniversary whether it was his grandmother’s cherished heirloom or something brand new.

  While Mia is shuffling through some papers, I catch a glimpse of a photograph behind her desk. The man I assume is her husband. He’s attractive and doesn’t seem much bigger than her. There’s another photo nearby, the two of them together on the beach with a little boy, who is a perfect combination of both of them.

  “Ava,” Mia says breaking my observation, “I’m going to be honest here. You are the first person I have interviewed for Andrea’s position, and frankly, you and she are a lot alike. With that being said, I think you would be perfect for the position.”

  Shock rolls through me. “Really?” I hadn’t planned on being hired on the spot.

  “Yes. You could start on Monday and train with Andrea until she has the baby. If that works for you?”

  “Yes. Absolutely.” I say even though I’m not so sure it will.

  She gives me a packet of paperwork to fill out and return on Monday. She explains, as her secretary and personal assistant, the office hours are from 9:00-5:00, but late nights do occur, especially during the week. We shake hands, and I head home to break the news to Brad. The happiness I felt earlier is gone, replaced with inky darkness that hangs around me like a cloak. I can only hope Brad understands how important this job is to me.

  I drive home in silence, barely remembering the turn into the driveway.

  “Hey,” Brad says sweeping me into a hug. “How did the interview go?”

  “I got the job.”

  His eyebrows climb. “Ava! That’s great!” Sensing my sudden lack of enthusiasm, his brows draw together in question. “What’s wrong? Is it not what you expected?”

  “No it’s great. It’s just…I don’t think I can take it.”

  “What? Why?”

  I shake my head not wanting to tell him. I should just call Mia, tell her I can’t accept, and thank her for the opportunity. But that’s not me.

  “Abram Kent works in the building. Actually, to be more specific, he and Mia share the same floor.” I shake my head. “I made a promise to you, Brad.”

  Brad runs his fingers through his hair and wraps his arms around me placing a kiss to my forehead. “You have no idea how much your loyalty means to me, but I can’t ask you to pass up a job you desperately want because of me.” He pauses. “I admit, I don’t see Abram Kent often. Only when his legal advice is requested with a client I’m representing or his father has requested his presence in a meeting I’m attending. I may have judged him harshly when I first met him but for you, I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt and say he’s a good guy until he gives me a reason to believe otherwise.”

  I close my eyes as the tears threaten. I love this man.

  “If you want the job, then I want you to take it. Your happiness means more to me than a promise I forced you to commit to. I never should have asked that of you in the first place, and I’m sorry.”

  I slipped my arms around his slender waist and squeezed. He was making an exception for me. “I love you. Thank you for making an exception.”

  He pulled away to place a kiss on my lips and leaned his forehead against mine. “You are my exception.”

  I threaded my hands into the back of his hair and brought his lips down to mine, a fire igniting between us.

  “We’ll celebrate tonight,” Brad said against my lips. “Leave everything to me.”

  The next day, Caroline and I went shopping. I had texted to inform her that my job hunt had officially ended. She wanted to take me out Sunday morning to celebrate.

  Congratulations Sweetie! I knew you’d land it! Now let’s celebrate with some shopping! Her text had read.

  Sweet Caroline, always so supportive.

  With Caroline’s help, my shopping trip was a success. Shopping bags filled my trunk with shirts, dresses, skirts, pantsuits, heels, and a jacket in sophisticated classic tones of black, white, and gray. I had bought some bright statement pieces of jewelry to add just enough color to each ensemble without overdoing it, and I couldn’t be happier with the result.

  After hours of trying on clothes, Caroline and I had worked up quite the appetite. We ate a late lunch, and on my way out, I grabbed a sandwich for Brad.

  Brad helped me unload the car, and sat on our king sized bed, eating his sandwich while I hung up all my purchases.

  “Those outfits look amazing, Ava. I can’t wait to see them on.”

  “Thank you for letting me use the leftover furniture money.”

  “That’s what it was there for…a rainy day. Thank you for the sandwich,” he said around a mouthful.

  I was so excited to start my job the next morning that I didn’t sleep a wink. I was plagued with worry that I would oversleep or wouldn’t hear my alarm clock. What if the power went out? Did I set the alarm right? Would I mess up on the first day and make a fool of myself? What would Abram Kent’s reaction be when he saw me? A million things ran rampant in my brain, and I was helpless to stop them.

  My alarm barely had the chance to sound since I was already awake staring at it when it sounded. I woke Brad and did some stretching exercises while he showered. Honestly, I had to do something with all this excitement I had built up throughout the night.

  Brad exited the bathroom with a towel around his waist, his hair wet and skin glistening with water, and his lean stomach begging to be touched. Seeing him, I thought being late on my first day actually sounded reasonable. After taking a really cold shower, I slipped into my silk robe and headed to the kitchen to make Brad breakfast.

  We sat together while we ate, Brad looking between the morning paper and his cell phone and me looking at him. Brad was handsome, but in a suit, he was…distinguished. Sexy in his own kind of way.

  Feeling my eyes on him he lifted an eyebrow, “What?”

  “Nothing. You just look handsome.”

  He smiled and rose from the table. “I know. A little help with my tie?” he asked.

  Lifting his collar, I looped the tie around his neck, the thoughts from earlier clouding my better judgment as I tied a perfect Windsor knot, Brad’s favorite.

  “Perfect. Thanks, Wifey.”

  I smiled at his endearment. “Anytime.”

  “You excited about your first day?” he asked.

  I shrugged not wanting him to worry about me. “Just nervous.”

  “That makes two of us.”

  “Brad, please don’t worry about me.”

  “It’s not you I’m worri
ed about.”

  I cupped his jaw. “Everything will be fine.” I say avoiding the mention of Abram’s name.

  He nodded. “You will tell me if things aren’t going well?”

  “Yes.” I nodded in agreement.

  He leaned down, kissing me harder than usual. “I love you.”

  “Love you too.”

  “Good luck on your first day,” he said, my body still firmly pressed to his. “Don’t hesitate to call if you need anything.”

  I nodded, and he placed another hard kiss to my lips. “Bye, Wifey.”

  I hurried upstairs, not wanting to waste a minute of time, and started getting ready. After all, I wanted to look perfect for my first day. I blew my hair dry and twisted it up while I applied my makeup, which I kept natural. I decided to curl my hair with a big barrel curling iron since I received the most compliments when I wore it that way. The result was voluminous without being big and a little sexy, but subtle enough for the office. I choose a black sheath dress, a red skinny belt, red necklace, and my new pair of black Louboutins, a gift from Caroline. The red soles pulled my whole look together seamlessly.

  I left the house earlier than I should have simply because I couldn’t wait any longer and arrived thirty minutes early. Again. The office was quiet. Apparently, everyone else wasn’t as excited as I was about coming to work, so I went into the small dining area and started coffee.

  While I waited for the coffee pot to do its job, I sat down in the reception area between the two offices. I didn’t feel comfortable sitting at the desk yet, as I didn’t want Andrea to feel as if I was taking over. After all, my job didn’t start until she took maternity leave.

  I pulled my phone from my purse and texted Brad.

  Miss you.

  Love you.

  A few seconds passed before his reply.

  Miss you more.

  Love you more.

  I was smiling from ear to ear, lost in thought about my adorable husband. I never heard Abram Kent enter the room.

  “Ava?”

  I shot up out of the chair, my phone slipping from my grip and clattering to the floor with a loud thud as I attempted to straighten my dress. “Good morning, Mr. Kent,” I said as I bent discreetly at the knees to retrieve my phone, my fingertips brushing against Abram’s, as he knelt to do the same

  “Don’t do that,” he said, seizing my cell phone by his quicker hand. “Don’t call me Mr. Kent.”

  “I’m sorry. I’ll try to remember that, Abram.”

  He pursed his lips. “That’s even worse. Please call me Abe.”

  I nodded. “Alright. Abe it is then.”

  Abe scratched his head a moment, and ran his fingers through his hair. “Ah, not that it’s any of my business, but what are you doing here?”

  “I’m Andrea’s replacement while she’s on maternity leave. I’m here for receptionist training this morning.”

  He smiled that smile, his eyes sparkling, dark hair glinting off the morning sun. “That’s great news. Disappointing, but great.”

  “Excuse me?”

  Abe stepped closer and leaned in, his voice a husky whisper. “Had I known you would be my co-worker, perhaps I would have put you under my spell sooner. Now it’s too risky. I could be sued for sexual harassment in the workplace.” He shook his head. “Such a shame.”

  A woman cleared her throat loudly at the entrance. “Abram Kent, you leave her alone.”

  Abe eased back slightly. “Good morning, Andrea,” he said, keeping his eyes on me.

  “Coffee?” he asked softly and handed me my phone.

  “No thanks.”

  I made my way to Andrea, seeing her for the first time. She is all round with that perfect pregnancy glow. She is watching Abe, waiting for him to be out of earshot before asking, “Have you slept with him?”

  “What? No!” I held up my left hand showing her my wedding band. “Happily,” I added.

  She smiled, “Sorry. I didn’t mean to sound so rude.” She shrugged. “Pregnancy hormones.” Andrea took a deep breath that said she wasn’t quite finished and settled her hand on her barely there hip. “I…just. Well, I gotta warn you. Abram’s Kent’s gonna flirt like there’s no tomorrow because you’re new and because he likes the thrill of the chase. Don’t you dare fall for it. He’s real yummy to look at and probably a real good time if you get what I’m saying, but he’s not built for the long haul. You feel me?”

  I nodded an agreement. “I feel you. Thanks for the warning.”

  Andrea opened the bottom drawer of the desk for us to store our belongings and began explaining the phone system.

  “There is a headset that you can wear that connects to the phone,” she explains. “I never use it because it makes me feel like I’m tethered to my desk all day.”

  “Like an animal?”

  She burst out with laugher. “Exactly!”

  Andrea and I were going over the computer system when Mia entered. We both exchanged greetings with her and returned to our tasks not wanting to miss a minute of training time.

  Everything seemed easy, and I felt like I was catching on quickly. I even answered a few calls all on my own and was ready to answer another.

  “Mia Hart’s office,” I answered.

  “Morning, gorgeous.”

  “Ummm…I—” Nervously, and for no particular reason other than sheer uneasiness, my eyes darted around the room and suddenly landed on Abe through his open door, sitting at his desk, phone in hand, looking directly at me. He grinned, winked, and cradled the receiver, the line going dead in my ear.

  What the hell was that? Whatever sick game Abram Kent was playing, I wasn’t interested.

  I just sat down to have lunch and opened my salad when Abe strolled in, and I shyly pretended not to notice.

  “Sorry about earlier,” Abe said as he sat down across from me. “I just thought you could use the practice.”

  “Oh, well, thanks.” I guess?

  “For telling you that you’re beautiful or for the lesson?”

  Deep breath Ava, then do it. If you don’t, this behavior will continue.

  “Abe, I appreciate the gesture, I really do. But I need you to get something straight. I don’t need you to tell me that I’m beautiful. My husband does that every day; it’s one of the reasons why I married him. And while I realize what you did today makes anything with two legs and a heartbeat drop their panties ready and willing to reward you for your gratuitous behavior, it won’t work on me. I’m immune to your spell, Abram Kent. You see, I already have more than what you’re prepared to offer.”

  He cocks an eyebrow. “Is that so? Do enlighten me,” he asks intrigued.

  I move towards him, fixing him with my stare. “Love,” I said simply. “I have love, Mr. Kent.”

  The remainder of the day was quiet as far as Abram Kent goes. He didn’t speak to me, but it didn’t stop him from looking at me or brushing up against me in the elevator when we left for the day. While I am proud of myself for taking a stand, I feel bad about what I said. I don’t know Abe, and I have no right to judge, despite what others may think of him. So naturally, I felt like crap.

  Later that night, Brad asked me about my day, and more specifically, how Abe’s behavior was towards me. While I didn’t get into details mostly because it wasn’t important and would only exacerbate the situation, I simply told him that he flirted a bit, but I set him straight, reciting my speech to the best of my ability.

  “I fucking love you,” Brad declared.

  I moved on top of him straddling his thighs. “Want to show me how much?”

  He kissed me. “Tonight,” he whispered against my lips, pushing me off him and back to my place beside him.

  I didn’t want to wait until tonight. I wanted him to rip my clothes off right here on the sofa and have his wicked way with me. I didn’t just want him to tell me I was beautiful, to say he couldn’t keep his hands off me, or that I turned him on without even so much as a touch. I wanted to feel it. Fe
el it when he looked at me and see it burning in his eyes. A fire that burned only for me. For us. I wanted random spontaneity. Hot sex in the middle of the day or whenever the mood struck. Brad wasn’t that way. I learned my lesson long ago not to expect anything sexual when the sun was still up. Sex was supposed to happen at night and in a bed. End of discussion.

  I had hoped that when we started living together Brad would become more open to adventure. After all, we are young newlyweds. But it just wasn’t happening. Was it too much to ask for an upgrade from vanilla to extra spicy?