by Harper Sloan
Emerging from the building, I noticed George waiting by the car. “Mr. Compton asked that I run you to your work,” he explained. I nodded and thanked him, allowing him to perform his job. The entire way to work I tried not to think of how Jackson had completely closed himself off to me last night. Was he a commitment-phobe?
It was getting close to eight when we arrived, so I hurried up to the 57th floor. When I got there, I waved to Margie and sat at my desk. Jackson’s door was closed but I could hear him talking. My heart did a flip-flop knowing that we were going to have to face each other soon. Did he possibly think that I would be okay with the fact that he had shut me away last night and then left without so much as a goodbye this morning?
Bray walked up to my desk on the way to his office. “Andi, hey. Listen, I’m really sorry about acting like such a dick yesterday. Yes, you are beautiful, but you aren’t mine anymore. I understand that. I just hope that we can be friends.” He sounded genuinely upset by his actions from the day before.
“Yeah, I’d like that,” I told him honestly.
Smiling at my answer, he walked into his office. I powered on my computer to check my emails. There was a reminder already this morning from Bray about the meeting with Mr. Higgins tomorrow that I’d be getting to attend. I was actually looking forward to it. The next email was from Jordan.
Andi,
I’m out of the office until lunch but I wanted to let you know that we got the main sponsorship at the museum. Let’s just say that a groveling spice of a woman called me early this morning. I told her I wanted to discuss the parameters of the sponsorship with her over dinner this evening. She fought tooth and nail, but when I told her about the generous donation we were sending with our sponsorship as well, she finally agreed. Ha! ;)
See you soon,
Jordan
I laughed out loud at Jordan’s email. It appeared that he had a thing for Pepper, even though she couldn’t stand him. Pepper couldn’t stand anyone. Props to Jordan for being pushy. Nobody ever got past the frosty exterior with Pepper. But Jordan seemed to be enjoying this personal challenge. The Ice Queen needed to get laid, and who better than the handsome Jordan Compton?
I was still grinning when another email popped into my inbox. Noticing that it was from Jackson, I frowned.
Andi,
You’ll need to figure out lunch on your own today.
Jackson
Fuming, I slammed my pen down on the desk. What the hell was his problem? I would confront him but his door was closed and I couldn’t be for certain if he had someone in there or not.
Throwing myself into my work, I tuned out all thoughts of Jackson and his drama. By the time lunchtime rolled around, he still hadn’t emerged. I was still looking at his office door when Bray came walking out of his own.
“Remember that you promised me lunch today, friend?” Bray reminded be as he flashed his boyish grin. Recalling that I had in fact promised him, I nodded. “Let me grab my purse. I’m at a stopping point,” I told him. Once I had my purse, we walked to the front door together. Throwing one last glance at Jackson’s office door, I gasped when I saw him watching us leave and he looked pissed. Fuck him.
“This place has the best Indian tacos,” Bray stated, pointing at the menu.
The smell of the restaurant made my stomach groan with joy. “Sounds good. I’ll have that and a tea.”
After the server took our order and brought us our drinks, we started chatting about easy topics. He’d been working at another firm since right after graduation. The Compton brothers had actually sought him out to work at their firm because he had built a quick reputation of being an excellent architect. They had offered to pay him twice as much as he was making at the previous place, so of course he accepted.
He asked about Pepper and what she was doing these days. I told him all about the museum and even a little bit about Jordan attempting to take her out, even if he had to sneak the date in. “That’s comforting. I actually thought he had a thing for you yesterday by the way he had his hand on your leg,” he admitted.
“I think he’s just an affectionate person. It really just seemed friendly to me,” I said truthfully.
“Well, I wasn’t the only one to think that. Jackson seemed like he was ready to throw him out the window. It’s obvious there is something going on between you and him,” he conveyed, waiting for my confirmation.
“Yeah, well it’s complicated,” I muttered, trying to change the subject.
“Complicated, how?” he inquired. Subject unsuccessfully avoided.
“Well, some moments we have a really great connection, but then in an instant he’s cold and aloof. I don’t understand how he switches back and forth so easily. My feelings remain the same so I end up hurt and confused when he flips the switch.” I frowned.
Bray reached across and took my hand. I wanted to jerk it away, but it really just was a friendly move. “He better find out real quick what he wants because you don’t deserve to be dragged around like that.” That was interesting coming from him, but at least he was trying to protect me.
Pulling my hand back into my lap, I agreed, “I know. I’m finally in a place where I can be happy with myself since the ‘incident’. If he can’t get on the same page as me, it won’t bode well for my psyche. It’s already fragile as it is.”
Bray flinched at the word “incident” but tried to play it off. It was incredibly strange to be having a conversation about my new love interest with my ex-fiancé. Pepper and Olive would have a new story to hear this evening. It seemed my life is wildly entertaining.
The server dropped off the food and left us again. We dug in, effectively ending the conversation about Jackson. The tacos were amazing. I might have just found a new favorite restaurant.
Bray started laughing at me as I went on and on about how good my food was. The rest of the meal went on just fine. As unusual as the situation was, I had missed the friendly banter we had always shared. Perhaps being friends with Bray wasn’t the most horrible idea of all. We had to work together, so the least we could do was get along.
Before I could pull out my wallet to pay my portion of lunch, Bray had already handed the server a handful of cash. “Bray, you didn’t have to do that. I’ll pay next time,” I admonished him sternly, mostly for the fact that I in no way wanted this to be considered a date.
He chuckled, “Sounds like a plan, Andi. It was the least I could do after…well, after everything I did to you.” His eyes turned serious as he looked over at me. “Andi, I will forever be sorry for how I treated you. Every day I’m thankful that you didn’t die from the overdose. Everything about our breakup and the event that caused it made me rethink my life. I will value my next relationship more seriously because of everything that happened to you as a result of my actions. Can you forgive me, Andi?”
He’d apologized so many times before, but this one seemed the most genuine. Maybe because it wasn’t just a ploy to get us back together? I smiled at him and nodded.
“Yes, Bray. I forgive you,” I responded, standing from the booth.
He mirrored my actions and then pulled me in for a hug. It was brief but comforting. Little by little, my heart and mind were healing.
The whole way back we chatted about baseball. Bray had never wanted to pursue it outside of college. It had always just been a means to pay for college.
Once we arrived on our floor, Bray hurried to his office, remembering a client he needed to call. I hesitantly walked over to my desk after noticing that Jackson’s door was open. When I stepped in front of his door, he was staring right out at me. Our eyes locked in a moment of intensity.
Neither of us said anything but we didn’t back away either. Finally, deciding to mess with him, I turned away and bent over to drop my purse in my desk drawer, hesitating for a few seconds longer than it should have taken.
He cursed under his breath, but I still heard it. Ignoring him, I sat down at my desk and began checking my emails. There were
a few that needed immediate attention and I replied to those. I was finishing up with those when a new one pinged my inbox.
Andi,
Did you fuck him?
Jackson
My blood boiled at his question. He thought he could ignore me all night and most of today but then accuse me of sleeping with Bray like suddenly he cared. Screw him!
Before I would allow myself to cool off or even look at him, I sent him a reply.
Jackie,
What’s it to you?
The Office Slut
Firing it off at him, I sat quietly for a moment, trying to collect myself. I was furious with him and his insinuations.
Bray decided to walk up to my desk about that moment. He held out a folder to me. “This is the Higgins file I started. You might want to briefly look it over so you’ll have an idea about the proposal and his business history.”
Reaching up, I grabbed for the file, but Bray snatched my wrist in his hand.
“What the fuck is this, Andi? Did he do this to you?” he asked angrily, jerking his head towards Jackson’s office.
Oh shit. My wrist had bruising all around it from Jackson gripping me last night. I wasn’t sure how I was going to explain this to Bray.
“Um, we...” I trailed off, not knowing how to explain this to him. He was glaring at me so I had to at least try. “It was consensual,” I finally admitted, looking down at my keyboard. He let go of my wrist and I pulled it back to me.
Turning on his heel, he stalked into Jackson’s office and slammed the door. Shit! I jumped up to try and stop what was about to happen. Jackson and Bray were chest to chest by the time I ran in there.
Bray had his finger in Jackson’s face. “You hurt her and I will fucking kill you. She is fragile and you keep fucking with her. What the fuck’s wrong with you?”
They were pretty evenly matched size-wise so this could get bad. Jackson was pretty much touching Bray’s nose with his own when he growled, “It’s your fucking fault that she’s fragile in the first place. I hope you live with the guilt that you almost fucking killed her so you could get your dick wet in some whore.”
Tears welled up in my eyes when I realized half of the office was standing in the doorway, watching the drama unfold, and hearing my dark secrets that I would have rather have kept quiet from them.
Jackson shoved Bray away from him, making him stumble backwards into me. I fell to the floor on my ass with a thud that practically knocked the breath out of me.
About that time, Jordan’s voice boomed, “Bray, get back to your office! Jackson, go home!” He jerked Bray’s arm and pushed him towards the door. Kneeling beside, he put his arm around me. “Andi, are you okay?” he questioned.
“Don’t fucking touch her, Jordan!” Jackson roared, yanking his arm off of me. Jordan jumped up, furious with Jackson, and physically dragged him out of the office. This was so bad. I could hear Margie telling everyone to get back to their desks as Jordan forced Jackson out of the building.
Bursting into tears on the floor in Jackson’s office, Jordan came back in, shutting the door behind him. He pulled me up and led me to one of the chairs, still scowling from having manhandled his brother. “Are you okay?” he asked again, sitting in the chair beside me.
I just shook my head and buried it in my hands as the tears flowed continuously.
He patted my knee, trying to comfort me. “Andi, my brother has issues. I can see that you guys have something going on. Not to mention, I heard it all yesterday through my office wall,” he chuckled under his breath.
I groaned in embarrassment, realizing my boss had heard me having sex with his brother in the next room while at work. Could this day get any worse?
“He doesn’t do relationships very well. That’s why I am surprised that you guys have managed to keep up whatever it is you’re doing as long as you have. It’s unlike him to stay interested for so long. And boy is he jealous. I also know about your past with Bray. He told me yesterday. And with what they argued about a few minutes ago, it appears that you are caught in the middle of two men who want to protect you but have a terrible way of showing it,” he observed.
“Jordan, I am so, so sorry for this. I am horribly embarrassed,” I whimpered tearfully, looking up at him.
He smiled at me. “Andi, no worries. He’s my brother. I’m used to him, and so is the rest of the office. He’s hard to figure out because he’s all over the place with his emotions. If you have the patience for him, I bet he’ll come around eventually.”
“I don’t know if I can handle it. I mean, I really like him. He can be funny, sweet, and caring. But the next moment, he’s so distant or he acts like he forgets about me. I don’t understand it. Do you think he’s as interested in me as I am him? I’ll be honest, I’m too weak to be played around with.”
Jordan looked at me thoughtfully. “He’ll come around, Andi. I can see that he really likes you, but he’s struggling with some demons from his past. Why don’t you go on home? You’ve had a rough afternoon. Everyone can start fresh tomorrow with better frames of mind.”
“Thank you, Jordan. You’re quite possibly the best boss ever. I hope your dinner tonight goes well with Pepper. She’s worth the fight too, you know.”
He smiled and winked at me. He knew she was. I could tell by the look in his eyes.
I stood up from my chair so I could pack my things and leave. Jordan pulled me in for a hug. Laughing into his chest, I said, “By the way, you need to visit your mother. She misses you.”
He pulled away and looked at me. “He took you to see Mom?” he asked, clearly bewildered.
“Yeah, and she’s quite adorable. You should be ashamed of yourself for not visiting more often,” I scolded him.
Shaking his head, he chuckled, “That’s proof right there, Andi. You’re only the second girl he has ever brought home to Mom. He likes you.”
I smiled at him and left the office.
Everyone that was staring at me as I walked out quickly looked down, trying to look busy. I snatched my purse and bag, heading out for the day. Margie waved at me on the way out.
On the elevator ride down, I frowned at how the day had gone. It really had been an awful day. I knew Bray was trying to protect me. So was Jackson. But they had a terrible way of showing it.
When I stepped out of the building and saw Jackson’s car, I quickly made my way down the sidewalk and away from it in case he was inside. I would just catch a cab at the next intersection.
Footsteps sounded behind me before I could get very far. “Andi, wait!” Jackson’s voice shouted from behind me.
Ignoring him, I kept walking speedily away. His arm suddenly snaked around my middle and stopped me in my tracks. He put his nose to the back of my head and inhaled.
“Get in the car, please.”
The not-so-dark days…
After several awkward dating attempts from using a dating website, I finally decide to just hit the bar and see if I can find someone that way.
Pepper and I walk into a dance club, not straying far from each other. Thankfully she isn’t making me go alone, even though she hates this sort of scene. I’m nervously looking for a place to sit when someone touches my arm.
“Where’s your boyfriend?” a deep voice asks me. I turn to see a good-looking guy not much older than me smiling down at me.
“I don’t have one,” I tell him, lifting my chin in an attempt to appear more confident than I feel.
“Hmmm, maybe we can fix that,” he teases. “I’m Eric.”
Taking his hand, I say, “Andi.” I grin at him because this good-looking guy seems interested in me.
We spend the next couple of hours dancing, talking over the music, and drinking. He invites me to his place.
“Sounds fun. Let me tell my friend,” I tell him.
The prospect of what’s about to happen has butterflies swarming in my stomach.
I turn to Pepper. “Pep, I am going home with Eric.”
Sh
e frowns at me. “I don’t like this, Andi, but if this is what helps you heal, then fine. You better call me if things get weird and I’ll be there in a snap to get you.” I nod and we hug goodbye.
Eric and I take a cab to his apartment nearby. We can hardly keep our hands off of each other as we go inside. Everything happens quickly, and the next thing I know, I’ve just slept with a complete stranger. Oddly enough, I don’t feel bad about it. In fact, I think it may just be a one-night thing with this guy because he’s already getting on my nerves with all his talk about Call of Duty.
When he falls asleep, I slip out and catch a cab home. I feel powerful for the first time in weeks.
His arm around my belly sent chills down my spine. He made me crazy in both a good and bad way. I was so upset with him right now, but my body was betraying me as I melted into his arms. Annoyed with myself for what I was about to do, I nodded.
He squeezed me and kissed my hair. I couldn’t help but feel a flutter of excitement and happiness now that Hot Jackson was back.
I allowed him to help me into the car, tossing my bags on the floor. He slid in beside me closed the door behind him. George began driving us to who knows where.
Still not wanting to look at him, I played with the hem of my skirt that had ridden pretty high from sitting in the low seats. Jackson leaned his mouth to my ear and whispered, “I’m sorry.” Even though his hot breath tickled me and sent a shudder down my body, it wasn’t enough. Actions and words were two different things.
Realizing just how upset I was, he pulled away one of my hands from my skirt and lifted it to his mouth. He held it to his lips and gently kissed it. It was so intimate and spoke volumes.
I finally decided to look at him. The same heart-wrenching soul I had seen last night while making love with him was staring back at me with sad brown eyes. A tear slipped out and over my cheek. He gently wiped it away. Not being able to stop myself, I leaned forward and touched my lips to his. He kissed me sweetly, as if he were trying to express his apology through his lips.