Don't Blame Me

by Kay Blake

  Moments later, Leah knocked on the door and stepped into the room. I took in her black pencil skirt and white blouse that showed her ample breasts. While the blouse wasn’t too tight, it was tight enough that I can see the cleavage and I wondered if they still felt the way they did before in my hands. She didn’t look like she aged a bit.

  “Good morning. Sorry to keep you waiting, Adrian. I had to take a call. You can follow me to my office.”

  “Morning. Sure,” I said, getting up and following her out of the room.

  I made my way past the cubicles of reporters until I could see a long hallway that had magazine titles across the wall. Some of them I recognized from the past stalking I did with Leah’s work. I watched the sway of her ass as she walked and it took everything in me not to grab it. But we were at her job and it was good to be professional. Besides, I didn’t want to risk her slapping me like she did all those years ago.

  “Here we are,” she said opening up a sliding door.

  “Ladies first.” I held the door open so she could walk in first and closed it behind me.

  Her office was pristine. It was professional and stylish. She had awards lining up on the walls. And some plants here and there. I saw two photos on her desk. One with her and Marcy, her friend from college. She looked the same. She was the reason I met Leah in the first place. Rather the reason Leah was at the game that day. The other was one that showed Leah smiling and seemingly carefree. Now, she looked so tense. Maybe it was because of me. There was also a desk plate that said her name and underneath it said Senior Editor and Head Writer. It explained the office. She had another one more so on the right of her desk and it said “Sassy, Classy and A bit Smart Assy” and I loved it as it reminded me of her. She was all those things and more. So much more. And I wondered if she added to those things that were more.

  “You can have a seat over there. Again, I apologize for the wait. Sadly, it never is much downtime here.”

  “It’s okay. It’s fine. I was there maybe ten minutes. Nothing too bad.”

  “My boss wanted me to meet you here. There is a location that I normally would go for interviews, but for some reason, she thought we should go together to try to avoid any press since most people do know who you are now. Is that okay?”

  “Yep. Perfect.”

  “Let’s head to the car. I have a driver waiting downstairs. I don’t want to keep you,” she said in her business-like tone.

  I wanted to tell her that she didn’t need to rush on my behalf because I had cleared the whole day for this interview. So, I could see her, but I kept my mouth shut. Something told me that I made her uncomfortable.

  I followed her back out of her office down the hallway until we reached a lone elevator. This elevator will take us to the back, where the car is waiting. We got in the elevator standing on opposite sides. I would have preferred if she was next to me, but I was okay because I got to look at her as she stared at the floor.

  You would think it wouldn’t be possible for someone to get more beautiful with time, but she was. She was gorgeous in her element. Even when she stayed as far away from me as the elevator walls would allow.

  The door opened, and she walked out first heading to the door, pushing it open, the car sat there with a driver waiting outside.

  “Good morning, Ms. Hunter,” the driver said.

  “Good morning, George. Sorry, for the early appointment.”

  “It’s my job.”

  “George this is hotel owner, Adrian Robinson. Adrian one of the company’s drivers, George.”

  I was surprised she introduced him as if she was a friend, but I held my hand out.

  “Nice to meet you, George.”

  “Nice to meet you too Mr. Robinson. A pleasure.”

  George opened the door, and Leah got in first with me following right behind her. The ride over was quiet. She scrolled on her phone, and I knew it was because she was trying to avoid any other conversation. The old me would’ve questioned it, but I didn’t. I let her have her silence. I would change that after this interview.

  Once we reached the restaurant, we were taken to the rooftop. There was a table with a nice breakfast spread.

  “This is nice,” I said, breaking the long silence.

  “Yeah. This place always gives us the best during the magazine’s interviews. You want anything?”

  “Just a bottle of water.”

  “You’re sure?”

  “Yes, Ma’am.”

  Nodding, she went over and made a coffee, and grabbed a bottle of water. I decided I could get the bottle of water myself and walked up behind her.

  “I can get my own water, you know,” I said, but she jumped seemingly startled that I was that close to her.

  “I wasn’t expecting you to be right behind me,” she said with a small wave.

  “I thought I’d help and get my own water since you’re making a cup of hot coffee.”

  She nodded and turned back around. I took that as my cue to head back to the table. I sat down waiting for her. I watched her as she sat across from me placing the coffee on the table. She tucked a bit of her hair behind her ear.

  “I have some of the things you said on our lunch date, written down as reminder notes. I will ask you some questions and you will answer them. There will be some inclusion about your history before hotels. The reasons you felt NYC was the right place for another hotel, and some other stuff for the background piece. I will get it all pretty and it will go to press for the next issue.”

  “Straight to business, huh?” I said with a chuckle.

  “Is there really anything else that needs to be talked about at this moment?” she said rather bluntly and I smiled at that.

  Leah was always blunt, to the point, and rarely did she mince her words. She was a firecracker. A hell raiser, if you will, and I loved all of it. Loved it all. It was really one of the things that attracted me to her outside of looks. While she thought she was a nerd, I thought she was fire and air. Air I wanted to breathe in. She was beautiful.

  “Still the same Leah.”

  “Not really.” It was said softly. So softly that I wasn’t sure if I heard it all.

  “Okay. Let’s get started. I will be asking you questions, taking notes and this right here is my recorder and I only use it to make sure I get your words 100 percent correct,” she said pointing to the small recorder on the desk.

  “You’re the boss, Leah,” I said with a smile.

  “How does it feel knowing that women across the world find you to be one of the most eligible bachelors?”

  “I was surprised. I didn’t know this kind of thing still happened. Seemed more like all the hoopla over the guys that were celebrities when I was a teen. I saw the other competition and I must say the fact that I was chosen to be the top fifteen is crazy.”

  “Where were you born?”

  “Florida. Pensacola to be exact. But you know that though.”

  “Yes, I do. But just running down the basics if that’s okay?” she said tapping her pen.

  I shrugged. “That’s fine by me.”

  “Okay, and where do you reside now?”

  “I lived in many places. Florida, Vegas, California, but I will be residing in New York City very soon.”

  “And what is it that you do?”

  “I run hotels. My goal is to make every guest’s stay comfortable, and enjoyable. Make sure they get their money’s worth. My dad was the man behind the dream and I am more so keeping the train going. I will have the most control over the New York one.”

  Leah nodded writing it down. I was sure she knew that already, but I watched as she jotted down her notes, her face fixed in concentration.

  “Best pick up line?”

  I laughed. That was a switch.

  “Uh, I don’t think I have one. At least not anymore.”

  Leah looked up at me to raise a brow, an amused expression on her face, but she didn’t say anything.

  “And what would it take to
get your attention from a woman?”

  “A connection. Before I was a bit shallow, I know that. I was the guy who only thought about the way a woman looked first. If she had big breasts or a big ass I was into it. It took me some time to appreciate that there’s more to women than their looks. Now, I rather some kind of a connection first. Spark something inside of me. Make me want to be around you. All the other things like quirks, compassion, honesty, intelligence and empathy all play a role after that.”

  She paused, an expression I couldn’t read on her face. Slightly shaking her head, she continued.

  “Are you saying you didn’t appreciate those things before?”

  “Yes and no. Again, I was a shallow guy. But I always like an honest and quirky person. Those kinds of the people are the most fun.”

  “What do you do when you’re not working?”

  “Am I ever not working?”

  She smiled a bit. “I understand that.”

  “I work out a lot. Probably more than most people. Spend time with my mom when I can.”

  Leah winced a bit. And her face flushed. She stopped writing for a moment, and sighed.

  “Are you okay?” I asked her concerned. I wasn’t sure why she reacted that way, but she gave a forced smile.

  “I’m fine. Thanks. I’m sorry, you were saying?” she said changing the subject.

  I paused again, but decided not to ask.

  “I attend functions here and there. And of course watch football.”

  “Is that different now? Watching football when you played in college?”

  “Yes and no. A part of me always wonder the what ifs. If this was younger me, I would say it bothered me that I wasn’t out there on the field, giving it my all. After my injury, I wasn’t the same player. And I know some people bounce back from ACL injuries, but I wasn’t one of them. Now, I see it as a past time to enjoy. Watch those who did make it like Tommy.”

  “Hold on, just making a note to add who Tommy is when I type all of this up.”

  I took a sip of my water.

  “And what is something that you would like to tell everyone that isn’t known?”

  “If I could go to bed by 10 pm every single day I would.”

  “Really?”

  “Really. Call it getting older, but some days I’m so tired. I don’t know how I keep going.”

  “A good cup of joe,” Leah said with a smile, putting her pen down to take a sip from the coffee cup that sat in front of her.

  “Yes, sometimes.”

  She reached out to grab some notes that were fluttering in the wind, and in doing, so she knocked down my phone from the table.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to knock your phone down,” she said, her expression one of worry, her head creased from frowning.

  “It’s fine.”

  She bent over to pick it up. “I hope it isn’t damaged.” She looked it over.

  “Here’s your phone” She handed it over to me. Her fingers brushed mine and I could feel a current go between the two of us. It was almost electric.

  She froze and sat further back in her chair sat back down, picking up the pen. She began to tap it against her notepad. I knew it was because she felt what I did. It was still there. I was sure of it.

  “Are you ready?”

  I nodded.

  “Best trait?”

  “I think I can be a bit unrealistic sometimes. More so in a good way. Like I’m sure I can make anything happen if I put my mind to it.”

  “And worst trait?”

  “Sometimes I’m much too hard on mistakes I made. I’m learning to work on that.”

  “Aren’t we all? What is the most romantic thing you have done before?”

  “If we’re being honest. Not much. It’s not that I don’t want to be romantic. It’s just that I haven’t had a chance to.”

  “And do you have the chance now?” She stared at me then, her big brown eyes looking at me curious to what I was said, her mouth partially open as she used to do all the time when she had many things that she wanted to say.

  Ah, so maybe she was interested.

  “Maybe. I’m just not too sure if the woman I want is interested in anything more with me.”

  “I’m sure any woman would be happy to have you, bachelor,” she said a bit sarcastically.

  “But I don’t want any woman. I want one woman specifically.”

  “Why is that?” she said, her eyes telling me I was on thin ice.

  I shrugged. “Let’s just say I believe in second chances and I hope she does too.”

  She put her pen down again. Turning the recorder off, and closed her eyes sighing.

  “Why are you doing this?” she asked.

  “Doing what?”

  “You know what. I don’t think I need to spell it out.”

  “I’m being honest.”

  I could see the wheels turning in her head.

  “Maybe not that honest.”

  “Why not? If we are doing a piece which requires you to ask me questions, then I should be as honest as possible, then why wouldn’t I be that honest?”

  “Because this deals with me. I know where you were going. And I don’t think it would take anyone else too long to figure that out either.”

  “Maybe. Maybe not. I’m not going to lie though. It is what it is. It is what I feel. It is the truth. I didn’t say anything purposely to make you uncomfortable.”

  “I know,” she replied softly. “I know. This is just too close to home. I shouldn’t have agreed to do this. It’s too personal for me.”

  “I know. And I swear it isn’t on purpose,” I said, putting my hand over hers.

  She froze her eyes searching mine, and then she shook her head. I removed my hand, wanting to keep it there, but trying to respect her space.

  “I’m sorry. You’re right. Let’s finish this.”

  After taking a sip of her coffee, she turned the recorder back on.

  “Okay, what’s your idea of the perfect date?

  I folded my hands together mainly so I wouldn’t touch her hand again.

  “I think it depends. It could be a romantic candlelight dinner. Making love in front of the fireplace. Cooking for that special someone completely naked. Or even something as regular as driving bumper cars. It depends on the woman.”

  “I actually like that answer. I’m sure our readers will too.”

  “One thing everyone knows about you.”

  “I played football as an outside linebacker in college.”

  “One thing that everyone wouldn’t know.”

  “I sometimes watch rom coms and romance movies, but there is a story behind that.”

  I gave her a wink and she gave me a look if surprise, before chuckling.

  If someone was to ask you what ethnicity do you identify with what would you say?”

  “I’m a hapa haole. I’m of mixed race. My mother is of native Hawaiian descent and my dad of Irish descent. While I believe I hold both sides dear to me, I am really close to my Hawaiian side, just as much as I am to my mother.”

  “Any tats?”

  “Just one. On my back. It is pretty big.”

  I pointed towards my back as if she could see it through my shirt.

  “Is there a reason for just one?”

  “Yes and no. It’s a back tattoo with many meanings. Things that are important to me.”

  “How long did that take?”

  “Many sessions. Way too many sessions.”

  She laughed genuinely.

  “What’s the best way to say I love you?”

  “Hmm. That’s a good one. Letting her keep the hoodie she said she would borrow, but never gives back.”

  Leah looked at me and raised an eyebrow. It was something that she did before. She started laughing again.

  “That’s a good one,” she said, grinning, and shaking her head as she wrote.

  “Seriously though, I think letting the words causally come out is the best way. I think it’s m
ore honest that way. Or whatever way she would know that I meant every word.”

  “What was your resolution for this year?”

  “To stop being so agitated at things that aren’t in my control.”

  “Good one.”

  “Any social media?”

  “Nope. Though I should probably get some.”

  “Any advice to our readers?”

  “Uh. Be you! Do what makes you happy. Go after all the things you want no matter how hard it may be to obtain them,” I replied.

  “Great advice. It was awesome having you with us.”

  Leah clicked off the recorder and put her pen down.

  “That wasn’t too bad was it?” she asked.

  “No. Not at all. Thank you for doing this.”

  “No problem. Actually, thank you. While there were other bachelors, you’re the only one who is getting a real spotlight on this for this magazine. We asked a few questions here and there about the other bachelors, but it was more for the piece as a whole. Well, my colleagues did. But for you, my boss wanted to pull out the stops since you would be in New York, and you got this hotel opening up so it ties you closer to the city. We will be following you to some of your hotel stuff and taking a photo shoot separate from the one all of you bachelors take.”

  “Sounds good.”

  Leah sat back in her chair, her hands lightly tapping the table. And while she seemed to be a bit nervous, she still looked like the queen bee and I would do anything to get a taste of her honey again.

  “I will type all of this up and get it all ready for publication. I guess we should set up something with the photographer. What is your availability for this upcoming week?”

  I took my phone out, looking at my schedule. “I have some free time during Tuesday if that is good for you.”

  “We can set it up. It works for me,” she said.

  I watched as she marked it down.

  “What are your plans for the rest of the day?” I asked her.

  “Uh, I have to start typing these notes and answers from this up, and then handle some other things.”

  “Are you free for dinner?”

  “Well, I…uh. I don’t know if that is a good idea.”

  “As friends only.”

  “I still think it would be best if the both of us keep it professional. I don’t want anyone to get the wrong idea.”