“I’m no longer seeing Suri,” Warren said when I turned to walk away.
“She mentioned that,” I replied as I turned toward him again.
“She went to your place to try to win you back, didn’t she?” he demanded.
“Is that what this is about?” I asked with a frustrated sigh. “Are you worried I’m back together with Suri, so you decided to track me down? Warren, we are in my place of business. I’m not here to discuss past relationships with you.”
“It doesn’t sound much like a past relationship,” Warren accused.
“There you are!” Mercy called out as she approached me. “You have a meeting in five minutes, but I wanted to discuss something with you first.” She flashed Warren a saccharine smile. “You’ll have to excuse us, Westin.”
“It’s Warren,” he corrected her.
“Right,” she agreed with a tight smile. “I’m terrible with names.”
Without waiting for an acknowledgment from Warren, she returned her attention to me. “Can we head to my office for a minute before your meeting?”
“Of course,” I replied as I gestured for her to lead the way. “Let me grab something from my office, and we’ll head over there now. My meeting is in that direction.” I turned to give Warren a curt nod. “Warren.”
Mercy continued making business small-talk as we stepped into my office so I could grab my laptop. I’d planned to sit down in my office and check emails before my meeting, but Mercy was giving me an escape from Warren—one I couldn’t pass up.
We made inane business small talk until we reached Mercy’s office.
“He didn’t follow us,” Mercy stated as she took a seat behind her desk.
“I’m not sure why you came to my office, but I appreciate you getting me out of that conversation,” I told her.
She waved off my gratitude. “Mia’s assistant came by to tell her that Warren had asked where your office is. I offered to help out since Mia looked like she wanted to grab a tarp and shovel to deal with Warren.”
I chuckled. “Mia never liked Warren. I need to start trusting her judgment over my own.”
“That’s not a bad idea,” she stated. “I’m not saying that you should start letting Mia pick your friends, just that it can be good to get advice from people you trust.”
“You wouldn’t say that if Mia didn’t adore you,” I pointed out.
“Probably not,” she admitted. “Do you think Warren’s going to continue being a problem for you?”
“No,” I replied with certainty. “I’m going to make it clear to Warren the next time he approaches me that he won’t be allowed in the building if he becomes a problem. We have the right to refuse to work with someone a client sends over if they’re causing problems.”
“Is it wrong that I’m hoping Warren decides to cause problems?” she asked.
I shook my head. “Not at all. I hope he causes problems so we can kick him off the project.”
“How could you have been friends with someone like that?” she asked. “Warren doesn’t seem like the type of person you’d hang out with.”
I sighed and ran my fingers through my hair. “He was back in college. I suppose it would be more accurate to say I was the type of guy who’d hang out with him. Back then, I was living up to my full, rich asshole potential, and Warren was a lot like me.”
“What changed for you?” she asked.
I shrugged. “A lot of things changed. Mia told me she didn’t want to have an asshole as a friend. My parents cut off my living expenses after college, so I was no longer a spoiled rich boy—at least, not as spoiled as I’d been before. I still got a nice job with a good salary and benefits with my father’s company. That’s more than many find after college.”
“And I’m sure you didn’t graduate with a mountain of student loan debt,” she added.
“True,” I agreed. “I was lucky.”
“What happened with Warren after college?” she asked.
“He got a job with my family’s firm in the New York office,” I replied. “I’ve always suspected my father offered him the job both as a favor to me and as a way to make sure we lived on opposite ends of the country.”
“So, your dad doesn’t like Warren either?” she asked.
“My dad thought I needed to stop hanging out with my irresponsible college friends and grow up,” I explained. “He was right. Being away from the people I partied with in college helped me become a responsible career man. Warren only lasted a couple of years with my family’s company before he quit and moved out this way. He wasn’t a bad employee, and he had no trouble finding work when he moved, not that he needed to. His family was still financing his lifestyle.”
“Maybe he wanted to work,” she suggested.
“That’s what I thought at first, but the more time I spent with him out here, the more I began to suspect it was a competition to him,” I explained. “He started trying to one-up me in everything. He even opened a company to compete with my family’s business. It failed, but he’s continued working in this field—when he feels like working, that is.”
“So, your spoiled rich friend is jealous and wants everything you have,” Mercy recapped. “He has everything but still wants more.”
“He doesn’t think he has everything,” I pointed out.
“It now makes more sense why he slept with Suri,” she remarked. “He doesn’t think he can be happy unless he has everything you do. I still don’t understand why you remained close friends with him.”
“He’s a good liar, so I didn’t see that he was jealous and bitter. It’s funny, but I was mad when my dad didn’t assign us to the same office. It would have been a mess.” I looked at the time. “I need to get to my meeting. Thanks again for your intervention.”
“Any time,” she assured me.
Chapter 39
Mercy
The thing I hated about working in Spencer’s building was the infestation of assholes from his past. It seemed that I couldn’t go out for coffee without running into someone I didn’t want to see. Fine, infestation was an overstatement. Two hardly counted as such, but they were annoying enough to make it feel like an infestation.
“Mercedes, is it?” Warren asked as I was waiting for my coffee at the counter.
“Yes,” I replied with a tight smile. “I’m surprised you’re still over this way. Don’t you have to get back to your office?”
“It seemed easier to stay in the building in case I have questions while I go over everyone’s notes,” he explained. “My employer already arranged for me to use one of the empty offices on the days I’m here.”
I exercised great restraint when I stopped myself from asking him if he’d considered using a telephone to ask his questions. I didn’t like Warren. Even before Spencer had filled me in on the details about him, I hadn’t liked him. There was more to it than his past with Spencer; something about Warren didn’t sit right with me.
I nodded and smiled before turning my attention to the front counter, hoping Warren would take the hint and go away. He didn’t.
“I assume you’ve heard about the misunderstanding between me and Spencer,” he began. “It’s not as bad as Spencer and Mia like to make it out to be.”
Not as bad as they liked to make it out to be? He had to be kidding. No way could he possibly think what he’d done wasn’t that bad. How could anyone be so clueless that they believed it was anything less than heinous to sleep with their best friend’s girlfriend?
“I’m not sure why you approached me, but it’s my break, so I’d like to get my coffee and relax,” I told him. “I’m not interested in discussing any personal issues between you and Spencer.”
Warren snapped his fingers. “Hold up! I know you. You’re Spencer’s neighbor. The one who had the spanking party. I saw you letting your friends out the door one day.”
Just great! He recognized me, and soon he’d realize I’d heard him with Suri. “That’s me,” I replied. “Look! There’s
my coffee.”
I’d never been so grateful for my coffee order as I raced to the front to grab it. As I hurried to the door, I nearly groaned when Warren fell in step beside me.
“You probably don’t recognize me because I’m not using my British accent,” he stated before continuing with a pretty good impression of Spencer’s accent. “I learned from Spencer that some ladies go for the accent. We should grab dinner after work.”
I stopped walking and turned toward him. “Thank you, but no. I’m already seeing someone.”
He chuckled and moved closer. “That’s all right. I don’t mind a little competition. Come on, Mercy. Have dinner with me. I promise you’ll have a good time.”
“No,” I replied again. “Listen, Warren, I’m not interested in turning this into more than a business relationship. Before you try any more lines to convince me to go out with you, I should remind you that Spencer would love to have you off this project. If you can’t take no for an answer, I’ll make sure you aren’t allowed in the building. Am I making myself clear?”
Warren visibly struggled with his temper like a rich boy used to getting his way. Finally, he nodded. “I wasn’t trying to be pushy. Can I offer some advice?”
“What’s that?” I asked.
“Stay away from Spencer. You want Spencer, right?” He didn’t give me a chance to respond. “I figure that’s why you’re acting so standoffish with me. He’s a bad choice, Mercy. Suri wants him back, and she’ll do whatever it takes to make it happen.”
“Spencer needs to stop hanging out with assholes,” I said under my breath after Warren went back into the coffee shop.
Chapter 40
Spencer
The rest of the week passed by in a blur with no drama. There were a few comical interactions where Warren tried hinting that there was something between him and Mercy. We all ignored him, including Mercy. I know a lot of people have trouble trusting anyone once they’ve been cheated on, but I’m not like that. Suri is the only relationship I’ve had that’s ended because of infidelity, and she wasn’t going to become the standard by which I judge other women.
Speaking of Suri, I hadn’t seen her since the day I’d called security to have her removed from the floor at work. I hoped that meant she’d finally taken the hint and decided we weren’t going to get back together.
I couldn’t figure out her reason for wanting to get back together. Nothing I considered made much sense to me. Sure, my parents had money, but I wasn’t a trust fund kid. I had a good paying job, and a little money in savings that I’d inherited from my grandmother, but I couldn’t take Suri on world tours the way someone like Warren could. Money couldn’t be her motivator for trying to get back together with me. I know I shouldn’t assume Suri cared so much about money, but she’d made no secret of her disappointment at finding out that I didn’t have a huge trust fund to draw on.
She’d often complained that I didn’t have enough time or inclination to go to the extravagant parties or clubs she enjoyed. The only reason I could think for her wanting me back was that I’d hurt her pride when I’d broken up with her. Even that didn’t make much sense since she was the one who’d cheated on me, not the other way around. During the breakup, she’d called me poor and boring.
“What are you thinking so hard about?” Mercy asked as she stepped into my office.
“I started by thinking about how lucky we’ve been that the end of the week was so uneventful,” I explained. “I was worried we’d have more drama with Warren or Suri.”
“Drama does seem to follow Suri,” Mercy agreed.
“It doesn’t follow Suri,” I corrected her. “Suri brings the drama with her.”
“Good point,” she agreed. “How can Warren find so many excuses to stop by the office?”
I shrugged. “He’s good at manipulating the situation in his favor. He always has been.”
“It’s not going to work this time,” Mercy told me. “If anything, I think we’re all working even harder to wrap up this project so we don’t have to see him again.”
“He does it just to get under my skin,” I muttered.
“He knows there’s something between us,” she reminded me.
I nodded. “And he’s hoping I’ll be riddled with doubts about you, worried you’ve fallen for his charms.”
“He’s such a slimy little worm,” Mercy grumbled. “How much longer do we have to deal with him? We’re ahead of schedule, right?”
“Not as far ahead as I’d like. We probably have two more weeks if there aren’t any problems with the project,” I replied.
“Is that all you were thinking about?” she asked.
“I can’t believe how lucky we’ve been that Suri seems to have given up,” I replied. “That got me to wondering why she’s been so determined to win me back. I’m not her type.”
“You’re right. She seems to prefer slimy worms,” she stated as she sat on the edge of my desk, bringing to mind some wicked office fantasies.
“I’m not sure if that’s her normal type,” I replied. “She thought I was rich when we started dating, and she was disappointed with my condo.”
“It’s a nice condo,” Mercy told me. “I suppose she hoped you were living in a mansion your mommy and daddy purchased for you.”
“The Mercedes made her think I had more money than I actually do,” I explained.
“I can see why that would throw her off,” Mercy admitted. “It is a really nice car.”
“The car was a rich boy gift from my parents,” I explained. “I do get some very nice toys because I have rich parents.”
“I see,” she mused as she tapped her chin. “Maybe Suri is a car lover. I’d certainly date you for a nice car.”
I chuckled, not at all worried Mercy was planning to use me for my parents’ money. “That’s good to know. I’ll make sure I always have a nice car. As for Suri, she’s not that into cars.”
“Why are you so busy trying to figure out her reasons for wanting you back?” Mercy asked.
“I don’t know,” I admitted. “It seems I’m feeling paranoid after having both Suri and Warren try to insinuate themselves in my life again.”
“Don’t forget the vandalism on my condo,” she added. “I’m sure it didn’t make you as paranoid as it made me, but I know it rattled you.”
“You’re right,” I agreed. “Maybe that’s why I’m so worried something else is going to happen.”
“It hasn’t been that long since the vandalism, so it’s smart to keep our guard up,” she agreed as she reached her hands above her head and stretched. Mercy wasn’t trying to be sexy, but she was. Her sweater rode up a bit, revealing her belly and the cluster of scar tissue from her bullet wound. Each time I saw that scar tissue, I felt grateful that she’d survived an injury that could have ended her life. I was also impressed with all she’d overcome. It hadn’t been easy for her rejoining the world, and she still had the occasional nightmare. Mercy was a survivor.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
Her question interrupted my inner musings, and I flashed her a smile as I admitted, “I was thinking about how amazing you are and how glad I am that you’re with me.”
“I’m not that amazing,” she said with a wave of her hand. “So, are you ready to head home?”
“Unless you’re going to let me bend you over my desk and fuck you, then I suppose home it is,” I replied with a smile.
Mercy’s eyes widened before she looked at my desk. She wanted me to do it, and my dick stirred at that thought. “That wouldn’t be very professional.”
She sounded more like she was arguing with herself than with me, making me grin. “How about if we play a game, Mercedes?”
Her gaze shifted from my desk to my face. “A game?” she asked, continuing when I nodded. “What kind of game?”
“We’re the only ones in the office at this hour,” I told her as I stood and walked around the desk to close the door and lock it. “Everyone el
se went home more than an hour ago.”
Mercy’s tongue darted out to moisten her lower lip as I prowled toward her.
“Do you like to roleplay?” I asked.
Chapter 41
Mercy
My mouth dropped open as I tried to decide if I’d misheard Spencer. I had to have misheard him. After all our talk about being professional in the office, there was no way he was asking if I wanted to roleplay at work. Technically, he hadn’t asked me to roleplay, so it was possible I’d jumped to the wrong conclusion. It could be innocent flirting.
“I don’t have much experience with it, but it’s always interested me.” I was proud of my calm and unaffected tone.
“Are you interested in my game?”
Both his tone and the words themselves seduced me and painted images of all sorts of wicked games in my mind.
“What do you have in mind?” a voice asked. Who was that hussy with the breathy voice practically begging Spencer to play naughty games in his office? Yeah, I knew it was me, but I had a hard time accepting that I’d be willing to completely let go of my rule about being professional just to play some kinky game with Spencer.
He grinned. “Ah, so I can talk you into playing a naughty little game.”
“I haven’t agreed yet,” I pointed out. Who was I kidding? I hadn’t said no. I didn’t want to say no.
“But you’re thinking about it,” he mused. “How do you think I should deal with an employee who would consider breaking such an important rule?” Once he stood directly in front of me, he tapped his chin as he considered the possibilities. “I can’t tolerate this type of behavior, Ms. Whitier.”
I hesitated, still not convinced this was a good idea. Of course, he was right about us being alone in the office. The cleaning crew had come through at six, and everyone else had headed out by six-thirty. The offices were all dark, and the cubicles were empty. It was me and Spencer in his office with the blinds down.
“Is this about me flirting with the copy boy?” I asked with a bat of my eyes.
Spencer’s grin widened when he realized I intended to play along. “Not just the copy boy. You’ve been wiggling that gorgeous ass around here in the hopes of attracting every man’s attention.”
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