“That’s Damien and Scott,” Allison said. “Don’t bother. They’re both gay, but so nice to look at.”
She was right. They were cute. But in many ways, I was already taken. Not that Allison knew that.
“They’re working on Marcie’s team,” she said. “So, we have a full house today.”
“Perfect,” I said. “I’ll need all hands on deck to get this set up before everyone comes.”
“They’re aware of Marcie’s designs, but she said once the furniture is in place, we can see how it looks if we want to change anything.”
Allison had it all covered.
“Sounds good,” I said. “Were you able to contact everyone about the move?”
Allison chewed on her lip.
“What is it?” I asked her, knowing she didn’t want to tell me something. I’d already come this far. I had to see it through all the way.
“There are a few employees who aren’t able to make the move.”
“What? Who?” No one had contacted me about backing out. Though, I had a feeling they thought it was easier to speak with Allison then the boss.
Allison ticked the names off on her fingers. “Jesse Harrod, Katherine Yates, Peter Malone. All of them have to move their families and don’t think it’s worth it.” Now she practically gnawed on her lip. I didn’t want her to permanently disfigure herself, so I touched her arm to calm her. Little did she know, I’d expected this.
“Did you tell them about the stipends for the move?” I asked.
“I did,” she said. “You might need to offer them more money.”
I had the funds to do so. In fact, I’d planned to give everyone a raise when they arrived in the city. I supposed those three needed more security right away. I hated to think they didn’t have enough faith in me and the company. I tended to lean toward people not believing in me, so I’d do what it took to change their minds.
“Set up a time to speak with them individually over the phone. I want you to offer them whatever they need to get out here.”
A breath whooshed out of Allison.
“It’s fine,” I said, in an attempt to reassure her.
“I mean, I’m sure we can replace them—”
“I don’t think that is necessary. These people have been loyal to me since the beginning, and this is a big move.” I already knew Katherine’s husband was a big shot lawyer in their small town, so I needed to make it worthwhile. And I would. “We can make this happen.”
Marcie walked over to us, followed by two bigger men carrying a desk. Their eyes bulged slightly, and their lips were drawn in tight against their teeth. I already knew it was Allison’s desk. I moved to the side, allowing Marcie to take the initial direction of the project. I wanted to see how she operated before I made any adjustments.
I’d had a cleaning service come in before the move, and I was impressed with how the floors shined. I didn’t want to waste money on new flooring or a full carpet since I knew it wouldn’t get used in the new building. Even though the room echoed now, it wouldn’t be long before the furniture deterred that and this space would be workable for us.
The movers unloaded the truck in about an hour. While they came in and out of the space, directed by Marcie, Damien, and Scott, Allison and I worked on pulling the packing materials aside and stacking them on one side of the room, to be taken back with the movers.
With the plastic wrap off the desks and chairs, the space began to take shape.
I wanted the area with the most light to serve as the kitchenette and lounging area for my employees. The back of the larger space held light for most of the day. Scott and Damien set up the glass divider, spanning half the width of the space, so it would separate employees between lounging and working.
To me, that space was the most important. Along with a refrigerator and long family-style table, several couches filled the opposite space, huddled together to add to the closeness of whoever sat there. I’d chosen bright-colored furniture in a modern style which fit the aesthetic Marcie and I had produced. As it came together, it looked even better than her sketches and renderings.
The IT crew came in around noon, and I ordered food for all the workers. We sat in the lounge area, since Allison and I had worked on there first. Even though these people weren’t my employees, having them there helped me visualize how it would look when my employees finally moved to the city. I glanced at Allison, happily chatting with Damien about some event they’d gone to in the past. My grip tightened around my fork as I plunged it into my salad. I wanted to call the employees myself without delay, but I had to hold off and trust Allison. We were about to embark on a huge project, and I had to trust those closest to me to get their jobs done, while I focused on the bigger picture. I already had several emails from clients who knew Marcie, wondering when they could see the new building.
After we ate, we went back to work.
Once all the computers and telephones were set up at each desk, we went through the grueling process of testing them out and making sure they ran properly. I wanted everything to be ready, even though the employees weren’t coming for almost two weeks. Starting Monday, I wanted to work from there and make myself available to anyone who had issues with their individual moves. Several realtors had already contacted me to help my employees find new places to live.
It all seemed to come together quickly and without any delays. I hoped I’d have good news about the three employees who were debating quitting my company. Everyone was an asset, and I wasn’t going to let money stand in the way of these people’s dreams, along with mine.
After Marcie and the guys left, Allison and I walked around the office. Marcie had chosen several large art pieces which took up most of the wall space, hiding most of the brick from view in the working space. Swirls of color filled the room with a homier and more productive feel, rather than the coldness I’d felt initially. I wondered where these pieces would end up in the new building, which added a bit of excitement.
I thought of Reese. Something must have held him up at school. It had been hours since I’d seen him last. Covertly, I checked my phone, but he hadn’t contacted me. Did he rethink coming to the office? Or hadn’t I made it clear I wanted to see him again?
“Is this what you always imagined?” Allison asked.
I shook my head slightly, breaking away from thoughts of Reese. I’d come this far without someone holding me up. I didn’t need his reassurance for anything. “It’s a start.”
Allison bumped my arm. “Come on. Admit it. This turned out amazing. You built this, so take the time to enjoy it.”
“I didn’t build anything,” I said. “I borrowed this place.”
She rolled her eyes. “Stop being so literal. I mean, all your hard work gave us the opportunity to expand into a place like this. It’s gorgeous.”
She was right. If someone had taken a snapshot of the room, I never would have guessed we were inside of an abandoned warehouse. Between Marcie’s magic and my money, we made a real, tangible location for my business. I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.
“We did it.”
“Damn right,” Allison said.
I nodded. “It’ll be a nice setting until we get the building.”
“It’s more than nice,” she said. “They’re all going to freak out when they see this place.” She lifted her phone from her bag. “I’m going to call the others, maybe send them some teaser photos. They need to know you’re serious.”
Allison walked down the hallway to the private offices. Right now, they were filled with trash from today, but I’d make sure that was all cleared out by the time we were ready to welcome the rest of the company to this space.
Being alone in my new office made a warm feeling pool in my stomach. I had done it. I never imagined getting to this point. Sure, I always pictured the skyscraper first, but I should have known it wouldn’t be that easy. I’d come up against challenges and met them head on. Although recently, I’d needed some help. My
current steps toward my dream goal wouldn’t have been possible without Reese.
I grabbed my phone again and checked for any signs of life from him. Nothing.
My skin felt hot, and I went over to the thermostat to check the temperature. The room was normal, but I wasn’t. The heat of embarrassment filtered through me. Why did I think he’d show up at the warehouse? I put too much stock in our relationship. Sometimes sex was sex, right? I’d never been that girl, but if it meant keeping Reese, then I could.
I walked outside, needing some fresh air. As I inhaled my first breath, Reese’s car pulled up to the building.
Chapter 15
Seeing Paige standing at the entrance to the warehouse made everything from the day disappear. Jonah had given me an assignment I couldn’t refuse. It was small but packed enough punch for him to know I hadn’t lost my touch. I rolled everything from the last few hours in a ball, wrapped it up tightly, and shoved it to the back of my mind. The shadowy place held all my deep-seated secrets and confrontations of my past, none of which I wanted to come close to Paige. I was someone different around her; a better version of myself. One that I never thought I’d be, yet I couldn’t let him go that easily.
A smile crossed her lips as I stepped out of my car. I breathed a sigh of relief. She was the light in the darkness, and I held myself in her warmth.
“I didn’t think you were coming,” she said. “Tough day at work?”
I chuckled, trying to brush it off, but a sharp stinging pain across my upper chest made me wince. I covered it up with a cough and avoided her eyes. “It was brutal.” Sticking to the truth was more helpful than not. At least I could replace the words of what really happened with “dean” and “college” or whatever.
“Are the grades squared away?” she asked, leaning against the stair railing.
I stepped closer to her. “Yes. Now I’m all yours.”
She smiled and pecked me on the lips.
I wanted to deepen the kiss, not caring who was in sight, but from the way she glanced over my shoulder into the warehouse, I knew we weren’t alone.
“Is Allison still here?” I asked her.
“Yes,” Paige said. “We’re about done with everything. Do you want to see how it turned out?”
“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t.”
“Here, I thought you’d come to see me,” she teased.
“That too,” I said, kissing her again.
She pulled away and pressed her fingers against her lips. Neither of us needed to say anything. No kissing in front of Allison. Got it. It bothered me, though. I’d blocked my old self, but both sides of my personality were selfish and always wanted more. Which was why I had a lot of money in my accounts and a beautiful girl I could kiss any time I wanted.
Paige waved her hand at me, indicating for me to follow.
I walked into the space but stopped once I passed the threshold. Paige had transformed my warehouse into something worthy of recognition. It was as if I’d stepped into an interior design magazine for loft spaces. The cold, empty feeling of the space had disappeared completely.
“What do you think?” Paige asked. She stood off to the side, her lower lip trapped under her white teeth.
“It’s amazing,” I said. “You did all of this today?”
She sighed as if my opinion meant something to her. “We had a lot of help. I wanted it to be ready as soon as possible. We have the employees starting their moves into the city. I’m never going back to that other office, so I figured why not get it all done before the weekend? Monday morning, I can start fresh.”
Allison walked into the room, and her eyes slid from me to Paige before she smirked. “Hi, Prof. What do you think of the place?”
We walked through each section of the main area, and Allison and Paige went over their inspiration. Every piece of furniture dripped with Paige’s personality. It was as if her interior designer channeled Paige’s soul and found the perfect pieces to highlight it.
“Have we done your warehouse justice?” Allison asked a few minutes later. She munched on a bag of chips.
I glanced around the lounge area. For some reason, I’d never noticed how the sun shone so much in this part of the space. Or maybe it was the radiating energy from Paige. “More than that. It looks fantastic.”
Paige’s cheeks turned a pinkish color, something I’d never seen from her before. I adored it.
Allison eyed Paige and me again before crumpling her bag in her hands. “Well, I’m spent for today. Paige, are you coming in tomorrow?”
Paige shook her head. “No, let’s take the rest of the weekend off so we can come in with a fresh mind.”
“Great,” Allison said perkily. “I’m off. You two enjoy the rest of your weekend.”
If there was ever a way to make the word weekend sound sexual, Allison nailed it.
Paige opened her mouth to say something, but Allison was already well across the room. Instead, she clamped her mouth shut as we both waited for Allison to leave.
“I’m going to turn all the computers off,” Paige said.
“I can help.” There were a lot of them, and I doubted they were on one circuit. “Everyone is coming soon?”
“Uh, yes.” She popped up next to one of the desks, brushing her hair from her face. “There were a couple who needed more convincing.”
“More money?”
She smiled. “Yes.”
“Are you sure they’re willing to put in the time for your company?” I didn’t appreciate anyone who didn’t give Paige the credit she deserved.
“They are,” she said. “They have families. A lot of moving parts. I don’t work with people who aren’t loyal to me.”
Of course, she wouldn’t. As much as I liked her body, her mind kept me sharp and always wanting more.
She shrugged. “It’s a small hiccup, but Allison discovered it early enough in this process to fix it.”
I flipped the switch on another computer and moved to the next.
“What was the problem today?” she asked.
“Hm?”
“With the grades,” she said.
I had enough practice at lying not to show any tells. Though, in the past, I didn’t care for the people I lied to. Paige was different, which made it more difficult. “Oh, just a computer glitch.”
“It took all day?” She wasn’t pushing, but I still felt my hackles rise. Would this ever get easier?
“It’s the last day to submit the grades. I wasn’t the only one affected by it.”
“I hope they get everything sorted out for finals next year,” she said. “That seems stressful.”
“It happens now and then.” I glanced at the computer in front of me. “Each time new programs are installed, there are usually glitches.”
She stood straighter, scanning the space around her. “I hope we don’t have too many of those.”
“If you expect them, they might be easier to deal with,” I said.
“That’s an interesting way of thinking. A little pessimistic, though.”
I laughed. “Or realistic. The more I expect the worst, the more surprised I am when things work out.”
“So, I should think the worst of my architect and feel surprised when I get a building which doesn’t move in a strong wind?”
I grinned. “Now you’re getting it.”
She shook her head, smiling.
We finished with the computers, and I watched her move around the space, checking to be sure the bay doors were locked. On the way over to the front door, I took her hand, needing to touch her again. She moved against me and lightly brushed against the ache in my chest. I couldn’t help my reaction this time. On autopilot, I released her hand.
“What is it?” she asked.
Before I could say “nothing” and move on, her eyes focused on my shirt. I glanced down and saw blood seeping through. I had no idea how long I’d been bleeding through my shirt, but there was no hiding it now.
“Are yo
u all right?” she asked, stepping closer.
I backed away, not wanting her to touch the wound. I thought it was fine when I left Jonah’s. Apparently not. “I’m good.”
Her eyes widened. “You’re bleeding. Like, a lot. What happened?”
I shook my head. I wasn’t going there with her. “I don’t know.”
“You don’t know? How is that possible? It looks pretty bad.”
I shrugged and pulled my shirt away from the wound. The last thing I needed was a scab attached to my shirt. That would make undressing a bitch. “I must have brushed against something. There are a lot of trees on campus.”
“You walked into a tree and had no idea?” she asked, clearly not believing me.
“Or at home,” I said. “Either way, it’s not a big deal. I’m going to head home and clean up.”
“You can come to my place,” she said, still staring at the blood. “If you want. I can wash your shirt for you, and I have plenty of Band-Aids.”
I wished I could, but a Band-Aid wouldn’t help. I needed to do this myself, without someone asking questions. “Not tonight. With the school year over, I wanted to work on your plans more, now that I have time. I’m sure you’re exhausted from all of this.” I waved my hand at the space behind us and kissed her cheek. “Let’s get together soon, okay? I’ll have something ready, and we can get back to the project.”
“Sure,” she said, even though it wasn’t true. She wasn’t happy. But I couldn’t allow her to take a closer look at what happened to me. I did everything for her, yet I continued to lie. I was such a fuck up. I would have to make it up to her somehow.
I stepped forward and kissed her, more passionately than I ever had before. She responded, pushing her body against mine, but her hands remained at her sides. I knew she was trying to be careful not to touch my wounded chest. While I appreciated it, I wanted her closer to me. I needed something to think about tonight before going to bed.
She broke the kiss off first, but her eyes remained heavy and lazy. At least I knew she wouldn’t be upset with me forever.
Trying To Be Good Book 2 Page 9