Chapter 36 The Invitation

Chapter 36 The Invitation
Tom’s POV
By the time we wrapped up for the day, I was exhausted. The kind of tired that makes your head feel heavy. But even with that, I couldn’t stop checking the time. All I wanted was to get home, talk to Trisha, and figure out what the hell the situation even was anymore. The worry sat right behind my ribs all day, and now that it was time to leave, it pushed up harder.
I was reaching for my bag when I heard footsteps stop at my cubicle.
It was her again—the manager.
“Those files I gave you earlier,” she said, arms crossed. “I need them in my office now before you leave.”
For a split second, my mouth opened with the truth: I already gave you the file.
But I stopped.
Something clicked in the back of my mind.
Maybe this was a second chance.
Maybe earlier hadn’t been a flat-out rejection, just bad timing or my own nerves getting in the way.
Maybe she was giving me a redo.
So instead of correcting her, I swallowed it down.
“Alright,” I said. “I’ll bring them.”
She nodded, already turning away, like she expected me to follow without question.
And I did.
The moment I stepped into her office, the door clicked shut behind me. I turned to see who closed it, but I didn’t even get the chance to speak.
Jane grabbed my shirt and pulled me into a kiss.
Not a hesitant kiss. Not an accidental one.
A full, deliberate, unapologetic kiss.
My back hit the door before I even processed what was happening.
“Jane—” I tried, but she didn’t give me space. Her hand slid up my chest, holding me in place like she’d been waiting all day to do it.
“I’ve been thinking about you,” she said, breath warm against my mouth.
I kissed her back—harder, deeper—hands finding her waist and pulling her close like I’d been waiting for this exact moment, because I had. Ever since she started giving me those looks. Ever since the first time she said my name in that tone that hit straight in my chest.
She let out a soft sound against my mouth, and it pushed me further. I didn’t care about the door. I didn’t care about the office. I didn’t care about anything except how she felt pressed against me.
When I finally pulled back a little, her breathing was unsteady. Mine wasn’t great either.
“Jane,” I said, not to stop anything—just to get the words out before she distracted me again. “Earlier… I thought I messed everything up.”
“You didn’t,” she said, sliding her hand up to my jaw. “I wanted you to come back.”
My pulse kicked up hard.
And then she said it—quiet but certain, like she’d rehearsed it.
“I know this is sudden, and maybe it’s crazy, but I’ve had the biggest crush on you since you started working here.”
My breath caught. She didn’t stop.
“And I know you’re engaged.” Her hand slid to my torso, smooth, confident. “But I also know you’re attracted to me just as much as I’m attracted to you.”
Her fingers moved lower, brushing the line of my stomach before she hooked a finger into my belt and pulled me closer.
“If you’re not comfortable with anything I’m doing,” she said, looking right at me, “you can tell me to stop.”
My pulse hammered so hard it made it difficult to think. She was right there. Her hand on my belt. Her eyes waiting.
“Do you want me to stop?” she asked.
I shook my head immediately. No.
And inside, one thought hit me fast and sharp:
I never thought anyone would have a crush on me.
I never saw myself as that guy.
But then again… I did pull Marilyn. Then Trisha. And now Jane.
So maybe I really was that guy after all.
Jane suddenly pulled back, the shift so quick it stunned me. For a second I thought I’d ruined things again with my hesitation, that maybe because I didn’t actually say anything out loud, she assumed I wasn’t as interested as she thought.
I opened my mouth to tell her she was wrong, but she was already striding to her desk.
“Well,” she said, grabbing a notepad, “so we don’t raise suspicion in the office, I’m going to have to dismiss you now but first I'll write down an address for you.”
She scribbled it cleanly, tore the page, and held it out without hesitation.
“If you want me as much as I think you do, meet me there tonight. Nine o’clock.”
Her eyes flicked down to my belt—exactly where her hand had just been—then back up to my face.
“You may leave, Thomas,” Jane said.
The words snapped me out of whatever haze I’d fallen into.
“Right—of course,” I said quickly, straightening up and heading for the door.
I barely took two steps before she added, “But first… you should probably fix that.”
Her eyes dropped pointedly. “Your boner. It’s pretty clear through your trousers.”
My stomach flipped. I looked down, saw it, and immediately shoved a hand into my pocket to shift it into something less obvious. It wasn’t graceful, but it worked.
When I glanced back at her, she was still watching me. Not embarrassed. Not shy. Just waiting, like she enjoyed the effect she had.
I left before I did something stupid—like walk back to her.
No detour to my cubicle. I just grabbed my bag, shut off my system, and headed straight for the parking lot. My steps were fast without meaning to be.
Once I got into my car and shut the door, everything finally hit me at once.
Jane.
The address.
Nine o’clock.
Whatever the hell was going to happen when I showed up there.
But first… Trisha.
I let out a long breath, one that almost felt like it scraped my chest on the way out. Dealing with her was the part I wasn’t looking forward to.
I pulled into the parking space of my apartment building in no time, and turned off the engine. My mind was still replaying Jane’s mouth, Jane’s voice, Jane pulling me by my belt.
I got out, locked the car, and made my way toward my apartment, already bracing myself for whatever I was about to walk into.