Chapter 36 Let's Have Fun
ADAMS
I stared down at Agnes, feeling a rage that I had never felt before swell in my chest.
It started like a slow burn and before I knew it, it was like a burning wildfire, unable to be quenched.
I had heard the threat that Agnes’ parents had made.
Three days or I was going to get thrown in jail.
“That doesn’t even make sense,” I said as Agnes ended the call. “We are both adults and this is a consensual relationship, so what exactly are they planning to arrest me for?”
“Exactly,” Agnes agreed, stepping closer to me, her hands slipping around my waist. “So we don’t have anything to fear.”
“You don’t get it Agnes,” I replied, heatedly. “I am not scared, I am angry. What gives these people to decide whether or not we get to be together?”
“Where were they when you needed a place to stay after you had to deal with that monster, Tony?” I asked, the thought of everything making me even angrier.
“Forget about them, Adams,” Agnes chided, trying to get me to calm down.
“No but seriously, who the hell do they think they are?” I growled, pacing the room. “What makes them think they can control your life like this? You are not a child, Agnes, you are a grown woman who can make her own choices.”
“I know that,” she sighed, “But my mum, my parents are serious about this, I don’t want you to get in any trouble because of me. How about I go and see her then try to—-”
“You are not doing that Agnes,” I told her firmly. “If your parents want to arrest me then let them try. I am not going to let anyone take you away from me.”
Agnes fell silent, her eyes locked on mine.
“I made a promise to protect you and be with you and I intend to keep that promise no matter what,” I said, holding her face in my hands.
“You really mean that?” she asked softly, her lips trembling.
“Of course I do,” I replied, the fire in my heart fading in sight of her face. “I meant it the first day I told you I loved you, and I still mean it now.”
She leaned in closing her eyes like she was trying to hold herself together.
When I pulled her into my arms, she melted against me, burying her face in my chest.
That night, we laid in bed quietly, neither of us saying anything.
I wanted her in my future. I wanted to be married and start a family.
I wanted us to make things work no matter what.
We lay in bed, tangled in each other's arms, whispering our half formed plans for the future.
Where we wanted to move to, in case this town got harder to live in.
The work she wanted to do after. She wanted to open a hair salon and style people's hair. She was done with working in restaurants and bars and having to deal with terrible male bosses.
And my dream was hers, before my dream used to be getting promoted at work but I had worked in the company for over ten years now and that dream hadn't happened yet.
We fell asleep together, her head on my chest, her hands holding me close. Her breathing soft against my heart.
It was the most peaceful sleep I had ever had in my life. Just filled with nothing but love and hope for our future.
The next morning, I was back at work. Typing a proposal into my laptop, enjoying the clatter my fingers made against the keyboard, the silent chatter of my colleagues and the smell of my coffee.
I was at peace.
But something was off.
As I stood up to dispose of my paper cup, I noticed the way some of my colleagues looked up at me and removed their eyes only to turn and start whispering among themselves.
It was then I realized it, they were talking about me.
I greeted one of my colleagues but he pretended not to have heard instead throwing me a disapproving glance.
What was going on? I wondered.
I headed back to my seats trying to act like I honestly didn't care but it bothered me.
I had worked with these people for years and we had always had a good working relationship, so seeing them act funny was unsettling.
During the lunch break, I went to the bathroom to relieve myself when I heard them.
“So he is really dating his ex-wife's niece?” Someone asked.
“Man, that is messed up.”
“Is it really? After Selena left his ass he changed completely,” A voice that I hadn't expected to hear added.
I could recognize that voice anywhere.
Angrily, I rushed out of the bathroom only to find Mike standing outside, with two of our colleagues beside him.
“Well, well,” Mike smiled as he saw me. “If it isn’t the man of the hour.”
I glared at him. “So you have been the one spreading everything that happened between me and Selena, haven't you?”
He shrugged nonchalantly. “I don't need any help spreading anything. I simply told people what bullshit you have been up to.”
I scoffed angrily, trying to hold back my rage.
“Besides, it's not exactly a secret that the young thing you have been fucking happens to be your wife's niece, is it?”
My hands clenched into fists. “Still, you had no right to say anything. What is happening between me and Agnes is none of your business.”
“Oh but it is,” Mike replied cockily. “Since we saw you both together, Esther hasn't stopped complaining about how scandalous you are. I always knew you were messy man, but Selena's niece? Really?”
I stayed silent, trying not to allow myself to react in rage.
Around us, a small crowd had gathered. Watching Mike berate me, waiting for me to make a mistake.
“Anyway, you can tell me. What is it like? Screwing around with a younger girl while the whole office bets on how long she will last before she gets bored of you?”
My vision blurred in anger as I raised my fist to him.
“You had better apologize to me right this second,” my hands trembled in the air, aching to land on his stupid face.
“Or what?” Mike shrugged. “Are you going to hit me and show the world that Selena was right about you being a violent and manipulative son of a bitch?”
His words made me freeze.
He was right.
If I acted in anger I would only prove him right.
Slowly, I began to lower my fist.
Mike smiled cockily, like he had won.
“That's what I thought, it's good to see you are finally thinking. If you had hit me and lost your job, I doubt your little gold digger would have stayed with your broke ass.”
That did it.
My arm shot up, about to swing to his face when—
“Mr Adams?” a calm voice suddenly called out.
I turned only to see my boss's secretary standing in front of me.
“Mr Evans wants to see you in his office right now,” he said.
Mike laughed coldly as I dropped my arm and straightened my clothes. “I hope you get fired.”
I ignored him and followed the secretary to my boss's office, bracing myself for the worst.
Maybe the management had heard about everything already.
Maybe they decided I was too much of a liability.
I walked in only to find Mr Evans with a calm smile on his face.
“Adams,” he greeted me, standing up. “Please sit.”
“I have been meaning to talk with you for a while now.”
My heart was racing as I sat down. “Sir?”
“I have been reviewing your numbers,” he said, flipping open a folder. “You have done exceptional work these past few months. Client satisfaction is up, productivity is up, and you have brought in more new accounts than anyone else in your department.”
I blinked in confusion. That wasn't what I was expecting. “Um… thank you, sir.”
He leaned back, his smile widening. “So, as of today, I’m promoting you. You will be the new branch manager starting immediately.”
My mouth dropped open. “Branch… manager?”
“That is right,” he stretched a hand to shake me. “You have earned it Adams. Congratulations.”
My heart squeezed gratefully. I had honestly expected to get fired today, but instead, I was getting the goal I had been working towards for years now.
“Thank you, sir,” I said, trying to find my voice. “I…I really appreciate this opportunity.”
“I am glad,” he smiled at me. “You will be working hand in hand with our newly hired legal advisor. She is the one handling several of our new contracts.
He glanced towards the door as it creaked open. “In fact, she is here now.”
I heard the click of heels as she walked towards us, I turned back immediately, expecting to see some lawyer in a suit.
Instead, it was her.
Selena.
“Good afternoon gentlemen,” she smiled at me. “I believe we will be working together from now on.”
Her eyes darkened as they locked on mine. “Let's have fun together.”