10

10
By the time I woke up the next morning, Jake was already up. His side of the bed was still warm so I knew that he hadn’t been up for a while. As I pulled myself into a sitting position, I saw him step out of my bathroom with a towel tied around his waist.
“Well this is a sight,” I teased, “It almost makes me want to stay in bed all day.”
“Nice try baby girl but we have work; I already drew a bath for you.”
I was surprised by his last sentence. I didn’t know how to respond to him so I just smiled at him and pulled myself out of bed.
By the time I got out of the bathroom, Jake was already dressed in his suit from yesterday. It smelled like my clothes softener so I’m assuming he put it in the washing machine while I was asleep.
He stared at me in my towel and muttered a few choice words under his breath, “I’ll make us breakfast because if I stay here, neither of us is going to work.”
He didn’t wait for me to respond before he walked out of the room. I couldn’t help but chuckle to myself as I watched him leave and I instead focused on getting dressed.
I spent more time than necessary trying to tame my hair but when it didn’t work, I settled for a messy ponytail. For my outfit, I picked out a cream colored pantsuit and coat and paired it with a sleeveless white shirt and silver heels. I grabbed my white purse to put the entire look together and made my way downstairs.
“You look stunning baby girl,” Jake whispered as he placed a plate of breakfast burritos in front of me.
“Thank you,” he kissed me softly and turned off the cooker.
We ate together in silence; I was scrolling through my phone when I felt a hand on my thigh. I looked down to see Jake’s hand calmly on my thigh. He didn’t glance at me, he had his eyes firmly on the plate in front of him but I could see the hint of a smile on his lips.
When we were done, I did the dishes much to Jake’s annoyance. He tried to take the dish rag out of my hand on more than one occasion and at one point, I had to physically block him with my body and push him out of the kitchen.
I finished up a little before 8 and grabbed my keys to leave when Jake stopped me with an arm around my waist. He pulled me into him and I couldn’t help my smile as I basked in the feeling of being held by him.
“We’re going to be late,” I said as he nuzzled his face into my neck.
“I know,” he kissed my collarbone softly, “I have to leave through the back. I don’t want your father to have any questions.”
“Will you come back today?”
“I don’t know,” he pulled away from my neck to stare at me, “I have a meeting that might run late but I’ll see what I can do baby girl.” He kissed my lips once more before pulling away and leaving out the side door.
Throughout my entire day at the office, I kept on thinking about Jake. He was quickly becoming unhealthy for me but I loved it. His plan with Charles might have worked because he didn’t bother me once. In fact, I noticed him turn the other way when he saw me walking in this morning.
For my lunch break I went to make a cup of coffee for myself and retrieve a donut when I felt a presence behind me. Judging by the god-awful perfume emanating from this person- it was Greg. I pretended like I didn’t notice his presence and focused on adding milk to my coffee.
“I heard Ryker was in to see you a while back,” he began as a way of greeting, “I thought he had his own team of lawyers. It leads me to wonder what he wanted with you.”
“Is there a question in there Greg?” I asked, “Or are you just hell bent on wasting my time.”
“Is it daddy’s friendship that sent Ryker to your door?” he asked, “Or is it something else? Rumors say that Ryker likes them a little young.”
“I never pegged you as one to listen to gossip or beat about the bush.” I finally turned to look him dead in the eye, “If you want to say something about me then you better man up and say it. If you can’t then I suggest you sit down.”
“I’m just looking out for you Hayley. We wouldn’t want there to be a conflict of interest.”
“Why don’t you start by worrying about your clients? I heard that one of them is involved in a nasty law suit and from the looks of things, they are losing horribly.”
His ears turned pink in embarrassment and I made sure to flash him an extra sweet smile to drive my point home. I didn’t give him another chance to speak as I brushed past him and made my way back to my office.
I wasn’t worried about Greg’s threats because that was all they were- threats. He didn’t know anything for sure and even if he did, he had no proof. He was just being a little dick to me as usual.
I had barely closed my office door when my name was called. ‘There goes my entire lunch break’ I thought as I turned around to face Jenny. She was fiddling with her fingers, almost as if she wasn’t sure whether she should be here.
“Is it okay if I talk to you?” she asked and I nodded.
I gestured for her to walk in and she took a seat opposite me. I bit into my donut as I watched her turn her words over and over in her head. I wasn’t going to rush her but I sure as hell wasn’t going to sit here in silence for the next half an hour.
“If you want to say something, just say it.” I said, “We are both very busy individuals.”
“I’m sorry,” she cleared her throat; “I like Charles.”
“Good for you I guess.” I shrugged, “What does that have to do with me?”
“Charles likes you and he is always inviting you out and it pisses him off when you don’t go.”
“Again, what does that have to do with me? I didn’t ask him to keep inviting me out even when I have repeatedly said no.”
“Is there a way you can let him know that a relationship between both of you will never happen? He seems to think that you’re just playing hard to get. I really like him and he won’t give me a chance because he is hung up on you.”
I placed my donut down and leaned back into my chair so I could fully take her in. She is pretty in a very cute way but she wears her emotions her sleeve and she looks breakable. I am pretty sure that Charles already knows that she likes him and if I know anything about the narcissist, then he enjoys knowing that he has her on a string.
“You’re a beautiful girl, Jenny.”
“It’s Jenna.”
“Right; sorry about that,” I cleared my throat before continuing, “So let me start by saying that sweetheart you can do so much better.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Why the hell are you pining over a guy who isn’t giving you the time of day?” she opened her mouth to speak but I cut her off, “It was a rhetorical question. Listen, I have told Charles on numerous occasions that I am not interested. Do you really want to go for a guy who doesn’t take no as an answer?”
“It means he’s determined.”
“No, it means that he is a narcissist with an inflated ego.” I deadpanned, “If you want to go for him, then by all means, go right ahead. I am not going to help you with that. My only advice is that you can do better than pining over a guy.”
“Have you ever loved someone so bad that you would do anything to have them even wait while they see other people?” she asked and my mind instantly went to Jake. I kind of did the same thing with him.
“I have,” I admitted, “But I did it for a man and not a boy. My advice stands, do whatever you want.”
The conversation was over and she knew it too because she nodded and stood to her feet. She got to the door when she stopped and turned to me.
“You know I could tell Charles everything you just told me. He would end up hating you and I could get him.”
I smiled, “If you do that then you’re more stupid than I thought. But then again, if it helps get him off my back then be my guest.”
She was genuinely shocked by my words; I could see it on her face. The truth is, I’m not bluffing. I couldn’t care less if she told him what I had said. Hell, if she brings him here I would say it all over again to his face. I’m not in the business of rubbing a man’s ego or mincing my words for him.
“One more thing,” I stopped her just before she shut the door, “You wear your every emotion on your sleeve. It’s going to get you eaten alive here.”
She opened her mouth possibly to refute but she realized it was pointless because she nodded and shut the door quietly behind her.
I let my head fall against my desk in frustration. This is exactly why I do not go for company outings or try to make friends with my co-workers. I have enough problems in my life without adding petty office drama to it.
My phone buzzed from an incoming text and I opened it to see a picture from Jake. He had my panties wrapped around his hand and memories of what we did in this office rushed through me and my skin heated up.
Me: Do you have a secret underwear fetish that I should know about?
Jake: I have a fetish for your underwear if that counts.
Jake: Are you alone?
I wondered where he was going with the conversation and I knew I wanted to find out so I quickly sent a response.
Me: Yes, why?
Jake: Do you want to see what I’m currently doing with your underwear?
Heat prickled along my skin and my nether regions clenched because I knew what he was doing and I definitely wanted to see.
He didn’t even wait for me to respond before he sent me a video attachment. I was about to hit play when there was a knock on my door.
I quickly shoved my phone into my drawer and stayed silent hoping for the knocking to cease but the person knocked again and I muttered choice words under my breath. If it is Greg or Charles I swear I will stab them with my pen.
I stood to my feet and opened the door with a tongue lashing at the tip of my lips when I was pulled into a fierce hug. It took me a second to assimilate myself with my surrounding again and by then I was put down.
I stared into the smiling features of my father. He was in a wrinkled suit and I knew he came here straight from the airport.
I forced my lips into a smile, “When did you get back?”
“Just now,” he said confirming my thoughts, “We were able to end things early and I came straight home. I missed you.”
“I missed you too,” it wasn’t a lie, I missed him but I wasn’t ready for him to be back yet, “Have you gone home?”
“No, I’m going there now. I just wanted to let you know that we are going out for dinner after work.”
“Okay, I’ll be right here.”
He gave me one last hug before leaving. I rushed back into my office and took out my phone to send a text to Jake. I didn’t know what my father’s arrival would mean for us and a part of me didn’t want to find out.
The text I sent was two words but it was enough to convey everything I was feeling.
Me: He’s back.