Chapter 21 Savannah
SAVANNAH
Afussy toddler wiggles in my arms. Lola, Elodie’s daughter, was sent home sick from the company daycare. It was on my lunch break, and Elodie needed to get more children’s medicine, so here I am at the pharmacy near work with a cranky kid as Elodie searches the shelf.
“Bubblegum flavor,” I recommend when I spot the bottle.
She shakes her head in disagreement. “Lola hates that. Strawberry is the only way.”
Frowning at my goddaughter, I grab hold of her hand. “What’s wrong with you not liking bubblegum flavor? Is your mom not raising you right?” I coo at her.
“Being sick is horrible. She’s extra cranky yet extra cuddly. It’ll be a long night.”
“Give me a call if you need help.” Elodie is strong, but she’s done everything alone. Lola’s dad isn’t in the picture because he doesn’t even know, for many reasons. I’ll always come running to help my friend.
She shakes her head as she grabs a box. “Don’t be silly. You’ll risk getting sick, and I have a feeling you have other plans.”
“Maybe.” I have a sheepish grin. “I’m sorry I’ve been a little MIA. I’m lost in a world I didn’t know existed.”
“Really? Shocking,” she replies dryly, and it causes me to smile more.
“How is it going since your work trip situation?” When I told her a week ago that I ended up in bed with Julian and had been together for the last few weeks, she squealed for a solid minute before a wave of concern washed over her at the way my time with Julian is unfolding.
I bounce Lola on my hip as we begin to walk down the aisle. “It’s not a situation.”
“Many couples tend to keep it to themselves at the start. It’s… This is different. Sneaking around, and he may never change his mind. Don’t get too attached.”
“We… upgraded our relationship.”
Her eyes widen, caught off guard. “Really?”
“I mean, I think so. He indicated that he doesn’t want to keep us a secret anymore.”
“Wow. That’s a step. I can’t really imagine him in a relationship, but I trust your judgment, so if you’re happy, I’m happy. I would say if he hurts you, then I’ll kill him, but I kind of need my job because it has free daycare,” she proclaims in jest.
“I think he’s trying. He even abolished the ‘no fruit snacks on my desk’ rule. That shows he cares.”
Elodie snorts a laugh and notices the vitamin water on the end shelf of the aisle and evaluates the options. “It’s kind of weird you're telling me these little things he does that make him seem human.”
“I’m beginning to think he’s only this way with me.” And inside, I gush with happiness every time.
“He is. Everybody in my department thinks he has been extra grouchy lately.”
“I’m trying to change that,” I reflect lightheartedly.
“Actually, he was at the daycare real quick earlier today. Marketing needed a photo to show how great it is to work there, with top benefits, and clearly, the bossman stops by daily to say hello to the kids,” she mocks.
I chuckle at the whole setup. “Yeah, when marketing asked for me to book some time, I had to laugh and warn them of their mistake.”
She grabs a bottle and adds it to her basket as Lola whines. “I truly hope everything becomes the fairytale you deserve. He’s lucky,” she voices with such warmth and care, yet a waft of jealousy ghosts her words.
“Thanks.” I need to say it out loud because I’ve been overanalyzing in my head.
“It’s like I’m addicted to his control and possessiveness; it’s his way of showing his feelings.
But it’s the power dynamic, it makes me want it, and I’m happy.
” She looks at me blankly. “You’ll have something similar one day, too. ”
She is about to say something, but Lola begins to gag, and the next thing I know, my black dress is covered in orange vomit that has a rancid smell. I’m shocked, but not as shocked as Elodie, who quickly drops her basket and scoops up a crying Lola from my arms.
“Oh my God, I’m so sorry.” She feels Lola’s forehead and pulls her close.
People around us stare, and my jaw still hangs low, my body frozen from the quick turn of events.
“Uh… it happens,” I squeak out. Elodie seems mortified, and I push my disgusting misfortune to the side. “Don’t worry about it. Let’s get you the medicine and get out of here.”
“This is horrible. Your dress is completely ruined.” Elodie is panicking.
I reach out and touch her shoulder to calm her. “I didn’t like the dress much, anyway.” A complete lie, but it doesn’t matter.
A store clerk must have seen the scene, and she appears with a paper towel. I gratefully accept it and blot my dress, but it makes it worse.
“Oh no, do you have to go back to work?”
My face strains because I won’t have time to find something else to wear. I need to be back to ensure Julian has his notes for his 4 o’clock meeting. “I always have extra clothes in the office in case of a cream cheese bagel incident.” If only I were so smart.
She releases a deep breath. “Phew. You can still impress your new beau.”
I laugh at her ability to find comedy in this situation. “Nah, he won’t care. I’ve already impressed him enough.”
I’m sure Julian from a few weeks ago would have had a snide remark. Today? Not so much.
As soon as the elevator doors open to the office, I hear shouting. Julian’s harsh voice floats in the air, with apparent disapproval in his tone.
The door is cracked open, and I recognize the other voice as Charles. I’ve learned that when Julian is in full-steam heated discussion mode with others, I stay out of it. That’s precisely why I walk to my desk and tuck my purse into my drawer, accepting the events of the day.
Vomit on my clothes, and Julian is in a foul mood. My cell vibrates, and I see it’s my aunt, so I’m quick to pick up.
“Hi.”
“Hi, sweetie. I’m sorry to bother you at work.” Her voice causes concern.
“Is everything okay?”
“With you? Why do I hear commotion?”
I huff from the classic Julian office meeting. “That’s my boss in a mood today. He’s in a meeting with someone.” She has no idea about Julian’s role in my life now.
“Oh, must have woken up on the wrong side of the bed.” Not exactly. We were stuck in the middle of the bed, we don’t choose sides.
“Anyhow, I was wondering the chance that you would come home this weekend?”
I sense it isn’t a question but more of a nudge. “I could manage.” It’s been a while since we really had an opportunity to catch up. “If I schedule right, perhaps I can get away early from work for the weekend.”
“That would be great.” She means it, but there is something underlying. More serious, perhaps. My gut tells me I need to go back to Everhope.
“I’ll text you when I know what time I’ll be back tomorrow, okay?”
“Love you, sweetie. Drive safe.”
When I end the call, I open my laptop, but I don’t get much opportunity to check my calendar because Charles storms out of Julian’s office, with Julian not far behind.
“You’re crazy!” Charles tells Julian. Charles never argues to this level, but I can see that this discussion isn’t cause for concern, and at the core is twisted humor.
Julian crosses his arms and leans against the office doorframe. “You’ve mentioned. But you told me to think before you returned, and I did.”
“Seriously, now you’re overthinking this.”
“I’m not. It’s logical,” Julian justifies.
My eyes swing between them as I sit here wishing for popcorn.
“I honestly can’t deal with you when you’re being stubborn.”
“I’m allowed to be. It’s my company.”
Charles rubs the side of his head and takes Julian’s claim with a grain of salt.
“I’m out of here. I have a soccer game for the grandkids to go to.
” He begins to walk, looking my way. “Congratulations. I knew you could tame him. It was a risky move on my part, but clearly it paid off.” He winks at me as he moves along.
My jaw drops from the revelation that he’s now privy to the full extent of Julian and me. My mind screams that he might have set us up all along. Kill two birds with one stone. Fix Julian’s disorganized office life and make it something more, as though he could see the match and we didn’t.
I stand, wanting to say something, but Charles is already entering the elevator, and I direct my gaze to Julian, who is already on his way to his desk. I’m hot on his heels, though.
“What was all of that?” I point behind me.
“Nothing. Charles just delivered news that I did not appreciate.” He sits down behind his desk cooly and searches for what seems to be a Post-It note, and he never uses those.
“He knows about us?” My voice pitches higher.
Julian nods as his eyes scan his desk. “I told him earlier today. Although he kind of already guessed it. Something about one of the reasons you had the perfect resume to be sent my way. But anyhow, he didn’t succeed at what I needed.”
“He never disappoints you, so what the hell could he have done?”
Julian massages the back of his neck and doesn’t look at me. “My old assistant decided she won’t be returning after her baby goes to daycare full-time, plus said she would never work for me again.”
I plant my palms on his desk to enable me to loom over him. “What! Were you going to fire me? And by the way, she quit, in case you forgot.”
“Charles did point that out.” At last, Julian snaps his gaze up to me. “I wasn’t going to fire you, merely reassign you.”
Now I’m pissed. “And when were you going to tell me this? I don’t deserve that.”
He stands, his fingertips gliding along the glass as he circles his desk to land right in front of me, an intoxicatingly close distance.
“Baby, I’m doing this for us. Having the old assistant back would mean we don’t need to worry about any confusing lines. It’s a win for us.”
I utter a sound of complete disagreement and turn away from him. “A win would be discussing this with me beforehand.”
“You’re right. I’m… wanting to explore, I guess. No obstacles. Is that crazy?”
Damn it. There are a few solid points there. But still, it’s completely twisted.