Chapter 6
6
Thank God it was Saturday.
Faith stretched as she lay on her uncomfortable sofa bed.
It was so nice not having to get up for work. Lord knew, it was a lot of pressure trying not to mess up all the time, and she was exhausted.
She tried to listen for any movement upstairs. Cammie had yoga on Saturday mornings, then she usually went for coffee with her friends.
Hopefully, Eric was out too. Deciding it sounded quiet, she made her way upstairs to shower. After getting dressed, she moved into the kitchen to grab some food. It was horrible having to move around the house, feeling like an intruder.
If only the basement had a bathroom, she could probably make do with never coming upstairs except for coffee.
God, she loved coffee.
“Oh, you’re here.”
She jumped in the air with a squeal as Eric spoke.
“Christ, do you have to make that much noise? First, you’re like a hippo, stampeding through the house and then you scream like a hyena.”
“S-sorry. I’ll get out of your way.” She snuck a look at him. He was dressed in pajama bottoms and nothing else.
Gross.
Be nice, Faith.
“About time you started doing shit around here, Faith. Earn your keep. I thought you were supposed to clean the house, but the bathroom is in a state.”
“I’ll do that today,” she said hastily.
“Make sure you do. Also, the yard work needs doing.”
“But that’s not my job,” she protested.
He turned, looming over her. “Your job is whatever the fuck I say it is. Otherwise, I’m going to tell Cammie you’re out. Then where will you go? She said you’ve got some cousin in Manhattan, so why don’t you go live with him?”
She swallowed heavily. Because she was a failure and an embarrassment, and if she lived with him, she’d feel that way daily.
“What do I do?” she asked.
“The hedges need trimming. Flower beds have to be weeded. And the garbage cans need washed out.”
“Aren’t those your jobs?” she asked.
“I’ve hurt my back. Cammie is out all weekend on a girls’ trip. So you best get moving.”
Wait. She was? She hadn’t said anything to Faith. But then, she’d hardly seen her friend this week. Faith left early and got home late, and then she was so tired she usually just fell into bed.
With a sigh, she finished her coffee and went to find some gardening clothes.
So much for taking it easy.
Faith walked gingerly as she moved along the street, trying to avoid people bumping into her.
Ouch.
She hurt.
As she stepped into the building, someone yelled out her name.
Glancing over, she smiled as she saw Lou waving at her from the café situated on this floor. She entered the cafe, moving to the counter where the other woman stood.
“Faith, morning!”
“Hey, Lou.” She wasn’t sure what Lou was short for. She only had Lou written on her name badge.
“Are you all right?” Lou asked in concern.
“Yeah, just overdid it gardening this weekend.” If Eric had helped then she wouldn’t feel so awful today. But he’d sat on his ass all weekend, watching football or basketball. Maybe both.
And his back had seemed just fine when he was jumping up and down, yelling at the TV.
Asshole.
Lou frowned. “Would your boss not give you the day off?”
“Oh no. I didn’t ask. I’m fine.”
“You sure? I mean, I understand. He’s kind of terrifying.”
“He’s not as scary once you get to know him.”
Lies. All lies.
“Here you are,” Lou said, handing her a coffee and a paper bag.
“Oh, I didn’t order any food.” And it wouldn’t be right to put it on the company account.
Reuben had started an account so she could grab him coffee each morning. That way she didn’t have to worry about getting the company card.
“That’s for you. On the house. I’m experimenting with scone recipes. They’re not really taking off.” Lou’s grandma was originally from New Zealand and had taught her to make scones. They were similar to a biscuit. Except Lou kept adding flavors to them.
The last one she’d made had been cheese and chives, which had been delicious.
“Thanks, Lou.” She’d been running late this morning, so she hadn’t had a chance to eat. This would keep her till lunch.
Heading up the elevator, Faith walked out and over to her desk. She came to a stop as she saw the water bottle sitting on it.
It was pale blue with white daisies on it. Exactly the sort of bottle she might have bought for herself.
There was a note on the cap.
Use me.
She bit her lip. Had Reuben bought this for her?
Setting down her scone, she walked to his door and knocked.
“Come in.”
Walking in, she set the coffee on his desk. “Here is your coffee.”
No reply.
But just because he didn’t have manners didn’t mean she was raised that way.
“Thank you for the drink bottle.”
He glanced up at her. “Make sure you use it. I don’t need you passing out on me. Now, get to work.”
His words didn’t hold any heat.
As she turned away, she smiled.
No, he wasn’t a bad guy.
Where the hell was that file?
Irritation filled him as he searched for the file where it should be on the shared drive.
Not there.
Where had she put it?
“Faith!” he called.
Where was she? Why wasn’t she coming?
“Faith, get in here!”
“Yes, sir?” she asked, shuffling into the room.
Why was she wincing? Was she injured? “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” she said hastily.
Oh, she really had to learn not to lie to him. He leaned back in his chair, studying her. She looked pale, her freckles more obvious than normal. Was she using her drink bottle?
He didn’t know why he’d been unable to resist the urge to buy it for her. Could he make it a condition of employment that she had to drink and eat regularly?
Hmm. Probably not.
“You want to try that again?” he asked in a low voice.
“I just overdid things this weekend.”
Jealousy flooded him. She’d overdone things? What things?
Reuben had to take a deep breath to calm himself.
She isn’t for you.
“Who is he?” he demanded.
“This jerk my friend is married to,” she muttered.
“You’re sleeping with your friend’s husband?” That was completely unexpected.
Shock filled her face. “What? No! Ew. Why would I want to sleep with him?”
“That’s what you just said. That you’re sore from having sex with your friend’s husband.”
Her mouth dropped open. He resisted the urge to get up and do something with that luscious mouth. He just wasn’t sure if he wanted to shut it, kiss it, or fuck it.
This wasn’t good.
You need to get this girl out of your life. The longer she’s in it, the more obsessed you’re becoming.
“Gardening,” she managed to choke out. “We were gardening.”
Gardening? Was that code for something else?
He watched her closely. “Gardening?”
“Yes. Really. God, I’d never have sex with Eric.” She wrinkled her nose, as though she’d smelled something rotten.
It was adorable.
No! No, not adorable.
He did not find this naive, ridiculous, frustrating woman adorable.
No.
“Next time, don’t overdo it,” he ordered, annoyed that she was moving around like she was in pain.
This Eric shouldn’t have let her push herself too hard. If she was going to be in pain from anything, it would be because she’d gone over his knee.
Fuck.
He needed to stop. He could not put her over his knee and spank her ass—not even when she’d lost the file he needed.
“Now, explain where the Stark file is,” he demanded.
“Oh, that’s under G.”
“Of course it is. Why wouldn’t it be? Not S for Stark. Why is it under G?” he asked.
“For gambling. Sorry, Stark would make more sense. I’ll move it.”
“I’ll move it. You did some research?” He clicked on the file, surprised to find it filled with reports and articles.
“Yes, sir.”
Don’t call me sir.
His dick liked it way too much.
“I even looked into Mr. and Mrs. Stark. Not much to find. Everything seems clean and on the up and up.”
“Good. You can go.”
“SOS,” she muttered so quietly that he was sure she didn’t think he could hear. Was she calling for help?
As she turned away, he heard a noise. Was that . . .
“Was that your stomach?” he asked.
“I’m so sorry.” She put her hand over her stomach and backed away.
“Why haven’t you eaten?” he demanded.
“Um, well. I got a scone from downstairs, but it was a weird flavor. Spring onion and lemon. I’m not sure how I’m going to tell Lou that I didn’t like it, to be honest.”
He sighed. “I don’t care about the scone, Blossom. If you’re hungry, you need to eat. Take the company card and get sandwiches from the place down the block. For you and me.”
“Oh, I’ve got some lunch with me, though.”
“Don’t argue with me.” He held out the credit card.
“Yes, sir.” As she took the card, her fingers brushed his. He clenched his jaw to stop himself from grabbing hold of her and tugging her toward him.
He wanted to pull her onto his lap and kiss her. Corrupt her.
To see what noises he could force from her mouth as he laid her out on his desk and ate her out until she was a blissed-out mess.
Then turn her over and fuck her, making her scream his name over and over.
Instead, he let go of the card and forced himself not to watch her leave the room.
Why did the sandwich place he liked have to be so far away?
All right, it wasn’t that far, she was just in pain.
Eric was such a . . . such a donkey.
Actually, that was mean to donkeys.
Faith shuffled back to the office, carrying her bag of food. Her mouth was watering at the thought of the chicken salad sandwich she’d ordered for herself.
As she walked up to the building where the law office was, she saw an older woman standing on the street, begging. She had a dog sitting next to her.
Fudge knuckles.
Faith was a sucker for dogs. All sorts of animals, really. But particularly dogs. She didn’t have any money to offer her. But . . . she didn’t need that sandwich, did she? And Reuben didn’t need all that extra pastrami in his.
She stopped with a smile and reached in to grab her sandwich. “Sorry, I don’t have any spare cash. But here you go.”
“Thank you, dear.” The woman’s hand shook as she took the sandwich.
“I’m Faith.”
“Margie. This is Petey.”
“Hey, Petey, you sweet boy. There’s some pastrami in the other sandwich; would he like some?” she asked Margie.
“He’d love it.”
She unwrapped Reuben’s sandwich and extracted some of the meat. Petey wolfed it down and looked up at her for more.
Ahh, well, all that meat wasn’t good for Reuben. She drew out some more of the pastrami. And a bit more before wrapping it back up.
“Is there anything else you need, Margie?” she asked.
“Oh, I’m fine, dear. Thank you for the sandwich.”
She smiled and waved as she walked away. Maybe she could bring Petey some dog treats when she got paid.
When she got up to the thirtieth floor, dread filled her as she realized what she’d done.
Perhaps Reuben wouldn’t notice. His door was open, so she walked in quietly and left the sandwich and credit card on his desk.
Then she headed into the kitchen to grab her lunch. Which consisted of a banana and an apple.
She hadn’t had time for anything else this morning.
Heading back to her desk, she sat down to eat her apple.
“Faith!”
Faith winced. Uh-oh. Getting up, she made her way into his office.
“Yes, sir?”
He grimaced. Perhaps she should call him Mr. Jones since he didn’t seem to like ‘sir’ much.
“They forgot the pastrami.”
“Um, well, actually . . . ” she trailed off, wishing she could lie. But she didn’t want to get anyone into trouble.
He sighed. “What did you do?”
“Well, there was a homeless woman and her dog on the street . . . ”
He closed his eyes. “Don’t tell me, that dog is dining on my pastrami?”
“Uh-huh.”
“And your lunch?” he asked.
“I hope she likes chicken salad,” she whispered.
“Faith,” he said warningly.
“I’ll go get you a new sandwich.” She’d use her emergency ten dollars she kept in her shoe.
But he held out the credit card again without looking up. “Get us both lunch and ensure they both arrive back here with all their fillings.”
“Okay, but I’ll just eat your sandwich.” She gestured to the meatless sandwich.
“You will not. You will do as you are told and get those sandwiches. Now.”
Definitely a tyrant.
“Eric! The yard looks amazing!”
Faith frowned as she stepped out of the bathroom. Cammie must have gotten in late last night because Faith hadn’t heard her.
As she walked into the kitchen, she spotted Cammie hugging Eric. He raised his eyes to glare at Faith.
“I’ve missed you!” Cammie told him. “You did an amazing job.”
“Thanks, babe,” he rumbled. “Anything for you.”
What a dick.
As Faith heated a microwave meal, Eric entered the kitchen, stepping closer and looming over her.
She would not be intimidated.
“Do not say a word.”
“I wasn’t going to.”
Cammie entered the kitchen just as Eric moved away to start loading the dishwasher.
“Oh, babe, don’t do those,” Cammie said. “I’m sure Faith won’t mind doing it.” She smiled over at Faith.
Faith forced a smile. “Sure.”
“Aren’t I lucky to have a man who takes such good care of me?” she said to Faith.
“Uh-huh,” Faith replied as she put things in the dishwasher.
“Oh, and I don’t mean to be a bitch, Faith, but the bathroom is a bit dirty. Could you clean that up?”
Awesome.
“Sure.”
It was time to start searching for somewhere else to live.