Chapter 8
That dream had me shook. Was this a sign? If it was, I needed more information. The only thing I had to go on was her eyes and hair color. And as quickly as she walked out of my life, she could easily be a phantom of my imagination. There was a strong possibility I was losing my mind.
But the dream seemed so real, and even though there was a spark when she and I touched, it became more of a firestorm since I woke up. I wasn’t sure what that meant, but this energy inside of me might explode if I didn’t channel it.
Last night’s escapade with Aria was fun, but it hadn’t helped anything, and my only option was to go where the universe was taking me. I wish I had more direction than just those mesmerizing green eyes.
But since I was running on little to no sleep, I couldn’t begin to think about anything until I got some wake-up juice. I didn’t like coffee, but today would be an extra-caffeinated day. I would snort the coffee grounds like a line of coke, but I wasn’t sure it would have the desired effect, so I’d have to suck it down and move on.I had a busy day ahead of me, and I didn’t have time to be dragging ass.
A good thing about bringing your one-night stand to your work was that you didn’t have to worry about being late the next day. The bad thing? You were still in the same clothes from the night before, and your assistant, who hated your outfit when it was fresh, would loathe it after it took a ride on the jolly trolley.
Luckily, my style was that fresh-out-of-bed look on the regular. Maybe Haley wouldn’t even notice. I scoffed to myself because I wouldn’t get that lucky. If she was anything, it was meticulous.
After starting the pot of coffee, I looked around the studio to make sure I had everything cleaned up and no remnants of last night were lying around. After I made the bed, I rushed to my office and found a T-shirt I must have left before. I quickly threw it on to be less conspicuous when Haley arrived.
As I was trying to tame my freshly fucked hair, she breezed in, looking like the perfectionist she was.
“Hey, boss. What are you doing here so early? I figured I’d have to text you when I got in to remind you about your appointment.” She rushed around the studio like a little Tasmanian devil, moving things I’d already put away.
Was this what she did every day? I should probably give her a raise.
“Don’t you remember I said I’d help clean up before? I’m true to my word, so I woke up early and came in to get started. However, it looks like you have a system. Is me being here messing with your Feng Shui?” I stepped to the side so I wouldn’t get hit in her frenzied exploits.
“No. You’re not in the way. I like things to be… organized.” She smiled but didn’t slow down. “If you want to help, you can pick up the props that were left out last night.” She pointed toward the desk but then froze. “What happened to the bed? It wasn’t even used in the shoot yesterday.”
Holy hell. What was wrong with the bed?
“It looks like someone slept in it.”
“Oh, I was lying on it before you got here. I was up early today and decided to rest a bit. Did I not make it right?” I asked in earnest because I couldn’t see a problem.
“Hospital corners, boss.” She rushed over, gently nudging me out of the way.
I stared as she went to work, pulling the comforter down, straightening, and tucking the sheets to the point that an Army sergeant would be proud. Then she lifted the comforter back over it and flattened out every wrinkle with iron-like precision.
Damn. Now I saw the difference. What I did, a toddler could’ve done. I was going to do something special for her today. I’d grab her a coffee when I went out.
“So, is there anything I can help you with, or would I be most helpful by not helping?” I did a little half-smile with a quirked eyebrow that said I was kidding, but hopefully, it also showed that I’d like to do something somewhere else out of her warpath.
She eyeballed me, and I suddenly felt very naked. “Are you wearing the same jeans as yesterday?”
I figured she would notice. But at least I had on a different shirt, so maybe I could play it off. “I have several pairs of these jeans because they fit like a glove.” I stared at myself in the mirror and thought the fib worked.
“Right. It doesn’t matter. Let’s get this place in tip-top shape so the clients don’t think you live here.” She had no idea how close to the truth that was.
“All right. You tell me what to do, and I’ll do it.” I was glad for a subject change. I wasn’t ready to get into a deep conversation about my personal life.
She grunted, and I was unsure what I’d done. “If I have to tell you what to do, I might as well do it myself,” she snapped, which was out of character.
“Okay. I didn’t want to do something wrong and make extra work for you. You seem to have a process that I haven’t grasped yet.” I held up my hands in surrender, and she hung her head.
“I’m sorry, Leia. I got into a fight with Adam last night, and he said something similar that triggered me.”
Haley and I were close, in that boss-employee sort of way, but we never really opened up about our lives outside of work.
“Hey, I’m so sorry. I’m here if you want to talk about it.” At least, if we were focused on her problems, I wouldn’t have to figure out my own stuff.
“No. This is unprofessional. I didn’t mean to say anything.”
“Look, Haley. I get that we work together, but we can be friends, too. I’ve got a good ten years on you, so I have experience. Let me have it.”
She eyed me skeptically, but she must have seen my sincerity because she broke down and cried out, “I think Adam is going to leave me.” She covered her face with her hands as she sobbed.
I was very uncomfortable because I hated seeing people cry. I also didn’t know how to make things better for her because I’d never been in that situation before.
“What makes you say that?” If I had a little more context, maybe I could better help her.
With tears streaming down her cheeks, she said, “I caught him watching porn.”
This wasn’t my area of expertise, but didn’t all guys watch porn?
I needed more information. “Was it gay porn?”
With that comment, she snapped her head up to make eye contact. “Why would you ask that? Do you think he’d rather be with a man than me?”
So, that was the wrong question, and I possibly made things worse. “Of course not. I was trying to understand why you were so upset.”
She was still sniffling, but at least her tears were drying up. “I was crying because I caught my boyfriend watching other women have sex.”
“And he didn’t want to have sex with you?”
“No, I just got there. I’m sure we would’ve had sex had I not seen that.”
“So, he still wants to have sex with you?”
“Yes. We have sex at least once a week. So I don’t get why he was watching porn.”
I had to stop my mind from wondering if she had their sex life on a schedule.
“Maybe he was bored. Or horny. But if you’re both happy in the bedroom, does it matter?”
“Are you kidding me? Of course, it matters. He was watching other women…naked. Why wouldn’t that bother me?”
“Have you ever found someone besides him attractive?” I mean, I didn’t know Adam well, and if I was honest, I thought she could do better, but he probably shouldn’t be crucified for this.
“That isn’t the same thing.” She was defensive, but she wasn’t exactly wrong.
“Okay, but did he cheat on you?”
“No.”
“Did he blow you off for porn?”
“No. But if he was happy, why would he need that?”
“Do you do things that make you happy that don’t involve him?”
“Again, that’s not the same.” She was a little more indignant.
“Why? Maybe he enjoys it in his free time. Just because it’s not something you would do doesn’t mean it’s wrong for someone else to do it.”
“Oh, so you think he would be okay with me watching naked men?”
“Honestly, I don’t know. Have you asked him? If he was hypocritical about you watching porn, then I’d say you have a leg to stand on. But if he doesn’t care, then I think you might need to tell him why it bothers you, if you even know the reason yourself.” That sounded like logical advice, but she didn’t seem convinced.
“Haley, you’re entitled to your emotions, but is it possible there’s something else troubling you, and it’s not the porn?” I hoped I got my point across without making her feel like her reaction was wrong, but it seemed like there was a deeper issue.
“Maybe you’re right. I was so upset last night that I ran out and haven’t seen him since. But I probably should talk to him. Thanks for listening to my meltdown. I really appreciate it. Sometimes, having an outsider’s perspective can help you see things differently.”
“Of course. You’re not alone. And if I can help you in any way outside of cleaning the studio, I will do it.” I smiled and nudged her elbow.
She headed to her purse and pulled out a compact, but she still looked flawless, even after crying.
Once she was satisfied with her presentation, she turned to me. “Okay. You’re off the hook. I’ll finish getting this cluster cleaned. We only have about fifteen minutes until the client gets here.”
I surveyed the room and honestly didn’t have any idea what her neurotic mind saw, but if it made her happy to organize the space, she could have at it. “All right, Hales. You work your magic, and I’ll lay out the prints. Once we’re done with our eleven o’clock, I’ll grab lunch and coffee for you. Anywhere you want.” I gave her my brightest smile.
She returned the gesture, but I could see the gratitude in her eyes. Something had shifted in our dynamic, and she was becoming someone I could trust with more than just work.