Chapter 11
ELODIE
Walking into Jupiter, I inhale a sharp breath as I begin to unzip my coat.
The room is filled with the noise of people talking while indulging in an after-work drink.
The location is prime, which is why it attracts many from nearby offices.
Later, it turns into a dinner spot. The warehouse vibe with hanging lightbulbs sets the tone for sophisticated yet trendy.
It also radiates a glow off people’s faces. In some cases, their moody glare, too.
When I notice Hayes in the corner, his shirt sleeves rolled up, his expensive watch on display, and his blazer ditched, it seems he has already daggered his eyes into me.
He can’t be happy, as I’m a little late due to an email that had to go out to chase a client’s billing.
I sent him a message, but why else does his gaze seem heavy on me right now?
I’m wearing the same clothes as I did earlier, just might have popped a button and gone for a darker shade of lipstick.
Approaching the table, I feel his eyes dragging me closer until our contact breaks when Matt from compliance and Jody from logistics look up with smiles.
Both are a bit older than I am and have been at the company longer.
At least, this set-up wasn’t a ruse. A legitimate meeting.
But I do notice their drinks are nearly empty.
“Hey, Elodie, survive the email crisis?” Matt asks with a smile as he makes space for me at the high-top table.
He’s always friendly and is recently engaged to his girlfriend, whom he met in college.
That fact is important; otherwise, I’m not sure Hayes would be so relaxed.
I have the feeling he has become possessive of me.
“All fine,” I say, and hang my coat on the back of the chair.
“I’m about to leave. I have a 7AM client call tomorrow and still need to catch the train to the suburbs,” Jody explains as she quickly takes one last sip of her drink, which seems to be a gin and tonic.
A waitress quickly pauses next to me, and I order the same, and she buzzes away.
I also make a mental note to double-check the bar that one particular bartender isn’t working tonight.
He gave me his number a while back. I did nothing with it, as I wasn’t into the dating scene then.
The last thing I would want to add to the night is seeing Hayes overreact about it, because I think he must feel this sense of possessiveness.
I feel it, too, when it comes to him, and I’m not sure I’m entitled to it.
I sit down to join them, across from Hayes. “Downer’s Grove, right?” I ask Jody.
“Yeah, it’s an easy ride, though. But I want to see my husband quickly before he heads into his night shift.”
Hayes leans in. “You mentioned he’s a doctor, right?”
Jody beams a smile, clearly proud. “Yeah. A pediatrician here in the city. Finally finished his residency and all of that. We’re actually thinking of moving closer because of his work.
But with his hours and the car, he can fly into the city if there’s no traffic.
Plus, we get more house for our money, space and parks, all that. ”
“I totally get that. I’m from a small town, and the value of a good park is underestimated,” I agree.
Matt grabs his coat and stands, confusing me. I’m losing Jody—him, too? “Leaving already?”
“I also have that meeting invite for the 7AM call. I’m hoping my manager emails to say we don’t need to be in the office and can video call, but I’m not feeling that lucky. Better call it an early night.”
“Completely fine. We’ve spoken enough, and you both have given me some great insights for the upcoming project,” Hayes assures them with an easy smile. A facade where that smile conveys to them that he is relaxed and relatable, but to me, he’s calculated.
I bite my lip, growing a little frustrated. It would have been nice to bounce ideas off others and see Hayes’s approach to work—does he listen, offer constructive feedback, encourage others? Instead, my suspicion that this was all a plan has been proven correct.
“Definitely consider applying for the coaching program. Really home in on your strengths for personal development.” Hayes does sound genuine.
Jody zips up her coat and seems happy. “Thanks. I didn’t think about the program until we talked about it. It’s on my mind now.”
“Thanks for the talk. Sorry to dash,” Matt says.
“You’ll both be okay getting home?” Hayes double-checks.
Jody nods her head. “Yeah, Matt and I are both heading to the station, so we can walk together.”
“Alright, otherwise I can arrange a ride,” Hayes offers.
"No need," Matt confirms, glancing at me. "Good luck discussing work. He’s not that bad—promise," he teases.
I keep a false smile fixed while resisting the urge to roll my eyes. “I’m sure. Have a good night,” I tell Matt and Jody as the waitress approaches and quickly sets my glass down.
We all say goodbye, and they leave. I watch them disappear into the crowd by the door before turning my sharp gaze to Hayes. “They don’t have a 7AM meeting, do they?”
He smirks to himself as he brings his whiskey to his lips. “In about a half-hour, when they get a notification that the meeting has been canceled, they won’t.”
A match inside of me has been lit. “Manipulation with a side of control—great. What the hell?”
“Funny. Two years ago, you didn’t want to get away from me at a bar. Now you don’t want to come near me in a bar.”
His logic requires a long sip of my gin and tonic with lime. "It's messier now—an HR field day. Untangling the sides of us as co-parents and colleagues is uncharted territory. Still, I'm sure this isn't the way to handle it."
Is he even listening or just waiting to reply?
“You know there isn’t a difference. You look exactly the same as the last time we met in a bar. That’s… inconvenient for my self-control.”
I scoff, a bitter chuckle slipping out. My tongue glides over my teeth. This is pointless. "If you wanted me alone, why this? We’ve met outside the office before."
He tsks at me, and it’s filled with sin.
It’s attractive if I’m being honest with myself.
Very. “When Lola is around, then yeah, all is well. But the moment we’re alone, you and I, then you want to run.
This is me trying to figure out the best approach with you non-Lola related.
My patience is a peculiar kind, it tests waters until I have the answer.
However, I am a man of my word, and you’re here. So let’s talk business.”
I lift my nose, trying to inspect his sincerity. I’m convinced enough. “Okay.”
“You refused to go to the conference. Why? Foster has asked twice.”
My eyes lift because this is the topic he’s bringing up, and his tone is a mix of concern and curiosity. “You've been talking with him about my career?” I accuse him.
"No. He brought it up.”
“That has nothing to do with your project.”
“Doesn’t matter. Answer me.”
Sighing, I clutch my drink but don’t sip. “I don’t like leaving Lola. My parents could stay, but I’ve never been out of state without her. The spot at the conference should go to someone less worried—even if it affects my job. Lola matters more.”
Hayes nods his head as he listens patiently. “I thought you might say that. However, you might have to take the leap once. I’m also in the picture. Puzzling our schedules around each other is part of how things are going to have to go.”
“I'm aware.” I'm getting a little agitated. “But let’s leave her out of this, Hayes. I also don’t appreciate you talking with Foster about me in the office. Can we just focus on work right now?”
He smiles almost affectionately. “Okay. As I said to the others, we must improve efficiency and workflow between departments. More cross-department meetings are a good idea. Clients face many obstacles from the company, but communication could be smoother—more central.”
I continue. “Finance knows nothing about crate sizes or cargo routes that avoid the Bermuda Triangle, and we don’t need to.
We communicate in numbers, often with a client contact who also lacks logistics knowledge.
Finance should be kept separate, and the client should have a single point of contact for other issues.
Invoicing often requires someone authorized to approve payment. ”
“I’m aware. Just thought I would run an idea or two by you, so here we are.”
I snort. "Are we? Because it seems the work-related discussion's already done."
That suave grin appears. “You may be right.”
Taking a long drink, I debate whether I should just close up this evening and leave.
Alas, I am not so smart. My eyes flick up to meet his.
Even though the room is loud, it feels silent right now.
Hayes enters my bubble by switching seats so he’s next to me.
The presence of his body is magnetizing near my own.
And truthfully, when the responsibilities of being a mom and work slip out of my mind and I'm with him, then I'm reminded.
The way he has the ability to make me feel secure enough to be spontaneous.
I'm a woman who runs life by the book, except on the island, that click between us was instant, new to me, and it unlocked a side of me that I didn't know I have but had been waiting for a time to come out.
It did then. And I'm having déjà vu all over again.
“Isn’t it crazy how our lives were always so close, yet we never crossed paths?” I wonder, almost fondly.
“I have been thinking about that lately.”
I smile wryly and meet his gaze. “You could drive anyone crazy.”
He licks his lips, amused. “Do share.”
"In a suit, you're all sharp edges. Out of one, you let a few walls drop."
His long finger brushes my wrist as I grip my glass on the table. "Which version do you want tonight?" His words slip out, slow and heated.
Feeling my cheeks warm, I recognize that my body is reacting to him.
In truth, both versions of him have the ability to suck me in.
“That’s a dangerous thing to ask,” I rasp with honesty.
Either way, he’s intriguing, and either way, I’m well aware that deep down, he is the same man I have always shared a strong sexual attraction with.
It took only a few hours on an island to end up spending a night with him. A few weeks have passed since I first saw him again, and though the chemistry is still strong, I've hesitated to act on it, even though his signals have been clear that he’s open to it.
“Let me tell you a theory I have,” he begins and taps my wrist. I swallow a single nerve because there is a high chance he will be spot-on.
“You have two sides, too. One is when you have a backbone to level with me. The other hesitates and you fight with yourself, and it shows. Elodie, you give everything for our daughter. You do all the right things. Work, home, and being a good friend. But you don’t ever do something for yourself. ”
“Of course I—”
“Uh-uh, let me finish. You overthink and end up stopping yourself from enjoying life. You are still allowed to do that, you know.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” I attempt to protest, even though he is blatantly right. The words catch when I feel him slide his hand onto my thigh under the table. My resolve for the evening begins to crumble, and from the way his eyes flick up to meet mine, he probably already knows it.
"We're doing this. You know it too. Neither of us can let go of the idea. A chance or just reliving a memory.”
I remain mute.
“Elodie, we’ve kissed. You felt something too.
” He leans in, his mouth close to my ear, and the space between us shrinks.
“If I’m wrong, then tell me now; otherwise, I’ll make a damn vow that I won’t relent until you explore it,” he threatens with a whisper, and it feels like a taunt, too.
A persuasive, makes-my-center-weak taunt.
I try to focus on taking a deep breath to regain composure, but it doesn’t do much. Turning my head slightly, our faces are far too close for public. Our sewn-together eyes send a clear message that we are both trapped in a circle.
“Excuse me.” My voice is collected. I swing my legs to the side and hop down from the chair. I walk in the direction of the bathroom, and I feel his attention still on me.
This is my life today. I need to flee to the bathroom to throw water on my face because Hayes does all the right things to make a woman melt.
The moment the door to the bathroom closes behind me, I lunge to the sleek and modern sink and turn the faucet on.
It seems that I’m all alone, as the two stalls are open.
After a quick splash, I pat my face dry with the nearby cloth hand towels, then toss it into the wicker laundry basket under the sink.
Pulling a tube of lipstick out of my pocket, I lean over the sink to apply.
The shade is called Dangerously Red, and it couldn’t be more fitting.
Especially when I’m not sure this is a red-flag moment at all.
Because when the door swings open, Hayes appears. He closes the door and pauses when he is about to flip the lock. I freeze with my lipstick still held up and stare at him through the mirror.
“A bit pointless. It will only be coming off. Don’t you think? You didn’t answer me about exploring our chemistry. Last chance, Elodie. Otherwise, I’m locking this.”
All I have to do is say it. Remind him of this bad idea.
But now? Mr. Theory of My Life has a point and already used the key to unlock the part of me that is freeing.
I do everything for everyone else. I overthink responsibility, to the point that I deny myself possibilities.
Of course I share the same thought as him.
It isn't even a thought, it's a feeling that I want to either remember or hope with him.
All of these things push and pull at me, and at some point, I'm going to break.
And that time has come.
His eyes remain pinned on me, and my heart races because I’m going to do something for me. “You’re right,” I rasp weakly.
He clicks the lock and begins to walk my way with swagger; he’s hunting, and it’s for me.
I toss my lipstick and hear the sound of it landing somewhere in the sink.
I wouldn’t know because I’m too quick to meet him halfway and allow our lips to slam together.