Chapter 9 #2
After we hung up, I went back to bed and power napped for the next two hours.
Then I got up and quietly cleaned the house.
Mom always kept it neat, but I rearranged things to make it easier for her–TV tray between the sofa and recliner with the remote, a phone charger, a glass of water, and her meds.
Once she woke up, I helped her wash her hair and change into clean pajamas.
“This would be a dream come true lounge day if it wasn’t for this,” she said, indicating her broken arm.
“That and the cuts and the bruises.”
I handed her her next dose of pain reliever, which she took without complaint.
“Do you want to stay in your room or out in the living room until I leave?”
“Living room. I want to move around and prove to us both I’ll be fine so we don’t worry.”
I grinned at her and let her do her thing.
As I watched her, I marveled at the juxtaposition she was.
She had so much inner strength and determination, but such low self-esteem, too.
She was determined to be independent because life had taught her the pain of relying on someone too much.
But she was afraid to reach too far now, for anything.
Uncle Jay’s dinner arrived on time. It was a hearty helping of pho along with a note to feel better soon.
“Pass on my thanks,” Mom said as I got ready.
“Are you sure you want to thank him? Pho for someone with one arm seems a little mean,” I said, watching her.
“I broke my left arm, not my right one. I’m fine. Go to work.”
“Promise you’ll call if you need anything, and text before you go to bed, so if I call and you don’t answer, I won’t panic.”
“Promise.”
With her assurance, I left for Lunar Pulse.
I wasn’t sure what to expect for the night.
A windfall of tips was a nice dream. However, the reality would probably include a post-one-night-stand encounter with Konni, a dose of overprotectiveness from Uncle Jay, and, hopefully, unnecessary concern for Mom.
People were lining up outside when I arrived, which was a new and exciting development, so I slipped behind the bar to work with Uncle Jay right away. Thankfully, the night progressed without any sign of Konni.
Until eleven.
Two hours after Mom texted that she was going to stay up for me because she wasn’t tired yet after the long nap.
He sat down on the stool, and as tempted as I was to tell Uncle Jay to serve him, I didn’t. I walked over and asked, “What can I get you?”
“Assurance that your Mom’s okay. That you’re okay too.”
Damn. How much had I said in my drunken state?
“We’re both fine. She’s home resting now. You’re actually my last customer tonight before I clock out and check on her again.”
“My drink isn’t important. Go. Check on your mom. Your uncle can help me.”
He glanced away from me and motioned to Uncle Jay.
I felt…dismissed.
As Uncle Jay came over, I hid my shock. Had I read Konni all wrong? Had last night just been a fun fling? Why was that so disappointing?
“What’s the problem?” Uncle Jay asked.
“No problem. Sophia needs to check on her Mom. I didn’t want to delay her.”
Uncle Jay glanced at me in question.
“If you don’t mind,” I said, trying to regroup. “Mom said she would wait up for me.”
“Of course I don’t mind. Get out of here. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I walked into Lunar Pulse the next evening, grateful to be there. Dad had tried calling three times throughout the morning and afternoon. I’d finally given in and answered because I hadn’t wanted him coming over and bothering Mom while I wasn’t there.
“That’s an impressive scowl,” Uncle Jay said. “Who put it there?”
“Dad. He found out about Mom’s accident and called to offer his help, which is more about using me to get an investment he needs than actually helping me. He’s an asshat.”
“That’s a nice visual,” Uncle Jay said.
“I try.”
He and I got down to business prepping and posting that night’s specials, and I pushed all thoughts of Dad out of my head. Men, in general, honestly. Which was why I was a little unsure when I saw Konni sitting at the bar hours later.
“How’s your mom?” he asked as I approached.
“Good. The bruising is pretty rough. So is sitting still. She’s not really good at it.”
“You get that from her, then?”
“I do. What can I get you?”
His gaze searched mine. “A repeat of Friday night?”
After the previous day’s dismissal, I wasn’t sure if he’d bring up our time together, and I hated the flicker of happiness I felt because of it.
“Unfortunately, that’s not going to happen before my surgery. Maybe after, if you don’t mind being on the receiving end next time.”
His gaze never wavered from mine as I waited for some reaction to that statement. The one he gave wasn’t the one I expected, though.
“For you, Sophia, I’ll take whatever you’re willing to give.”
The disenchanted, withered organ in my rib cage stirred at the sentiment behind his words. Thankfully, I was good at ignoring it when it pulled at me.
“Excellent. Tonight I feel like giving an olive martini.” It was the opposite of the sweet drinks he usually went for, just like his response.
“Have you decided if you’re going back to Steele?” he asked. “Or did the way they treated you turn you off from the company for good?”
Usually, my one-night stand foreplay involved a lot of touching and kissing. Apparently, on Friday, there’d been a lot of chatting too. Something I rarely did. I went in for stress relief, not therapy. Not tattoos either, but evidently Friday was about breaking tradition.
“I’ll go back. The pay’s too good to walk away.”
“If you need more—”
“Don’t.” The firmness in my tone and the sharp look I gave him shut down the rest of his offer. “I don’t use people. Well, not for money.”
“You can use me however you want,” he said, spreading his hands out in a gesture of welcome. “Any time. Anywhere.”
“You’re extra flirty tonight. You should try the blonde at that table over there.”
He didn’t even look!
“I’m not interested in the blonde.”
“Why me and not her?”
He studied me for a long moment before finally breaking eye contact to look at the finished drink I was holding hostage.
“I sure am thirsty.”
“You’re lucky I’m handing it to you nicely,” I said.
Then I walked away and flirted with every guy and girl who needed a drink refill. I didn’t look back at Konni once.
Mom texted at nine that she was going to bed, and I told Uncle Jay I was leaving early. He nodded and signaled he was fine with it. Konni wasn’t sitting near the end of the bar but standing there like a sentinel. Or maybe a sexy fly trap, since, as soon as I got close, my steps slowed.
The corners of his mouth curved up slightly. “Leaving?”
“Yeah. And I don’t need company or someone to walk me out. If I did, I’d ask my uncle.”
Konni nodded and glanced back at my uncle. I did the same and saw he’d turned his body to watch us even as he talked to a customer.
“He’s very protective,” Konni noted.
“He is. There’s a lot of bad men in the world, and he’d rather I not get involved with any of them.”
“I agree with him there.”
“What if he thinks you’re one of the bad ones?” I asked.
“Then I’d do everything in my power to prove to him that I’m not.”
I didn’t like the look in his eyes. He was being too serious. Too determined. All my warning bells were ringing.
“Are you going to move?”
The music was too loud to hear him sigh, but I saw it in the way his shoulders moved in his tailored suit.
“What do I need to do to get you to stop pushing me away?”
“Moving would be a good start.”
He studied me for a tense moment, and I got the feeling he was thinking about doing the opposite of what I’d asked. His hands slowly fisted at his sides before he stepped aside and motioned for me to go.
As I passed him, I heard him say, “You won’t be able to run forever.”
My initial assessment of Konni was proving accurate. He was dangerous, but not for the usual reasons most women avoid men—questionable morals and obvious red flags. Konni didn’t seem to have any of those. Instead, he wanted more than a single night with me, and that wasn’t going to happen. Ever.
Nervousness twisted my stomach as I walked into the Steele building almost an hour early.
I was less of an emotional mess than I’d been on Friday, but only barely.
I had no idea what had been said to Lianna, if anything, and wasn’t yet sure if I wanted to march up to my desk without stopping by HR first.
So I went to the cafe and ordered a coffee to give myself some time to calm down and watch for Gail.
While sipping my coffee, I saw Konni walk in.
His suit hugged his shoulders and waist in a familiar, mouth-watering way, and I mentally kicked myself again for not being able to remember what had probably been the best night of sex in my life.
I was distracted enough by my regret that I almost missed the respectful nod the security guards gave him as one used his badge to activate the turnstile for him.
They didn’t do that to other people.
Curious, I stood with my coffee and casually followed in Konni’s wake, keeping a careful distance to see which elevator he got on. No one joined him. They all held back. The doors closed. I watched the numbers on the display climb to my floor—the executive floor.
“Ms. Elmantas. I’m glad to see you.”
I turned toward Gail and returned her welcoming smile.
“Do you have a moment?” she asked.
“I was actually hoping to talk to you,” I said.
We walked to her office.
“I’ve spoken with Ms. Stonestock. She interpreted the recent issues you’ve been having as an attempt to avoid work, citing the technical glitches you reported earlier last week and the meeting with me that kept you away from your desk longer than expected.
“I clarified those instances and shared IT’s findings, which confirmed you didn’t cause those issues.
After she understood you left due to a family emergency, which is not something Steele Corporation would ever hold you accountable for, I asked if she would like you to return to your position, as other departments would be very willing to take you if she wasn’t. She said you’re welcome to return.”
Gail paused for a moment, then added, “I encourage you to keep your existing position. Although there are other departments with openings, switching to them won’t resolve personality conflicts, if that is what this is.”
Her keen awareness of the situation and frankness were the green light I needed to speak my mind.