Chapter Ten
I HAD NEVER BEEN HAPPIER to see a weekend come.
I needed some Mr. Greyson-free zone. I mean, I knew I would see him on Saturday at Boss’s retirement party, but I could avoid him there.
My plan was to stick close to Boss and Holly.
I missed them something terrible. It felt like it had been an eternity since I’d seen them, when in reality it was only several days.
I told Holly I would come early to cook or clean, or whatever else they needed.
She laughed and said they were having it catered, but that I should come early anyway.
I dressed up in my newly acquired cyan-colored wrap dress.
The hues made my eyes pop. I put some loose curls in my hair and let it fall and frame my face.
It was weird when I looked in the mirror; I almost didn’t recognize myself; not in a bad way, but there was an unfamiliar aura to my reflection.
Maybe I really had snapped. I felt like it wouldn’t be too long before I did, working for Mr. Greyson.
I arrived two hours before the actual party began.
I noticed the addition of two cars in the driveway, one with Georgia plates and one with Florida plates.
It looked like Luke was coming after all.
Last I’d heard he’d told his parents he couldn’t make it.
I was relieved to hear it. Now I was anxious.
I bet Holly and Boss had to send him the money so he could afford to come.
I took a deep breath to prepare myself for having to see him.
He had a way of making things awkward. I was one in a long list of people he blamed for his problems. He was convinced if I had married him, his life would be perfect now and he would magically be someone else.
I wished he hadn’t been able to come; it was a selfish wish I know.
I should be happy for Boss and Holly that their whole family could be here to celebrate such a wonderful occasion.
Who knew, maybe Luke would be on his best behavior.
I eagerly rang the doorbell, and it didn’t take too long before I was greeted by Sara, their granddaughter. “Aunt Kelli’s here,” she yelled. I loved that they thought of me as their aunt. Sara ran straight into my arms.
“You’re beautiful. I can’t believe how tall you’ve grown,” I said as I hugged the life out of her.
Within seconds, I was joined by practically the whole Chandler clan.
Even Luke came out to greet me. Looking at him made me wish things could have been different, that he could have been different.
He was two different people. There was the sweet, charming person he was most of the time, and then there was the mean-spirited and sometimes downright vile person.
For the first part of our relationship, he was very sweet and charming, but then he started drinking and a monster was unleashed.
I tried to help him through it, but I refused to be an emotional punching bag.
Luke stood there looking as handsome as ever with his sandy blonde hair that laid perfectly against his head with his flawless swooped bangs.
His sun-kissed skin didn’t hurt either or that smile of his with one dimple.
But his once bright blue eyes were dimmed by the alcohol and drugs.
Even tonight I could see they were bloodshot.
There was a line of hugs. Holly was first. “You look absolutely beautiful, but there is something different about you,” she whispered in my ear.
It made me feel better. At least I wasn’t crazy thinking the same thing.
“I can’t put my finger on it, but it suits you,” she said.
Boss was next and held on extra-long. “How’s my girl?”
“I’m great.” Tonight that wasn’t a lie.
Luke was at the end of the line. He hugged me tighter than I would have liked. “Hi gorgeous,” he whispered low in my ear before he kissed my cheek. The smell of tequila tickled my nose. I backed away as quickly as I could.
“Thank you.” I tried to convey in my tone that his advances wouldn’t be welcome.
By the look in his eye, he didn’t get it.
One more man to avoid tonight. I focused back on Holly and Boss and asked them to tell me about their trip.
I also had plenty to catch up on with Ethan and Bethany, but I didn’t get a lot of info as they were busy chasing kids.
Boss and Holly were anxious to hear about how things were going at the office.
I gave them a glowing report. I didn’t want to give them any reason to worry, especially not tonight.
Boss was particularly pleased to hear about the meeting we had the day before.
I noticed Luke listening intently; I’m sure he was still bitter his dad fired him, but he only had himself to blame.
Thankfully, he decided our conversation wasn’t to his liking and he left.
From there I enjoyed pictures of Cancun and playing with baby Camden.
He was an adorable, curly haired redhead that had the most addicting giggle. I wanted one.
Before too long, guests began to arrive.
I think I knew everyone, from clients, to employees, to the people we all went to church with.
I was happy that Amanda and Zane showed up before my new boss.
I wanted to make sure they were going to be on their best behavior and not embarrass me.
They had been teasing me all week about what they were going to say to Mr. Greyson when they met him tonight.
It ranged from the absurd all the way to the blush-worthy inappropriate.
As soon as they got there, I cornered them, but it did no good. They had evil glints in their eyes. I didn’t like it one bit. “Please don’t embarrass me. Remember what I told you yesterday. He’s in love with some other woman. And he’s my boss. And I don’t like him.” They weren’t buying it.
“I’m telling you, Kelli, the woman he was talking about at lunch is you,” Zane said.
My sister nodded in agreement.
“You both have lost your ever-loving minds.” I walked away from them and toward the patio, knowing it was a lost cause. I prayed the good Lord would have mercy on me and Mr. Greyson wouldn’t come. But just as I thought it, he appeared. It was eerie.
“Kelli.” He tapped my shoulder.
I sighed and turned around. “Mr. Greyson.”
He cocked his head to the side. “I almost think you call me that just for enjoyment now.”
“Now, Mr. Greyson, why would you think such a thing?”
He moved closer and lowered his voice. “I, too, can read people.”
“Oh really?” I placed my finger on my temple. “So, what am I thinking now then?”
He stepped even closer. “You’re thinking, ‘How come he hasn’t complimented me yet on how amazing I look.’”
My eyes popped and I dropped my hand.
He smiled.
“Um . . .” I bit my lip. “Not even close.”
“Oh, well I tried.”
Wow, was it getting warmer? It was then my sister and Zane decided to grace us with their presence.
“Kelli, who is this?” Amanda sing-songed. Oh my gosh, like she didn’t know. I was going to kill her later.
“Mr. Greyson, let me introduce my sister, Amanda, and my brother-in-law, Dr. Zane Culver.”
Ian shook both of their hands. “Please call me Ian.” His eyes pleaded with me to do the same.
I shook my head no.
My sister and brother-in-law looked to be enjoying the show by the way their heads ping-ponged between us.
“You’re a doctor? What is your field of medicine?” Mr. Greyson asked Zane.
“I can’t believe you didn’t mention already that I was the best dentist in Nashville,” Zane teased me.
I faux bowed. “My apologies, oh great one.”
“Bryant women are so sassy.” Zane nudged me.
“Tell me about it,” Mr. Greyson said.
My sister playfully smacked her husband, but I puffed out my chest proud of the characterization.
Zane and Mr. Greyson seemed to hit it off immediately.
I wasn’t sure what to make of that, or how to feel about it.
While they chatted like old college buddies, my sister pulled me over to the side.
“Whoa Kelli, how do you get any work done with him around?” she whispered.
“It’s easy, I ignore him.”
“Why would you want to? Look at him.”
I did look at him, and he looked great. He was wearing some brown dress slacks paired with an off-white shirt and vest. I tore my eyes away before I imagined kissing him in the copy room. He was my boss, end of story. “So, he’s good looking. So what?”
“You’re not fooling anyone, Kelli, and neither is he. I saw the way you two were looking at each other when we walked out here.”
“You got the whole loathing vibe then?”
She squeezed my shoulder and laughed.
I rested my head against hers briefly. For some reason, I needed the comfort only she could give.
I wasn’t sure why I needed it at that particular moment, but it felt nice.
The feeling of peace that it brought only lasted for a moment as Delfia and Matt, our in-house developer, joined us.
They looked like they were together. I thought there might be a little something going on between the two of them.
I had noticed the stolen glances between them when Matt came up to work with me.
I was pretty sure he was like ten years younger than her, but they looked great together.
Delfia was nibbling on her bottom lip, which was unlike her.
I’d never seen her nervous before. Matt too seemed nervous, walking close to Delfia, but not too close.
Amanda knew both already from our monthly lunch dates, so there was no need for introductions.
I didn’t say anything about them being together since they were acting so unsure, but it only took me a minute to wish I had brought up my suspicions about them.
My sister and Delfia started talking about me and my boss, who, at the moment, was engrossed in conversation with my brother-in-law.
While Amanda was trying to extricate any juicy details from her on what went on in the office, she spilled the beans.