Chapter 24
Troy
I watched the snow fall softly against the large windows of my bedroom. The sky was a watercolor of navy and violet as the day welcomed night. The sound of distant traffic floated up, familiar as if it were welcoming me home.
I yawned and stretched my arms out carefully as not to wake Monica as she lay asleep on my chest. I checked the time on my phone, it was nearing 7 p.m. Knowing I had nowhere to be, I settled back in the warmth of my bed and her body. I ran my fingers through her long, dark hair as it splayed out over my bare skin.
It was strange to think we were in the Bahamas just this morning. Yesterday’s drunken beach day felt like a distant memory, but also left me with a pounding headache that still lingered right now. I barely remembered anything from the afternoon, except for lying in the sand with Monica and hearing her quiet moans in dangerous earshot of my sister. It had been risky, but I couldn’t help myself. The hot pink bikini she wore looked as if it were made for her. Its straps hugging the curves of her hips and the little fabric clinging desperately to what it could. It was a real effort to keep my hands off her, and I failed miserably.
We ended the night by going into town to grab dinner, the three of us. Somehow, we ended up at a sports lounge, eating chicken fingers and French fries, trying to ward off the hangover that was imminent. To our surprise, it was karaoke night. A pleasant surprise for Erica, who clapped giddily at the chance of holding the mic. Less of a pleasant surprise for me, who refused to get up on stage and sing in front of strangers, let alone Monica.
Erica ordered us some liquid courage in the form of shots that were lit on fire. Bad ideas in little glass cups. Afterward, she dragged Monica onto the stage to sing a horrible rendition of Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance with Somebody,” while the rest of the bar and I cheered them on. They tried, and that was all that mattered. It was a memory I would probably hold on to for a long time. My sister’s arm was draped over Monica as they shouted into the shared microphone. I had never laughed so hard.
My laughter stopped when Monica put me in the lineup to sing Bruce Springsteen. I tried to refuse, but she gave me puppy dog eyes and it was impossible to say no. I had to order another one of those flaming shots, and boy was I feeling it now. I tried to block out that memory on stage. I am not a singer. Still, it felt freeing to be in a different country letting loose and not having to worry about anyone taking my picture and selling it to the press.
This morning, we all woke up hungover. It was worth it, though. Monica and I had flown back from the Bahamas mid-morning, leaving Erica to enjoy the solitude she had traveled there for. She said she would fly home the next day, saying she had taken a long weekend off from work. Watching her hug Monica goodbye and set up a happy hour date made me smile. I couldn’t remember the last time my sister liked anyone I was seeing.
“What are you smiling about?” asked Monica softly, looking up at me.
I hadn’t realized she had woken up.
“About how well you fit in my life,” I replied.
She smiled before reaching up to give me a quick kiss on the lips.
“What time is it?” she asked, blinking slowly as she looked out the window to see the sky had darkened since we had crashed here after our flight.
“It’s almost seven,” I answered.
“I should go,” she said, lifting herself up slowly and propping herself on her elbows.
“What’s the rush?” I asked, caressing the sides of her body softly, dangerously close to her bare breasts.
“Don’t you start, mister,” she said sharply.
“Start what?” I asked innocently.
“I know what you’re trying to do, but you can’t keep me here forever.”
“Wanna bet?” I asked, brushing my fingers over her nipples.
She let out a breathy laugh.
“I really have to go,” she groaned. “We work tomorrow. I haven’t been home in days.”
“Fine. If you must.” I sighed dramatically.
She pulled herself onto me, spreading her legs on either side of me before leaning down and kissing me. I felt her press her body against my growing erection through the sheets as she leaned in and whispered, “I’ll see you tomorrow.” She climbed off of me and off the bed, sauntering slowly away to pick up her clothes.
“You are the worst,” I groaned, watching her go.
I missed her as soon as I heard the elevator doors close, leaving me in a solitude that had been filled for the last three days. I knew I would see her tomorrow, but it wouldn’t be like the Bahamas. We would have to go back to pretending I was just her boss and she was just my assistant. I didn’t know if I could pretend.
As I lay there, still smelling the jasmine that lingered on my sheet, I realized I had let the lines blur between us. This wasn’t my normal affair with my personal assistant. Usually, things were so black and white. There was business and fucking. There wasn’t anything in between. There were no feelings. There was no relationship.
But now…
Things weren’t black and white. They were in living color and every single shade told me that I had developed feelings for this woman. I groaned as I realized the predicament I was in, and pulled the sheets over my head.
My phone pinged on my nightstand and I quickly dug myself out of the covers in hopes it was Monica. Maybe she had changed her mind and would stay the night. I grabbed my phone and frowned. It wasn’t Monica. It was Veronica. I just realized how similar their names sound. I rolled my eyes as I opened her text.
Veronica: I miss you.
I was about to toss my phone aside, but three bouncing dots appeared. She still had more nonsense to say.
A moment later, a photo came through.
She stood in front of a mirror completely naked with her legs crossed carefully and her arm draped over her overflowing breasts, so not to show anything. Another photo came through. She was kneeling on the shag carpet of her bedroom, one hand on the mirror and one hand holding the phone, her breasts front and center. Another photo came through. This time she sat in front of the mirror, her knees bent and her legs spread.
I quickly deleted them.
She would stop at nothing. I wondered when she would ever get the hint. I texted back.
Me: You need to stop. I’ve moved on. You should too. Please don’t contact me again.
I didn’t wait for a response before turning off my phone. I placed it on my nightstand, settling back under the covers and welcoming sleep.
The next morning, I actually got to work on time. Well, almost. Thirty minutes late was pretty on time for me. Of course, Monica was already there at her desk in a sharp black blazer and a maroon lip. I smiled at her as I approached, but she didn’t return it. Instead, she looked nervous as her eyes quickly darted to my office.
My smile fell off my face and felt like it landed on the floor, along with my stomach, as I saw my father sitting in my office. Shit. He knows. That had to be why he was here. I wondered who told him.
“Dad?” I asked, as I walked into the room.
“Close the door,” he said.
His arms were crossed and his lips were pressed tightly together. I did as he said and closed the door before taking a seat across from him.
“What’s this about?” I asked casually.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing taking work off and going to the Bahamas?” His voice rose as he spoke.
“I just needed some time away. After Veronica showed up at Aunt Ruth’s party, she has been relentless. I couldn’t handle it.”
“Oh, come off it,” he said, shaking his head. “A woman is infatuated with you. Boo hoo.”
“You know how she can be, Dad.”
He seemed to think about that for a second before laying into me again.
“I’m no fan of your ex-wife either, but you can’t just run away when shit gets hard. Especially when it’s shit that doesn’t matter. You’re going to drop the ball on your company because you can’t handle an annoying woman?”
“I didn’t drop the ball. There was nothing pressing on Friday, so I thought I would leave early. I haven’t been on a vacation in a while.” I shrugged.
“Bigtime businessmen don’t take vacations,” he said. “At least not on a whim. When I leave, the rare times I do, I make sure everything is in order. If everything cannot run to a T while I’m gone, then I don’t go at all. You just left without saying a fucking word.”
“I’m sorry—” I started.
“There are responsibilities to uphold. Responsibilities that I’m not sure you can handle.”
“I can,” I said firmly.
“Showing up thirty minutes late doesn’t show me you can handle it.”
“It was one time,” I lied.
“Cut the bullshit. Kathy tells me every time you’re late,” he snapped.
“Oh, great. So happy Kathy is keeping tabs on me,” I said sarcastically.
“She is. That’s why I hired her.”
“I don’t need a babysitter,” I said softly, even though I wanted to yell it.
My father looked at the door, as if he could see through it to where Monica sat.
“Clearly, you do,” he said before turning back to me. “Because I don’t think you’re serious about this firm. My ass is on the line if it fails.”
“It wouldn’t have to be if you would just let me have something that’s my own.”
“And how would you do that? With what money? You think you can create something from the ground up?” He laughed as he shook his head.
“Maybe I can.”
“Well, you just might have to. Because if I don’t think you’re fit to run this place, there is no way in hell you’re taking over my legacy.”
His words stung, but I didn’t say anything. There was nothing to say. I would never be good enough for my father, even if I did try harder. Even if I did show up on time. Even if I did stop making a move on my personal assistants. None of it mattered because he wouldn’t let go of what he built. He had too much pride.
My father stood from his chair and opened my office door without saying so much as a word before slipping out the door. I could feel my face was flushed and red, as if all my feelings were coiled up inside of me and striking against my skin. The small amount of relief I felt that he didn’t come here to talk about my relationship with Monica was outweighed by the anger I had toward him.
A moment later, Monica knocked just outside my door.
“Not now,” I said, a little too sharply.
“Hey, don’t be like that,” she said softly, taking a step into the room and closing the door behind her.
“You shouldn’t be in here,” I said. Not with Kathy around and probably more alert than ever.
“I just wanted to see if everything was okay.”
“Just peachy. Now go.” I nodded to the door.
She tilted her chin up as if to show me that what I was doing wasn’t hurting her, and turned on her heel, leaving my office. I knew I was being an ass, but it seemed better than letting her see me when I was down.