Chapter 30
Thirty
“ A re you okay?” Steve looked across at Steph sulking opposite him in his office.
“No, I’m bloody not. That fucking idiot Dave Madeley has made another cock up, a novice one at that and yet I am the one that’s booted out and he is still up there. I worked my arse off to get my figures ready and they’re accurate.” She openly seethed.
“Coffee, that’s what you need, and then I can occupy your time with a couple of queries that have come up, by which time you will hopefully have come back down to Earth.” He offered her a smile.
“I’m going to need more than bloody coffee. Sorry,” she said and laughed at her own fury.
“Eh, what are friends for if not to scream at in their own offices? But seriously, for a large building with so many companies and departments, this place is buzzing that you are the future of accounts, whether you realise it or not.” A wry smile curled his lips. “I told you before that Dave viewed you as his new boss, so you’re a threat, but Brooker likes you so he won’t boot you out permanently. He recognises quality when he sees it. I actually think in your position I would feel relieved that I had been booted out because I would stake money on the fact that the only reason your friend Dave wasn’t, is because he is getting the biggest bollocking of his life for how he has treated you if nothing else.” Steve shook his head at a confused looking Steph.
“What does that mean?”
“Steph, I told you, for a big building . . . it has been noticed by several people that he is unpleasant, rude and downright unprofessional in his dealings and treatment of you, and several people have complained to Grant about what they’ve witnessed, the bullying.”
“And will he have told Brooker?” asked Steph nervously.
“God, yes. Brooker likes fairness and has a strict policy on bullying so if he found out about it afterwards and Grant had kept a lid on it, well, Grant would be in the shit too. Add to that the fact that you’re his girlfriend . . .”
The last three words rendered Steph speechless for a few seconds. “I think you may have an overactive imagination,” she started, the slight stammer and wobble of her voice revealing her nervousness.
“Oh, right, so that wasn’t you with Brooker and a whole heap of people at Stringers on Sunday?” asked Steve seriously.
“Ah.”
Steve smiled. “Yes, ah. Steph, I was there with a, shall we say ‘friend’ so I am in no position to judge and I know how to keep a secret. I am not saying that he would favour you based on that, quite the opposite I imagine, so you’re definitely here on merit, but he won’t allow Dave to bully you and pay him for the privilege, will he? Look, I may have a bottle of something in a filing cabinet if that sounds better than coffee?”
“No, thank you. Coffee will be fine, safer.”
“Okay, give me two minutes then,” said Steve as he disappeared down the corridor to the kitchen.
Steph was drinking a second cup of coffee and had almost finished working through the queries that Steve had when his desk phone rang.
“Yes, yes she is. I will, okay, bye.” Hanging up, he stared across the desk at her. “The boss wants to see you in the conference room, pronto.”
“Well, we should finish here first.” Steph matched his serious tone.
“No way! I am not going to get any blame for you not getting your arse up there. So, nice to have seen you, Miss Pryor, but bugger off out of my department now, oh and remember, you are the new face of accounts.” He laughed.
“Whatever!” She laughed back but got up and left. Now was not the time to be petulant and unprofessional by dragging her heels, in fact it was never the time to be unprofessional so added some pace to her steps.
The lift doors opened on the twenty-third floor where Steph was surprised to find Jon waiting for her.
“How was legal?” he asked.
“Enlightening,” she replied cryptically, making him frown.
“I’m sure. Shall we?” He placed his hand on her elbow to steer her towards his office.
“I thought I had been summoned to the conference room.”
“Yes you were, but Dave is still in there. Going over his figures again.” As they entered his reception, Andrea looked up and smiled.
“Tea, coffee?” she asked.
“No, thank you,” replied Steph who felt awash with coffee.
Jon shook his head. “Actually, tea please, for us both.”
“I really am fine, thank you,” said Steph feeling irritated that he had overruled her decision to decline a drink.
“For us both,” he repeated. “And biscuits please.” Jon held his office door open and waited for Steph to enter.
As soon as the door shut behind them she unleashed her annoyance, “I do not want or need a cup of bloody tea and I am more than capable of making that decision for myself because I am an adult, not the errant child you appear to treat me as,” she said with a raised voice.
“Sit down,” he ordered.
Steph stood staring at him for a few seconds until he asked, “Are you challenging me, Stephanie? That’s fine if you are, but I never lose, you should remember that.” he said darkly.
“I don’t want tea, biscuits or to sit down,” she snapped, standing her ground.
Jon held her gaze and briefly seemed to waver, but not for long. Regaining his composure and determination, he repeated his order but did soften it. “Sit down, please, and if you don’t want tea and biscuits I can live with that because it is never my intention to treat you as an errant child.”
She slumped into the chair he had indicated, possibly feeling more irritated by his addition of the word please and his concession on the tea and biscuits that she had been by his earlier insistence on them. “You are fucking infuriating sometimes.”
“Only sometimes? I’ll take that,” he replied wearing a frown again. “I think you are probably due an explanation of what happened this afternoon,” he started but was quickly cut off.
“No fucking shit, Sherlock!” Anger, sarcasm and agitation coursed through her veins, although she knew her feelings were more for Dave than Jon. Even if Jon had apparently dismissed her earlier in favour of Dave, although, if Steve was to be believed, that may not be true.
“Steph, I am trying to be reasonable here, reasonable and respectful,” he said, the flatness of his voice trying to mask his own annoyance.
“Then try fucking harder!” Steph shouted, unsure where all of her rage was coming from, although now that it had been unleashed, she was unsure how to rein it in.
“If you shout or swear at me again this afternoon I may just lose the grip I currently have on things,” he warned causing her to huff and roll her eyes. “You just try me if you think I am bluffing here, Stephanie. Maybe I should just address your insubordination across my desk,” he said standing over her and looking down darkly.
Under different circumstances Steph knew that would be flirtation and banter between them. She’d put herself across his desk in a different situation, but she was still pissed off with him and Dave, meaning that would not be happening.
“I am not sure that is acceptable treatment of an employee under current employment laws,” she retorted. One look at his hard and stern face told her that he had tired of this. That if she wasn’t sleeping with him she’d probably have been sacked, although if she wasn’t sleeping with him she would never have dreamt of speaking to him the way she was. The lines were blurring somewhat.
“Have it your way. I will do this as employer to employee if that is what you want, Miss Pryor. Your line manager, Mr Madeley has now got all of the figures you have produced and he and I will discuss them over the next couple of days, without you. You will be based in legal for the next two days and as of next week, Mr Madeley will be taking some leave and in his absence you will fill in for him until his return. I have arranged for him to meet with you on Friday afternoon at three o’clock and he will explain exactly what your duties will be.”
Steph was about to respond, a softer, gentler and more understanding reply when Andrea knocked the door and was called in immediately by Jon. She lay a tray with tea for two and biscuits on the desk.
As she turned to leave, Jon spoke, “Sorry, Andrea, tea for one now. It would seem I misjudged Miss Pryor’s need for discussion and refreshments. She’s leaving,” he told the uncomfortable looking Andrea as he sat back down behind his desk and looked down at the papers there.
Steph stood up and stared at him, “But . . .” was as much as she could say without faltering as she wasn’t sure what she wanted to say now.
“But what, Miss Pryor? I haven’t breached some kind of employment law have I?” he asked coldly before Andrea headed for the safety of her own desk.
“No, of course not. I’ll be in legal if you need me.” She wondered exactly what was going on with Dave, what Jon had said to him earlier, but the opportunity to ask had passed. The question that seemed to be pressing with urgency for her was more related to where things stood with her and Jon now.
“I hardly think I’ll need your advice on your former employer’s services in the next,” he paused as he looked at his watch, “Thirty-seven minutes. Close the door behind you, please,” he said curtly, returning his attention to his papers.
She did as he asked and felt rather shell shocked as she found herself standing next to Andrea’s desk.
“Are you okay?” asked Andrea with an expression of total empathy.
“Yes, fine,” Steph lied, but before either of them could speak further, a storm of blonde loveliness wafted through the room making Steph feel sick as she realised the very expensive aroma belonged to the very beautiful Mrs Brooker.
Lucy smiled at Andrea, already perching her bottom on the edge of the desk as she asked, “Is our lord and master in then?”
Andrea laughed at her description while Steph just stared at her adversary, rival? Oh, who was she kidding? This woman was the victor. She, Steph was nothing to this woman, certainly not a threat. And by that logic she was nothing to her husband either. She stared at Lucy, wondering why Jon even bothered with her when this beautiful woman dressed in skintight jeans and thigh high leather boots with a tiny, tight white t-shirt and a very expensive looking denim jacket thrown over the top, was his. Andrea and Lucy both looked across at Steph as she realised that she had sighed loudly and out loud. Fortunately, the tears bubbling within her and threatening to overflow remained below the surface, for now at least.
“Sorry,” said Steph sheepishly and noted that Andrea was on the phone.
Lucy smiled at her with warmth and kindness. If only she knew what Steph had been getting up to with her husband. “Are you okay? Has he just torn a strip off you?” She flicked her thumb over her shoulder towards the door Jon remained behind. “He is such a bloody brute sometimes, they all are, the Brooker men; his father and his brother are all the same and as the wife I don’t always escape the wrath after a bad day either.” Reaching over, Lucy stroked her arm.
Steph stiffened as her blood turned to ice. How could she do this? The woman before her was only offering sympathy and support and in return Steph repaid her by shagging her husband. Maybe she should ask Jon what the story was between him and Lucy, although she really couldn’t stomach knowing how much he loved her or why he didn’t have sex with her, assuming he was telling the truth. The woman before her offered her another sympathetic smile making Steph feel even worse. She really wasn’t sure what would happen first now, would she vomit or cry? She didn’t doubt that she would do both, it was just a case of which would come first.
“I’m fine thank you, but I should be getting back to work,” she mumbled as the door opened behind them and with it her heart sank even further.
“Miss Pryor, you’re still here. Did you forget something?” Jon sounded almost as cold and angry as he’d been when she’d left his office.
She turned towards him and thought tears would win out as she came face to face with him, his eyes looking sad and apologetic when she replied, “No, I was just leaving, sorry.”
He looked as though he was considering a reply when he noticed Lucy.
“Lucy, to what do I owe this honour?”
Lucy wrapped herself around him and kissed him on the cheek. “I could say that I was passing and popped in on the off chance . . .” she started.
“But?” prompted Jon smiling at her warmly.
“I am after your money and your body.” She laughed as she rubbed her fingers across the large reddish lipstick stain that her kiss had left on his cheek.
“Steph, please, I will come and find you shortly, to explain,” Jon said with a very concerned frown furrowing his brow.
Steph made no response, but all but bolted for the door and made no attempt to look back or make further comment but didn’t get far enough away to avoid hearing Lucy ask, “Have you upset the staff again, sweetie?”
Relieved to have made it to the ladies toilets on the twenty-third floor before bursting into tears, Steph made her way into a cubicle and locked it behind her. Sitting on the closed toilet seat, she began to sob uncontrollably. With every sob, her body shook more and more making her heave until she was vomiting. Once the heaving stopped, the room filled with obscure sounds she hadn’t heard since her mother had died. She wasn’t sure how long she had been there, but suddenly became aware of a voice on the other side of the door. Rosie.
“Steph, please let me in, or come out. Andrea called me to say that you were upset and she thought you’d be here,” she explained.
Steph slowly opened the door and was happy to be engulfed in Rosie’s embrace.
“What’s happened?” she asked concerned.
“Jon and I kind of had an argument and then his, his . . .” She couldn’t even bring herself to say the word.
“His what?” asked Rosie. “His wife?”
Steph nodded and then asked curiously, “How did you know?”
“Why else would he be your dirty secret? So, what about her?” Rosie continued.
“She turned up and I had to stand and watch her kiss him and touch him while talking about wanting his money and his body.” The tears that had barely stopped were brimming again.
“Oh no, that’s shitty,” said Rosie bluntly. “Why don’t you go home, have a bath and get an early night. Tomorrow’s another day.”
Steph smiled weakly, “Thanks, but I still won’t be cut out to be a bit on the side tomorrow.”
“Then end it,” said Rosie bluntly.
“I don’t think I can. I really do want him in my life and the thought of not being with him is awful,” she admitted.
“I can see that. I have never seen you this upset, even when you and Simon split up and he was the guy you talked about like he might be a ‘forever’ guy.”
Steph frowned as she digested Rosie’s words about Simon. The truth was he had never been a forever guy, not for her, not really. She hadn’t realised it for a very long time but now she knew because she knew what a forever guy looked like and for her, he looked a lot like Jonathan Brooker. It was just unfortunate that her forever guy had already found his forever girl.
“I guess you need to decide what it is you want, Mr Brooker under any terms or no Mr Brooker at all.”
“Thanks Rosie.” Steph was already hugging her friend tightly before checking out her appearance in the mirror that showed large, black streaks of mascara all down her face and an obviously tear stained complexion beneath it.
“Yeah, you may want to wash your face before you leave here,” smiled Rosie kindly.
Watching the other woman leave, Steph looked into the mirror above the sinks, the electric illumination only seeming to emphasise the sadness and confusion reflected in her eyes.
Turning the taps on, she began to wash her face, hoping the pain along with the tear stains could be washed away. Reaching for a handful of paper towels, she patted her face dry then looked back at herself. “Who are you? What the fuck have you done?”
She made no effort to answer her own questions aloud but did at least respond internally. She was Stephanie Pryor, not that she really knew who that was anymore. Jon wasn’t responsible for that, if anything he had gone to great lengths to facilitate her in rediscovering the woman she had been. Thinking back to herself as a child, an adolescent and then a young adult, she had been confident and sassy at times. Relationships had changed her, some for the better, others not so much. Simon had been catastrophic to her self-esteem and self-worth, not that she’d fully realised it at the time. Perhaps this was the first real moment of that.
When Rosie had suggested no Mr Brooker in her life, it had been like a dagger to her heart, still was. She couldn’t imagine a world where Jon wasn’t in it. She laughed, although it never reached her eyes. He was going to be in her life for the foreseeable future now. He was her boss if nothing else. Although if they weren’t in a romantic relationship . . . is that what it was, romantic, or would sexual be more fitting? Whatever, without a personal relationship, would he allow her to remain working here? Perhaps she could disappear into the obscurity of finance and accounting? Unlikely that he would go with that and even if he did, how would she manage, knowing he was in the same building, but no longer hers? Had he ever been hers? It had felt like it, and yet, he was someone else’s more than he could ever be hers. He had a wife and it wasn’t her, never would be. Perhaps when the idea of their relationship had been suggested, her first response of not being his mistress had been the one she should have stuck to. Except she hadn’t, had she? No, she had been determined to prove to Jon and herself that she could be the mistress he’d needed.
Fresh tears threatened.
“No!” she chastened herself. “You.” She pointed at her reflection. “You are clever and deserve all that you have and more, with or without Jonathan Brooker.” A single tear rolled down her cheek. She brushed it away and faced herself with determination. “Tonight you get to wallow, and tomorrow, well, you face whatever the fuck it brings head on and deal with it.”
The End . . . for now
Jon & Steph’s story continues in Book 2 of The Infidelity Trilogy – Secrets