Chapter 36
ALEX
I’m at my desk early.
Why?
Because I wanted to beat the little minx into the office.
If the guys could see me, they’d laugh. I’ve spent the past week tying myself up in knots.
I kissed my PA, or she kissed me. The truth is, it’s just semantics. What happened after our lips met was mutual and powerful.
What I’m struggling with is that I broke up with my girlfriend, who was never really my girlfriend, and I’m now having vivid and totally inappropriate sex dreams about a fucking kiss.
The fact she’s my PA is bollocks now. I wouldn’t be the first CEO to fall for their PA.
The fact we’re at completely different stages in our lives, not to mention the power dynamics, is a whole other argument.
Fuck!
Having left my door slightly ajar, I run a hand over the back of my neck when I hear her arrive.
My heart rate picks up.
Is she feeling better?
Was she really sick?
I was tempted to drop round for a visit but decided that was a little stalkerish. And if she wasn’t ill, what was I going to do about it?
There’s a gentle knock on my door.
“Come in,” I say, my voice gruff.
“Good morning,” Brooke says, breezing in with coffee in hand. Her lips tilt slightly as she places it on the smart coffee warmer now sitting on my desk. “Did you have a good New Year?” she asks, stepping back.
I sit up, resting my forearms on the armrests.
“I did,” I say. “Are you feeling better?”
Colour rises in her cheeks, but she holds my gaze.
“It turned out to be a twenty-four-hour thing. A good night’s sleep, and I’m as right as rain.”
I smile. “I’m glad to hear it.”
“Is there anything you need me to do urgently? If not, I’ll start on emails.”
“Already done,” I say. “I’ve been keeping on top of everything from home.
I’ve sent you a few items that need addressing.
” I pull up the email I forwarded to her earlier.
“Fashion week is fast approaching. I need you to coordinate with the PR team on seating arrangements for the New York show, transportation between the venues, airports and hotels, and the RSVPs for the VIC invitations. Those clients must take precedence, so send a follow up to anyone who hasn’t responded. ”
“Not a problem. I’ll get onto it straight away,” she says, not even blinking.
“I’ve sent you an email detailing it all.”
“Perfect, although I think I can remember all that.”
“Great,” I say.
“Great,” she says, backing towards the door.
“Brooke,” I say as she’s about to leave.
She turns, her eyes locking on mine. I can’t miss the flash of indecision.
“Are we good?” I ask.
She smiles. “Yes, we’re good.”
She turns and leaves before I can say anything else.
ME:
Who’s up for dinner?
DANTE:
It’s Dry January.
Dante, having got a little worse for wear on New Year’s Eve, ended up sleeping in the pool house.
ME:
I’m not talking about drinking. I’m saying dinner.
LEO:
Is this an SMS?
ORLANDO:
A message?
LEO:
No, doofus, Save My Soul.
ORLANDO:
Oh. Whose soul are we saving?
DANTE:
Our friend Alessandro. He split up with Aubrey.
LEO:
Wasn’t that at Christmas? Has he decided he’s heartbroken?
ME:
I’m right here on the chat!
LEO:
Are you suddenly heartbroken now?
ME:
No, it was long overdue.
I admit it, then run a hand down my face. Oh, hell, why did I think these reprobates were going to be able to help me?
LEO:
Then what am I missing?
DANTE:
More likely to do with the hot little number that works for him.
ME:
She has a name and a job title. And that’s quite a leap.
DANTE:
Not really, my dear friend. It’s called deduction. First day back in the office. It’s not even eight o’clock, and you’re messaging about dinner. Your mother also happened to mention a certain PA wasn’t attending her New Year’s Eve party, despite being invited.
ME:
She was ill.
DANTE:
Keep telling yourself that. Oh, and at said New Year’s party, you had a face like a smacked ass. Gabs also mentioned you dropped her home Christmas night.
ME:
Since when do you talk to my sister?
DANTE:
I’ve always talked to your sister. She just doesn’t usually want to talk to me.
LEO:
That’s ’cause you’re a cockalorum, and she has better taste.
DANTE:
A what?
LEO:
Cockalorum–a pompous individual with a self-inflated ego.
DANTE:
Hey, I thought you were my friend?
I shake my head. Maybe this wasn’t a good idea.
ORLANDO:
Oh hell, not another word-of-the-day desk calendar from Great-Aunt Mabel?
ME:
Never mind.
DANTE:
Oh no, we’re doing dinner. You called, we come. Seven thirty at the usual place.
LEO:
See you there.
ORLANDO:
Wouldn’t miss it for the world.
ME:
I’ve changed my mind.
DANTE:
Too late. If you don’t show, we’ll arrive on your doorstep.
ME:
Fine.
I throw my phone in the drawer and wonder what I’ve let myself in for. Hard to believe we’re almost forty, but then we’ve always had each other’s backs through thick and thin. These guys are among the few people I can relax around.
* * *
By the time I leave the office, my head is throbbing. I want nothing more than to head home, but I know they’ll make good on Dante’s threat and arrive on my doorstep.
Brooke has been the epitome of professionalism all day. She’s powered through all her work and, if I didn’t know better, I’d think she was trying to prove a point. She’s a professional, albeit a passionate, bold, stubborn and impulsive one, not to mention beautiful. Ahh, I need a drink!
The guys are already at our table.
I make my way over and sit down, motioning for Trina to bring me my usual.
“So?” Dante says.
I run a hand through my hair.
“We kissed.”
“Who?” Leo asks.
“For fuck’s sake, Leo, keep up,” Orlando says before shooting me a questioning look.
“I kissed Brooke.”
Dante looks at the others. “The PA who took over from Callie. The really, really beautiful one with an amazing smile.”
I glare at my closest friend, his grin widening.
“Ease up, I’m pulling your leg. Not that she isn’t beautiful, she really is.”
“She’s also twenty-four,” I say, realising I’m not even sure when her birthday is.
Fuck!
“It’s legal,” Leo says with a shrug.
I glare at him. “But I’m her boss.”
When I glance up, they’re all staring at me.
“I broke up with Aubrey in front of her.”
They remain quiet.
“For fuck’s sake, say something. Even if it’s telling me I’m a disgusting old man and should be—”
“For goodness’ sake, chill. It was a kiss,” Dante says.
“Did she kiss you back? Slap your face? Knee you in the balls?” Leo chimes in.
“No, of course not… slap my face or knee me, that is.”
“So, she kissed you back?” Orlando asks.
I drag my hand down my face, stopping at my mouth.
“Yes, but then she freaked out and ran inside.”
We all sit back as our food and drinks are delivered.
“Thanks, Trina,” I say.
“My pleasure,” she says before making herself scarce again.
“You are big and scary,” Dante says with a grin. “Plus, you’ve spent a lot of time growling at her.”
“That was ages ago,” I say defensively.
“Maybe she didn’t like the way you kiss?” Leo adds, earning himself a slap from Orlando. “Hey, just pointing it out. It’s possible.”
I think back to the way she moaned in my arms, her fingers flexing against my shoulders.
“No, I can truthfully say she was completely on board.”
“Then maybe she’s had time to think and decided it’s a bad idea to get involved with her boss,” Dante reasons. “Especially if you broke up with Aubrey in front of her. Think about it.”
He’s not wrong.
“You’re right,” I say.
“You like her?” he asks. “I mean really like her? I haven’t seen you this tied up in knots since Loretta.”
“Great, thanks.” I huff.
“All I’m saying is, you have three options. You can tell her how you feel and see what she says, you can stay quiet and see if she comes around, or you can ignore it ever happened and get on with your life and date someone else.”
“Personally, I’d go with option three. Options one and two could be an HR nightmare,” Leo says.
When the others turn and glare at him, he holds up his hands in surrender. “Just stating the facts.”
“Romantic as always,” Orlando says.
“Come on, we’re all nearly forty and single. We’re clearly doing something wrong here. I wouldn’t take relationship advice from any of us,” Leo says.
He’s not wrong.
“I appreciate your input,” I say, picking up my knife and fork.
I cut into my steak.
Option two wins. Do nothing.
Because option three… therein lies the problem. I don’t want to date anyone else.