Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
THREE DAYS LATER
S ierra
I’d barely seen Jack the past couple of days. He’d been across town in meetings, and when he did come to the office, he was in more meetings. Becca had given me two tickets to the Broadway play Hadestown for Friday night. She and Brad were supposed to go, but since Brad’s parents weren’t coming for Thanksgiving, they decided to take a long weekend and visit them in Rhode Island. I’d been working up the nerve to ask Jack if he wanted to go with me for the past twenty-four hours.
“Excuse me, Jack?” I stepped into his office and shut the door.
“What is it, Sierra?” He stared at his computer screen.
“A friend of mine gave me two tickets for the play Hadestown for tomorrow night. I was wondering if you’d like to go with me?”
He stared at me momentarily and leaned back in his chair.
“No. I have plans tomorrow night. Do you still plan on going?” he asked, which I thought was kind of weird.
“No. I figured I’d ask since they were free. No big deal.” As I began to walk out of his office, I stopped when he said something that caught me off guard.
“I thought we talked about this,” he said.
“Talked about what?” I turned and looked at him.
“That nothing would come of what happened between us the other night.”
“If you thought I was asking you on a date, you’re dead wrong. The tickets were free, and I asked you because I saw the Greek mythology books when I was at your house.”
“I appreciate it, but as I said, I already have plans.”
“Okay. Can I get back to work?” I pointed out into the hallway.
“Yes. Shut the door on your way out,” he said.
“Asshole,” I mumbled, sitting at my desk.
Later that afternoon, the office phone rang.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Atlas’s office. This is Sierra. How can I help you?”
“Hello, Sierra. I’ve been trying to reach Mr. Atlas. Is he around?”
“He’s in a meeting. May I ask who’s calling?”
“It’s Wendy. Can you be a doll and take down a message for him?”
“Of course.”
“Tell him that my meeting for tomorrow afternoon was canceled, and he can pick me up at my home tomorrow night instead of meeting at the theater.”
A sick feeling erupted in the pit of my belly.
“Which movie are the two of you seeing?” I asked.
“It’s not a movie. He’s taking me to see Hadestown.”
The sick feeling intensified.
“Oh. I heard it’s wonderful. Have fun.”
“Thanks, love. I have to run. Make sure he gets the message.”
“I will, Wendy. Goodbye.”
I pressed the pen to the pad and wrote down her message.
Jack,
Wendy called and said her Friday afternoon meeting was canceled, and you can pick her up at home for your date.
I stood up from my chair and placed the message on his desk. He was already going to see that play and couldn’t be bothered to tell me when I asked him to go. I had no plans to go after asking Jack because I didn’t want to see the play. I only wanted to see it with him and spend time alone together. I needed to get my delusional head out of my ass. It was my fault for sleeping with him in the first place. I knew better. But when you’re in the presence of Mr. Jack Atlas, you can’t help but succumb to his damn charm and sexy looks.
“Ugh!” I voiced loudly, placing my hands on each side of my head.
“What’s wrong?” Tristan walked past my desk and stopped.
“Nothing.”
“Darling, you look distressed. Let’s grab a couple of drinks after work.”
“Okay.”
Jack’s meeting ended, and he went into his office and shut the door. I waited for him to ask me about the message, but he didn’t.
Tristan and I were meeting at Rudy’s Bar after work. I arrived before him, so I sat at the bar and made myself comfortable.
“What can I get you?” the bartender asked.
“Gin and Tonic, please.”
“Sorry, I’m late.” Tristan walked over and sat beside me. “Daniel needed me to do something before I left. I’ll have what she’s having,” he told the bartender. “So, what’s wrong?”
“I slept with Jack.” I picked up my glass and tipped it to my lips.
“Oh shit, Sierra.”
“I have two tickets for Hadestown for tomorrow night. I asked Jack if he wanted to go, and he said he already had plans. Then, a woman named Wendy called the office, and it turns out he’s taking her to the play, which he didn’t bother mentioning that he was already going when I asked him to go.”
“Why on earth did you sleep with him? Wait.” He held up his hand. “You looked past his nastiness and focused solely on his sexy looks, right? Because I already warned you about him.”
“Yeah. Something like that.” I held up my empty glass to the bartender.
“Sierra, do you realize what you’ve done? You slept with the devil.”
“I’m beginning to realize that.” I sipped my drink as soon as the bartender set it down. “Here’s the thing, Tristan. I’m incredibly attracted to him?—”
“Looks only, right?” He interrupted.
“I don’t know. He and I are the same. Maybe that’s why.”
“You are nothing like him. Why would you even say that?”
“I hate the holidays just as much as he does.”
“Really? I never would have guessed that. Why do you hate the holidays?”
“I have my reasons. Hey,” I said to the bartender. “No Christmas decorations this year?”
“They’re going up over the weekend.” He grinned. “I can’t wait.”
Rolling my eyes, I sighed. “Remind me not to come back here until after the new year.” I glanced at Tristan.
“Don’t be a Scrooge, Sierra. I can barely handle the one at work. Don’t make me deal with your ass as well.”
“Sorry. But I’m siding with Jack on this one. You have no idea how happy it makes me that I don’t have to sit and look at that shit all day and hear that Godforsaken Christmas music.”
“Oh my God.” His eyes widened. “I’m going to pretend you didn’t just say that. Anyway, back to your Jack Atlas infatuation. I think you need to take a sexy as all fuck man with you to see Hadestown.” A grin crossed his lips. “I would go with you, but Jack would know it’s not a date. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.”
“He won’t give a shit,” I said.
“Probably not. But think of the fun you’ll have. Are you on a dating site?” he asked.
“I was. It’s been a while.”
“Pull it up on your phone and let me see your profile.” He held his palm up.
I pulled up Tinder and handed him my phone.
“Your profile looks good. I love the bio, and your picture is nice, but let’s take another. Smile.” He snapped a picture. “Now, we’ll add it, reactivate your account, and start swiping.” He handed me my phone.
“I don’t think this is a good idea,” I said.
“You’re right. It’s a great idea. Now, remember. Swipe left if someone catches your attention. If they don’t, swipe right.”
“I know, Tristan.” I set my phone on the bar, and we both looked at the pictures on the screen.
“Right,” he said. “Right. Right. Right.”
“Oh wow. He’s hot.” I smiled. “Let’s check out his bio. He’s thirty, loves nature, plays tennis, and he’s an adventurer.”
“There you go. Swipe left. It’ll be quite an adventure for him to go out with your Scrooge ass.”
“Very funny.” My eyes narrowed.
“Oh my God! He swiped right.” Within seconds, a message from him came through.
“Hi, beautiful. What’s up?”
“What should I say?” I looked at Tristan.
“Give me that phone.” He grabbed it from my hand.
“Hi, handsome. Interested in going out tomorrow night? I have two free tickets to see Hadestown.”
“I’d love to. Where and what time shall I pick you up?”
“Let’s first meet at Jonah’s Bar & Grill for a drink at six-thirty.”
“Sounds great. I can’t wait to meet you.”
“Me too, Ken.”
“There. You’re all set.” Tristan grinned, handing me my phone.
“And what if he’s weird?” I cocked my head.
“What if it’s the start of a beautiful relationship?” He held up his glass.