Chapter 7
Emily
Today ismy first day back at the office since my amazing and well-needed vacation. I spent the past two days doing laundry and thinking about my next trip. After talking to Gavin about how he takes an annual trip, I made the decision that I too, would put more of an effort into taking a vacation.
I feel refreshed and as if I’m a new person. Part of that has to do with Gavin. Even though the way he looked screamed fuckboy when I first saw him, as I got to know him over the week we spent together in Tulum, I learned he was a grown-ass man, who had his shit together, but knew how to have fun.
Doing a few of the excursions around Tulum proved he was interested in the cultures of where he goes, that he was down for adventure, and that he had a thirst for knowledge.
During the plane ride back home, I wanted to tell him I didn’t want to say goodbye. But I left that thought to stay in my head. We kissed goodbye, and that was the last that I would see of him.
Except, that’s what I thought.
That was my assumption until the new marketing guy entered the conference room, and it turned out to be the attractive man I had been involved with for the past week.
Our eyes meet and the smile on his face gets wider after a moment of surprise. His gaze wanders around the rest of the table. He nods and smiles at everyone before his gaze settles back on me.
I have no clue what transpired in the meeting after Michelle, my boss, and Gavin walked in. My mind was running with situation after situation of why he was here, and how come I didn’t know who management was bringing in, and why I was so affected by seeing him here, in my domain.
The meeting finished, and everyone was standing around waiting for their chance to speak with him. I observe him while I pack up my laptop and my notepads. He makes eye contact with everyone; he shakes their hand and in between glancing my way; he gives them his time.
I don’t have time to shake hands with him. I have a week’s worth of shit to work on and the last thing that I need is a distraction. That’s what he is. A distraction. Fuck!
Of course, I made it clear that we would not give details about our lives. But now I’m kicking myself in the ass. I wouldn’t have been able to do anything about him being here, but at least I would be prepared.
I walk over to my department, directly across from the marketing department. The empty office, which I assume will be occupied by Gavin, has a closed door. He will be here, across the room from me, Monday through Friday. Jesus H. Christ!
I’m not ready for this.
Most of the day goes by and I’ve avoided Gavin until there’s a knock on my office door and he’s standing in the doorway. My pulse speeds up, my throat goes dry and suddenly, I’m nervous. But I quell my nerves and take a deep breath. I stand up and grab his arm, practically dragging him to the building stairwell door.
Once the door closes behind us, I turn to him.
“Did you follow me here?” I accuse in a whisper-shout at him.
His hands go up, palms forward, “I did not know you worked here. I swear.”
“This is bad. This is all bad. I can’t believe that I was so reckless.” I mumble to myself.
“Hey, there’s nothing wrong with this. We’re both grown adults. We met while we were both on vacation.”
“You didn’t seek me out?” I turn my head to look at him, to gauge his expression as he answers.
“Excuse me? How and why the fuck would that happen?”
“My photo is on the website. I would assume that you did your research. You may have recognized me while at the airport.”
“I told you when we were there, I was starting a new job as soon as we got back. I didn’t know that it was the same place that you worked at.”
“I can’t believe this is happening.” I shake my head. “You knew where I worked. You had to.”
“Em. Listen to me and listen to me good. I didn’t. You and I happening was not planned. At the airport, I did not know who you were. I swear. What happened in Tulum-.”
“What happens in Tulum stays in Tulum. We cannot bring that here. Not to work. Our time together was great, but we cannot continue it. Especially not now.”
“Understood. Listen, we work together. Nothing more.”
“Nothing more.” I look at him, then walk out of the stairwell, leaving him alone.
Likely, not the reunion that he would have wanted. Not the reunion that I would have wanted with him, either. I walk back to my office and close the door. I email my team, explaining that I am taking care of business that I missed while away and to call my office if they needed me as my door is never closed.
No one bothered me.
I wasn’t lying. I had a lot to catch up on. I barely looked up from my computer screen before it was the end of the day. When I packed up my belongings around seven at night, I noticed the entire floor was dark, including the office across from mine.
Thank goodness.
He’s everywhere.Or is that my brain just projecting that he is because I want him to be?
I see him everywhere. He’s in many of my meetings, he’s out on the floor chatting with his staff, and he’s in his office. I’ve gone a week without having to converse with him until I’m called into Michelle’s office.
Gavin is sitting in the other chair that faces her desk. I silently take the seat beside him, give him a curt nod, and look to Michelle for the reason that we’re both sitting in here.
“Emily. You’ve developed an amazing rapport with our new clients over the past few months since we signed them. Their product is ready, and we need to set up a deployment of their brand for this new branch of their business. So, I want your team and Gavin’s working together on this launch.”
“How so?” I ask.
“You know them better than anyone does. You know their needs and their wants. I want you and Gavin to headline this together. Their product development needs some work. Identify what the needs are for their long-term and go with that.” Michelle turns and looks at Gavin, “Conduct some research, understand their needs. Emily can help you with this since she’s been working with them. But then create a strategy and get your team working on some campaigns to offer them.”
“Sure thing. What does the timeline look like?” Gavin asks before I can.
“We have no timeline yet. Set up meetings with them to determine what the plan of action will be to set one up. Lean heavily on Emily for this Gav.”
He looks at me and nods with an apprehensive smile.
“Questions?” Michelle asks.
“Nope. We’ve got it,” Gavin says, standing.
We exit together and walk in the same direction.
“I’ve been meeting with these guys for months. I brought them here and can introduce you around to some of the decision makers. Want to set something up to get started?” I ask, offering him an olive branch. “Should my assistant call your assistant?”
He shakes his head and pulls his phone out of his pocket. He taps on the screen, scrolls, and then looks up. “I have this afternoon free.”
“Making me work extra hard here, Jacobs. Follow me.” I walk to my assistant’s desk.
“Dan. What do I have this afternoon?” I ask him.
“You have a few different things going on, but you’re open at four,” he tells me, looking between us.
“I can do that.” Gavin nods.
“Perfect. Dan, please see that Mr. Jacobs is added to a calendar appointment. We’ll need a few hours. Book out one of the smaller conference rooms for us.”
“Dinner?” Dan asks.
“We shouldn’t run that late. Thank you.” I turn to Gavin. “In the meantime, I’ll shoot you over some links about our clients and their products to give you a glance. Otherwise, I’ll see you this afternoon.”
“See you this afternoon,” he grins and turns on his heel toward his office.
Mitchell looks at me and smiles.
“Why do I sense some tension between the two of you?” he asks.
“I don’t know.”
“He’s super cute.” Mitchell looks to Gavin, who is standing at one of his staff’s cubicles talking.
“Don’t get any ideas. He doesn’t float on that boat.”
“Oh? And how would you know this, missy?”
I shake my head. “I don’t.” I lie.