15. Naya
FIFTEEN
NAYA
I signed my contract with InnoWare a week before Christmas. I was excited for the first time in a very long time.
"I can maybe even afford a new place this summer," I told Darren. "Somewhere nice. Two bedrooms."
"I've been asking you to move in with me, but you're too stubborn."
Darren had a huge place in Beacon Hill; after all, he'd played pro ball, and his father was a finance genius who worked in a senior role for a bank in Chicago. He'd made good money, and he'd also invested it well.
"No way. I don't think I'd like the idea of all your football groupies prancing around naked."
"That was one time, and it was years ago."
I laughed. "I am so, so, so happy, Darren. I can leave Midas. Leave Amias. Maybe step away from Nolan and Kara. I'll miss Magnus, but…."
"Oxygen mask first on you, Sparky, and then the children," Darren reminded me.
Darren and I went ice skating at the Boston Common Frog Pond the Sunday before Christmas.
Located in the heart of Boston, the Frog Pond transformed into a charming outdoor ice skating rink during the winter months.
The sparkling lights of the city and the serene, snow-covered Common surrounding us were a magical backdrop for ice skating.
We spent a couple of hours there. I loved ice skating and so did Darren, so we'd started to come here during the holidays when I'd first met him. It had been his idea to help me move more freely giving me something that was serene and fun.
After the accident, I'd been depressed, and the winter months had been harder because the gray gloom outside matched perfectly with how I felt inside.
After Krav Maga once, Darren dragged me to the rink.
We always went to get hot cocoa from a nearby café after.
We sipped our warm drinks while we enjoyed each other's company and the scenic beauty of Boston Common dressed in its winter finery.
While we drank cocoa, I told Darren about what happened in Amias' office and first he'd been livid, then amused.
"The guy is interested in you."
I laughed out loud, almost spluttering into my hot chocolate.
"Just saying, Sparky. There's something there."
"Please, it's like that whole myth about 'he hurts you because he likes you.' I don't believe in that. It's nonsense. If someone likes you, they treat you nicely."
"True that, but no one said Amias was a smart son of a bitch.
One of my teammate's sisters…who, by the way, was supposedly untouchable because that fucks up the team, she used to have a crush on our running back.
Man, we could all see. He kept pushing her away 'cause he didn't want to get beat by the rest of the team for touchin' a sister. "
"And then?"
"And then he fucked her, knocked her up, got beat by her brother. Now they're married and have three kids. He got traded to the Dolphins. I see them whenever I go home to Florida. He's retired and happy as fuck."
"And you think Amias and I are going to have the same love story?"
"Why the fuck not?"
"You have photos of this couple?"
Darren pulled out his phone, and he showed me the perfect family. Two gorgeous adults and their three beautiful daughters.
"She looks like a supermodel."
"Ah…yeah, she is…was a Victoria's Secret Angel."
I rolled my eyes.
"Hey, don't do that," Darren chided.
"Do what?" I sipped my cocoa.
"You're a beautiful woman, Sparky."
"No curves, no fashion sense, and boring as fuck."
"Stop saying that."
"It doesn't matter what I say, Darren," I quip, "it's how I feel. Amias just articulated it."
"Amias is a dickwad."
"That I can get on board with."
"So, when you gonna resign?"
"Tomorrow," I told him brightly. "He's expecting it, so I'm sure there won't be any drama. And honestly, I think he'll be happy to see me go."
"How are things with your brother and Kara?"
I shrugged. "Neither of them has reached out to me, and I haven't contacted them either.
I know he's not the greatest brother, but I didn't think he'd skip our father's death anniversary for lunch at The Langham.
That's just too much for me. I've forgiven him for a lot, but this... this is the last straw."
"And you miss the kid?"
"Like no one's business. And just because of Magnus I may have to find a way to make it work with Nolan and Kara."
"Yeah. I'd do the same. Kids are innocent and shouldn't pay for their parents being morons," Darren consoled me and then grinned, "Why don't we go for a walk around the common, indulge in some more holiday spirit, and then find a bar to indulge in spirits?"
"I like that idea very much."
I was still in high spirits on Monday when I walked up to Amias' office with my resignation in hand. Mila fell in step with me.
"You going in to tell him now?"
I'd given her a heads up that I was resigning. She was unhappy about it but not surprised. It was late in the evening, so Amias' executive assistant had already left. I'd looked at his calendar and he was free between six and six thirty, so that was my opening.
"You mind if I come with you and get a couple of contracts signed? I just got them in, and they need to go back to the vendors ASAP."
"It'll be nice when Ethan comes back, and you don't need to run to the CEO for every small thing," I murmured.
"Tell me about it!" Mila agreed. "What are you doing for Christmas?"
"Hanging out with a friend and his friends," I told her.
She knocked on the door. "Yeah? Close friend?" She opened the door, and we both stepped in and gasped.
Amias was kissing Ann rather passionately. Her back was to us. At the noise, he lifted his head, and Ann turned to see us. We stepped out and banged the door shut.
"Oops," Mila muttered. "Should've waited for him to say come in. I wasn't paying attention."
My poor heart agreed with her as it broke into a million pieces.
Foolishly, when Darren had said that Amias may have a thing for me, a part of me, the stupid one, decided to believe it and maybe build a few castles in the air.
But here he was kissing his girlfriend, his hands on her waist. His eyes had been glazed over when he saw us with what I assumed was arousal.
We waited outside for what seemed like forever. While Mila talked about her Christmas plans, I barely paid attention, focusing on keeping my emotions off my face.
A lifetime later, which was about fifteen minutes, Ann came out of the office, wiping her mouth and looking like she'd just gotten laid. I felt my throat constrict.
"So sorry about that," Mila immediately said. "I wasn't thinking and opened the door."
"Oh, that's fine," Ann grinned. "Hi, Naya, how are you?"
"I'm well. And you?"
"Good. You know, your friend Darren was very rude to Nolan and Kara. You should apologize to them."
Lady, that isn't going to happen.
"Well, we should be going in," Mila said after there was a long pause.
"You should contact them sooner than later.
We're off to a chalet in Switzerland end of the week for Christmas with Amias' family," she continued and pulled out a mirror from her Christian Dior bag to check her lipstick.
She dropped it back inside. "It's a special holiday," she whispered conspiratorially.
"Amias and I are getting engaged." She put her finger on her lips. "Don't tell anyone."
Who on earth would I tell?
Engaged? Of course, they were. I couldn't be resigning at a better time, I thought, consoling my tattered heart.
"Congratulations." Mila put a hand on her heart dreamily. "How romantic to do it in Switzerland. You should make sure to take a lot of pictures."
"His mother has hired a top photographer; his family is so excited about it, too." She looked pointedly at me as if waiting for me to say something.
"Wonderful news," I obliged. "Congratulations."
Amias opened the door. "Are you waiting for me?" he asked us.
"Yes," Mila and I said in unison.
Ann blew a kiss at him, and he looked uncomfortable as hell.
"I'll see you at home," Ann chirped.
So, they moved in together. Good to know. What the hell was he doing touching my lips when he was getting engaged to Ann and moving in with her?
Mila got her papers signed and wished Amias a Merry Christmas and added in a hushed whisper, "And congratulations."
He frowned. "For what?"
Mila just wiggled her eyebrows and left his office.
"What was that about?" Amias asked me.
I gave him a fuck if I knew shrug. I wasn't going to talk to him about his engagement. I couldn't. He was never mine, but it felt like a final blow.
Now, can you get over your stupid crush, Naya?
I didn't sit. I put a folded printed sheet of paper on his desk. He didn't unfold it.
"So, you're leaving Midas?"
"Yes."
"And me."
I frowned. "I suppose so."
"InnoWare is lucky to have you, Naya. I wish you all the best."
"Thanks, Amias, for the opportunity to work at Midas.
I know you were being kind in giving me a job and I hope I didn't disappoint you.
" I was sincere and looked him in the eye when I spoke and didn't do my usual eyes on the floor thing.
"It was a pleasure working here. Ah…I'll call Ethan tonight and let him know as well. "
Amias smiled tightly. "He's going to be disappointed you're leaving. He's probably going to blame me."
"You?" My brows furrowed.
"Yeah, he told me to behave myself with you while he was away, or we'd lose you. I guess I did a shitty job of keeping you at Midas."
What did he want me to say? Not the truth, not when he looked like I'd kicked his puppy.
"I'll let him know that it has nothing to do with you. I would never speak badly about you," I promised.
He sighed. "I know, Naya. You're the loyal type, aren't you?"
Yeah, loyal like a doormat. You can keep wiping your feet on me, and I'll be there for you 24/7, 365 days a year.
"Ann mentioned you're all off to Switzerland. I hope you'll have a wonderful Christmas there."
He picked up my resignation letter and looked at it but didn't unfold it. "Would you like to join us? My parents are chartering a flight. We'll have room. The chalet is huge."
I gaped at him and then shut my mouth, so I didn't look like an idiot. "That's a kind offer. I'm spending Christmas here."
"Back to the women's shelter?" he asked, and there was some iron in his voice that I didn't like. He seemed angry, and I couldn't fathom why.
"Yes and I'll be with Darren. He spends Christmas with some of his old teammates who also don't have family nearby. We have a good time."
"Hanging out with pro ball players is probably a whole lot more fun than your brother's asshole friends."
Now, his tone was belligerent.
"Please don't put words in my mouth." I looked down now, back to the floor, feeling conscious and uncomfortable. I hated confrontations.
"Merry Christmas, Naya. Will I see you again?"
"Ah…for a week in January so I can do project handovers."
"When do you start at InnoWare?"
"Ah—"
"Can you, for the love of everything holy, look at me when you talk to me?" he yelled.
My eyes snapped up at him. There was barely controlled fury on his face. "Why are you so angry with me?" I asked.
"Because you're leaving me."
"I'm leaving Midas. Employees leave all the time."
He looked away and sighed. "I wish you all the best. Please close the door on your way out."
I was by his door when I heard him say, "I thought you'd stay. I was sure you'd stay."
I kept my back to him. "Why did you think that?"
"I didn't think you'd be able to stand the thought of leaving me."
I hadn't thought so either. "I'm full of surprises," I murmured and walked out.