Chapter 2
“Ella,hun, there’s a delivery out front for you.”
I jumped at the sudden voice in my quiet little bubble. “Jesus!”
Laying my pen down, I took a deep breath, chuckling to myself. I’d been so lost in my work, I’d forgotten where I was.
My finger pressed the button on my phone. “Thank you, Crystal, be right there.”
On my way around my desk, I adjusted my blouse and skirt. My kitten heels were silent on the carpet running down the center aisle between the different cubicles full of hard-working men and women.
Yeah, I said kitten heels. I’d finally given up on real heels because I liked my body parts not bruised or broken. The last time I’d tried them, I’d fallen off the bus stairs—yeah, again. I know, it’s a shame. But I’d been in a rush to get to work on time.
Thankfully, May had helped clean me up when I got inside. I looked like the victim of a bicycle accident or something. I’d felt that fall for an entire week too.
I was a disgrace to women everywhere, but clumsy + heels = sudden death. It just wasn’t worth it anymore. Flats were best, but the kitten heels seemed to be working out in my favor for now. And they were cute to boot.
Smiling at myself, I walked toward the front of the office floor. I pulled the floor’s opaque doors open and came to a sudden stop. There was a gentleman standing at the desk with the biggest vase of multi-colored daisies I’d ever seen. It was gigantic.
“Holy bananas.”
“Ella, these are for you,” Crystal stated, her grin so wide it looked painful.
“Wow. Thank you. Do I need to sign for them?”
“No, ma’am, I just need to hand them off to you.” He eyed me. “Can you carry this or would you like help?”
I looked at the vase and flowers. “Thank you, I can manage; it’s not a long walk.” Or I’d try at least. If I needed help with flowers—I’m sure these jokers would never let me live it down.
He handed them over, and I leaned in to smell them. This was a rainbow bouquet of daisies all for me. Gah. I gave Crystal a sly grin before walking to the doors. I used my butt to push the doors open and took the walk back to my desk slowly. I didn’t want to trip or stumble. The last thing I wanted to do was drop the magnificent beauty in my arms. And then fall in wet glass. No emergency room visits this week, please.
I heard a few whispers following my walk back to my office. May met me outside of my door, folders in her arms.
“Well now, that’s what I call a bouquet of flowers.”
“Right?” I laughed slightly. “It’s almost as big as I am.”
She opened my door and followed me in. I set the vase on the low filing cabinet next to the wall of windows, the hard wood shining with the sun kissing it. This put the daisies eye-level with me now. With the sun shining down on them—it was picturesque.
I snagged the yellow envelope sticking up. Reading the note inside made my heart melt into a puddle of goo.
Today I give you the rainbow; tomorrow, the moon and stars await.
Love, R
Tears pricked at my eyes. It’s not something I expected to happen, but over the last six months, working side by side with Rudy, things started to change. I knew when he was close, it was like I could feel him. The scent of his cologne, God, there’s nothing sexier than a good-smelling man. His voice just set off a fire deep inside of me.
There had been nothing more than flirting—until a few weeks ago. His lips had met mine, and I was truly a goner. He’d also had his driver, Carl, take me home since we were getting out so much later than normal. I could see the look on his face as we hit the rougher side of town. I was used to this. It was a ‘keep your head down, but make sure you’re watching out for trouble’ area of town.
You know it’s like when as a kid, you just knew you couldn’t always count on neighbors. You didn”t leave your bike on the stoop. And if you got a delivery, you’d best be there to sign for it.
Waking up every morning since, knowing that Carl would be outside waiting to bring me into the office, was nice. I couldn’t lie; it was a relief to not have to chase down a bus. Or dodge creepy people with questionable hygiene and morals.
I felt a little like Cinderella every morning and in the evening when he would bring me home. I looked at it like Carl was my fairy godfather, except his car didn’t turn to a pumpkin at midnight.
“He’s a good man,” May said, giving me a one-armed hug, bringing me back to the here and now.
“He is…but…”
“But what?” she asked, stepping back.
“I don’t know. Won’t people talk?” That was one of my biggest fears, which was probably holding me back from being more expressive with him. Especially here, at work.
“Listen, no matter what happens, people talk. That’s how this works. Office romances happen. Gossip happens. You hold your head up and don’t worry about what other people think. Ya hear me? As long as this is something you want, you go for it. And I’m not just saying that because he’s my grandson. I think you’re a great woman. I see him with you, and I know he’s happy. You bring out something in him I’ve never seen. You just make sure he treats you right as you explore this chance. If he does anything stupid though, you let me know.”
“May, yer not trying to scare my girl, are ye?”
My heart started to thunder inside my chest at the sound of his voice. His girl? Was I his? The kiss, the romantic dinners, the car rides, and now the flowers. Well, they would certainly say yes. Yes, I was his girl.
I liked the way that sounded.
“Of course not. Just giving her a little advice.” She kissed his cheek when he came over, her eyes twinkling with humor. “I’ll be in the conference room with your father and the board members; come in when you’re ready. I’ll tell them you’ll be right in.”
“Aye, thank you, Gran.” He gave her a little squeeze before she left us.
I turned to face him, my cheeks heating with a blush. “These are gorgeous. Thank you.”
“Not as gorgeous as you.” He reached out to caress my cheek. The warmth of his large hand filled me with… I didn’t even know if I could put it into words. But whatever it was, I needed more.
My eyes fluttered closed for a moment. When they opened, I met his steely gaze. “You’re a smooth one, huh?” I loved teasing him.
His lips twitched as he leaned in and pressed a kiss to mine. Fire raced through my veins. He pulled back just as quickly.
“Ye should grab your pad and the folders on your desk. The sooner this meeting is over, the sooner we can get back to other things.”
Other things?
We were at work!
Good Lord.
I guess it’s only fair that he gave back what he got.
“Sure.” I heard footsteps just outside of my office, so I took a small step back. “Yes, sir. Right away, sir.” When the coast was clear, I batted my lashes at him.
His eyes blazed with fire, and I grinned to myself. Two could play this game, buddy. Though I knew darn good and well that he could, and would, play this a lot better than I could. I’d have to learn fast. I mean, I couldn’t let him have all the fun. I needed to be able to know I’d given just as good as I had gotten.
So, game on, Mr. Ferguson, game on.
Leaving work, I took in the sort-of-fresh air around us. It was a little dank, a little gross, and yeah, city life meant tainted air.
A warm hand took mine and gave it a squeeze. Inside the office, we were completely professional—no touching, not much kissing, unless that time in the copy room counted. Maybe it did, but then, I didn’t think it did. No one was on the floor other than us.
Outside of the office, we were like any other couple that was dating—testing the waters. We were still learning more about each other, three months in.
“I hope yer hungry?”
Was he serious? When was I not hungry? Grinning, I looked up at the restaurant before us and shrugged a shoulder. “I could eat.”
He chuckled. “Very well then, let us go in and feast.”
This place was nice. Opulent. Quaint. Perfect. So many words could describe this experience and yet, he took my full attention. His suit jacket and slacks… Nope. We were not going there. Undressing him during dinner, even if it’s only in my head, was not a good idea.
Stay focused, Ella.
Goodness.
I could hear my mom in my head: “Don’t you rush into anything with that boy.”
Okay, so it was more like remembering a conversation from the other evening. There had been lots for her to say that night. All of her mom-isms and advice dumped on me all at once. It was quite unpleasant at times. Especially when she decided to have the birds and the bees talk. I guess she thought I needed a refresher, a vivid one.
“He’s rich; he’ll expect more than you can give him.”
“Don’t let him take advantage of you.”
“Does he actually have feelings for you, or are you just another notch on his headboard?
“When a man and woman have feelings, things between them can go from normal to bed in the matter of minutes.”
I’d had to stop that “fun” talk because…
1) I was twenty-eight.
2) I’d been married; I knew all about how feelings and desires worked.
3) Just eww, I didn’t want to have this talk. It was weird.
I got her being worried, I was her baby girl after all, but I was my own person. I could make my own decisions and choices. I would be the one dealing with the consequences as well.
The meal had been just as I suspected—perfect. Five-star quality and service. I had a simple meal of steak, roasted potatoes with a creamy spinach sauce over them, and carrot cake for dessert.
The best part of the whole meal was watching Rudy.
The man was simply irresistible. In all ways.
“Ella, could you grab the files for my next meeting, please?”
“Absolutely.”
“I’d like you to sit in, so grab a notebook and pen as well.
“No worries. Conference room, yes?”
“Aye.”
“I’ll be right in with them.”
“Thank you, love.”
Ever since our dinner and night stroll in the park, things with Rudy had been…more. He’s such a gentleman at work. He’s kind yet demanding. We both managed to keep our budding relationship to an appropriate working one while on work time. After that though, I let my hair down, his tie came off, and then I got to see the real Rudy come out of his shell.
I wasn’t really used to a man who was kind in public and in private.
It was nice—refreshing. He’s slowly been maneuvering himself into a place in my heart. I wanted him to kiss me, hold me—show me off. As long as I was with him, nothing else really mattered.
I would just call myself Cinderella.
Grabbing the files, I hurried down the hall to the conference room. I had my mind racing in a hundred directions, so I wasn’t paying attention to the others in the room when I first entered. I handed the files over to Rudy and moved to sit on the side.
It wasn’t until I heard his voice that my insides froze up. My heart shriveled up, my bowels wanted to let loose, and my mind raced with the ways I could escape this room.
Byron Edwards, the worst human on the planet, was in the same room as me. I swore the day the judge declared us ‘divorced’ that I would never share space or air with him again. I’d never have to be looked at like I was dog crap on the bottom of his shoe. I wouldn’t allow myself to be belittled, talked down to, or beaten on. And yet, here I was.
Thanks, Karma, appreciate it, you sneaky stank turd! I could only be thankful that he didn’t seem to notice me. I looked a lot different than the last time he’d seen me.
I was a little—okay, a lot—heavier, my hair was much longer, I had contacts instead of nerd glasses, and I was dressed up. I blended into the surroundings. Praying—I was trying really hard to not panic right now. If I kept my head down and stayed quiet, maybe, just maybe I could get out of here without having a breakdown. Byron was the last person I ever thought I’d see—especially here.
“Are you all right, sweetheart?” May’s soft voice in my ear had me turning toward her.
I nodded, trying to get my head back in the game. I was okay—safe here. Rudy, May—I wasn’t alone in this room with a psychotic narcissist, gaslighting, two-timing, pile of cow turds.
Taking in a deep breath, I let it out slowly. This would be okay. It had to be.