35. Spencer
Chapter 35
Spencer
“ T he show is over,” I growl when I notice we have an audience. “Move along.” The shocked look on some of my employees’ faces should concern me, but my only worry right now is Delilah. I turn to Tony—the security guard—and jut my chin in fuckface’s direction. “Get him out of here and make sure he doesn’t return.”
“Yes, Mr Prescott.”
With that sorted, I storm towards the elevator, pulling my phone out of my pocket as I go. The first number I call is Delilah’s, but I’m not exactly shocked when it goes to voicemail. I dial Damien next.
“Is Delilah with you?” I snap as soon as he answers.
“No, but I have a visual on her. She just turned the corner and is heading my way. She looks?—”
“Pissed?”
“Yeah.”
“Makes two of us. And why is she turning a corner?” I ask, confused. “You are supposed to pick her up and drop her off out front.”
“Oh … yeah … umm, about that?—”
“Spit it out, Damien. ”
“She’s been getting me to drop her off and pick her up from around the corner.”
“Since when?”
“Monday.”
“Why?” I bark down the line.
“I don’t know, sir, she didn’t say.”
“And why am I only hearing about this now?”
“I—”
“Never mind,” I grumble, ending the call.
I’ll sort this out when I get home. Right now, I need to calm the fuck down. I stab the button when I reach the elevator, and although I can feel a thousand eyes burning into the back of my head, I don’t bother turning around. In the mood I’m currently experiencing, I’m liable to sack everyone on the spot.
By the time I reach my floor, I’m no calmer. Slamming my office door closed, I stalk towards the bar in the corner and pour myself a bourbon. Once I down the amber liquid in one go, I pour a second glass and bring it over to my desk, placing it down on top.
Opening the top drawer, I pull out a cigar, cut off the end, and after flipping the lid on my lighter, I let the tip hover above the flame until a glowing ring appears around the edge. Only then do I bring it to my lips.
Taking a slow draw, I swirl the smoke in my mouth to savour the flavours before exhaling. I do this a few times before taking a seat and reaching for my glass. I need to get home, but first and foremost, I have to get my anger under control. The last thing I want is to start a fight with Delilah and make this situation worse.
So many questions swim around in my head as I lean back into my chair and take another draw.
Did I overreact down there?
Probably .
Is Delilah upset with me?
More than likely.
Why was he here?
I have my suspicions.
Is he trying to win her back?
Fuck, I hope not.
The last one has me picking up my drink and gulping it down.
I’m not sure what I’m going to find when I ride the elevator up to my apartment an hour later. Delilah should be here because when Damien came back to get me, he said he’d dropped her straight home earlier.
Well, I’m hoping she is.
When I enter, I find the lights on, but both the kitchen and the main room are empty. I’m used to seeing her in her element, cooking up a storm, so it’s disappointing to find that’s not the case tonight.
With my briefcase still in hand, I head for her bedroom first. The door is slightly ajar, but the room is in darkness. I use my knuckle to tap against the wood, but when I get no reply, a nervous feeling settles in the pit of my stomach.
Has she left?
I turn on the light, and I’m relieved to see all her belongings scattered around the room, including her handbag that’s sitting on top of her made bed.
There is no sign of her in my bedroom either, so I head to my home office to stow my briefcase away before I continue my search. I’m surprised to find her in there. She’s sitting behind my large desk, which seems to dwarf her slight frame .
“Here you are. What are you doing in here?” I ask.
She doesn’t look away from the computer screen, but answers with, “Writing my resignation.”
“What?”
“You heard, or are those old ears of yours playing up again?”
“Delilah,” I growl as I stalk towards her with long purposeful strides.
I stop on the opposite side of the desk and glare down at her as her fingers angrily bang against the keyboard.
“There … done,” she says, pushing back her chair and standing. I watch as she moves over to the printer and snatches up the piece of paper it spits out. She then holds it out towards me. “My resignation … effective immediately.”
I take it out of her hand, briefly glance down at it, and do the only thing I can. I tear it in half and drop it to the floor.
Her lips thin as she retakes her seat behind the desk. “I can do this all night if need be.”
She stabs at the keys again and rinses and repeats her previous movements. This time when she extends her arms towards me, I grasp her wrist and tug her closer. She lets out a little squeak as I capture her around the waist and tilt her face towards mine with my other hand.
“I’m not accepting your resignation.”
“You don’t have a choice.”
I exhale an exasperated breath. “I’m sorry, okay? I overreacted by grabbing him the way I did, but when Shay-lee called me and said some guy was manhandling you in the lobby, something inside me snapped. I know you two have a history, but never underestimate how much you mean to me … how hard I’ll fight for you. I may step out of line from time to time, but please never forget th at. Your well-being and safety are, and always will be, my number one priority.”
“You think I’m mad because you grabbed Kayne?”
My eyebrows pinch together. “You’re not?”
“I mean maybe a little, but …” Her words die off as her bottom lip quivers and tears rise to her eyes.
“Sweetheart,” I say with a sigh as my hand on her chin moves to the back of her head, guiding her face into my chest. “Please don’t cry … seeing you like this kills me.”
“I’ve ruined everything,” she sniffles. “I’m the one who should be sorry.”
I cup her face and tip her head back. “You haven’t ruined anything. You’ve done nothing wrong. You never asked for any of this.”
“I caused it.”
“I’m not following … you asked that dick to come to the office?”
“What? God no. I didn’t know he was going to show up there.”
“Then what have you ruined? What did you cause?”
“I’ve ruined your reputation.”
“I’m not following.”
“Because of the rumours circulating about us.”
“What rumours?”
That was the wrong question to ask because it brings on another bout of tears.
“The rumours going around at work. They’re even placing bets on us, Spencer.” Her eyes move to mine and the liquid that is pooling in them tugs at my heart. “The staff are placing bets on whether we are a couple.”
I bark out a laugh. “Seriously?”
“There is nothing funny about that. It could ruin everything you’ve worked so hard for. ”
“I doubt falling in love with the woman of my dreams is going to ruin anything. Unless you plan on leaving me. You’re not planning that, are you?”
“No, of course not.”
“Good, because I don’t care what anyone else has to say about us. You make me happy, Delilah. Happier than I’ve ever been. If people have a problem with that, that’s a them problem.”
“You really don’t care?”
“No. What does concern me though, is why you’re having Damien pick you up and drop you off around the corner, instead of out the front of the building?” She buries her face in my chest and weeps again. “Please stop crying,” I plead as I wrap her tightly in my arms. “It affects me greatly.”
“I’m sorry,” she blubbers into my dress shirt.
I move us over to the seat behind my desk, and once I’m seated, I pull her down onto my lap. “Talk to me, sweetheart. Tell me what’s really going on inside that pretty little head of yours.”
“I just did.”
“So that’s your only issue? The gossiping?”
“And the stares, funny looks, but mainly the damage it’s doing to you.”
His frown lines deepen. “What stares and funny looks? By who?”
“People that work on my floor … Shay-lee.”
“Hmm.”
“I don’t want to get anyone into trouble, I just want it to stop. That’s why I need to resign.”
“I’m not accepting your resignation … I’m going to fix this.” I shift around with her still on my lap and open my inbox on the computer.
“What are you doing? ”
“I’m sending out a company email.”
“Oh, God, please don’t.”
“Why?” I ask, glancing at her.
“It will just make it worse. I have to work with these people every day and they probably already think I got this job because I’m sleeping with the boss.”
“Not if I move you back up to my floor.”
“I don’t want you creating a job just for me.”
“I won’t be.” I slide my hand into my jacket and retrieve my phone.
“Who are you calling?”
“Laura.”
“Oh, no you don’t,” she says, reaching for my phone, but my reflexes are too quick for her.
“Laura. I know it’s late, so I apologise, but I wanted to talk to you about something that can’t wait until morning.”
I click the phone onto speaker so Delilah can hear the conversation. I don’t want to make the same mistake I did last time.
“Okay.”
“I know you’re struggling to be away from your daughter, so I have another proposition for you. How about I offer the same amount I did for you to come back, but this time it’s to stay home and finish the rest of your maternity leave?”
Delilah gasps from beside me as she tries to reach for the phone again. I roll my lips to hide my amusement as I lean my body further away.
“That’s sweet of you to offer, but I was just writing my resignation letter.”
“You were?”
“Yes. My husband got offered a job of a lifetime today, but it’s out of state, so we’re moving. ”
“That’s wonderful,” I say, which earns me a poke in the ribs. I cock an eyebrow as I glance sideways at Delilah. “Naturally, I’ll be sorry to see you go.”
When Delilah gives me a pointed look, I grin.
“I still plan on giving you two weeks’ notice. We won’t be leaving until the end of the month.”
“Why don’t you finish up tomorrow, since it’s the end of the week? I’ll have Delilah step back in as of Monday.”
That earns me a pinch in the side this time.
“Are you sure? I could use the extra time to pack.”
“Positive,” I say. “I’ll make sure you’re paid for those two weeks as well.”
“I’m going to miss working for you, Mr Prescott. You’ve been such a great boss.”
“I’ll miss you too, Laura.”
When I end the call, I lean in and brush my lips against Delilah’s. “All settled,” I tell her.
“Not really. I still need to go into the office and face everybody.”
“Tomorrow, I want you to have the day off. I’ll organise for my mother to take you out for the day. She’d love that. You can do whatever it is you women do.”
“And Monday?”
“You just get in a little earlier. Before the others. You already pack our lunches, so you won’t even need to leave the building during the day if you don’t want to.”
Delilah’s been packing lunches for us for a couple of months. It started with leftovers here and there and then progressed to what it is now. It may not be the food I’m used to eating at work, but it was such a novelty at first. I’d never had a packed lunch before, not even when I was a child. I adore her for looking after me the way she does. She’s going to make an amazing mother to our children one day .
“You’ve thought of everything, haven’t you?”
“They don’t call me the fixer for nothing.”
She lets out a small laugh, which I’ll take over her tears any day. “Who calls you that?”
“People.”
“What people?” she asks accusingly.
“Hold that thought,” I say. “I need to make another quick call.”
“How convenient,” she retorts, rolling her eyes.
“Simone … it’s Spencer,” I say when my PA answers. “I know it’s short notice, but Laura is finishing up tomorrow. Do you think you could organise a small party for her? Use the company credit card to get whatever you need. Can you buy her an acceptable gift as well?”
“Of course. That was sudden. I knew she was struggling …”
“Her husband got a job out of state.”
“Do you need me to organise a temp to start Monday?”
“No, Delilah can fill in for her. She knows the job, so it makes more sense to utilise her.”
“Ah, okay.”
“Listen, while I’ve got you here, can I ask if you have heard any office gossip concerning me and Delilah?”
“Yeah, I have. I try my best to shut it down when I do.”
“Thank you. What about a betting ring?”
“Umm … yeah, I’ve heard about that too. I think Shay-lee is the one running it.”
“Can you schedule a meeting with me, Shay-lee and HR first thing tomorrow?”
“For what it’s worth, I think it’s just some harmless fun.”
“That may be true, but I don’t pay these people to sit around and talk idle gossip, or run an illegal betting ring, for that matter.”
When I end my call with Simone, the first thing Delilah asks is, “Are you going to fire Shay-lee?”
“Do you want me to?”
“No.”
“Then I won’t, but she will get an official warning.”
“I feel terrible now.”
“Don’t. Look at what this has been doing to you. I won’t stand by and let anyone disrespect you … especially my employees.”
“They’re saying stuff about you too.”
“I don’t care about that. Your needs will always trump my wants … I’ll always have your best interests at heart.”
“I love you,” she says.
“I love you too.”
Standing, I bring her with me. “Now that the fixer has fixed everything, let’s go order some dinner.”
“Nobody calls you that.”
“Do you have proof to back that up?”
“Ugh.”
“I thought as much.”
“Can we have Chinese?”
“We can have whatever you want, sweetheart.”