Fated to be Mine (17 page)

Kara’s nose crinkles in mock disgust as she walks over to one of the many bouquets of flowers that fill my office. Touching the petals softly, as if they may fall right off, she laughs lightly. “I swear you live like you’re still in college. How can you survive off of the crap that’s in your place? It’s all boxed goods or soups. Live a little woman. Branch out. Do you get any meat in you, besides Andrew’s?”

My mouth drops open, unable to believe she seriously just said that to me. Well, not really. I can believe it. “Seriously? Did I not just say that there will be no sex between me and Andrew?”

Turning, she walks back to my desk, getting back on her perch on the corner. “I swear you must be a nun. There is no way I’d be able to keep my clothes on with him around. How do you do it? I mean, a woman has needs you know.”

“I just said no sex. I didn’t say no to messing around. We just haven’t come to that juncture yet.”

Kara’s face brightens and I’m almost afraid of what’s going to come out of her mouth. “What exactly is your definition of sex then? Are you talking in the biblical sense or Bill Clinton’s definition?” She wiggles her eyebrows and I roll my eyes at her.

“Oh my God, you did not just refer to the infamous cigar scandal, did you?”

Her smile grows wider and I shake my head, laughing silently. The things that come out of her mouth never cease to amaze me. She should be a stand-up comic in another life. Kara shrugs her shoulders, looking back at the flowers again. I follow her gaze and admire the bright and beautiful bouquets. Apparently Andrew has been on a mission to find my favorite flower. Every day he brings or sends me a new vase of flowers, all ranging from red roses to orchids to lilies. And with each bouquet, he asks if he’s found them yet. When I say no, his reply is just a smile. He said he wants to make me happy by showering me with all my favorite things. I told him it’s unnecessary but he’s bound and determined to do it, so who am I to say no?

“Yeah I did. And if sex is off the market then you need to get some kind of action so I’m curious as to which flavor is off the menu. Messing around is well and good but nothing beats a good stiff …”

“Stop right there,” I say, holding up my hand to her. Kara laughs, her eyes bouncing with delight at my embarrassment. “I will not discuss my sex life with you.”

“Fine. Don’t let a girl live vicariously through you. But seriously, get something, anything. I don’t care if it’s just with a finger. It’s been way too long for you. Plus it’s a proven fact that it relieves stress and is an all-natural mood booster.”

I shake my head, still laughing under my breath. “I’m not discussing this with you.”

She groans loudly. “You are such a bore! Try it tonight with Andrew. Do something, anything. You know he’s good for it.”

I smack her arm. “I’m trying to have temporary amnesia when it comes to Andrew and our past. I want to learn new things about him instead of relying on what happened in the past.”

Kara rubs her abused arm, scowling slightly at me. “If you keep abusing me I’m going back to my office.”

That would not be a good thing because I haven’t gotten the signal from Chris yet letting me know everything is ready. She starts walking toward the door and I bolt out of my chair, reaching her before she turns the knob.

“Fine, fine, I’m sorry.” Placing my hands on her shoulders, I push her back to her spot on my desk. After retaking my seat, I spread the applications out again and sigh. “But seriously, I need your help. All of them are so similar I have no clue which one to choose. What do you think?”

Kara taps a finely manicured nail against her lips while she shuffles through the different applications. All the notes I took during the interview process are attached to each one, along with mountains of Post-Its, highlighting each of their strengths and weaknesses. Kara places them back on the desk, lining them up next to each other. I raise my brow, wondering what exactly she’s doing and watch as she twirls her finger above the three pieces of paper, closing her eyes and then stabs one of the papers with it.

“I like this one.”

I laugh, picking up the paper she selected. “Very scientific and sophisticated. Did they teach you that in business school?” I can’t help rolling my eyes at her.

“Hey, you asked, I delivered. Your new assistant is picked. What more do you want?” Apparently she finds this hilarious. Then again, I said it myself that all three finalists were very close so truly it didn’t matter too much. I would get along with any of them and all would excel in their assigned position.

Charlene Jacobs is my lucky winner. Twenty-two years old, recently graduated with a BA in Marketing from the University of Minnesota, working toward her MBA. On the application she states she needed real life experience for her graduate program and was impressed by the work that our company does. Definitely a plus in her category. And I know about needing real-life experience. I wouldn’t be in my position if Kara didn't take me with her to every meeting she had. Strong typing skills and, according to my notes, an eagerness to learn rounds Charlene out. I can work with that.

“I’ll give her a call and let her know the good news, minus the way she was selected of course. She may not be thrilled to hear about that.”

Kara nods and moves to the window again. She seems forlorn and sad. Chris had better hurry up or she’s going to think the wrong thing. I move to stand next to her, gently draping my arm around her shoulder.

“What’s wrong?”

She sighs and looks down at her shoes. “Nothing. It’s just … Chris has never acted this distant before, even when we were fighting. At least we still saw each other when we fought. He’s been gone almost all week and it’s sort of freaking me out.”

I give her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “I’m sure it’s nothing. Maybe he’s just stressed out. His work schedule has been overloaded this week, having to sit on interviews for two new assistants on top of all the regular work he’s supposed to do. That’s not an easy task you know.”

Kara nods her head, still looking down. “Yeah, maybe you’re right. But today is our five-year anniversary. You’d think he would have done something for that. It’s a big deal and I know there’s no way he’s forgotten it. He always does something elaborate every year.”

My phone vibrates in my pocket, letting me know that it’s time. “I’m sure he hasn’t forgotten. That man has a mind like a steel trap.” I lead her to the door, my arm looped through hers. “Come on, let’s grab your stuff and blow this place off early. I think we both could use a drink. My treat.”

“What about your date with Andrew?”

I shrug. “I’ll text him and let him know I’ll be a little late due to a change in plans. You’re my best friend and your happiness comes before any date. Chicks before dicks and all that.”

She laughs as we walk down the hall. “I think I’m rubbing off on you. But yeah, I could definitely use a drink.”

We stop in front of her door and she tilts her head to the side. “I know I left my door open. What the hell?”

Turning the knob, she walks in, but I stay behind, pulling out my phone to record what’s about to happen. Kara halts in the doorway, frozen in place but lets her hands come up to cover her surprised gasps at the display before her. Dozens and dozens of beautiful orchids and potted azaleas of every color cover every available inch of her office, making my own look pitiful compared to hers. Rose petals are spread across the carpet, leading to the man standing in the middle of it all, holding a single blue orchid out to her, her favorite.

When her hands leave her face, a quiet sob fills the room. Tears are streaming down her cheeks now, tears of happiness and surprise. Somehow she manages to make her feet work, walking ever so slowly over to Chris, taking the offered flower from him.

“Chris … I just … this is amazing. I thought … I thought for sure you had forgotten our anniversary,” she says between hiccupping sobs. I move further into the doorway, zooming in on their loving moment. She looks around before attaching her eyes to him. “But is it safe, you know, for everyone to know?”

A small crowd of women has gathered behind me, all sighing deeply at Chris’s display. Chris moves toward her, running his fingers through her loose hair before bending down, placing his lips upon hers. I’m finding it incredibly difficult to keep quiet while recording because I don’t want to ruin this moment for her when she watches it later.

And then a collective gasp is heard, the loudest being from Kara, as Chris drops to one knee before her. The smile on his face is one of complete and utter devotion and love as he looks straight into her eyes.

“Kara, you and I have been together for five years now, mostly in secret. I’m tired of hiding my love for you when I want to shout it to the rooftops that you are my everything, my reason for waking in the morning and my comfort in the dead of night. Our lives are forever intertwined, destined to be together from now until the end of eternity.”

He pulls out a velvet box from his pocket, opening it to show the stunning platinum two karat princess cut diamond ring. It’s the most elegant ring I’ve seen, a perfect match for Kara. Her hands fly to her mouth again as she blinks back tears.

“I knew the first moment I saw you that I was going to love you for the rest of my life. Your beauty, your brains, your quirky sense of humor, and even that foul mouth of yours … everything … the whole package that makes up you. It took us a while to get here, but I wouldn’t trade our journey for anything. Every part of it brought me closer and closer to this moment. And here I am on bended knee asking if you, Kara Elizabeth Thomas, will do me the great honor in becoming my wife?”

For the first time in all the years I’ve known Kara, she’s speechless. Tears continue to fall from her eyes as her head nods up and down quickly. Chris stands, pulling her hands away from her face and sliding the ring onto her finger, reverently kissing it when it rests in place. Kara tosses the flower she’s still clutching in her right hand onto her desk, cups his cheeks and pulls his face to hers. A bright beaming smile plays across her face.

“Yes, yes I’ll marry you.”

They embrace each other, both showering the other with love and tears. The tears are mostly from Kara. Chris pulls her into a heated kiss and a few cat calls begin to erupt from behind me. Once they pry their faces apart, Chris pulls Kara into his side and addresses the crowd at the door. I stop recording, sliding the phone back into my pocket as Kara makes her way over, engulfing me in a giant hug.

“You knew?” she asks, tears still streaming down her face. I brush them away and squeeze her shoulders.

“He told me about it earlier this week. My job was to keep you occupied while he set everything up.”

Kara turns to face her now fiancé and smiles warmly at him. Chris returns her smile and mouths “I love you” to her while being surrounded by several of the women in the office, all clucking their congratulations to him.

“Thank you, Tess, for your part in this. You know I love you wildly.”

“Love you too Kara,” I say before Chris makes his way to us, pulling her away from me, but only so he can stoop down and hug me himself.

“Thanks again Tess. I couldn’t have pulled it off without you.”

I brush away a happy tear and wave him off. “Yes you could have, but I’m glad to have been a part of it. Congratulations you two. You have no idea how excited I am for the both of you.”

Kara leans her head against Chris’s shoulder but is snapped upright when the same gaggle of women comes up to them, wanting to get a better look at her new ring. I stand back, watching my two friends being fawned over, letting them bask in the limelight and have their moment. Kara catches my eye as I pause at the doorway, mouthing a “thank you” to me before I head back to my own office.

A perfect scene to end my workday with. Every day should always end in love. And Chris and Kara have that in spades, as is apparent by her office. They’re going to have such a happy life together.

I check my watch as I round the corner, thinking perhaps I can sneak out early since my boss is currently preoccupied with his fiancée. And I assume they’ll be skipping out early as well to … celebrate.

Laughing to myself, not really wanting to think of what those two will be doing as soon as they leave, I walk through my office door. My steps falter when I see a beautiful dark haired man sitting in my office chair behind my desk. He looks quite at home, sitting with his feet propped on the desktop, an amused smirk gracing his striking face.

Kara’s off the cuff remarks pick this moment to swirl around in my head. Could I really just let go with Andrew and enjoy what we had together? It’s not like I’m not used to going without sex or intimacy. I’ve done it before. For many, many years. Mainly because it wasn’t enjoyable for me and then there was the little fact of not having a man in my life either. But Andrew opened up a whole new world for me in London, showing me the beauty of the act. How powerful the emotions can be and the intense connection that can bring two people into one whole being.

Without thinking, I close the door behind me and turn the lock to ensure our privacy. This is bold and a little frightening but exciting and natural. Everything about Andrew is natural. The way our bodies move together, the way he anticipates my needs before I know, even his little mannerisms and the gentle touches between us seem as if we’ve been doing it for years.

Calling upon all my seductive strength, I slowly approach my desk. Andrew’s eyes follow my movements as I stand next to him, leaning my body against the edge of my desk. My fingers lightly walk up his leg, starting at his ankle and slowly make their way to his knee.

“You’re sitting in my chair.” My voice is hoarse and throaty yet quiet and seductive. Andrew doesn’t move as my fingers travel higher, now above the knee, allowing me to feel the hard muscles of his thigh.

He reclines back slightly, putting his hands behind his head in a very relaxed position, acting like he belongs there. “This I know. You’re more than welcome to sit down, though. I think I’m more comfortable than this stuffy old chair.”