The Lovely Garden (8 page)

When I was almost to my office, I spotted an all too familiar car and with an equally familiar man stepping out of it. “Charles!” I called, picking up the pace. He glanced up and a blinding smile appeared on his face at the sight of me. A smile and thought that made my stomach fluttered. None of my dates had smiled at me like that. Like I was the best thing they had ever seen. Made it easy for me to want to fall in love with him.

I was greeted with Charles’ mouth claiming mine. Without hesitation, I opened for him, allowing him to explore every nook and cranny of my mouth as I did the same to his. His hand was on the back of my neck, my free hand wrinkling his nicely pressed charcoal gray suit.

The kiss ended as quickly as it had started. “That was one hell of a greeting,” I said, breathless.

He chuckled as he ran a thumb across my lower lip. “I might have missed you.”

Before I could reply, a throat cleared. My eyes had been on Charles’ only and I hadn’t noticed the woman standing only a few feet away from him. Heat rose to my cheeks before I collected my manners. “Hello,” I greeted, sticking out my free hand. “I’m Amy.”

The woman, a blonde with bright blue eyes and a dazzling smile, took my hand. “I’m Rebecca.” The assistant I heard would steal him from me. For work purposes only, of course. But I wouldn’t blame him if it was for something more. She was absolutely gorgeous. So much so, I felt a pang of jealousy and worry. He worked with this woman all day. There was no way he hadn’t noticed how attractive she was. “Nice to meet you finally,” she said, releasing my hand.

“It’s nice to meet you, as well.” I turned back to Charles, ignoring the finally. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m meeting a Jerry Smith to see if I want to use his company to purchase all my technological needs for my company.”

“Huh.” That was a bit unexpected. But boy, did it make me happy. “You’re about to meet my asshole boss.”

Rebecca turned on Charles. “I told you the guy was a dick! We should have just canceled this meeting and went with the other guy.” Even smug she was beautiful.

Charles rolled his eyes. “I told you, we need to explore every avenue. And how was I to know he was a dick?”

“Because I told you he was.”

“You think everyone is a dick.”

“Fair point.”

I couldn’t help but smile at the pair. They were friends. Very good friends. I didn’t think it would be a stretch to say best friends. The way they talked to each other almost was similar to the way me and Jenny spoke to each other. And there was no physical attraction between them, much to my relief.

My sigh broke up their glaring contest. “Well, you might as well meet him since you’re already here.” I started to head toward the building, gesturing for them to follow. “Come on. I’ll lead the way.”

The three of us went inside, and we stopped so Charles could sign in at the front desk, which was required for any guests that visited the building. I chatted with Darren for a few seconds, seeing how his wife was doing. Theresa was battling breast cancer, a battle that she was winning, it would seem. She has decided that she would have both of her breasts be removed and be done with it. Wasn’t going to even bother with getting implants. “She said she would rather be flat chested than have fake boobs,” he told me shaking his head, proud smile on his face.

“So, what can I expect going in there?” Charles asked as we climbed the stairs, not out of breath as I was. I really needed to get back into shape.

“Well, he’s going to be upset that you saw me, but he won’t show that.” If there was anything Jerry was, it was professional. He would never do anything that would jeopardize a new or existing account. Even if it was pretend that he liked me, which with sending me out, he never really had to do. I wondered how he was going to handle this. We were kind of blindsiding him with it.

Charles stopped in the middle of the last flight of stairs. “Why would he be upset that I saw you?”

Stupid. I shouldn’t have said anything. Now, I was going to have to lie, which was a terrible way to start a relationship. “He’s particular about meeting new clients.” That was a half-truth. Jerry really was particular about it, preferring to meet them in person first before introducing them to the rest of the staff. Believe it or not, I have been there a couple of times when clients arrived. Mostly due to being too busy he couldn’t afford to send me away.

The look Charles gave me said it all. He didn’t believe me, but he wasn’t going to press me about it. I appreciated it, but hated that I couldn’t tell him what was really going on. He would insist that I go work for his friend, and if I wanted another job, I would rather find one on my own than rely on him.

“I hate to break up the longing stare of two love-birds, but if we don’t start moving, you’re going to be late for the meeting.” I was really starting to like Rebecca. She was funny in the dry, serious way.

I opened the door and allowed Charles and Rebecca go ahead of me. When I got into the office, Jerry was already there, greeting the pair with handshakes. A sense of satisfaction warmed my body when I saw his smile faltered slightly at the sight of me. “Here’s your coffee, sir.” I practically shoved the cup in his face. “I’m sorry, it might be a little cold. I met Charles on the way and thought I’d show him to the office.” Not subtle, but I really wanted Jerry know that I was on a first name basis with our newest prospective client. He didn’t, however, have to know that we were dating.

“You two know each other.” The surprise in Jerry’s voice rang clear as a bell. It was hard to keep my face neutral with the urge to grin being so strong.

Charles took it upon himself to answer. “She’s my girlfriend.” Girlfriend? We had
not
decided on that. Dating, yes, but not full blow girlfriend-boyfriend status. I don’t know what kind of game he was playing, but I was not amused. I would have to tell him that later. Though I might find it in my heart to forgive him. Only because the expression on Jerry’s face was priceless.

Jerry turned to me, a strained smile on his face. “I didn’t know you were seeing anyone.” Of course he didn’t know. He always assumed that I was single. Probably thought I was going to stay single for the rest of my life. To be fair, I did have crazy cat lady written all over me. I was just missing the cats.

“I like to keep my personal life and work separate.” Work really was not the place to talk about my personal life. Sure, there were times when me and Clara swapped stories over lunch, but other than that, I kept to myself. Everyone did. We were just too busy to do anything else. And if Jerry caught us talking for too long, he would have an absolute fit over it. It was as if we weren’t allowed to try and enjoy our work without his permission.

“Shall we get our meeting started?” Charles suggested. Jerry face was a mask of professional enthusiasm. He gestured toward his office and led Charles there. Before entering the room, Charles paused. “Did you want to wait out here, Rebecca?” That was kind of him. Taking her feelings of my boss into consideration.

“Sure.” Rebecca tried hard to hide her relief, but she failed quite marvelously. “I’ll just hang out here with Amy.” Color me surprised. I had half-expected her to have a bunch of work to do. Maybe she did and just wanted to make me feel better.

Charles nodded before disappearing into Jerry’s office. Jerry shut the door behind them, and the silence in the room was thick with questions. Questions that had better stay unasked, because there was no way in hell I was going to answer a damn one of them. I like these people, but fuck them. They had no right into my personal business, though it had literally walked through the door and announced itself.

There was an empty, useless chair next to my desk that Rebecca parked herself in. “So,” she started, her blue eyes boring into mine, “you and Charles.”

“Um, yes,” I replied, taking my seat. I was nervous. Aside from Billy and Jenny, this was the first person I had met attached to Charles. Totally expected since we just started to date, but my mind still ran through the what-ifs. What if she doesn’t like me? What if she is in love with Charles, though I already knew that was a no. What if she thinks I’m completely wrong for him and wants me to break-up with him? That last one sent a chill through my heart. I hardly knew the guy, but I wanted to stay with him.

She stared at me, scrutinizing every inch of my face. Then, smiled. My entire body relaxed. She didn’t hate me after all. “I can tell you, he’s had worse dates. At least, you seem to have a solid head on your shoulders. Not many of the others could claim that. And you like him.”

I wiggled my mouse around to wake up my computer. “How do you figure?” Not trying to challenge her, but I was curious on how my emotions were showing.

A sideways look from her said I was being facetious. “It was all over your face when you met him. And the way you called out to him. Genuinely surprised and happy to see him.” She looked at me full in the face. “He likes you, too. Never saw him kiss a woman the way he did you.” My face was so hot I had to be scarlet. “Aw, you’re so cute. Blushing like a schoolgirl with a crush.”

Goddamn this woman was going to make me pass out. That was, if you could pass out from blushing too hard.

Rebecca’s face changed and her voice took an edge to it. “Since you do like him, I thought it fair that I should warn you. Ava, his sister, is psychotic. Just stay away from her if you can.”

“Is that why Charles’ is afraid of her?” The words tumbled out of my mouth before I could even think them all the way through. But when she said that, all I could think about it how pale he had been when he had seen her in the garden.

“So, you’ve met her?” Her tone was so neutral it made me shiver.

“No. I just saw her from far away. Charles made me stay behind and met her.”

She let out a breath that could only be described at relief. “Good. Just stay away from her if you can.”

Before I could say or ask anything else, Charles came out of Jerry’s office with a red face and wild eyes. “Rebecca, we’re leaving.” Wide eyed, Rebecca stood and headed toward him. I just stared at him, afraid to even move, which I must have looked it since he seemed to deflate when his eyes fell on me. “Amy,” he started, voice calm and pleading, “I think you should take up my offer of that job.” And with that, he was gone, leaving me to stare at him and wonder just what the hell had happened in Jerry’s office. Obviously, nothing good.

Mine and Carla’s eyes met. “What was that?” she mouthed at me. All I could do was shrug. The only way I was going to find out was to go straight to the source. I stood and headed toward Jerry’s office.

The door was still open, but I still knocked, not wanting to surprise him. He sat at his desk, and didn’t bother to lift his eyes from the spot he was staring at. “What was that?” I asked as I walked in. No point in beating around the bush.

At the sound of my voice, Jerry looked up from his desk. The sneer he gave me almost made me take a step back. “I want you out of here. I don’t need liars or people here wasting my time.” He stood, moving closer to me. I just stood there staring at him, not exactly understanding what was happening. “I already called security. Go to your desk and collect your things. And please, don’t make a scene.” I watched him as he left me in his office, alone and confused.

For the first time in my life, I had gotten fired and I didn’t understand why.

CHAPTER SIX

Hours later I found myself in front of Smithy’s Pub waiting for Jenny to show up, still in shock from what had happened earlier that day. I had gotten fired, and I still didn’t fully understand why. Carla had called me a few hours earlier and told me what had been going through Jerry’s mind. He hadn’t believed that Charles and I had been dating, and this was some elaborate scheme of mine to get money out of him. I knew Jerry didn’t like me, but to think that little of me was more than disheartening. It was devastating.

The only satisfaction I had gotten out of the entire mess was Darren, after escorting me out of the building, went back and called Jerry a terrible human being. Jerry didn’t employ the security team, the building owner did, so he had no fear of being fired. Even if Jerry complained to the building owner, I doubt they would do anything about it.

As I waited for Jenny to show people passed me on the sidewalk, ignoring me. Someone close by was smoking a cigarette and the smell wafted toward me and I wanted to gag. It had crossed my mind that walking just a few feet down the sidewalk would solve my problem, but I stayed firmly in my spot. I was here first, that asshole could move. Then Jenny showed up, calling my name and waving to me as if it had been years since we last saw each other and not a week.

Jenny wrapped me in a painfully tight hug. One I returned with the same ferociousness. I had been looking forward to this dinner more than expected, as had Jenny. Her gray-green eyes shone brilliantly in the light, her dark green eyeshadow made them appear all the greener. Her full lips, shiny from gloss, were turned up in a huge grin showing me her straight white teeth. There was a light dusting of blush, making her high cheekbones seem even higher. I had always been envious of her natural beauty and her makeup skills. Then again, it would stand to reason someone that took cosmetology courses during their spare time in college would be decent at makeup. She had not been that great in high school.