Mistletoe & Kisses (9 page)

“I’m fine, thank you for asking Erica. Is the sick kid back there feeling any better?” Her smile faltered when I took the attention off of her, but she covered it quickly when she straightened up and brushed her hands down the front of her uniform.

“He is finally sleeping and hopefully will the rest of the flight. We always get at least one on every flight it seems.” She now seemed a bit pissed off.

“Well, good. I know when I flew as a child I did the same thing and the flight crew and passengers were so understanding. It really is appreciated. It’s good he is on a good flight like this one.” I smiled up at her, hoping she got my message.

“I was actually on my way back to check on him again. Excuse me.” She tried to hold back her frustrated sigh, but I still caught it. I responded with a nod of my head and a knowing smile.

After flipping through the earlier texting banter with Olive, and of course looking at each picture I had of her on my phone, including the one I snuck while she was sleeping, I shut down my phone and finally settled in for some much needed rest. I dreaded what was awaiting me at my house. I knew Harrison had been trying to get this meeting with Clemmens for almost a year and that there had been tons of research done. I might have to call Abby to come over and help me sort and go through all of the crap so I didn’t look like an ass in front of the client. Way too soon, my shoulder was being nudged by Erica letting me know that I had to ‘return my seat to the upright position and prepare for landing’. I nodded to her, fixed my seat and closed my eyes again, which I didn’t open again until the plane landed and we were informed we could disembark.

I texted Olive as soon as I was settled into the backseat of the car Abby had pick me up at the airport. I also texted Abby letting her know I had landed and might be needing her help with the files. Abby responded first stating that the files had been delivered and were waiting for me and that she was available for any help I was in need of. I had to admit I checked my phone a few more times than necessary waiting for Olive to respond. By the time we were pulling into my driveway, she still hadn’t texted me back. I debated on whether or not to call her, but figured if I heard her voice I might not only end up having a bit of phone sex with her, but might just turn around and get back on that plane and drag her back to bed.
Yup, whipped after only twelve hours.
I laughed as I slipped my key in my front door.

I glanced at the four storage boxes on my living room floor and shook my head thinking I needed to use the bathroom, change my clothes into something way more comfortable and get myself a beer before I jumped into any of that. I checked my one phone last time before I placed it on the counter and headed for my bedroom.

“What in the fuck are you doing here? How the fuck did you even get in here?”

“What’s the matter lover, not happy to see me?”

“Not in the slightest! Get the fuck out of my house!”

“Why are you being so harsh? Do you have any idea what I have been going through?”

“Yeah, I do and your ass should be home with your husband. He needs you. Are you really that heartless?”

“Can you honestly say you are disappointed to see me here? We had such great times in this bed.”

“That isn’t the same bed. I bought a new mattress and had a bonfire with the other one.”

“Oh, don’t be mean.”

“Mean. Get out of my bed and get out of my house.”

“But I was going to help you go through those files. Harrison has worked very hard for those clients. He spent more time working on them than he did at home.”

“That is the price you pay while in the beginning stages of growing a company. Now I will tell you again to get the fuck out of my bed and out of my house or I’ll pick you up and throw you out.”

“Oh, you do still like it rough, don’t you?”

“You will never get the chance to find out. I’m tired and I have a lot of work to do. I don’t need your help. I’m going to get changed and by the time I go back out to my living room I expect you to be gone.”

“That woman you went to go fuck in New Jersey must have some great snatch for you to be speaking to me like this.”

“Don’t you ever talk about her like that!” I raised my finger just inches from her face. “You know nothing about her or me with her. And you are in no position to talk about anyone’s great snatch. You are the one who thinks so highly of your own that you like to spread it around.”

“How fucking dare you!” She flipped the comforter off of her body revealing her completely naked body underneath.
I’ll be burning those sheets too. Fuck, I really like those sheets too. Fuck it! I’ll buy new ones.

“How fucking dare
I
? Seriously, you fucked three of our clients, one of whom is now a former client and you have fucked your way through most of the office.”

“You didn’t complain when I was fucking you.”

“Not until I found out you were fucking everyone else.”

“I know you thought you were the only one, but…”

“But nothing. We were living together. We were talking about getting fucking married.”

“You were talking about getting married.”

“Well, I guess marriage and fidelity weren’t in the cards when you get caught fucking around by having to tell the man you have been living with for two years that you are not only pregnant with someone else’s kid, but that the someone who knocked you up is also one of your friends and partners.”

“Murphy…”

“Don’t Murphy me. He didn’t know who you were. You knew exactly who he was.”

“Do we really have to go through this again?”

“Again, we never talked again after you told me.”

“That isn’t true. We talk at work all of the time.”

“No we don’t. Abby talks to you when I need for you to be spoken to. I never talk directly to you.”

“Are you afraid you might need to take it a bit further if you actually do talk to me?”

“The only time I would actually talk to you is to fire you.”

“Fuck you.”

“No thanks, been there done that. Now get the fuck out!”

“Come on, Murphy.”

“Now, Whitney...or do I have to call Harrison to come and collect you? I’m sure he is no shape for that kind of stress.”

“Murphy.”

“Out now!” I stormed into the bathroom and slammed the door.
Fuck!
Honestly was she seriously thinking that I’d fuck her? She tore my heart out, used me and turned around and got pregnant with Harrison’s kid. The poor schmuck actually loved her.

Harrison was so blind that he wouldn’t even listen to the warnings about her bed hopping. He told everyone that since she had gotten pregnant and gotten married that she had been tamed. I hadn’t believed it, but I stayed out of it. Harrison and Malone had been friends in college and Malone introduced him to Stewart and I. Harrison had been our money man. While Stewart and I each made up thirty percent each of the company, Harrison made up the other forty. Whitney had started out as our file clerk and we started secretly seeing each other, then fucking each other, then we went public and moved in together. Harrison had just moved to Chicago to be more a part of the company and took Whitney on as his assistant. She hadn’t bothered to tell him that she was not only involved with me, but had been living with me. Harrison wasn’t in the office much and worked more like a satellite office. This worked best for Whitney because she was able to hide her relationship with me from Harrison and hide her affair with Harrison from me. That is until Whitney turned up pregnant and with the timing there was no way the baby could have been mine. When Harrison found out about the baby he was over the moon and had made a point of letting everyone know that he and Whitney would be getting married. That was when all hell broke loose and the cat was out of the bag. Sadly for Harrison, he was actually so blinded by his love for Whitney that he forgave her indiscretion. I, on the other hand, couldn’t be as forgiving. I agreed to remain a partner in the company as long as I never had to speak or work directly with Whitney and that Harrison remained as a satellite office. As most of the employees were there from the start they knew about my relationship with Whitney and were shocked about Whitney and Harrison. Most of the women tried to avoid her and the men were cautious around her. With Harrison being considered a satellite office, he traveled and Whitney remained at the office. Stewart said they could fire her if it came to being necessary, but I said I was fine with her staying as long as I didn’t have to see her or have any direct contact. Abby had been very accommodating about being the go-between. She had also been a great blocker when Whitney tried to have meetings with me.

When I stepped out of my bathroom I was relieved to see that Whitney had in fact left my room. I looked back at the sheets debating on whether or not to wait to pull the tainted sheets.
Nope get her out now before it sinks into the mattress.
I pulled the comforter off, putting it to the side to put in the washer later. The sheets were going out right now. Just as I had balled the last piece around my wrist, I heard my phone sound with an incoming text message. I walked into the kitchen tossed the balled up material out the back door to throw into the fire pit later and moved back over to the counter where I had left my phone. I did a quick check of the living room, my office and the hall bathroom to make sure that Whitney had in fact left.  I locked my front door and made a mental note to have the locks changed.

O: I don’t know what fucking games you are playing, but I will give you the benefit of the doubt.

O: Why would you send me this picture?

O: MURPHY!!!

O: Who is that woman in your bed? I recognize your bed from pics you sent me.

O: Murphy is this is a fucking joke…

O: Okay I see you have to time to fuck some woman, but not answer your phone or text. I have a meeting and work to get back to.

O: Oh girlfriend. Great! I will be sure to thank Monica for letting me know. Lose the number, address and pics and the fact that we ever met. For someone who was cheated on I would have expected more from you. I thought we had something.

What in the … fuck… what is going… there were only messages from Olive, not what she was responding to … Fucking Whitney!

I dialed Olive’s cell phone. I had six missed calls from her on my phone. She didn’t answer. I left her a message then texted her my message.

M: Olive that was not my girlfriend. I swear I don’t have a wife or girlfriend. I would have never been with you if I did. Whitney was here in my house when I got home. She was in my bed. I kicked her out. She must have messaged you while I was in the shower and changing.

I called her three more times. I even called Monica’s office. Someone named Vanessa answered and said that Monica and Olive were in the conference room and requested not to be disturbed. They were preparing for a case. My next call was to Malone. Although we didn’t cross our business and personal lives, Malone was one of the few who knew everything I had gone through with Whitney. He was also in the same building as Olive right now.

“What the fuck did you do little brother? I have already been asked not to forward any calls to Monica or Olive so I can’t help you with that.” Malone answered before I even said hello. I told him what happened. “Well, that little minx. She really doesn’t give up.” He laughed.

“Don’t fucking laugh. This is totally fucked up. She texted messages to Olive and a picture and deleted them so I only saw Olive’s response. She sent her a picture from my fucking bed.”

“Girl was trouble from the word go.” Malone sighed.

“I know Monica and Olive are working on some heavy duty case and have asked not to be disturbed. Maybe send her some flowers or have food delivered to them. Then get your shit together, get Harrison’s client in line and then head back this way and get this woman who seems to already have your balls in her purse,” he full belly chuckled.

“Thanks asshole.”

“That’s what I’m here for, asshole. Oh, and let mom know I’m going to try to get out there for the weekend.”

“Will do.” I hung up, took a deep breath. I thought about what Malone has suggested about sending flowers. My dad always sent my mom flowers when he was apologizing. I really had nothing to apologize for though, except my past coming up and biting me in the ass. I moved to my office and took my seat behind my desk. I started my phone calls with Abby letting her know I would need her here as soon as possible. I just wasn’t focused now and would need her to keep my concentration on the work that I needed to do. The next call was to a locksmith; he would be here within the hour. My next call was to place an order for a delivery, but first I needed something special done.

Olive’s POV

“SWEETIE, HOW CAN you not want to call him back? He sent you food and a bouquet of those freaking socks you wear.” Monica giggled. “You know he could have only found such a thing on Pinterest.” She laughed harder. “You got Murphy Freaking Scott on Pinterest.”

“I’m scared.” I ran my fingers over the curled up socks.

“You’ve really fallen for him. Like fallen hard.” Monica scooted closer to me.

“Yeah, I have and it isn’t just the sex. I mean, don’t get me wrong the sex is … well.”

“Yeah, Stewart will already be benefiting from the details you’ve already given me,” she laughed again.

“But we hardly know each other.”

“Everyone hardly knows each other when they first meet and then they get to know each other. Call him and talk to him. Find out about his favorite color, favorite movie, favorite book, what he does in his spare time. Then you’ll know more about each other. Go from there and see where it goes. You already know you are beyond great in bed together. Now find out how you are together out of the bed so you can go put these socks to the good use they were meant for.”

“I really do love you.” I leaned over and put my head on her shoulder.

“I really love you too. Thanks for helping me get all of this shit together. Now take your sock bouquet, take this and enjoy the rest of the weekend. I’ll see you Monday.” Monica stepped away from me and began to gather her things to go home.

“What is this?” I opened the envelope she handed me.

“Malone had it sent over. He asked me to give it to you after we were done working.”

“Malone?”

“Yup, apparently, Murphy broke their rule and discussed his personal life.”

“I can’t take this,” I said as I opened the envelope and pulled out a round-trip ticket to Chicago.

“Trust me he can afford it and if he sent it that means Murphy is in pretty deep.” Monica winked at me.

“Really?” Now I was really scared.

“Yes, really. I can tell by the look on your face that you are now scared shitless about him actually being serious about you. I’m so excited for you both. Murphy really is a great guy and deserves a great woman. I wish I had been able to get you guys together sooner. Whitney really fucked with his head. And if it really was her texting you today, she needs her fucking ass kicked.” She threw her arm around my shoulder. “And you my dear are just the one to give such an ass kicking.”

“You are too funny. But I really would like to meet this Whitney and give her a good smack in the face. I’d also like to speak with her husband and offer to find him a really good divorce attorney.” I smiled at her.

“Oh that poor man. He is such a nice man and such a stupid sucker for her. I feel bad for the kids.”

“Kids? How many do they have?”

“They have two. Both under the age of ten. A boy and a girl.”

“I’m sure you would have a really good referral for such a situation.”

“I believe I might.” Monica walked out of the conference room with me. “I’ll text you a few numbers in a bit. Make sure you bring all those socks with you.” She wiggled her eyebrows. “And I expect another detailed report when you get back.” She pulled me in for a hug. “I’ll see you on Monday.” The elevator doors opened and I stepped inside the empty car. “Hopefully you’ll still be able to walk,” was the last thing I heard Monica say before the doors closed between us. I heard her giggling through the door.

Holy shit am I really going to do this? Am I really going to chase after Murphy?
I’d never been to Chicago, but this Whitney woman was fucking around with me and she pissed me off. Most of all she made me doubt Murphy and I didn’t like how that made me feel. I may not know Murphy very well, but he went through the trouble of getting my cell number, flying back to see me and he actually went on Pinterest and found out how to make a freakin’ sock bouquet. He ordered the bouquet to be delivered today with a huge amount of Chinese food, which was delicious. Monica had to remind me that it was okay that he didn’t actually know what to order for me. I mean, I did freak out a bit that it was just another thing we didn’t know about each other. I took a deep breath.
Stop! I’m going to friggin’ Chicago to kick some girl’s ass and then I’m going to fuck Murphy as good as he fucked me.
I slammed my hand on the elevator wall and headed out to my car with a bit more of a beat in my step.

* * *

Malone had booked me on a late morning flight so that I would arrive after Murphy’s morning meeting and hopefully celebratory lunch. By the time I had gotten home last night, it was after elven. I didn’t know if I should text Murphy or not. After I showered, got my cozy PJ's on and packed a week’s worth of clothes for a Chicago winter.

The next morning I was greeted at the airport by a woman who introduced herself as Abby, Mr. Scott’s assistant. She said that Mr. Scott’s brother, Malone, had called her earlier and asked her to pick me up after Murphy’s meeting. Murphy was presently at lunch with the Clemmens and would be returning to the office in a few hours and in a very good mood. Abby seemed very excited to be a part of this mission that Malone seemed to have organized.

“Mr. Scott surprised me this morning with such an early morning call, but his request.” She smiled and shook her head. “I have never heard either of the Mr. Scotts actually discuss their personal lives, but Mr. Scott was very, excuse my language, very pissed off yesterday.” All I could do was chuckle. She was trying so hard to be proper and she kept calling Murphy and Malone ‘Mr. Scott’ so I wasn’t sure which one she was talking about.

“Abby, please call me Olive and if you could, call the Mr. Scotts Murphy and Malone because you are confusing the crap out of me with the Mr. Scotts.” I laughed hoping that I hadn’t embarrassed her.

“I’m sorry,” she laughed. “Malone asked me to have Mr. Johnson meet up with you first so you can speak to him before we head over to our first stop and then head over to the office. We should be good on time if we head out now.” She smiled at me.

“Lead the way. This is all just so overwhelming and seems a bit crazy to me.”

“Once the Mr. Scotts get an idea in their heads they seem to kind of hold on with both hands and do what needs to be done to get the end result they want and need.”

“I trust that is true. Everything is also set for the office?”

“Yes, yes it is and can I tell you that I’m more than a little excited. I have been working for Mr… Murphy for a while now and like I said he was pissed off and moody yesterday. I think the meeting cheered him up, but I think you being here and everything else will just … oh, I just… I really can’t wait.” She was really sweet and so excited. I, on the other hand, was getting more and more nervous. “We’ll be meeting Mr. Johnson at a local coffee shop for your meeting, then he will head over to his meeting and I’ll drive you to the office.”

“This really goes above and beyond your call of duty.”

“Not at all. Like I said, I really like the Mr. Scotts and I’m a part of this company and I really need for it to grow and succeed. Today will be one small step for that to be able continue with a little less drama.”

“No pressure here, thanks.” Now I was starting to feel a bit nervous about the whole thing.

“I didn’t mean… I’m sorry, this is all a huge whirlwind for you. Malone said this was a huge deal for Murphy, so …”

“So …” I laughed and followed her out to a gray four door sedan car.

“So I don’t mind going above and beyond my call of duty and am actually really happy to be a part of this. I’ve had issues as a result of this, too.” She looked back over at me as she unlocked the door and slid behind the wheel. “Maybe someday we’ll sit down and share war stories. But for now, hold onto your socks.” The word socks made me blush, but she wouldn’t have understood why. “We’re now running a few minutes late and I hate being late.” She started the engine and we were off to the exit of the airport heading to a coffee shop to meet with Mr. Johnson.

* * *

Almost an hour later, I was sitting in the office behind Murphy’s desk in his high back executive black leather chair. I had my feet up on the windowsill as I looked out at Murphy’s awesome skyline view of Chicago. What a view it was. My back was to the door and my heart was now beating out of my chest when Abby buzzed into the office as she said she would when Murphy had entered the building from his celebratory lunch. She said she would buzz again as soon as he stepped off of the elevator. I had to say in the short time that I’d known Abby, I really liked her. If she didn’t seem to love working here so much, I’d try to steal her away to come work at the firm so she could hang out with Monica and me.

Holy shit! This is insane.
I thought to myself when the office phone buzzed again.
Murphy is just on the other side of that door. I wonder if he can hear my heart beating from all the way out there because it is really fucking loud.
I had to take another deep breath. I turned the chair a bit more so that the only thing that could be seen from the door were my socked feet. All of the sudden I heard the door handle turning.

“Oh and Murphy,” Abby called him back so he wouldn’t just burst in the office and would hopefully close and lock the door behind him once Abby handed him the message, “Miss Harper left this message for you.”

“When? When did she call? Why didn’t you let me know earlier?” Murphy sounded annoyed and I felt bad for Abby. I’d have to make sure that he apologized for speaking to her like that because of me.

“I actually texted you about five minutes ago, you must have been in the elevator.” She actually sounded quite cheerful, almost trying to hold back a laugh.

“I’m sorry I jumped down your throat. I’m going to return this call. Please hold all of my calls until I let you know otherwise.” I heard his hand on the handle again. “Thank you for reaching out to me right away, Abby.”

“Not a problem, Murphy. I hope you get a hold of Miss Harper.”

“You and me both.” The office door closed and I heard his footsteps head towards the office bathroom. I sighed knowing I’d have to wait a bit longer for him to notice me in his office. I had to hold back another chuckle when, after the toilet flushed and the faucet water shut off, my cell phone that was in my purse across the office started ringing. All of a sudden the bathroom door swung open. “What the…” Murphy started towards the couch when he must have looked around his office and caught sight of my legs. His chair back was so high that the rest of my body was completely hidden from his sight. “Woman, I’ve gotta tell ya...I’ve really missed those fucking socks.” He approach his desk.

“Just my socks?” I turned the chair around leaving my legs up in the air as I spun around and then laid them on his desk. “You sent me a whole bouquet of socks. You could have kept them for yourself if you liked them so much.” I smiled as he approached me releasing the knot of his tie at his throat. I watched as his Adam’s apple bobbed up and down and his tongue ran across his lower lip. I couldn’t help but bite my own lower lip as his eyes roved up my legs, over my body and up to my eyes.

“They wouldn’t be the same without your legs filling them...or wrapped around your wrists or even my shoulders for that matter.”

“But you don’t have a wrought iron bed here.” I looked around the room. “Do you?”

“I don’t need a fucking bed to tie you to, to be able to wrap those socks around your wrists and put them to good use.” He pulled off his suit jacket and tossed it on the chair opposite his desk.

“Oh no?”

“No.” He leaned over his desk and touched his hand to my foot and the heat of his skin to my socked foot was a charge of excitement that traveled all the way up my thighs to my now very wet center.

“Excuse me, M….” Abby’s voice came through the intercom.

“I thought I told you…” Murphy growled.

“That is for me.” I leaned forward and pressed the button on the intercom. “On the way?”

“Yes, Olive. Should be there in about two minutes.” She sound so excited.

“I’ll leave the intercom on so you can hear.” I laughed.

“You’re on.”

“Anna, is he in? I wanted to get an update on the Clemmens meeting.” Murphy’s head shot up and he raised an eyebrow at me when Whitney’s voice came through the intercom.

“Actually he is, but he is busy.”

“Oh he’ll see me,” she said snidely.

“I believe his office door is locked. If you will just let me call him I’ll…”

“Oh, don’t trouble yourself. We might be a while. Why don’t you go run and get yourself a cup of coffee or something?” It was my turn to raise an eyebrow at him, but he just shook his head. I nodded my head when there was a knock on the door. “Murphy. Murphy, it’s Whitney.” She knocked again and I moved around the front of the desk so I was seated on the edge facing the door. Murphy looked back at me again before turning the lock on the door.

“We have plenty of time.” I held up my hand to stop him from returning to me. “Open the door.”

“Is that my shirt?” he asked before he turned back to the door.

“It was in the closet,” I pointed to the closet hidden by a panel in the wall. “I just thought it went with the socks. I can take it off...” I moved away from the edge of the desk and released a button. He shook his head and smiled. “No? Okay, I’ll wait,” I laughed and sat back against the edge of the desk.