I’m on my third coffee and I’m still having a hard time concentrating on my morning appointments. I can’t wait for lunch to roll around. I think I’m going to take a nap instead of eating because God knows when I get home tonight, I won’t be getting any sleep.
Checking my calendar, I sigh in relief, realizing that I only have one more appointment before I can take a break. My morning’s been busy as hell, but at least my afternoon looks to be a little slower. My eyes slip over the appointments for the rest of the day.
Jake is coming by to discuss our next project any minute now and I’m glad it’s someone I know well. I can cut this short without having to worry about being rude and disrespectful while potentially ruining a business deal.
“Mr. Westbrook, your eleven o’clock is here,” Barbara’s voice comes through the speaker filling the room with her monotone voice.
“Thanks, Barbara, send him in,” I say while pushing the button on my phone. Taking out the project file, I start arranging everything on my desk for us to look at. When I have everything spread out in order of my favorites, I sink back in my chair, my hands resting on the back of my head while my eyes remain trained on the door. Patience isn’t really my strong suit, and it only takes me a couple seconds to get frustrated.
Where the fuck is he? Did he get lost?
Angrily I shove from my chair and stomp around the desk and toward my office door. A feminine giggle, one that I know all too well, meets my ear. Gripping the door handle, I push it down so harshly, that for a second, I think it might come off. When it doesn’t, I open the door and spot Jake standing directly in front of Bailey’s small desk.
The top on my emotions seems to fly off, the contents bubbling over like a boiling pan of water. He has his back to me and I don’t know if he doesn’t realize I’m standing here or if he is simply ignoring me, but either way, I’m livid. Livid enough to ruin a business deal with someone I consider a friend by punching the fucker in the face.
“Bailey, baby, why don’t you let me take you out to dinner this weekend?” he asks casually, but with a slight tease that makes my molars grind together. Why did he just call her baby? And what the fuck is going on? I’ve never wanted to stab someone in the eye so bad in my life.
“I’m actually really busy right now,” she says, and for some stupid reason, her answer angers me further. I know we agreed on not telling anyone about our agreement, but right now, all I want is for her to say she is seeing someone… me.
Because... ‘Really busy right now’ is telling him that as soon as she isn’t busy, she’ll be available. It’s telling him that there is a chance, and I most certainly don’t want there to be a chance. She’s mine, damnit. Always mine. No one can have her, not now, not ever.
The realization of my thoughts hit me like an anvil in one of those cartoons from back in the day. It’s overpowering and damn near takes me out at the knees. I won’t be able to let this end. I won’t be able to pretend like this never happen, and I won’t be able to let another guy have her.
I sag against the door frame, trying to gather my wits. I won’t let anyone have her, and especially not Jake, but how can I keep her? How long can I keep this up before she wants more? Somehow I get the strength to stand again.
I try to think about the feelings I’ll have to face this evening. Jealousy is a bitch, a cold-hearted one and I’m feeling it right now. Never before have I been jealous of another man, probably because I’m usually the one making other men jealous. Gathering my thoughts so they’re tightly secured in my mind and not painted on my features, I clear my throat.
Bailey’s eyes find me first, shame bleeding through her gaze. She looks at me like I just caught her doing something bad. She nervously shifts in her seat and uses her slender fingers to tuck some strands of hair behind her ear.
Jake turns around slowly, almost acting as if I’ve interrupted him when it is really him that’s wasting my time. I white knuckle the door handle waiting for the bastard to say something.
“Oh, hey man, I’ll be right in.”
“I’m kind of in a hurry and would appreciate it if we could move this along,” I say, barely holding on to my restraint. The image of me with my hands wrapped around his neck solidifying in my mind as he smirks and walks away from Bailey’s desk.
He looks a bit annoyed by me, but I couldn’t care any less about how he feels right now, he better be glad I have enough restraint not to use his face as a punching bag.
“I’ll talk to you when I’m done talking business,” he tells her as he walks by me and into my office.
The meeting goes excruciating slow and I remain beyond irritated throughout it. Once finished, I feel like I should get an award for not beating his head into my desk. I’ve never wanted something to end so fast in my life.
“Alright then, I’ll talk to you next week about the rest,” Jake announces and offers me his hand. I shake his hand on autopilot. All I can think about is him leaving my office and flirting up Bailey again. Ugly jealousy floods my mind, washing away all common sense.
“I’m seeing Bailey,” I blurt out without thinking. Jake looks at me like I’ve grown a second head, his mouth slightly hanging open and his eyes enlarged with shock.
“You? Are seeing someone? You and Bailey? Like in a relationship?” He stumbles over the words like he can’t believe them. I don’t blame him, neither can I.
“It’s complicated, but I would appreciate it if you didn’t ask her out again.”
Jake throws up his hands, showing me his palms. That’s right, fucker, she’s mine. “I had no idea. You have to know that I would never hit on her knowing that you guys were together. I’m sorry, it definitely won’t happen again.”
I clench my jaw having half the mind to tell him that it won’t, because if it does, my fist will be meeting your face. But I don’t. There isn’t any point now, he is right, and I’ve made it clear to him that she’s mine. If he’s smart, which he is, he won’t come sniffing around her again.
“It’s very new and we’re keeping it on the down-low. As you know, having a girlfriend was never my thing, but Bailey is worth it, more than worth it.”
“I hear you loud and clear. There’s no need to explain, man. I’ll talk to you soon.” I walk Jake out and watch as he leaves, only giving Bailey a quick nod as he passes her desk. I wait until the elevator door closes behind him before I walk over to Bailey’s desk. I stare down at her, my best friend, my wild temptress, the woman that holds the keys to my heart. There is only one place I want to be right now, and that’s at home, and in bed with her.
“Come on, let’s go home,” I tell her.
“What? Why? It’s only lunchtime.”
She doesn’t understand the thoughts, the wants, the desires pulsing inside me, but soon she will. Soon I’ll confess my biggest secret to her.
“I know, but I’m tired and we need to talk. I would much rather sleep in my own bed with you in my arms than on the leather couch in my office.”
Bailey’s gaze softens, but her eyes hold an anxiousness. “Is everything okay? I didn’t flirt with him if you’re wondering and I told him I wouldn’t go out with him,” she says defensively as if she thinks that I’m angry with her.