"We're going out for a long lunch. Grab your purse, let's go." Hunter's tone was uncharacteristically firm, it prickled my skin.
"Does Garrett know? I'll send him a text." I raised my phone to my face to unlock.
The two shared conspiratorial looks. Hunter shook his head. "We don't have time."
"Is everything okay?" I asked.
"Jasmine, we'll talk outside," Lilah said in an impatient tone. I knew that something important happened.
I grabbed my purse and followed behind him and Lilah. We were silent in the elevator, only politely smiling and nodding when someone entered the car. We exited the lobby into the bustling midday crowd. Hunter created a path through the jam-packed sidewalk. Our trio dodged tourists clustered around street performers until we found an empty path.
Hunter stopped walking and turned to me.
"Jeff and Nic suspended Garrett for thirty days. They didn't make any formal announcements. He texted me when he arrived home. We're going to his place to hear what happened. You two didn't wear walking shoes,” he said, looking down at our feet. Holding up a hand and he flagged an oncoming taxi to a screeching stop.
My heart crashed against my chest, so hard I thought it would burst out of it. My vision went black as I slid into the back seat next to Lilah. I needed to calm down and receive the facts before reacting, but I knew that whatever happened wasn't good.
I whipped out my cellphone and began blocking out my calendar for the rest of the afternoon.
"Ontario and Dearborn, please," Hunter said to the cab driver. He was wound so tight that he was like a coil ready to spring forth.
Lilah took my hand and squeezed it. A silent confirmation that everything would be okay. I wasn't sure if it would.
Fifteen minutes later, Garrett answered the door. He'd loosened his tie and held a bottle of Ketel One. Brows furrowed and hair disheveled, probably from running his hand through it, I'd never seen him so angry. He gestured for the three of us to enter, his eyes locked on mine.
I wrapped my arms around him. I didn't have any words of advice. He patted my ass and then leaned in for a quick peck.
"Um, hello, Garrett. Good to see ya," Lilah said sarcastically and squeezed through the entry. Garrett led us to the sectional in the living room.
"Hoss. What the fuck?" Hunter closed and locked the entry door. Apparently, no stranger to Garrett's condo, Hunter walked to the kitchen and pulled out four glasses from the kitchen cabinets. He'd found a bottle of tonic in the refrigerator and returned to the living room. He pulled the vodka from Garrett's hand and filled three of the glasses with two fingers of vodka and splashes of tonic. The fourth glass, which I assumed was for Lilah, was all tonic with a splash of vodka.
We each took a glass and held them high before taking a sip.
"What happened, Garrett?" Lilah asked.
"I had a meeting with Jeff. Out of the blue, Nic showed up. They're investigating the breaches and suspending me for thirty days, pending the results."
"What?" I asked, my hand clutching his knee. "Who will investigate?"
"No idea. I don't even think they have anyone in mind. Because I am the owner of the network and all of our applications, they felt I should have known and done more to prevent it." He threw back the rest of his shot before speaking again. "They both stated that I lacked judgment. I made this department. Eight years ago, they had nothing."
Sensing his anger, I poured three more shots. Garrett, Hunter, and I downed them. I winced and shuddered from the bite of the alcohol.
"Fuck it. I'll start entertaining calls from headhunters before these allegations damage my reputation,” said Garrett.
"Wait. Wait. Wait. You have two months until you're fully vested. If you quit, you'll lose a quarter of a million dollars," Hunter warned. "Remember our plan."
"You're right, but I can't take this lying down. I'm pissed," Garrett answered, resignation in his tone and facial expressions. "I'm sorry for unloading my shit on you all."
"We're your friends," I spoke up. He reached out and brushed aside a long strand of hair covering my eye. His fingers grazed my cheek, sending electrical currents to the spot where our skin met.
"The senior leadership team doesn't have a shred of ethics. They aren't taking appropriate actions and recommendations made by the board. Someone is going down. Mark my word on this." Lilah picked up her cocktail glass and took a small sip. "Nic is a nasty piece of work. I haven't had a genuine moment with her. At first, she seemed supportive, but over time she's proven herself untrustworthy. She doesn't communicate directly with me, preferring to use email or Jeff Cagle. I'd been excited about working at Dynex and sitting at a table with a female CEO. The only thing I've learned is the fine art of throwing tantrums, manipulation, and threats. You and Hunter are the only people on the executive team behaving with any emotional maturity."
"Thank you. I appreciate your honesty." Hunter leaned in, hooked a finger with hers, and they beamed at each other. My best friend's world brightened.
Aww. They are so cute.
"Garrett, that is one pitfall of my career. Eight out of ten times, the perpetrators of online fraud are the people least suspected." My mind was a little fuzzy from the shots. "I envisioned myself assisting companies protect their assets. Not help rich men gain more wealth. I wanted to help small to mid-sized businesses fulfill their dreams. I never thought I would be a part of the machine. Your suspension does nothing to make me feel that I've made the right decision. Good people always end up hurt."
The four of us commiserated, each sharing a tale of dissatisfaction or frustration with our careers, companies, or jobs.
After two hours, Hunter stood, taking Lilah by the hand. She rose and grabbed her purse.
"Thanks for the drinks. Delilah and I have dinner reservations, and I need to catch up on a few work items. Jasmine, I'll see you tomorrow." He nodded to Garrett. "We'll be in touch."
Garrett and I walked the two to the door where Lilah and I hugged.
"See you tomorrow," she winked.
"See you two," I answered.
"We'll be in contact," Garrett called. He closed the door and leaned against it. He was hurt and anger all balled into one.
"Come here." I pulled him in for a hug. "You're so tense. Let it go."
We stood like that for ages. I inhaled his strong manly scent and felt him relax in my arms. He brushed my hair aside and kissed along my neck and clavicle.
"Thank you for being here."
"What do you need from me?"
"I need you." He stared at me with intense desire. I knew that look. My heart pounded in my chest.
"I don't think you can handle me," I teased.
"I've handled the hell out of you. Do you need a reminder?" A grin of masculine delight pulled at the corners of his lips. He gently played with the bow artfully tied at my collar. "Is this a gift for me?"
A rush of heat traveled from my head to my feet, and I was sure that a rosy hue bloomed on my cheeks. My face and body were hot, yet goosebumps trickled up and down my flesh.
A soft whimper rose in my throat as a slow shiver traveled up my spine. He pulled at one of the trailing ends of fabric, and like the bow, I became undone. I raised my arms as he pulled at the hem and lifted the cloth over my head. He undressed me, and it felt like our first time. My skirt, panties, and bra all fell to the floor, and I stood in only my thigh-high stockings and shoes. Naked and vulnerable, I submitted. I trembled underneath his hand, or was it him? Then he kissed me, taking his time, loving every single inch of my bared skin.