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I quickly skim through their findings. Then I look up with a beaming smile.
“Let’s get these over to Knight Security.”
“Already done.”
After Ellen leaves, I lean back in my chair and just sit there with a smile on my face for a few minutes until I get a text from Chase.
‘I bet you’re smiling!’ With a smiley face emoji. My response is just a row of more smiley emojis. Then, before I really think about it, I send a big red beating heart emoji. I hit send.
I look down at the text. Should I have sent that heart? What will Chase think when he sees it? Can I delete it? Darn it. Why did I do that?
“Val, could you come here for a minute? There’s a question about the marketing mock-up ads.”
“Um... Sure.”
About an hour later, we send feedback to the marketing team to change some of the mockups.
When I get back to my office, I check to see if there’s a response back from Chase. Still nothing. Maybe he didn’t even notice the red heart. If he did, I’m sure he’ll think I meant I love the report. Right?
I lean back in my chair again, and my thoughts turn to Chase.
This morning, he woke me up with a kiss on my neck. I was snuggled up against him with my back to his chest. He had his arm around my waist, and then I felt his hand cup my breast.
I was still half asleep as he lifted my leg and slid into me from behind. He made slow, sweet love to me. I was fully awake by the time I finally climaxed in his arms. Was it making love for him or just sex?
When did I fall in love with Chase?
I can’t remember the exact moment.
Was it the first time I looked up and saw he was my new neighbor?
Was it the time my car had a flat tire, and he insisted on changing it? That’s the first time we shared a meal. I offered to fix him an authentic Italian dish as a thank you.
After that, we started eating the occasional dinner together. Next, we joined forces to fix up the backyard. That’s when we became best friends. We talked about anything and everything while we worked fixing it up— We still do.
I remember the first night he had a girl stay over. Other girls followed. It bothered me until I realized it was always a different girl. I valued his friendship and decided to be content with that and never looked back.
Until I turned twenty-four and a half, as the deadline for my inheritance drew closer. I resolutely decided to settle for Tony since he was the only guy who seemed even remotely interested in me.
But would I have gone through with it?
The day before my wedding, Chase left a voicemail that he would be home around midnight.
Was that the real reason I went to talk to Tony at the church? Was it because I couldn’t marry one man while my heart belonged to another?
I suddenly sit up straight as the truth hits me, but does it really change anything?
Friends with benefits, I think it’s called.
My desk phone rings, startling me out of my thoughts.
“Hi, Sue. No, not that I know of. Really? No, no. Thank you for the heads up. Can you call me back when you know what time? Thanks.”
I call Ellen into my office.
“Ellen, Sue just called me. She had someone ask about an emergency board meeting this Friday. She wanted to know if I could confirm the time,” I give Ellen a direct look, “I was not told there would be an emergency board meeting.”
“But you’re a member of the board, soon the controlling member of the board.”
