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JC’s jaw now bulged with tension. “Let’s not dredge up what happened years ago. Please see Darlene in HR. She’ll get you set up in your office, and you can meet your assistant.”
“So, you’re not firing me?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I know a good employee when I see one. I have some free time at one. I’ll have my assistant make reservations at French’s Steakhouse.”
My heart jumped. “Why there?” I almost screeched.
“They have great food, and I can get a reservation, even on short notice,” JC mentioned nonchalantly. There was symbolism in his choice of restaurants. He tried to play it off as if he didn’t remember. It was a place I would never forget.
French’s was one of the restaurants JC, and I frequented when we were together. A friend, Paul Borrego, from our days at NYU, owned it. It had high tan leather booths that offered privacy. The place catered to the business crowd and you couldn’t get inside without a jacket. Jeans were not allowed. It was there that JC first got me off in public. My face began to redden at the thought.
“Are you feeling alright? You look flushed,” JC asked.
“Fine. Are we done?” He knew exactly what he is doing.
“Yes, we’re done. I’ll speak to you at lunch.”
He rose to walk me to the door and stood much too close for my taste. I could feel the heat of his body next to me, his cologne wafting into my nose, and my core began to flame. After so many years, it surprised me that just his presence could elicit this type of response.
“Later, Lexi,” JC said, almost in a whisper.
I nodded, not bothering to correct my name and hurried out of his office, heading straight for the ladies’ room. Fortunately, it was empty. JC was right, and my face was bright red. How was I going to work for him when he had this effect on me? I stared into the mirror and smoothed my shoulder-length tawny blonde hair. My eyes were bloodshot from lack of sleep the night before.
I freshened up my makeup and smoothed my navy-blue pencil skirt before I headed down to the HR department to find out my office assignment. Darlene, the HR Manager, assigned me to an office two doors down from JC. Shit, I wanted to be as far away from him as I could get but as my boss, we would have constant contact anyway.
Darlene gave me the key, and I headed down to my office. Upon opening the door, I could see it was tastefully decorated but much too masculine for my liking in rich tones of dark wood, blue walls and brown leather furniture. It wasn’t my style, but I could live with it. I hung up my coat on the rack behind my desk and sat down in my black ergonomic chair.
“It suits you.”
Startled, I looked up to see JC leaning against the doorjamb with a ridiculous smirk on his face.
“I guess it does, though it is a bit too dark in here for me. I’ll have to get some artwork to lighten up the walls.”
“The last person to occupy this office was a man. You can request a new paint job, one that would work better for your feminine tastes.”
“Thank you, but no. I want to get straight to work. It would disrupt my day.”
JC frowned. “For fuck’s sake, Lexi, they paint at night. Your office would be back together before you came in the morning. I see you still have a touch of perfection.”
“I do not, and I asked you to please call me Alexa.”
I wanted to smack the smirk off his face. Before I could answer, his cell phone rang. JC fished it out of his shirt pocket.
“Brianna, enjoying yourself?” I heard him say as he headed back to his office.
This was going to be fun. I couldn’t wait to get JC back when we had lunch. I spent the rest of the morning working on my schedule and organizing my office with my new assistant, Nikki. She was several years younger than me but intelligent and eager to learn. She reminded me of myself at the age of twenty-two. Fresh out of college, pretty, petite and ready to take on the world.
At 12:55, JC showed up at my door.
“Ready to go?”
He nodded at Nikki as she slipped by him when she exited my office. I watched JC as his eyes followed her down the hall. Typical. He still was looking for something on the side even now that he was married. What had I ever seen in him? I knew the answer but ignored it. I grabbed my coat and stepped out of my office to join him.
The elevator ride was awkward and silent until the tense mood broke by some other occupants entering from a few floors below ours. JC moved next to me to allow them room. He was pressed right up against me, which I found unnerving. I didn’t want the same thing to happen as had earlier.
Fortunately, it was a beautiful spring afternoon with a slight breeze. French’s was two short blocks from our building, and for that I thanked my lucky stars. I wasn’t sure I could handle being trapped next to JC in a cab for any length of time. As we walked to French’s, our hands brushed. His touch was electric, and I quickly pulled my hand away as if he were on fire. I could feel my face heating.
“Are you sure you’re okay today? Your face is flushed again,” JC asked.
