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8
My plans to thwart my mother’s pending nuptials failed as soon as I hit my door on Tuesday evening. Mr. Weathers was over, and he bought my mom a diamond bracelet. Then they began to cuddle and coo on my couch. I greeted them with ‘hello’ and went straight to my room. It’s obvious his son shares his relentless behavior when it comes to affection. Difference is, they’re in a relationship, and we’re not. I’ve been dodging his calls and messages, both text and video, since Monday. I use Tanya as my mouthpiece at work, and thankfully no one is any the wiser as to what is really going on.
“Simone, can we have a meeting about the acquisitions from last month? I need a full reconciliation of activity,” Lucas says as he casually enters my office.
“Sure thing,” I reply without even looking up at him.
He leans over my computer monitor, forcing his way into my visual. I give him the ‘fuck off’ glare, but he insists.
“Why are you ignoring me?”
“I’ll have those reports to you in about five minutes since I’m already working on them. I also have my lead sheet for this month if you want to go over that as well.” I don’t break for his tactics, although those gray eyes try to start a mini fire down below, but I quickly extinguish that shit.
“Very well. I trust I’ll see you at Thursday’s pre-wedding dinner,” he says on his way out the door.
I take a few moments to breathe in deeply and release a few times. In doing so, I catch the faint smell of his cologne. I never paid attention to the warm and inviting scent that is the perfect blend of spice and floral for man. It was all on me by Sunday morning and forgotten by Monday afternoon. I shake my head andcontinue with my work. A meeting maker pops up on my screen, and I accept it as a good employee should. I go to the cafeteria to grab a water since I left my tumbler at home this morning.
“Hey, Greene. Thanks for the assist yesterday with the Clemet account. I see why you’re the best at what you do. I would’ve never picked up on that stock change like you demonstrated.” Paul Edwards, the guy we both lost the account to last Friday, corners me into a conversation.
As we converse, I laugh and smile for the first time in a few days. I couldn’t even binge-watch my favorite comedy last night to get me out of my mood. Lucas walks in, talking on the phone, and I can’t help but wonder who has his attention. His smile is bright, and his eyes sparkle. He strolls past us, and I can hear the faint sound of a woman’s voice on the opposite end.
“So, Paul, are you single? I don’t recall seeing you with anyone at any of the parties. Oh, I hope I’m not prying. I thought we were having a nice conversation.”
“Oh, no problem. I’m not seeing anyone currently. My ex and I recently ended our relationship about a month ago. After three years.”
“I had no idea.” I extend my hand to cover his, only in a show of support, letting my grasp linger a little longer than I should. I know this is petty, but I had to. Hearing him on the phone with whoever that was, upset me in a way.
“So, this is why you are not upstairs in my office, Ms. Greene?” Lucas snaps when he sees the physical contact between Edwards and me.
Holding back my urge to smile, I wasn’t sure if my attempt would warrant any kind of reaction, but by his tone, I see it has. “Mr. Weathers, our meeting isn’t for another fifteen minutes. I have my phone set to remind me.”
“No, that’s a team huddle. Had you opened the notification, you would’ve seen we were to talk immediately. But I’ll take that matter up with you afterwards.”
He storms out, and I’m left embarrassed and pissed. I chase after and catch him at the elevator as the doors are closing. I don’t pay attention to the fact we’re alone, but at this point I don’t care.
“How the fuck is you going to talk to me like you did in front of my colleague? What were you trying to prove? You steal the job away from me and then flaunt your balls in front of the world.”
“You walk around with this fucking chip on your shoulder covered in frost and don’t open emails which contain important information because you think I stole your job. Well, take a look in the mirror, Simone. You cost yourself the job because of your hatred for me. I’ve done nothing but try to be nice to you, but if the princess doesn’t get what she wants, the whole world be damned. Be in the conference room in five minutes.”
The doors opened while he was letting me have it, so when he exits, the entire staff is looking our direction. I take the walk of shame to my office and hit print on the reports and get ready for the scheduled gathering.
“Simone, what was that about?” Tanya asks, sticking her head through the entrance.
“Did Armstrong hear it?”
“No, thankfully. He left for a meeting uptown. But everyone else heard how Lucas lit into you for not being in his office. Where did you go?”
“I misread the notification and was in the cafeteria.”
“I see how you can lose track of time. But he was really livid.”
“I heard him on the phone with some woman. He may have been projecting onto me. Who knows.” I fabricate a cover-up, not wanting to put our personal business out in the office. “I’ll see you after the meeting,” I say to Tanya. Taking the reports, I saunter to the conference room where Dominic and Lucas are chatting.
“Hey, Simone. Here, take my seat,” Dominic offers.
“Thanks, Dom, but I think I’ll hang out right here. You go ahead.”
Lucas looks at me and rolls his eyes as I sit in my chair. A few others join, and Lucas begins. On the surface, I may look like I’m paying attention while he goes over closing out some of the things left open before Kyle moved on, I’m fuming.
