Monday rolls around quicker than expected. Before I know it, I’m making my way through bustling New York traffic in rush hour. London may be busy but it has nothing on the crowded streets of New York. I’ll never get used to the chaos.
After I jog up the steps from the subway and head toward the cafe opposite my office, I’m met with the sun beating down through the clear skies. But the air is crisp, perfect weather to wear a tight black turtleneck jumper tucked into a pencil skirt. The top is ideal for hiding the bruising and grazes spotted over my arm. Instinctively, I start rubbing the sore patches. At least the bruising has faded from the red angry marks I woke up to Saturday morning. What a perfect birthday gift that was. The high neck of the jumper masks the bite marks dotted along my neck; Keller’s primal mark.
As I wait for my flat white to be poured, I open up my last messages from Keller and hover over the keypad to type out a morning text. I haven’t heard a peep from him since he drove off in the early hours of Saturday morning. Slowly I unlink my arm from David’s and do a one-hundred-eighty degree turn, yet I can’t rid the man from my every thought.
Maybe I’m just horny.
I spent the weekend lounging on the sofa with Maddie, watching Netflix and eating popcorn. I felt good, normal even. My birthday was on Saturday. I didn’t even get my annual drunken text from my mom, telling me how I ruined her life by being born. I can’t say I missed that.
Maddie knows how I feel about celebrating my actual birthday, so we kept it small with a little cake and a glass of wine. As a joke, she got me a fucking rape alarm and pepper spray, just in case Jamie re-appears and I don’t have the chance to kick him in the balls. I can always count on Maddie to poke fun at anything serious. Although, it did make me laugh.
She kept trying to dig into the events with Keller, the nosey cow. I gave her some details but kept most to myself otherwise, she won’t stop.
“Flat white for Sienna.” The blonde barista shouts, distracting me from my phone. I give her a smile, take my wake-up juice, and head to the Chrysler Building, downing the contents of my takeaway cup. The amber leaves scattering the pavement crunch under my heels. The cool breeze whips my hair into my face as I walk into the office foyer.
The reception area is dead, shit am I late? I check my watch -7:50 am. I’m 10 minutes early, phew. Giving a quick smile to Harriet, our bubbly red-headed receptionist who’s busy rambling down the phone, I head towards the stairs. The family law department is only on the fifth floor, so I don’t mind the trek up to avoid the elevator.
By the time I reach the floor, my breathing is heavy. Swiping my keycard, I make my way over to my desk, plonking down in my swivel chair.
“Morning gorgeous girl,” David declares with a grin that creases the corner of his eyes.
“Morning David. New hair I see,” I say, returning the grin.
David quickly became my best friend at work and now outside of work. Taking me under his wing from my first day over four years ago. At one stage our boss, Alan, banned us from desking next to each other as we were too loud and distracting together.
We can’t help it. We get on like a house on fire.
Don’t get me wrong. David is a very attractive man to any woman with eyes. Tall and muscular build, with mesmerizing emerald eyes complete with a panty-dropping smile. He’s no Keller though.
We’ve been there and tried that.
One night a couple of years ago, we decided to get super drunk, prosecco drunk no less, and Maddie dared us to kiss. Now, I don’t have a brother, but that kiss was what I can imagine kissing your brother would be like.
It felt so wrong.
So, we made a pact to never discuss that again. At least we tried it.
On paper, we would be the perfect couple.
David coughs, grabbing my attention, and now sitting at his side of our connecting desks, he slides over a steaming hot coffee. God, do I need the caffeine today.
“Ooooh, what flavor did you pick for me today?” I ask. I never get the same coffee flavor twice from David. He knows I like, in his words, “sickly sweet coffee,” and is always pulling his nose up at my choice.
“Well, seeing as it’s nearly Christmas, I had no choice but to let you try the Gingerbread latte today.”
“Oh my God, thank you,” I say before blowing him a kiss. Grabbing the cup between both hands, the steaming drink warms my insides, the cinnamon lingers in the air.
Shifting in his seat, he presses his gaze to me. “Maddie texted me over the weekend,” he starts, his voice quiet. “Are you okay? I heard about what happened with Jamie. You should have texted me Si, you know I’d love to punch him square in the jaw.” Concern drips from his tone.
I know David hates Jamie.
David and Jamie’s history goes back way beyond me. They used to work together at Jamie’s dad’s law firm until Jamie stole David’s promotion from under him.
“I fucking wish I never introduced you two. I’m so fucking sorry he did this. I could kill the prick for laying his hands on you, Si,” he says, placing his hand over mine.
“Honestly, it’s fine. I’m okay, just a little shaken up. I’m more bloody embarrassed than anything. I don’t even recognize the man he’s become. The hatred in his eyes and his anger at the club Friday was fucking weird,” I explain, rambling. “Have you heard anything? Why is he so obsessed with trying to get me back? He cheated on me – clearly, he didn’t love me that much.”
“I’ll ask around, Si. I have a hunch this little drug problem of his goes back longer than we think. He’s a snaky asshole. Just be careful.”
“Yes Dad,” I mock, raising a brow.
He tips his head back, laughing. “Jesus Si, are you really calling me Daddy now?”
“You two! It’s barely the start of the day. Shut the fuck up and log on to work. Don’t make me move you to separate ends of the office. Again.” Alan points at us, disapproving, as he stands in his office doorway.
He shoots David a look, and we smirk and turn to face our computer screens.
“Sorry Alan.” I try not to giggle.
The door slams shut. David leans over onto my side of the desk.
“You still up for drinks with me and Maddie Friday? Please come,” he pleads, giving me those puppy eyes.
I can’t resist those sparkling emeralds. I fake roll my eyes dramatically. “Oh, if I must.”
The rest of the week flies by. I keep myself busy with work during the day and the new series, Good Girls in the evenings on the sofa with Maddie. Still, every day I’m receiving apology texts from Jamie from unknown numbers. On Wednesday, a box of one hundred blood-red everlasting roses is delivered with a note.
“Everlasting roses just like my love for you. I’m sorry.”
Me and Maddie spent the evening chopping the roses up into a bin bag.
He always bought me red roses, thinking they were my favorite. Because every woman likes red roses, how original. Well, I don’t.
If he’d have taken the time to even ask, he’d know I hate them. My dad used to buy a bouquet for my mom every week on his way home from work. After he left us, if anyone happened to buy her roses, she’d be off on a week’s bender.
Now it’s Friday. I’m standing, wrapped in a towel, dripping wet, swiping through the dresses in my wardrobe, deciding what to wear tonight.
I’m feeling something black, tight, and sexy. My fingers run down the black sequined cocktail dress, the tags still hanging from the label. I bought this dress for a charity dinner for Jamie’s firm a few months ago. But he’d told me I looked like a stripper, so I changed into a longer red dress, not wanting to ruin the evening and piss him off.
Ripping off the tags and throwing them in the small trash can, I place the dress on the bed and focus on my hair and make-up. The events of last weekend invade my mind, as I dip the eyeliner in the black ink. I guess Keller really wasn’t interested in seeing me again. Sigh.
The whole week, the memories of his touch, his power, hell, even his deep raspy dirty voice made me hot as fuck. Every night I had to use my purple friend to find some sort of relief.
But every night I was left feeling disappointed. I need to get over it. I can’t keep imagining being with a man I haven’t even had. He isn’t and can’t be mine. Tonight I need to find someone to scratch this itch. I doubt they’ll even come close to Keller, but I have to try.
Maddie comes strolling into the room, dressed to the nines. Her platinum blonde hair is straight, resting just over her boobs, like a mermaid. Her make-up is natural, emphasizing her contoured cheekbones, and clear gloss draws attention to her plump lips. She’s wearing a metallic silver dress, with spaghetti straps, that just about covers her butt. I suppose being taller with legs for days, most dresses come up short. I don’t have that problem.
Plonking the prosecco next to me at the dressing table, the bubbles spilling over the rim of the glass.
“Si, we only have half an hour before we need to leave. Let me do your hair,” she says as she’s already grabbing the hair dryer and brush.
Thirty minutes later, we’re ready to go.
The sequin dress fits like a glove. I’ve paired it with some blood-red heels and matching lipstick.
Maddie braided the front of my hair in two French plaits and gave the rest big bouncy curls to emphasize the lighter ends of my hair from the dark roots. It’s different for me, but it looks sexy.
Posing for a quick selfie, I upload it to my Instagram and lock my phone, tossing it back in my black leather clutch. I run and grab a black fur coat. Last week it was fucking freezing and tonight feels even cooler.
“Right, David’s just text. He’s on his way to The End Zone with a couple of his mates from the gym now. I said we’ll be there in about twenty.”
My body instantly freezes when she mentions The End Zone.
What if he’s there?
No. Last week was the opening night. The owner doesn’t need to go to the club every weekend, right?
Maddie links my arm through hers. “You might get to see your sexy boxer friend tonight with any luck.”
That’s exactly what I’m afraid of.
