After Office Hours

by E Caroline Wilson

  “Who knows? Remember, too, that whoever it was, whether Pam or someone else, might have seen us before we moved further uptown. They easily could’ve sat on the information for a couple of weeks before saying anything to Marianne. Or Ben might have wanted to discuss it with the partners first, in light of my newfound celebrity shining a spotlight on the firm.”

  “Yes, that’s possible. So, when Ben called you in and told you that we’d been seen together, what did you say to him?”

  “I told him I could all but guarantee that there would be no more sightings of you and I together. I didn’t tell him we’d broken up, but I’m sure he figured as much.”

  “Oh.” She sighed. “Well, David, my mother once told me that forgiving someone doesn’t make them right, but that it would make me free. So if you’re looking for my forgiveness, you have it.”

  Chapter 27

  He spoke softly, his eyes shining with sincerity. “I never wanted to hurt you, Devin.”

  She met his eyes. “I’m sure you didn’t. But you managed to, regardless. And I won’t lie. It hurt. It still hurts.”

  “Babe, I know I did a terrible thing. But try to understand. A beautiful woman with a killer figure comes to my office and tells me that her legal problem—at least one of them—is that her ex has posted a video of them having sex on a porn site. Naturally, I was curious. I’m a man, for crying out loud. I wanted to see what you looked like naked.”

  She continued with her frosty stare. The more she stared, the more desperate he seemed to become to get her to understand.

  “It may have started out as mere sexual attraction between us, even curiosity,” he continued. “But the important thing is that it grew into so much more than that. With you, I felt…” he shook his head “…alive. I got an enjoyment out of the simplest things in life that I never experienced with anyone else, like walking on the beach. And after the first time we made love out in Quogue, I felt ashamed of having sought out your video and looking at it numerous times. I deleted it from my hard drive as soon as I got home that Sunday. I knew it was wrong for me to have looked at it. And once I was granted the honor of making love to you, it made me sick to think of you with another man. I guess I started to feel possessive, to think of you as mine.”

  She acknowledged that statement by uttering a single syllable, “Oh,” in a tone that could instantly freeze water.

  “It wasn’t my intention to ever tell you what I’d done,” he said. “Maybe it was just my subconscious secretly wanting to be found out. Maybe I just didn’t like the idea of keeping a secret from you.”

  “I already said I forgive you, David.”

  “Yes, you did. And I’m grateful for that. But I’ve got to tell you honestly, Devin, it’s not enough.” He paused briefly, appeared to take a deep breath and leaned forward slightly, speaking even softer than before. “I want your love. Because I’m in love with you.”

  Her breath caught in her throat. “You’re…”

  “That’s why I’ve been having such a hard time since you broke up with me. My parents weren’t kidding when they said I’ve been moping. It’s like I was sleeping with the fishes.”

  She giggled at the Godfather reference.

  “I love you, Devin,” he repeated. “And while I’m happy to have your forgiveness, I also want your love.” His earnest blue eyes bore into hers. “Maybe I’m just being greedy, but surely you can’t look me in the eye and tell me you have no feelings for me at all.”

  “I do have feelings for you, David. If I didn’t, it wouldn’t hurt so much to find out that you lied to me about looking at my video.”

  “What was I supposed to do, Devin? Tell you I looked at it? Tell you I spent over an hour searching various porn sites until I found it? Tell you that I’d downloaded it onto my computer and looked at it every night before I went to sleep? Be honest with yourself, and with me. You would’ve been just as upset and would’ve broken up with me anyway if I told you the truth.”

  “I don’t know, David. It’s just so painful. I hate to even think about it.”

  “Then don’t think about it anymore,” he urged. “Let go of the pain, and instead tell yourself that I’m in love with you. You just said that forgiving me will make you free. This is the same concept.” When she looked uncertain, he rushed on. “I’ve made some wonderful plans, plans I want you to be part of. I’m going to hang out a shingle of my own. What happened this afternoon only cemented my belief that this is the right time to do it.”

  Devin immediately brightened. “Oh, David! That’s wonderful! When?”

  “As soon as I can get things going. I’ve already been looking at office space. I’ll have to get some furniture, and I’ll need an assistant. I was hoping I could interest you in that job…especially now that you’re unemployed.”

  Her mouth fell open. “Me? But, David, I still have so much to learn. I don’t think I’m qualified to be a legal secretary.”

  “Well, it’s true you don’t have a whole lot of experience, but you know the basics. And you’ll have a fairly understanding boss who will patiently take all the time you need to teach you what you need to know, including researching.”

  “You mean…like a paralegal?”

  “Yes.”

  She gave him a knowing look. “Now, David. You know I can’t resist the thought of learning a new skill. Shame on you.”

  “I knew it would be an offer you couldn’t refuse,” he replied with a smile. “Seriously, Devin. It’s not going to be easy. I can be very demanding. Depending on the workload, you might have irregular hours. Some days I may only need you in the morning, or in the afternoon. Other times, I might need you to work a ten-hour day. It will all depend on what’s going on. I’d like to continue focusing on white-collar crimes: insider trading, contesting of wills, property disputes, things like that, and in view of what happened to you and to my mom, I think I’d like to include sexual harassment cases.”

  “I think that’s just great. Incidentally, I don’t think I ever told you this, but Mama initially planned to ask Portia James to talk to me. Given the circumstances, I would feel more comfortable talking with a woman. But as it turned out, Portia had left the office early that day to bring her son to the orthodontist.”

  “You mean, I owe meeting you to Portia’s kid’s buckteeth?”

  She laughed. “That’s right. Funny how things have a way of working out.”

  It was funny, but he was eager for an answer to his proposition. “So do you think you might be interested in working for me, Devin?”

  “It really sounds interesting, David, but I have to give it some thought.” She was afraid to ask how much he’d pay her.

  “If it’s salary you’re worried about, I have a lower figure in mind initially, because I’m just getting started and you’re still learning.” He named a figure that wasn’t particularly high, but not too low, either, especially considering the minimal amount she’d be paying to Rafael and Mama for rent. “But once you’re up to speed, and once business really takes off, your salary will increase, and there will be bonuses and paid time off as well. And, of course, keep in mind that on those late nights, you’re always welcome to stay with me.” He winked. “I certainly wouldn’t expect you to go all the way back to New Jersey late at night.”

  He joked about it, but he knew Devin had genuine concerns. She was probably trying to figure out what type of relationship they would have, and she was probably too embarrassed to ask. She’d admitted to having forgiven him, but…

  “Most job offers come with time for consideration,” she pointed out after a period of silence. “Can I at least think about it?”

  “Sure. I didn’t mean to pressure you. I just like the idea of being around you every day.”

  David wisely changed the subject. “So, what did you think of my parents?”

  “I think the question should be, what did they think of me?”

  “Devin, you’re bright and charming, not to mention gorgeous. Of c
ourse they like you.”

  She wasn’t quite convinced, a thought she kept to herself. “I have to admit that it came as quite a surprise to hear that you told them about me.”

  He leaned forward and placed his hand atop hers. “I want to be honest, Devin. I have to be honest. I lied to you once, and it tore us apart. I don’t ever want to lie to you again. My mother was…well, for lack of a better word, she was pretty taken aback when I told her I was dating a Latina who also happens to be black.”

  She calmly took a bite of her baked potato. “I’ll bet she was.”

  “She said it was just something she never gave much thought to the possibility of. My parents aren’t bigots, Devin. And in all fairness to them, it’s the type of thing that can come as a shock.”

  “I understand. It’s probably something like the shock parents feel when their child tells them they’re gay.”

  “Well, I don’t know about all that,” he said with a smile. “Learning your child is gay must be devastating for a parent. I’m sure they probably wonder if they somehow failed their child, worry that if they’d done something differently their child’s sexuality would be different. They probably worry about discrimination and hate crimes being directed toward their child, that life in general might be much more difficult for them. And it means they have to adjust to the idea of not having grandchildren. That can be difficult for any parent.”

  “So, all your parents have to worry about with your being with me are minor details, like what their friends will say,” she said, her expression sullen.

  David gave her a pointed look. “Come on, Devin, there’s no cause for that. Actually, when I talked to my mother, she asked me a very important question.

  “Oh? What was that?”

  “She said it seemed pretty obvious to her that I care about you very much. I told her I did, and she told me I should follow my heart. She said you’re obviously a very special woman to have captivated me, and she encouraged me to keep trying to get you back. My dad was honest enough to tell me he was also surprised, and even a little disappointed to learn you weren’t white, but he agreed with Mom that the most important thing was for me to be happy, and that if I met a woman who made me happy, then I owed it to myself to pursue her. He pointed out that interracial couples are becoming more and more common, on TV, in the movies, even in advertising. He told me that I had their full support, and that they would take care of anyone who had anything negative to say, including my grandmother.”

  “Your grandmother. That would be the one with the birthday party?”

  “Yes. My mother’s mother. My father’s parents are deceased,” he clarified. “Grandma is…very much a woman of her time. She doesn’t really believe in interracial relationships.”

  Devin lowered her eyes. He knew what she was thinking. That’s why he didn’t want to bring me to his grandmother’s birthday celebration. She was wrong; his reason for not bringing her was the one he’d told her: He preferred to keep his family out of his love life, no matter who he was dating. He was his own man, and he wasn’t going to be controlled by anyone: not his parents, and not his ninety-year-old grandmother. If they didn’t like who he ultimately chose, that was on them, not him. But that was a conversation they could have at another time. “Enough about my grandmother,” he said. “Back to my parents. I know that giving them advance notice about you helped that first meeting be a lot less awkward. I hope that doesn’t upset you.” His eyes were anxious.

  “No,” she replied. “I understand. It really isn’t fair to shock people unnecessarily, especially people who aren’t young. The important thing is that they were very gracious to me. Your mother seemed genuinely distressed when I told her the nature of my trouble at work.”

  “How about that?” David mused. “I learned something about my parents today. I had no idea my mother had once been sexually harassed, or that my father went to see the man who did it and all but threatened to kick his ass.” He chuckled. “Not that I blame him. I feel ready to do some ass-kicking myself the next time I see Larry.”

  “I couldn’t help noticing,” Devin began, “that your mother still seemed traumatized by her experience, even after all these years. It made me wonder…do you suppose I’ll be haunted by memories of Raymond Quinn years from now?”

  “No, babe,” he gently replied. “I don’t think you’ll be haunted by it. It’s probably safe to say that whenever something happens to remind you of it, it might make you uneasy. I think that’s what happened to my mom. I really don’t think she’s given it a lot of thought all these years, but when the subject came up, it brought her back to it. I don’t think she’ll ever completely forget what happened to her that day.”

  Their eyes met and held. “You know,” David said thoughtfully, “this ‘Me Too’ movement is farther-reaching than I thought it was.”

  “I’m sorry to say it’s been going on a long time, and it’s not just limited to the casting couch of Hollywood.”

  “Well, I’m glad it’s no longer being tolerated,” he said with vehemence. “It’s time men stopped looking at the workplace as a breeding ground to cheat on their wives, or, if they’re not married, as a place to get sex.”

  *****

  They enjoyed the rest of the meal, and both of them were too full to order dessert. Dining at this restaurant was a new experience for Devin. She’d never been to a restaurant where each menu item was priced separately. Her steak came alone; the baked potato she ordered was a separate item with its own price, and so were side salads and vegetables.

  It was starting to get dark when they left the restaurant. July was ending, and the hours of sunlight had already grown noticeably shorter. “I guess it’s about time for me to be getting home,” she remarked during the short walk to the center of the block.

  “Home? But…” he seemed bewildered. “Did I miss something, Devin? Didn’t we just make up back there?”

  “I forgive you, David, but I really don’t know what happens next…or if anything should happen.”

  He abruptly stopped walking and took her hands, turning her to face him. “Devin, I told you in the restaurant that I’ve fallen in love with you. Are you telling me that means nothing to you? Did I just make a blabbering fool of myself?”

  “Of course not. I do love you, David. I’m just not sure if we can get past this. That’s why I asked for time before I accepted your job offer. I’m not sure if we’ll be able to work together.”

  “Let me lay it out for you,” he said. “I love you. You love me. Before I opened my big mouth, we got along beautifully. It’s not like we’re clones of each other, but we do like a lot of the same things. I’m about to start a brand-new venture, and there’s no one else in the world that I’d rather have at my side than you.”

  “But aren’t you a little bit worried that it might be too much for us to work together and have a personal relationship?”

  He shrugged. “My mom managed my dad’s sole proprietorship medical practice for years, before he went into a partnership. It worked fine for them.”

  Devin had to agree. Sheila and Lamar Andrews had been married a long time.

  “Besides,” he added, “after everything you’ve been through this last couple of months, I think the safest place for you to be is with me.” He squeezed her hands. “So tell me, Devin. Now that everything’s cleared up, do you still want me to bring you home?”

  Her eyes locked on his, she slowly shook her head. “I’ll have to call Mama,” she said. “If I don’t, she’ll worry.”

  “Of course. I’ll wait for you in the bedroom.”

  Once more, they went inside the senior Andrews’ triplex and took the elevator to the fifth floor. There was no sign of Lamar and Sheila; Devin figured they’d gone into their bedroom, which was probably on the upper level.

  Devin experienced the feeling of déjà vu as she stepped inside David’s apartment for the second time today. The first time she and David made love, it had been at the beach house in Quog
ue, not here, but she felt the same mixture of nervousness and anticipation as she had that night.

  True to his word, David went straight to the bedroom, and she soon heard the shower running. She sat in the swivel chair in the living room and dialed her mother’s number. “Hi, Mama.”

  “Devin! I was just about to call you. Are you okay? It’s nearly nine o’clock, and you didn’t mention having plans for after work.”

  “Yes, I’m fine. I won’t be home until tomorrow. I’m…at David’s. We, um, made up tonight.”

  Her words were met with a stunned silence on the other end. “Mama? Are you there?”

  “Si, I’m here. I’m just surprised.”

  “It came as a surprise to me, too,” she said over a chuckle. “I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow. Please don’t think I’m trying to get out of helping with the packing. I wasn’t planning on doing a lot of work tonight anyway. I’ll definitely tackle it tomorrow. So you and Rafael have a nice evening.”

  “We will.”

  “Oh! One more thing, Mama…”

  “What’s that?”

  “David introduced me to his parents tonight.”

  Chapter 28

  As David tenderly kissed and undressed her, she realized that despite her feelings of having experienced this before, there was nonetheless something different this time, and it took her a few moments to identify.

  It was in the gentle way he handled her, she realized. The first time they came together, it had been in a rush of desire. This time they had expressed love for each other.

  How incredible it seemed to be in bed with David again, to feel the weight of his naked body beside hers, the hard muscle of his penis against her thigh. Its tip was moist and left a wet spot wherever it touched her skin, and she felt her own arousal pooling between her legs. She gasped when his fingers touched her there, stroking, then reaching inside. He grunted into her mouth at finding her wet, and the tenderness gave way to lust. He draped her leg over his thigh and slid into her. Devin lifted her legs on either side of his waist and whimpered with delight. In a smooth, repetitive motion, she rolled her pelvis and met his thrusts with her own. They moaned together, pleasure radiating from their respective cores to the rest of their bodies. Devin’s toes bent backward, her nipples tingled, and her breaths came fast and audible. The unmistakable scent of their mating filled the air, adding to her excitement.