Conner’s arm tightened under Jessica’s hand. There wasn’t much to like about this guy based on a first impression, but Conner’s stress and dislike were palpable. Jessica didn’t like him for that, if nothing else.
“Trent, I’m sure we’ll all do our best for the company.” It was Tommy who answered.
“You know, Conner, it really is a character flaw that you let your assistant speak for you. A real man can doesn’t need a mouthpiece.” Trent leaned in close to Conner’s face.
Conner dropped Jessica’s arm. The muscles in his shoulders rippled. He looked as if he was preparing to rearrange Trent’s scrunched up face.
“Good evening, gentleman.” An older man with white hair interrupted.
“Mr. Cahill, sir.” Conner spoke first. “It’s good to see you this evening.”
“You too, Locke. I do hope you are all getting along.” He might have been older and the one expected to retire tonight, but his eyes were sharp. Jessica doubted he missed anything. Conner’s tense jaw and clenched fist. Trent’s smug grin, Tommy’s wide eyes. If she picked up on it, surely Cahill did too.
“Who is your lovely lady friend?” he asked.
“I’m pleased to introduce you to Jessica Erikson, my girlfriend.” Conner’s hand found the small of her back, and she felt some of the tension drain out of the situation.
Cahill laughed loud and slapped Conner on the back.
“Girlfriend? That is most excellent, my boy. You need someone special in your life. Someone all yours.” He gave Conner an intense look and held out his arm. “May I have the pleasure of escorting you for a drink?”
“Of course.” Jessica knew better than to say no to the big boss. She smiled at Conner. He was starting to sweat.
She took Cahill’s arm and left the three of them behind, gawking after her.
“How do you find the party?” Cahill asked.
“Truthfully, I’ve never been to anything like this.” Jessica glanced above at the crystal chandelier. Thousands of pieces of crystal glittered in the soft lighting. It was breathtaking.
“It’s a little much for me, but Stone likes it.”
“And it is his birthday,” Jessica added.
“Exactly.” Cahill smiled. “Do you have any children?”
“No.”
“It’s hard not to give them everything thing they want.” Cahill led her to a small table. They both sat down. A waiter came by and left them two glasses of rich red wine.
“Hope you don’t mind. Champagne gives me indigestion.” Cahill took a sip.
“Of course.” She took a sip and set her glass down. Being alone with Conner’s boss made her nervous. She didn’t want to say the wrong thing. He wouldn’t admit it, but she knew this was a big night for him.
“Thank you for letting me steal you for a moment.”
Jessica returned his smile, but she couldn’t help letting her eyes surf through the crowd. A sigh of relief eased through her when she spotted Conner not far away, ready to step in if she said something horribly offensive to this big-wig.
“I can see that you care for him. That’s evident.” Cahill chuckled. Jessica’s cheeks warmed.
“It’s wonderful to see. Conner needs something like that in his life. Especially tonight. I have to deliver a decision he’s not going to like.”
Jessica sighed. She had hoped tonight would be good for Conner.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” she said cautiously. “May I ask what this decision is?”
“I’m retiring and naming my son to take my place.”
“Over Conner.” She wasn’t asking. A rock settled into the pit of her stomach.
“Yes,” he said. “But before you get angry with me. Hear me out. Only because I’m about to lose Conner. He doesn’t know it yet. I do though. George Turner in Land Procurement is interested in Conner. He’s been following his rise in my department. He’s going to make Conner an offer he won’t turn down.”
“But, why are you telling me all this?” Jessica scrunched up her nose. Cahill owed her nothing. He didn’t know her at all. It wasn’t like she was Conner’s wife and he had to explain why he was sending her husband off to the North Pole.
Before he could answer, a younger version of Cahill dragged an extra chair over and flopped in it.
“Father, who is this vision of loveliness?”
Junior or Stone, more appropriately looked at her with lively interest. Jessica disliked him immediately, out of loyalty for Conner, but his beady eyes and a hawkish nose didn’t help. He looked like he’d swoop out of the sky and eat field mice for fun.
“This nice young lady is Locke’s girlfriend, Jessica.” Cahill threw an irritated look at his son.
Stone snorted. “I bet he paid her to come along. An American prostitute in Egypt.”
“Excuse me!” Jessica started to rise, but Cahill reached over and patted her hand.
“That is unacceptable, Stone. Apologize to Miss Erickson.” Cahill’s voice was strong and firm. Yet he spoke to his son like an errant child, not a shit-for-brains man that needed his head knocked off.
“Whatever, would you just make the announcement, so Locke will leave, and we can really party.” Stone stood up. His leg knocked the table. Both glasses of red wine overturned and landed in Jessica’s lap.
“Oh.” She pushed back from the table and jumped to her feet.
“Stone. Watch yourself.” Cahill reached for Jessica, but there were already three waiters there to assist her. They were patting at her dress with napkins.
“Are you alright?” Conner was at her elbow. “What happened?”
“It was just an accident.” Cahill jerked his head at Stone. If that was another request for an apology, Stone could keep it. In fact, he could choke on it.
“I’m fine,” she said. She didn’t want to upset Conner. She didn’t want to hurt his chances to get a new position with the company because he beat the stuffing out of Stone. No matter how much the prick deserved it. “I’d better go though.”
Conner nodded. His jaw flexed.
He signaled for Tommy. “Have Ahmed bring the car around?”
“Will do.” Tommy squeezed her hand. “Hey, you still rock that dress. Stained or not.”
“Thanks.” She tried to smile, but didn’t quite make it.
“Do I need to break his face?” Conner whispered into her ear. His gaze fixed on Stone, who was getting a lecture from his father.
“No. It really was an accident. He’s just a careless jerk.” Jessica turned her head and kissed his cheek. “Don’t let anything he says get under your skin. He thrives off the reaction.”
“Is that your professional opinion?” Conner put his arm around her and walked her through the rapidly forming crowd.
“Damned right it is.” She laid her head on his shoulder.
“Wait!” Before they left the reception room, Cahill grabbed her other wrist and pulled her free of Conner. “Just for a second.”
Irritation sparked in Conner’s eyes, but he couldn’t really say anything to his boss.
“Jessica, dear. You wanted to know why I was telling you all that.” Cahill put his head down close to hers. “With this new position, Conner’s travel time will double. It’s possible he’ll be sent to Dubai. I was hoping to do a little reconnaissance for George and find out how serious you two are. Will he turn down the position to be with you?”
“Oh.” Jessica’s breath all left her in a rush. How should she answer that? How did she want to answer it?
“Excuse me, sir.” Conner interjected and took Jessica’s elbow in a gentle grip. “Her car is here.”
The question was left hanging.
“I hope that wasn’t rude, but I think he’s had enough of your time tonight.” Conner pulled her outside, and Jessica was still too stunned to say anything. “What did he want anyway?”
“What? Oh. To apologize.” Jessica mumbled an answer. Ahmed was waiting with the car door open. Conner gave her a quick kiss and a
long hug. “Will you come over tonight?” she whispered into his neck.
“It might be a while. Pretty late, I’m assuming,” he said.
“Doesn’t matter.”
“Then I’ll be there.” He kissed her again, and she got in the car. Jessica laid her head back. Conner in Dubai? Cairo wouldn’t be the same without him.
Conner got rip-roaring drunk.
Tommy began steadily feeding him alcohol right after Jessica left, which he knew was no accident. Stone wanted to ruin everything Conner had for the simple fact that his daddy liked Conner better. He was a bully and a punk.
About an hour after Jessica left, when Cahill finally stood to make the father’s speech, Conner was way past buzzed. The old man droned on about how a man wants the best for his son or something equally stupid. Then the moment everyone was waiting for.
“I hate to disappoint all of you, but the rumors have been false. I’m stout and healthy and see no reason to retire. It may likely be Stone that steps into my position someday, but I’m not quite ready to be put out to pasture yet. There’s still some good years in me.” Cahill laughed.
Across the ballroom, Junior turned purple. His eyes nearly bugged out. It was highly entertaining. Apparently, that wasn’t the announcement Junior had been anticipating. Then again, Conner was drunk and didn’t know for certain and wasn’t sure he cared. It was obvious; either way he wasn’t getting the job.
Tommy tried to pry the glass out of Conner’s hand.
“We should leave now, boss,” said Tommy.
“What? No.” Conner knocked back his glass and drained the liquid.
“Yeah. You can go to Jessica’s, sleep this off, and worry about work later.”
“Get me another.”
“You’ve had enough.”
“Tommy, six years I have groveled for every scrap from Cahill’s table. Worked myself until I was too tired to move. Laughed at all of his bad jokes. For what? Nothing apparently. Not even a mention. The division has done so well off my back.”
“You make a ridiculous salary and have traveled the world.” Tommy rolled his eyes.
“And an insolent assistant that probably needs to be fired.”
“You are such a mouthy drunk.”
Conner ignored him and went in search of his own booze.
Across the room, Stone caught his eye. Now was probably as good a time as any to beat that guy to a pulp. Stone must have had the same idea. He threw back his drink and started toward Conner.
“It’s because of your hired girlfriend that this happened.” Stone swayed on his feet.
“My what?” growled Conner. He was seeing in doubles, or triples really. There were three Juniors standing in front of him. And really, one was bad enough.
“That girl. We all know she’s not really your girl. You’re hung up on some married Egyptian that you’ve mooned over for years. You paid that pretty little piece tonight. She did a good job too. I might have need of her services. Do you have her number?” Stone grinned wide. All three of him.
Conner drew back. He knew, always punch the middle one. His frat brothers had taught him that.
Then Ahmed and Tommy were pulling him away. Each had one of his arms. Trent had stepped in and was doing the same with Junior.
“Let me go,” Conner demanded. “Or I’ll have your job.”
“You go ahead and fire me. I’ll be the first casualty in the fight to save your sorry ass.” Tommy grunted and readjusted his hold.
Ahmed and Tommy dragged him away from the scene. His coworkers and their wives snickered and glanced away as they cleared a lane for them. By morning, both of them would need to find new employment.
They tossed him into the backseat, none too gently either.
“Hey,” he shouted at Ahmed as he sped down the street. “I thought you was watching Jess.” He slurred his words terribly.
“She’s tucked in and locked up tight. You seem to be needing me more than she does.” Ahmed shook his head.
Just Conner’s luck. He couldn’t get good help anymore. Tommy needed firing. Ahmed probably needed firing. In the morning, he’d fire everyone who worked for him and start over completely.
It took Ahmed and two of Conner’s building security guys to get him up to his apartment. His legs forgot how to bend. It was the strangest thing. They dumped him on his couch, on his head. Yep, all getting fired. And Octo kept jumping on him.
He patted his pockets for his phone. Gone. He needed to call Jessica. Just to make sure she was alright. He tried getting off the couch to see if it was on the kitchen counter, but that just left him on the living room floor.
That’s where he woke up sometime around dawn and crawled to his bed. Octo stayed beside him every pitiful inch of the way.
It was well past two p.m. the following afternoon before he woke again. His shades had been drawn. There was a bottle of water and aspirin on his bedside table along with his phone.
He groaned and rolled onto his back, pulling a pillow over his face.
It was late afternoon the next time he cracked his eyes open. Octo was nowhere to be seen. Loyal dog? Man’s best friend deserted him. Conner sat up and reached for the water. His head pounded like it had its own percussion section. He decided to skip the water and grabbed his phone instead.
It was almost five and no messages. Great. He flung his phone across the room. It made a satisfying thunk as it hit the wall.
He dropped his heavy head into his hands. His girlfriend obviously cared as much as Octo. The bed dipped. Finally his dog came along. But it was cool hands on his chest, not a wet nose in his ear that got his attention.
“You need to drink some water.” Jessica handed him the bottle, but all he could do was stare.
“What?” His voice was dry and raspy. He sounded terrible even to his own ears.
“Drink.” She unscrewed the lid for him.
The water, room temp though it was, felt wonderfully wet on his throat. Octo finally jumped up on the bed and stuck his nose in Conner’s ear.
“I don’t understand,” he said after he drank the whole bottle and took the aspirin Jessica shoved into his hand.
“Ahmed called me around noon. Said you were in bad shape.”
“And you came over?”
“I did. Got you undressed and a little more comfortable so you could sleep it off easier.”
“But.…”
“Let’s not worry about it right now.”
Conner tucked his fingers into her hair and lifted it up. He wanted to see her surprise hidden rose color. One of the many things that made her special.
“I thought you were mad at me.” He buried his face in her neck and inhaled her fresh scent. “I didn’t have a single message from you.”
“Is that the offense the phone committed?” Jessica laughed. “And poor Ahmed. You fired him.”
“Not the first time. Don’t let him play on your sympathies.”
“He takes good care of you.” She loosely draped her arms over Conner’s shoulders.
If Ahmed brought her here to take care of him, then the man was more of a friend than any other he had here in Egypt.
“I’ll give him a raise,” Conner murmured.
“Tommy too from what I heard.” Jessica pulled away. “Let me get you some more water.”
Conner flopped back on his pillows. Octo immediately smushed up beside him. Lazy beast was at least loyal, eventually.
Jessica came back. She looked lovely as ever in a light blue t-shirt that did amazing things for her eyes and shorts.
Conner drank the water she gave him.
“Can I make you something to eat?” She sat far enough away to let him know that she wasn’t quite ready to forgive and forget.
The thought of food turned his stomach. He hadn’t been that drunk since the night he spent with Nour nearly a year ago.
“I guess not.” The ghost of a smile played on her lips.
“What happened last night?” She stood up and ca
me around to the opposite side of the bed. Octo tucked his feet in so that she had room to climb up and lie down with them.
“Ahmed didn’t tell you?” Conner asked.
“Only that he and Tommy broke up an almost fight, which would have been more humorous than dangerous since you and Stone were both so drunk,” Jessica replied.
Conner sighed.
“If you want, let’s just relax and watch a little TV. I’ll make you dinner.”
“We can order in,” he said. If she wanted to hang out with him, she couldn’t be that mad, and he didn’t want to make her work for him. Just the opposite, he wanted to pamper her. That wasn’t the easiest thing to do in his current pathetic state, but he was going to try and make sure she didn’t regret coming over.
She frowned. “Would you let me cook for you?”
“What?” He shook his head, confused.
“I enjoy cooking. I want to make you a meal, silly boy.” She rolled onto her side and propped her head up in her hand.
“Why do that? I can order us something, and it’s easy. No work.”
She placed her finger over his lips.
“I want to do that for you. No argument. There’s someone who does all of the necessary things for you. To cook for you, clean for you, drive you around, but do any of those people love you?”
It was Conner’s turn to frown.
“Don’t get me wrong. You’ve lucked out with Ahmed, but you still pay him. But other than Blake, everyone else I’ve met that you surround yourself with is either getting money from you or looking to stab you in the back and take your position.” Jessica took his hand.
“I came over because you were sick. I want to cook for you because you need to eat, and I have absolutely nothing to gain from you other than your smile. That’s what we do for those we love.”
Conner looked into her blue eyes. He understood finally. She was telling him she loved him. His breath had to be horrible, but he didn’t care. He leaned over Octo and kissed her.
Sunday stunk. It was officially the longest day ever. She hated leaving Conner that morning, it had been a terrible weekend and she hadn’t heard from him all day. It was driving her crazy not knowing how much of a bind he was in for getting so wasted at a work function.
Pyramids and Promises (Omega Mu Alpha Brothers Book 2) Page 14
