by King, Kelsey
The elevator doors are just about to close when I feel a wave of nausea come over me. I clench my throat and stick my hands between the doors causing them to open again.
I rush toward the ladies room and make it just in time to the cubicle before I chuck the little bit of orange juice I had. I dry heave a few more times before I finally manage to get the nausea under control.
I briskly wash my face and rinse my mouth and just as I turn to leave Lisa walks in.
“Riley.” Her voice is dripping with honey even as she swipes an imaginary hair from her cheek with her left hand. I spot the giant rock and for a moment wonder if her hand doesn’t get tired of carrying around a rock that size.
“Miss Weston.” I smile, causing my face to burn with insincerity. “Congratulations.”
I feel another wave of nausea coming on and head for the cubicle, but Lisa grabs my arm, her fake acrylic nails biting into my flesh.
“I think it’s time we had a word.” She seethes at me. Her usually cool eyes have turned into a frosty glare. I suddenly realize why Tammy had called her the ice queen.
A shiver runs down my spine even as I try to wrench away from her hand, but for someone so impossibly thin she has the grip of a fucking monkey. “What about?”
“About you screwing Branson. I let him have his fun now and then, but now that we’re engaged that’s going to stop.”
I shrug, trying to seem confused, although my scarlet cheeks are a good indication that I know exactly what she is talking about. “I don’t know—”
“Don’t be coy with me, Riley. I can almost smell him on you. You do know where he spent his night, don’t you?”
I wince at her words. Right after we had made, love Branson had claimed he needed a good night’s sleep and headed home. Did he go to her place?
“I don’t really care.” I try to feign ignorance.
Her loud laughter sends another chill running down my spine. I’m sure that by the time she’s done with me, I’m going to be a fucking ice cube.
“Let me make this brutally fucking clear, you little whore. If I ever see you looking in Branson’s direction, you’re out on your ass. I’ll make sure you’re never hired in advertising again. You get that? I know many people, Riley. I’m a big fucking whale in this pond and your nothing more than an amoeba still trying to stay afloat. Don’t fuck with me.”
“I’m not,” I shriek as Lisa increases her grip and her nails bite of the top layer of my skin. “I get it, Lisa, he’s yours. Let go of me.”
“Of course you’ll say that. Even knowing he screwed you over, you’ll still protect him. He has that way of gaining a person’s loyalty. Just know this. He’s loyal to me, you’re just the girl he fucks when I’m elsewhere occupied.”
Humiliation and shame burn the back of my throat as I listen to her cruel words. How did I not see this? How could I have been so naive? Tears singe the back of my eyes, with more force than I realize. I rip Lisa’s hand from my arm causing her to fall back a step.
I run to the elevator, and as I get inside, I glance at the buttons. I press the button to the ground floor. I have a feeling that if I go to my office, I might just strangle Branson before throwing myself out of his window. I hit the button knowing I won’t be coming back to BPC Advertising ever again.
My short-lived career in advertising was amazing, but now it’s over.
As my feet hit the asphalt and the stench of the pollution burns my lungs, I wonder if I would be a good waitress. Surely it can’t be that hard, and I won’t risk having sex with another boss again. A tear slides down my cheek, and I take a deep breath convincing myself it was something that flew into my eye. I won’t cry for a man that used me like a fucking side order to his main course.
It’s been three days since I walked out. I’m pretty sure that my tear ducts have been severely damaged from overuse. My eyes are swollen and feel like someone swiped some sandpaper over them during the night.
I glance at my phone and notice I have two more missed calls from Branson. I push my face into my pillow and wish I could take it all back, something I’ve done a lot the three days since Lisa scraped the top layer of skin off my skin.
Today I need to start looking for a new job. I’ll probably have to search for a waitressing job if Lisa stays faithful to her word about ruining me, which I don’t doubt.
I switch on the television and reruns of 90’s sitcom start playing on the screen. These faces have become my constant companions. I actually found myself telling them about Branson yesterday and my humiliation of the century.
Tammy has even tried phoning me a few times, but I didn’t trust myself to pick up my phone. I might just tell her what I’ve done and what Lisa did. I close my eyes, and I can actually see her draped around Branson. His blue eyes smokey with desire and her frosty-eyes, shining with love.
It’s actually sickening. I grab the chocolate I didn’t finish yesterday and break off a large piece. I really want ice cream, but I’m not ready to face the world puffy-eyed so the chocolate will do.
My phone buzzes again, I glance at the screen: Branson.
I almost answer it, because I miss him. I want to hear his voice and kiss him again, but I know that’s never going to happen.
I’ve been played, and I won’t let him toy with me any longer. Not because of Lisa’s warning, but because I need to keep what little dignity I have left.
16
Branson
It’s been three days since Riley disappeared off the face of the earth. I’ve never allowed my heart to become involved in my dalliances, but somehow Riley sneaked beneath the impenetrable walls of my heart.
The first day she didn’t show up for work, I suspected that I felt her absence more prominently because we worked together so well. But yesterday I had to face the truth. I missed Riley because I’ve fallen in love with her. Falling in love for the first time was a scary feeling. It’s like your heart squeezes in your chest whenever you think of that person. Your breath hitches when you see them and even when you don’t.
My entire balance is off. It’s as if Riley has taken my equilibrium with her. Nothing felt right, nothing tastes right, and nothing makes sense without her. I walk to her office, her seat glaringly empty.
I considered ringing Human Resources to find out if she called in sick, but didn’t want them to think I was whipped. That was yesterday, this is today. Today I don’t give a fuck, I want to find her.
She hasn’t been answering my calls, not even my texts. Anger bubbles to the surface as I pick up the phone and hit the button for HR.
After a brief exchange, its clear Riley hasn’t called in sick. No one knows where she is or why she hasn’t shown up for work. I try her phone again but only get her voicemail.
“Riley, where the fuck are you?” I shout into the phone before slamming it down.
I know where she lives and it’s clear something is up, so I head to my office and grab my keys.
Today I’m going to see my Riley and this time I’m going to make it clear—she’s mine.
* * *
I knock on her door a few times and listen carefully for any sound of movement inside. All I hear is the deafening sound of a 90’s sitcom blaring through the apartment. I bang my fist a few more times, my knuckles burning from the force.
“I told you, Jose, I’m fine. Just leave me alone,” I hear Riley calling out.
Who the fuck was Jose and why was he checking on my girl?
“Riley, open the fucking door before I kick it down.”
The locks turn, and the door slightly opens revealing a disheveled and puffy-eyed Riley still wearing her pajamas.
“What the fuck happened to you?” I ask as I step inside and kick the door shut. I frame her face with my hands, my heart constricting in my chest at the thought that she might’ve been hurt.
“Nothing,” Riley says, pushing my hands away.”What do you want?”
“Who the fuck is Jose?” I demand rougher than I intend
.
Riley shrugs and bundles herself onto the couch before pulling a quilt over her legs. “He’s my neighbor.”
I can see there’s more to the story, but I let it go for now. I need to find out what’s going on. I sit down beside her on the couch and touch her knee. Riley flinches and swats my hand away.
“What do you want, Branson?” Her eyes are thin slits of pure venom, her voice caustic.
“What happened? Am I missing something? Four nights ago everything was fine, and then you just disappear? I checked with Human Resources, and you haven’t called in sick, so what’s going on?”
Riley shrugs and swipes her sleep-ruffled hair out of her face. “I haven’t called them, because I need to type up my resignation.”
My eyes widen, and my fists clench. “Your what?”
“My resignation, Branson. I’m sorry. I’m happy for you, but I’m no one’s second fiddle.”
I grab Riley by the shoulders and shake her. “Riley, either you start making sense, or I’m going to shake some fucking sense into you.”
Riley glares at me. “Does Lisa know you’re visiting sick employees? You better check your leash, Branson. I think you’re stretching it a bit by being here.”
“What the fuck has Lisa got to do with anything?” Confusion fuels my anger.
Riley’s eyes narrow and for a moment she searches mine before she shakes her head.
“You have no idea do you?”
I shake my head and Riley sighs and looks at her hands.
“Just after you got engaged, she cornered me in the ladies room on the 30th floor. After removing about three layers of my skin with her polished claw, she told me that she’s done turning a blind eye to your little escapades. If I knew you and Lisa were together, I wouldn’t have let you touch me, but you kept that secret closely guarded. Closely guarded enough that I was completely blindsided by the engagement. Congratulations. I hope you have a happy life.” Riley’s lifts her head, disappointment shines in her eyes as she glares at me. “You fooled me.”
I shove away from Riley and stand up, pacing her small apartment. I try to sort through everything she had just said, but finally, I don’t even bother, it doesn’t matter. “Riley, this is all bullshit.”
“What?” Riley asks slightly cocking her head.
“It’s bullshit. I dated Lisa for a couple months close to a year ago. She’s a goddamn psycho that’s why I broke it off. I couldn’t fire her because things didn’t work out between us, but ever since then, she’s gone psycho bitch every time I look at someone else. Let me guess she told you all this?” Riley nods and confusion clouds her expression. “Riley, she only did it to come between us. There’s nothing between Lisa and I. There hasn’t been for several months. It’s just you, only you, Riley.”
A tear slips from Riley’s eye as she sniffs. “What about the ring?”
“What fucking ring?” I ask, moving toward her. I reach for her, but she pulls back.
“The big engagement ring she’s modeling around the office?” Riley tucks the blanket tighter around her legs as if she is protecting herself from me. She doesn’t know that blanket doesn’t stand a fucking chance against me.
“If Lisa is wearing a ring, she didn’t get it from me. Riley, you’ve got to believe me.”
“Everyone at work knows about your affair with Lisa. That makes me what exactly? Your convenient fuck buddy on the 35th floor?”
“I don’t care about anybody else. I only care about you. You’re not my fuck buddy. You’ve become so much more, Riley. Don’t you see that?”
Another tear slips down her cheek as she shakes her head. “Lisa was very convincing.”
“So am I.” I grab the blanket off Riley and chuck it onto the floor before I pull her into my arms. She’s hesitant at first, but she finally relaxes in my arms, her head snuggles into my neck, and I hear her softly sigh.
It feels so good to have her close again. I realize that nothing no longer matters, only me and Riley.
She is my home. She’s the woman I want to be with.
“Riley…” I say her name and my heart swells in my chest. “I’ll take care of this whole situation with Lisa. Just promise me one thing?”
“What?” She sighs against my neck.
“That when this is done, you’ll still be mine. No one else is touching you ever again, not even Jose.”
Riley chuckles and presses a sweet kiss to my neck. “Jose is gay, so I think you’re safe on that front.”
I groan and take her mouth. She tastes just as heavenly as she did the first time I kissed her. This is my woman. If I had a hollow chest and big paws I’d be pounding it now to let the whole world know, instead I kiss her and hope it’ll be enough to convince her of my feelings.
When we finally come up for air, I gently stroke my finger down her cheek where the trail of tears still shines. “Give me a minute?”
Riley nods, and I step back taking out my phone. I dial the number trying to find calm even though my anger is boiling like a fucking volcano.
“Lisa, this is Branson.”
“Branson, darling. Where are you this morning? I was looking for you.”
I take a deep breath, trying not to lose my shit. “I’m with my girlfriend. Pack your shit and get the fuck out of my building. You’re done.”
“Branson? What are you talking about? You sound very upset. Did something happen?”
“Yes, Lisa. You fucking happened. Get your stuff and get the fuck out. You might want to return that rock you bought for yourself.”
I hear her audibly gasp on the other side of the line. “Branson, it’s not what you think.”
“So you didn’t assault my girlfriend, buy yourself a ring, and tell the whole office we’re engaged? Get help Lisa, you need it. The straight-jacket kind.”
Lisa sobs on the other side of the line. I clench my teeth as I look out the windows of Riley’s apartment. She’s sitting behind me, but I want her to know that I had nothing to do with the illusions Lisa fed the office. “Branson, please…”
“Lisa, that’s not going to help. You’ve gone too far this time. When I get back to the building, I want all traces of you gone. I don’t want to see you again, get that? Not fucking ever.” I end the call and turn around. Riley’s eyes are wide with shock. “Are we clear on the situation with Lisa now?”
Riley nods and gets up. She’s wearing a two-piece pajama set. It’s adorable. As she starts toward me, her fingers begin undoing the top buttons. Her hands reach for the hem of the top, and she drags it over her head.
Her thumbs hook into the waistband of her pajama bottoms and she tugs them down.
As Riley stands in front of me, completely bared, I know no other woman will ever be able to take her place.
17
Riley
My breath comes in shallow pants as I watch Branson’s eyes move over my body. I want to touch him, to show him how grateful I am that he threw Lisa out on her ass. If I had any doubt about his story, he just squashed it. It was clear from the side of the conversation I was listening to that Lisa is a crazy bitch that’s obsessed with Branson.
Right now I hate her. I hate her for almost ruining the first relationship I’ve had in years. I hate her for nearly coming between the man I love and me.
“Branson…” My voice is soft as I step toward him. “I love you.”
I watch as his eyes darken with passion, his hands reach for me pulling me against him. “Riley, before I say this you need to know I’ve never said this to a woman before.”
My heart does a backflip in my chest.
“I love you, Riley.”
“I love you so much,” I say before my lips brush against his.
Our tongues stroke and fuel the fire of desire as Branson removes his clothes. I drag his shirt over his head and splay my hands on his chest. His heat chases away the frosty chill that I’ve been dragging around ever since Lisa cornered me.
His hands are all over my body, stroking,
igniting, and soothing me as he drives me higher. His lips follow a trail down my neck until he nips on my collarbone.
A laugh escapes me as I reach for him. He’s rock hard, thick and hot in my hand. I run my hand back and forth and hear him gasp before I stroke his balls.
“Say it, Riley.” Branson moans in my neck.
“What?” I chuckle. This is another side of Branson, a side I haven’t seen before. Our love-making is usually fun and teasing, but there’s a different atmosphere this time. It’s more intense, more serious and meaningful than ever before.
“Say you’re mine.” He growls.
I smile and feel my heart expand in my chest with love as I press my hips against his length. “I’m yours, Branson, only yours.”
“It’s going to stay that fucking way.” Branson grunts as he picks me up and carries me toward the couch. He sets me down on the edge before he kneels between my legs. I gasp in anticipation knowing what’s about to come.
Branson doesn’t let me down. He hooks my legs over his shoulders, pulling my ass toward him until his mouth is firmly nestled between my legs. He blows on my folds, sending shivers down my spine before his hot mouth closes over my clit.
I buck in response and thread my hands through his hair. Every time he touches me I turn into a goddamn inferno. I feel the heat start to build low in my belly as his tongue flicks and swipes over me again and again. His hands squeeze my ass before he slips two fingers inside me.
They glide in easily. I’m already drenched for him. As he moves them inside me, flicking against the bundle of nerves nestled deep inside, my vision starts to blur.
My heart rate accelerates as my muscles start to contract. The delicious wave of ecstasy washes over me, my body bucking in release as Branson doesn’t stop his passionate assault on my clit.
I feel another wave start, but Branson pulls away and flips me over on the couch. I giggle when I realize I’m standing on my knees on my couch, holding onto the backrest with my ass in the air, but the giggles quickly subside when I feel Branson enter me.
