You and I Alone

by Melissa Toppen

  He clearly asked Josh to come back here. He pulled him off to the side so I couldn't hear what was said. He made no effort to conceal what we were doing. How did I not see it? I mistook his pissing contest with Josh for something else entirely.

  “That's it. Thanks.” Bentley says, watching Josh exit through the door without so much as a glance in my direction, before turning back to face me, immediately reaching his arms out for me. Instead of stepping towards him, I step away. Shock, disbelief and regret bleed together in one deadly concoction.

  “You... Why?” I stutter out, gesturing towards the door Josh just exited through. “You set him up to find us like this didn't you?” My words come out heavy with anger.

  “I asked him to bring me some documents I needed. How is that in anyway me setting him up?” He asks, taking a commanding step towards me. “He works for me. He is my employee. I do not need ulterior motives when it comes to asking my employees to do something for me.” He says without apology.

  “So that's what this was too?” I ask, gesturing between the two of us. “You asking me, as your employee, to what.... Fuck you?” I spit, my voice going up an octave.

  “Don't be ridiculous Logan. It isn't like that.” He says, taking another step towards me.

  “Isn't it?” I ask. “This is a game to you. Admit it. You want to fuck me to prove something to yourself so you purposely hurt the one person that has what you don't. Josh didn't deserve that. It's just about winning with you.” I say, suddenly seeing everything so clearly.

  “I am a grown man who knows what he wants. Look around you.” He says, gesturing to where we are. “Do you really believe I reached this level of success by playing games? I say what I want and I go for it. Or haven't you figured that out yet?” He cocks his head to the side, taking in my reaction. “I take what I want Logan. And right now, I want you.” He says, taking another step towards me, taking advantage of the fact that my feet seem to be glued to the floor and unable to step away.

  I don't want to let his words affect me. But the truth is, they do. I have always been the one in control. The one calling the shots. But with Bentley.... Well, he challenges that control. And while that stirs fear deep inside of me, it's also thrilling at the same time.

  “You can't hurt the people I care about and expect that I would ever let anything happen between us.” I protest weakly, trying to find the strength to stand my ground.

  “But something has already happened.” His voice drops low as he steps just inches within my body, his hand trailing down my arm causing a shiver to run through my spine. “Or did you already forget?” He asks, dropping his face to the crook of my neck and trailing his tongue from the base to my ear before whispering. “I'd be happy to refresh your memory.” I can feel his smile against my flesh and it does nothing to calm the fire now raging deep within me.

  “Don't.” I let out a breathy protest.

  “Don't?” He questions, gripping both of my hips and pulling me tightly against his body, his obvious arousal evident against me.

  “I need to go see Josh.” I say, trying to find the strength to step away from him. “I need to explain. Apologize.” My words get stronger as I realize the truth behind them. Josh may not be my boyfriend and I may not owe him an explanation, but as someone I care about, I can't just ignore what he just walked in on.

  “Stop.” I say, my voice finding more strength as I step out of Bentley's embrace, despite his attempts to keep me in place. “I need to go see Josh.” I say again.

  “Logan.” He interjects.

  “No Bentley. I don't know how you live your life but I can't hurt someone that I care about and not try to make it right. I'm not programmed that way.” I say, sighing loudly when a small smile pulls up the corners of his mouth, giving me a shot of those brilliant dimples.

  “Go.” He says, nodding towards the door. “But Logan.” He says, grabbing my hand just as I turn to leave. Pulling me once again flush with his body, he puts his lips to my ear. “This is far from over.” He rasps, releasing me.

  Pulling back, I turn quickly and take off through the room, throwing Bentley one last look over my shoulder before exiting through the same door that Josh left through just a few minutes prior.

  My heart pounds rapidly in my chest as I enter the main room of the club and scan the area for Josh. When I don't spot him, I quickly slip backstage and push my way into his office without so much as a knock. To my surprise, the small area is empty.

  Stepping back out and pulling the door closed, I check my dressing room thinking that maybe he is waiting for me in there but again, the room is dark and silent and Josh is no where to be found. Heading back out into the main room, I quickly approach the bar which is currently being manned by Malcolm. A dark skinned attractive man in his late twenties that is at the top of Lo's 'I must fuck' list. Too bad for Lo, he is happily engaged to one of the other dancers, Chelle, and seems to be in no rush to fuck that up.

  “Hey Logan.” He says, his deep baritone voice booming around me as I approach the bar.

  “Hey.” I say back, leaning against the counter so that I can speak to him without having to yell over the music. “Have you seen Josh?” I ask.

  “He took off just a couple of minutes ago.” He says.

  “Took off?” I question. It's so unlike Josh to leave early, which tells me everything I need to know.

  “Said he wasn't feeling well. Cora was still here drawing up a few contracts and agreed to cover.” He says, referring to the accounts manager for Allure that also offsets Josh as the floor manager. She rarely works when I do and my interaction with her up to this point has been very limited. But I will say that even given the small amount of time we have even been in the same room, there is just something about the woman that I can't stand.

  She's gorgeous, of course. Early thirties, body like a rock. Long blonde hair and legs for days. Cora is the epitome of a superficial stuck up bitch. She walks around like she owns the club and has made it clear to everyone that works here that what she says, goes. My affection for Josh is not the only reason I only work shifts where he is managing. Luckily, Cora typically works during the day since her primary duty is accounting and member registrations.

  “Shit.” I say, shaking my head. “Where is she?” I ask, glancing side to side to make sure she isn't watching me this very second. That's all I need is to give her the impression I am just hanging out. She may not be my direct supervisor but I have no doubt that she could make my life miserable just the same.

  “Front office.” He says, gesturing his head to the side.

  “Thanks Malcolm.” I say, giving him a warm smile before spinning around and heading back across the club.

  I spot Lo coming out of her dressing room the moment I slip backstage. She is dressed in a hot pink lace bra and matching boy shorts, her long blonde hair tied off in pigtail braids making her look like a half naked school girl.

  “Wow.” I say, the moment she spots me. “You look awesome.” I say, nodding my head in approval.

  “I know right?” She laughs, spinning around so I can get the full effect. “I decided I needed to mix it up a little.” She laughs.

  “Well I think that will do it.” I agree, letting my eyes trail across her body and then back up to her face. “What time are you on?” I ask.

  “Ten minutes.” She says, glancing at the clock hanging above the door that leads to the main stage. “Wait. Aren't you supposed to be in a party right now?” She asks, just now catching on that I have only been gone about forty five minutes.

  “Yeah, well.... It's a long story.” I sigh loudly. “One that ends with Josh walking in on me and Bentley in a pretty heated embrace.” I say, bracing myself for Lo's reaction.

  “What?” She squeals so loudly that her voice echos through the hallway. “Oh my god, you didn't?” She asks, practically jumping up and down with excitement.

  “Not exactly.” I say.

  “Oh come on.” She whines. “You gotta give
me more than that.”

  “Let's just say that he knows how to use that beautiful mouth of his.” I say, laughing lightly when Lo covers her mouth on another squeal.

  Her excitement quickly turns to panic when she remembers the 'Josh walking in' part. “Oh god, Josh didn't.....”

  “No, it was after.” I cut her off. “But I am fairly certain that had Josh not shown up, it would have gone a lot further.”

  “What did he say?” She asks.

  “Nothing. He didn't even look at me. He dropped off files for Bentley and then just walked away. I tried to find him, explain. Make sure that he's okay. But Malcolm said he left a few minutes ago.”

  “Well that explains why Bitch Cora is still here then.” She says, her distaste for the woman written clearly across her face.

  “Do you know if I was needed for anything else other than the party?” I ask.

  “You aren't on the rotation so I don't think so. Why?” She asks.

  “I need to go. Will you cover for me if Cora happens to notice that I'm gone?”

  “Lie to one of our bosses? What do you take me for?” She laughs, as if her thick sarcasm wasn't enough of a giveaway.

  “You're the best.” I say, giving her a quick hug before stepping past her. “Good luck out there. You are going to be fighting them off with a stick.” I laugh, throwing her a little wave as I slip inside my dressing room.

  I am back in my street clothes in the matter of two minutes. Grabbing my bag from the back of my chair, I throw it over my shoulder and pull the door open. The moment I register that a person is standing in my doorway, I scream in surprise, my heart jumping somewhere in my throat.

  “Whoa.” Darcy laughs. “I come in peace.” She says, holding her hands up in front of her.

  “Sorry.” I shake my head on a laugh. “I didn't expect someone to be there, caught me off guard.” I say, trying to calm my pounding heart beat.

  “Sorry about that.” She laughs again. “Cora's looking for you.” She says, her forehead scrunching together in apology.

  “Shit.” I say, glancing down at my wardrobe and then back up to meet Darcy's stare. “Did she say what she wanted?” I ask, hoping to maybe have some insight into what she could possibly need.

  “No. Sorry.” Darcy says, tucking her brunette bob behind her ears. “But she's in the back office I think.” She says, stepping backwards out of the doorway. “Just thought you'd like a heads up.”

  “Perfect.” I moan out in frustration, rolling my eyes. Tossing my bag onto the floor, I join Darcy in the hallway before pulling my door shut. “Thanks for letting me know.”

  “Good luck.” She says with a small wave, turning and heading in the direction of her dressing room while I head in the opposite direction towards the back office.

  I knock lightly on the wood and hear Cora's crisp voice within seconds. “Come in.” Pushing the door open, I spot Cora immediately. She's sitting on the edge of the desk, arms crossed over her chest, and the sourest scowl across her tight features.

  “You were looking for me?” I ask, stepping just far enough inside to be able to close the door behind me.

  “Going somewhere?” She asks, gesturing to my attire.

  “I'm not technically working tonight.” I explain. “I agreed to come in to cover and since my private party is over, I assumed I could go.” I say, trying to keep my voice steady. I don't know what it is about this woman that puts me on edge but she does and it's hard to shake the feeling while in her presence.

  “How was the party?” She asks, holding her hand in front of her face to look at her brightly painted red nails before dropping it back down and pinning her eyes on me. As much as I dislike Cora, for reasons even I don't really understand, I can't deny how incredibly beautiful she is. She has the bluest eyes. So blue they almost look eery against her tan skin.

  “It was fine.” I stutter out, not really sure how to answer that question.

  “Yes, well considering I just drew up five additional contracts, I would say so.” She smiles slightly and I can't help but wonder if I have ever seen her actually smile before.

  “Yes, I suppose.” I say, not really sure what she wants from me.

  “So, Logan.” She says, pushing herself away from the desk and taking a few steps forward until she is standing uncomfortably close to me. “I wanted to talk to you about something that has come to my attention.”

  “O-Okay.” I stutter out, having no idea what any of this is about.

  “What is going on between you and Mr. Reed?” She asks, catching me off guard.

  “Nothing.” I immediately lie. I mean, there isn't really anything going on.

  She lets out a high pitched laugh and then reaches out, picking up a strand of my long hair. She examines it for a long moment and then begins to twist it around her index finger. “You are a very beautiful young woman Logan.” She says, taking another step towards me causing me to take a step backwards just to keep a few inches between us. “I can see why he craves you.” She says, completely unphased when I take another step back. She simply matches my step until my back meets the hard door and I am essentially trapped between it and her.

  “I don't know what you're talking about.” I say, straightening my shoulders.

  “I think you do.” She says, finally letting the strand of hair fall from her fingers. “Josh.” She says on a shrug. “I can look the other way. But Mr. Reed is spoken for.” She says, leaning in so close that for a moment, I think she is going to kiss me. “If I have to remind you of this again, we will have a problem. Are we clear?” She asks, at this point so close to my face that I can smell the mint of her mouthwash trying to conceal the overwhelming scent of liquor.

  I don't know what to say so I simply nod, desperate to get the hell out of this situation and away from this crazy woman who apparently thinks that I am trying to steal her man. Her man? Certainly not. If her and Bentley were a thing, someone surely would know that information which means Lo would have known. There is rarely an incident that takes place that Lo doesn't have her nose all up in. And then there's Josh. Immediately I can't help but question if he told her. I know it wasn't Lo, so how else would she find out?

  “That's a good girl.” She laughs lightly, finally stepping away from me and giving me room to let out a long breath. “You can go.” She says dismissively, turning her back to me as she makes her way around the other side of the desk.

  I don't wait to be told twice. Quickly slipping out of the office, I practically run down the hall and out of the back door, wanting to get as far away from this place as I possibly can. As soon as the night air engulfs me, I feel like some of my disorientation lifts. What the hell is going on tonight? First, being thrown into a private party I wasn't prepared for. Then, having to dance for Bentley of all people. What came after was even more shocking and has since gotten even weirder.

  As I climb into the drivers seat of my old car, I can't shake the feeling that Bentley Reed coming into my life is more of a curse than a blessing. I am a simple girl with simple needs. I don't belong in his world. A world with money and power. A world where women like Cora have already staked their claim and are waiting in the wings to pounce on anyone that threatens what they view as theirs.

  I am not ready for that world. And as drawn as I am to Bentley, I don't think I am ready for a man like him either.

  Chapter Nine

  “Josh. Would you just talk to me?” I ask, following him down the hall towards the office. It's been three days since he walked in on me and Bentley and I have yet to smooth things over with him.

  The first day, radio silence. I tried to call and text him multiple times with no response. I wasn't sure what to expect when I arrived at work yesterday but Josh avoided me my entire shift and even left for the night before I did. I promised myself that no matter what it takes, he will talk to me tonight. Though up to this point, he hasn't made the task easy on me.

  “Josh.” I say again, reaching out to grab his arm
just as he tries to slip into his office. He spins in place and pins his dark eyes directly on mine. “Let me explain.” I plead, not missing the way his features soften at my words only to harden again within seconds.

  “I have work to do Logan.” He says, attempting to turn back towards the door. Okay, well at least he said actual words. That's a start.

  “Josh.” I say, grabbing his arm again, trying my damnedest to not let him just avoid this conversation. “We need to talk.” I say, when he flips his eyes back towards me. “Please.” I say again.

  “There's nothing to talk about. Now if you will excuse me.” He says, shaking my hand off his arm and pushing his way inside the office. He attempts to close the door in my face but I am having none of that. Wedging my foot in the crease of the door, I block his ability to shut it. As if he doesn't have the strength to fight me, he simply shrugs his shoulders and crosses the room, taking a seat behind his desk.

  “I know I hurt you.” I say, stepping into the small space and closing the door behind me. He doesn't attempt to look at me as I take a seat in one of the chairs sitting directly across from him.

  “You didn't hurt me.” He surprises me by actually speaking.

  “Then maybe you could explain to me why you are treating me like this.” I challenge, straightening my posture.

  “I'm just disappointed in you, that's all.” He says, scribbling his signature on the document in front of him and then flipping to the next page without looking up at me.

  “Disappointed in me?” I question, a little taken back by his words.

  “Logan, I am extremely busy. Can you please go now?” He says, scribbling on another paper and then thumbing through a few more pieces.

  “No.” I say, my voice clipped.

  “No?” He questions, finally meeting my gaze.

  “I am not leaving here until we resolve this. I care about you Josh. I consider you a friend and I want things to be okay between us.” I say honestly.