I’m going to have fun with this…
“Mr O’Malley what can I do for you?”
Usually I’d stand to greet my clients, but not for him. Sitting forward, I clasp my hands together resting them on top of the desk.
“Take a seat.” I nod to him.
He does as I ask, staring at me.
“Mr Proctor, I think I need to apologise for my outburst the other night.”
Well, this is new…
“I think you you’re apologising to the wrong person, in all honesty. You see Steve, if I hadn’t already made my decision. Listening to you spouting your venom at her would definitely have swung my decision in the other direction. I don’t know how you think you’re going to make allies in this business, if you’re jealous that you don’t get given a contract.”
His face twists up some more as I lay it on the line bluntly for him.
“Or is it your father that’s sent you here today to offer an olive branch? Honestly...” I go on, “I don’t want to work with someone like that, like you. My business and reputation could do without it. I didn’t get where I am today letting things fly over my head and this isn’t going to be one of them times either.”
“I don’t think you understand, Serena and I, there’s history.”
“I don’t care. You leave your private life at the door. You definitely don’t use my precious time that I’ve given up, to use it to your advantage. If you want to keep me as an ally, I suggest you get your father to set up a meeting with me and I’ll take it from there.”
He glares through me for another minute, before pushing abruptly to his feet, knocking the chair backwards and crashing to the floor.
“Are we understood Mr O’Malley?”
I hold back a grin when he doesn’t answer me right away. I know he’s probably plotting my downfall while I sit here.
“Also, before you leave, I want your word that there’ll be no more scathing remarks aimed at Ms Davenport. If you want a big contract you need to work on your presentations. Stop living under your father’s shadow, unless you’re going to learn something from him. Earn your right for a place in this business.”
Twisting away from my desk in frustration, he marches towards the door.
“Thank you for your time Mr O’Malley, I’m sure we’ll be in touch soon.”
With that parting comment he slams the door behind him, leaving me feeling rather pleased with myself.
If only Serena had heard all that… Shit. Get her out of your fucking head Proctor, it’s not happening.
Five pm comes around a lot quicker than I expect it to. After my unannounced visit, it gave me the drive to get some work done. Some new contracts secured and some businesses that needed a helping hand sorting out. At least the business side of me is feeling good. It’s a shame I can’t sort out my private life.
Neil faxed some paperwork over and binding contracts to me. So, once I’ve sorted this I’m going home to change and I’m off out for a pint. I need to shake this shitty feeling I have and there’s only one way to do that…. Drown my sorrows and see if I can’t get it out of my system, the good old-fashioned way.
Sandy pops her head around the door stopping me.
“Do you need me for anything else, Mr Proctor?”
“No Sandy, you get off, I’m finishing up now.”
“Okay, night Mr Proctor.”
With a smile, she pulls the door closed and leaves.
A tap comes on my door as I’m fastening my briefcase up, as I turn around to see who it is, I’m floored.
“Dylan… can I come in.” Her voice is as sweet as I remember. The way she says my name is like a prayer on her lips, the exact same way she’s said it in my dreams.
Standing up straight at my desk, I don’t answer, I only nod. Serena walks into my office, as confident as the day she did her pitch to me. At least she seems that way right now.
“Do you have a minute?”
Steadying myself for some kind of showdown, as there always is with her, I show her the chair in front of my desk directing her to sit.
“What can I do for you Ms Davenport?” I keep my voice stern and low.
“Erm, well…”
There’s the wobble…
“I was just getting ready to leave, was it important?”
The wild glint in her eye tells me she wasn’t expecting this version of me. I wasn’t expecting this version until she showed up.
“Well, yeah I think so. If you still want me to take the contract and work with you, then yeah... it’s important.”
The sarcasm rolls from her tongue, I wouldn’t expect anything else from the vixen.
“Here’s the contract from Jack and also the signed contract from me.” She hands over both envelopes and I drop them on my desk.
“Alright I’ll get Sandy to file those and we’ll start on Monday if that works with you? I’ll get you an office set up over the weekend, so you have your private space.”
As long as I keep myself detached from my feelings, I can work this.
“Okay that works with me.” She smiles tentatively searching my eyes as she stares into them. I look away first, I don’t need to be falling under her spell anytime soon.
I am ruthless.
I am Dylan Proctor.
“Dylan,” She calls my name gently, “I’m sorry I kicked you out. I was angry. I felt like you were trying to control everything….”
With a sigh signalling my boredom I cut her off.
“Will that be all, Serena?”
The defeated look in her face almost makes me walk around my desk and pull her into my arms, but I’m not willing to do the chasing this time. Ever since I met Serena Davenport, I’ve had my arse in my hands, willing to give her whatever she wants or could want. I was willing to give her everything her heart desired. Except my heart and secrets of course.
“Yes, Mr Proctor it is.”
Wow, that’s two people I’ve pissed off today, I’m on a roll.
She stands and holds her hand out. “See you Monday morning then.”
I shake her dainty hand as my bigger one engulfs hers and feel the grin stretch across my face. She spins on her heels and strides towards the door. Stopping as she reaches it, she turns back to me.
“You know Dylan, I came here today to listen to you. I hoped we could work things out, it seems I was wrong. Have a good weekend.”
I give Serena enough time to get out of the building and I grab my briefcase. Pulling up Neil’s number, I hold my phone to my ear as I lock up the office.
“Get me a beer in, I’m on my way.”
Getting out of the taxi at the bar we always come to, I look around and see there’s the usual women in skimpy dresses. The women who only go out to get laid and there’s the ones who come out to look for a partner. The bar is pretty quiet at the moment and the percentage of women to the amount of men is sixty to forty, so there’s every chance I can find someone to take this tension out on.
After a couple hours of being here, it seems I’ve lost my charm. Or it’s just been given a bat to the head because of Serena.
Ugh Serena. What the fuck has that woman done to me.
I don’t seem to want to talk to anyone, just drink.
“Another one?” I call the barman over. We’ve been stood at the bar since we got here. Back here I can people watch, or bird watch so to speak. Every redhead that’s walked through the door has my attention. Until they look up and it’s not Serena, so I turn back to the bar. I need someone to take my mind off of her. It killed me to be so cold with her today, but I had to do it, for my sanity. I can’t just throw myself at her feet - that’s not me. Not usually, but Serena seems to have me playing a different end game.
A petite blonde sidles up to the bar and waits to be served. Looking down her body gives me much appreciation, but she hasn’t got the long legs Serena has. She looks up at me and smiles. I pull my wallet from my poc
ket.
“Hey. I’m Dylan. What’re you drinking? I’ll get those.”
I try working my charm one last time as I give her a smirk.
“Erm, vodka and tonic.”
Giving the barman a chin lift calling him over I order her drink and one for me and Neil.
“I’m Sally. Pleased to meet you.” She offers a hand to me. Taking it, I rub my thumb across her knuckles and lift it to my lips.
“Likewise.” I pass Neil’s drink over as he shakes his head in disgust. I throw a wink over the small blondes head and he turns away putting his back to me. Sally thanks me for the drink and turns to face me. A conversation starts about how she’s waiting for friends to turn up. How she’s out because she’s helping her friend since she’s been dumped. I try to put on my ‘I am interested’ face but really, I’m thinking ‘kill me fucking now…’ Maybe I could just screw her that might help and then I don’t have to listen to her sob story.
Neil laughs as I roll my eyes... I need to get out of this. Resting my elbow on the bar I lean down bringing my face level to hers.
“So, are you seeing anyone now, Sally?”
Tracing the tip of my finger over hers as it rests on the bar, I attempt to seduce her…
“No, I’m not.”
“So, do you fancy going somewhere a little... quieter?”
“I’d like that.”
Grinning like the Cheshire cat from the fairy tale, I turn to Neil and tell him I’ll be back. When I face forward again, my gaze diverts across the room to the door. Zoning in on the angry redhead that seems to be coming straight for me. Neil and I look at each other confused when Serena places herself between me and the blonde. Pulling her hand back she smacks me around the face. The sting making my cheek burn. I watch Neil pull the blonde out of the firing line and stand back to watch.
“Hello Dylan.”
Fuck me.
Shaking my head from the impact I look across at her, she looks fucking stunning.
“You’re nothing but a bastard.”
I watch her charge away barging her way through the crowd, the tight dress clinging to her thighs with every step. Well if I wasn’t turned on before I am now.
She walks back up to Bonnie and takes her gin from her, then turns back raising her middle finger at me.
You want to play Serena, Let’s play, baby.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Serena
How could I be such a fool… again?
After my chat with Jack this morning, I wanted to build some bridges with Dylan. Starting with the contract. Jack was right, I can’t let Steve win I’m better and stronger than that. I also promised Jack when he hired me that I wouldn’t let him down and I won’t. Signing my contract, I take Jack his end of the deal, that’s attached to my contract. To which he smiles gratefully at me. His silent way of telling me that I’m doing the right thing.
I’m soon proven wrong when I walk into Dylan's office and I try to apologise to him for my behaviour the night before. I’ve never seen him be so cold, it’s like he doesn’t care if I take the job or not anymore.
Well fuck him.
Agreeing that we will see each other on Monday when I move into my new office. I leave him in the wind staring after me, as I walk out without so much as a goodbye from him, when I tell him to have a good weekend. His manners clearly don’t extend to me anymore.
Instead of going back to work, I call Jack and tell him I’m not feeling to good and blow the rest of the day off work. I wouldn’t be able to concentrate even if I did go back. My head is officially fucked. The only way I’m going to pull myself back is with my best friend. Starting the engine of my car, I pull up her number before dialling through my Bluetooth headset. Like I knew she would, she picks up on the first ring.
“Yo, hoe. What you up to? I have this need to blast my credit card on a new dress and go out tonight. You in?”
“Well hello to you to, Serena.”
Her sarcasm has me smiling, which she never fails to do.
“For your information I’m doing bugger all. I’m supposed to be working from home today, but I really can’t be arsed. I’m feeling you on the need for everything you’ve just suggested.”
What would I do without this woman?
“Fabulous. Meet me at the centre in twenty minutes?”
“You’re on, ciao.”
She hangs up on me, letting me fight my way through the mid-afternoon traffic.
When we’ve shopped until we’ve literally dropped. We land back at my place weighed down with bags and wine. Bonnie takes charge of the music and the hard job of ensuring my wine glass remains full.
“You know what Bon? I’ve decided that I’m going to be a lesbian. Men are nothing but trouble, that fuck you and fuck you up.” I declare as I take a gulp of my wine once we are both dressed to impress.
“I broke all my rules for that man and he just walked all over me. Well screw him. From now on I’m going to be a pussy licker. How you fixed for letting me go down on you?”
My declaration causes her to choke on her wine, making it spray out of her mouth and all over my carpet.
“I think you need to lay off the alcohol. It’s making you say all kinds of crap.” She splutters.
“Nah, fuck that. I’m all good. Now let's get going, there’s some woman’s vagina with my name written all over it.” I tell her, thinking that she’s probably right. Wine is slowly becoming the devil to my thoughts and senses.
The taxi ride to the bar is uneventful, making me wish the driver would just put his foot down and go bloody quicker. Usually I don’t condone speeding, but I’m a woman on the edge. I need a strong Gin.
Throwing some cash his way as he pulls up at the kerb, we both climb from the car and stumble slightly in our heels, which only makes us laugh.
“You’re such a lightweight.” Bon informs me.
“Like I care, let’s get pissed.”
I walk through the open door that Bonnie has opened. In a flash, my good mood evaporates and in its place is hurt, anger and everything else in between. I can’t move my feet any further. It’s like someone has purposely put superglue on the floor so I have to witness the scene in front of me. There standing at the bar, slobbering over a slutty blonde is Dylan. My heart falls through my arse. The pain that's started to radiate through me, hurts more than when I caught Steve with his little tramp. I’ve never been a violent person, I usually shut off from any emotion when I get fucked over. Only this time it’s different… he’s different.
Bonnie comes colliding with my back.
“What the fu…” She stops talking when she notices what or should I say who I’m looking at. Tugging on my arm gently to get me to leave and not give him the time of day. My anger goes up to almost boiling point, when he sees me standing there and gives me a smirk.
Bastard.
Yanking my arm from Bonnie, I march straight up to the pair and barge my way in between the two of them.
Sarcastically saying ‘hello’ to him and after calling him a bastard to his face, I turn and face him. Like it’s got a mind of its own, my hand comes from nowhere and connects with his cheek. The sting in my palm makes me wince, but I don’t let on it hurts. I will not let him see me weak. Grateful that Bonnie had the common sense to let me get on with it and get me a drink. I walk away from him feeling smug. Taking my Gin from Bonnie, I look over the rim of my glass and raise my middle finger at him. If he thinks he can play me, then he can think again. I’ve been played one to many times to know how this game works and he’s just met his match.
Looking around the bar, I notice it’s starting to fill up nicely giving me much more a choice to pick a victim. My heads telling me that I’m about to make a monumental mistake, but my heart is telling me that he needs to learn that I don’t need him. That I can do exactly what and who I want, just like he is.
Am I being childish? Most likely.
Do I give a
fuck? No, I most certainly don’t.
Spotting a young lad who looks to be in his twenties standing around the other side of the bar. I sashay my way over to him, giving my hips that bit of extra sway as I go.
Dylan sees my intentions when I keep my eye on the poor bloke, who’s not about to know what's hit him.
“Don’t do it, Serena. I’m warning you.” He tells me as I walk past him, not giving two fucks about him or his warning. He doesn’t get to boss me about outside of the office. I’m my own person and I will do what I goddamn please.
When I reach my prey for the night, I stand in front of him and crook my finger at him. He looks surprised at first, but once he’s roamed his eyes up and down my body, he shrugs his shoulders, seeming rather impressed by what he’s seeing. Coming to me and stepping right up into my body, he wraps a loose piece of my hair around his finger.
“I’m Mark, it’s very nice to meet you. May I ask you what your name is?”
I’m not giving him anything personal about me. I don’t plan on doing nothing more than using him, in mine and Dylan’s little game.
“I’m not here to give you my name. I’m here for you to dance with me.”
Taking him by the hand and leading him onto the small dance floor in the corner. Mark spins me out and pulls me back into his body, where my hands land flat on his chest. It’s a nice chest from what I can feel over his shirt, but it doesn’t get my juices flowing like a certain arrogant twats. Shaking my head from thoughts of Dylan’s chest, I concentrate on the man in front over me. Slowly winding my arms around his neck, I press my body into his. I grind my hips to the beat of the song that's playing over the speakers. His hands slide down my hips, stopping when they reach my arse and he gives it a hard squeeze.
“I have to say; you are not what I was expecting when I came in here tonight. Seeing as you won’t give me your name, I reckon I should just give you mine so I can call you mine.”
I inwardly cringe at his attempt to chat me up. Yet I can’t help but smile when I look over Marks shoulder. I notice Dylan getting into a heated debate with his mate Neil, his arms gesturing in my direction. Spinning around so my back is to Marks front, I continue to grind. Only this time my arse rubs up against the very distinctive erection that he has going on in his jeans. Gripping my hips in his hands, we move to the music and I throw my head back against his chest. I’m just getting into the swing on having a strangers hands on me, when I feel a whoosh at my back. Mark is being dragged away by the scruff of his neck, as Dylan throws him to the floor and starts raining down punch after punch. Blood sprays across the floor and the crunch of Marks nose rings out loudly around the busy pub. I’m helpless at this point, this is all my fault. Dylan warned me not to do it. Yet I didn’t listen and now Mark is getting a pounding by one angry and pissed off control freak. Neil even tries to break the fight up. Only he gets an elbow to the chin, when Dylan swings back to land another bone crunching punch to Marks already battered face. Coming to my senses, I let out a deafening scream for him to stop. No-one else is jumping in to stop it. Screaming is the only thing I can think of to do. Up on hearing my voice, Dylan immediately stops, letting Marks lifeless looking body drop to the floor, where he gets in his face.
The Forever Plan Page 13
