Nemesis

by Chantal Fernando

“At the gym,” he says, smirking. “I’ll work it off at the gym tonight.”

  “Oh, right. Of course.”

  Sometimes I think I shouldn’t be let out in public.

  Looking at the time on my phone, I tell him, “We should get back.” “You have to get to court, and I have a lot of emails to send out.”

  “Want to trade?” he asks, pulling out his wallet.

  I raise my hand. “I’m paying, remember?”

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he says, placing money on the table and standing up. “You can get the bill next time.”

  “Cohen—”

  “We’re late, Jacinta, we don’t have time for this argument.” He gently takes me by my wrist and leads me out of the café.

  “Cohen—”

  “It’s such a nice day today, isn’t it?” he says, lifting his face up towards the sun. Momentarily distracted, I stare at his throat and jaw, the stubble that I just want to run my fingers over.

  “Yeah, it is.”

  But that didn’t change the fact that he paid when it was meant to be my turn to, and if he thinks he’s getting away with that, then he really doesn’t know me at all. We cross the road together and head towards our building. His fingers accidentally brush mine, so I pull my hand away, rubbing my fingers together.

  Yeah, us hanging out? It isn’t a good idea. Not at all. But how do I put a stop to it now?

  “What are you thinking about so hard?” he asks me, the deep sound of his voice like a caress. A fucking caress. Just his voice.

  It’s official. I need to get laid, and pronto.

  “Nothing,” I say, looking up at him. “Nothing at all.”

  He smiles, and my heart beats just a little faster.

  Yeah, I’m fucked.

  Chapter Four

  I open my car door, about to drive home from work, when I see Cohen approaching.

  “Hey,” I greet, shoving my handbag in the backseat.

  “Hey,” he replies, coming to stand next to me. “Do you want to come out for a drink with me and a few friends?”

  My eyebrows rise. “You’re the ‘after work drink’ type?”

  “I’m a lawyer,” he says, running his hand through his brown hair. I wonder what it feels like. Soft, I bet.

  “And all lawyers are alcoholics?” I tease, knowing the stereotype associated with his field.

  He laughs, leaning against the back door of my car. I have to wonder if any of the dust from my car is now on his expensive black suit jacket. I really need to wash it one of these days. “I have a drink every now and again. There’s a bar around the corner. Are you coming or are you going?”

  “Going,” I say, not apologetic in the least. “Sadie’s cooking dinner and waiting for me. Plus, the thought of meeting a new group of people and having to talk to them is my version of Hell.”

  Cohen grins, and reaches out to touch the underneath of my chin with his index finger. “Nothing but honestly leaves those lips, does it?”

  I swallow hard and shrug, unable to tear my eyes from his. What is it about him that has me so drawn to him? I need to distance myself, because this isn’t going to end well. I can’t exactly say that I can’t have lunch with him anymore because I’m a little too attracted to him though, so I have no idea what to do. Maybe I need to find myself a distraction, such as another man to keep my mind preoccupied. And on that thought…

  “I better get going.”

  He nods and says, “Enjoy your day off tomorrow,” holding the car door open as I slide in, closing it behind me. As I drive away, I wonder what his friends are like. Who are the people he chooses to surround himself with? I bet they’re all lawyers, or men with other important jobs. I can’t imagine myself standing around and making small talk with a group of them but, then again, I probably shouldn’t judge people I haven’t even met.

  I push Cohen out of my mind and drive home, walking inside to Sadie’s off-key singing as she dances around the kitchen, stopping to stir the pasta sauce.

  “Smells good,” I tell her, putting my handbag on the table before jumping up to sit on the countertop.

  “You’re finally here!” she says, turning around and beaming at me. “I hope you’re ready to have the best pasta of your life.”

  She makes the same pasta once a week, but I grin and nod.

  Everyone needs a Sadie in their life.

  *****

  “Thank fuck you’re back” is the first thing Cohen says to me when I return to work after my day off. He sets papers on my desk and glances up, eyes wide. “Emily fucked up my schedule yesterday. She double-booked clients, got my court time wrong, and now I don’t know what the fuck is going on.”

  “Relax,” I say, grabbing the papers. I write down everywhere he needs to be today, and at what time, and hand them back to him. “Surely she didn’t fuck up that bad?”

  “One of my clients had to wait for an hour,” he complains, stretching his neck from side to side. “Meanwhile, how was your spa day?”

  “Extremely relaxing.” I smile up at him. “It felt even better knowing that everyone else was working, made me appreciate it even more.”

  “Well, I’m glad you had fun,” he grumbles, but then hesitantly smiles back at me. “Please don’t leave us again though.”

  “Big baby,” I tease. “I’m sure Emily did fine. You should have gotten your schedule from me the day before.” The phones rings, so I say, “Excuse me.”

  He waves as I pick it up, and I watch him disappear into his office.

  A few hours later, a man appears in front of my desk. “Can I help you?” I ask. He’s handsome—looks to be in his thirties, with dark hair and eyes.

  “I have a meeting with Cohen Lake,” he says, shifting on his feet.

  I look down at the schedule and nod. “Yes, please have a seat, sir. He will be with you shortly.”

  At least I hoped he would, because he was still in his office with his last client. After ten minutes, I call his office phone.

  “Yes?” he answers after a few rings.

  “Mr. Lake, your client John Place is here waiting for you,” I tell him.

  “Be right out,” he says, hanging up.

  His office door opens, and his other client walks out. She’s pretty, but I don’t think anything of it until I see Cohen himself, his hair and clothes looking a little dishevelled.

  He wouldn’t, would he?

  Cohen avoids my eyes as he tells Mr. Place to come into his office, while I’m left standing there with a million different questions running through my mind. Did Cohen fuck one of his clients? In his office? Surely, he wouldn’t. I’m pretty sure that’s illegal, or something. Maybe they just kissed? Or maybe nothing happened at all.

  Why do I even care? That’s his business, not mine. I’m just here to handle reception, after all.

  I stare at his closed door.

  Maybe this is what Debra was referring to. Maybe Cohen sleeps with all of his hot clients. Ooh, maybe he accepts payment in the form of sexual favours. Okay, that’s a stretch, but come on. He never denied being a ladies’ man, although that was putting it nicely. Half an hour later, when Mr. Place walks out, Cohen follows him, shakes his hand, then turns to me as his client steps into the elevator.

  I watch him.

  He stares back at me.

  “What?” he asks, crossing his arms over his broad chest, almost daring me to say something.

  “Nothing,” I say, pursing my lips to stop myself from saying anything further.

  “No honesty this time?”

  “I honestly think it’s none of my business,” I say, looking at my phone to avoid his gaze.

  “Jacinta—”

  Jason decides to walk in at that moment, hurrying over to my desk. “Jacinta, can you cancel my three o’clock please? Reschedule it for tomorrow, if you can.”

  “No problem,” I say, getting right to it. Cohen heads back into his office, but not before sparing me a lingering glance, one I pr
etend I don’t notice. The rest of the day passes slowly, and I slip out before I have a chance of running into him again. I don’t know what to say to him, mainly because I don’t like what I’m feeling. If Cohen had something to do with that woman…

  How can I still be friends with him when it clearly annoys me that he’d do something like that?But we are just friends, so I have no reason to get angry.

  I need to close myself off to anything to do with Cohen Lake.

  *****

  I don’t know how I let Sadie talk me into a double date, but here I am. Awkward as ever, I’m spending my Saturday night sitting in a restaurant next to a guy named Rob, while Sadie snuggles up to his friend Ian. Sadie met Ian online, on some dating app, and Rob is his best friend. Apparently, this means that Rob and I are stuck with each other while Sadie and Ian flirt all night. I love my best friend, but this is definitely the first and last time I agree to something like this.

  “Jacinta loves watching sports, don’t you, Jacinta?” Sadie tells the table, maybe trying to incite some conversation on my end.

  “Uhh, sure,” I say, forcing a smile. “I’ll watch pretty much anything: cricket, basketball, even tennis.”

  “That’s hot,” Rob replies, annoying me further with each word he speaks. I lift my vodka and orange juice to my lips, flashing her a look that only a best friend or sister can read, one that clearly says, ‘You’re going to pay for this.’

  She shrugs and takes a sip of her own drink, then turns to Ian, giving him her best bedroom eyes. Turning to Rob, who is already watching me, I try to be a better date, even though I already know I’m never going to see him again. Maybe we can be friends, especially if Sadie and Ian end up dating, but probably not, because we can’t even hold a proper conversation—trust me, I’ve tried. Some people you just click with, and others you don’t; it’s just the way of the world.

  “So, where are we going after this?” Rob asks, winking at me. “Maybe we could head back to yours for more drinks and a movie, or something?”

  I can’t think of anything worse right now.

  I look to Sadie, panic filling me, but she’s too busy giggling at something Ian said for only her ears. I ignore Rob’s question, finish my drink and stare longingly into the empty glass. Rob doesn’t offer to get me another one, so I ask if I can get anyone a drink before heading to the bar myself.

  When I hear my name whispered by a familiar voice, I turn to my right and look into the green eyes of none other than Cohen himself. He’s wearing jeans with a black V-neck t-shirt, and it’s the first time I’ve seen him in casual attire. Not going to lie—it looks good on him.

  “Hey,” I say, automatically smiling. “What are you doing here?”

  He lifts his glass of amber liquid in the air. “Came out for a drink with a friend of mine. I saw you before, but I didn’t want to interrupt you on your date.”

  He emphasises the word ‘date’, and I glance at Rob, wondering what Cohen thinks of him.

  “Yeah.” I grimace, before continuing, “About that. Trust me, any interruptions are welcome.”

  “Not going so well?” he asks, calling over one of the bartenders. “What do you want to drink, Jacinta?”

  “Vodka orange, please,” I tell him, listening as he orders my drink for me. “It was a blind date,” I admit, puffing out a breath. “I got dragged into it because Sadie apparently really likes his friend, so here I am. The things you do for friends, hey?”

  The bartender brings my drink over. Cohen pays for it, and then slides it over to me.

  “Thank you,” I say, remembering that I still need to get him back for paying for lunch. “Where’s your friend?”

  I look around the bar, seeing a few different men and wondering which one of them is his friend. I realise that if I stay here and chat with Cohen any longer, I’m being seriously rude to Rob, but if I had my way, I’d stick with Cohen all night instead.

  “He’s the one in the red shirt,” he says, nodding to a dark-haired man, who is currently talking to a pretty blonde.

  “Nice,” I mutter, eyebrows raising. Cohen’s friend looks like a handsome guy, at least from what I can see. Good build. Nice hair. Tall.

  “Nice,” Cohen repeats with a hint of a growl in his tone. “Are you checking out my friend right in front of me?”

  I grin and say, “I could have been talking about the woman.”

  Cohen laughs, putting his glance down and turning his body to me, closing the space between us. “Why don’t you get rid of your date, and spend the rest of the night with me?”

  I lick my lips. “That would be kinda rude, don’t you think?”

  “But it would save you from a shitty night,” he adds, grinning wolfishly. “I’ll introduce you to Chad… after I tell him to keep his grubby hands away from you.”

  “And why would you tell him that?” I ask boldly, bringing my glass to my lips. Arching my brow, I wait for his response. I really hope the red lipstick I’m wearing stays put and doesn’t decide to smudge all over my mouth.

  “Because you seem like a nice girl,” he says, lowering his gaze down my body. “And you’re beautiful, Jacinta. I don’t think you have any idea just how much.”

  My breath hitches as the words leave his lips. His gaze locks with mine, and a few things pass between us in a silent conversation. We acknowledge our attraction for one another, but we also agree not to act on it.

  At least, that’s what I think passed between us.

  When he reaches out and cups my cheek with his hand, I realise I might have misunderstood.

  Chapter Five

  “Jacinta,” Sadie says, coming up behind me, saving me from whatever Cohen was about to tell me. “Can you please come back to the table?” She lowers her voice. “Rob’s just staring at you talking to this guy.” She looks up at Cohen and waves. “Hello, by the way.”

  “Hi,” Cohen says, seemingly on the verge of laughter.

  She turns back to me, whispering again. “And it’s really awkward.”

  I roll my eyes. “I’ll be there in a minute.”

  She kisses my cheek, then wipes it, where I assume she left a lipstick mark. “And by the way, they’re both coming back to ours after this.” She steps away before I can elbow her in the ribs. “Love you!”

  When she goes back to the table of hell, I glance at Cohen and sigh unhappily. “I better go.”

  I notice his amused expression has now hardened into something else, his jaw tight and his green eyes narrowed. “What does she mean they’re both going back to your house? You’re going to bring that guy you don’t even fucking like home with you?”

  Oh.

  That’s why he’s angry? Because he thinks I’m bringing Rob back to my house?

  “I’m not going to sleep with him,” I say, a little defensively. “We’ll just watch a movie, have a drink or something, and then I’m going to bed. It’s not like I want to,” I add, crossing my arms over my chest. “I have to take one for the team… The very last one I’ll be taking when it comes to Sadie and guys.”

  Cohen doesn’t look impressed with my explanation. “If you bring him back to your house, he’s going to assume you’re going to fuck him. I know, I’m a guy.”

  And presumably a man-whore.

  “Well, what do I do then? I can’t tell him to go home. What’s the bet he gets all defensive and does what most guys do in that situation.”

  “Which is?”

  “He’ll be all, ‘Oh, I just wanted to hang out as friends, that’s all. Don’t just assume all men want you.’ Or some other asshole line like that to try and make me feel like a dickhead, when really we all know if I asked him to join me in my bed there’s no way in hell he would have said no.”

  I take a deep breath after my rant.

  Cohen pinches the bridge of his nose, like I’ve suddenly given him a headache or some shit.

  “What?” I ask at the same time he says, “You—”

  We both pause.

  Th
en he straightens and says, “Well, if there’s a party at your house tonight, I guess that means I can come along too. We’re all just friends hanging out after all, right?”

  And that’s how my boss ended up at my house.

  *****

  I don’t really know how to act when Cohen says good-bye to his friend, Matt, and follows me back to my house. Rob and Ian follow us too. Only I can get into these situations.

  “Is the house clean?” I ask Sadie in a panic. I can’t have people over, especially Cohen, if the house isn’t spotless.

  “The house is always clean,” Sadie replies drolly, then looks over at me. “So, let me get this straight. Your boss, who is a mega babe, is coming to our house to cock-block you from Rob?”

  “I don’t know what this is,” I groan, closing my eyes and laying my head back. “Cohen is my boss, sort of, but we kind of became friends recently. I don’t know what his deal is.”

  “Oh, I do,” Sadie says, pulling into our driveway. “He wants you.”

  “No, he doesn’t.”

  “Then he doesn’t want Rob to have you.” She pauses for dramatic effect. “Because he wants you but he’s fighting it.”

  “Maybe he just feels sorry for me because I was on the most boring date of my life,” I grumble, turning to look at her. “And trust me, I’ve been on some bad ones. You know this, I’ve told you about all of them in excruciating detail.”

  When we get out of the car, I rush inside to make sure the place is Cohen-worthy; Sadie stands outside while their cars pull up, being a nice host. Cohen’s car is probably worth more than our house, which we’re renting and don’t even own. Okay, fine, I’m exaggerating, but still.

  When the house passes my inspection, I walk to the door just as he enters.

  “You’re really here,” I blurt, giggling a little nervously. “In my house.”

  “Yes, I am.” He smiles, wrapping his arm around my shoulders. “You know, you don’t live that far from me.”

  “I don’t?”

  “No, I’m just about ten minutes away.”

  “Cohen, what are you doing here?” I whisper to him. “If this is about Rob, he’s only going to stay for a drink, then leave. You don’t have to worry about me.”