by Claire Adams
“I have a question, Alfie.” Bill stood, and I lifted my hand again.
“I appreciate that, but I’m not feeling too well, all of a sudden. Let’s pick this back up after I grab something to eat and take a breather.” I touched my chest, forced a tight smile and walked out with my things tucked under my arm.
Sicily walked up and started to run down my scheduled meetings.
“No. I need to take care of a few things before I can start all of that.” I paused by my door. “Get Gary Handlem on the phone.”
“From the U.S.?” she lifted her eyebrow.
“Yes. He’s an investor of ours.”
She gave me a knowing look and lifted her eyebrow. “I’m aware of that, sir. You know I have learned all of their names and most of their family’s names to help you out.”
“I know. Get him on the phone, please. It should be late morning there.” I walked into my office and closed the door behind me. The vibe in the office was upbeat, which was great. I figured it would start to affect me a little later when I was suffering from one hell of a hangover anymore.
The phone beeped, and I walked over to my desk and dropped down. Pressing the button, I leaned in closer. “This is Alfie.”
“Hey there, Rockstar. It’s Gary. Sicily said you wanted to chat for a minute?” Gary’s deep voice filled the room through the speakerphone.
“I did.” I took a quick breath. “So, I should have mentioned this last week at the U.S. shareholders meeting, but I honestly wasn’t sure how anyone would take it.”
“Take what?” His voice was still warm and welcoming. He was a great guy, and I was a little surprised he hadn’t moved mountains to get Molly back, but shit…maybe he had, and I was just unaware of it.
“The marketing plan that I presented was given to me by a girl I was dating at the time. Molly Anderson.”
“Molly? My Molly?”
I chuckled. “I think we would have a real fight on our hands if you believed her to be yours, though I’ve fucked things up nicely at this point.”
“I didn’t even realize the two of you were seeing each other.” He sounded surprised, not that I could blame him. “She was just getting married in London.”
“Yes, to a bastard.”
“Well, we agree on that part for sure.” He gave a hearty laugh. “She ran out of here without much notice at all. I know she’s brilliant, but not being able to rely on her much has me hesitating quite a bit.”
“I can understand that.” I ran my fingers through my hair and stifled a sigh. Molly had done a few foolish things, but who hadn’t? She’d be married and happy if Harry wasn’t such a prick.
Happy? Really?
Maybe that was pushing it a little.
“Well, I appreciate the call.” He gave a sound of appreciation. “Maybe she deserves a bit of a break. Her latest idea has made you a very wealthy man.”
“Yes, it has.” I tried hard not to think about how much I’d give up just to have her in my life as my lover, as my girl. I’d fucked that up royally. “I wouldn’t give it a second thought, Gary. Call her. Your company and your wallet will thank you.”
He chuckled. “All right, Alfie. Take care, and thank you for the call. I’ll reach out to her as soon as I get a breather.”
“Good man.” I hung up the phone and waited for the sense of relief that I wasn’t a total asshole.
It never came.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Molly
“Enough is enough,” I mumbled as I stood in front of the bathroom mirror. The large high rise in downtown New York wasn’t at all a place I wanted to spend the next thirty years of my career, but what choice did I have?
With my personal life in shambles, my working life had to get back on track. It was the only damn thing I had to look forward to. Sadly enough, I knew that it would be enough. It never was for me.
“Morning,” a soft voice called out as I turned from the mirror. A pretty blonde with a great smile gave me a wave. “You okay?”
“Oh, yeah. Of course.” I shrugged and walked toward the door. “Have a great day.”
“You too!” She disappeared in a stall as I walked out. Why did random people feel the need to talk to strangers? And in the bathroom of all places. I couldn’t help but wonder if guys did the same thing. I snorted as I got into the elevator with a packed crowd of people with sour expressions and blue suits.
I cupped my hands in front of me and held my breath. Another interview. Another chance at getting my shit back on track. It had been a little over a week since I’d seen or heard from Alfie, and where I wasn’t at all over him, I knew enough was enough.
My interview on Tuesday, a few days before, had been a holy hell wreck. I’d been late, my hair was a mess, and I’d shuddered several times out of nerves. Nerves?!? I hadn’t been nervous since my first job interview out of college.
Needless to say, dropping a cup of coffee on my potential boss’ very full desk had ended the interview early. Why couldn’t Gary just call? I could slip back into my old life and try to pick up the broken pieces of a misplaced future.
“Excuse me,” someone barked from behind me as the elevator door opened. I glanced down to see that it was my floor too. I got off, and a busty redhead moved past me, making a grunting noise. The bitch obviously was raised on a farm.
I smiled at my own childishness and moved up to the reception desk.
The woman glanced back to whom I assume was her secretary. “We have yet another interview this morning.” She rolled her eyes. “I’m not sure this one is at all qualified for the job. She’s pretty green, and there’s a misspelled word on her resume.” She gave a look of disgust and shook her head.
“Yes, ma’am. Molly Anderson. She should be in around ten this morning.” The secretary turned to look at me with an apologetic look on her face. “I’m so sorry about that. How can I help you?”
I glanced down at my wrist watch. I was forty minutes early. Fuck me for trying to make a good impression. I gave a tight smile.
“You mind finding out what word was misspelled on my resume before I leave?” I tilted my head to the side. I was rather docile and easy going by most people’s definition of the words, but today I just felt like kicking a puppy.
Nothing was working out. And it hadn’t for quite some time.
“Oh, no.” The woman paled. “You’re Molly?”
“Yep, and you can cancel my interview. I’m not interested anymore, but I’m sure my colleagues and friends in marketing will be glad to know that you’re a firm that lacks integrity.” I shrugged and turned, deciding it was probably best for me to leave. My ability to control my tongue was stuck behind the building pressure in my chest.
All of a sudden… I wasn’t good enough.
Not good enough to keep Harry. Not good enough to get Alfie. Not good enough to get my fucking job back, or even a new one.
“Wait. Miss Anderson,” the secretary called out as she walked behind me.
I pressed my back to the elevator door as it closed and realized that I’d left my folder with her. She wasn’t chasing me down to stop me and apologize, but to give me my stuff back.
“Fuck it,” I mumbled and closed my eyes. I could get new copies of my transcripts and letters of recommendation. I was out of humility and had nothing left for the day.
A large group of people hovered outside of the elevator when I got off, and working my way through them only aided in putting me in a shittier mood, as if that were possible.
After pushing the exit door a little too hard, I walked out into the pleasant morning weather and let out a long sigh. I wasn’t going to cry.
“Don’t,” I whispered roughly and moved to the edge of the street to hail a cab. It stopped at the good-looking guy to my left instead.
He turned and smiled at me. “Where are you headed?”
“To the south side for breakfast.” I crossed my arms over my chest. He looked pleasant enough.
“Molly?” He ti
lted his head to the side and waved the cab driver on.
“Um, yeah. Do we know each other?” I searched my memories, trying to remember him. Please, dear Lord, don’t let it be a bar date.
“No. Well, I know you from your pictures, and Alfie talking about you.” He extended his hand. “I’m his best friend, Logan Mills.”
“Oh! Logan.” I shook his hand as my chest warmed. As stupid as it was, just being around someone who knew Alfie made life seem a little brighter.
“So nice to finally meet you.” He shook my hand and moved back with a grin on his face. “How odd is this that we meet this way.” He glanced up at the tall building behind me. “You work here?”
“What?” I glanced up like a dumbass. As if I’d forgotten which building were behind me. “Oh, no. I was going for an interview, but it didn’t turn out so well.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” He slipped his hands into his slacks. “Let’s share a cab if you’re okay with that. I’m going a little bit farther than you, but it will save us some money and win me some points with Alfie.”
He moved to hail another cab, and I stifled my remarks. Alfie wouldn’t give two shits if Logan helped me. He had waved his way out of my life after taking credit for the biggest launch his company had ever seen. Where it was his invention that wowed the market, it was my strategy that got it in front of them.
I was hurt, but even more so by the fact that he hadn’t called. There would be no reconciliation for us, which torn down my defenses and had depression knocking at the door of my heart.
“Here we go, Molly. Come on.” Logan motioned for me to join him.
I tucked my thoughts away and walked quickly toward him. “Thank you for this. It’s been a shitty day.”
“Well, we all have them.” He held the door and moved back as I climbed in.
“Where are you headed, miss?” The cabbie turned around and offered me a smile.
“To Delilah’s on the south side.” I leaned back and let out a sigh as Logan climbed in beside me.
“Breakfast?” he tucked his briefcase between his legs and turned his attention to me.
“Yeah. I’m going to treat myself. I need it.” I forced a chuckle.
“Care for company?”
I wanted to deny him the request to join me, but it was too asinine for even me that morning. “Yeah, sure.”
“So why in the world are you still here?” He crossed his arms over his chest and studied me.
“What do you mean?” I reached up and smoothed down my hair a little as nervousness danced in the pit of my stomach. Would he tell Alfie that we had breakfast, and if so, what would Alfie think?
Memories of us making love plummeted me, sending my heart racing and my stomach tightening. Fuck, I missed him so much.
“Well, the last I heard, Alfie was going to offer you a job at his company. With the great job you did on the marketing launch of his latest product, how could he not?” He snorted. “And to top it all off, it seems fitting, you know?”
“For him to hire me?”
“Yeah. You deserve that and so much more.” His voice was warm and so genuine. I could see why he and Alfie were friends.
“He told you that I’d been the one to suggest the plan?”
“Of course he did.” He tilted his head a little as if just waking up to the fact that something wasn’t quite right. “He didn’t tell his company because those old farts are so insanely sensitive to private information being discussed outside the company. Makes sense though…they’re a technology company at the core.”
I nodded. It did make sense. “Alfie was going to offer me a job with him?”
He nodded as his smile faded. “He didn’t offer you the job?”
“No.” I turned and glanced down at my hands, praying like hell that I would tear up. The last thing I wanted to do was appear weak or broken in front of someone I barely knew. “He left, and we really haven’t spoken since. We had a bit of a fight over the credit for the marketing thing.”
“Oh, no.” He shook his head as I glanced over toward him. “That’s horrible news. I’ve known Alfie since we were boys. He’s never been as light and free as he was when you guys were dating. It was as if he’d found the one. You know?”
I took a shaky breath and nodded as tears burned my eyes. “I know. I feel the same way.”
“He was falling in love with you, Molly.” Logan reached over and squeezed my hand. “Isn’t there something you can do to reconcile the situation? He’s such a good man, and he’s been through so much shit over the course of his life.”
“I don’t know.” I reached up and wiped at my tears as my phone buzzed in my purse beside me. “I feel like an idiot calling him.”
“Don’t. Love is way too precious to waste. He feels like shit about not giving you credit for the marketing strategy. He’s not the kind of guy who something like that would sit well on.”
My phone continued to ring. “Then why hasn’t he called?”
“Pride?” Logan smiled before nodding to my purse. “Take that. I’m good. Seriously.”
I pulled the phone out, not liking Logan’s answer. It wasn’t just Alfie’s pride that had him not calling; it was my own stubborn pride that had me refusing to reconcile. As if I gave a shit about credit for the strategy. It was more the underlying ache of knowing that he didn’t value me.
“Hello?” I barked into the phone, not giving a shit who it was.
“Molly. It’s Gary. Now a good time?” My heart leaped in my chest. I reached up and cupped my hand over the receiver, pressing it tightly to my ear.
“Yeah. It’s a great time. What’s up?” I tried to sound as chill as I could, but I knew I was failing at it miserably. Hell, maybe a little bit of desperation was a good thing. I needed a job. Like yesterday.
“I spoke with one of my investment companies, and Alfie told me that his latest launch strategy was actually yours.” He chuckled heartily.
“Wow. He did?” My heart swelled in my chest as more tears blinded my vision. “That was nice of him.”
“Yeah, but I wish I would have known that when you came to see me. It would have swept away the fact that you left so quickly.” I could hear a bit of tension flooding back into his voice.
“I can understand that.” I glanced over to find Logan looking out the other window, trying to give me as much privacy as he could. “I’m so sorry about leaving so fast. I just felt like Harry was the right man for me, and my love life has always been such a joke that I jumped. I shouldn’t have done it. Forgive me.”
“No, kiddo. Forgive me. I shouldn’t have judged you so harshly. I’ve jumped a lot of times in my life too. Why don’t you come back, and we’ll chat about your old job when you get a chance, hm?”
“I’d like that.” I took a quick breath and brushed more tears from my cheeks. “Thanks, Gary.”
“Don’t thank me. Thank Alfie. He thinks you’re something quite special, and I have to admit…he’s right.”
I dropped the call and pressed my face into my hands, crying softly for a few seconds. Logan’s strong hand rubbed my back, and his voice was so soft and caring.
“You know what you need to do, right?”
I sat back and ran my hands down my face. “Go over there?”
“Yep. Love doesn’t wait, and sometimes you gotta be the bigger person to save it. I think it’s worth it.”
“I do too.” I pulled up my phone and booked a flight. I wasn’t going to let this go like I had everything else in my life. Time to fight for what I wanted.
Time to get my man back.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Alfie
Weekends rarely mattered as I worked all the bloody time, but the situation with Molly had me wanting to give up on just about everything. The advice from some good colleagues at work was to take my Saturday and do something I loved to do.
Funny enough, the only thing I enjoyed before saving Molly from her drama with Harry, was working. My hobb
ies had long fallen by the wayside. I’d have to get some new ones, besides drinking and one-night stands. My heart wasn’t in either just yet, and I wasn’t sure it would be anytime in the near future.
After waking up at almost noon, I piddled around the house and read the paper with my morning coffee. It felt peaceful and almost right. The only thing that would have made it better was the smell of bacon frying in the kitchen and my beautiful lass standing by the stove in her robe.
My cock hardened just thinking about her. She had a serious pull over me. “Get over your fucking self and call her. Stop thinking about the company and think about yourself for once. Shit.”
My phone rang, causing me to jump as I was mid-rant on myself. It was a strange life, being alone all the time, but I’d grown accustomed to it. Or had…
I picked up the phone to see it was Logan. He was the only person I didn’t mind talking to. “Hey, mate.”
“Alfie. Good to hear your voice, man.” He sounded far too chipper for the time of morning it was back in New York.
“I was just there a week ago. You’re getting sweet on me. I can tell.” I smiled before lifting my mug to my lips to finish off my cooling coffee.
“You wish, old friend.” He chuckled. “I was calling because I had an interesting encounter yesterday.”
“That so?” I leaned back in my chair. “Did you run into that old broad who nipped the tip of your dick back in University?”
He groaned. “You wait to bring that up every time, don’t you?”
“If I’m being completely honest, then yes. Of course, I do.” My smile had widened. The humorous memory had me wanting to laugh out loud, but the event had been a bit traumatic for Logan. He still had issues letting a woman suck him off. Not that I blamed him.
“Anyway. I shared a cab with a beautiful woman yesterday.” I could hear the smile on his face.
“Oh, yeah? Did you get her number?” I stood and started to gather my breakfast dishes.
“No, but I figured you might have it.” He paused briefly. “It was Molly. She’s much more beautiful in person for sure.”
I stopped in my tracks as my shoulders stiffened. “My Molly?”
