Room For Three

by Melissa Silvey

  He finally pulls up into the parking lot of my apartment complex, and turns off the engine. “I’d like to thank you Charlie, for joining me tonight. I had a very nice time, and it was so much better than spending the evening alone.” His fingers linger on my hand, and he leans closer to me to kiss my cheek. He’s so warm, his lips are so soft, and he smells incredible.

  “Thank you for inviting me,” I say. “I had a nice time as well. You’ve been a true gentleman, and a Southern lady always appreciates that.”

  “It’s easy to be a gentleman, when you’re out with a lady,” he replies. And then he exits the car to open my door for me. He extends his hand to help me out, and when I place my hand in his he kisses it. I’m sure he can see my blush. “Would you like me to walk you up?”

  “No, it’s just there,” I say. “Good night, Peyton.”

  “Good night, Charlie,” he replies. I walk toward the steps, and glance back to see him watching me. He watches until I knock on Jessica’s door, and then he waves at me and climbs into his car. I wave back.

  As I’m getting ready for bed, I can’t help thinking about Peyton, and comparing him to Asher. They are both good looking, sure, but Asher is, well, he’s incredible. Anyway, I shouldn’t be getting my hopes up. It’s just one night. One date. He probably won’t even ask me out again. But I can’t stop thinking about him. Them. Both of them.

  *****

  The next day, as I’m headed down to the cafeteria, Peyton appears at my door. “Would you like to join me in the cafeteria for lunch? I hear the special today is tuna salad.”

  I roll my eyes dramatically. But I can’t help smiling. Is this a second date? “The tuna salad is hideous. I’ll just make myself a salad from the salad bar.”

  “There’s a really good Italian restaurant three blocks away. Would you rather go there?” He looks much more relaxed today. Not the way he’s dressed, oh no not that. He’s wearing a light grey three piece suit today, with a green tie that brings out the color in his hazel eyes, and he looks fantastic but almost like he’s trying too hard. No, there’s something in his expression today. He genuinely looks happy.

  Then, he hands me a single red rose, and he grins at me so wide that the apples of his cheeks turn pink. This might just be a second date.

  “Why thank ya kindly, my chivalrous gentleman. I would love to go out with you.” I grab my purse, close my door, and he escorts me out into the officers’ parking lot. His space is right beside Mr. Glass’s. I’m allowed to park in the lot, but I don’t have an assigned space. It’s okay with me, though, because it’s closer to the private entrance to the upper floors.

  We’re inside the restaurant, we’ve just ordered our food, and my phone rings. This freaks me out, because I immediately expect it to be Elise’s school. But it’s not. It’s Mr. Glass. I frown at the screen, and say, “Excuse me, Peyton. I have to take this.” I touch the screen as I walk toward the bathroom, and say, “Hello, Mr. Glass? How is your trip-“

  “I need … Charlie. The numbers aren’t … and his wife …” He’s speaking so fast I’m missing most of his words. He sounds garbled.

  I stand right outside the door, in a hallway that is semi secluded, and say, “Slow down, Mr. Glass. I can’t understand-“

  “I need you, Charlie. I need you to come to San Francisco, now.”

  I gasp when he says it. He knew that I have a daughter when he hired me, and I warned him that I couldn’t travel with him. He said he understood, and never traveled with his assistants. I don’t remember seeing one when he visited Morgantown. As a matter of fact, I was his acting assistant while he was there.

  But there’s something in his voice, a desperation that I’ve never heard there before. He tenses up when he’s under stress, and becomes even more quiet and withdrawn than normal. I haven’t heard this almost manic side to my boss, but I’ve only known him for a few months.

  I know there’s something wrong. And I want to help him any way that I can. But… “I can’t travel, Mr. Glass, because of Elise.”

  “Drop her at your mom’s. Take a plane to Morgantown. Then get back on a plane to San Francisco. I need you. The numbers aren’t adding up, and his wife is…”

  “She’s in school for the next month, Mr. Glass. I can’t just-“

  “Have your mother come to Wilmington. I’ll pay her. Or get a nanny service.” He exhales loudly, and it makes my heart hurt. “Please. I’ll pay extra. I’ll pay whatever you need. Please.” If his ragged breath didn’t hurt my chest, his desperate pleas would have. Something is obviously wrong.

  “I will start making calls now, and I will call you back in one hour. Is that acceptable, Mr. Glass?” I ask.

  “Yes. Thank you, Charlie.” His voice is so small when he closes the line.

  I look at my phone for several moments, trying to settle down my own nervousness. For some reason, since I met him I’ve felt almost in tune with his moods. I know that he’s hard for some people to read. I know the press calls him terrible things. They like calling him a monster and a job killer. One financial talk show host even hinted that he might be autistic. I think he’s just better than most people at hiding what he’s feeling. But he does feel. I can see it when he has a breakthrough and his black eyes sparkle. I can also see it when something goes terribly wrong, and the muscles at his jaw twitch.

  I know something is terribly wrong right now, and I have to make it better for him. I have to.

  When I join Peyton, our food has already been delivered. He’s waited patiently for me to return, and as soon as I sit down he says, “Welcome back. What’s wrong?”

  “I don’t know,” I admit. I dial my phone, ignoring my spaghetti until my stomach growls just as my mom answers. “I’m sorry,” I say to Peyton, but I can’t ignore my need to take care of Mr. Glass, just to make his lunch more pleasant. I can’t.

  I avoid his eyes, as I say, “Momma, I need you to come to Wilmington to watch Elise for a few days.” I wait for her to finish talking. I’m only half paying attention to what she’s saying, anyway. My focus is my boss. “No, momma, I know yer havin’ a hard time with your allergies right now, but maybe the moist air here will help them. Momma, I need you to fly here. I’ll arrange for yer plane ticket. And you’ll be paid for yer time here.” That soothes her fears and worries. She agrees, thank gawd!

  “What’s wrong, Charlie?” Peyton asks. His fork is sitting on his plate, forgotten.

  My stomach growls again. I call the travel agency that handles the arrangements for Mr. Glass, as I twirl some noodles around my own fork. I know that Peyton will be a true gentleman, and he won’t eat unless I am. I arrange for a flight around bites of food.

  Once I’ve finished that, I concentrate on my lunch for a few moments, trying to figure out exactly what I should say to my companion. Heaven forbid I break a confidence with my boss.

  So I put on a fake smile, and say, “Mr. Glass has invited me to San Francisco for the weekend. Isn’t that excitin’?”

  Chapter Five

  I know that she’s lying to me and I don’t like it. I know something is wrong with Asher. He should have called me, not Charlie, if he’s having problems. I could be there in a matter of hours, and not have to worry about a nanny.

  So, just when I was getting comfortable with her, just when I was starting to think her Southern charm was real and not an act, now she’s keeping things from me. Things that I should know, too, because they involve my boyfriend. Maybe she really doesn’t know that Asher and I are together.

  I shouldn’t tell her. Asher should be the one to let her know. Maybe he just doesn’t want to talk about his personal life with her. Or maybe he doesn’t want her to know he’s involved with someone else. Maybe he’s still, subconsciously, thinking of wooing her. Does he want to dump me for her? Two nights ago we had an amazing all night fuck-a-thon, which we sometimes do when he’s leaving for a business trip.

  Okay, it’s more me than him. I want him to be so damn sore when he walks onto
his private plane that he can’t help but think of me while he’s gone. I want him to feel the sex we’ve had for days, and come back to me with a huge smile on his face, wanting more.

  But now I see that he’s not thinking of me. He’s thinking of Charlie. He’s having a problem, and he’s reaching out to his gorgeous female assistant, not his male lover.

  “You can tell me if something is going wrong with Asher’s business trip. We’re friends,” I assure her. “Besides, if there is a problem with an acquisition, I should know.”

  This is the way that Asher has conducted his business for the last ten years. He’s been doing it the same way since he was twenty-seven years old. He finds a company he wants to buy. His lawyers contact the lawyers for the other company. Asher travels there, finds out as much as he can about the company, and then sends in his acquisition team once he decides for sure that he wants to buy. My team waits for Asher’s go ahead before we strike.

  “I’m sorry, Peyton. I don’t want to say anything I shouldn’t. Please understand.” She’s staring down into her plate, and biting her bottom lip.

  She’s very loyal to her boss. I should appreciate that she won’t share anything with me. I should be happy that she’s not spilling Asher’s secrets to me. But I’m not. I’m even more jealous now than I was before, and now I’m conflicted because I’m starting to like Charlie too.

  She must feel my eyes glaring into the top of her pretty blonde head. “I’m sorry, Peyton, but he’s my boss.” She looks up at me, and tears are making her beautiful blue eyes shine.

  Now my stomach muscles are aching, and my chest hurts, not only because I know Asher is in trouble, but also because I feel bad for pressuring Charlie. “I’m sorry, Charlie, I shouldn’t have pushed you. Finish up your spaghetti. I think you’re going to have a rough few days ahead of you.” I try to smile as I say it.

  Her phone rings again, and she takes a sip of her tea before she answers. “Charlie Hall.” She glances at me, and shrugs. “Yes, ma’am. Yes, I will need a room as well, as close to Mr. Glass as I can get. The suite next door should be fine. What time will the flight arrive from Morgantown? Yes, the flight later this evening should be fine. Thank ya, ma’am.” She hangs up right after she says it.

  “Do you have a cocktail dress?” I ask her. Wherever Asher goes, he’s invited to some function or another. I’m sure she’ll need something presentable.

  She looks down at her light pink cotton blouse, and her grey skirt. “I don’t really have anything but work clothes,” she admits, with a frown. “And sweats.”

  “Come on, then. Are you finished? How much time do you have before your mom’s plane arrives?” I wave to the waitress to ask for the check. I already have my card in my hand when she arrives.

  “Five hours,” she replies. “And I still have to go home and pack.”

  “Well, we need to get going, don’t we?” I state, with authority, as I sign the receipt. She gives me a questioning look, but follows along behind me. I like it that she trusts me, even if it is to take her out to lunch or shopping. It feels good.

  *****

  “The blue one, it matches your eyes. And the black one,” I say, as I watch her try to decide between the two dresses. “Hurry and try them on.”

  Although my emotions are still warring inside me, I am more than happy to help Charlie pick out a couple of nice dresses. I’ll even pay for them, but I’ll make sure Asher pays me back, one way or the other.

  When she walks out of the dressing room in the sparkly blue dress, my emotions stop warring. Only one thought runs through my mind. I wish I could see Asher’s face when he sees her in this dress. It fits her perfectly, accentuates her tiny little waist and her sexy hips, and makes her blue eyes glitter.

  This is so wrong, I think, as I gaze at her. She spins around to show me the back, and I audibly gasp. I can see most of the creamy skin of her back, and the dress fits her pretty round ass like a glove.

  I’m starting to feel a different form of jealousy. Right now I’m jealous of Asher, that he might be escorting her to a party and she’ll be wearing that dress. I wish it was me. I wish I was invited to San Francisco with them, but Asher hasn’t even texted me.

  “Buy the shoes, too,” I order.

  She smiles at me shyly in the mirror. I bet she’s never owned a dress this pretty. I bet she’s never worn anything that made her look like a princess like this does. “The dress costs too much, Peyton. I can’t…”

  “Asher wants you out there so badly, he can pay for it,” I retort. “I’ll buy it, and give him a bill.”

  “But, he didn’t say I’d need a dress,” she counters. But her eyes sweep over the dress once more, then she turns to me, and curtsies. “Thank you, Sir Peyton, my knight in shinin’ armor.”

  When she returns to the dressing room, I have to squirm around in my seat, and press against my crotch. Somehow, this lovely, sweet, fascinating young woman has given me an erection. What the hell is wrong with me?

  When she walks out in the black dress, which is sexy as hell, my mind is blown. It’s lacy, and shows too much of her legs, but she looks incredible. The dress makes her skin appear almost as pale as Asher’s. They will be a gorgeous couple together, him with his dark hair, and her all pale and blonde.

  I want to see them together at a party. I want to walk up to them, and pick both of them up. I want to take them to a tiny, cheap hotel room, and watch them kiss and make out. I want to watch her suck his cock, and have his come pour all over her lace covered tits.

  “How does it look?” she asks, as if she’s unsure. My mouth goes dry, and my eyes go wide. If the blue dress made me hard, this dress is making it almost painful.

  “She looks great, doesn’t she?” a saleslady says as she approaches. I know that they are supposed to say that, but she’s not lying. Charlie looks magnificent.

  “I wish I could see Asher’s reaction when he sees you in that.” As soon as I let it slip out of my mouth, I regret it.

  She chuckles nervously, rolls her eyes, and says, “Oh, please.” She shrugs, and turns toward the mirror. The back of the dress is nearly backless, a deep v with a lacy bow right at the top of her ass. I realize that, not only do I want to watch her giving Asher head, but I want to be behind her as she does it, rubbing my dick down her beautiful back, shoving it under her dress, and right into her…

  “I’ll probably end up returning it next week. I probably won’t even wear it in California.” As she says it, she hurries back to the room to change. I want to follow after her, and kiss her. I want to lick her neck, and her ear, and whisper exactly what I want Asher and me both to do to her gorgeous body.

  She doesn’t realize what Asher thinks of her. She doesn’t know that he lusts after her. I understand it now. He wants her. Maybe if he wasn’t dating me, he’d be dating her. If she doesn’t wear it in Cali, I will just have to find a reason for her to wear it, even if I have to invite them both to dinner.

  Right now, in this moment, I might not mind if he dated both of us. Especially if I got to play with them, too.

  Chapter Six

  Arranging the trip was hectic. Leaving my daughter with my mother in Wilmington was hard. Getting on my very first airplane was scary. It’s only eight o’clock Pacific Time when the taxi pulls up at the hotel, but I feel like I’ve been awake for days. I’m tired. My nerves are shot. But still the first thing I did when we landed was call my mom to make sure Elise was okay. Then I texted Peyton to let him know my flight had landed safely, just like he asked me to. And then I called Mr. Glass. He didn’t answer, and that made me even more nervous.

  So as soon as I check in at the front desk, I make my way up to the top floor. My room is right next to his, but I don’t stop there to put my things away, or freshen up. I march straight to his room, and knock.

  He doesn’t answer.

  He could be out. He could be having dinner. He could be with a man for all I know.

  So I knock again, louder this time,
and exclaim, “Mr. Glass, it’s me, Charlie.”

  I wait for one more moment, and pull my phone out to text him. Right before I send it, he cracks the door just a little. “Charlie?” he murmurs, in a tiny little voice. “Oh, thank God it’s you!” He opens the door, grabs my hand, and pulls me into the room. He walks toward an expensive looking brown leather couch, and slumps down onto it. “Would you like a glass of wine?” He’s got two open bottles in front of him, and he tips one up over the empty glass. Nothing comes out. I assume he’s drank both bottles by himself. “I’ll order another bottle.” He grabs his phone, and touches the home button but nothing happens. “Fuck, I turned it off. Charlie, be a good assistant and order another bottle of wine.”

  He obviously doesn’t need any more wine. What he needs is a cup of coffee and a cold shower. I’ve never been in a hotel suite before, but I hope it’s like an apartment. Maybe I’ll find one of those fancy coffee makers in the kitchen, wherever it is. So I go exploring, find what I’m looking for, and brew my boss a cup of coffee.

  I carry it to him, and gaze down at him as he drunkenly stares at the empty bottle. I haven’t seen him in just a couple of days, and I am literally blown away again by how hot he is. I know it’s wrong, okay? I know he’s gay. But I can’t help looking. He’s unbelievably gorgeous. And I feel so happy when I’m around him, so connected to him. I feel almost jittery, but in a very good way.

  When he doesn’t look up, doesn’t acknowledge I’m there, I sit the coffee down in front of him, and join him on the couch. “What’s goin’ on, Mr. Glass? You brought me all the way across the country for a reason. Now tell Charlie what’s wrong.”

  He turns toward me, and gazes at me for several moments with those otherworldly black eyes of his, which glimmer like onyx. Then he mumbles, “I’m sorry Charlotte.” Suddenly he grabs me around my waist, pulls me toward him, and buries his face in my neck. “They’re horrible. They’re monsters. They’re disgusting people.” He’s mumbling his words to the point I can barely understand him. I feel his warm breath against my skin and smell the wine he’s had.