I pulled my brows together and pressed my lips together as I glanced around the room. I couldn’t say it was Vanessa, but I could say it was a girl I didn’t know. “I…I’m not sure I have her number or anything.”
“Ya didn’t exchange phone numbers or become Facebook friends,” he scoffed sarcastically.
Facebook friends. Alex. Alex posts all types of shit on Facebook that he shouldn’t. I frantically started searching through my phone. Vanessa started to say something when I finally found all of Alex’s photos. I popped my head up smiling as I held up my phone. “See! I was with my buddies all night. All the photos were posted as they happened.”
“Well, I suppose that could help.”
“What time is she saying I was pressuring her?”
He looked down at his paper and said, “Ten on Friday.” I looked back at my phone and found a picture of me with Alex and…Vanessa. I flipped through more, hoping there was another picture and found one that he took from across the bar. Vanessa’s head was turned and I figured he probably wouldn’t recognize the back of her head. “See…here’s a picture of me at the bar.”
Perry nodded his head, “That might hold up.” He pressed his lips and still seemed pretty angry. “Send me a copy, time stamped and all. I want a written statement from you and anyone else who can confirm you weren’t with her. Exact times. Got it?” His face began to relax a little. “I need this taken care of quickly and quietly.”
With that, both Vanessa and I were immediately dismissed from his office.
I followed Vanessa back to her office, right on her heels. She was walking at a pretty fast pace, so I knew she was probably ticked off at me. Or hopefully she was really ticked off at Evelyn. I knew it probably crushed her finding out what her mentor tried with me even though she had seen some of that at the seminar in New Jersey.
I knew it. I knew in my gut I was right about Evelyn. I knew her type exactly. She was too proud to be turned down and she wanted to get back at me for feeling rejected. I hoped this would all blow over. I started thinking about having to find another job and if this was something I’d have to disclose during an interview. If I get fired, Vanessa would have to help me with all that stuff. Shit. Unless she never spoke to me again. I guess I couldn’t blame her, but then again I wasn’t the one who made the advance. Evelyn did.
Vanessa went right to her chair quietly and sat down. My heart was pounding as I closed the door behind me and sat in one of her chairs, unsure if I should speak or not. Vanessa was staring at her notes and I noticed tears starting to well up in her eyes. Shit.
“Vanessa?” I asked, hoping she wasn’t angry with me.
She looked up at me and a stray tear fell. I wanted to wrap my arms around her and kiss her tears away, but I wasn’t sure how she felt about me approaching her at work, in her office no less. We never touched at the office to make sure, well, we sort of adhered to her policy. At least at the office we did.
“I didn’t do it. I was on the phone or with you all those times,” I implored, hoping she believed me.
She nodded. “I know. I’m just disappointed in Evelyn that she would accuse you of that.” She paused and then asked, “Is that who was at your door when I asked you if you were alright?”
“Yeah. I was going to tell you and then we…” I paused and smiled thinking back to what stopped me from telling her. “Talked about other things.”
She looked down at her desk and reviewed the paper she had in front of her. I watched her swallow and sit up straight, staring at me. “I need to call Evelyn, but I don’t want you to say anything. Can you do that for me?” She asked.
I nodded, unsure of where she was going with this. I was pretty sure we should go through her attorney or something, but I trusted Vanessa and her judgment. She pressed her lips together and with shaky fingers dialed a number, placing it on speakerphone.
I whipped out my phone, silently asking Vanessa if I could record the call. She nodded her head as I pressed record and placed it next to her phone. I was pretty sure I wouldn’t be allowed to use it if this whole thing turned into a court battle or something, but I wanted to have it for my own reference.
“Evelyn McDurd speaking,” she answered her call in a cool tone.
“Evelyn, it’s Vanessa. I received the harassment papers. I wanted to just go over a few points with you before I let him go, if that’s alright.” My eyes shot up to hers wondering why she just lied, unless she wasn’t lying and I was going to be fired. Vanessa slowly shook her head and placed her finger to her lips to make sure I remained silent. My heart was beating out of my chest, but I was determined to let Vanessa handle this her way. Unless she’s really pissed at me…then she might fuck me over right now. I tried to push that thought out of my way.
“You’re going to let him go without formal charges? These are internal charges. He can still work within the company. He just needs to be away from the office if I come to visit,” she directed Vanessa in a harsh tone.
Vanessa’s brows pulled together and a smirk crossed her beautiful lips. “Well, I like to do things a little different down here. I know innocent until proven guilty is the way it’s usually done; however, given the nature of who the person is and the way he treats other women, I feel it’s best to let him go as soon as possible.”
“Vanessa, that’s not how you’re supposed to do things.” Evelyn’s tone was harsh and angry; almost panic stricken and it confused me why she would care. I guess it’s just part of their job to do things the right way.
“I realize that, but given…well, you know, how much you’ve meant to me, as a mentor, I couldn’t possibly live with myself knowing this man was harassing women, especially you. It’s just absolutely horrible the way you described what he did to you.” I hadn’t seen the paperwork and was just about to reach over and take a look, but Vanessa placed her hand flat on the papers and shook her head.
There was a brief pause and Evelyn’s tone lowered, almost cold. “Well, considering you work with him, I’m sure he’s done the same to you, hasn’t he?”
Vanessa’s brows pulled together. “Me? What makes you ask that?”
“Oh come on, Vanessa. He’s come on to you, hasn’t he?” It wasn’t a question; Evelyn was either leading her on or wanted her to say I did.
“No, actually, I haven’t had any issues with him. I’m sure after I terminate him, I’ll have reports from other women.”
There was a small pause before Evelyn continued to egg Vanessa on. “Vanessa. I think you have something to tell me.”
Completely confused, Vanessa shook her head and leaned in towards the phone, lowering her voice. “Evelyn, I’m not sure what I would tell you.”
Evelyn’s tone turned an even colder tone as she flatly stated, “Because I saw you two at the airport. I know you two are seeing each other.” Vanessa popped her head up and instead of the fear I thought for sure she’d have on her face, she smiled and nodded her head. Pressing her lips together as if she knew for certain this would happen, she asked, “You saw Matt with me? Or with another woman?”
“I saw you and Matt together. Roses. Red ones,” Evelyn spit out angrily. Both our eyes snapped up to meet. Fuck. She saw us at the airport. There was no denying it now. We’ll both be out of a job. My heart was beating out of my chest with nervousness for both of us now. I started to try to think of a way out of this for both of us, but couldn’t come up with anything.
Vanessa’s eyes narrowed as she leaned in further toward the phone. “How does that have anything to do with me firing Matt?”
“I’ve been awaiting your call, Vanessa. I know about you two and now you’re the one who needs to be fired. Now that you’ve admitted to me that you and Matt have been together, it goes against that little policy you put in place.” Vanessa…smiled. What the hell is going on with her that she’s okay with all of this?
Vanessa took a long pause as she leaned in and softly told her, “Evelyn, I never admitted anything to you. Matt and I are
just friends.”
“Friends don’t kiss and grope each other like you two did at the airport.”
“I think you’re mistaken on what you may have seen,” Vanessa seemed to taunt her with a slight smile. What the hell is going on in her head? This isn’t the Vanessa I know outside of work. I was pretty sure if this happened elsewhere, she’d be in tears or something.
Evelyn was clearly frustrated as she practically yelled into the phone, “I’m not mistaken. Just like I’m not mistaken about you and Bob in New Jersey. I watched you two get into the elevator together to go up to your room, you little slut.”
I was surprised Vanessa ignored her whole outburst when she spoke clear into the speakerphone. “Don’t make assumptions that aren’t there, Evelyn.”
I could tell that Evelyn’s face was probably pinched as she sneered, “Did you accept the job Bob offered you?”
Vanessa’s brows pulled together again as she countered Evelyn, “Bob hasn’t called me, Evelyn.”
There was a short pause on the other end of the phone. “Well, good. Because now he won’t., considering you can’t even follow your own policies. When he finds out how you and Matt are together, you’ll never get another job in the HR field. I’ll make sure of it.” Vanessa stayed quiet and I couldn’t tell what she was thinking. “You think you’re so great. Sexy and naïve, asking for help all the time and trying to make a name for yourself. No one sees you more than a slut they want to sleep with.” I was just about to go off on Evelyn when Vanessa held her hand up to quiet me. “Nothing to say now, Vanessa?” Evelyn taunted after a short pause.
Vanessa pressed her lips together as she looked down at her fingers while twirling her ring. I noticed she wasn’t wringing it like she usually does, it was more like she was playing with it. “Actually, I have a question. Why would you want to press sexual harassment charges on Matt? In order to get to me?”
“Ha! Matt doesn’t care about you! You’re nothing more than another piece of ass. Bob on the other hand doesn’t stop talking about you and it’s not for your career path, sweetie. I can always drop the harassment charges on Matt in exchange for anything I want from him. You? You’re out. Start packing up your office, because I’ll be calling Perry right after this.”
Her angry expression said it all as she rolled her eyes and huffed, “You’re hurting a man’s career in order to get to me? Because you feel threatened — by me?” She paused slightly and just as Evelyn was about to say to something, Vanessa’s snide remark blew me away. “Women like you have only one way to go. Down. Unless that’s how you got to your position?” That last part, Vanessa made sure to keep her voice even and made sure there was bite to it.
I wanted to clap my hands and high-five her as Evelyn spit out through the phone speaker phone, “You little bitc—”
“Evelyn, Matt has video of you coming on to him,” she interrupted her. “And I can corroborate his story for Friday night because he was with me.” She paused, I can only assume for added effect, “All night,” she told her, still keeping her voice calm. I sat there watching her display this side of her I didn’t know she had. “For the record, I really did look up to you Evelyn. I’m sorry our friendship has to end like this.” I watched her press the button on her phone and then slumped back in her chair.
“Vanessa, that was fantastic!” I exclaimed wanting to hug her tightly. “You remained so calm. I’m so proud of you, Gorgeous,” I praised her. She gave me a small smile, but her eyes glistened with tears. She glanced out the window and started to tug at her lip with her teeth.
“I can’t believe it’s come to this.” She looked around her office sadly. “I guess I need to start looking into another career path.”
“No you don’t. We’ll figure something out. You never know what…”
Just then her office intercom went off. She pressed the button. “Yes, Renee.”
“Mr. Buchanan says he wants to see you immediately. His admin asked if Matt was with you and I told her he was. He wants both of you in there right now.” Vanessa nodded her head as she answered into her phone, “Thank you, Renee.”
She looked back to me as she took a deep breath. She stood and started walking towards the door. I grabbed her hand and pulled her to me. “Hey, whatever happens in there, I want you to know I’m supporting you all the way. I’ll quit if I have to.”
She pressed her lips together and gave me a small smile, nodding her head as we headed over to Perry’s office together.
“What’s this?” I asked as we both stood in front of Perry staring at the papers he placed in front of each of us. I picked it up and looked at the title “Love Contract.”
“It’s what y’all should’ve done in the first place,” he barked out at the both of us. He flung his arm in Vanessa’s direction as he continued to yell, “You’re so gung ho on your little policy and then the two of you go sneakin’ around it.”
All I kept thinking about was we’re about to be fired, but then it registered in my brain that he knows we’re in a relationship. Or whatever it is we are. I didn’t think that Evelyn could call Perry that quick.
“It’s a Love Contract. I had a friend of mine send it over to me. Y’all should’ve come to me in the beginning,” he lectured us. His face was red, scrunched up and he was pissed.
I pressed my lips together, terrified that it actually came down to this. Vanessa’s going to hate me after all this is said and done. My heart was in my throat just thinking about how much she probably hates me. The thought of losing her over all this started eating away at my gut.
“Your buddy Alex may have cleared you one way with his pictures on Facebook and the time of the posts, but he also screwed you when I found those photos. Corporate found them too. I lied and told them you guys already signed these stupid things. They want them ASAP.” He stood up leaning over his desk and growled at us, scaring the shit out of me, “And if you two get into a lover’s quarrel, you better stay at opposite ends of the building. And no kissin’ in the hallway, either,” he barked angrily.
We both nodded and neither of us looked at each other. I took a deep breath and picked up the “Love Contract,” which said we would be respectful if we were to break up with each other and we were not to be intimate on the company’s premises. It also listed certain expectations of us and verified our relationship was consensual.
“Y’all ever make a fool out of me again and you’ll both be out on your asses. Harold called me to tell me that he was just about to talk to Evelyn, but, she made the mistake of leaving her door ajar when she took Vanessa’s call. On speaker phone no less. He heard the gist of your conversation.” He turned his gaze to mine. “Matt, you’re released of all the accusations.” He sat back in his chair and put his hands clapped behind his head. “Now listen to me, both of y’all. If you break it off or whatever, I want pure professionalism. None of that shit y’all pulled when Matt first got here. Got it?” We both nodded as if we were being lectured by a parent. He turned to Vanessa as he directed, “You’re excused for now, but I’m gonna be discussing things with you later.” Vanessa nodded quickly and stood. If she could have run out the door, she would have.
I started to stand, but midway in my stance he yelled, “You! Sit back down. We’re gonna have a little chat.” Oh shit. I’ve never heard him so pissed before, and believe me I’ve gotten him riled up before. My heart was beating and my face was probably beet red, feeling like I was getting a punishment from my dad.
As Vanessa scurried out of the room, our eyes met right before she closed the door. I turned my focus back to Perry, my stomach churning not knowing what he was going to say to me.
“You’re a lucky son of a bitch, Matt. You fuck this up and I’ll come after you,” he scolded me. His voice was deep and threatening.
I nodded my head as I swallowed. “I know, Perry. You’re right. I’ll keep my head down and our sales up.”
“I meant about Vanessa,” he shocked the hell out of me by saying that. My ey
es shot to his as he continued, “She goes about things the wrong way sometimes, but her heart’s in the right place. You fuck this up with her and I’ll be after you with a shotgun,” he joked. At least I hoped he was joking. My eyes got wide as I tried to process what he was really saying. “She reminds me of my wife before she passed away from cancer,” he told me. I guess I always assumed he was married since he still wore his wedding band. “Vanessa has that strong will and wants to really prove herself. Don’t hold her back. And if you decide to go back to Atlanta, make sure you let her down easy.” He looked down at the papers around his desk and picked up his pen as I stared at him in disbelief. He glanced back up and pointed toward the door. “You’re excused. Get your ass back to work.” He looked down at his papers as I stood slowly. I was still trying to process what he just said to me.
I think the rattlesnake just hissed a warning at me instead of biting. I’ll take that any day.
Chapter 25
Matt
It had been weeks since the whole Evelyn situation. She was given a stern warning, but wasn’t let go. That didn’t sit well with Vanessa or myself, but it wasn’t our decision. I never told Vanessa what Perry said when yelled at me in his office after she left. I just told her that he gave me a stern warning.
I walked into our apartment and threw my keys onto the dining room table. Clark was already on the couch sprawled out eating some chips. He glanced back at me and pointed to the pile of mail on the table I just threw my keys onto.
“Hey, you got a FedEx letter,” he told me, directing my attention to the pile. I picked it up and ripped it open thinking it was some sort of promotional material since it was from a hotel. I reached in and felt a key. I peered into the envelope and pulled out a note. It was a note from Aubrey. Just a date and “Vanessa’s Birthday” was written on it with Aubrey’s signature. Nothing else.
I smiled as I thought of all the ways I could surprise Vanessa now. She may not be a fan of surprises, as I remembered from our amazing kiss in the rain, but I sure as hell am.
Romantic Promises (Alluring Promises Series, #2) Page 43
