by Ellie Danes
“Are you okay?” I asked.
“I’m fine,” she said, then paused. “I guess this seemed like a better idea last night, after I had some liquid courage.” She allowed a smile to crawl across her face. “But I’m glad I did. I know this might be forward, but would you like to meet for lunch today?”
Her smile took my breath away as I tried to mentally run through my calendar.
She reached over and placed her hand on my naked leg and then leaned in and kissed me. “If you have to work, I understand.”
Finally my mind cleared enough I could actually think. “I have a meeting later this morning and wasn’t planning on going in to the office until late afternoon. Maybe we can meet after your class today? How about I pick you up around one?”
“Perfect,” she said. “Can you pick me up at my apartment? 329 Belmont, apartment 200.”
“Sure you don’t want a bite to eat, too?” I asked.
She shimmied on her black leggings and stood up. She grabbed her phone and clicked on the screen. “I’ll take a raincheck on breakfast. I told Grant, I mean Professor Ashworth, that I could meet an hour before class. I need to get home and change.”
I stood up, grabbing the blanket she had left on the couch. I wrapped it around my waist, covering up the erection that was building.
“Thank you,” I said, still holding the blanket and following her to the door. “I’m glad you messaged me last night.”
“Me too.” She stood up on her tiptoes, attempting to meet me eye to eye, but still fell short as she kissed me on the lips. “See you in a few hours.”
I watched as she walked to the Jeep parked in my circular driveway and climbed in.
I went back to the living room and had just started hunting for my clothes when a loud knock echoed.
I swung open the door, grinning and clutching the blanket. “Forget something?”
Jake’s smile was as large as mine, but Alyssa stood in the doorway, half smiling, half appalled as her eyes moved from mine down to the blanket.
“Looks like someone forgot their clothes,” Jake joked as he pushed past me.
“Who was that?” Alyssa asked as she followed Jake, still clearly checking me out. “I guess you’ve moved on. Another student?” Her tone became harsher. “Seriously Chase, didn’t you learn your lesson? Are you really over Summer?”
I slammed the door and followed my two uninvited guests into the foyer. “Why are you here? What time is it?”
“It’s nine a.m.,” Alyssa said without hesitation. “So? Are you going to answer me?”
“First of all, I don’t answer to you,” I shot back at her and then kept moving toward Jake, who had walked into the kitchen. “Jake, why are the two of you here and not at the office?”
He spun around before Alyssa entered the room. “Had I known you were screwing another college girl I wouldn’t have stopped by. I actually had thought you’d be at the office, not home,” he whispered. “Alyssa left sunglasses here the other day and wanted to swing by to pick them up.”
I glared at him. “You couldn’t call?”
“I did. And texted. You didn’t answer.” Jake turned back toward the counter and began making a pot of coffee while Alyssa finally joined us.
“She’s my best friend,” Alyssa started. “She was my best friend, I guess. It sucks seeing you with someone else. I’m sorry.”
“I understand, but remember this is my life. I’ve spent the last six months dealing with her leaving me. I was going to marry her. I’ve done my grieving. I’m moving on.”
It was good hearing those words leave my mouth.
I had finally moved on.
Chapter Eight
Jamie
I had an hour and a half to get home, showered, and make myself somewhat presentable for work with Grant. It was going to be my first real day working with him, and I wasn’t sure what to expect.
I needed a clear head, but I knew that wasn’t going to happen. Thoughts of Chase raced through my mind. Last night, this morning, our upcoming lunch together. All of it was overshadowed by the envelope sitting on the front seat. The envelope containing the picture of Chase and me, the phone number, and that stack of cash.
The deep gravelly voice on the other end of the phone last night stuck in my mind. He hadn’t provided any more information, only threats. It all seemed odd.
Hey, here’s some cash, just keep doing what you’re doing.
That’s essentially all the call was. That, and threatening to release the photo to the university, thus killing my job and probably Chase’s.
I wondered how I got myself into messes like these. I was smarter than that. Taking money to flirt, and now this.
As I ran up the stairs to my apartment, my phone sang out my mother’s ringtone. She rarely called. When she did, it was to brag about something or someone.
My thumb hovered over the screen as I debated whether to answer it. I fumbled for my keys. I didn’t have time for this, or her drama, yet stupidly I answered the call.
“Hey, Mom.”
“Jamie-baby, how’s everything going? I haven’t heard from you in a few weeks. I thought you would have told me how classes were.”
Propping the phone up to my ear with my shoulder, I unlocked the door and gave a quick scan for Kay. Something papery slid beneath my foot and I looked down to see an envelope on the floor.
“Kay!” I yelled as I covered the mouthpiece, attempting to not scream directly in the phone. “Can you seriously not pick up mail?” I grabbed the envelope and the cereal bowl still sitting on the coffee table as I made my way into the kitchen. “Mom, everything is great. I’m running super late for my job–”
“You’re working during the day? What about classes?”
“Yes, during the day, and I am still taking classes. If I don’t work, I can’t pay the bills.” I rolled my eyes as if she could see how annoyed I was with where the conversation was heading. I tossed the mail on the counter and set the bowl in the sink, noticing the rest of the kitchen was in disarray. “I also work at night. Classes are Tuesday and Thursday, I work at the university on Monday and Wednesday. There, you’re all caught up.”
Now boarding, flight 1243 to Miami at gate b12.
The announcement blared through the phone. I could feel disdain creeping into my soul.
“Sorry honey, I couldn’t hear you, they were making announcements. Tom and I are on our way out of town. Can you say that again?”
I could hear Tom’s voice in the background, urging Mom that they needed to get going.
“No, I can’t. I need to shower and get ready for work. Enjoy your trip to wherever you’re going.”
“Miami, honey. We were thinking that maybe we’d stop by and see you on our way back? Maybe visit for a day. You could show us around.”
My stomach turned at the thought of both of them showing up on campus, especially Tom. Mom had barely made it to my graduation—why in the hell would she now have an interest in visiting me? “You know, Mom, I’m really busy. I’m not sure I’ll have time. I’ve picked up some other shifts and–”
Tom’s voice boomed in the background, nagging Mom.
“Honey, I have to go. I’ll call you later in the week to confirm.”
A second later the phone went dark as she hung up. Great. Just what I needed.
I tossed my phone on the counter and then cradled my head with my heads, trying to keep my head from exploding. I rifled through the mail for a distraction. Bills and junk. The last envelope wasn’t addressed, it just had my name typed across the front. No stamp. No return address.
My heart sank again.
“Seriously?” I called out to the empty apartment. “What now, more pictures?”
I ripped open the envelope to reveal another stack of hundreds wrapped in a letter. I didn’t bother counting the cash. Whatever they wanted, it wasn’t worth it. If I only knew who they were.
Put together everything you can find on Dunamis. You have one week.
Here’s money for your expenses. Stay close, or else.
I stared at the letter and the only thing I could think of was, What the fuck!
I began to wonder whether these people were trying to blackmail the right person. None of it made sense. I thumbed through the bills. Another twenty-five hundred dollars, in addition to the fifteen hundred they had already given me. I earned the first five hundred. I wondered whether I should just toss the thousand back in the envelope with this money, and give it back.
I could call the number, tell them I wasn’t interested, and move on with my life. It should be easy to explain I had no clue what they were talking about. I stuffed everything back into the envelope and walked to my room, pulling the envelope from last night out of my purse. This was more money than I had had in my hands ever. I needed the money, but at what cost? Better yet, I still didn’t have a fucking clue what I was actually supposed to do. Get info on Dunamis.
What the hell was that?
It would have to wait, for now.
* * * * *
After having seen Grant the night before at The Fox Hole, I wasn’t sure what to expect at work. Even during our initial meeting and during the phone call with the administration office, I was still unsure of exactly what my job entailed.
Grant was sitting in his office, hunched over a desk drawer when I arrived. I stood in the doorway and looked around the office before knocking. It was barren. No pictures or knick-knacks. Not even any text books. A small stack of folders sat on the corner of the desk that stood between him and me.
I watched for a moment as Grant shuffled through files in one of the drawers, pulled out a folder, and then eased back in his chair.
“You can come in and sit down if you’d like. You don’t have to stand there,” he said without looking over at me. It took a moment before I caught my reflection in the window and then saw Grant staring back at me.
He spun around slowly, still gazing at the file. Then he looked up.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to sneak up on you,” I said. “I just didn’t want to disturb you.” I took a seat in front of the large metal and fake wood desk. Typical inexpensive office furniture.
“No, you’re fine. I was just pulling out the syllabus that Chase used last semester. I figure why recreate the wheel, right?” He smiled and dropped the file on the desk. “So, I’ll need two hundred of these copied and ready for class at eleven. I’m also going to need for you to keep up on emails. I hate email. Here’s my username and password. You know the website for university mail, correct?”
I nodded as I quickly scrambled for a piece of paper and pen to take notes.
“Good,” he said. “I’m not sure how many hours they told you I’d need, but it will be at least ten a week, maybe more when you add up the time for checking emails, getting back to students, things like that.”
“So…” I hesitated before asking, “I’m basically your secretary?” It took every bit of control to get the word out of my mouth.
“Assistant,” he said. “You’ll be doing other things. This is just to get started. I’ll be juggling the class, plus my other business ventures.” Grant leaned in, placing his elbows on the desk. “I only took this job because Chase gave it to me,” he whispered. “It seemed like a great way to find new talent like he’s done. I figured why not, but I don’t have the time to grade papers and everything else.” He slid the folder with the syllabus across the desk. “That’s why I need an assistant. Besides, we’ll get to work together. It’ll be fun and you can learn a lot from me. I’m sure it will help your career once you graduate.”
I could feel my face reddening and I bit my tongue, holding back what was really on my mind. I took in a deep breath and swallowed. “So, couldn’t I just put this file on the classroom portal and we tell the students where to get it? It would save the university money and it would save me about an hour of time.”
“See? That’s why I have you. Always thinking ahead. We’re going to get along fine.” Grant leaned back in his chair like he had just made a major accomplishment. “That gives you and me some extra time for lunch. What do you say?” He smiled as if he had already heard the answer he wanted, but that smile quickly faded.
“Thanks, but I have plans after class.” I shifted in my seat as I tried to read him before firing off another question. “You mentioned you’d need me about ten hours a week. Does that include time I’d be working with Chase?”
“Chase?” he asked, and his voice took an edgier tone. “No. Those are my hours. He’ll need to work around my schedule and when I need you.”
“I understand. I just wanted to be clear, because I wasn’t sure who I was reporting to since he’s your boss, right?”
Grant’s face reddened as he bit his lip. “I’ll work out the details with him.” He pushed out his chair and stood up, looking down on me. “I have a few things I need to get done before class. I’ll see you in the lecture hall at eleven.”
Without saying another word, he left the office.
* * * * *
Grant and I didn’t speak much during class. In fact, he didn’t say anything to me at all. I still couldn’t figure him out. One minute he seemed to be flirting, the next he kept me at arm’s length, even though I tried to be helpful and get close.
I left my new job even more confused about my duties than before I had started it.
Grant ended class early because of a business meeting conflict, so I was able to get home and relax for a while before Chase picked me up. Unfortunately, as much as I wanted to relax, I couldn’t.
Kay came home on her lunch break, adding to my anxiety. I wanted to stand in the parking lot to wait for Chase so I could keep him, and everything else that had happened, a secret. I had wanted to relax, but between the envelope filled with cash, my lunch date, and my every inquisitive and messy roommate, my stress level was at an all-time high.
I paced through the living room, avoiding the mess that Kay had created and trying to hold my tongue.
“So, how was work?” Kay asked as she took another slurp of the wonton soup she had picked up from Chinese Number Nine down the street.
“Um, fine. Nothing real exciting. I’m just an assistant to a professor.” I glanced down at my watch as I played with the band.
“You didn’t tell me that!” Kay’s expression turned impressed. “Which professor? Anyone I know?”
“No, probably not. He’s new.” I paced over to the window and then changed the subject, hoping she would just finish eating. “I got a call from my mother. She and Tom are thinking about stopping by for a visit.” I wanted to talk about my mother even less than Chase, Grant, or anything else that had happened over the last few days. “Which reminds me. I picked up a few extra shifts, so I’ll have money for bills by the end of the weekend.”
I had at least five hundred I could spend without feeling guilty.
“Great…and I can’t wait to meet your mom and step–”
“Tom,” I cut her off. “He’s not a step anything to me. He’s just Tom,” I said firmly, again glancing down at my watch. “So, what time are you headed back?”
“Oh shit!” Kay stared at her phone as she put the plastic bowl of soup amongst the rest of the takeout food. “I’m going to be late, I need to go.” She jumped up, rushing to the door. “Help yourself to whatever you want, otherwise I’ll just throw it away later. And hey, let’s get a drink tonight.”
She didn’t wait for an answer as she slammed the door behind her.
Kay and I had our moments. There were times when we were as close as sisters and other times I couldn’t stand to be around her. This was one of the times I just wanted my space. I didn’t deal with stress well, especially when it was coming from multiple directions. Not having a roommate would have been great, but not practical.
Chase seemed to make the stress go away. He made me forget everything for at least a little while.
A few minutes after Kay left, there was a knock at the door. I glan
ced at my watch, hoping it wasn’t Kay, who probably had forgotten her keys. Then I swung open the door to see Chase, looking absolutely perfect. His white dress shirt was crisp, with creases in all of the right places. It looked as if he had taken it right from the dry cleaners and put it on moments before he knocked on the door. His gray dress pants had the same appearance, except they hugged his muscular thighs and gathered slightly around the large bulge in his crotch. I couldn’t help but notice.
“Sorry I’m late,” he said. “I ran into an old student in the parking lot. Kay something,” Chase took a step into the apartment and smiled. “Are you ready?”
“I am.” I smiled back. I was more than ready to escape everything at this very moment.
Chase’s sleek gray sports car was definitely an attention-getting machine and matched his personality completely. I slid into the black leather seat and closed my eyes, allowing the end of summer heat to warm my body and somewhat clear my head.
“So, how was class today? Are you enjoying your new job?” Chase chuckled a little.
“I guess. I’m still not sure how I ended up getting this job. I was supposed to be working in the administration office, shuffling papers for half of what I’m making now.” I looked over at Chase as he put on his sunglasses and shifted the car into gear. “I’m not really sure what to make of Grant.”
“I originally didn’t use an assistant. Grant asked for the help and you were selected,” Chase said. “I’ve known him for a few months and we connected. I think he’s a nice guy. He’s a smart businessman.”
“I get a weird vibe from him. He was at the bar the other day.”
“That doesn’t sound weird. That sounds like someone who needs a drink.”
“No. He just kind of showed up, almost seemed like he was flirting, then he left when I told him I couldn’t talk. Then today, he dumped a bunch of busy work on me and didn’t say much of anything else.”
“I can have a talk with him if you’d like. He does report to me.” Chase pursed his lips as he looked over at me briefly. “I don’t like that he was flirting with you.”
“Me either, and there’s something else. I wasn’t sure who I reported to, whether it was you or him. He seemed pretty adamant that I deal directly with him and leave you out of things.” I bit my lip as I debated my next question. “Does he know about us?”
