“I’ll be up late working, so feel free to stop by,” he says.
“Okay.” I have a lot to do, and I know Drake does too. “I’ll call you later.” Our eyes meet and he pulls me to him for a last kiss before turning and walking away. I watch him go and when he’s out of sight, I sit at my desk and get to work.
Evan arrives at my cubicle a few minutes after six. “How’s the presentation going?”
I’ve been perfecting it all day—along with completing other urgent tasks. “I think it’s nearly ready, but I need your feedback.”
He sits on the edge of my desk. “That’s what I’m here for. The main conference room is available, so why don’t we go in there to practice?”
That’s where the actual presentation will be, so I agree this is a good idea and I grab my laptop and follow him to the spacious room. Evan and I sit across from each other on either side of the large oblong table and I plug my laptop into the projector.
“Go straight through your presentation for me,” Evan says. “So I can see how it is all in one go.”
I do as he asks and afterwards he makes suggestions which I implement, then I run through it again.
“You’ve done a great job, Ashley,” he says.
I beam under his praise. He’s been doing this longer than me and his approval boosts my confidence.
“I’d like your feedback on my part of the presentation,” he says.
It’s nearly seven o’clock and I’m tired and hungry, but telling him no is not an option. Not after all the help he’s given me. “Sure.”
“I don’t know about you,” he says, “but I’m starving. Let’s order some food from that restaurant across the street. They’ll bring it right to us.”
I don’t know how much longer we’ll be there, and I don’t want to eat too late, so I agree. “Sounds great.”
A few minutes later we’ve ordered our food and he begins his part of the presentation. The food arrives just as he’s finishing. He pays the delivery person, then we lay out the food.
“What did you think?” he asks. I make a couple of suggestions and he smiles. “Great ideas. I’ll add them.” He works on his computer as we eat, then he looks at me with a smile. “So, how long have you and your boyfriend been together?”
I’m not sure why he cares, but I figure he’s just making small talk while we eat, and I consider my answer. Drake and I have only officially been a couple for a few days, but that answer feels wrong. “We’ve known each other for a couple of months.”
“What does he do?” Evan asks as he spears a slice of meat.
This answer is easy and I’m proud to tell him. “He runs a consulting firm.”
Evan looks impressed. “Nice.” He sips from his straw. “How’d you guys meet?”
I don’t want to tell him how Drake picked me up from the side of the road like a lost puppy and brought me to his cabin. That information feels too personal, like something I want to keep to myself, so I turn the questioning to Evan. “What about you? Are you dating anyone?”
“Me?” He laughs. “Not right now.”
He’s very attractive, so that surprises me. “Really? No one?”
“Why?” His eyes sparkle. “Do you know someone who’s looking?”
Something in his face tells me he’s talking about me. I laugh it off. “No, I don’t.”
“You don’t know any gorgeous marketing types who are looking for a commitment-free good time?”
Now I know he’s talking about me and I blush. “Definitely not. Especially when they already have a boyfriend.”
“A boyfriend’s not the same as a husband.”
What’s that supposed to mean? Just because Drake and I aren’t married doesn’t mean we’re not committed to each other. “No, Evan,” I say, more forcefully this time.
He laughs. “He’s a lucky guy. I hope he’s one of those rare men who believes in fidelity.”
His comment irritates me. Drake would never cheat on me, and I’m angry at Evan for even suggesting it. “I appreciate your help with my presentation,” I say, ready to go home.
“Same here, Ashley.” He smiles. “Let’s run through both of them one more time, then we’ll be ready.”
The presentation is first thing in the morning, so I agree, although I’m flagging. I’ve been at work for twelve hours and exhaustion is starting to overtake me.
By the time we’re done, it’s after eight o’clock, but I’m as prepared as I’ll ever be. When we leave the conference room, the office is deserted.
“Would you like me to walk you to your car?” Evan asks.
With no one around, I’d be foolish to say no, so I agree, and a few minutes later we stop beside my car. Evan stands close to me.
“If you ever need anything,” he says in a soft voice, “I’m available.”
Besides his comments during dinner, he’s been professional the entire time, and I don’t want to make things uncomfortable between us now. I ignore his implied invitation. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Eight
DRAKE
“Your first admin assistant candidate is here,” Barbara says, poking her head into my office.
I have three interviews lined up this morning and I hope one of them works out because Barbara has made it clear that she has too much to do. “Okay. Please bring her in.”
A moment later a woman who appears to be in her late thirties walks into my office with Barbara. I shake her hand and invite her to sit across from me.
She launches into her qualifications and I find I can’t get a word in. I sit back and think about Ashley while I wait for this woman’s steam to run out. Stewing over the fact that I have’t heard from her since I left her cubicle after lunch the day before, I visualize the expression on her co-worker’s face as he looked at her. I know he wants her, which infuriates me.
I turn my attention to the woman sitting across from me, and when she stops speaking five minutes later, I jump in. “Thank you for coming in, Shelley.” I stand, and she looks confused.
“Don’t you have any questions for me?”
I’ve already decided that her incessant chatter would drive me insane, and in short order I escort her out of my office and deliver her to the reception area. “Barbara will let you know my decision.”
On the way back to my desk, I stop by Barbara’s cubicle.
“How did it go?” she asks, clearly believing the woman was a good candidate.
I shake my head, then tell her why the woman isn’t a good fit.
“Hmm. I suppose she did seem a little chatty. I’m sorry to have waisted your time, Mr. Drake.”
I smile to show I don’t hold her responsible. “Perhaps one of the others will work out.”
Later that morning I interview the other two candidates. Both seemed eminently qualified, but the one who has more experience is also extremely attractive. Though I notice this, and normally that may have swayed me to choose her—who doesn’t want to look at a beautiful woman each day?—at this point I don’t need the distraction and I decide to offer the job to the other woman.
Barbara’s at lunch, so I email her and ask her to extend the job offer to the second candidate when she gets back.
That afternoon Barbara stops by my office. “Mr. Drake?”
I invite her into my office and she sits across from me.
“She’s taken another offer,” Barbara says.
I frown, not liking to be forced into choosing someone I’d initially passed over.
“What about Jasmine?” Barbara asks, referring to the very qualified, but very attractive woman. “She seems very good, and her references are impeccable.”
An image of Ashley’s co-worker, Evan, comes to mind, and I wonder what Ashley will think when she sees Jasmine and knows how closely she’ll work with me. Why are you basing your business choices on what Ashley thinks?
The idea that I wouldn’t choose the best person for non-business reasons irritates me. “You’re right,” I
say. “See if she’s still interested.”
Barbara smiles, obviously glad to offload some of her work. “I’ll call her now.”
“Thank you.”
A short time later Barbara tells me Jasmine has accepted the offer and that she will begin the next day. I’m leaving for my trip this afternoon, so I leave all the training to her.
I’m eager to complete my business and see Ashley on Saturday.
ASHLEY
“Nice job,” Donald, the CEO of our firm, says to me when we end the call with the Harrison group.
Nearly glowing with pride—and relief—I smile. “Thank you. I couldn’t have done it without Evan’s help.” After rejecting him last night, I want to build goodwill. After all, we’ll be working on many projects together. Besides, he actually was helpful.
When I’m back at my desk checking my email, Evan appears and sits on the edge of my desk. “You were perfect in there.” His smile is sincere.
“Thanks. And I wasn’t even nervous.”
“I could tell. You blew everyone away.”
His praise boosts my confidence even more.
“We should go out to lunch and celebrate,” he says. “My treat.” When I hesitate, he adds, “Just as friends, I promise. No pressure.”
I’m feeling really good, part of the team, and decide it would be fun to share my success with someone who was there. Plus, with his promise, I know I can relax. “Sure.”
His smile grows. “Great.”
I think about texting Drake to let him know how well my presentation went, but I know he’s probably busy, especially with going out of town that afternoon, so I decide I’ll call him that evening instead. Maybe by then he’ll be in his hotel room and relaxed.
Shortly after noon Evan stops by my cubicle and we head to lunch.
At the restaurant Evan keeps his promise, keeping only to friendly conversation, and I find that he’s a pretty nice guy.
“Thanks for lunch,” I say as we separate to go to our own cubicles.
“Anytime.”
That night I tell Emily about my day.
“Sounds like it went great, Ash. I’m happy for you.”
“What about you? Are you and Nick going to Tahoe this weekend?”
Her face lights up. “Yes, as a matter of fact, we are.”
I’m happy for her, and I’m excited for my own weekend when Drake and I will be able to spend some time together. We’ve both been busy this week and it seems like I’ve hardly been able to talk to him, let alone see him. Which reminds me that I want to call him.
“Jonathan has a new girlfriend,” Emily says.
I think about Nick’s good friend, a man I dated several times. I really liked him, but stopped seeing him once Drake and I agreed to see only each other. “That’s great. I hope she appreciates him.”
“Too bad it’s not you,” Emily laments. “That would’ve been so perfect.”
I frown. “Don’t start on that again. You know I love Drake.”
“I know.”
A few minutes later I excuse myself so I can call Drake.
“Tell him hi,” Emily says as I head towards my bedroom.
“Tell who hi?” I say with a smile, as I haven’t told her what I’m going to do.
“I think we both know you’re going to call your honey, Bee.”
I laugh, but don’t respond as I close my door, then get comfortable on my bed before dialing Drake’s cell phone.
“I wondered if you were going to call,” he says in place of hello.
I smile, happy to know he’s been thinking of me. “How was your flight?”
“Uncomfortable. But I’m more interested to know how your presentation went. I know how hard you’ve been working on it.”
Is that a subtle dig because I didn’t call him last night after Evan and I finished working? “It went great. The CEO even told me how impressed he was.” I pause for effect. “And you know how hard it can be to impress the CEO.”
He laughs. “You always impress this CEO.”
“Really?” My voice conveys disbelief, but inside I’m beaming.
“Yes, really.”
“Speaking of CEO’s, how’s your assistant hunt going?”
“I hired someone earlier today.”
“I’ll bet Barbara’s happy about that.”
He laughs. “Very much so.”
“I hope she works out, Drake.” Although I have fond memories of my week being his assistant, I’m glad we got past that and that now I’m his girlfriend. “Are we still on for Saturday?”
“Absolutely. I have something in mind, so plan on me picking you up around nine. Dress for the outdoors.”
“So we’re going on a hike?”
He laughs. “All I’m going to say is that we’ll definitely be in the forest.”
Intrigued, I’m more eager than ever for the weekend to arrive.
“I’m getting another call,” he says. “And it’s going to take a while.”
“Okay.” I picture his face and my heart warms. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” he says, and a moment later we hang up.
Nine
ASHLEY
The rest of the week is uneventful, and when I get home from work on Friday evening, Emily has already left for her weekend with Nick. Eager to see Drake the next morning, I take a book to bed, read until I fall asleep, then wake early the next day.
Drake arrives a few minutes after nine, and the moment I open the door, he pulls me into his arms. “I’ve missed you,” he says next to my ear.
I relish his strong arms around me and I turn my face up for a kiss. His hand slides behind my neck and his lips press firmly against mine.
He pulls away and smiles. “I have a fun day planned, but why don’t we relax for a few minutes before we go?”
I don’t care what we do, as long as we’re together, and when he takes me by the hand and leads me to the couch where we sit side by side, love for him warms my heart.
“I liked when you told your co-worker that I’m your boyfriend,” he says as he gazes at me.
“You did, did you?” I remember running into his ex at dinner the previous Sunday night and how he failed to introduce me as his girlfriend and I decide to let him know how I feel.
“Yes.” His smile grows and he leans over and kisses me tenderly on the mouth.
I gaze at him. “Am I your girlfriend?”
He’s quiet for a moment. “I haven’t had a girlfriend since high school, but I suppose that’s what you are.”
“Are you going to introduce me that way the next time we run into an old flame?”
“Would that please you?”
Why won’t he give me a straight answer? It’s almost like he doesn’t want to come right out and say I’m his girlfriend. “Of course it would, but it’s meaningless if you don’t mean it.”
“I don’t say things I don’t mean, Ashley. You should know that by now.”
Why does it feel like we’re on the verge of an argument? I don’t want that. We’re at the beginning of a lovely day and I don’t want to ruin it by arguing. “Never mind,” I say, although I’m not satisfied with where the subject ended.
His gaze locks on mine. “You are my girlfriend, okay? That’s one of the by-products of seriously dating, don’t you think?”
That’s better. “Yes.” I put my hands on either side of his face and pull him towards me for a kiss, then I pull away and ask, “So, what do you have planned for today?”
A grin splits his face as he takes me by the hand and pulls me to my feet. “You’ll see in a minute.” Then he leads me out of my apartment and down the stairs to the parking lot.
When we stop beside his truck, I laugh. “Is that an ATV?”
“Oh, so you’re familiar with these?”
“Of course. These we have in Vegas.” I turn to him with a smile. “I didn’t know you had one.”
“I didn’t before today,” he says with a chuckle.
“What?”
“We had so much fun snowmobiling that I thought you’d enjoyed ATVing, so I bought this beast this morning.”
“I can’t believe you.”
His eyes twinkle. “Are you calling me a liar?”
“You know what I mean.”
“I haven’t gotten helmets or goggles yet, so we’ll need to stop on the way and pick some up.”
Forty-five minutes later we have everything we need, including a picnic lunch, and we’re on our way. When we get to the trailhead, Drake loads our supplies into the carrying case strapped to the front of the ATV, then we put on our gear and climb on. It’s a two-seater, so I have a comfortable place to sit behind him, although I wouldn’t mind having to wrap my arms around him while we ride.
“Ready?” he asks.
“Yes.” My voice exudes enthusiasm, and a moment later we’re off. There are a fair number of other riders, but not so many that it feels crowded. The scenery is beautiful, and I love that Drake is spending the day with me. I know he has tons to do at work and that his free time is precious, so the fact that he’s spending it with me makes me feel loved.
An hour into our ride Drake pulls off the road and turns off the ATV. “How was it?”
“Awesome.”
He pulls off his goggles and helmet. “I thought we’d stop for lunch. Does that sound okay to you?”
I remove my goggles and helmet as well. “Yes, I’m getting hungry.”
We slide off the ATV, set our gear on our seats, then carry the picnic supplies to a grassy area a ways off the road. Drake spreads a large blanket underneath thick pine trees, and I set the food out.
“Come sit by me,” he says as he pulls me close to him.
I happily oblige and then we enjoy the beauty of the day as we eat and talk.
When we get back to my apartment late that afternoon, he walks me to the door. “Do you want to come in?” I ask, hoping he’ll say yes. I don’t want our date to end.
Drake and Ashley: The Complete Story Page 34
