Dark Room (Society X #1)

by L. P. Dover

  She grasps my hand and squeezes. “You didn’t know, Mia. Parker’s our friend and even though I’ve known him for many years, I never would’ve thought he’d turn into the douche he is. He had us all fooled.”

  “The question is, what am I going to do about it? I’ll see him every day at work. Do you know how hard that’s going to be for me? Should I just quit and make it easier for everyone involved?”

  Pursing her lips, she averts her gaze, deep in thought. “Wait, did you respond when Parker spoke to you?”

  “No,” I say, shaking my head. “After he said my name, I pushed him off and ran to the door.”

  A wide grin spreads across her face. “Then who’s to say it was you? It could be Betty Rotten Crotch for all we know. If he brings it up, just pretend you don’t know what he’s talking about. Easy-peasy.”

  “Easier said than done, Rach. I just found out I’ve been sleeping with the man I’ve secretly loved all my life. He’s going to know.” She sucks in a breath and I freeze, knowing it’s too late to take back my words. “I can’t believe I just said that,” I whisper.

  Rachel moves over and puts her arm around my shoulders. “I think everyone in our circle has known you two have had feelings for each other for years. It was only a matter of time before you both realized it.”

  “It’s a little too late for that. He’s not the same guy he was back in high school.”

  “And you’re not the same girl,” she counters.

  The buzzer to the oven beeps and Rachel jumps up, heading into the kitchen. “Why don’t you change into a pair of PJ’s and we can watch a movie? It’ll be a sorely needed girls’ night. These triple chocolate brownies are calling our names.”

  Laughing, I get up, then freeze when her phone rings. She pulls out the brownies and rushes to get her phone, eyes widening when she looks down at it. “It’s him,” she says.

  My heart thunders in my chest. “Answer it. If he asks for me, tell him I’ve been here the entire time.”

  She nods and takes a deep breath before placing him on the speaker phone so I can hear. “Parker, what’s up?”

  The second I hear his voice, my whole body shakes. How the hell am I going to face him on Monday? “Rachel, is Mia with you?” I can hear the desperation in his voice.

  She looks straight at me and doesn’t hesitate. “Of course she’s here. We’re having a girls’ night. We just got through Pitch Perfect and now she wants to watch The Hunger Games.”

  He huffs. “I need to talk to her and she’s not answering her phone. Can you give the phone to her?”

  I shake my head quickly, mouthing the words hell no.

  “I wish I could, but she’s in the bathroom right now. I can have her call you right back. Is everything all right? You sound like something’s wrong.”

  “I have a feeling you already know. Either way, I’m going to talk to her, Rachel. Just let her know I’m not going to let this go.” He hangs up and I don’t realize I’ve been holding my breath until I gasp for air.

  “I’m in deep shit,” I grumble.

  Rachel bites her lip and sighs. “I’d say so. But at least you have the rest of the weekend to work on your game. You can do this.”

  My brain says I can do anything, but my heart tells me I’m a fool. I played the game, and now I have to pay the price. I didn’t realize it was going to cost me my heart.

  Monday rolls around and I’m dreading every minute of it. I kept my phone off for the rest of the weekend and I still haven’t turned it on except to call Charles. He agreed that my presence at the store will be beneficial so I’ve arranged to spend most of the week there. However, Parker has no clue of my plans. I pull into the Les Belle parking lot and shut off my car.

  I’d called in and told Mrs. Jones I would be working offsite for the week, but one way or another, I know Parker will make sure to find me.

  I quickly turn off my phone and head into Les Belle. The store is packed. Charles is talking to some of the customers with a huge grin on his face, pointing at some of my designs. His face brightens when he sees me.

  “And there she is,” he announces. “Ladies, this is the brilliant designer I was telling you about.” The women ask me questions and I talk to them about the whole designing process. Once I’ve answered all of their questions, they stroll off to continue shopping.

  “How’s it going?” I ask Charles.

  He chuckles. “Can’t complain. After the party Friday night, this place has been packed. I have so many orders for your designs. Your label will be all over this city before the year is up.”

  I smile. The thought of seeing people wear my designs fills me with pride. I can’t believe I actually followed my dream. I wouldn’t have been able to without Parker. That thought only adds to the current dilemma. “I hope so,” I reply, hoping he can’t see my discomfort.

  “Did you bring the new design sketches you told me about the other day?” he asks. “I’d love to go over them with you.”

  I grimace. “They are on my desk at work. I wasn’t planning on going over them today.”

  “That’s too bad. Is there any way you can get them?”

  My throat closes and my palms sweat. What the hell am I supposed to do now? I can’t say it’s too far of a drive because Ward Enterprises is only ten minutes away. I speak before I get a chance to think it through.

  “Sure. I’ll get them for you.”

  “Great. I look forward to seeing them. We can go over them at lunch.”

  Forcing a smile, I turn on my heel and head for the door. Holy shit, what did I just do? I try to walk slowly to my car, but I get there way too fast. The next thing I know, I’m pulling into the parking garage at Ward Enterprises and riding the elevator to my floor. All I can hear is my heart pounding in my ears. I’m pretty sure the people in the elevator spoke to me, but I couldn’t be positive.

  When the doors open and I see Mrs. Jones at the front desk, I burst into action. All I have to do is grab my sketch pad and get out.

  “Mrs. Hudson, I didn’t know you were going to be in today,” she announces. I cringe when she says my name. Why did she have to talk so loud? Parker’s office door is shut and I’m praying he didn’t hear her.

  I wave at her in passing. “I left my new designs here. I’m just going to grab them and go.” Rushing into my office, I see the portfolio I want and snatch it up. Before I can get out my door, I see him walk off the elevator. Thankfully, he doesn’t see me. I’m hoping he’ll go straight to his office, but that would be too much good luck.

  He stops at Mrs. Jones’ desk and she hands him all of his messages. Even though his suit and hair are perfectly coifed, I can see the turmoil on his face. I hope he’s suffering just as much as I am. He deserves it. When he starts to walk to his office, I’m almost home free, until Mrs. Jones points my way.

  His head snaps to my office door and I move out of sight. If he corners me in here, I’m done for. There’s no other option but to face him head on. Taking a deep breath, I walk out, only to come face to face with him.

  Smiling wide, I hold the portfolio to my chest. “Parker, did you have a good weekend?”

  He’s taken aback by my cheery attitude and narrows his gaze. “You’d know the answer to that if you answered my calls. I need to talk to you. Can we take this to my office?”

  “Actually, I’m kind of in a hurry. Charles wants to see these sketches and he’s waiting on me. So . . .” I start to walk off, but he steps in my way.

  “He can wait. I need to talk to you now.”

  “Mr. Ward, your ten o’clock is on his way up,” Tonya calls.

  I look at her over his shoulder, desperately wanting to smack the smirk off of her face. She’s the sole reminder of why I refuse to get involved with Parker.

  Clenching his jaw, Parker’s gaze never strays from mine.

  “You have an appointment, Mr. Ward. I’d hate for you to keep them waiting,” I say with no warmth to my voice.

  Side-stepping him
, I rush to the elevator just as his ten o’clock appointment steps off. I hop on and press the button for the bottom floor, wishing like hell that the doors close quickly. When they finally start to drift shut, I lift my gaze to Parker’s.

  He can see right through me.

  The week has flown by and I’ve managed to avoid Parker at all costs. Every time I’ve gone to the office, he’s been in a meeting. At some point, though, my luck will run out and I’ll be forced to talk to him.

  It’s late Friday afternoon, and I know not that many people will be at the office, so it’s my only chance to get everything I need. I just pray Parker isn’t working late. On the way there, I find the courage to listen to my voicemails; they’re all from Parker.

  “Mia, please answer the phone. We have to talk about this. I need to know you’re all right.”

  The next one isn’t so calm. “Dammit, Mia, pick up the phone. I don’t want to make you talk to me, but I will if it comes to that. We have to sort this out. Please call me back. I’m on my way to your house.”

  The rest of the messages are similar to the first two and I’m about to delete them all, when the last one plays in my ear. “Mia, please call me back. I don’t know why you’re avoiding me, but I can’t stand the thought of losing you over this. I care about you. I always have. And I know you have feelings for me too. We can work this out, if you’ll just call me. I need to hear your voice.”

  For a brief moment, my heart longs to feel that connection with him, but then visions of him with Tonya plague my mind. He’s not going to sweet talk me anymore. I delete all of his messages and toss my phone in my purse.

  The parking garage is still kind of full, which surprises me at this time of the day. Even Tonya’s little red sports car is parked in her usual spot. Fuck me. She’s the last person I want to see. Riding the elevator up, the door opens and Mrs. Jones waves at me from the front desk.

  “Mrs. Jones,” I greet. “What are you doing here so late?”

  She stands and organizes a stack of papers on her desk. “Just wrapping things up for the day, Ms. Hudson. It’s been a long week.” That’s for damn sure.

  Parker’s door is closed, and I half expect to hear Tonya’s squeals of delight coming from inside, but there’s nothing but silence. He has to keep up with pretenses when everyone else is there. What a joke.

  Sighing, I continue on my way to my office and turn on the light. My gaze drifts to the windows, where the sun disappears behind the buildings, leaving the sky in shades of pink and purple. Downtown Portland has never looked so beautiful.

  I almost forget where I am, when a dark reflection shows up in the windows. I shriek and turn around, clutching my chest. “Dammit, you scared the shit out of me.”

  Instead of his usual crisp suit, Parker’s shirt is untucked and wrinkled and his tie is partway undone. He looks the way I feel.

  He lifts his hands in the air. “When I saw the light come on, I had to see if it was you.”

  I reach for the paperwork on my desk and slide them into my briefcase. “I came to get a few things, but I’m done now. I should probably be heading out.”

  His gaze narrows and he shuts the door, blocking my path. “It’s time you stop avoiding me. I know it was you in the dark room, Mia. No amount of lying is going to change that. We need to talk about what happened.”

  Clearing my throat, I stand up straight. “We’re not supposed to talk in the dark room, remember?”

  He crosses his arms over his chest. “I guess it’s a good thing we’re not there right now.”

  I roll my eyes. “How did you find out anyway?”

  His gaze lands on my briefcase. “Your logo was on the lingerie you left behind. When I saw the same logo on the clothes at Les Belle, I knew it was you.”

  “What’s a guy like you doing at that sort of club anyway?”

  Huffing, he stalks closer and I move back. “It’s a long story, and one I hope to talk about, if you’ll just stop running away.”

  I scoff. “I just want to forget about it, but you’re making it extremely difficult. Why can’t you let it go? It’s a mistake that’ll never happen again. None of this means anything to me.”

  His jaw clenches. “You don’t mean that.”

  “Yes, I do,” I growled. “At least I’m not a hypocrite.”

  He’s taken aback. “What the hell does that mean?”

  Lifting my chin to meet his gaze, I step up to him. “It means just what I said. Now get the hell out of my way. We’re done here.”

  “I beg to differ.” Grabbing the back of my neck, he jerks me to him and presses his lips roughly to mine. He pushes his tongue into my mouth and I have no choice but to open to him. I try to fight him off, but he holds me tighter. Deep down, I don’t want to fight. I want him to take me like he’s done so many times before.

  Then logic wins out and I push him away. “Stop!” Eyes blazing, he stares down at me, his chest rising and falling with his rapid breaths. All I can hear is the pounding in my chest, but I can’t back down. “Don’t you ever do that again,” I snap. “You say you care about me, but it’s nothing but a fucking joke.”

  “How can you say that?” he shouts, trying to pull me back in his arms. I jerk away and head for the door. “All I’ve ever wanted is you, Mia. First, I didn’t pursue you out of respect for your brother. Then, when we were getting close, I hired you to work for me in hopes I could keep you at bay. Nothing works. I want you so fucking bad, I can’t even think straight.”

  I open the door, meeting his angered glare. “Is that what you told Tonya too?” Mrs. Jones stops mid-step, eyes wide as she stares at us.

  Parker narrows his gaze, his voice low. “What does Tonya have to do with any of this?”

  I shake my head in disgust. “That’s exactly what I thought you’d say.” Rushing out the door, I hurry to the elevator, and he grabs my arm.

  “Mia, stop. I honestly have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  Eyes burning, I press the button for the elevator and then turn back to him, my voice a low hiss. “Maybe this will jog your memory. It’s a Sunday afternoon and I stop by here to grab something, when I hear none other than you and Tonya fucking in your office. You’re just like Zac. I’m better off staying as far away from you as I can.”

  He stumbles back, as if I slapped him. The elevator doors open and I step inside, reaching into my purse for one last thing. I pull out the necklace and throw it at him. “It’s over, Parker. I’m no longer your Xena.”

  The elevator doors close slowly enough for me to see him stare at the necklace and back up to me, in shocked disbelief. “You knew,” he whispers.

  “And I wish I didn’t.” As soon as the doors shut, I break down and cry. I can’t hold it in any longer.

  The elevator doors shut before I realize I’m not in there with her. Instead, I’m standing in the lobby, with my employees pretending they’re not gawking, even though they suddenly have a lot of business in this area. I open my palm and stare at the necklace. I don’t know how many times I’ve wanted to see this beautiful pendant nestle in the hollow of her throat.

  Her . . . Mia. The one woman I can’t have and yet, I have had and need more of. This isn’t one of those one nightstands that sends you back to the bar, looking for the one who rocked your world. No, this is different. Mia and I fit together, and I have to get her back.

  The walk to my office is a painful one. Employees look quickly, but act like they’re working when I walk by. My head is held high no matter what. I’m the fucking boss here. If they want to think what they just saw was awkward, they can go to the lounge and discuss it.

  As soon as I turn the corner, Tonya comes into view. Mia’s voice rings out, yelling at me for fucking this woman. I falter in my steps, trying to grasp why Mia would think that, especially considering I don’t sleep with my employees. Does she really think I’d choose Tonya over her? That thought alone seems asinine.

  Tonya starts to smile until she recognizes
the look on my face. “In my office, now,” I say through gritted teeth, pointing at my door. I barrel by, not stopping to see if she’s going to follow. It’s in her best interest to do as I say, regardless.

  I step into my office, turning sharply, and wait for her to pass. Once she’s seated, I slam the door, wishing I could open it up again so I can slam it repeatedly. I have no doubt people on the other side are talking and I really don’t give a flying fuck.

  “Mia said something before she left.”

  She nods. “She did seem a little upset.”

  I rest my hands on my desk and look at her. “Don’t ever interrupt me again. You work for me. It’s not the other way around. When you step off the elevator, you’re an employee of Ward Enterprises.”

  Tonya slinks back in her chair, but never wavers on meeting my gaze. I sit down, my hands making a steeple as I think about how I want to proceed. If I’m not careful, a sexual harassment lawsuit could be coming my way.

  I hit the intercom button. “Yes, Mr. Ward,” Mrs. Jones says.

  “Can you please come in here?”

  I don’t wait for her to respond before disconnecting. The door opens and she steps in with a pad and pen, always ready. She should teach a class on how to be the perfect secretary. She takes the seat next to Tonya, but moves her chair slightly more toward me.

  “As I was saying, before you interrupted me, Tonya. Mia seems to believe that you and I are having some sort of sexual relationship. Why would she think that?”

  I lean forward, resting my arms on my desk. A quick glance at Mrs. Jones and I know she’s writing everything down verbatim. Tonya squirms in her chair as her eyes wander everywhere but at me.

  “Unfortunately this isn’t one of those ‘if I look pretty he won’t care if I don’t answer’ moments. Mia is a very close friend and for her to say those things to me . . . well, it has me concerned. I have a strict policy about employee fraternization. I don’t allow it, period. So tell me, Tonya, why would she think you and I are anything but boss and employee?”