Chasing Desire

by Jennifer Domenico

  “Angelica has two pitch meetings planned for next month,” Mackenzie says. “If she closes them, they will count for this quarter and we’ll be within five percent of our sales goal.”

  “What do you mean, if I close them?” Angelica asks.

  “I mean exactly what I said. If you close them. There is no guarantee you will.”

  “My close rate is strong.”

  “I don’t believe I questioned your close rate, Angelica. It’s a simple statement. Why are you being defensive?”

  Angelica’s face turns red. “I’m not. I just don’t like your tone.”

  “Well, I suggest you develop a thicker skin. There was no tone.”

  “So now you’re saying that I’m lying?”

  Mackenzie glares and my dick twitches as I watch her transform into the bad ass businesswoman I know her to be. I know I could step in and shut this down, but this is Mackenzie’s show and I love watching it.

  “Angelica, you are being highly inappropriate for a staff meeting. If you have a concern with me, we can speak offline.” Angelica starts to speak, but Mackenzie continues. “But quite frankly, I don’t really care if you don’t like my tone or my word choices. We’re all here to do a job and I suggest you do yours and let me do mine. Do you have something else you want to say?”

  Everyone turns to look at Angelica, waiting for a reaction. Seeing the curious looks on her coworkers’ faces, she wisely decides to concede. “No.”

  “Good.” Mackenzie looks back at me. “Matt has one account that looks strong and I am finishing the proposal for Stunning Lady, as requested by you.”

  “Anything else?” I ask.

  “Yes. We are supposed to start production for the Majestic ad. They are very excited about it and hope you will be at the shoot.”

  “When is it?

  “Next week. I have a message in to Macy to schedule it on your calendar.”

  “Okay. I’ll stop by your desk after this and see what you have outlined.”

  “Fine.”

  “Thanks for the updates. Todd?” We move on and I have to admit I’m impressed with how composed Mackenzie came across, even handling Angelica’s hostile outburst. That behavior only confirms to me that she could be behind this. She clearly doesn’t like Mackenzie and I know she doesn’t like me. Strong possibility.

  The meeting finishes and I walk to Mackenzie’s desk with her. “You handled that very well with Angelica,” I say, quietly.

  “Stupid whore,” Mackenzie says, her voice sounding like a hiss. “I am so sick of her. She is always trying to cause trouble.”

  “Well, she is the one who looked bad. You handled it like a pro.”

  “I’m sure that isn’t what you expected given my recent behavior.”

  “I’m glad to see it.”

  “You fucked her, didn’t you?”

  Shit. Not the question I was expecting.

  “Why are you asking me shit like that?”

  “I hate the whispers about it. Everyone says she hates you because you fucked her and then wouldn’t talk to her. You were forced to interact with her again when she came to your division. Is it true?”

  “What do you care?” My mood is going sour fast. She has no right to ask me.

  “I don’t.”

  “Then why are you asking?”

  “Doesn’t it bother you that people talk about you that way?”

  “Hmm.” I pretend like I’m thinking. “Well, let’s see. I got promoted. I’m sitting in the office on the penthouse floor. I’m running the highest selling division in the company. I give zero fucks what people say about me as long as they do their fucking job.”

  “Alright, Brayden. You’ve made your point.” She sighs and opens a folder. “Here’s what we have. I know you probably don’t want to come with me to the shoot, but you know they are insistent.”

  “I know.” I look over at her and even though being near her pains me, I really want to touch her hair. “We have to do what we have to do for business.”

  “Yeah.”

  I want to talk to her, but I can’t do it here publicly. “Can you stop by my office before you leave tonight? I have an update on the situation and I don’t want to discuss it here.”

  “I thought you didn’t want me to come to your office?” Her tone reveals more hurt than sarcasm.

  “This discussion needs to be private and that’s the best place for that.”

  “True.”

  I glance at Angelica’s desk and catch her staring at us. “I’ll see you later, Mackenzie.”

  “Okay.”

  I walk away, wishing I could stay with her just a little longer. Watching her in action next week will make it all the more difficult to keep my hands off of her. I just have to ignore the physical attraction and remember that this woman ripped my heart out and stomped all over it without a second thought.

  The day goes by quickly and I get a lot done. Before I know it, I look down at my watch and see it’s nearly six o’clock. I shut down my computer and take a deep breath, knowing I’m going to be alone with her again. I walk out and say good night to Macy and wait for Mackenzie to appear. When she does, I take a moment to admire her appearance. Even though it’s obvious our breakup is wearing on her, she still looks amazing. She’s wearing the red skirt and white blouse she had on the night we met for dinner. She is still the most stunning woman I’ve ever seen. She walks towards me and offers a slight smile.

  “I hired an investigator,” I say quietly. “I don’t want anyone to overhear.”

  “No one is up here but us now.”

  “I know. I guess I’m being paranoid, but what if my office is bugged or something? I mean, how does this person know so much about us?”

  “True.”

  “I want you to be extra careful. We don’t know if this person is dangerous or not.”

  “Okay.”

  “I’m wondering if it could be Angelica. She obviously hates you and we’ve always had a rough relationship.” I look down at the floor for a minute. “The rumors you heard were true. I thought we just had a casual hook up, you know. I never even saw her outside of work except at group outings.”

  “So you did sleep with her?”

  “I never slept with her. I fucked her. That’s different. You and I…”

  “What?”

  “You and I slept together. You and I had a relationship. She was just something to do. I didn’t expect her to think it meant anything. She lost it when she found out I was banging someone else.”

  Mackenzie takes a deep breath and runs her fingers through her hair.

  “I know this isn’t fun to hear, but this is the kind of guy I was.”

  “I know.”

  “She made a huge scene at the bar, yelling at me and throwing a drink in my face. After that, she tried to come back to me, but clearly I wasn’t interested. She embarrassed both of us and I didn’t need that kind of drama.”

  “I see. Well, that’s terrific I get to work with someone who’s had your dick in her before.”

  “If you want to look at it that way.”

  “How else would I look at it? She battles me constantly, always trying to make my job more difficult than it is.”

  “She’s fucking jealous of you, isn’t that obvious? If she thinks there is something going on between us that would only fuel her fire.”

  “So if it is her causing these issues, what do we do?”

  “Let the investigator prove it and then we press charges. I’ll ruin her fucking life.”

  “Okay.”

  “Do you want me to take you home?”

  She shakes her head. “I’ll text you when I get there,” she says.

  “Okay. That will make me feel better.” She starts to walk away, but I reach out and grab her arm gently. “Hey, I’m, uh, sorry for being a dick earlier when you asked me about Angelica.”

  “It’s okay. I deserved it and really have no right to question your past. Thanks for telling me, though.
At least I know what I’m dealing with.”

  Mackenzie turns to leave just as the lights start to flicker. She turns back to me and suddenly the entire building starts to shake. She gasps and rushes into my arms. I look up as everything rattles and falls around us.

  “Holy shit, it’s an earthquake!” I exclaim. “Come on!”

  We run for cover just as every light in the building goes black.

  “Do you think it’s over?” Mackenzie whispers.

  We sit huddled together in front of Macy’s desk. The shaking seems to have subsided, but the power is still off. There are little lights lining the floor that are powered by a generator, but that’s it.

  “I think so. Are you okay?” I ask.

  “Yes, just shaken up a bit. That was unexpected.”

  “They always are.”

  We get to our feet and look around. I’m startled when I see a crack in the window of the conference room. “That was scary.”

  “Yeah.”

  “We should probably get out of here. It’s a long walk down to the lobby, but we can’t take the elevator now.”

  “I know.”

  “Let me grab my keys and we’ll get out of here. Do you have your stuff?”

  “No, it’s down at my desk.”

  “Okay. We’ll stop there. I’ll stay with you until we’re both out safely.”

  “Thank you.”

  I run back in my office and grab my keys and my phone before joining Mackenzie out front. We walk to the stairwell and try to the open the door, but it’s jammed shut. I slam my shoulder against it a few times, but it won’t budge.

  “Brayden, stop. You’ll hurt yourself.”

  “It won’t open.”

  “So, we’re stuck up here?”

  “We need to call for help. There is no way I’m getting in an elevator right now.”

  “Definitely not.”

  I lift the receiver of Macy’s phone and dial 911 but all I get is a busy signal. I try my cell with the same result. “Can you use your phone?”

  “It’s downstairs.”

  “Oh, yeah.” I pace the floor for a minute. “Shit.”

  “We’re stuck.”

  “Yeah, we are.” I try the desk phone again. “Busy.”

  “Everyone is freaking out and calling everybody they know.”

  “Yeah.” I turn and look at Mackenzie. I’m trapped on the top floor of my building with her and we aren’t together. Fuck my life. “At least we have water in the small fridge over there. Someone will come looking for us.”

  “Will they? Does anyone know we didn’t leave? You live alone, I live alone.” Mackenzie sits in a nearby chair. “Maybe Stacey will come looking for you.”

  “Why would she do that?”

  “Because she’s your girlfriend. She’s probably going to be expecting a call or something from you.”

  “What are you talking about? Stacey is not my girlfriend.”

  “What about the pictures?”

  “What about them?”

  “It looked…” she pauses. “Intimate.”

  “Because I kissed her cheek?”

  “It looked like more than that.”

  “Do you really want to know what’s going on?”

  “Not really. I’ve already had the pleasure of listening to the story of how you fucked my coworker. I’m really not interested in hearing about my replacement.”

  “You are so stubborn and hardheaded, you know that? You draw conclusions and make up your mind without having all the facts.”

  “Is that so?”

  “Yeah, it’s so.”

  “Well, maybe I wouldn’t if I wasn’t always being faced with you and your dumb virgin girlfriend!”

  “She is NOT my girlfriend!”

  “Okay, well, then maybe you’ve gone back to your old ways where you just fuck women for fun. Did you take her virginity from her and just leave? That sounds honorable.”

  “What do you know about honor? A man laid his heart on the line for you and you RAN away. That is definitely not honorable.”

  “You don’t know what you’re talking about!”

  “Don’t I? I was fucking there, if you remember.”

  “Stop yelling at me!”

  “You’re yelling, too!”

  “You!” Mackenzie stands and stomps across the room from me. “You make me crazy.”

  “Ditto!”

  “You infuriate me!”

  “Same here!”

  “I wish you would leave me alone!”

  “I already have! The only reason we’re here right now is circumstances. Trust me, I’m not exactly excited to spend time with the woman who ripped my heart out of my chest.”

  Mackenzie turns and glares at me. “You don’t know what you’re talking about,” she repeats.

  “Yeah, I think I do. Your words, Mackenzie, your fucking words. You don’t love me. You can’t. I hear them over and over in my head. I’m pretty sure I’m not making it up.”

  “It’s not that simple.”

  “Isn’t it?

  “No.”

  “Then why don’t you explain it to me instead of running away? Or is that just how you handle things? You just run.”

  “Shut up!” she yells.

  “No!”

  “Would you please just stop!” Mackenzie buries her face in her hands.

  “Tell me why at least, Mackenzie. Tell me why I wasn’t good enough to love. Tell me what I could have done differently or better. Give me that, at least, so I can fucking sleep at night.”

  She looks up at me with tears in her eyes. “You don’t understand me. You don’t know why I’m like this.”

  “No, I don’t. I want to. I would listen.”

  “I never talk about it.”

  “So do it now. We have nothing but time until someone comes to help.”

  “I can’t!”

  “There’s that fucking word again. Jesus Christ, woman, I wish I could just stop thinking about you and stop caring and stop fucking loving you. If I had any idea that I would feel like this I never would have hired you.”

  “You regret hiring me?”

  “I regret getting involved with you. I just want to be loved in return. Is that so awful? Am I so unworthy of that?”

  “God, no, Brayden. You aren’t unworthy. It’s me. It’s all me. I…” She turns away again.

  “Stop shutting down. Can you just be honest with me?”

  “No!”

  “Why the fuck not?! I’m putting it all out there for you and you can’t even tell me why you don’t fucking love me!”

  “That’s because I do love you, dammit! Isn’t it fucking obvious? I love you!”

  I stop in my tracks. Did she just say what I think she said? I rush to her and grab her face, kissing her hard. She responds hungrily and it feels like I just found a waterfall after crawling through a desert for days. We kiss like this and fall against Macy’s desk. I roughly push her skirt up while she unhooks my belt. I need to be inside of her again. I live for it.

  Yanking her panties down, I’m about to enter her when suddenly the building starts to violently shake again. Thinking quickly, I hold her in my arms and pull us both to the floor behind Macy’s desk. It seems the safest place right now. We sit down leaning against the wall, breathing hard, waiting for the tremor to stop. When it does, I have my arms wrapped around her and I realize she is crying. I kiss the top of her head.

  “It’s okay, Mackenzie. You’re safe with me. The shaking will stop soon.”

  “That’s not why I’m scared.”

  “What is it? Tell me what happened to you.”

  She looks up at me and I wipe away a tear with my thumb. Her green eyes are practically glowing from the glossy tears that cover them. I can’t help myself and I kiss her again. She wraps her arms around my neck and we kiss like this for several minutes—or maybe it’s hours or even days. I’ve lost all perception of anything outside the feel of her lips against mine. I missed this
kiss.

  I pull away gently. “I miss you, Mackenzie. So much. I would do anything to go back to how things were.”

  “So would I. I’m so sorry I hurt you. I hurt myself, too.”

  “You love me?”

  “With all my heart.”

  “Why did you say you can’t?”

  “Make love to me, Brayden. Please.”

  “Are you sure? We were reacting emotionally a few minutes ago.”

  “I’m sure. I want to feel you again. A part of me has been missing since we split and I can’t take it anymore. I need you.”

  I kiss her lips again. “I think we should talk first.”

  A tear trickles down her cheek. “I promise I will tell you everything. It’s going to be very difficult for me, but it’s time I do this. For both of us.”

  “You’re safe with me,” I whisper again.

  “I know.”

  I unbutton her blouse, planting little kisses along her bare skin. I inhale her scent and it feels like a part of me just woke up again from a deep sleep. I feel her body press into me as I pull the clothes from her body. She rises to her knees, pressing her luscious cleavage against my face, allowing me easy access to unhook her bra. When it falls from her, I nuzzle and suck each beautifully pink nipple, getting my fill of her. Will I ever get enough? I don’t think so.

  Reaching behind her, I unzip her skirt and slide it from her body. Somewhere in the panic of the shaking building we lost her panties and I smile when I take in her sensual nudity.

  “You’ve lost weight, babe,” I whisper as I run my hands over her hips.

  She nods and begins to remove my tie. I rise up on my knees too so I can gaze into her eyes. Tears still fall and I wonder why she is sad.

  “Are you sure you want to do this?” I ask.

  “Absolutely.”

  “Why are you crying?”

  “I’m so happy right now. I want to be in your arms more than anything.”

  I lean forward and kiss her cheeks several times. “Can I tell you that I love you? I want to tell you over and over again.”

  She nods. “I heal a little more every time I hear it.”

  I kick off my pants and lay her down on the floor where I continue kissing her luscious mouth and any other body part I can get my mouth on. She moans and rubs her body against me.

  “I love you, Kenzie. So much, baby. So much it makes me crazy.”