Back at the office, Bridget and Stephen were doing their very best to figure out a game plan for the staff; especially those members of the staff who had family.
“I’ve tried our company car service, but it’s impossible,” Bridget told Stephen and several of the partners, associates and staff members at the firm. “I’ve also tried reaching David on his cell, but I keep getting a message that all circuits are busy. That may not last forever. It’s probably because everyone is trying to get through at the same time. We may have a couple of battery-operated radios around the office and I have a battery-operated television. Maybe we can get an estimate of how long this thing may last from the news. In the meantime, if we have to stay, we’ve got plenty of food and water. No one wants to be here overnight, but we’ll be fine.”
Several of the partners got together and carpooled some of the other staff members, since they had driven in. By the end of the evening there were only a handful of people left in the office in addition to Stephen and Bridget. They had both decided to stick around the office. They were hearing from the few calls they got back from people who’d left that it was impossible to get around— even with cars. One secretary called and said that the car she was in had been stuck on Twenty-second Street for more than a half hour in the same spot.
“I’m going to camp out in the lounge if you want to join me,” Bridget offered, after finishing up one of the sandwiches they had gotten out of the fridge.
“Sounds like a plan to me,” Stephen agreed.
Sitting in the lounge area, propped up on chairs, hoping to get some sleep, the two talked way into the night, while they listened to whatever reports they could hear about the blackout.
“Bridget, do you mind if I ask you a personal question?”
“I don’t know. Whenever someone says they want to ask you a personal question, it’s usually a doozy, but I’m game. Sure, go for it. What’s the question?”
“You’re here pretty much every night working late. How is it a woman as attractive and intelligent as you isn’t married, or doesn’t at least have a boyfriend?”
“I could ask you the same question,” Bridget said.
“Yeah, you could, but I asked first.”
They both laughed in unison.
“Well, I haven’t found Mr. Right yet.”
“So, who is Mr. Right...Or, Mr. Right for you?”
“I don’t know, someone who is loyal, kind, someone comfortable in their own skin, confident and someone who loves me as much as I love them. When that person comes along, I won’t be alone anymore and I’ll have to explain to David why I’m not burning the midnight oil at McDonnell & Simpson.”
“What about you, Stephen? Who is your Ms. Right?”
“Pretty much the same thing; someone confident, loving, someone who makes me feel good about myself and me about them. My mom is constantly asking me why I don’t ever bring anyone home, or why she doesn’t have any grandchildren yet, but I’ve seen so many marriages go bad so quickly. I want what my mother and father have. When I get married, I want it to be forever. I know that sounds a bit unrealistic in this day and age, but that’s what I want.”
“No, Stephen, that’s not unrealistic. Far too many people take marriage for granted. They get married and, when the slightest conflict arises, they’re out the door. Like you, I believe that marriage was meant to last, for the long haul, through the good and the bad.”
Stephen got up from where he was sitting and walked over to where Bridget was reclining and sat right next to her.
“We’re quite a pair, aren’t we? We both spend every waking moment at work and we wonder why we haven’t met anyone. The only way either of us would ever meet anyone would be here at McDonnell.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right,” Bridget agreed.
“You probably would never go for a guy like me, huh? A nerdy bookworm that you work with?”
Bridget wasn’t completely surprised. She realized that Stephen liked her, but assumed he would never approach her, given that they worked so closely together. If it had ever occurred to her that he might she might have been better prepared to answer what he had asked.
“I...I...uhm...”
Stephen laughed. “Oh, Bridget, I’m sorry, I’ve embarrassed you. You don’t have to answer that. In fact, I don’t know what got into me. From the moment I walked past those doors over a year ago, I haven’t been able to think about anything else but you. You’re one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever known; both inside and out.”
“Stephen, I don’t know what to say. Thank you. I never knew you felt that way. I wish I had.”
“Why, so you could put me out of my misery a long time ago and tell me I didn’t have a chance in hell?” he joked.
“No, Stephen, I wish I’d known because we’ve been both walking around feeling the same way and wasting so much time being lonely, when we could have been together.”
Stephen was shocked. He didn’t know what to do or say. He was positively speechless. Bridget knew that she would have to be the one to make the first move and she did. She got up from her make- shift lounger, stood directly in front of Stephen where he was sitting and bent down to kiss him. The feel of his lips pressed against hers was the closest thing to heaven on earth she had ever felt. She had never been this close to him, but she knew right then and there that she loved him. It had taken them over a year to acknowledge their feelings for one another, but their love had grown over time and finally it was out in the open.
“Bridget, this is going to sound crazy, but I love you.”
“I know, Stephen. I love you, too.”
The last member of the staff had left when her husband picked her up over an hour ago, and Stephen and Bridget were alone. The office was dark and they could barely see what was in front of them, but none of that mattered. It only enhanced the joy of the moment.
Stephen worshipped Bridget’s body with kisses, eager to show her all that he had stored up for all these months, thinking of her. They made love to the sounds and the darkness of the city below, oblivious to any of it. As far as they were concerned, they were the only two people who existed in the universe and they each were loved.
CHAPTER NINE
ALL SHE EVER WANTED
Stephen passed by Brianna’s desk with such a sly smile on his face that she didn’t have the heart to tell either him or Bridget that everyone in the office knew about them. But, she couldn’t hold it in any longer. She felt like she was gonna burst if she didn’t say something.
“So when ya’ll gonna start tellin’ people?” Brianna asked.
“Tellin’ people what?” Bridget replied.
Although she tried to pretend she didn’t know what Brianna was talking about, she knew exactly what she meant. Who could help but notice?
“Don’t even try it, girlfriend. You and homeboy been walking around here like teenagers in love. I mean, really, do either of your feet ever touch the ground?” Brianna laughed.
“Is it that obvious?”
“Hell to the yes! I’ve seen Stephen smile more in the past few months than I’ve ever seen him smile. You must have that 24K coochie, huh?”
“You are so nasty, Brianna. Why does it always have to be a sex thing? Stephen and I could just be right for each other.”
“Yeah,” Brianna offered. “Right for each other between the damn sheets!”
Bridget couldn’t help but laugh at Brianna’s comment. The sex was good between her and Stephen, really good. She didn’t know that sex could be that good, but with Stephen it was. What never dawned on Bridget was that she was, for all intents and purposes, a virgin. Her first sexual encounter had been by rape and after that, they had all been johns. Stephen was the first man Bridget had made love to; he was the first man she had had sex with without any hidden agenda, without any violence. Even her encounters with David, when she was prostituting herself on Hunts Point, had been merely acts—her going down on him because she was giving him something in ex
change for what she got, whether it was money, his time...or simply a list of places where she might find work. She was so happy Stephen had opened her eyes to something she might have never known existed. Although she’d had numerous sexual partners, this was all new to her and she loved it. Until now, she had viewed sex as nothing other than a task to be tolerated. But now all that had changed.
“You still didn’t answer my question, though. When are you gonna start tellin’ people?”
“Tell them what? It sounds so juvenile to go around telling people, ‘I’ve got a new boyfriend, I’ve got a new boyfriend.’ It would be different if we were getting married or something, but we’re only dating.”
“It’s only a matter of time. He’s the type. He’ll be popping that question before you know it. You’ll see.”
“You really think so?” Bridget asked excitedly.
“Yes, I do. So be ready. In the meantime, what are you going to do about poor lovesick David McDonnell?”
“Come on, Brianna, you’re not back on that again. My relationship with David is...
“I know, I know—strictly professional. Maybe in your mind, but not in his. Haven’t you noticed how he’s been moping around here? And isn’t it a huge coincidence that he started all that moping right around the same time you two started stealing glances in the hallway? Everybody in the office knows, so it follows that David would know as well, especially since all he does is watch your every move.”
“Brianna!”
“Don’t Brianna me. You ain’t gonna tell me that, after all these years, you don’t see it in his eyes. All I can say is let him down easy. He’s not a bad guy, as bosses go. All I wanna know is what the hell you layin’ on these men that got them bumpin’ into walls the way they do? Whatever it is, I want to duplicate it, because I’ve been havin’ a dry spell lately that rivals the Sahara.”
“You? A dry spell? So what do you mean you only had three dates this week instead of your usual five?”
“I’m not kiddin’. Hook a sista up, ’cause you clearly got somethin’. I haven’t seen Stephen as much as look at another woman but you. Believe me, before you two hooked up, I tried. Fine as he is and a lawyer, too. My parents would’ve thought they’d died and gone to heaven, if I’d brought him home; especially my mother. But, much like his mentor, Mr. Stephen P. Martin only has eyes for you. You go, girl!”
“Brianna, you are so crazy. I guess you’re right. I’m not going to make a big production of it or anything, but I think I will mention it to Stephen and maybe we can sort of casually mention it to David.”
“Oh, to be a fly on the wall when either or both of you do that.”
“It’s no big deal. David will be happy. He’s been nothing but supportive of both of us. I’m sure he’ll be happy the two of us found one another.”
“Yeah, he’s been supportive of both of you on your own, not together. All I’m sayin’ is be prepared. David ain’t gonna like anybody, including his protégé, taking you away from him.”
“Brianna, you’re absolutely, positively delusional,” Bridget joked.
“Oh, by the way, Brianna, you’re coming to my birthday party tonight, right? Stephen put so much planning into it and, even though I’m not supposed to know about it, I want everybody to come, so all his work won’t go to waste. He’d be devastated if everything didn’t turn out right. Stephen is so particular about things like this.”
“Especially when it comes to his schnookums,” Brianna teased.
“So, you coming?”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world. Free food, free drink and you and Stephen acting like lovebirds in front of David. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
“You think maybe I should mention about me and Stephen to David before he comes to the party tonight?”
“Not if you want him to come to the party, I wouldn’t.”
“My God, Brianna, you’re such a drama queen. What do you think he’s gonna do? Boycott our party because we’ve been seeing each other outside the office?”
“Hell, yeah!”
“Well, you’re wrong. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, David is going to be nothing but happy for us.”
“Whatever you say,” Brianna said sarcastically.
“Oh, by the way, Bridget, how did you find out about the party anyway? Stephen was so careful that you not find out.”
Somehow, Brianna already knew the answer to the question. She wanted verbal confirmation.
“Oh, Jade let it slip one night while we were out having dinner. No biggie. She felt real bad about it. But I told her I’d pretend not to know.”
“Let me guess,” Brianna asked. “She invited you out to dinner that night.”
“Yeah, she did. How did you know?”
“A wild guess, that’s all.”
Brianna had only been around Jade a few times, but she knew a triflin’ bitch when she saw one; and Jade was as triflin’ as they came. What was even worse was Brianna was convinced that she was a lot more than just a little triflin’. Bridget would do well to keep her handsome new boyfriend away from her girl, Jade. She was one of those women you shouldn’t trust around your man as far as you could throw her.
Stephen had told Bridget they would be dining out for the evening alone. Instead a hundred of their closest friends were waiting at an upscale restaurant in the village called Jasleen’s. He had rented the place out, so that they would have it all to themselves for the night. Everyone was waiting to jump out and yell, “surprise”.
Because Bridget didn’t want to ruin all of Stephen’s plans and the joy he would get from surprising her, she had been practicing her best surprised face for days and suddenly felt over rehearsed.
She wore a black silk dress, silver pumps and jewelry and carried a small silver wristlet. The dress clung to her in all the right places and from the look on Stephen’s face when she finished dressing at his place, she had made the right selection.
“Oh my God! You’re beautiful, absolutely, positively beautiful. How on earth did I ever get so lucky?”
“You’re not so bad yourself,” Bridget said.
Stephen was wearing a navy blue Hugo Boss suit, which flattered his well-cut physique. His beautiful dark wavy hair was close-cropped, and his shoes were so shiny you could see yourself in them. The two made quite a pair.
“Shall we go?” Stephen asked.
“Sure. What time are our reservations?” Bridget played along.
“Eight o’clock. We should probably get going. It’s about a half- hour drive; if we leave now, we won’t be late.”
When they arrived at the restaurant, it was obviously dark for an East Village eatery on a Friday night, but Bridget already knew the deal.
As soon as Bridget and Stephen stepped into the restaurant, everyone jumped out of their hiding places and yelled, “ Surprise!!!”
Bridget was so overwhelmed by all the familiar faces that had come to celebrate with her. She actually pulled off a relatively believable “surprise face.” Bridget saw Jade and David. Brianna was there with a great big smile on her face. Even Big Rob was there. Bridget felt honored and couldn’t help but marvel at the mixture of types of people that were there to celebrate her birthday. It was yet another example of her multi-dimensional life, and for the first time she wasn’t ashamed of it.
Everyone ate, drank and partied way into the night until Stephen got everyone’s attention so that he could propose a toast to the guest of honor.
“Someone very beautiful has brought us all together here tonight. She has touched each of our lives in one way or another. I can remember walking past those doors at McDonnell & Simpson, thinking I had it goin’ on and her face being the first one I saw. I was blown away. I couldn’t remember having ever seen anyone quite so beautiful before in my life. So I continued to work night and day, all in an effort to spend as much time with her as possible.
“But, I don’t want to say that too loud, because David thinks I was an extreme
ly dedicated employee,” Stephen jokingly whispered.
Somewhere in the back of the restaurant, Jade was consistently goading David with comments about Stephen and Bridget, as David emptied yet another bottle of champagne.
And, that’s when it happened. A collective hush went over the room, when Stephen knelt down in front of Bridget. All of the color rushed from David’s face. Brianna was grinning and clap ping. Jade’s face was etched in her signature sneer. Across the room, Big Rob watched with interest, truly seeing Jade for the first time and not sure he liked what he saw.
Stephen continued, “I say all this by way of saying thank you, Bridget. Thank you for being a constant source of inspiration, thank you for always putting others before yourself, including me; and thank you for reminding me day after day what a gift life is. I also say this by way of asking you to share all that you are and all that you have been to me for the rest of our lives. Bridget, in front of all our friends and loved ones, I’d like to ask you to please be my wife.”
Bridget was speechless. She stared at Stephen as if there were no one else in the room; that is until almost everyone started to clap.
“Go on and say yes,” Brianna yelled out. “You know you wanna marry that man. Besides, you can’t embarrass him here in front of everybody.”
Everyone at the party burst into laughter as Bridget shook her head yes, then finally spoke.
“Yes, Stephen. Yes. I’ll marry you.”
Stephen took her in his arms and the two kissed for what seemed like eternity, just as the door to the restaurant closed. David left, eager to be as far away from the entire scene as possible. But he wasn’t alone; close on his heels was Jade.
“Jade, if I were you, I would get as far away from me right now as possible.”
“Why? Do you really want to be alone at a time like this? I know how you feel about our girl.”
“There it is again, that thinly veiled note of sarcasm in your voice. Why on earth would I want you anywhere near me; making fun of me with every word you speak?”
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