What Are We?

 

A week later, Kelly stood in the middle of the hallway and watched Harley throw her hands over Benjamin’s neck. Something dark burned in her stomach and she strode forward just as Benjamin tugged Harley’s arms off.

She’d remained silent and boiled for days as Harley threw herself at Benjamin incessantly. The architect seemed determined to touch or speak to their C.E.O. in as intimate a manner as possible.

Kelly would no longer stand for it.

“Harley!” Kelly screeched. “What’s the occasion?”

“Oh.” Harley blinked, her long lashes brushing her tan cheeks. “Mr. Levy and I were just celebrating our partnership with Lorde Industries. They specifically asked for me to design their next project.” She grinned. “Isn’t it great?”

“It’s lovely.” Kelly waved her arms and widened her eyes. “But this is the office. Let’s try to conduct ourselves in a professional manner, hm?”

Harley sneered, but when Benjamin glanced at her, she fixed her expression. A beautiful smile bloomed and she giggled. “I have so much to do. I’ll see you later to discuss the details, sir.”

Kelly glowered at her co-worker’s back and then gave Benjamin a side-eye. “Good afternoon, Mr. Levy.”

“Good afternoon, Ms. Banner.” Benjamin leaned against the wall and slightly bit on his bottom lip. “You look beautiful today.”

Kelly folded her arms across her chest. “Did you tell that to Harley too?”

“Should I have?”

“Only if you wanted a beating.”

He chuckled. “You’re cute when you’re jealous.”

“I am not jealous.”

“When will you stop being stubborn and admit that you like dating me?”

“We’re not dating. You’re my boss and I’m your employee. That’s all this is.”

“I don’t think so.”

“I don’t care what you think,” she whispered, thrusting a hand between them. “This is… friendship.”

“Is it?” He grinned and walked toward her, forcing her to back up against the wall. His gaze dipped to her lips before they returned to her eyes.

She arched toward him, her heart beating out of time. Kelly had enjoyed getting to know Benjamin during their extended conversations, but the prospect of doing something naughtier than talking was enough to send her pulse through the roof.

“Ah, ah, ah,” Benjamin said, his voice a low rumble. “That expression is too dangerous for the office, Ms. Banner. Let’s try to conduct ourselves like professionals, hm?” He tapped the tip of her nose and laughed evilly as he backed off.

“How dare you use my own words against me?” she mumbled and watched him stride to his office.

Dragging in a deep breath, Kelly brushed her skirt and regained her composure. When she stepped into the main foyer, Renesha eyed her expression and bounced out of her chair.

“Tell me the truth. Are you and the C.E.O. visiting each other at night?”

“You mean…?” Kelly gestured with her hands. “No. We’re not.”

“Then why do you keep glaring at Harley whenever she tries to make a move on him? You told her that you’d step out of the way so she could have her turn.”

“Yeah, well. I changed my mind.”

“Don’t tell me you’ve gone and fallen for him?” Rene hissed. “Does he at least feel the same way?”

“He’s… curious about me.”

“Curious?” Rene made a face, but Kelly had already walked off, her head in the clouds and her heart fluttering.

~~~~~~

Later that night, Benjamin took her to the bowling alley so they could have their long-awaited rematch. The battle was fierce, and Kelly gave her all, but Benjamin still won. She treated him to ice cream as they’d agreed upon before the match and sulked about her loss.

“Come on, Kel,” Benjamin said as they strolled the brightly lit sidewalk at the Baron Bliss Park. The Caribbean Sea reflected the darkness of the horizon and thrashed against the rocky wall that ran the length of the field. “You did your best.”

“Don’t talk to me.”

He laughed and slung his arm around her shoulder. “I’ll give you another rematch and let you win next time.”

“Don’t you dare. I’m going to beat you fair and square.” She shook her head and licked her cone. “Speaking of the rematch, what was your wish? Did you use it on Bianca?”

“Nope.” He tapped the pocket of his T-shirt. “It’s still waiting right here for the perfect moment.”

Kelly made a face as Benjamin’s cell rang. “Hold on one minute?” He winked at her and put the device to his ear. “Hello?”

She glanced up and saw the moment his expression changed from carefree and happy to fierce and apprehensive. His gaze bounced over the expanse of the park and he let go of her.

She felt the fear coming off him like waves and grew worried. Had something happened?

“I said I understand,” he hissed and threw the phone into his pocket.

“Who was it?”

His jaw flexed and he couldn’t look at her. “Something’s come up. I’m really sorry, but I need to go home.”

“Benjamin, is everything okay?”

He offered her a strained smile. “Everything is fine.”

Benjamin dropped her at her apartment without another word and remained radio silent the rest of the weekend. On Monday at work, she found out that he wasn’t even in the country.

For the next three days, she left him messages asking if he was alright and begging him to call her if he needed to.

On the third day, she heard a knock on her front door and raced to open it. When she saw Benjamin’s face, she flew at him and hugged him tight.

“Thank God. I thought something had happened to you.”

Instead of teasing her or smiling in that sultry way of his, Benjamin stepped forward and spoke in a firm voice. “We need to talk.”

“Sure.” She led him to the sofa and sat down. “What is it?”

“I haven’t been completely honest with you, Kelly.” He licked his lips. “About where I really come from.”

“Is that it?” She held her chest in relief. “I know about your adoption already. Bianca told me everything before she left.”

Benjamin rubbed his hands together. “Did she tell you that my real father is a married man?”

Kelly shook her head. “N-no.”

“I was the product of an affair. My mother spent so much time running after him that she would forget to feed me or send me to school. When I was eight years old, I was taken out of her care and put into the system.”

“Benjamin… I’m so sorry.” She reached out to touch him, but he flinched. Her hand hovered in the air before she pulled it back.

“When I met you, I saw the same thing happening all over again. I think that’s why I was drawn to you.”

“What?” She searched his blue eyes. “What are you saying?”

“It was a mistake to let things get this far. I’m sorry, Kelly. I’ve thought about it a lot these past few days and I don’t want to be with someone like you.”

“Someone like… someone like me?”

Who was this cold man and where had the real Benjamin Levy gone?

“I’m sorry. I don’t understand.”

“That’s why it’s so frustrating to keep pretending that this can go anywhere. You act like you’ve got all this worldly knowledge, but when it counts you’re painfully naïve. I’ve tried to tolerate it, but I don’t think I can stomach you anymore.”

She blinked rapidly, straining to hold on to her temper. Was this a joke? Would Bianca come bursting through the door yelling ‘gotcha’ and flinging a video camera in her face?

“I don’t know what happened while you were gone, but taking it out on me won’t make you feel better.”

“This is who I am.” Benjamin spread his arms wide. “And you can’t change who you are. It’s impossible and I was a fool to think my pity could make a difference.”

“So that’s it?” She grew angry as his words soaked in. “I was just a charity case. Someone you thought you could fix?”

“You have to admit,” he said haughtily. “You needed it. You were a wreck.”

“Stop with the self-righteous bull, Benjamin. I don’t need to hear anymore.”

“I hope we can keep on being professional. Since we were just messing around anyway, that shouldn’t be too hard. Especially for you—”

“Get out!” Kelly closed her eyes and pointed to the door. She heard Benjamin’s footsteps clop against her floor. It stopped, and for a moment, a stupid wisp of hope rose in her.

If he apologized, claimed that his body had been temporarily taken over by an alien or that he’d gone insane because of whatever mysterious drama he’d been through through over the weekend, she would forgive him free and clear.

After all, Kelly had a stack of drama queen moments in her arsenal.

To her intense disappointment, the footsteps continued. Benjamin opened her door and slammed it shut behind him, solidifying the fact that their relationship—as delicate as it had been—was over.

Kelly could have cried. She could have keeled over from the pain in her chest where Benjamin had torn her heart out. She could have screamed her rage and demanded he come back and explain what had changed between their bowling date and now.

Instead, she dialed Renesha.

“Hello?”

“Ren, drop whatever you’re doing and meet me at the club. We’re going dancing tonight.”