Chapter 10
Asher
It’s after nine before I make it to my office. I’m still fuming mad. What I would normally do is head to my office, close the door, and spend a couple of hours getting lost in work so I could rein in my temper. Instead all I can think of is tracking down Alyse and pulling her into my arms.
I emailed Tara last night, asking her to greet Alyse, get her settled in her office, and set up a meeting first thing this morning with Sheila and my director of accounting, Aaron Hinton, so she could hit the ground running. I’m sure Alyse could have busied herself, but the fact of the matter is, the sooner she gets started, the sooner we can stop this thief. I’ve already wasted so much time. In retrospect, I should have followed my gut sooner and hired her weeks ago. Not only would we be closer to finding the culprit, I’d already have her in my bed.
“Hi, Tara,” I snip.
“Uh, hi. Bad morning, Asher?”
I grunt. “Where’s Ms. Kingsley?”
“She’s down on twenty-eight with Sheila and Aaron.”
Aaron. He’s a couple of years older than me, very good-looking, and if rumors are true, he’d give Conn a run for his money in the ladies department. I’m already irrationally jealous at the thought of her talking to another man. I realize I set this whole meeting up, but that does little to calm the absurd envy I’m suddenly feeling.
She’s not Natalie, I remind myself. Fucking Conn. Now he’s all up in my head. Christ. I need Alyse.
“Do you know when she’ll be back?” My voice sounds strained and Tara’s forehead creases.
“I don’t know, Asher. Would you like me to call down to Aaron’s office and ask?” She’s talking to me like she would a cornered animal. Slow and soft.
I open my mouth intending to say fuck yes, but at the last minute change to the more professional response. Alyse is here to do a job, not cater to my every whim, as much as I wish it were different. She seems to put up with the domineering side of my personality outside of work, but if I start pulling that shit here, I may just lose her before I have her. Damn if that thought terrifies me.
“No. When she returns, though, please send her to my office. It doesn’t matter what I’m doing.”
“Of course. Uh, everything okay, Asher?”
“Fucking golden,” I mutter as I turn away. I spend the next hour and a half pretending to work, when all I’m doing is watching the clock. And my closed door.
Waiting.
Fuming.
Remembering.
Finally, I give up and turn my chair toward the window, watching the contrast of white billowy clouds floating by against a blue sky that looks like crystal-clear water today. I want to think about the future, which I’m hoping is Alyse. But instead I find myself remembering the past. And the woman who ruined me.
I remember the heaviness of the ring in my pocket as I caught an early flight home.
I remember pulling into the driveway and knowing when I saw a strange car that as soon as I walked through the front door, my entire life was about to change.
I remember feeling sicker and sicker with each step I took toward my bedroom, the low moans tethered to my feet. They felt heavy, weighted, like I was wading through a swamp, the thick muck threatening to suck me under if I stayed in one position too long.
And I remember the look of pure and utter euphoria on Natalie’s face as her coworker, Rick, knelt on my bed, his face buried between her naked thighs.
But try as I might, I don’t remember much about what happened after that. I was simply numb. Without a word to either of them, I turned and left. I don’t even think they saw me. I know I ended up at Conn’s house and stayed there until I went to work on Monday. I still had clothes and toiletries from my trip, so I didn’t need to go home until I could make sure every part of her there was erased.
Natalie called me repeatedly on Sunday. I ignored her. She showed up at my office on Monday afternoon and with just one look at me, she knew she was busted. It was almost entertaining watching her try to come up with a lie on the spot. When she refused to leave, I called security. I then called a locksmith and met him at my house later that day so he could change all the locks. I had her stuff couriered to her house with a note to never contact me again.
She tried, numerous times, and after one gut-wrenching text two months later, I haven’t heard from her since.
I don’t think I can adequately explain the soul-destroying agony you go through when you find out the one person who is supposed to be your everything throws it all away for the sins of the flesh. It bruises your ego. It forces a lot of tough soul-searching. It makes you reevaluate every single aspect of your failed relationship and how you contributed to it. And it closes you off from making the same mistake again.
Conn’s words nag at me. “Free the chains.” But he’s wrong. I did free the chains when I cut her cheating ass loose. I realize we’re all human beings and we make mistakes. I’ve made my fair share, but I’m not at all tolerant when it comes to deceit and as I’ve stated before, I am not the forgive-and-forget type of guy. I will neither forgive Natalie for what she’s done, nor forget it.
I think that’s what Conn means, asshole.
The paper tucked away in my pocket feels like it’s burning my thigh. I’m just reaching in to pull it out and throw it in the trash, where it belongs, when I hear a soft knock at my door. Tara pops her head in. “Ms. Kingsley is back. Okay to send her in?”
Relief hits me like a ton of bricks. My salvation has finally arrived. I have no idea how this one woman has become so important to me in such a short period of time, but damn…she has.
And I’m done waiting to have her.
“Yes. Send her in. And, Tara.” Tara pauses, waiting for further instruction. “Make sure we’re not disturbed.”