The whole weekend it seems like nothing, but missed phone calls. After Hale called several times and I wasn't sure what to say to him, I just turned my phone off completely. I didn't want to talk to anybody at the moment. There was too much going on and the last thing I needed was for Hail to call and want to have that conversation. I didn't want to have that conversation right now. I don't even know if I could face him after what happened last Friday night.

When I went to work on Monday, I was rather surprised to see that Hail was gone. He was almost always there and it felt strange to be up there without him. The space just seems ridiculously big now. It felt like I shouldn't be here or that I was somehow a fraud. How had I got here to begin with?

I went to my office and stared back on the other side of the room where Hail should be. It was time for him to be back and I wanted to know where he was. Sure, I had ignored his calls this weekend without much thought, because I had to get my mind right. Not to mention that I felt embarrassed that I had taken off the way that I had. The more I thought about it, the worse it had gotten and then I couldn't bring myself to call him or answer the phone.

Now I was ready to face Hail and of course, he wasn't here. I thought about calling him once in the morning, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. There was just something that I was so nervous about and I don't know how was supposed to react.

I was about to leave for lunch, when the elevator dinged and I waited for the doors to open, sure that it was going to be Hail. Then I will be able to talk him into maybe going to lunch together and see where things go. Doing it with him for the first time was very overwhelming, and it was taking some time for me to process what had happened. I still wasn't really sure, and I was trying to figure out what's going to happen next. Or if there was even going to be a next.

Either way, I was in way over my head. I had to stop thinking about all of this and Hail’s absence had somehow triggered a tidal wave of doubt, that I wanted to race.

With the elevator door opened, it wasn’t Hail at all. No one really came up here that much, but of course the one man that could walk around anywhere in the building was Mark. This was his company after all.

He had this sly look on his face, and I knew that it wouldn’t be good. He wanted me. I had always known with him, but Mark did not try to hide it in any way, shape or form. He was practically touching me with his eyes, and it was an almost violating experience. The fact that he was my boss, did not help at all. The fact that he was a silent boss, that was almost never there, was something that was a lot easier to deal with. But when he showed up out of the blue like this, when I was in this sort of mood, I was seeing this surprise as one that I didn’t want.

“Glad I was able to catch you Evony. I was hoping that we could go out for lunch. I have a couple of ideas for some new clients if you have the time.

As much as I wanted to say no to his offer, I wasn't stupid. He was the boss and beyond that, I should always take up anybody who had an idea of how to make more money. I had a five-year plan and now that I was a salesperson, all I had to do was get my targeted commissions and everything was going to work out how I wanted it to. If that included talking to Mark for a little while over some lunch, how bad could it be?

“Sure Mark. I was just about to leave for lunch.”

He smiled in a predatory way and I looked practically salivatory before our eyes could really meet. I really didn't want to know it was on his mind. If they eyes were the door to the soul, I wanted to go ahead and keep it shut.

“So, I was wondering what happened to Hail today? It is weird not to see him here.”

He had a long night last night. We went out for drink at Sandra’s Gentlemen's Club. I doubt he’ll make it in at all today. He's probably just sleeping it off.”

We were in the elevator and I was replaying what he had just told me. They had gone out to a gentlemen's club last night? And now he wasn't at work? Did what happened between us mean nothing to Hail and he was already moving on to find someone else? Already? I knew it was coming, but I thought that it would take longer before he was bored with me.

Are you OK Evony? you seem a little upset right now.

I told Mark that I was fine because I would never admit that I was sitting inside with the idea of having his hand and someone else. Why would he leave Mark at the club and then stay gone all night? What have you been doing it until the morning that made it so he couldn't come in? It was clear what Mark was suggesting but was it real? answer any questions and I knew that I could dance. I had so many questions and I knew that I wouldn't be able to verbalize any of them.

“So, tell me about yourself Evony. How did you come to work in my company?”

I wasn’t sure what he wanted me to say. I was still trying to get over the information given on the way over here. Apparently, Mark and Hail were good friends and Mark had fun telling me all of the naughty and raunchy things that the two of them had done through the years. It was the last thing that I wanted to hear, and I think he knew that. He smiled too much.

“I got the assistant job for Charlie about three years ago or so and I got hired in full after a month. Transferred to work with Hail a few months ago and a bit after that, I was promoted up to sales.”

“Sounds like meeting Hail made all of the difference in the world.”

“I didn’t like how he was making it all sound. It was easy to see where this was going.

“Hail has been great. I don’t know where I would be without him. He really has been a lot of help in showing me the ropes. Charlie was nice to work for as well, but I don’t know, it was different.”

“I bet.”

Another drink came for Mark and he advised the waitress that he would need another one soon. He looked to be drinking his lunch. I had been offered some, but it was too early on a Monday to partake, especially around Mark. Mark was the kind of guy that it was best to keep my wits about me.

“So, you know that there could be even more movement in your career in a short amount of time, if you get in touch with the right people.”

I was groaning inside, because now I knew exactly where it was going, and it didn’t look like I was going to be able to pull back the reins and stop this crazy train.

“Sales is about as high as it gets Sir. Commission is where it’s at.”

“Hail says that.”

I snickered at the memory of when he said it. He was right all the way.

“I worry that the two of you are too close.”

Now he had my attention. The shifting of conversations and the fast pace with Mark was blinding.

“Oh?”

“Yes, I know that you’ve been together, and I have to say, that worries me.”

I was dying inside. Why would Hail say anything about what happened between us? It was our own moment in time, and I hated the idea of someone else knowing about it. I didn’t like that at all. I really didn’t like the idea of our boss knowing. A guy like Mark didn’t need to know any of my secrets. He just didn’t.

“You must have gotten your story wrong, because there is nothing going on between me and Hail. I can promise you that.”

Mark smiled at me and it wasn't the type of look that made me feel better inside. It just made me feel a little hollow and I wanted to leave this lunch. I couldn't believe what Hail had told our boss. How could he do that to me?

When I left Mark, I knew that everything I thought and believed in was wrong. I thought that Hail cared about me and that maybe something was happening between us, but now I knew I was just being silly. Men like Hail didn’t change. Women are nothing but a conquest to him, and I hate the fact that I gave him something to talk about.

I wasn't able to go back to work, because I couldn't get myself together. Every time I thought I had stopped crying, I’d think of what had went on between me and Hail and what was now gone. I would just start crying all over again. I just felt so stupid. So, used. How could I let this happen? How could I be so stupid?