CHAPTER TWO - SEBASTIAN
Violet had grown into quite the young lady, I had to admit. Having been around her most all of her life, I still pictured her as a child. It was easy to do. But having watched her handle herself so well during her father's illness and subsequent death, I saw firsthand how grown up she was now. It blew me away. She was most definitely not the precocious little kid I'd known.
Yes, perhaps I felt a little bit sorry for her. But I knew how hard things had been on her and all she'd had to endure and overcome. But feeling sorry for her wasn't the only reason I'd hired her. Sure, Chuck would have been grateful to me for taking on his daughter like I was doing, but that wasn't the reason I'd given her the job either.
In all truthfulness, I was impressed by her. She was a lot stronger than I think even she realized and she truly was a remarkable young woman.
Violet intrigued me in ways very few woman had before – probably because I'd watched her grow from a small child into the beautiful woman she was today. Even still, knowing all I knew about her, it was easy to forget that this was Chuck's daughter. She was so mature, so well-spoken, so smart, and most of all, so grown-up.
With her auburn hair pulled back in a bun, and a suit that was tailored to her petite, but curvy frame, everything about her cried out straight-laced and professional. And when she spoke, you could tell that she knew what she was talking about and was probably the smartest person in the room. The fact that it was so hard for her to get a job was crazy to me – but then again, her resume was pretty bare. Which was why I was there to help her.
It might not be the exact job in her field she'd always dreamed of, but it was a foot in the door.
As she left my office that day though, I caught myself staring a little too long as she walked away. Yeah, she was all grown-up alright. Beautiful woman with just the right number of curves she seemingly developed overnight. It was abundantly clear that she was no longer the little girl I'd known and was all woman now.
Don't worry, Chuck, I thought to my deceased best friend, I won't go after your daughter, I promise.
I silently vowed to do everything in my power to protect her, in fact. A moment after Violet had left the office, my cell phone rang – Jessica's ringtone. I groaned, contemplated not answering but realized that would be a dick move. With a sigh, I picked up the phone and connected the call.
Before I could even say “Hello,” she was already attacking me.
“Sebastian, I really need to get back into your place. I left some stuff over there, and –”
“Chill,” I said, “Calm down, Jess. It's okay. You can come over after work today and pick up the rest of your stuff.”
Her voice softened. “So, you're going to be there?”
“Yes, I will be,” I said as if the answer was the most obvious thing in the world – because it was. “It is my house after all.”
“It was our house,” she said quietly.
No, not really. It had always been my house, I thought to myself. Jessica had just sort of wedged herself in and I didn't stop it because the sex with her had been amazing. But to be honest, the more time she spent over there, the more I came to despise her. She was clingy, jealous, needy, and bossy. All things I could never accept in a partner, not when I worked as much as I did.
“You can come by after work, it'll be fine,” I said with a sigh.
“What about Bali?” she asked me. “Am I still going with you?”
“That's off, Jess,” I said with a sigh. “We've been through this already.”
I was already second guessing having her come over at all that night. I didn't want the headache, the hassle, or the scene I was afraid she'd make. Maybe it would be best if I packed up her things and set them outside for her to grab – or would that be a dick move too?
“But maybe it would give us a chance to work on our issues,” she said, her voice tinged with hope. “I mean, it could, don't you think?”
“It's a work trip, Jess. Not a vacation and most certainly not a couple's retreat.”
“You're taking someone else,” she said. “I knew it. There's someone else.”
I sighed and rubbed my temples; I could feel a whopper of a headache coming on.
“No, Jessica. There's no one else. Like I said, it's a work trip. I only invited you along because you asked me to,” I said.
Though ‘asked’ was putting it nicely. It was more like she'd begged, pleaded, pouted and cried until I said it was fine, but that was beside the point. The point was, she wasn't going.
“Work trips are just that: for work,” I said firmly.
“Doesn't mean you can't have a little fun too,” she cooed.
She was really grating on my nerves, especially since I told her it was over a week ago. And yet, the near constant phone calls, the texts, the “stopping by because I missed you” visits. All of it was too much. If I ever had a doubt that this girl was too much for me, well, the last week proved it. I didn't have time for her drama. Nor did I have the inclination to deal with it.
“Bye, Jessica,” I said. “I really have to get back to work now.”
I could hear her arguing on the other end of the line as I hung up. Tonight will be so much fun, I thought. Hopefully this would be the end of it, though. She could get the last of her shit and get out. For good. Though deep down, I knew it wouldn't be that easy.
It never was with Jessica.
***
“The only things of yours are your toothbrush, which needed to be replaced anyway, and a t-shirt I let you sleep in a few times. But I guess it's yours now?”
Jessica was walking through the house, slowly and deliberately, pretending to look for stuff. This was just another of her tactics to get me face to face, and it worked. I was a damn fool.
“I swore I left my iPod over here.”
“When's the last time you used a damn iPod, Jess?” I asked.
She shot me a look of death. “What's it matter? It's mine, so I want it back.”
“Do you? Do you really?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. “Or is this just another story designed to get me to talk to you because you think we can work this all out and get back together?”
“Oh seriously, Sebastian,” she rolled her eyes dramatically. “Get over yourself.”
Well, I'd be more than happy to get over myself if she stopped harassing me. I was ready to move on, and it was clear as day that there was no fucking iPod anywhere in my house.
“We should get together for lunch before you leave for Bali,” she said, changing her tone entirely. “You know, just to talk some things out before you head overseas with God knows who.”
“I'm not going with anyone,” I muttered.
Which wasn't entirely true. I had Violet coming with me now, as an assistant. But Jessica wouldn't believe it and would likely just make trouble for me if I told her. So, I let it go. Not like she deserved to know. We were broken up after all. I owed her nothing.
“Sure, whatever you say,” she said, rolling her eyes again.
Jessica was a beautiful woman, there was no doubt about that. Long, blonde hair, blue eyes, and a killer body – the stereotypical Southern California beauty. It's why I initially fell for her, of course. But her personality made her less and less attractive over time. The more we got to know one another, the less I cared for her. I was starting to think I might end up alone, a bachelor for life, at the rate I was going. A bit fatalistic, perhaps, but it seemed like all I had was just one failed relationship after another, and it was growing old.
Jessica stopped digging through a desk drawer for her non-existent iPod, closed it and turned toward me with a mischievous look in her eye. Licking her lips suggestively, she sidled up to me, draping her arms around my shoulders and stared straight into my eyes. The old me would have been hard in an instant, ready to take her to bed. But now? I didn't even want to be this close to her.
“So then,” she purred, “if you're not seeing anyone – ”
“No,” I said, removing her arms from around my neck. “We're not playing these games, Jessica.”
With a huff and a well-practiced pout, she turned and walked away, which I hoped meant she was leaving. I listened for the front door, hoping she'd slam it as she left, but instead, I heard her footsteps as she walked upstairs.
“Jess!” I called out to her, hurrying after her as she ascended the stairs.
She stopped and smiled at me, crooking her finger and motioning for me to follow her.
“What in the hell are you doing?” I roared.
“Figured I'd slip into something more comfortable, Sebastian. Maybe take a dip in the pool, like old times? Come on, Sebastian. One more time just for old time's sake. What can it hurt?”
Without waiting for me to answer, she walked down the hallway toward my bedroom.
“No, Jessica. We're not doing this,” I said, following her up the stairs and down the hallway. “You need to leave. You have everything you left, it's time to go. I want you out of my house. Now.”
She peered out from my bedroom with a devious look on her face. “Come on, Sebastian. Don't you want one last roll in the hay before we say goodbye? No strings attached. Scout's honor.”
Honestly? I really didn't. I really, really didn't simply because of the drama and baggage it would entail. The fact that I didn't want to sleep with her one last time said a lot about my feelings for her – and I think she realized it. As I stared at her, not taking another step closer to her, her face fell and I saw tears welling in her eyes. She could see how much I didn't want her in my face, apparently. And it crushed her. I honestly believe she thought she could lure me back with the promise of sex.
But I was done, and she knew it.
There was no turning back now.