Frank
Of all the times Sarah and I could have a confrontation with Bree Marshall, it had to be right now, when Sarah needs nothing more than to get out of here and focus on her dad. I glare at the woman staring us down, hopeful she can read between the lines. Instead, she rolls her eyes and lets out a long sigh.
“You really are a self-important asshole,” Bree says to me. She strides toward us, her heels clicking against the tile, and levels a finger in Sarah’s face. “I warned you about this,” she says, waving that finger between Sarah and me. “Frank Wilde is really good at making a woman feel special just long enough for her give in to him. And you’re falling for it hook, line, and sinker.”
I step forward, placing myself between Bree and Sarah. “This is neither the time nor the place,” I begin, but Bree ignores me.
“Let me guess,” she says to Sarah. “He told you I was crazy. That I misunderstood the situation and fell for him through no fault of his own.” She watches Sarah’s reaction and then shakes her head. “That’s what I thought.”
I put up with Bree’s nonsense because I like working here. Her slanderous allegations and possessive nature never bothered me because I never felt threatened by her. She has a few screws loose, but she’s not dangerous. Who in their right mind would take anything she says at face value? But now, with Bree’s sights set on Sarah, I feel a whole lot less understanding.
I level a glare at Bree that should make her blood run cold. “I’d suggest you turn around and head back to your desk…”
“Or what?” Bree holds out her arms. “What are you going to do, Frank? Lodge a complaint about me?” She laughs. “We both know how well that works around here. I complain about you. You complain about me. Yet, here we are.”
Sarah steps forward, chin lifted, shoulders square. When she speaks, her voice is clear and strong. “Thank you for your concern, but none of this is your business.”
Bree either doesn’t hear her, or doesn’t care. “This is the way he does it, you know. If you don’t believe me, ask Violet Dunham, the girl who had your job before you. She quit a week before you showed up. Couldn’t stand to work here anymore because he broke her poor heart. Just like he broke mine. Just like he’s going to break yours.”
Sarah turns to me and I see her putting the pieces of the puzzle together. She has the wrong pieces, but damn it, they fit together exactly the way Bree wants them too. The first night I spoke to Sarah at Derby’s, I told her Violet was my girlfriend. She recognizes the name, rolling it around in her mouth while her already wild emotions chase her down dark paths. I need to get her out of here now, before Bree does more damage.
“Jesus Christ, Bree. Why? What do you think you’re going to accomplish here? Are you actively trying to ruin my life? Do me a favor and stay away from me. Stay away from Sarah. Just stay away.” I wrap my arm around Sarah’s shoulders and lead her to the elevators without giving Bree another glance. We wait in silence and then step into the car when it arrives.
“I didn’t know your dad passed away.” Sarah looks at me, her brows drawn together, her face unreadable. “And you didn’t know about my dad’s first stroke. I didn’t know Violet worked here while you were dating her. You don’t even know that no one can count on me to stick around and everyone accepts it as one of my quirks and forgives me for it.”
Her last statement makes me flinch. No one can count on me to stick around. That’s the last thing I want to hear, right before I help her pack her bags and send her on her way.
I wrap an arm around her and kiss the top of her head. “Those are definitely things we didn’t know about each other.” I don’t know where she’s going with this train of thought, but I don’t like it.
Sarah pulls back. “What are we doing here?”
I want to send this elevator right back up to the thirty-first floor and force Bree to explain why she’s chosen to spread chaos in my life, but that’s useless. Instead, my focus belongs on Sarah, though the elevator is no place to have the conversation she wants to have. I opt for humor, hoping to diffuse the situation.
“We’re leaving work to go to my apartment so we can talk through what to do about your dad.”
“I know that. I mean, what are we doing?” She gestures between us. “What is this, Frank?”
I step close as the elevator begins to slow. “I don’t know what it is,” I say. “I’m in so far over my head with you, I can’t always catch my breath.”
She blinks at me and I smile despite myself.
“But I love every minute of it, Sarah. Every single minute. And it’s crazy because you don’t live here and we don’t know anything about each other and yet, when I look at you, I feel like I’ve known you my whole life.”
I trail off as the elevator comes to a stop. The doors rumble open, but neither one of us moves. Sarah offers me a tight-lipped smile, her eyes telling me everything I need to know. I smile in return and lead her through the lobby.
Her eyes have always spoken volumes, though I’ve never been sure I understood the language. I understand now.
Whatever happens next, we’re in this together.