Page 63 of Without Apology

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

Simon

On Monday morning I sipped black coffee in the hotel lobby while waiting on Emma to join me. I had my suitcase in hand because today we’d be moving over to corporate housing. The place was only a few miles from the office. I was anxious to have my own kitchen for the next couple of weeks. I wasn’t much of a cook, but I could manage eggs, and I wanted a blender for my protein shakes.

I smiled, thinking of Peyton and her affinity for fast-food hash browns. No doubt she kept her body in shape, but she wasn’t afraid to indulge. The thought of how much we’d indulged in during the limo ride home would stay etched in my brain forever. Her body, her little moans, the fact I couldn’t get enough. The thoughts of her naked made me have to shift in my suit.

I got myself under control just in time, as Emma came off the lift with two of the largest suitcases known to man.

“You could’ve rung for a bell hop,” I admonished.

She shrugged. “I could’ve, but I figured you’d thank me for the manly exercise I’m giving you the next time you’re wooing your woman. Which reminds me—how was your weekend?”

Since Emma had coordinated the limo at the last moment and also had assisted in putting together my date with Peyton in New York, there was no use pretending nothing happened. “It was brilliant, but if I’m being honest, this coming week will be new territory. Mixing the personal and professional.”

She laughed, while we both waited for the valets to get our cars. “You must really like her.”

Because she said it from a place of sincerity, I answered with simple truthfulness. “I really do.” However, I wasn’t sure what to do about it.

“And it doesn’t, you know, freak you out?”

Emma and I had the same feeling about letting people get close to us. We didn’t do it. So, I could understand her surprise at learning someone had somehow penetrated my force field.

“A bit at first, but she understands I’m only here for a couple more weeks.”

“So maybe understanding it’s temporary helps ease the fear?”

I thought about her question. I’d never had a long-term relationship. Didn’t believe I was the type who could ever sustain one. As Peyton had pointed out, I spent most of my time working.

“By the end of the next couple of weeks, we’ll probably be sick of each other, and all the magic will be gone.”

Emma remained uncharacteristically quiet while our vehicles were brought around.

“What?” I asked.

She shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe I’d like to believe there could be magic some day for the cynics.”

Even if it was possible, a couple of weeks wouldn’t be enough time to find it. But for some reason, I didn’t dispel her of the notion.

***

I didn’t see or talk to Peyton on Monday. I was swamped with managing the logistics of the acquisition. Tomorrow would be much the same, with George coming in to the office to make the official announcement about the sale of the company. That meant, come Wednesday, the employee interviews would start.

But all this work didn’t mean I wasn’t thinking of her. Wasn’t picturing her up against the wall in my flat. Her on her knees in my shower and the wicked things she could do with her tongue. But the memory forever etched in my mind would be her touching herself in the limo. And had she mentioned a Tumblr account? That was something I definitely needed to get my hands on. Too many times, I literally had to pull myself from my thoughts and focus back on work.

I had to schedule everyone for their interviews. Along with this necessity, there was a pile I had to go through containing the employee reviews and compensation history from the last few years, as well as the recommendations from the various directors.

I’d been on the phone with New York and Philip, trying to glean information about Peyton’s interview. All he’d provided was that the board had been impressed, but they had more external candidates to consider. It had been on the tip of my tongue to reiterate how important I thought it would be to have a person with a company legacy in the position, but I kept my mouth shut. I never would’ve inserted my opinion before I’d met her.

That was the most frustrating part of this new dynamic. Second guessing everything. Would I text her if we didn’t work together? Would I be as anxious for her to become CFO if I didn’t care about her? Would I? The list went on. This is why I went radio silent on her. What I hadn’t expected was that she wouldn’t reach out to me, either.

By Tuesday, I started to get anxious and second guess—again. Maybe I should have reached out yesterday, after all. Was she angry? Should I text her today? What would I say? How ironic that I’d wanted some distance to put me back in control, yet here I was in my office in the late afternoon feeling anything but.

I walked down to her office, intending to ask how everyone was taking the news of the sale as an excuse to see her.

Part of me wondered if she was as anxious to see me as I was to see her.

After knocking on her door, I heard her voice say, “Come in.”

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