Page 52 of A Night To Remember

“But you did and now there’s no taking it back. Now will you leave me alone?”

“If you preferred Jake, you should have said so in the first place.”

She rolled her eyes. “Somehow I don’t think that would have mattered to you.”

He shot her a resentful look before turning on his heel and stalking away.

Charlie knew it was his vanity which drove him to continuously ask her out. She wasn’t fool enough to think he was actually serious about her. Had she gone out with him the first time he asked, Steve would have lost interest by now. He’d get over it, and if he didn’t that was just too damn bad. When she turned to leave the copy room, Charlie froze. Standing there with a smug expression on her face was Sandy the Mouth.

Jake was pissed. Everywhere he had gone in the building today, knowing looks followed. In the beginning he ignored them, but then curiosity got the better of him so he finally asked Jennifer what was being said around the office.

“Steve has a lot to answer for,” Jake pounded his fist against Jennifer’s desk.

“I wouldn’t mind giving him a good smack myself. I shudder to imagine what he’s done to that poor girl’s reputation.” Jennifer shook her head.

“I know. Steve can be a selfish bastard at times, but I didn’t know he would stoop so low.” Jake sighed. Steve had really gone too far this time and when Jake saw him, friend or not, Steve was going to get what was coming to him.

“You do realize what happened in your office was highly inappropriate,” Jennifer reprimanded lightly.

Jake felt the color drain from his face. “I know, Jen. I’m as much at fault in this whole thing as is Steve.” .He sighed in resignation. “I know how inappropriate it was for me to do what I did, but he had no right to spread what happened all over the damn office. I never thought he’d stoop so low. It wasn’t her fault. I was just…so…” Jake blushed.

“In love?” she guessed accurately.

“Is it that obvious?”

“You should have seen yourself before she came to your office that day. You were more nervous than a deer in a lion’s den. Jake, I have two sons and two daughters, who are all older than you. Don’t you think I would know a little something about this?” Jennifer paused for a moment. “You never did tell me about that scene in the lobby last week.”

Jake figured she’d know soon enough anyway. Why not tell her? Taking a deep breath, he confessed. “That little girl you saw in the lobby was my daughter Kristy.”

“I know.”

He gasped in surprise. “You knew? You never said anything.”

“I didn’t feel it was my place to say anything. I know you think I’m a busybody at times, but I figured you’d tell me about her whenever you were ready. She has your eyes, Jake, how could I not figure it out. Will you talk about it now?” she asked gently.

“It’s a long story, Jen, and one I would rather not get into right now, but Charlie and I met a long time ago and our daughter was the result from that meeting. No one else knows about Kristy other than my family, so I would appreciate you not saying anything around the office. There’s enough gossip going around as it is.”

“You know I won’t, Jake. So what are you going to do about Charlie?”

“I don’t know yet. I have feelings for her, but she doesn’t feel the same.”

“I don’t know about that, Jake. Have you told her how you feel?”

“She has to know. I can’t keep my hands off of her whenever she’s around.”

“All that proves is you want to go to bed with her. Now really, Jake, didn’t your mother teach you better than that? Have you ever sent her flowers?”

“Yes.” As soon as he said it, he blanched. He remembered the graphic message he had sent with the flowers. Was it possible Charlie thought he only wanted her for sex? He slapped his forehead. Perhaps that was why she had been so adverse to his suggestion of spending time with him. He would rectify that notion and soon.

“She is such a fucking loudmouth. If I weren’t in HR, I would tell that bitch exactly what I think of her,” Laura said fiercely.

“Laura, watch your mouth,” Charlie censured, pointing to her daughter who was happily coloring at the coffee table.

“Sorry,” Laura apologized quickly. “Well, I had to come over and let you know what was being said around the office.”

“I appreciate it, Laura, but I kind of knew what would happen when I saw Sandy standing there listening to the whole conversation. The woman is certainly a nuisance but she will get her comeuppance one day. Karma is a son of a gun.”

All day at work she had been the object of whispers and stares. Whenever she came upon a group, they would immediately stop talking. It was embarrassing to be on the end of office gossip, but she only had herself to blame. She should have nipped his flirtation in the bud before it had gotten out of hand.

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