Page 54 of Tempting Him

Aiden humors me with a laugh, even though I’m sure what I said makes no sense.

“You’re a good guy, Jay. Don’t let someone make you doubt that. We all make mistakes and bad decisions, and I think everyone goes through a selfish stage, but we’re all capable of change, and we’re not the sum of every bad thing we’ve done.”

I spend the next hour and a half or so, stuck to the wall, drinking myself closer and closer to a blackout. It's unlike me, and I hate that I've allowed Alek to affect me so much. I'm not this guy. I don't mope. Sulking isn't something I usually do.

After a few other concerned friends come over to check on me, I take my miserable ass upstairs. I thought I'd be able to drink Alek out of my mind, instead, it’s having the opposite effect.

Drunk, with my brain as foggy as my vision, I pull my phone out and scroll through social media until I realize I can hardly focus on words or pictures. As stupid and cliché as it may be, and definitely something you should never do while drunk, I bring up Alek's name in my phone. My thumbs hover over the letters, ready to send a scathing text.

I'd only be repeating what I already told him, but the need to reach out, if only for him to respond, is strong. After writing and deleting several different messages, I eventually make the smart decision to not send anything. He's my boss, after all.

22

After I leave campus,I have enough time to stop by a bakery on my way to work, so I pick up a few coffees and show up to Linda's desk five minutes before I'm due.

“Good afternoon," I greet with a smile, handing her a coffee. "Had them put an extra shot of espresso and an extra pump of hazelnut, just for you."

Linda grins, tucking her blond hair behind an ear. "You are the best. I definitely need this today. Somebody is on a warpath." Her eyes bounce over her shoulder, toward Alek's office, informing me he's in a bad mood. Good.

"Making everyone miserable?"

She tilts her head from side to side, like she doesn't want to talk shit about her boss, but the statement must hold a little truth. After taking a sip, she closes her eyes and holds the cup to her chest. Lowering her voice and leaning forward, she whispers, "I really hope you get one of the permanent positions."

I bark out a laugh. "From your lips to God's ears."

"I'm God in this office, so if you're expecting a position here permanently, Mr. Brooks, I'd stop flirting with my secretary and get to work."

Linda's eyes go wide, and I glance over my shoulder to find Alek had approached us from behind. My body probably blocked him from being seen by Linda.

My eyes travel the length of his body before coming to a stop on his face. "Yes, sir," I say through gritted teeth.

Once he closes himself into his office, Linda exhales. "I had no idea he was out of his office. He must've left when I went to the bathroom. I'm so sorry."

"Don't worry about it," I tell her before heading down the hall and toward Luther's office.

After presenting him with his coffee and taking my own out of the carrier, we get to work.

Two hours in, and the interns are released for a break, so most of us gather in the break room on this floor. We snack on whatever we get from vending machines or what we manage to bring in with us. Typically it's nothing healthy. We survive on caffeine and junk food here.

With a few minutes to spare, I head to the bathroom. Mid-stream, Alek walks in. He stops short before moving forward, going to a urinal a few spaces away. The tension is thick and heavy, but neither one of us says anything.

At the sink, I watch him in the mirror as he turns around and walks toward me. It's really not fair how good he looks. He could've at least had the decency to look sleep-deprived or tortured in some way.

His eyes assess me as he washes his hands, and I find myself taking my time lathering my hands with soap like I'm about to perform surgery, because I don't want to leave the room yet. I want to give him time to say something. Anything.

I finally turn the water off and make my way to the paper towel dispenser, deciding he's not going to say anything. He'll continue to be a stubborn asshole, and that's fine. We shouldn't keep this going anyway. I'm clearly becoming too invested in someone who doesn't deserve it, and who checks all the boxes on who I shouldn't be with anyway.

"Jayden."

My back stiffens. I finish drying my hands and drop the used towel in the trash before I turn around.

"Mr. Drakos."

"About before."

I sigh. "I wasn't flirting with her. I brought her a coffee, because I'm a nice person. I brought one for Luther, and I'm definitely not flirting with him. I didn't bring one for you, because, well, you know." I take in a deep breath. "The only person I'm having an inappropriate relationship with in this office is you. Well, was. So, don't worry. I've learned my lesson."

He sighs. "That's not—"

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