Page 70 of The Love Syllabus

“Come in.” I say absently, still buried in my notes.

Then, a bright, cheery voice rings through my office, “Well, hello, Chef Grimes! It’s so nice to see you again!”

I finally look up and immediately do a double-take. Standing in my office is a woman whose face demands attention. She has deep brown skin, long legs, and curves that damn near defy physics, wearing a strategically fitted, unbuttoned blouse that accentuates her firm, full breasts. Her skirt is so damn tight I can barely breathe just looking at it.

However, no matter how attractive she may be, only the word “Again?” trails from my mouth.

She beams. “Yes,again. I’m your new co-host, Krista Ray.”

A bit taken aback, I stand to shake her hand, but she doesn’t wait. She glides around my desk like we’re long-lost lovers and positions herself so close that I can practically feel the heat radiating off her skin.

Then, she does the unthinkable. She flirtatiously drags her manicured nail down my chest.

“We can skip the formalities, Victor.” Her voice drops into a seductive buzz, like I’m supposed to be turned on by her perfume, her body, or the feel of her hands on me.

But I’m not. What the hell is happening? My entire body stiffens, but her odd behavior continues to get worse.

“I knew you’d come back to me,” She purrs, “And you summoned me in the most romantic way…with my first tv show!”

“Uh…You said your name’s Krista, right?” I ask. “I’m sorry, but I don’t know who the hell you are.”

She laughs and then rolls her eyes. “Still playing the asshole, I see. But given what you’ve done for me, you clearly aren’t one. So, I’ll play along. I’ll just have to remind you who I am.”

And before I can even process the unholy level of bullshit leaving her mouth, she grabs my face and kisses me.

But I jerk back instantly and push her off. “What the fuck?”

Then, I hear a voice, one that I love to hear but not now. Not in its soft, shocked, and hurt tone.

“Uh, Vic?”

My entire world screeches to a halt. Kerry. I turn to my desk, where I see her face still on my phone screen. Her eyes are frozen in disbelief, having watched the encounter unfold.

“I—I should go,” she stammers, her voice tight, barely holding it together. “The girls need me. I guess I’ll see you soon, Ms. Krista.”

“Kerry, no, wait—”

But the call disconnects.

I clench my jaw and spin around to face Krista, only to see a smirk on her face.

“I don’t mind keepingusa secret, you know? Your little girlfriend seems like such a sweetheart. I’d never want to hurt her.”

“There’s nothing to keep a secret,” I snap. “I don’t know you. And I damn sure don’t like you. Get out of my office before I get whoever hired you to fire you.”

Her cocky facade flickers, just for a second. Then, her face twists, first in embarrassment, then in rage. “Wait, you really don’t remember me?”

“No,” I say coldly. “And I don’t want to.”

She scoffs, then goes nuclear. “Three years ago…Albany…The Foodie Awards after-party. We drank, we danced, then you took me back to your hotel room, and we had fun.All night long.Then the next morning, you ghosted me. Never responded to my messages. Just disappeared.”

Holy shit…it hits me. Idoremember. Kind of.

I was a wreck back then. It was three years ago. I was drinking too much. Partying too hard. In a deep depression. And doing a lot of dumb shit, especially women.

Krista shakes her head. “Wow,” she laughs, but it’s empty. “I actually thought you were reaching back out to me by giving me this gig. I can’t believe I thought you felt bad. You really are an asshole, Victor Grimes!”

She storms out of my office, but I don’t care because the only person on my mind is Kerry. And no matter how many times I call or text, she won’t answer.

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