Page 23 of Secretary Crush
“Tony, who is that?”
He jumps. He was so intrigued by what was going on in the office. “Shit, El. You scared me,” he breathes out as he shakes his head.
“Sorry, but what’s going on? Who is that? Why is she standing so close to him? And why are you all watching like a train wreck just happened right in front of your eyes?”
He lets out a long breath. “That’s Joanne. His ex.”
“Oh.” It falls from my lips as I’m taken aback.
“That’s not all,” he says.
“Then what’s the rest?” I ask, my eyes jumping from him, to the office, and back.
“Jo is Hudson’s first real love. They got together in high school. He practically helped raise her. Her dad is the one who left him the money to start this place up. And I think…because of that, he feels like he owes it to him to take care of her. Every time she’s in town, she latches onto him. He gives her a place to stay, he gives her a job—your job—and he helps her get clean from whatever drugs she’s on. And once she’s like a normal human being again, they pick up where they left off. One minute, they’re tearing one another’s heads off. The next, they’re all over one another. That’s one reason we were all so happy to find out about you and him. We thought that if he was happy with you, we’d never have to worry about that snake coming in here and tearing things apart again.”
“So…you think she’s here to get back together with him?” I ask, confused by all of this.
He nods. “I think she’s here because she has nowhere else to go. She knows he’ll take her back and help her get back on her feet, but when something better comes along, she’ll be riding off into the sunset like always.” He lets out a long breath. “Of course, I don’t know anything for sure. Just prepare yourself. Kay, El?”
I nod, and he turns and walks away. I’m left standing alone, watching everything that’s going on the other side of that glass. They’re so into whatever they’re saying that Hudson hasn’t even noticed that we’re all staring at them yet. I know that she’s entirely way too close to the man who just spent last night and this morning with me. But I’m not the jealous type. I’m not the type who would march in there and demand to know what’s going on. I’m more of the bow out when you know you’ve lost kind.
Without saying a word to anyone, I turn and walk out of the garage, heading for my car. I don’t need some kind of formal sit-down to get fired or broken up with. This woman wants my job and my man, both of which were hers to begin with. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that I was only a placeholder until she returned.
I slide behind the wheel, start the car, and head home, wondering what I’ll do now that I don’t have a job. I guess I'll just have to start turning in applications around town. I don’t have it in me to start all over again. But ugh, I don’t know what I’ll do if I ever run into the two of them, and this town is too small not to. God, I knew it was stupid to get involved with my boss. Now not only am I losing my job but I’m also losing the man I just fell in love with. I’ve never been this happy before. I guess I’m not surprised that it’s all being ripped away.
I get home, and I make my way up to my apartment. I’m extra quiet, not wanting Zoe to know I’m back. I love her company, but I just need a little time alone to process everything going on. I mean, how did we go from completely happy this morning, making love in the shower and sharing breakfast, to me walking in on him in a room alone with his ex? And the things that Tony said? God, now I know why he insisted on hiding that picture instead of getting rid of it. He still has feelings for her. As he should. She was his first love. In part, she’s one of the reasons he is where he is today, running a successful business. She was there for it all. You don’t just turn your back on that.
I throw myself down on the couch to pout and feel sorry for myself. I’m in the middle of throwing a pity party when the sound of a loud motorcycle cuts through the silence. I stand and run to the window, looking down at the parking lot. Hudson is pulling up to my car. He cuts the engine, and it’s quiet again as I watch him climb off the bike.
He looks at my car and then up to my window. I quickly step back, but with no window treatments, I know it’s too late. He’s already seen me and knows I’m here. I’m nearly in full-on panic mode as I wait for what I know is coming. Then a knock on the door is filling my ears.
I take a deep breath and walk forward, pulling the door open to find him on the other side. He has no right to look this damn good when he’s about to fire me and break things off. His red shirt has the sleeves cut off, and his biceps look toned and flexed as he stands with his fingers in his jean pockets.
“If you came all the way over here to fire me, you wasted a trip,” I tell him, crossing my arms over my chest.
He lets out a long breath, and he rolls his eyes. “Tony has a big fucking mouth, you know that?”
I laugh, not expecting that.
“Can I come in and explain?”
I don’t want to hear the whole speech. “Hudson, seriously. It’s not a big deal. We haven’t even been doing this all that long to begin with,” I tell him, trying to cover the fact that I’m absolutely heartbroken.
“El, stop talking and let me in,” he says, cutting me off.
Annoyed by how bossy he’s being, I step back and allow him to walk in.
He takes a few steps in, and I close the door behind us before turning around to face him.
The sight of him standing before me is enough to knock the air from my lungs and cause everything to freeze.
“It’s not what you think, El. Jo was there, you saw that. And yes, she is my ex. And yes, everything else that Tony told you was true. Her father is the one who gave me the money I needed to open the shop. And I have always felt obligated to help her when she’d show up on my doorstep. Which is why she was there today. She thought I’d welcome her back with open arms like I have every time before, but there was one thing she didn’t plan for.”
“What’s that?” I ask, wondering why I’m even engaging in this conversation.
“You.”
I suck in a breath of air, and it somehow gets stuck in my lungs. I can’t release it. All I can do is hold on and listen carefully.
