Page 1 of Something Real with the Sea Monster
ONE
Tegan
I check my phone for the millionth time that hour, tossing it onto my desk in disgust a moment later. Nothing.
I know Mark got out of his meeting just after lunch, but he still hasn’t responded to my text. Standing from my desk, I stretch onto my tiptoes, pretending to reach for something on the shelf above me but actually checking to see if he’s in his office. The glass screen that separates us is frosted, but only at eye level when I’m sitting, so while standing I have a clear view of himbehind his big modern desk, calmly writing something in his notebook. I will him to look over, but it doesn’t work. Instead he tucks the pen neatly at the top of the page and reaches into his pocket, retrieving his phone.
Despite the torture of the last hour, my heartbeat skips a little and a smile rushes onto my lips. He’s going to open my text. There’s no way he’ll say no to staying late tonight to spend a little extra time with me when he sees what I sent.
I chew my lip around my grin, thinking about how I found the perfect angle under the desk to show off just enough to leave him in no doubt about whether I wore panties today.
Spoiler: I didn’t.
I press my legs together, savoring the little tingle in my pussy. It’s been so long since he took me out. I know things have been tough for him at home, and I get it. His ex is being a massive pain in the ass. I guess she’s not going to make this whole divorce easy.
Finally he glances up, but before I can catch his eye, he looks away and stashes his phone again, a hard expression on his face. I’m not sure how to read that.
Sitting, I flip over my phone, but there’s still no reply.
I frown.
Something is off. Why hasn’t he responded? I could send an email, but he’s told me before to keep our personal shit off the work email. He doesn’t want upper management getting wind of the fact that we’re fucking because it’s technically against company policy. After all, he is my boss.
Trying to put it out of my head, I flick listlessly through my email, trying to finish answering the last few so I can be ready when the other two people in the office leave for the day. I’m distracted a moment later, though, when he walks past my office.
Jumping up, I rush to the door. “Mark!”
He turns, but there’s no smile on his handsome face. “What is it, Tegan? I’m just about to head out for the day.”
My mouth drops open. “You didn’t see my text?”
His brows draw together and he steps closer, glancing behind him at where Sandra is typing at her desk. “Keep your voice down.”
I step back with a sigh, expecting him to come into my office so I can close the door and we can have a semi-private conversation.
He just looks at me. “What is it, Tegan?”
What the actual fuck? This is not the way I thought this evening would go. “You’re going home?” I can’t keep the pout from my voice.
Mark’s frown becomes a scowl. “Yes. As I said. Is there something I can help you with before I go?” His tone is cold and professional.
My temper flares, and I fold my arms across my chest. “No. You know what? I think I’m good. See you tomorrow.”
I spin and stomp back to my desk, expecting him to follow. To apologize. But the next moment I hear the door to the stairs shut gently and look up to see him gone.
I sit there in silence for a long moment.
I don’t know what just happened here, but it felt an awful lot like our first fight, and I have no idea what it was about other than that he seems to have a massive stick up his ass today.
I let a little huff of frustration escape me. My phone is still in my hand, so I open the message just to see for myself. At the bottom of my text is a little note:seen one hour ago.
What the hell?
I have nothing left to do here. I’d rather not stay at my desk until I’m the last one in the office, sitting with the reminder of who I’m not seeing. It’s bad enough saying goodbye at the end of the day when I know he’s going home to her. They’re still livingtogether until he can make other arrangements. On a night I hoped we’d get some time together, it’s even worse.
I guess it serves me right for getting involved with the married guy. Only it’s not like that. Mark and his wife haven’t been in love for years. He’s just working out the separation and then we’re going to be together openly.
Until then, I just have to be patient.
