Page 52 of Under the Mistletoe
Both Shelley and I look at Ashley, waiting for her to leave, which she does, albeit with hesitance.
Once the door closes, I once again give Shelley my full attention.
“What can I help you with?”
“I know you’re my boss, and I love my job here and don’t want to jeopardize it…” she starts tentatively.
“Go on.” I nod, brow pinched, wondering what’s going on.
“Jay Jay is a very good friend of mine.”
My shoulders relax a little, the grin coming to my face almost instantly as I hear her name. Shelley’s gaze is serious, though, and now I see what this is.
“You want to give me a warning?” I shouldn’t smirk, but I do.
“Oh no… A promise.”
“A promise?” I frown in confusion.
“I know the two of you are together. I know she’s been spending time at your place. I know that she really likes you. But if you hurt her. If you cheat on her, treat her poorly, if you do anything that could hurt her… I promise…”
I blink, my smirk slipping. “Are you threatening me?”
She doesn’t flinch. “I’m telling you how far I’d go for her. She’s a good person. The most genuine person I’ve ever known.” There’s no heat in her tone, just conviction. It’s not drama. It’s devotion.
“She’s been through enough. Her parents, they’re assholes,” Shelley adds, eyes locked on mine. “So if you’re serious about her, then great. If you’re not, you need to walk away now.”
I’m stunned for a moment and equal parts impressed that Jessica has someone like this in her corner. I could fire Shelley in an instant. I could end her career. Something she knows too well. The fact that she still approached me like this just goes to show how amazing Jessica is.
“I can assure you that I’m all in with Jessica. I have no plans to hurt her, no desire to. All I want to do is make her happy. See her smile.”
Shelley smiles. “Good.”
“So… she really likes me, huh?” I ask in good humor, wanting to break the tension.
“Yeah, well… you didn’t hear it from me…” She chuckles.
“I’ll look after her, Shelley. You have my word.”
“Good. Then if that’s the case, looks like you and me will become firm friends.”
“I’d like that.” I nod, and just like that, Shelley and I shift, no longer just colleagues, but something sturdier. A quiet alliance. A shared promise to look after the woman we both adore.
She gives me a small smile, the kind that says I’m watching you, but I’m rooting for you too. Then she grabs her files and walks out the door, and my heart feels full.
I head down to the foyer at the end of my day, exhausted from the all-day meeting and hungry to see my girl. The elevator doors open to the foyer, and like the universe heard my thoughts, she’s right there, standing at the guard desk.
“Hey, you.” She grins wide, looking up at me, and in an instant, all my stress leaves my body.
“Hey, you’re still here?” I look around, seeing the lobby now almost empty, night having fallen and not many others around.
“Yeah, just finished up. Was just chatting with Frank here.”
I force my eyes to move from her and look at the security man behind the desk.
“Frank,” I say and stretch out my hand to shake his.
“Sir.” His response is wooden, and I see Jessica grin out of my peripheral.
