“Of course she did.”
“She mentioned you may need a hand with this business you plan to open, maybe turn one of your rooms into an office? I can help with that.” He smiles. “For free, of course.”
I didn’t think of that, but it would be smart to ask for his help.
“I’ll pay you.”
“I won’t accept.” He smirks. “Look, would you go out to dinner with me? No police involved this time, I swear.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I tell him honestly.
He nods, gives me one of his great smiles, and steps away. “I had to try.” Derek looks behind him. “Until next time, Thea.” He gives me a head nod and walks away. I watch as he slides into his car and drives off.
Going back inside, I call Marissa, and she answers straight away.
“Oh my God, are you coming back? Please… please tell me you are,” she says when I tell her it’s me.
“No, I’m not. But I was hoping you could email me the suppliers email addresses?”
“Umm… okay. Why?” she asks. By the sound of her voice I know she’s baffled.
“I think I may start my own business. Maybe.”
“Thea, oh, God. Yes. That’s such a smart move. You will kill it. Can I work for you when you start hiring?” I laugh. “I’m serious. And did you forget to tell me something?”
I pause and don’t say anything.
“Our boss is your boyfriend?” she whispers. “He was the one at your car that day. Is that why you quit because you don’t want to mix business and pleasure?”
“No.” I cringe.
“Okay, well, he was in, and girl… every girl was drooling over him. I need me one of those… no talking, all brooding types. I bet he is a firecracker in the sack. Does he choke you?”
“Marissa.” My voice goes higher pitched at the end of her name.
“Okay, okay, don’t tell me. Whatever. But I bet his cock is as vicious as that stare he gives anyone but you because I remember the way he looks at you. And girl…” she pauses, “… I want someone to stare at me the same way.”
“You’ll email me the addresses?” I ask, ignoring the remarks regarding Atlas.
“Fine! Yes, of course I will. If I get fired for it, you have to for sure hire me, though.”
“You won’t get fired,” I say. Actually, I have no idea, but I hope she won’t. If she does then I will have to take her on as an employee, I will owe her that much.
“Okay, well, can we meet up soon? We all miss you, and you’ve been gone so long.”
“Yes.”
“Okay, Sydney just walked in and asked for the cell, see you soon, Thea.”
“You are requesting information?” Marissa squeaks, and I close my eyes at Sydney’s booming voice. “Your friend isn’t very quiet about it. Next time, Marissa, shut the door and don’t use the speaker.”
“Yes, Miss.” I hear Marissa say to Sydney.
“Now you… what are you trying to do? Tina mentioned that you will be starting your own business. You want contacts?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, well, you can have them when you come for dinner.”
I freeze at her words. “Um… what?”
“You and me, Tina and Atlas. It needs to stop. You two need to talk, and Tina and I can be the mediators between you two.”
“No,” I say. The word falls from my mouth so fast, I can’t believe I even thought about the question.
“No…” she pauses. “Okay then, well, you aren’t getting shit. And trust me, Thea, you want all these contacts, because they like dealing with you and will give you smaller quantities because they trust you. You will have trouble finding suppliers who will do that for you.”
Dammit! She’s right. Some of my old suppliers, I was their first customer and took a chance on them. I’m sure they will do the same for me in return now.
“Atlas agreed to see me?” I ask.
“He will,” she says as if she knows him. I guess she does. But to sit down and have dinner with us? That I’m not so sure about.
“If he agrees.”
“Good, and Marissa will send you the information once we have dinner and not before.” Sydney ends the call abruptly.
I sit on my couch and look to the floor, where the blood once was, and shiver as I stare at the space. To remember what happened that night does nothing good for me. I can’t sit in this living room for long periods, as all I see is the blood that soaked my floor, even though it’s no longer there.
Picking up my cell, I scroll until I see his number. My heart rate picks up, and I delete it.
After this dinner, which I am not even sure will happen, it will be the last time I ever see Atlas. Hopefully. And then I can be free to get on with my life. Free of a love that was growing so strong for a man who doesn’t deserve my attention.