I ran back to my office, smiling like a devious fool at the plan I concocted despite the warning I gave myself. I shoved my panties aside and dipped a finger inside myself, relishing the tiny bit of relief it brought me. With the other hand, I took a picture and sent it to him.
Claire: You can’t say things like that and expect me to work. I can’t control myself.
Mason: Don’t play with me, Claire. Tonight, that’s mine.
I went to the bathroom and washed my hands. As much as I wanted to finish the job, I had actual work to do. The hallway to the bathroom connected directly with the atrium and as I stepped out of the bathroom, I could have sworn I saw a shadow moving across the floor beneath the skylight.
Very slowly, I crept toward the open space, looking around for what might have caused it. I didn’t see or hear anything out of the ordinary. While my skin prickled uncomfortably, I assumed it must have been something passing overhead, a large bird perhaps.
I finished the opening tasks with a hint of wariness and unlocked the door to find Emma waiting on the steps. “Morning, Claire.”
“Morning, Emma. Let’s get to work,” she bopped in with an extra spring in her step. Her cheeks were rosy like she got an exceptional night’s sleep, and a thorough fucking beforehand. I considered telling her about the shadow and the unsettled feeling I had, but I decided not to dampen her good mood. It was probably nothing.
“Did you get what you were looking for last night?” she asked me with a tilt of her brow.
“Close enough, but I’m sure our date tonight will fill in the blanks.”
“So, you found out enough to tell if he’s bullshitting you?” she put her hand on her hip, to show me she meant business.
“I did.” I couldn’t help the pleased smile on my face. I didn’t discover all of his secrets, but certainly more than he would be expecting. If he planned to continue the ruse about his name he would be in for a rude awakening. “Did you get what you were looking for last night?”
She pulled her fingers through her silky strawberry blonde locks, “Am I that obvious?”
“You are.” I teased as I pushed a piece of brown hair out of my face and went to work on the bulletin board. It took up nearly an entire wall. All the postings had dates for when they should come down and I had an enormous stack of new things going up, stamped and approved for posting.
She followed closely behind me, on silent feet—she had an uncanny way of sneaking up on a person.
“I understand why you’re still seeing him, you know. I was here when he visited you, remember? He’s not just hot, Claire. He’s magnetic...” she trailed off with something like stars in her eyes, “I wanted you to know, I’m not judging you.”
“I appreciate that.” I started pulling down flyers, wondering if I made a mistake in opening up to her. Mixing business and my personal life never worked out well for me before.
She sensed my hesitance and immediately tried to smooth things over. “Anyway, the guy I saw last night is named Steven, and he is scrumptious. He’s a linebacker, and I met him at the game last week. We only have one thing in common, but we sureget along, if you catch my drift,” she wiggled her eyebrows at me, and I gave her an indulgent smile before rolling my eyes. Yeah, I liked her too much to regret my actions.
“I’m glad you’re having fun with Mr. Right Now.”
“I am, butyou’rein pretty deep,” she leaned against the wall with cool confidence, like she held the secrets of the universe.
“Am not,”
“Do you think he’sthe one?”
I scoffed at the ridiculous question. “How would I know?”
“That’s the thing about love: it’s irrational, and the people in it are often the last to realize,” I was close to it, sure, but not there yet, and the certainty in her voice grated on me.
“I am not in love.”
“You’re proving my point,” she blew out a dramatic sigh.
“How convenient, a point that is proven no matter what I say,” I pulled down a flyer with a bit more force than necessary.
“Convenience is important.” She tried hard to stifle a laugh.
“Get working, Emma,” I snapped, but my voice lacked any anger, coming out more like an admission of guilt.
“Of course, boss. I’ll start on the returns,” she giggled as she walked away and left me to my task. I wished I could say things were peaceful without her pestering me, but her words stuck in my head. Falling for Mason would be all too simple. I clung to the edge with sweaty fingers that ached to touch him. Once I slipped, he could break me with ease. More doubt replaced the calm acceptance I felt earlier.
I pushed Mason out of my thoughts. If I didn’t obsess over him, Emma wouldn’t have more ammunition to tease me with. I focused on all the old fliers as I took them down. They reminded me of my time in City Hall. All the irrelevant bits of information lacked a purpose, but they were meaningful in their own way. Although I no longer considered those eight months the best of my life, I still cared for them deeply.