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I walked into my office, closing the door behind me. I sat at my desk and put my head in my hands. I felt so stupid. There was a reason they said not to mix business with pleasure. There was no way I could continue working with him when I knew what he looked like naked. I had to find someone to take over. It would mean losing the credit for landing such a prominent donor, but I didn’t care.
I picked up my office phone and dialed Shelley’s extension, hoping she was back in the office today and feeling better after yesterday. It rang three times before she picked up.
“Hello?”
“Shelley! You’re back. How are you feeling?”
“Better today. I think it was food poisoning. I’m so sorry for standing you up last night.”
“It’s totally fine.”
If she hadn’t, then I wouldn’t have been in this mess, but I had to let it go.
“Can you come to my office when you have a chance? There’s something I want to run by you.”
“Sure. I can pop over in thirty.”
“Thanks, Shelley.”
For the next half hour, I nursed my hangover with the black coffee in my thermos and snacks from the office kitchen.
There was a knock at my door and Shelley popped her head in. “Hey Addison, what’s up?”
“Come in. Take a seat.” I gestured to the chair in front of my desk.
Shelley looked at me expectantly.
“So, I don’t know if you’ve heard, but we landed Mr. Jacobs as a donor.”
“I heard! That’s huge! Congrats on getting him.”
Oh, how that could mean so many things.
“Uh, right,” I said. “I’m actually wondering if you could take over for me?”
“Wait. Seriously?” Shelley’s eyebrows rose in surprise.
“Yeah, I’m just bogged down with so much work. I just think it would be better for someone else to take him on and give this deal the attention it deserves.”
Shelley eyed me curiously, as if she wasn’t buying it.
“I mean if you don’t want to…” I started, looking thoughtful.
She would be a fool not to take this opportunity.
“No, no. I can do it.” She nodded firmly.
“Great. I’ll send you all the contact info and our email threads. Thank you, Shelley.”
“Thankyou.”
I breathed a sigh of relief as she walked out the door. With relief came a small pang in my heart, knowing that I would no longer have anything to do with Daniel.It’s better this way,I told myself.
For the next few weeks, I threw myself into work. I renegotiated previous agreements with donors, came up with fundraising ideas, and worked out a new quarterly budget. I wanted to look like I was busy so Brian wouldn’t ask any questions about me passing on the deal with Daniel. Thankfully, he didn’t.
I did hear from Shelley that she was working with one of Daniel’s foundation staff members. He had apparently passed it onto them around the same time I had passed it onto Shelley. Clearly, he wanted nothing to do with me. To say it didn’t sting would be a lie. But who was I to say anything? I had done the same.
As much as I didn’t want to, I often thought of our night together. I hadn’t shared what had happened with anyone. Not even Monica. I wanted to hold on to it like a secret because I didn’t want anyone to taint it. Even though it ended the way it did, what I felt in that night was unlike anything I had or probably would experience again. It was a sacred little part of my life I held to, especially on lonely nights.