Page 31 of Consumed By You

“I’m giving you my four-weeks’ notice, Benjamin.”

His jaw drops. “What do you mean? You’requitting? Darcy, no. This is good pay! You need to get out of that shitty apartment. We can figure this out.”

It comforts me a little to know he cares about my well-being, even if hedidjust call my apartment shitty. He’s pacing back and forth like a maniac. I exhale, my chest swelling with fear.

“I-I’m feeling something for you that I’ve nevercomecloseto experiencing before, okay?” He stops in his tracks. When he finally turns to me, his eyes are filled with confusion.

“I know if I don’t get out of this now, I’m going to get hurt, Benjamin. You’ve made yourself perfectly clear about where we stand.” I sip in a shaky breath, trying to force the words out. “This is the best choice, for both of us. I will be fine. Don’t worry about me.”

“D-Darcy,” he stutters.

I shut the door in his face.

CHAPTER SIX

I come back into consciousness as angry as I was when I went to sleep. The sun is shining brightly through the window, coaxing me to have a better day, but I will have none of it.

I’m falling for a man who is incapable of returning the same feelings. I’m practically jobless, embarrassed beyond belief. How could I even think I could be with a man like Benjamin Scott? The man who dates supermodels and owns half of New York. I’ll never be right for him.

I grab my computer off of the floor and open it to make sure everything is underway for the fundraiser tonight. As soon as all the emails and calls are made, I stand up and collect my toiletries to go take a shower. I practically faint upon looking at my reflection in the mirror. Hollow, bloodshot eyes gaze back at me, and I know my haggardness is not going to go away for a while.

I open the door and my heart drops when I see him in a blue suit on the couch, sipping a cup of coffee, refreshed as ever.

I wrap my robe tighter around my body. “Hello.”

“Good morning.”

Completely unfazed by my presence, he focuses his attention back onto the computer in front of him. I resist snorting as I head to the bathroom to shower.

As I lather my body with my milk and honey body wash, images of Benjamin on top of me surface in my reluctant mind. Him in between my legs, his hungry eyes watching me come apart. Unable to help it, my hands travel down over my skin and I begin to tease myself, knowing Benjamin is just a couple feet away from me outside this door. Is he thinking about me being in here? Naked?

NO!

I’m immediately snapped out of my daydream and confronted with the hard truth, thus destroying my sexual fantasy.

Sullen, I continue the rest of my shower in a mechanical fashion.

***

“Darcy, did you call the caterer to make sure they’ll be there at four?” he calls out from the living room. This is how our conversation has been all day, neither one of us finding the strength to face each other and act like adults.

This is bullshit. Might as well impress him with my brain while I still can. Maybe he’ll give me a good recommendation when I’m forced to find another alternative to pay my rent.

I take my laptop and go out into the living room. He’s typing away at lightning speed, still on the sofa.

“Yes, they know to be there at four, not five. I also told them to make sure to keep the hors d’oeuvres refrigerated.” I plop down on the love seat across from him.

I could have been fantastic at this job. I could have made tons of money as his assistant if I’d just kept my legs closed. Why did I have to let him seduce me?

“You are proving to be exceptionally good at this job, Darcy, considering you just started.” He takes off his glasses and frowns. “It will be a shame to lose you.”

“Sorry,” I mutter, staring intently at my laptop screen to avoid his gaze.

“Maybe you don’t have to leave the company completely. I could try to find an opening for you somewhere.”

“Thank you, Mr. Scott, but I’ll be fine.”

“I’m offering you a job that would pay you enough to move out of that shithole you live in, and you’re turning it down?”