Page 11

Chapter eleven

M onday morning, Vic stood patiently in the entryway to their apartment, waiting for Paris. He watched as she filled her coffee mug and grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl. She walked over to the sink, gave the shiny red fruit a rinse, and took a small dainty bite out of one side. Juice squirted from the apple as her teeth and lips made contact. He watched as she licked the sweet droplets from her upper lip. How could such a harmless action cause such a huge stir within him?

The weekend had been full of fun and relaxation for the foursome, but Vic was a bit surprised that he and Paris hadn’t spoken a word to one another about their late-night activities. Normally he wasn’t one to dwell, but something about her had hooked him. He could now see the more sensual side of Paris. The hungry carnal energy she brought to the bedroom. Sure, he had taken many one-night lovers, but this was no ordinary feeling following it up. Not even Janel had elicited such a response from him. Their relationship had been casual, or so he believed. Janel had other thoughts on the matter. While they’d never agreed to be monogamous, she apparently thought they were of the same mind. When he realized they, in fact, were not, he ended the relationship.

“Are we ready?” asked Paris, breaking into Vic’s thoughts.

“Yeah. Ready when you are,” he replied.

“Let’s get this over with. Hopefully, there won’t be any negative surprises,” she said.

Vic could hear the anxiety in her voice. He wished he could put her at ease, but he knew anxiety didn’t always listen to reason. He reached for her hand, but she turned away smoothly as if she hadn’t noticed. He watched her hips sway lightly as she marched off toward the elevator. He couldn’t help but stare at her tight, round butt. He felt his groin begin to swell and quickly changed his thoughts to Tom Mariano, the lucky bastard who held Paris’s interest. The thought instantly deflated him.

“Are you coming?” Paris asked, holding the door.

Vic was standing outside the elevator, in a daze. “Sorry. I got caught up in my thoughts for a moment.” He stepped forward into the car. What did Tom have that he didn’t? He, after all, was heir to ADG and Tom was merely a dedicated worker.

“You look angry,” replied Paris. “Did something happen?”

Vic shook his head. “No, everything’s fine. It’s no big deal.” In reality, it was a big deal, but he wasn’t ready to admit it or to succumb fully to his feelings. Especially if Paris was not on the same page.

“You sure you don’t want to talk about it?” she asked.

Shutting her down, he said, “I’m good. I’ll let you know if I change my mind.”

Mya and Chase were chatting in the lobby when the elevator doors opened, and Vic and Paris stepped out.

“Morning!” Chase called out. He seemed happy as usual. “How is everyone?”

“I feel pretty good,” replied Paris. “I slept great. The weekend really helped.”

“That’s super,” he replied with a little too much excitement. He wore a yellow button-down shirt with smiling suns, which mirrored his happy persona.

“What about you, Vic? How are you?” asked Mya, following the question with a yawn.

Vic shrugged. “I can’t really complain, but you look a little tired.”

“Lots on my mind, I guess. Are you both ready for today? Here’s hoping we get some positive news about last week.”

“I concur,” replied Vic.

The group headed off down the block toward the ADG building.

“Now, let’s remember what we discussed over the weekend. Keep your eyes peeled. You never know who might be out to hurt you,” said Chase.

“Yeah,” agreed Mya. “Don’t let your guard down. Don’t get too close to anyone.”

Paris looked at Vic, who gave her a nod of understanding. “We know,” replied Paris.

Together they entered the boardroom. Their families were already seated. They stood in greeting and welcomed them back.

“How was the lake?” asked Dom.

“It was peaceful,” replied Paris. “We hiked, kayaked, and relaxed by the water. I couldn’t have wished for a nicer reprieve.”

“Glad to hear,” said Dom. “Vic, you’re awfully quiet. Did you not enjoy the weekend?”

“On the contrary, I enjoyed it a little too much,” he stated.

Dom’s expression changed to that of interest. “We can discuss that in more detail later.”

Paris blushed and turned away at his comment. Apparently, she wasn’t completely immune to the after feelings of the night they shared.

Nicola passed around two trays of sticky buns while Molly, Dom’s secretary, poured them each coffee, milk, or water. Paris watched her as she moved around the room. She was young and na?ve. Barely nineteen and dressed in what she considered to be professional attire. Her oversized jacket and grey pencil skirt did nothing for her. She often stopped to push up her large round glasses, which kept slipping down her nose. Her dress made her look as if she were middle-aged rather than young and vibrant. Her ashy brown hair looked flat and dull. Paris made a note to pull her aside some time in the future and teach her how to properly dress for success, though she was unsure how much she would be able to help with her clumsy awkwardness. She had already slipped three times and tripped over her hideous black mules, stepping out of one as she tried to regain her composure.

Mya leaned in toward Paris. “Are you watching Molly?” she asked quietly.

“Yeah, she’s a mess, isn’t she?”

“Poor thing. She could be beautiful, but she consistently chooses the wrong clothing for her body. She needs to at least wear things that fit. This look is sloppy. I’m surprised Jessamine hasn’t stepped in,” said Mya.

“Totally agreeing with you. She could also use a little depth in her hair. That ashy tone, though natural, does nothing for her eyes. What are your thoughts?”

“I was thinking maybe we could kill two birds with one stone. Invite her over and do a makeover of sorts and also recruit her to keep an eye out for potential enemies. It might be fun,” said Mya.

“I don’t want her to think she’s a charity case and that we’re attacking her. How do we go about suggesting such a thing?” asked Paris.

“I suppose we could simply ask her to hang out. See if she’s heard the gossip and whether she knows who’s gunning for your jobs.”

“That’s not a bad idea,” replied Paris. “If she helps us, in return, we can reward her by teaching her how to better dress to enhance her features. Though, honestly, I want to help her either way.”

“When should we do this?”

“How about Thursday night? That way, we can give it a little more time to see if any new information presents itself.”

“Sold,” she replied. “I think that’s a great plan. I’ll ask her about meeting on Thursday when we’re finished here. That way, we can get her to pay closer attention to what’s happening in the next few days.”

Hearing the clanking of a glass, Paris turned her attention away from Mya and watched as her slim and willowy mother stood up. Her dark red lips held a warm smile as she looked from Paris to Vic.

“You two have had another wonderful week.” She beamed. “I’m happy to announce that we’re promoting you once again. Congratulations, you’ve made it back to your primary positions. We’ll be watching to see how well you work with the other employees. You have six more weeks to prove to us you want to be here and that you’re team players.”

Nicola stepped back and took her seat while Jessamine stood up from hers. “I agree with Nicola. You’ve both performed well. We’re happy to see you getting along and working with those around you. As a bonus, we’re giving you each five hundred dollars to buy some new business attire since you’ll be meeting with clients and need to look the part.” Jessamine paused to brush her long curly auburn hair away from her face, then focused her gaze on Paris. “I know last week was especially straining on you, Paris, but you stuck with it, and we’re all especially proud of how you handled the pressure. Angela can be a bit tough at times, but you kept your cool.”

Paris grinned triumphantly. “Thanks.” She had no idea that the board realized how obnoxious Angela could be.

Nicola, as if she had read her daughter’s mind, replied, “We asked her to test you to see how you would respond to changes in direction. We’re pleased you didn’t make a scene, and that you continued to do your best to complete each task. I’m sure it wasn’t easy.”

Paris said nothing. She was shocked to find her own mother had asked Angela not to go easy on her, but then she had ended up in the current situation of her own volition.

“We’re prepared to end this meeting early, with the knowledge that you know what you need to do next,” said Dom. “Have a great week, and remember, we’re here if you ever need further guidance.”

“Mya and Chase will be your assistants,” added Mikel. “Best of luck.” He smiled and waved them out of the room, but not before Cristo chimed in.

“Mya, if you’ll stay behind for a moment after the others have left, I need a word with you.”

Mya nodded hesitantly in his direction. Paris watched her friend’s shoulders stiffen in response to his voice. Something wasn’t right.

“Do you want me to wait?” she whispered.

“No. I don’t want to make you late,” replied Mya.

“If you’re sure,” said Paris hesitantly. Even as she said it, she knew she couldn’t leave without her. She had plenty of moments from the previous two years that she needed to make up for. She followed her coworkers out of the room. The board turned to the left while Chase and Vic paused outside the door. Cristo shut the door behind them.

“That was quick,” said Chase. “I didn’t think they’d be so short on words.”

“Shh,” hissed Paris. She had her ear pressed to the door. “I need to find out what’s going on in there. Something’s not right.” She strained to hear what they were saying, but everything was muffled. She moved away from the door, feeling defeated.

“What’s up?” asked Vic.

“I really don’t know, but isn’t it strange how your uncle is calling her aside? She’s not his assistant, nor does she work with him all that closely.”

“Perhaps he’s been put in charge of relaying tasks to her?” said Vic.

“No,” replied Chase. “I’d be aware of it.”

“So, what is it?” asked Vic. Just then, the group heard a loud thud coming from within the

room. Paris jumped. It sounded as if someone had run into the door. “Should we go in there?” she asked.

“No,” said Vic. “I don’t want to do anything to jeopardize our situation.”

“But she might be in trouble,” protested Paris. “What if he’s hurting her?”

“If he was hurting her, I would think she’d have yelled,” replied Chase.

Paris shook her head. She felt helpless. All they could do was wait for Mya to come out, which she did, but a moment later.

Cristo blew past the group, scowling his disapproval toward their loitering, as he retreated. Mya emerged from the room, visibly shaken. Paris stepped toward her. “What happened?”

“I don’t care to discuss it,” she replied. “We need to go. You shouldn’t have waited.”

Vic and Chase looked at each other in confusion, then followed Mya down the hall. Paris brought up the rear. She was lost in thought, trying to decipher the odd situation.

Rushing toward Mya, Paris asked, “Did he hit you? We heard a thud against the door.”

“No,” she replied curtly.

“Then what?” demanded Paris. “What did he do?”

“Paris,” said Mya, “I know you’re concerned, but it’s none of your business. Let it go,” she demanded.

“Whatever.” Paris was disgusted. “You didn’t speak to Molly,” she added.

“Oh, shoot,” replied Mya. “I’ll call her this evening.”

“I can throw in money from my bonus to buy her some clothing,” said Paris.

“Are you sure you want to do that? If you do, it’d probably be best to purchase items beforehand and make it seem as if we’re getting rid of clothing from my closet. That way she won’t feel like a project, right?”

“Yeah. That’s a great idea. This is exciting. I’m feeling a bit blasé regarding my current lifestyle,” she laughed. “Helping someone else out for a change, would be refreshing.”

Paris was thrilled to be back in her own office. How she had missed it so. Everything was as she’d left it, even though Mya had been running things while she was away. Mya knew how Paris worked and that she liked to maintain order.

Looking around her office and seeing it, for what felt like the first time in years, Paris noted that some updates and maintenance were warranted. The vacation photos were a bit dated, and the walls were faded from the sun. How had she not noticed the aging that had taken place? There were cracks in two corners of the room. Her desk lacked luster and either needed replacing or resurfacing, and there was a worn spot in the carpet where the chairs each sat. While she’d maintained her neat and orderly manner, she’d neglected the upkeep.

Paris picked up her phone and dialed Mya. “Hey,” she said when she heard her friend’s answer. “We need to makeover my office too. I can’t believe you let me work in this.”

“You weren’t exactly easy to talk to, Paris,” replied Mya. “Would you have listened to me if I’d brought the updating to your attention?”

“No. Probably not,” she said quietly. “Anyway, I’m seeing it now. Do you think the board will give me money?”

“Call your dad and ask, though I doubt he’ll be compliant. Not until you finish making improvements to yourself and proving you want to be here. Obviously, if you can win the board over, they’ll let you do whatever you want with the office.”

“I guess I can always try,” she said optimistically.

“Okay, let me know how it goes,” said Mya.

Paris hung up the phone and dialed her father.

“Hello?” answered Mikel. “Paris?”

“Yeah, Dad, it’s me.”

“To what do I owe this surprise call?” he asked cheerily.

“I’m wondering if you’d be willing to give me a stipend to update my office?” she asked.

“Ha,” laughed her father. “You know that’s not going to happen.”

“But, Dad,” she protested, “it’d help with my morale and performance.”

“Honey, I’m one of your biggest fans, and I want you to succeed, but this here is tough love. It’s what a parent has to do sometimes. Now, you prove yourself, and I’ll personally give you the money, but right now you are; how should I say this in terms that fit your current temperament? Grounded until further notice.” He laughed.

“Dad! I’m not a child!” she rebuked.

“Darling, your whining says otherwise. I don’t want to treat you like a child, but this is the only way your mother and I felt we would be able to get through to you.”

Straightening up in her chair, Paris replied, “I’m sorry. You’re right. That came off a bit whiny, which was not my intention when I called. I want you to know that I’m serious about making changes. I need to prove myself to you and mom. I’ve got this,” she stated confidently.

“That’s my girl,” he replied. “I believe in you. If you feel you need a small change with the office, why don’t you take a little money out of the clothing fund you were allotted to clean up the walls and make some minor improvements. It’ll be on your own time, though,” he added.

“Okay,” said Paris.

“Love you, honey,” he said and hung up.

Paris looked around the room again. The walls were forest green, and she suddenly hated the color, but she had to let it go. She’d already agreed to put money from her bonus toward Molly, which left little for her own wardrobe updates. The modified office would be a treat and proof that she’d made it back to her old self, the one that existed before Alli’s death, though in all honesty, the original Paris was gone. This Paris was a hybrid rising from the ashes of the past.

Despite the worn state of her office, she was happy to have it. She was no longer under Angela’s thumb. No more coffee runs or working off of Angela’s demands. They were equals, and what’s more, Paris had a better rate of return than Angela could ever hope for.

“Hey, hotshot,” said Tom.

Paris jumped at the sound of his voice. She hadn’t expected anyone to stop by. She turned her chair around to face him. He looked good as always. His black hair was lightly slicked back and a bit disheveled. His normally controlled ringlets were spilling over into his eyes. He was dressed for the gym, and she could see the sweat glistening on his muscular, lean arms and forehead. Even after a workout, the man took her breath away. “What can I do for you?” she asked.

“I thought I’d check-in and see how you’re feeling now that you’re back in your own office again. I’m sure it’s a relief.”

Paris found herself mesmerized by his wide toothy grin and couldn’t help but stare for a moment. Snapping herself back to reality, she said, “Yes, indeed. It’s nice to be back in my own office. The last few weeks have been hellish.”

“I’m sure,” he replied, running his fingers over the silver apple paperweight that sat on her desk. “Say, would you like to grab an early lunch and discuss the division of clients? I know you want to step up and show the seniors what you’re made of, right?”

Without a second thought, Paris replied, “I’d love to.”

“Wonderful,” said Tom. “Meet me at eleven in the café.”

“Gladly,” she said and watched him as he triumphantly walked away. The day is off to a great start , she thought.

In the office up the hall, Vic was off to a rough beginning. Walking into the building, he’d collided with one of the mail runners, which sent his coffee flying every which way. His shirt took the brunt of the overflow, and unfortunately, it was quite obvious from the looks of the coworkers he passed as he trudged onward to his office. When he opened the door, he found that Chase, while neat in appearance, was not neat when it came to small spaces. His desk was covered in files and stray papers. Grabbing his phone, he pounded in Chase's number.

“Howdy,” replied Chase. “What’s up?”

“What did you do to my desk?” growled Vic.

“What do you mean?”

Vic was shocked that Chase’s response was so innocent. Was he truly oblivious to the way he was running the office? “There are papers and files everywhere. I don’t know where to begin with cleaning this up. You need to get over here now and sort things out.”

“You best watch your tone, and don’t get your knickers in a twist. I’ll be right over. It’s really not that bad,” he said and promptly hung up.

“Not that bad? Seriously? I wonder what his condo looks like?”

“Hey, Ettienne, you talking to yourself?” asked Angela.

“Please call me Vic. You know I don’t care for my formal name,” he replied irritably. He didn’t care how hot she was. No one but his family could call him Ettienne, and even they avoided it unless they were angry.

“Vic, sorry,” she corrected and then confidently marched into his office.

Turning his attention to her, he had to focus hard to keep his jaw from dropping. There she was in her black cage stilettos and a short green cotton skirt with a low-cut flowy blouse and her ample bosom nearly popping out. Surely there was a law against dressing so provocatively at work. To make the situation even more scandalous, she hopped up and sat herself down right in the middle of his messy desk. Crossing her legs, she smiled at him and licked her shiny pink lips.

“How’s your day going so far?” she asked as if she had no idea.

“Chase’s killing me. My desk’s a mess. I don’t know where to start. Some mail runner slammed into me on top of it all, and my coffee spilt all over my shirt. I didn’t bring a spare, so you can guess how that makes me feel.”

“Come over here,” she said softly as she waved him toward her.

Moving slowly, he paused a couple of feet away. The woman had a devilish look in her eye, and he was certain she was trouble.

“Closer,” she encouraged.

Vic took another hesitant step forward, and to his surprise, she wrapped her legs around him and grabbed onto his shirt, yanking him even closer. Starting at the top, she undid first one button and then another until his bare chest was exposed. He stared at her, unable to breathe for a moment.

“Take it off,” she commanded.

“Um, don’t you think we should at least shut the door?” he asked.

“Vic, stop screwing around. Take the shirt off. I’ll get you a different one,” she replied as she pushed him away and hopped down from his desk.

He removed the shirt and held it out to her, speechless. She grabbed it out of his hand and left him standing in silence with nothing to show but a raging boner.

“Hey, Vic,” called Chase.

Oh shit, thought Vic. Oh shit, shit, shit. “Give me a minute,” he replied awkwardly.

“Where’s your shirt?” asked Chase.

“Seriously, Chase, I need a minute. Go outside, walk around the block of desks, and come back.”

“But I thought you wanted me to sort your desk?” he asked cluelessly.

“For the love of God, please, go!” growled Vic. He was losing his temper, which also was helping him lose something else.

Chase disappeared from the room, and Vic walked over to take a seat in his desk chair. He immediately realized that his response was not helpful to his current life situation. He would have to apologize when Chase returned. Not a moment had passed, and Angela was back with a baby blue dress shirt. It wouldn’t have been his first color choice, but it would have to do.

“Here,” she said. “This should fit you.”

“Thanks,” he replied as he snatched the shirt out of her hand and hurried to button it up. She left the room without further conversation. Vic felt perplexed by her demeanor. He didn’t want to know where the shirt had come from for fear that it was some ex-boyfriend's, or even worse, her own. His ego was bruised enough.

Chase popped his head back into the room. “Is it safe to come in now?”

“Yes,” replied Vic. “Sorry about that. I didn’t mean to snap at you. It’s been a rough morning, and the situation was beyond awkward. Please don't ask. I don’t want to go into any detail.”

“I’ll let it slide this time, but you really need to work on your temper. That’s a huge part of what got you into this mess to begin with.”

“Trust me. I know.” He watched as Chase shuffled and sorted through the files. In only five minutes, he’d organized and put each file into its proper slot in the file cabinet. “I guess it wasn’t so bad after all.”

“No, it wasn’t,” said Chase sharply. “Geez, what do you take me for, some ignorant slob? Normally I don’t leave files lying around, but Tom needed something at the last minute on Friday, and you all were waiting for me to head out. I didn’t have time to put everything back.”

“Again, I apologize. I’ve judged too quickly, and I’m sorry.”

Chase paused to consider Vic’s statement. “I don’t want to pry, but have you looked into anger management, or maybe some grief counseling? There’s no shame in talking to someone.”

Vic stared back at him. He knew he should go but he didn’t want to.

“You know,” said Chase, “attending counseling might help put you in good graces with the board.”

Letting out a deep sigh, Vic said, “Set it up. Preferably for Friday, so I don’t have to come back to work angry.”

“Really?” asked Chase. He was excited that Vic was willing to take a chance and do something therapeutic for a change.

Vic nodded. “Really. I want to do everything the board has mentioned to get back to normal in my crazy life, so set it up, and I promise I’ll go. If at all possible, find someone who specializes in grief and anger, that way, I can explore both scenarios,” he said with a sarcastic wave of his hand. What harm could it do?

“Great,” said Chase. “I’ll see about a Friday, or perhaps Monday morning before the board meetings, because the counselor will help you sort how the prior week went,” he thought out loud. “I’m so happy for you! This is a big step.”

“You can be happy if it actually helps,” he replied. “Oh, and don’t tell anyone, except my father and mother, that I’m going.”

“My lips are locked shut, and you can have the key,” he laughed as he exited Vic’s office.

What a funny dude, thought Vic, as he closed the door behind him.

Paris arrived at ten to eleven and took a booth inside Alli’s Tanzanite Fields Café, on the opposite side of Sense of Adventure from their coffee shop, Java Dough. She loved the quaint little café, which she helped design and decorate in memory of her sister, who loved Mediterranean cuisine. The endeavor had been rough, as it came around only six months after her sister's death, but she wanted to make her proud, so she pushed through and created something amazing as a memorial for her.

The café offered small plates ranging from cheeses and olives to fish, rice, and assorted fruits. All of the meals were simple yet satisfying. Alli had chosen the Mediterranean way of eating, and she had been quite healthy because of it. Paris wished she could commit to such a lifestyle, but her motivation had been derailed by the loss of her sister. Some days it took all of her energy to simply get out of bed.

“Ah, you are here,” said Tom, breaking into Paris’s thoughts. “What are we having?”

“I haven’t ordered anything yet, but I’m thinking about some olives and cheese along with a salad. What do you normally order?”

“I’ll probably go with a salad as well. Whatever today’s special is.” He swept into the seat across from her and pulled some papers out of his briefcase. “With all the changes taking place over the past few weeks, Angela and I have had to deal with most of your case files. I took yours, and she took Vic’s. Chase and Mya helped, but we didn’t feel comfortable letting them take the lead on anything.

Now that you’re back, I’ve chosen a couple of files to get started. I’m sure you’d like to jump in full force, but I’ve been told to give you some smaller clients to see how you handle yourself.”

“What? Seriously?” blurted Paris. “Who told you not to give me back my prior clients? I’ve been doing this for a few years. Why on Earth would anyone think I couldn’t handle my usual caseload?”

“The entire board agreed. I tried to talk them into letting you resume the files you had previously, but they thought starting slowly was the best answer. Don’t worry, I’m sure things will go back to normal in a week or two.”

“This is crap,” snapped Paris. “I mean seriously—a load of B.S. I should just leave and start over. No one is backing me.” Paris knew she was pitying herself, but at that moment, she struggled to care. How could they do this to her? She worked her way back here, and now she couldn’t even resume what she loved. How maddening.

Tom frowned. “Come on. Don’t get so down on yourself. I believe in you. I know what will cheer you up. Let’s go to dinner tomorrow night. We can hit that wine bar you like and let off some stress. What do you say? Join me?”

His eyes sparkled as he looked at her, waiting for the answer. Was he asking her out on a date? Rethinking the situation, she said, “Is this pity or something else?” She watched as one side of his mouth raised into a smirk.

“Do you doubt me?”

“Tell me,” she urged. “Why?”

Leaning back in his chair, he stretched his arms out and said, “We’ll call it something else. Just say you’ll come.” Leaning in, he arched his eyebrow and said, “If you come out with me, I’ll give you a third client back.”

Charming, thought Paris. Her lust for him, as well as for gaining back her clients and a little piece of normalcy, had her agreeing to his request. “Okay. You have a deal.” In response, Tom handed her three files. Her heart fell. None of them were more than a couple of days of work.

At the end of the workday, Vic met Paris by the doors and walked with her toward home. “How’d your day go?” he asked with genuine interest.

“It’s become clear that we’re once again the babies of Sense of Adventure. I’ve never felt more rejected, and out of place as I did today with the piddly clients Tom gave me. None of them were previous files. They were all new and small beans. I knocked one of them out this afternoon. It was a themed birthday party for a six-year-old. A six-year-old! I can plan that in my sleep, for heaven’s sake.”

“I know how you feel. Angela told Chase which files to give me. Of the five, none were major accounts.”

Paris stopped walking and stared at him. “Five? You got five cases? Tom was only going to give me two. He told me that the directive was straight from the board. I had to agree to go to dinner with him in order to get a third.”

“I have no idea. Chase handed me the files and said he was instructed that these were the files I would work on this week. He said nothing about the board. Maybe we’re being held to separate standards?”

“Maybe,” she sighed. “This is frustrating.”

“Or,” said Vic as he reached out and grabbed her hand, “maybe he lied to you? Has he ever shown interest before this point? I mean, he basically bribed you, right?” He stared back at her with concern.

“No,” she rejected, throwing his hand down. “He wouldn’t lie to me about the files. What reason would he have? That’s an idiotic assumption. And I wouldn't call it a bribe. He's just being nice and trying to cheer me up.” Turning on her heel, she marched off, leaving him standing alone.

“It was simply a consideration. Maybe he doesn’t want you to succeed.” He called after her. He was hurt by Paris’s reaction. He would never say so, but he didn’t like how it felt to be rejected by her. How could she trust Tom more than him at this point?

By Tuesday’s end, Paris was nearly finished planning all of her client’s events. The only step left was to run the plan past her clients and then finalize and sign contracts with all the vendors. The process was quick, since Mya had already ironed out the main details, and Paris merely had to track down the specifics from each vendor. She wished she’d been given an adventure to plan, but Tom had commented about how that was more intense and wouldn’t be suitable for her, as she had just gotten back in the saddle and adventure planning required a lot more time and focus.

Sitting down at her desk, she sipped on a cup of green tea with honey. She thought about her discussion with Vic the prior afternoon. Was he showing feelings for her? She couldn’t see how it was beneficial to either of them. Paris knew his interest rarely lasted more than a week, and he often had up to four women on the hook at once. She could not allow herself to have feelings for someone as careless as he.

What’s more, if she were to fall for him, and then he broke her heart, they would still have to work together on a daily basis. How unbelievably awkward would that be? On the upside, he would most likely lose interest by the week's end, so she wouldn’t have to worry about it any longer. With that realization, she breathed a sigh of relief.

Looking up from her desk, she noticed Tom in the hall. He was carrying his briefcase, which meant he was going home to get ready for their dinner meeting. She’d have to abandon the remains of her tea and high-tail it on out of there to be ready when he arrived to pick her up.

Pushing away from her desk, she stretched deeply. Her body was not used to sitting so much as of late. Scanning her files, she looked to see if she’d left anything important unattended, but everything appeared to be in order. Her eyes moved over to the picture of Alli and Brody, and she stopped to admire her sister’s beautiful smile. Brody was pushing Alli on a swing at the park, and you could see the love in their eyes. Gently touching her lips, Paris kissed her finger and then pressed it to Alli’s cheek. “If you’re out there somewhere, I could really use your guidance on how to get back to my old life. I miss you.” Turning away, she headed out the door. She’d only taken a few steps when a friendly voice flagged her down.

“Hey, Paris,” called Mya. “Are you done for the day?”

Paris turned to look at her friend, who was rushing up from behind her. “Yeah, are you heading out too?”

“Probably in an hour. I have something I need to take care of,” replied Mya. “What’s your evening looking like? Want to hang out later?”

“Tom asked me to dinner. Work stuff, I think.”

“Or maybe more?” teased Mya. “Let me know how it goes.”

“Okay, we’ll catch up later,” she said and turned toward the main exit.

Mya stood and watched Paris disappear. She was nervous and glad to keep her conversation with her friend short. She knew Paris could see right through her, and she couldn’t handle any more questions. Marching over to the elevator, she pressed the button for the executive floor. The door opened, and she forced herself to get in. Cristo had requested she meet him after work in his office. He definitely had an agenda. She was not sure how she felt about it.

Over the past few months, Cristo had been pursuing Mya, and Mya had consistently rejected dating him. She had no desire to be in a serious relationship with someone as powerful as him. If things went south, she feared losing her job. She loved her job and the company. The executives were as much her family as they were Paris and Vic’s, minus Cristo. Cristo was far from parental to her. Their relationship was becoming more intense as time went on. Something had to change, but she was unsure which direction it needed to go, which made her feel uneasy.

Exiting the elevator, Mya noted that the floor appeared to be desolate. It was six o’clock, and everyone seemed to have left for the evening, which increased the size of the knot in her stomach. Earlier in the day, Cristo had thrown a tantrum when she rejected his request to meet her this evening, which provoked him to pound his fist on the boardroom door. Out of fear of making an even larger scene, she agreed to continue the conversation later that evening, as he had requested from the start.

Approaching his office, she paused for a moment to gather her composure. She had no idea what to expect, but she’d put up a wall and remain strong. She was a lady, and she had clout. She couldn’t give in to whatever he was looking for. Moving forward, she knocked on his door.

The door swung open, and Cristo met her with a grin. “I knew you’d come,” he said.

Mya stared at him. He wreaked of Scotch. “How much have you had?” her tone overflowed with disgust. You know I don't like talking to you when you've drunk so much,” she added, playing into the tone he had set.

“Only a few,” he replied, “but that’s the least of your concerns. Come inside.” He motioned.

She hesitantly stepped forward, and he closed the door, locking it behind her. She noted that all the blinds were drawn.

“Sit down on the couch,” he barked. “I have something to say.” He stepped forward and nudged her toward the couch.

Mya took a seat. “What do you want?” she asked, hoping he’d get to the point quickly so they could move forward with their evening.

“Now, Mya,” said Cristo, shaking his finger at her, “you’ve turned me down multiple times,” he slurred. “I’m a rich and powerful man. Why do you hurt me like that? You know I can give you whatever you want, and you wouldn’t even have to work anymore. Why do you want to hurt me? We both know you’re more than interested.”

“Cristo, you aren’t my type,” she replied flatly. “And you drink too much.”

“Well, that’s just mean,” he replied slowly. “Isn’t there anything I can do to get you to take me more seriously? I’ll treat you well.” Turning, he poured himself and her a drink. Sloshing Scotch over the sides of the glass, he handed it to Mya. “Whatta ya say? You want to change your mind and go on a couple of actual dates with me?” he urged. “Or do I need to show you how serious I am?”

“You couldn’t pay me to change my mind,” she replied coyly.

“Mya!” yelled Cristo as he threw his glass of Scotch to the floor. The crystal shattered, and pieces flew in every direction.

Always so dramatic, thought Mya as she watched him shuffle the pieces toward his metal garbage can. “Be careful. You don’t want to cut yourself,” she said with concern.

He turned to look at her. “See, there it is,” he stated. “Those feelings you try to hide. You can’t hide from me. I know you. Eventually, things will have to change.”

Mya inched backward, trying to put more distance between herself and Cristo. She dared not let him get too close for fear of what the result would be.

“You’re going to be my girl,” he said more calmly. Walking over to his desk, he picked up a file and held it in the air. “Do you know what this is?” he asked, waving it back and forth. Not waiting for a response, he said, “This is the end.”

“The end of what?” chirped Mya.

“The end of Paris and Vic’s time at ADG and Sense of Adventure. This file holds information on them that, when given to the press, will force the board to remove them from the business, as well as the family, permanently.”

Mya’s face contorted into a look of horror. Licking her lips, she asked, “Why would you want to do that?” He had to have come up with this scenario after he’d begun drinking , she thought.

“Because, my dear, I have my agenda, which you need not know about. The question is, do you want to be a part of this or go down with a sinking ship?”

Mya shook her head. “I, I don’t know,” she replied innocently. “I don’t understand. Why would you do this to your own family?”

Cristo shook his head again. “It’s of no importance,” he replied and then paused for a moment as if he was in deep thought. “There might be a way for you to help them,” he replied. A smile crossed his lips. “Just give yourself to me, and I’ll make this file disappear.”

“What? No!” she yelled. “Absolutely not!”

“Well then, my dear, you’ll go down with them. I know about that male prostitute you slept with last March. You’ve been such a naughty girl,” he commented slyly.

“What? I don’t know what you’re talking about!” she replied, but in reality, she knew exactly what game he was playing. She watched as he turned away from her momentarily to address something on his desk. She rolled her eyes. This wasn’t exactly how she’d envisioned the evening going.

“I have pictures,” he said, “would you like to see?

“You’ve had me followed? You asshole!”

“So simple,” he yawned. “I had to make sure you were staying out of trouble, but low and behold, you weren’t. You really ought to be punished.”

“What do you want, Cristo?”

“You. I only want you. Be with me, and all of this disappears. Show up with me to events. Look pretty and adore me. If you can do that, it all goes away. If not, I send it all to the media, and they do what they want with it. Most likely, it all comes out as a scandal within ADG, and the company takes a hit.”

“You’re a complete scoundrel. I can’t believe I ever thought there was a good guy in there somewhere. What will your brother say? How could you hurt your own family?”

“Dom would probably be impressed. Anyway, I own you, baby, get used to it,” he said with a lopsided grin. “Now, take the night to think about it, but I trust you’ll make the right decision.” Turning, he opened the door and held his hand out, motioning her to leave. He slapped her on the butt as she passed by him, and she jumped a little at the impact. “This will be fun. You’ll see.”

“I’m counting on it,” she replied as she walked away. She couldn’t help but grin. Definitely not the encounter she’d thought of in her head, but anything to avoid the inevitable a little longer. He was right. Something had to change.

Across town, Paris and Tom had arrived at the Zen Omni Lotus, a Japanese fusion restaurant located in downtown Flores. Tom had opened her door upon entry and exit of the vehicle, as well as to the restaurant. He ordered a bottle of Pinot Noir, poured her a thoughtful amount, then toasted to a beautiful new start regarding her return to Sense of Adventure. Overall, it seemed he was trying to be a gentleman.

Paris felt overwhelmed, and his gestures were easily seducing her. If it was intentional, she couldn’t say. She took a sip of wine and listened to him talk about climbing Mount Everest when he was in his twenties. She found the story interesting but unimpressive. To her, climbing Mount Everest was simply putting one’s self in unwarranted danger. She believed anyone who did so had either a death wish or an inflated ego. As Vic had hinted, Tom had the latter, but she still found him unbelievably attractive. She hoped that if given a chance to know him better, she’d find he had more depth.

“Have you ever thought about climbing Everest?” he asked hopefully.

“Only every night when I dream,” she lied and followed it with an invested laugh.

Changing the subject, Tom leaned forward and gently grabbed her hand. “You’re gorgeous. Do you know that?” he asked.

“Tom, stop,” blushed Paris. “You’re making my face turn red, which is not attractive.”

“No, you stop. You’re amazing. From the moment I first saw you, I thought to myself, Tom, that girl is the most beautiful woman at Sense of Adventure. You would be crazy not to have her by your side.”

Clearly, they were on a date, realized Paris. “So, why didn’t you ask me out sooner?”

“Work got in the way. I didn’t want you to think I was trying to gain ground within the company by asking you out. As time went by, I worried it would be a risky situation if things didn’t work out.”

“Why change your mind now?” she prodded.

“Life’s too short. I figure we’re at the top of the food chain, and we’re two of the most beautiful people at work, so why not give it a shot?” He chortled.

“Sure, why not?” Paris couldn’t believe he was showing genuine interest in her. She’d dreamt of this day for a very long time.

The evening continued on with Tom telling her all about his impressive travels and Paris volunteering information about herself and her education whenever she could get a word in. He loved to talk, but she didn’t mind. It was nice to be out of her condo, having an adult conversation with someone other than Vic.

At the end of the night, when Tom opened the door to let her out of his car, he grabbed her waist and pulled her to him. Pressing their bodies firmly together, he kissed her gently on the lips. The kissing continued slowly and rhythmically for a minute until Paris pulled back for air. She saw stars and her knees felt uncharacteristically weak. He’d taken her breath away, and she had no memory of ever feeling such strong lust before.

“Goodnight, Paris. We should do this again soon,” he said and nodded his head to her as he disappeared back into the car.

Turning away, she floated all the way up to her condo. She was in such a warm place in her mind that she didn’t even notice Vic sitting on the sofa or that he called out her name as she passed by on her way to her room.

Vic shook his head. He was done. If she was going to ignore him, he was done. He wouldn’t show her the soft side of himself any longer. He felt like an idiot. Only an idiot would be so easily forgotten.

Turning off the living room light, he got up and trudged down the hall to his room. Perhaps a good night’s sleep would make him feel better, but somehow, he doubted it.

The next morning, Paris got up early and went for a run. Vic had made the same decision, though they had turned in opposite directions as they’d exited the building. At some point during their separate runs, the pair had turned off at the same street, and as Paris came around the corner, she and Vic nearly collided.

“Hi,” he called out. “How’s it going?”

“Fine,” she replied as she tried to catch her breath. She’d been running at full speed, trying to burn off the excited energy from the previous night.

“What’d you do last night?” he asked, matching her stride.

“I went on a date with Tom.”

“Oh, super,” he replied. “That explains why you were so out of it when you came home.”

Paris looked at him with confusion. “I wasn’t out of it.”

“Really? Tell me, Paris, where was I last night when you arrived home?”

“You were in bed,” she shot back.

“Nope. I was sitting on the couch. I even called out your name, but you ignored me.”

“Bull,” she said. “I would’ve seen you.”

“Apparently not. You’re too absorbed in your own world once again.”

“At least I’m happy, which is more than I can say for you. You just mope around all the time, and whenever someone doesn’t do as you expect, you bite their head off.”

“Maybe we should finish this run separately,” he declared as he turned away from her in frustration. There it was again. He felt as if his emotions might boil over.

“Jerk,” muttered Paris. She didn’t understand what his problem was. It’s not like they were in a relationship with each other. Her feet pounded the pavement as she retreated. By the time she had arrived back at the apartment, Vic had already showered and left for work. It was comforting to have the place to herself.

“Hurry, Paris. She’ll be here shortly,” said Mya. She’d been on edge ever since her meeting with Cristo. He hadn’t called on her yet, but she knew he would, and when he did, she didn’t know what to expect. The waiting was causing irritability, which was not a normal Mya trait. They still hadn’t discussed the matter at hand. His avoidance was giving her anxiety.

“Are you okay?” asked Paris. “I feel like there’s something you’re holding in. What is it?” she queried as she tapped her foot.

“It’s nothing. There’s nothing to tell,” Mya snapped.

“I know this isn’t you, but I’ll let you talk when you’re ready.” She didn't know what had gotten into the girl, but she was pretty certain that it involved the situation with Cristo. She wished her friend would come clean.

“Great, thanks,” she replied. “I just want everything in place before Molly arrives. I hope the clothes we picked will fit her properly.

Wednesday night, Paris and Mya had gone shopping to pick up some new items for Molly’s wardrobe, along with makeup and a few other things. Paris spent four-hundred of the five-hundred dollars she’d been given on Molly. She then bought herself a couple of new but inexpensive items to add to her business attire. She was okay with holding back if it meant helping out a coworker and having someone else to watch her back.

Molly showed up for their girls' night, grinning wildly. She’d never been to Mya's condo before, and truth be told, she’d never had a makeover. The girls explained to her that, as Dom's personal assistant, she really needed to look professional and that her current clothing, which was much too big for her, made her look uninvested in her job. They convinced her the new clothing was secondhand, which helped ease any sense of charity.

Despite the desire to recruit Molly's eyes and ears within the company, Paris found that the girl actually had a great sense of humor. She fit right in with her and Mya. She could see making their get-togethers a more regular occurrence.

To help keep up the guise of being a makeover night, Paris gave Mya a facial, and Mya gave Paris a manicure while Molly tried on clothes. The clothing all fit well, and it was true, Molly was actually quite beautiful once they put her in properly fitted clothes and cleaned up her hair.

Mya took the time to explain different techniques for styling her hair to look more professional or seductive, depending on her need at any time. Paris dyed Molly’s hair a deeper shade of brown, which made her eyes pop. She also taught her how to apply false lashes and to use her makeup more efficiently. Together with Paris, they discussed the idea of smaller glasses for her tiny face or investing in contacts, so she didn’t have to hide behind her massive rims.

At the end of the makeover session, Paris asked Molly if she could request a favor, to which Molly was more than happy to help. She told them she felt great after the makeover, and wanted to repay them somehow.

“We need you to be our eyes and ears,” said Mya. “Someone is trying to sabotage Vic and Paris. We think it’s most likely to get them out of the company, but we don’t know who’s involved in the situation. Anything you hear or see; you report back to one of us.”

“Sure thing,” said Molly. “I’m glad to help.”

“We appreciate it. Now, go home and get some sleep so you can get up and practice the techniques we taught you before work tomorrow. We want to see you wow everyone when you walk in,” gushed Paris.

“Thanks. I’ll keep you posted on anything I find,” said Molly.

Mya walked Paris and Molly out, and then turning away, she locked the door behind both women. She felt the knot in her stomach again. Her conversation with Cristo was eating at the back of her mind. It was all the things they didn’t say that were the problem.