The thought hit me that I wanted to give her everything. Starting with something simple.
My hand went to my pocket. “Lexi,” I said, pulling my wallet from my pocket. She tensed, arms folding across her chest as I held out a black Amex card. “Take this. Go on a shopping spree, and buy extravagant new work clothes, party outfits, and anything else you want. Next time we go to a party together, you get to pick what you wear.”
A small smile tipped up the corners of her lips. She reached for the card this time, pressing her fingers around the edges of the plastic card. “You’re really not going to have a say in what clothes I wear when we go out? Not even the color?” she asked, putting her arms around my neck. “Or the neckline.”
I groaned at that thought, putting my lips to her cleavage as she leaned in and held me close. “You’d better buy jewelry to go with that,” I said, kissing the dip in her cleavage and the curve of her breasts, pulling her closer. “The only condition is that it has to be extravagant, and expensive.” I breathed in her cherry and jasmine scent as I snuggled in between her breasts.
This felt oddly intimate, and I needed to stop it. My brain had already told me so. My body … just wasn’t up for listening to its commands for once.
It didn’t matter why. What did matter was that I wanted more time with Lexi. Just a little more, if possible.
I needed to get control over this situation. Eventually.
I was just giving myself a little more time to enjoy it before I destroyed it.
“Shopping does sound good,” Lexi said softly, her lips brushing my forehead before she claimed my card. “I bet thegirls would love to join me. But I’ll make you a deal. I’ll only spend your money if you don’t fire Cade. He just had a baby, Jonah. Whatever mistakes he’s making, cut him some slack. New parents are barely human.”
I looked at her with reluctant admiration. She had me completely wrapped around her finger, and we both knew it.
The moment she left, I texted Kacie.
JONAH
Cancel Cade’s termination. Give him a written warning instead. Don’t ask what changed my mind. Also, schedule a meeting to review our parental leave policy.
KACIE
Okay
33
LEXI
Stacey didn’t show up all week and wasn’t online either.
The following Wednesday, I’d texted her, and she’d left me a cryptic message that she would be in to work as soon as she could.
Something’s come up. I can’t ignore it.
I frowned, wondering what could be going on, but determined to get started on the design document. It made no sense for either of us to lose our jobs over this and Rafael’s bad mood. I had some ideas on how to get started, and if anything, it would help Stacey make progress when she returned.
Even though she had been obvious about her dislike for me, I felt a little disturbed by her absence.
Why wasn’t she here? Even Rafael had no idea why she wasn’t in all week.
A day later, on Thursday, Brian said he’d heard from her briefly—that she was taking a few unexpected days off, but didn’t explain why.
I was relieved that we’d heard from her and that she was fine, even if she wasn’t communicating with me.
I’d made some progress on the design document the night before, and I noticed Rafael’s email with an update. He’d noticed that Stacey was originally supposed to work on the design document, but had now reassigned the task to me. He stopped by my desk later on his way to lunch with a few other managers.
“Why didn’t you tell me it wasn’t your task?” he demanded when I heard his footsteps and spun around in my chair. “Anyway,” he said, barreling on when I opened my mouth to explain, “it’s yours now. I don’t know what’s up with Stacey. She’s requested time off, but she hasn’t followed through on her emails or updated her tasks. Get the document done, Lexi. If it goes well, you could present it to senior leadership. The top brass will be there.”
I understood the subtext. If I could demonstrate that I was on top of things, management might offer me a full-time role on the team.
“Is Stacey okay?” I asked, worried for her.
Rafael shrugged. “Who knows?” he said, waving as he joined the other men for their networking lunch.
