“You are pierced,” she states. Knowing that she wants some details, I tell her the unvarnished truth.
“Holt dared me to get it done with him. I don’t usually back down from dares,” I shrug as I move to her chin length hair. I shampoo it and rinse it.
“Can you take me to my office this morning,” Meg asks me, as I massage her scalp. I know she is itching to get back to normal. I can’t say that I blame her.
“Sure, I’ll drop you there and come back and work on the Bronco. I should have it done tomorrow,” I tell her.
We finish up in the shower and get dressed. Making our way downstairs we hop in another truck that I am working on. It will get us to her office. It is a bit chilly and rainy this morning and I don’t want to put Meg on the back of my bike.
I drop her off at Doe’s and watch her go inside with her tote bag. I see her head to the counter to talk to Piper. The two animatedly begin a conversation. Feeling good about it, I reverse the truck and head back to the shop.
Chapter 31
Meg
Wow, I can’t believe the last 12 hours. I’m fanning my face as I approach the doors to Piper’s cafe. I know she is going to ask, and I don’t know what I’ll say.He teased me relentlessly, made me come 3 times last night, and then we had hot shower sex this morning?I approach the counter to a smirking Piper.
“Well, well, well, if it isn’t my slutty best friend,” she says jokingly.Is it that obvious?I look around to see who has heard and realize there aren’t many people in here. It is 10:00 AM after all. After the breakfast rush and before lunch.
“Shhhh, don’t be so loud,” I say anyway. Mr. Decker is sitting in the corner and he couldn’t hear well since 1978. Piper says as much to me.
“Well, how was it. I know you got laid last night. I can tell,” she says smugly. I know we are best friends, but I am shocked that she could tell.
“Ugh, yes, fine. I did. It was amazing. Is that what you wanted to hear,” I ask her exasperatedly. Piper laughs at me and I realize she was bluffing. She didn’t actually know anything, she just guessed. I fell right into her trap.
“You bitch,” I say and laugh. She is already making me a coffee and grabbing me a miniature quiche.
“I expect details later, but I know you want to go up to your office,” she says. I nod in agreement with her. She is right, and italso buys me time. I don’t want to kiss and tell too much. I kind of want to keep it to myself.
Taking my paper bag and caramel latte I give her a wave. I make my way up to my office. I unlock it and enter through the door. Placing my bags down on my desk, I walk over to the windows and open the curtains.
I walk into the conference room and do the same. Without the windows open it can be dark inside. While my back is turned, I hear footsteps behind me. Whirling around I look and see a man. He is fairly nondescript. Brown hair, about 5 feet 10 inches tall, and pale looking.Who is this guy?
“Can I help you,” I stutter out. Not sure what to say. I’m trapped in this space. He is blocking the door. If I can get him talking, maybe we can move this out to the main area. Where my cell phone is, and if all else fails the door to escape.
“Can you rewind time Ms. Wilson,” the man asks and takes a step toward me. I’m standing on the other side of the small table. Right now, it is my only line of defense. My eyes are darting around the room trying to come up with something anything.What I wouldn’t give for my trusty umbrella.
“Can you reverse the decision that cost me millions of dollars,” he asks and takes another step. My vocal cords finally decide to participate in this conversation.
“Who are you,” I manage to ask. I thought that Quentin Ashfield was locked up in the county jail. Sterling must have believed it too. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have dropped me off unattended.
“Joseph Brookins,” he answers me. He doesn’t elaborate. I raise my eyebrow in question. Obviously this is not Quentin. Before I can ask another question he begins to speak again.
“It seems that I have had to pay, Mr. Ashfield has had to pay, and now it is your turn,” he says lowly. He takes another step towards me. He has finally reached the edge of the table.
“You see, I’m not in the habit of letting people ruin deals and sabotage partnerships that I have spent years building,” he waves his hand at me.
“And I certainly won’t be bested by some girl, who should stick to social media posts,” he finishes his tirade. Insulting my career is not something that I take kindly too. I work hard, and don’t appreciate his belittling.Great, so not what you should be focusing on right now,my mind scolds me.
“I was hired by the local businesses and chamber of commerce to do a job,” I try to explain to him. Speaking in a calm tone. Hoping to reason with him, I continue.
“I am sorry that your plans didn’t work out, maybe we can come up with an alternative proposal,” I try to bargain with him. I need to get out of this small space. He laughs at the suggestion.
“I don’t want an alternative proposal. I want my original plan. It would have made me millions,” he yells. His mouth open. I feel like everything is happening in slow motion. I can see the spit spraying from his mouth as he speaks.
Suddenly, it dawns on me that I’m standing right above the register in Piper’s shop. If I make enough noise, maybe someone will come. Hoping that she is actually at the register, I put my idea to work.
“I understand, I was just trying to help my community,” I say. I bring my hands up and purposely hit the chair, knocking it over. It hits the floor hard.
