Just when I think I’m about to get some reprieve, another blonde head pops in. I control my internal grimace as Tabitha doesn’t knock and just sits in the chair across from my desk.
“Sharon says she won’t expense my dinner with Hampton Athletics,” she says, sliding over the receipt to me. My eyes bulge when I look at everything that was consumed and I blink at her.
“Tabitha, this bill is nearly two-grand. What the fuck?”
“Collin was always big on keeping the customer happy, that’s what I did.”
“They’re not even a big client.”
“Okay, so how do I get this expense?” she says, looking at me petulantly, which I can’t fucking stand. I know that if I say no the whole sales team is going to lose their shit.
“We will expense this, but no additional expense reports except your mileage for the rest of the month.”
“You’ve got to be kidding.” Her mouth is agape, and it’s in that moment I realize why she and Zach are fucking: they’re both a massive pain in the ass.
“No, you can’t expect to be spending large amounts like this for client dinners.”
“This is bullshit, Aiden. Collin wouldn’t blink an eye.”
I sigh and scrub my face, about to tell her to leave me the fuck alone, when a soft voice chimes in from outside of the door. A light knock against the doorframe.
“I’m so sorry to interrupt,” Jessa says.
“Then don’t,” Tabitha says. I have to hold back my irritation with her entitled tone.
Jessa gives her a far friendlier smile than she deserves before looking back at me. “I just got off the phone with the warehouse, there’s been an issue. I’ll transfer them over to your line.”
“Thank you, Jessa. Tabitha, what I said stands, please let Sharon know.” She huffs as she gets up and glares at Jessa before walking away. I’m about to pick up my phone when Jessa winks at me before shutting my office door. Instead of an emergency, there's a text from Jessa.
Jessa: You’re welcome ??
There was no issue at the warehouse?
Jessa: No, thought you could use some help.
Thank you.
I probably look a little too hard at her text message and the fucking winky face she sent me. I’m so totally and completely fucked over this girl, and I don’t know what to do. She’s right, Collin is dead, and he wasn’t a father to her. But why can’t I stop feeling guilty over how beautiful and sweet I find his daughter to be?
Would it be the worst thing in the world to see where this goes? There are few facets, the first being we work together, and the second is my obligation to Collin. But the overwhelming urgency to give into what we both want, which I feel is something we’ve both been craving. There’s a part of me that knows Jessa is what I’ve been missing. The woman who can properly combine the two worlds in which I’ve been separating myself.
Despite my better judgment, I open my office door, if only to have a direct view to watch Jessa work throughout the day. Maybe I should move her to a different cubicle. But then I wouldn’t be able to watch the way she taps her pen against her lip as she thinks, or the way she shifts in that fucking chair.
I sigh, opening a browser and ordering her a new chair that will arrive next week.
I’m so incredibly fucked.
* * *
“It’s hot as a witch’s tit out here,” Sharon complains, causing Penny and Jessa to laugh. Jessa’s eyes crinkle with joy, and I like her looking happy more than I’d like to admit.
“I don’t know that me or my hair will ever get used to this humidity,” Jessa says, taking the hair tie off her wrist and pulling her hair up into a ponytail. Her dark hair slightly curled and sticking to the sides of her face. It’s a casual work event for the Fourth of July and she’s wearing a white and blue striped dress with a pocket that has red stars on it. I feel pathetic paying attention to what she’s wearing, but then again, I notice a lot about Jessa. Especially because it shows off just the right amount of thigh.
It’s even worse when I look up to find her brown eyes meeting mine, she saw me checking her out. I either need to give in and see what this is between us, or I need to find another way to get her off my mind. Because this is getting to be too much—I can barely focus at work somedays. Not even because I’m watching her, but I catch her eyes on me often, and I enjoy it more than I should. I just know this is all going to explode in one way or another.
The line moves and Sharon starts fanning herself dramatically. Jessa gives me a soft look before looking back at the boat.
We rented the yacht with three other companies. So we’re not at capacity, but the boat is filled with far more people than our office and warehouse staff.
