“I’m leaving.” I head for the door, and halfway down the hallway, she wraps her arms around me from behind.
“I love you. But I’d love you even more if you got a candid snapshot of your boss.”
“Nope. Not happening. I like my job.”
“You’re no fun.”
“Bye, Jude.”
“Ugh. Bye.”
As I navigate my way to the elevator, I’m met with the creepy guy from the apartment four doors down from mine.
“Hello, Aspen.” The way he says my name makes me want to vomit. There’s something innately sleazy about him.
“Hi, John.”
“Off to work?” He takes a step closer.
“Yep.” The doors to the elevator ping open, and my heart sinks. There’s no one in it, which means it’s just John and me.
“Your perfume is really nice.”
“Thanks.” I give nothing more than one-word answers. Most guys get the picture if you don’t indulge in conversation, but not John.
“We should get coffee sometime.”
“I’m pretty busy with work.”
“Don’t you work nights? What about during the day?”
Take the hint.“Thanks for asking, but I’m not dating right now.”
“Oh, you’re one ofthosegirls.”
I’m willing the elevator to go faster. I’m not going to engage whatever toxic shit he’s about to spew at me. There’s nothing Ican say at this point that will be a good enough reason in his eyes.
“You think you’re too good for guys like me who earn an honest living. Let me guess your type. A corporate asshole who’s willing to throw money at you for you to open your legs.”
“Did you just call me a whore?” I know I shouldn’t have opened my mouth, but trying to let a guy down gently and having him insinuate that I’m only interested in monetary transactions is beyond the pale. I’ve dealt with too many men who think their wallet will get them between my legs. “Is that how you square it away in your mind? The possibility that I’m just not interested is too much for your fragile ego. In the future, don’t speak to me.”
The elevator doors open onto the lobby, but before I can get away, he grabs my arm, his fingers digging into my skin. “Why do you have to be such a frigid bitch?”
“If you don’t let go of me right now, I’m going to scream for security and press assault charges.”
“For a harmless hand on your arm.”
“Try me, you creepy fuck. Now. Get. Your. Hand. Off. Me.” He releases me, and I make a break for it, scurrying out onto the street and hailing the first taxi I see. I don’t need John following me to work. My heart is pounding in my chest as a cab pulls up, and I slink inside before he makes it out onto the street.
“Where to?”
“Dulip, please.”
“You got it.”
I sit back and attempt to calm my breathing as the driver pulls out into traffic. Adrenaline courses through my veins, and my arm is tender from John’s vice-like grip. Closing my eyes, I fight back tears. I refuse to shed a single goddamn tear over an asshole like him. That fucker enjoyed exerting his physical power over me. People like him don’t understand that theproblem isthem, not all the women they accost. If he weren’t a loser who disrespects women, maybe he’d find someone who could stand to be around him. Abuse isn’t a turn-on.
By the time the driver pulls up outside of Dulip, I’ve managed to calm my nerves enough to fake it through my shift. All I want to do is go home and wash off the feel of his fingers digging into my skin, but I’ve got a job to do, so I quickly pay and head inside.
