11
Audra
He can't handle it. There's just no way. Derrick Pierce is a playboy. I'm just not sure it's in his nature to date.
I'm in a tight spot here. I only wanted a couple nights of mind-blowing sex with him, but now that Mark opened the door to dating, I think I might be in over my head.
It's Tuesday and I have so much to catch up on. Derrick put on his Mr. Pierce hat and told me I had to go to the doctor on Monday and be cleared to be able to come back to work. I'm not sure if he thought I got a brain injury from whatever that asshole fed me, but I'm pretty sure that clears out of the system pretty quickly. Oh, and the doctor had to be his doctor—who took vial upon vial of blood. I'm not sure what he was looking for, but I know Mr. Pierce paid through the nose for all of that because they called me with the results the same night. I'm slightly anemic, but other than that, I'm good to go.
Since it's his doctor, I'm going to assume he knows all of this. I wouldn't be surprised to find a bottle of iron vitamins on my desk when I get to it.
All I wanted was sex. I didn't want him insinuating himself into my life like this. Sure, he's hot and sexy, but other than that, I don't know if I even like him.
I let out a sigh as the elevator closes. I'm such a liar. I like him. I more than like him, but he doesn't have to know that. What I don't know is, how am I going to get through this dating thing and then watch him date other people?
I may end up in jail for murder. It'd be all Mark's fault. I'd turn him in as a co-conspirator. That'd serve him right. I saw those smirks. He's up to no good.
The elevator dings my floor, and the minute I step off, I know everything's different. It gets quiet and I feel the stares. There aren't many on this floor, and everyone has their own office, but the quiet is eerie. No one comes out to greet me or ask me why I wasn't here yesterday.
Shit.
Did he send out a memo?
Fraternizing with the boss is verboten, prohibidas, vietato. Forbidden.
I stop in the break room and pour myself a cup of coffee. I grab a diet Coke and two granola bars while I'm there. I'm going to hide out in my office and avoid the prying eyes while I can.
It doesn't take long before Jamie makes her way to my office. Her eyes are wide with wonder. Lord, have mercy.
She closes the door and sits down on the edge of the chair across from my desk. I take a sip of my coffee and wait.
She stands up, puts her palms on the desk and leans forward. "What the hell happened? Rumors are flying."
"Who started the rumors, I wonder."
Jamie sits. "Not me. I don't even know what happened. You didn't answer your phone and let your friend in on the details."
"No, I didn't. Shannon's went out of town for business Saturday evening. She's been calling and texting nonstop," I admit.
"I know. She told me. Now tell me," she pleads.
"Nothing happened."
"Oh, come on. You left The Vault with the three hotties," she says.
"That's true. I was drugged by some douchebag, and the 007 trio decided to take me home and make sure I was okay."
"They," she starts too loudly and I give her a look to quiet down. She clears her throat. "They took you home? Whose home? I can't even."
"Derrick's—Mr. Pierce. He insisted I call him Derrick since I was staying in his home."
"Holy wow."
I tell her the rest—all of it, including Dating 101.
"Wow," she replies. "Wow."
"Yeah."
