18. Grayson
1640 Words
GRAYSON
For the third time that morning, I had to start afresh because I had just been flipping pages but not paying attention to what was in said pages. Why hasn’t she texted or called? She had my contact, if she wanted to reach out, it wouldn’t be too hard so why hasn’t she?
Bigger problems Grayson. Focus. Oh yes. I returned my attention back to the file in my hand. I successfully finished reading and groaned in frustration right after. It was another dead end!
Grabbing the work cell, she’s my first speed dial, “Alicia, come into my office.”
Her voice was quiet as always, “On my way, sir.” she squeaked.
Less than a minute later a knock came at the door. “Come on in.”
“Sir you sent for me?”
“Yes.” I looked up from the paper. Once again she was wearing a pencil skirt, navy blue this time, contrasting with her skintone. “Have the Blacks reached out?”
She shook her head from side to side before she said, “Not any word yet, sir.” She avoided looking me in the eyes the entire time.
“What is it , Alicia. If you have something to say, spit it out.”
“Sir, maybe we should reach out to Carl Black?”
“That can’t happen, haven’t I taught you anything about not risking it when it comes to appearing desperate?”
Her face fell for a second but in typical Alicia fashion, she grew a pair and had her business face back on in a second.
“Would that be all, sir?”
“For now, yes.” I waved her off and went back to proofing the background check I requested for yet another dead end company. It would seem falsifying books was the new ’in’ thing. I should report them for fraud and take whatever is left of their companies afterwards, but that would be like settling for controlling Nemo in a sea where sharks also dwell. A waste of time.
“Oh Alicia.” She stopped in her tracks, her eyes slipped to the open collar of my button up for just a second as she swerved on her heel to face me, but it was enough, I always knew, but what did it matter. “Send one more story to the editor for the most active blog,” I tore a small piece from an empty sheet of paper beside me and wrote the first thing that came to mind, ensuring to add on her full name, “let him use this headline.” I tried to hold back the smile as I handed the paper to her.
“Sir, don’t yo-”
“Alicia.” I warned.
“On it sir.” She squeaked before rushing out of the office.
I was actually going crazy. I had no idea what the helll I was doing or why I was even doing it, all I knew was Johnny needed his nanny back. One night of peace is all I need, one night with Johnny whining and comparing me to his Addie. The worst part was I tolerated Camila because I thought she would make him forget Adeline, but it was looking more like it was doing the exact opposite.
Still, if she didn’t bend sooner, the investors would request a board meeting and that was the last thing I needed with the whole deal with the Blacks still hanging by a thread and about to fall through. She just had to bulge. The investors hated it when my face was on anything but the business news as everything else is ‘for the popstars’. Yet, there I was, fueling said news, I even threw in a non existent power struggle between her and the first wife for good measure. With any luck, the investors hadn’t seen any of the stories yet. Yes, I was lying to myself, but they haven’t called so its possible.
Why hasn’t she called? It’s been over a week and still nothing. Was it that bad to have been married to me? I made sure I was never in her face the entire time, never brought any of the ladies I had fun with home, gave her my black card with all the money she could possibly dream off in it. So what else could she have possibly wanted?!
Maybe she needed a little more persuasion. I needed to go to that her i***t of a friend’s house again and make her see reason. If she wasn’t seeing how the stories would stall the plans she seemed to be oh so psyched about, I would point her in the right direction.
A knock broke through my spiraling thoughts, “Alicia, always feel free to come in.” I knew it was falling on deaf ears, she would always knock, but no harm in trying.
“Sir, a miss Adeline is requesting an audience with you.” I took in her flushed face. She recognized her.
“I trust you haven’t said anything…”
She shook her head vigorously, “No sir, I wouldn’t even think of it.”
”Alright then, let her in.” She nodded and left.
The door is pushed back a moment later and I tried to hide my surprise. I was pleasantly surprised. I mean I was more than happy that she was here, it only meant she was going to go ahead with it, if she wasn't she would have just not responded, the message would have been just as clear.
“Please,” I gestured toward one of the chairs across from me, “Take a seat.”
“I’ll do it.” She said simply, again surprising me. I thought she’d at least stall, try to put up a fight, be stubborn or something. I wasn’t going to complain though, atleast I wouldn’t have to wait another week for a response.
I reached into my drawer, the document was always with me so I could rip it apart in her face while I hand her the new one.
“Before that.” She said, halting me successfully. “I would only sign if we make a few adjustments to the terms, I won’t just be signing my life away again.” My jaw ticked as she mentioned it again. What was it with her and always bringing that up. I wished she’d just be more honest with herself, we both benefited from it, dare I say she did more than I. But it wasn’t the right time to point that out.
“Okay, it they are reasonable, I would consider.”
“Reasonable or not, it’s the only way I would sign.”
“You’re not exactly in the position to make requests, Adeline. You need this more than I do.”
“Is that why you’ve been trying to get me to reconsider for months, Mr Archer?” She arched a brow at me. See? Exactly why desperation is not something you want your opponent to attach to you.
I sighed, “Fine. What are your terms?”
“One, Johnny can call me whatever he likes even mommy.” Not sure why that was important enough to be the first, but harmless, I think.
“Okay…”
“Two, I get to go to school, work wherever and you don’t get to question me.” My PI can tell me everything I know.
“Okay…”
“You don’t ignore my calls when they come through and if we’re to appear together in public you don’t treat me like I’m just one of your hires, you give me the respect your actual wife would get.” Stretching it a bit too thin, but I guess I could live with that too.
“I hope that’s the last of it.” I c****d a brow at her, three compromises was more than enough.
“Not quite, there’s one more.” She said finally meeting my gaze, the rise and fall of her chest slowed. Okay, now I’m interested. I leaned back into the chair and waited. I couldn’t help but be curious as to what exactly had her so rigid in her seat.
“I get a paid internship here.” You’ve got to be kidding me.
“Here? In my office? You could have a paid internship anytime. I love my woman in red or black lingerie by the way.” I teased instead of telling to f**k off with her terms. But try as I might, the image of her in red lingerie, red like that dress, was branded on my mind, making it hard to refuse her.
Her cheeks flamed red, “That’s not what I meant.” Of course it wasn’t, but I could play along.
“Oh?” I could barely hold back from smirking.
She caught onto it and just shook her head. “I’m serious.”
“I can’t hire anyone that’s unqualified regardless of their position in my life.” I deadpanned.
She shrank back like she’d been lashed, “I am qualified.”
“Show me your degree then” I knew how it sounded, but it was better to kill her hope early so we could get on with the contract.
“Who’s fault is it that I couldn’t get one?”
“Your gambling addict father.”
She stopped arguing, she said nothing more, just glared at me like I was the villian, but it was the truth.
“This was a mistake,” she grabbed her purse from the table and got up to leave. Okay, maybe I took it a little too far.
“I agree to your terms.” That got her attention.
- Writer
