The Last Silver Wolf

Chapter 9: Sweat Pants

Jordan

"Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn," Rhett Butler's iconic line echoed from the TV screen as he slammed the door shut.

I sniffled and tossed another tissue onto the growing pile at the foot of the couch. I had watched "Gone with the Wind" countless times, but today, it hit me differently. Jordan, you're just like Scarlett. You're a fool who pushed away a man who cared for you. What's wrong with you? I scolded myself. I loved classic movies, but this was the first time I truly empathized with Scarlett O'Hara. She was a spoiled brat, and I'd never understood why she continually pushed away Rhett, the only man who loved and treated her well. Yet here I was, having done the same thing to Alexander. I'd scared him away, and he'd never come back.

I reached for the pint of ice cream, only to discover it was already empty. "Ben & Jerry, you were supposed to be the two men who'd never leave me," I chuckled at my own sad joke.

My phone rang, startling me back to reality. Groaning, I saw it was my mother calling again. She must be worried, not having heard from me all weekend. Our usual Sunday dinners had been skipped, but I couldn't face her, not in my current state. Ever since Alexander left me on Friday, I'd been a wreck. I'd known him for just a few days, and yet it felt like my heart was torn in two. When he was here, it was as if I'd found a missing piece of myself I didn't even know was lost. But without him, I felt broken and incomplete, unable to breathe. I finally understood the meaning of "ignorance is bliss."

Once the phone stopped ringing, I texted my mom:

Sorry, Mom, I have some work I need to finish up. How about dinner this week?

I felt guilty about lying, but she knew me too well. If she heard my voice, she'd know something was wrong and would rush over to take care of me. How could I face her, a woman so strong, when I felt so weak? I was heartbroken over a man I'd known for just a day, while she had lost my father, and I rarely saw how much it hurt her. I wanted to put on a brave face for her, just as she had done for me all those years. I'd give myself one more day in sweatpants, and then tomorrow, I'd be "strong Jordan" again.

I scrolled through my messages—Kylie's Tinder adventures, product sale notifications from unknown numbers, all things I needed to unsubscribe from but always forgot.

I briefly considered texting or calling Alexander, apologizing for my earlier meltdown. He hadn't done anything wrong; quite the opposite, actually. I couldn't stop thinking about how his lips had felt on mine and how it had seemed like time stood still during our kiss. I hadn't kissed many guys, but I knew nothing could compare to him. Thankfully, I didn't have his number; otherwise, I knew I wouldn't be able to resist texting him.

Ding-Dong.

Finally, my food delivery had arrived. I jumped off the couch and rushed to the door, eager to devour the Massaman Curry. My startled screech, however, was stifled when I saw Scott standing there.

"Jordan! Hi..." His voice trailed off as he took in my disheveled appearance.

I instinctively hid behind the door, praying I'd checked the peephole first. My hair was in a messy bun from two nights ago, makeup was nonexistent, Cheeto stains adorned my white t-shirt, and my old NYU sweatpants had two sizable holes in them. I couldn't imagine how bad I looked. Scott looked surprised, as I'd never left my apartment looking anything less than perfectly put-together, even for a quick mail run.

"Scott! I wasn't expecting you. Sorry, I'm not feeling well, which is why I look like..." I struggled to find the right word. Was "hobo" considered offensive? What about "hermit"? "Senile"? Could I say I'd been mugged and use the classic "you should see the other guy" line?

"No, you look amazing... as always..." Scott stammered.

I laughed, embarrassed. "Scott, really? I know I look like a mess. It's okay."

Scott shook his head. "No, Jordan, honestly, you look... hot."

I nearly choked on my own spit. What?

"Sorry, not hot... I mean, yes, you are hot, but that's offensive, and I shouldn't have said that. You're beautiful—no, wait, it's not just your looks, you're also really nice and smart, and..." He rambled on.

As if on cue, my food delivery driver turned the corner, catching a glimpse of our awkward encounter in the hallway. I took the bag of food with a quick "thanks," and he disappeared as quickly as he'd arrived.

"Scott," I interjected, "It's all right. I'm not offended. Thank you for the... compliment."

Scott seemed relieved but still awkward. "I'm sorry for barging in unannounced. I just wanted to check on you. I usually see you every day during your run, and I hadn't seen you in a couple of days. I wanted to make sure you were all right."

His words caught me by surprise. Yes, I saw him every morning, but I didn't think he paid that much attention to my schedule. It felt oddly nice that someone was concerned about me—I wasn't used to that. "Wow, that's really kind of you to check up on me, Scott. Thank you. I just wanted to rest this weekend, but I'll go crazy if I miss another workout, so I'm sure I'll see you tomorrow morning."

Scott smiled and stood there awkwardly. I sensed he wanted to say something but seemed to be having an internal struggle. I waited for a few more seconds before the silence grew uncomfortable. Unfortunately, silence made me awkward with most people. "Well, my dinner is starting to get cold, so..." I hinted.

"Of course. I have something I wanted to ask you," he said, clearing his throat. "Would you go out to dinner with me on Thursday?"

His proposal took me completely by surprise. Was he really asking me on a date? I had honestly never thought of him in a romantic sense. Yes, he was attractive, and I knew other girls noticed him, but he wasn't Alexander. Stop that! I scolded myself internally. Why couldn't I get Alexander out of my head? I had let him turn me into a pathetic, love-struck teenager, crying and eating ice cream all weekend. I'd ruined my chances with him, but why shouldn't I give Scott a chance? If my brief time with Alexander had taught me anything, it was that I did want someone in my life. I didn't want to be alone forever.

Scott must have seen the inner turmoil on my face but was polite enough to wait for my response. Eventually, I smiled at him, deciding that a date with him might be the best way to move on from Alexander quickly. "Yes, Scott, that would be lovely. Thank you."

--------

Michelle couldn't contain her excitement as I walked into the office. "Jordan! Did you hear?"

I laughed as she practically jumped out of her seat when I stepped out of the elevator. "Good morning to you too," I teased. It was our routine—she always had to share the latest gossip the moment we saw each other. "And if you're referring to the big promotion announcement happening today, I might know a little something about it."

"What?" she whispered loudly. "I did NOT hear about that. You need to tell me everything!"

I played along. "You first. What's your big news?"

Michelle's eyes widened, and she looked around even though we were alone in the lobby. "Alexander Tate resigned as CEO."

I dropped my Burberry work tote in shock, not caring as its contents spilled across the floor. Michelle quickly dropped to her knees to help pick up my bag, but I stood there in shock. "What did you say?"

She stood up with my bag and straightened her skirt. "Mr. Tate is no longer the CEO; he handed the company over to his COO, Andrew Earl. You met Andrew; he was here last week in your meeting. Hey, are you okay?"

I fought back tears that threatened to escape. "Sorry, Michelle, I'll need to catch up with you later. I'm not feeling well all of a sudden." Without waiting for a response from my friend, I hurried to my office. It was all my fault. I must have embarrassed Alexander so much that he didn't want to see me again. Sure, it was a dramatic way to ensure we'd never cross paths, but wealthy men often did extravagant things like that. I hadn't realized that a small part of me had still hoped to see him at work, but this news solidified my biggest fear: I'd messed everything up, and he was never coming back.

I stepped into my office and closed the door, not bothering to look around the room. Leaning my head against the door, I closed my eyes and took three deep breaths, counting to five with each inhale and exhale. It was a technique I'd learned in yoga, and I used it often during high-stress situations to regain control of my emotions and center myself. I was determined not to cry at work; I'd had my weekend for that.

After my final breath, I realized there was an electric atmosphere in the room. Wait, I know that feeling.

My eyes snapped open, and there, in my office, sat the imposing figure I hadn't expected to see. He wore a smirk, and I knew he'd witnessed everything in the hallway.

"What are you doing here?" I gasped, my voice breathy. I must have appeared frightened by his sudden appearance, but in truth, I was excited. He was even more handsome than I remembered—dark hair impeccably styled, piercing eyes, a casual button-up shirt that couldn't hide his muscular physique. The urge to run into his arms was almost overwhelming, so I kept my hands behind my back, squeezing them together.

Alexander rose from his seat and took two steps toward me, his eyes devouring every inch of my body before settling on my lips. Memories of our last kiss flashed through my mind.

"So, will you?" he asked, his deep voice and intoxicating scent making my head spin.

"What?" I stammered.

"Will you date me now? I'm not your boss anymore. I'm not even your coworker. There's no rule against us dating."

My mouth hung open. Did he really step down as CEO to be with me? That was bordering on crazy! Yet, I couldn't help but be touched by the gesture. "You... you did that for me?"

He flashed his dazzling smile and took another step toward me, this time, taking my hands in his. The electric connection between us buzzed once again. How did he have that effect on me?

"I need you to understand, Jordan, that I'd do anything for you. I hope you'll realize soon just how special you are to me." He reached up and wiped away a tear I hadn't even noticed falling down my cheek. I had been so sure I'd driven him away, but I couldn't have been more wrong.

I shook my head in disbelief. "Who are you?" I asked incredulously.

Alexander laughed heartily, his whole body shaking. "I'd love to show you. What are you doing for lunch?"