iveystorm@g*******m

Chapter 3

It has been two weeks since Jason and I have been working together and I still can't forget that first day. I still didn’t understand why I couldn't answer that simple question. I just stood there and stared back, then he just took my lap top bag right out of my hand and walked out of the office like nothing happened as I stared after him.

The car ride back to downtown was completely quiet. I wanted to say something, let him know how much I loved Antonio and how happy we were together but a part of me felt the latter was lie. I spent the whole ride trying to convince myself it was just because he was a stranger why I felt odd answering certain questions but how can a stranger make me second guess a three year long relationship when my own father couldn't talk me out it.

Before I knew it the car door on my side was open and Jason was holding out his hand for me. We were back at head office, I didn’t even realize. He helped me get the files and my belongings into my SUV and we parted ways.

The next few weeks just flew by and he was acting as if nothing happened so I went along with it when I was around him or in the office but when I was alone or reflecting it was all I thought about. Mark even cornered me about my odd moods but I just told him I wasn't feeling too well, he went on the lecture me about how I should stop stressing over Antonio and start taking care of myself. The sick thing is I hadn't really thought about Antonio or our relationship since Jason's first day just how his single question made me feel.

Antonio as usual had been his distant, self centred self and we rarely talked it was like he doesn't even realize something is different with me. I put in highlights in the other day and truth be told Jason was the only one that realized. I sat and I considered all these things and it made me see that my relationship is totally one sided, even the s*x, not that I had gotten any the last 2 months.

Then I'm here stuck with Jason pulling what was our third all-nighter this week because David who was still being an asshole moved up the deadline on our project again to completely staff their new Toronto Office. 

"I found some candidates with the background David is looking for but not the level of experience.....what do you think?..............Ivey???"

"Oh sorry.... Let me see."

"You ok? You have been quiet these last few days.....anything you want to talk about Sweets?"

That's when I lost it. I'm not sure if it was the nickname, the lack of sleep, my frustration with him or Antonio but this sista went the f**k off. It was a good thing we were alone.

"Are you seriously asking me that? You walked into my life looking all good and s**t making me feel all type of ways towards you then you throw a deep rooted question at me out of nowhere about my relationship even though you just met me then come up in here acting like it never happened. You go to be joking me Mr. Highland."

I didn't even realized I wasn't sitting anymore and he was leaned back in his chair smiling. I was giving him a private show to one of my one woman rants as my girl Dominique called it and he was enjoying it. When I saw him smiling I threw my pen straight at him. He just laughed out loud when the pen hit the floor next to the door, I kept forgetting I threw extremely lean and couldn't hit a target if my life depended on it. This just pissed me off more and sent me into my rant again, I was so caught up I didn't even see him get out of his chair and walk up behind me. When I felt his presence I turned around only to have myself pressed up against him and the window. That instantly made me hot for him.

I was so shocked I held my breath and just stared at him. His eyes were dark again, he almost seemed like a predator who just caught his prize prey. It was moments before he spoke.

"What upsets you more Sweets, the way I make you feel or the way you don't feel about your man?" "Can you please let me down this is a very compromising position Mr. Highland."

"Yes it is Miss. Graham but I'm sure it's not uncomfortable.....right?"

As he asked he moved his lips closer to mine. I could feel his breath and it made me hot and lord knows heavy. I know he had to be uncomfortable I was only 5"2, 5"5 in heels and I wasn't wearing any at the moment, just stocking clad feet.

"Come on Sweets speak up and I just might treat you."

He was in control and I was here to please as far as I could see, so I thought about what he said for a few moments and answered not for him but me at least that was what I was telling myself.

"Both Mr. Cocky."

I couldn’t take back the words now. I just admitted to him that I was attracted to him. What was I doing? Maybe I am going crazy. He smiled and backed away. I was happy and sad. Being so close set me on edge but my body missed him now. He sat back down in his chair across from me and as if nothing happened and went straight back to work, just like that I was pissed again, but this time I calmed myself.

We spent the rest of the night only talking when completely necessary. We ordered Chinese food at about 11:30 p.m. and when he offered to pay I let it slide because this brother owed me for all emotional distress he was putting me through, just the thought alone made me laugh and when I looked up I caught him watching me but I ignored it.

We wrapped everything up at about 2 a.m. We cleaned up and set the room back to its original setting, by the time I grabbed my bags I was just thanking God it was Friday night, long weekend thanks to the 4th of July and Antonio was out of town with his frat bothers again because I needed quiet. We left the office and shared the elevator down to parking in complete silence. I didn't park next to him so when we exited the elevator I turned to say good night but he beat me to it.

"Good night Sweets and enjoy your weekend, see you Tuesday."

"Same to you too."

As I walked to my car everything came rushing back and I felt all depressed again. I wanted him to kiss me in the office, I'm basically mental cheating on Toni. I threw my lap top and bag in the back seat of my SUV and climbed in. I sat there for a few more minutes thinking how crazy I've gotten. Constantly thinking about a man that just walked into my life but made it feel so alive and me special. When I finally came back to reality and tried to turn my car and the shitting thing wouldn't turn over. I tried and tried but nothing, I felt screwed, just my luck and Toni wasn't here. I had no one to call, everyone I knew was out of town for the weekend except one person and Lord knows I didn't want to call him.

A knock at the window scared me nearly to death but I calmed when I realize it’s the one person I didn't want to call but was so happy to see....... Jason. He gestured for me to open the door and I did.

"You good Sweets?" I could see the worry on his face.

"I'm good but my car won't start......not sure what’s wrong."

"Ok let me try and see what's up, if anything I can give you a ride."

"No it’s ok I can call a cab or a friend." I really didn't want to be alone with him again in my mental state.

"Come on Sweets I don't bite and who else can you call the city is empty."

I gave up and let him try.....but the dump thing just wouldn't start. So I had no option and from the look on his face he liked that.

"Just head over to my car I'll grab your things.... no arguments please."

I did as I was told because despite him using please I knew it was a command and to be honest it didn't feel bad, maybe a little weird. Within minutes he had me and my stuff tucked away in his car and was ready to go.

"I thought you left."

"I don't usually leave until I've seen that you are out of the parking lot Sweets."

I blushed and I know he saw. It's so hard to stay mad at him when he looked at me that way, so sweet and I can almost feel the..... Love I think. Now I know I'm crazy, I’m here talking about love.

"Thank you, it means a lot." He gave me one of his half smiles but his dimples still showed. 

"You don't rely on people a lot do you?"

I responded without even thinking.

"No, I always get let down, so I try my best to make sure I don't have to."

 "You know that's not healthy, you got to give up control once in a while."

I considered what he was saying and he might be right, my dad said it all the time that’s why he wanted me to find a guy I could trust enough to depend on along with being independent and he knew that wasn't Antonio.

"Do you ever give up control? You always seem so collected."

He looked at me when I asked and I could see he was trying to find the right answer.

"I don't because I don't need to. The kind of person I am and the personality I have needs the control, I'm not sure you'll get it. But you are not like that."

"What do you mean?"

"Don’t get me wrong Sweets you are strong and very independent from what I’ve seen but you seem to need a rock sometimes, something to lay your stress on so you use work, but it's not enough and your man doesn't seem to be of much help. Where is he anyway?”

I sank deeper into my seat because he was reading me like a book and I honestly did not feel like lying.

"He's in the Hamptons with his frat brothers." I said pathetically, and he laughed.

"I'm not trying to make you feel bad, I'm calling it as I see it. What kind of man leaves his girl to go hang with his friends like that? You could've been stranded tonight."

I knew he wasn't lying because he isn't the first to say this to me about Toni but this is the first time it has hit home and I haven't gone on the defensive. I didn't know what else to do so I broke down crying.I know I scared him because as I started he hit the brakes and stopped dead in the middle of the road, good thing the city was empty.

"Please don't cry Sweets, I wasn't trying to hurt you, It just pisses me off that you obviously care for the jackass and he doesn't give a rats ass about you and everyone sees it. Forgive me if I passed my place but even Mark says so."

"I know but I can't give up, He just shows his love differently that’s all he will change." "How long have you been telling yourself that?

I started crying harder until I couldn't even talk or breathe, he reached over to comfort me and it felt amazing being wrapped in those arms. When I started to calm down I breathed him in, he smelt all manly and natural not like most men who killed themselves with cologne. When he pulled away I whimpered, a sound I had never made in my life.

"Hey you need a drink? I know a place that is really good the bartender who I heard is a cutie and a great listener."

"But everywhere is closed."

"Not this place Sweets, sit back and relax we're not too far."

I just did as I was told, it’s not like I'm in a hurry to meet someone or anything. It took ten us minutes to get to this place Jason knew but I was so tired I didn't register my surroundings too well. He drove into underground parking and then helped me out of the car. I grabbed my purse as I doubt I would need anything else. As we walked to the elevators he placed his hand at the small of my back, this had become so common to me that I embraced and loved every moment it spent there. When we got into the elevator and I saw him punch in a code then hit 13 on the pad I finally decided to speak.

"Where are we? This doesn't seem to be a commercial building."

"You are so cute when you're being smart Sweets, and you are right. I'm not taking you to a club or bar this place is private. Everywhere else is closed anyway."

My mind went on a rampage.... private what does he mean by that?, I'm not sure I like where this might be going but it is too late anyway and I don't mind the company. When we arrived at 13 he turned to the right and we walked until we got to 1302. He unlock the door and ushered me in. I stopped as the lights went on automatically. It was his apartment and it was beautiful, his entire living room wall was all glass window and you could see New York’s sky line, the furniture was all black and the couch was leather. You could tell it was a man’s place. I couldn't help admire everything, I didn't even realize he had moved pass me down the steps and was watching me, his eyes got dark again and I wanted to know what he was thinking, so I asked.

"What are you thinking Mr. Highland?" He laughed.

"At how lovely you and amazed you look Miss. Graham."

I knew he was lying, my face had to be tear stained, with running mascara and my lipstick must have been long gone with how I was rubbing at my face in the car. Just then I realized how awful I must have really looked and it must have shown on my face because he laughed.

"From the shock on your face I'm guessing you would like the powder room as you females call it?" I bowed my head in a shy manner.

"Yes please."

"It’s right through that hallway to the end."

"Thank you, I'll be right back."

"Take your time Sweets, what would you like to drink?" "Vodka on the rocks if you have."

"Coming up."

In the washroom after I washed up my face I didn't even bother reapplying eyeliner it was pointless, but I stood there looking in the mirror for a few minutes trying to figure out when did things get so bad and did Antonio even realize or was he just that self centred and stupid. There was a knock at the door and I jumped.

"You ok in there Sweets?"

I opened the door and saw the worry on his face. This wonderful man was truly worried about me, a girl he has only known a few weeks. Lord knows all of this is just making me fall harder and deeper. I smiled

"Yeah I'm good. Let’s drink!"

"Now there is the smile I love seeing."

We sat on the couch, drank and talked until dawn. The topics switched back and forth about his family and school life, then mine. Finally we got to relationships and I was on the verge of crying again. I opened up and told him everything not even my best friend knows some of the things I told him. I guess that’s what vodka does to me.

"What do you want to know?" "Everything, start from the beginning." And so I did.

"Antonio and I met our third year at Columbia, his roommate was dating my best friend Dominique D’Silva or Dom as I call her and we all hung out a lot. After a couple weeks of crushing on each other he finally asked me out. Things started off great you know what I mean, we had the same ambitions and wanted someone to share it all with. Within a few months things got really serious next thing I knew we were playing meet the parents. His parents seemed to really like me but when he came to Alaska by the first night my mom and dad told me point blank they don't think he is the one, I was stubborn though and I stood my ground I loved him and nothing or anyone was going to change that. I mean he was my first and no other guy had ever made me that happy. "

What came next started bringing on the tears. Jason took my hand and the silent comfort kept me going. I took a deep breath and continued.

"Things started to get rough around senior year, our course load made it hard to spend time together but we tried our best after a year of being together. Then I got pregnant and the fights began. We broke up 5 times in 2 weeks. He didn't want the baby and I didn't believe in abortion. The last time we argued it was a week before finals and we sat down together because Dom couldn't take hearing me cry myself to sleep anymore. We talked for a bit and some of what he was saying made sense we, weren't ready or stable enough to have a child yet. He made promises of the future and told me everything was going to be ok all I had to do was see a doctor who had helped one of his frat brothers."

I couldn't hold the tears back anymore.

"I didn't want to kill my baby and no matter how many times he told me it wasn't considered a baby yet and it wasn't killing, it just didn't feel right. He knew I wasn't fully on the same track as he was, so he said the one thing he knew would hit home, if I kept the baby it was over for us. I couldn't believe it but that is what he said. He thought I would choose him over anything and he was right I did. I got an abortion the next day. For weeks after I was depressed no one knew what was wrong and I wasn't going to tell not because I hated the idea that I was pregnant but because I was sick of what I did. I was surprised I made it through finals and passed everything but I couldn't even enjoy that. I was suffering and Antonio looked as if he was on top of the world."

Jason was so quiet, he just sat there rubbing my hand as if he knew all I needed was that, someone to listen and offer the comfort. I could see the dismay and worry on his face so I smiled to let him know was ok.

"He came through on his word though, His parents threw him a huge grad party at their house in the Hampton’s and invited everyone including my parents. There were so many important people there and most grads used it as an opportunity to network but I was still dealing with my depression while my parents and Dom tried to figure out what was wrong with me. When toasts were being done he called me to the stage and gave one of the most romantic and heart breaking speeches ever then asked me to marry him. Truth be told I never really answered him he just kissed me and put the ring on my finger. No one seemed to notice but my parents and they developed a stronger dislike for him not that he cared, they weren't his friends or family.

"Wow Sweets that’s different your man is some kind of f****d up."

"I know but I kept telling myself it’s because other people didn't know him the way I did, he has his good days." 

"Are good days all you can say? Don't mind me continue, how did we get here."

"Well a week after graduation I moved in with him against my parents’ wishes, I mainly did it because he promised things would get better and I believed him. The first year was good we both secured great jobs and took over all the bills from his parents.”

"Then my dad died and I needed to go home to be with my mom he decided we should just break up since my family was more important than our relationship. Within a month of me being gone he was seeing someone else but when I came back he apologized and I took him back. Everyone thought I was crazy but I stood my ground.....I loved him. We were making a great life together, then early January Mark publicly announced the opening of the new office and that I would be running it. The news broke before I even had a chance to talk to Antonio because he was always busy at work or out on lunch dates with clients. He lost it that night, he came home drunk and accused me of f*****g Mark, he said that when I got pregnant back in school he can bet it wasn't even his and that I should get out so I did. After a week of hearing nothing from him I got an apartment close to the new office and told him I was coming to get my stuff. When I did go we got into a huge argument again because he was drunk again and wouldn't let me leave, things got really physical and he pushed me down the stairs."

I could see the anger rise in Jason's face so I started rubbing his hand to calm him down and he began to relax. How can I feel so much for this man when I he just walked into my life.

"Why did you go back Sweets?"

His voice was gruff and I could tell he was fighting back his anger.

"I was in the hospital for three days Dom was out of town so Mark was my next of Kin contact since Antonio was in custody, the neighbours heard the commotion and called the cops. I had a broken rib and a fractured wrist but he still made bail. Mark was beyond upset and told the nurses he was not to be let in to my room and by their word he wasn't, security turned him back every time but his mom came to see me. She apologized constantly and told me he and his dad had drinking problems and that she knows he can't get through it without me. I felt awful how did I not see it or know? When I got released I went home with him. When Dom came back into to town and found out neither her, my mother or Mark would speak to me as long as I was still with him."

I took a deep breath and thought back again, I'm telling him everything and I barely now him. What is it about Jason Highland?

"Things were ok with us for a while. He went back to being the old Antonio, my Toni. Then in May I got named Top Recruiter by The Post and he became distant, He didn't bring me on his business dinners anymore and he stopped coming to events I was invited to. He started working late and came up with all kinds of excuses but this time I had no one to talk to. Dom got tired of my complaining then defending, every time I brought him up to Mark or David they threatened to kick his ass, so I drowned myself in work and that’s how it's been. Now we are here. I have realized he sees me more as a threat to his ego and career so I keep everything from him, when I bought the SUV with the raise Mark gave me I told him it was a gift from my uncle in Vancouver. I know my relationship isn't perfect Jason but we love each other."

He was so quiet, I wish I knew what he was thinking.

"Are you sure he loves you Sweets? Because what you just described isn't love its manipulation. He is telling you what you want to hear so he can keep you around, you're right your relationship isn't perfect but it isn't healthy either. Look at you, two weeks ago I asked you if you are happy and you couldn't even answer that. You think I'm messing with you but I'm not, I asked that question for a valid reason......"

As he said I cut him off. "What is it?"

He stared at me for a moment and the next thing I knew he pulled me onto his lap with his arms pining me to him.

"Because I want you Ivey, I have from that moment you walked into the sick idea of a team building exercise office Mark put us in and I know you want me too."

I was downright speechless, it's not as if I could have come out and lie, not in the position I was in. I haven't been trying to hide it.

"I.........."

"I nothing Sweets you know I'm not lying, that's why you are facing the reality of your relationship now. Don't get my moves wrong babe I don't wreck happy homes, hence my question. For now I'll sit back and let you do you but once I've had enough of your mans' B.S you're mine."

And just like that he made it clear and marked me with a kiss that was from both heaven and hell. Hot as fire, I felt it everywhere, but so soft and sweet. I couldn't get enough, so I fought for more I wiggled until my hands were free and wrapped them around him and deepened the kiss. His hands began to explore my body leaving a trail of heat behind. The room was filled with our moans, mostly mine but it’s like our bodies were furnaces, the room got so hot I pulled my cardigan off, never breaking the kiss. I couldn't control my reaction, he felt so good and Lord knows he was making me feel good and it’s been a while since that happened. I knew I needed to stop, the big question was........Was I going to?