Dane(27)

"This is my job and it's what you pay me to do. I look out for what's  best for the company and your image. And I never said Eden would do  anything to jeopardize that. But you have plenty of other people who  work for you … and you never know if one of them might feel a little  jealous of your relationship with the young female you keep by your  side. The one you stole from another department. The same one you spent  the entire company beach party with. In plain sight of your entire  staff, I might add. Keep your nose clean. That's all I'm saying, Dane."

I nodded to appease her and remained quiet until she left my office.  Once the door was closed behind her, I reached for the phone again and  quickly dialed Eden's number. The entire time, Janette's concerns echoed  in my head. While I pressed the phone number I'd memorized by heart, I  heard her warning. As the line rang in my ear, I thought about what  others possibly saw between Eden and me. Guilt once again ate away at  me. It seemed to be part of the perpetual pattern of my life these days.  But it all faded away the moment her voicemail picked up. Panic  instantly took over.

It was only four thirty, but I didn't care. I turned off my computer and  grabbed my keys, desperate to find her. I left work and headed straight  for Eden's apartment complex with my heart pounding more ferociously  with each second that passed. It wasn't until I found her car safely  tucked in the parking garage that I finally began to calm. But only  slightly, because I still didn't know if she was okay. Fluke accidents  and awful scenarios started to rush forward. I fought the urge to jump  out of my car and sprint upstairs. But then something hit me.         

     



 

I had no idea which apartment was hers, and I couldn't very well go to  every floor and knock on every door. Luck must have been on my side  because as soon as I parked and got out of my car, I spotted a flash of  red hair disappearing down the walkway toward the beach.

"Are you okay?" I asked breathlessly once I caught up to her.

Eden turned around, her eyes wide with surprise, lips slightly parted. "What are you doing here, Dane?"

I took her by the shoulders and held her still so I could assess her  physically. Instead of the work clothes she'd had on earlier, she'd  changed into shorts and a tank top, her feet bare. I realized how out of  place I must've seemed in my button-down shirt and tie, slacks, and  polished shoes-which were now filled with sand. Normally, my rolled-up  sleeves gave me a slightly casual appearance, but not when standing on a  beach amongst others half-naked in bathing suits or shorts.

"You shouldn't be here," Eden whispered, pulling me back to the present.

"I know, but I was worried about you. You left without saying a word. Why?"

"I was done for the day, and you were in a meeting. Otherwise, I  would've told you I was leaving. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to worry you. I  didn't think going home an hour early would bother you. I've done it  before."

I sighed once I realized how much I'd overreacted to the situation at  hand. Janette was right-I should've let it go. I was over involved. Eden  was right-I shouldn't have been here. If anyone at the office knew I'd  shown up at my assistant's home and then chased her onto the beach, only  to make sure she was okay after leaving one hour early … they'd have a  field day. I couldn't chance that. It was a risk I couldn't afford to  take.

"I'm sorry. I know things have been weird lately, so I wanted to make  sure you were all right. And I had planned to introduce you to Janette.  Everything's been so hectic at the office lately with these buyouts, and  I wanted to make sure you two had the chance to meet face to face."

Her grin toyed at the corners of her mouth. "I've met Janette already,  Dane. She's your publicist-of course I've met her. Not to mention, I was  supposed to have been working for her … remember? I think I've met almost  everyone in the building-or, at least, the ones I should know. There  are a few people in the mailroom I haven't met yet. Feel free to  introduce me to those tomorrow." Her giggle drowned out the crashing  waves on the shore, and settled a layer of peace over me. Amazing what a  good dose of laughter could provide.

"So you're okay? You dipping out early has nothing to do with me or our conversation this morning?"

She raked her teeth over her bottom lip and glanced down the beach,  avoiding eye contact. That in itself was enough of an answer, but I  needed to hear her say it. I desperately needed the words so I could  make it right. I didn't know how I'd do that, but I couldn't allow  things to continue this way. Knowing she was holding back and not  speaking her mind kept me from moving forward-from moving on. I had to  stop questioning my decisions and our relationship, and I couldn't do  that when I knew Eden had views she refused to share with me. Prior to  having her in my life, I never questioned anything, but now I questioned  nearly everything. I felt alive for the first time in ages. And that  had to stand for something. I needed her to help me find the answers  that would put an end to this nightmare.

"Just tell me, Eden. Be honest with me. That's all I want. Even if it's  something I don't care to hear. I value your outlook on things, and  right now, I really need brutal honesty from someone before I go crazy."

"Why would you go crazy? You told me this morning you made up your mind. Right?"

I huffed and shoved my hands into my pants' pockets, rocking on the  heels of my shoes that were now covered completely in the sand. "You're  absolutely right … I did. But I can't help the feeling you disagree. And  if you do, then I'd like to know why. If I make a bad decision at work,  I'd expect you to call me out on it, right?"

"That's not the same thing, Dane, and you know it." Her voice escalated  and I couldn't miss the raw irritation in her tone. "We're not talking  about work here. This isn't about a company that needs saving. This is  your life, with your fiancée, and my validation doesn't mean jack shit  in the end. What does it matter how I feel about it? Whether I think you  made the right call or not has no bearing on anything. It's nothing  more than an opinion … like an asshole-everyone has one. So mine holds  just as much weight as that guy over there." She pointed to a man  walking down the beach. "Go tell him your problems and see what he  thinks you should do."         

     



 

I should've walked away. Right then and there, I should've said goodbye  and headed home. But I didn't. Because for some unknown reason, I  couldn't leave things alone when it came to Eden. I needed to hear her  tell me my reasons for staying with Gabi were accurate.

"I just want your viewpoint, Eden. I trust you, and you're the only one  who knows any of it. I've never told anyone else anything about my  relationship-only you. So asking anyone else would be pointless."

"Well, asking me is equally as pointless. But if validation from me is  what you need to justify your decision, then fine. Here it goes. You  love Gabi. You've said it over a dozen times. You've loved her since you  were young. You two have been together for … what, twelve years now?  You've been through the lowest lows and the highest highs. More  importantly than that, she needs you, and I think you enjoy having  someone depend on you like she does. I think it gives your life meaning  to have someone need you. It drives you. You were perfectly content  before you met me, and you'll be fine after I'm gone. You made the right  call, Dane. You should stay with her." She stared into my eyes for an  unbroken moment, and then began to walk back toward her building.

I was left staring at her footprints in the sand. Her words washing  through me like the tide-calming yet powerful enough to sink a ship. I  shouldn't have held her opinion in such high regard, but I couldn't help  it. I felt like my mind wouldn't have been so twisted had she never  come into my life. So in essence, she had set my mental turmoil in  motion.

Before making my way to my car in her parking garage, I grabbed my phone  from my pocket and typed out a text. You're right. I've put you in a  bad position, and I'm sorry. From now on, I'll keep my personal business  to myself and keep you out of it. You're my employee, and I'm your  boss. Simple as that. See you tomorrow morning. I hit send and left.

I ended up walking through my front door at the same time I did every  day after work. Gabi sat on the couch, but instead of a book in her  hand, she had the computer in her lap. She glanced at me and closed the  lid-I should've thought more about it, but I was too sidetracked with my  own thoughts.

I grabbed a beer from the fridge and sat down in the living room across  from her. As I took my first swig, letting the cold liquid chill a path  to my stomach, I took in Gabi's expression. Her brows were drawn and she  worried her lip between her teeth. At least her cheeks were free of  dried tears and her eyes weren't swollen from hours of crying. This was  new, but I wasn't sure if it was for the better.