KEPT_ A Second Chance Fairy Tale(11)

His mouth opens and he starts to answer, but stops. I don’t give him a chance to speak anyway. Nothing could make his cruel reaction to me being here okay.

My gaze moves to his hands, clutched together but remaining still. I don’t see evidence of a family, but ask, “Are you married, Mr. Holden?” I don’t expect or wait for an answer. “Do you have children?”

“Lucy…” Corbin voices behind me, lacing it with a low warning.

“Oh no…” Lillie utters by my side.

I don’t stop to catch a breath, but talk over them both. “Because if you have a family, I hope they’ve never heard you talk about someone the way you just did. You don’t know me!”

Mr. Holden’s eyes narrow. I’m sure he’s not used to being spoken to this way. There’s anger in his expression, but I’ve also clearly struck a nerve. The hurt on his face is obvious.

“Are you finished?” he hisses through a clenched jaw. His eyes are scanning me with fury.

“Not yet,” I clip back, thinking of a thousand other things I’d like to say but, under his direct stare, my courage is gone.

Rising slowly from his seat, Mr. Holden buttons his suit jacket, walks around the desk to where I’m standing, and leans his face toward mine. The fury radiating from his body is palpable. His jaw is tight, his eyes determined. Within their depths, though, there’s something else. I see it making its way to the surface. I recognize it.

Pain. Bold and powerful pain is hidden under his mask of fury.

“You don’t know me, so I’ll give this to you one time,” he seethes. “Don’t ever talk about my family again. Not one word in or out of this office. Do you understand?”

With my next thought lost to his intimidation, I mentally admit defeat. Saying anything else will only cause even more of a scene, if that were possible.

He backs away, looks down at Lillie, then passes me on his way to Corbin. Once he makes his way near the door, I hear his low and barely restrained voice as he addresses his partner. “Get her the fuck out of my office.”

The door slams shut, and I jump at the sound.

“Lucy?” Lillie carefully questions. She must notice the reckless tears falling from my eyes.

I don’t answer, fearing I’ll lose my already unstable composure.

“Lucy,” I hear Corbin next, then feel his warm hand rest gently on my shoulder.

As I turn around to face him, Lillie stands close and moves to position her arm around me just as gently from the side. I wipe my eyes and nose to stall for a needed breath.

“I’ll get my things and go,” I suggest quietly, hearing my voice come out raspy. “I’m so sorry.”

When I attempt to walk out of the huddle they’ve created around me, Corbin catches my wrist and pulls me back. He’s not rough, but he is determined. “Oh no. You’re not going anywhere.”

My eyebrows furrow in confusion. “What?”

Corbin smiles. “You’re not going anywhere,” he tells me again.

“No, you’re most certainly not,” Lille concurs.

Now I’m even more confused. “What? Why not?”

“You’re staying,” Corbin declares. “You’ve already accepted the job.”

“I’m declining the position,” I announce to no one, since they obviously aren’t listening.

“Too late.” Lillie smiles.

What in the world?

“Did you not see what just happened or how he reacted to me just being in the room? He hates me!”

Corbin doesn’t take any time before he claims, “No, Lucy. He doesn’t hate you.”

“Are you guys okay? Do you feel well? He hates me,” I say again, trying to convince these crazy people of what I know is true.

Lillie walks by to make her way to the door. She opens it, turns around, and confuses me further. “Do you have a dress fit for a black tie event?”

What in the hell is wrong with these people?

Shaking my head in disbelief, I try to clear it, but can’t. “What?”

“Clothes, Mrs. Monroe,” she prods, then speaks slower. “Do you have a dress fitting a black tie event?”

“It’s Miss, not Mrs.,” I correct. When Corbin smirks, I feel like I’m missing parts of the story. Mainly, the beginning, middle and the end. “Yes, I have a dress.”

“Good,” Corbin returns, coming up from behind and using both hands to rub my shoulders. He stops, stands close, and grins. “You’ll need it next month.”

I am so confused.

“Did you people not hear me?” I ask as Corbin lets me go and makes his way to Lillie.

“Oh, we heard you, dear,” Lillie replies, smiling. “But it’s not you we’re listening to.”

Again, “What?”

Corbin looks at her before his gaze comes to mine. “With the way he just reacted, it’s certain my best friend just said a fuck of a lot more than he thought he did.”

“Oh, my god. You’re all nuts,” I breathe out, standing alone in the middle of the office. My hand flattens against my forehead and I exhale heavily. “Nuts,” I repeat for emphasis.

Lillie laughs, her shoulders shaking as she does. “Welcome to the family, Lucy Monroe. Now, let’s go get some coffee before we start our day, shall we?”

Crazy!





Michael

AFTER THE SCENE IN MY office, I decided to take the rest of the day off. It’s not often I take time for myself, since being alone affords an opportunity to remember painful memories I’m determined to forget.

My wife.

My son.

Lucy…

I was pissed and shouldn’t have reacted the way I did in front of her. She obviously heard what I said to Lillie. Even though it wasn’t in the context she may think, it pissed her off. She didn’t back down. If she’d have given me the chance, I’m still not sure I would’ve apologized.

I’ll admit, I was impressed and a little fascinated by the way she stood up for herself. Maybe this comes with being a single mother, or maybe it stems from living the last five years as a widow. Or maybe that’s just who she really is.

Either way, I was intrigued.

After all these years, today was the first time I’d ever actually met Lucy. All our business that she knows nothing about has been handled by my lawyer. Seeing her today, right in front of me, humanized her in a way I hadn’t ever thought possible.

I’ve met a lot of assholes, Mr. Holden.

Her angry words still burn my chest. I remember the hurt in her eyes as she fearlessly engaged me. She was out of her comfort zone, starting a new job and not truly knowing anyone here. Then she stood at my office door and listened to me degrade her.

I’m not a charity case.

Today was the first time I can ever remember being truly thrown off-guard by a woman I just met. And, after the way I responded to her, it’s also the first time I’ve felt the need to explain myself.

And I have to do it now.

I’m standing at the door of my penthouse, looking down at a very pissed-off Lillie Miles. Behind her stands a just as livid Corbin Mercer.

And here we go…

“We’re coming in, Mike. Open the door all the way or be moved from it,” Corbin threatens when I remain motionless.

Looking at my watch, I note the time. It’s just a little after four. The office is still open, and neither Corbin nor I are within reach, if needed.

“What the hell are you two doing here, and who the fuck is running the office?” I abruptly question.

“Chad’s got it,” Corbin answers casually, following Lillie in as I close the door behind them.

“As in Chad Parker, the second-year associate?”

“As in ‘He’ll be fine. He knows what he’s doing, and he’ll call if he needs us’ Chad. Don’t be an ass.”

“Again,” Lillie adds to his response. “Don’t be an ass again. Twice in one day can’t be good luck, especially for you.”

I shoot her a scathing glare, which doesn’t faze her at all. It never does.

“Got anything to drink?” Corbin inquires, looking around my place, trying to locate my stash of expensive liquor.

“No, sorry. I don’t.” I walk over, pick up my tumbler of scotch, and down it in one gulp.

“Nice, Mike,” he answers in return. “I see you’ve taken your ball and gone home.”

“Easy to do when the other team cheats,” I reply, looking directly at him. “And you fucking cheated.”

“Dear god, you two,” Lillie says with a frustrated huff. “It’s a wonder anything gets done when I’m not around.”

“It doesn’t,” Corbin reminds her. “It never does if Mike’s not the one in full control.”

His comment is meant to bait me. He’s not wrong in saying it, though. Both Corbin and Lillie understand that if I’m left without a say in what happens around me, I’m more likely to lash out.

Just as I did today.

“Sit,” Lillie tells him before walking into my kitchen, pulling out my best bottle of vodka, and pouring a drink for my shittiest friend.

Once she’s made it back to us, she points to my oversized black leather couch sitting across from a chair that matches. “You, too,” she says. “Sit.”

“Christ,” I hiss, although still obeying.