Owned by Him(30)
Her biggest shock came when Connie arrived at the office at five in the afternoon.
“What are you doing here?” Amber asked. She was walking out of the office building as Connie was walking inside.
“I’ve brought dinner for Dale. He works too hard, and he deserves a really good dinner as compensation.” Connie was smiling.
“Are you and Dale a couple?” Amber thought about Wade. What was her friend going to do about him?
“We’re friends. He’s nice, and he’s not pressuring me to be something I’m not. Please, don’t get the wrong idea. He’s different, and you’re all busy. Heather’s dealing with Julian and her pregnancy. Ashley’s got some issue. You’ve been disappearing, and it has just been me.” Connie shrugged. The sadness on her face was clear to see.
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I’m happy, and you guys are happy. This is dinner and friendship, and I like him. He’s different.”
“And he’s older.”
“Don’t judge,” Connie said.
“I’m not judging.”
“Good. I’m going to get this up to him before it gets cold.”
Amber watched her friend go. She was the second friend she’d seen walk away. It had been a strange day and a strange week.
****
“I thought I fucking told you to make sure my shift is different from yours,” Ashley said. She couldn’t believe Amber was the one to find out Jonathan was her boss. Shaking her head, she let out a frustrated groan. When had her life gotten so complicated?
“I’m the boss, Ashley. I’ve got no choice but to be here all the time. Every shift I’m here. I just stay out of your way.”
“Then why didn’t you stay out of my way today?” She turned back toward him, glaring.
“This is insane. You’re my employee. I pay your wages, and if any other employee was to talk to me the way you just did, I’d fucking fire them.” He stepped closer to her, invading her space.
She hated this job. She hated him, and she wished he’d fuck off.
Grabbing the apron from around her waist, she slammed the fabric against his chest. “I fucking quit, you piece of shit.” She thumped him for added measure. His chest was hard. Growling in frustration, she glared at him. “Do you fuck your other employees and then destroy them in high school, Jonathan?”
“I said I was sorry. If I could take it back I would.”
“That’s the good thing, saying words of regret. It’s a shame you can never take back the shit you did to me. You bastard.”
Ashley saw red and slapped him around the face.
When she lifted her hand to hit him again, Jonathan caught her hand. “Do not hit me again,” he said.
The look in his eye was deadly.
Tears sprang to her eyes. “I hate you.”
“I know, but I made a mistake and I’m sorry.”
She let the pain sink in. The tears spilled out of her eyes without any pressure. “You ruined my life. I’m never going to get that back.” She let out a sob as all the men she’d been with came rushing through her. “So many men. All you had to do was deny it, but you didn’t. Why couldn’t you leave me alone?” she asked.
His arms wrapped around her as she fought his hold. Closing her eyes, Ashley wished she could change everything, her life, what she did. If she could have a do over, she’d love it.
No one could change their life, and neither could she.
Ashley would be cursed to forever know what she’d done to help ease the pain because of this man who’d claimed her heart and ruined her for life.
****
Elijah slammed shut the door to his car. It was Friday afternoon, and Amber was standing outside her apartment building waiting for him. He’d never once thought his life could be so perfect. Heather was talking with him, and Amber was in his life. After years of Heather thinking he was the perfect son, wrongly on his sister’s part, she was finally getting over her issues. There were no problems between them, only what Heather had made up in her mind. At least he and Amber did not have to sneak around, and now he and Julian could join the ladies at their table in Wade’s.
Amber rushed toward him. He held his arms open waiting for her. Elijah caught her easily in his arms.
“I love you,” she said, laughing.
“Good. Get ready for a weekend of loving, baby. This weekend you’re all mine.”
“I can’t wait.”
Staring down into her smiling face, he tugged her close for a kiss.
She moaned, her hands gripping the hair at the nape of his neck. “I missed you.”
“I missed you, too, baby.”