The Other C-Word(14)

"What number?"

"The number I gave you the other day"

I shook my head. "You didn't give me a number."

Kathy rubbed Rick's arm, shaking her head at me disapprovingly. "Rick, I don't know how you deal with Marley. She's so scatter-brained all the time."

I met her gaze, clenching my jaw. "Yeah, but I never call in sick, even for two hours." She shot me an offended look, but Rick gave her a bright smile. It made her forget what I'd said as if he'd put a spell on her. Women must be such easy prey for him.

"Marley's a great assistant."

"Give me my phone, Rick," I insisted, loudly.

"I will. Just give me a minute, please."

It occurred to me I was drawing too much attention. Everyone was suddenly looking at me, even Mr Henley, and the last thing I wanted was for him to think I was arguing with Rick needlessly. The conversation kept up at a jovial pace, while he pretended to be looking for a number that didn't exist.

What the hell was he up to? I wanted to scream the question, but he had me in a position where it would be awkward to voice my curiosity. After fifteen minutes, he announced that he couldn't find the number, but it didn't matter, everyone was drunk and cheerful. That was everyone but Rick, Dillon and me. Doug was almost falling over the barstool. Funny-I didn't feel any jealousy when Kathy rubbed his shoulders with her manicured hands. However, when she bumped against Rick quite intentionally with her body, my knuckles turned white and I had to loosen my grip on the beer mug to keep myself from throwing it.

Many hours had passed, it was a weeknight and it was late. Everyone was murmuring about getting home. Rick came around to my side of the bar and whispered in my ear, "Are you okay to drive, Marley?"

No one else heard Rick's question, except Dillon. "She's okay, Rick. I've been watching her."

I shot a menacing look at Dillon, who just smiled. When I looked back at Rick, he was also staring at Dillon but with a grateful expression. "Did you walk here from work?"

"Yes, I'll walk her back," Dillon replied.

"No one needs to walk me back. I'm not helpless." Although, it was a stupid thing to say since Dillon and I were going to the same place.

"Thanks, Dillon, I would appreciate that."

They were talking about me like I wasn't there, and I struggled not to tell them both off. It had already lost my cool with Rick, but I wasn't going to further embarrass myself in front of Henley. "Cool origami," Rick said, gesturing to the dozen shapes Dillon had created out of cocktail napkins. Dillon had a hard time keeping his hands still and would often make origami napkins, or towers out of cream and sugar, when we went out. Doug had commented on Dillon's habits during the night too, but he made fun of it as most guys did. Rick said it with a sincerity that made my heart melt a little, despite my growing exasperation with him.

Rick continued addressing the whole group like a natural-born leader, "Doug is too drunk to drive so Kathy's taking him home, since she lives close to him. I'm taking Henley home."

I stared in disbelief with my mouth hanging open. When had all this happened? Kathy was going home with my fuck buddy?

Mr Henley approached and managed to extend one arm over my shoulder and the other over Dillon's. "I feel like I haven't talked to you guys all night."

I wanted to tell him that's because he hadn't. I couldn't though. Mr Henley was a very decent man, and I couldn't fault him for being so enamoured with Rick. Rick was going to save the company that was Henley's life work. "It's okay, Mr Henley, have a good night, sir."                       
       
           



       

Rick approached me as everyone was getting up, and doing the compulsory stretching required after many hours spent drinking in a seated position.

"Looks like I won't be giving you a ride tonight after all," Rick whispered softly against my ear. The statement sounded completely sexual to me. He reached for my hand, taking hold of my right wrist and gently rubbing it. "No one else will either. Thanks for letting me use your phone." The heat of his breath against my earlobe caused an involuntary and unwelcomed shiver. He placed my phone on the bar in front of me. I'd forgotten all about it. I wanted to yell at him and berate him, but I got lost in the intoxicating scent of his cologne. I couldn't speak. The heat that crept along my face and neck were response enough. I no longer trusted my mouth to speak.

Rick and Henley each took one of Doug's arms as Kathy followed behind them. As soon as Rick had left, I remembered where I was. I picked up my phone and scrolled through it. My mouth incrementally got wider as I rolled through my contacts. Dillon peered over my shoulder. Rick had erased every man's number I had except for Dillon's. He'd even managed to erase my text message and call history. There was one addition though-Rick Randy.

"Son of a bitch," I said, wondering if I should run after him and throw my phone at him this time. It was heavier than the protein bar, after all. Dillon's uproarious laughter interrupted my thoughts. "What's so funny?" I demanded.

"That was hilarious! I've heard of cock block, but kid, your boss just pussy blocked you in a major way."



* * * *



The next morning, I didn't bring him his coffee. I stormed into Rick's office with my head held high in sheer determination. I slammed my phone on his desk, crossed my arms and tapped my foot obnoxiously.

"Can I help you, Marley?" he enquired, not even looking up from the computer screen.

"What you did was over the line and a complete invasion of privacy."

"What was that?" he asked innocently, but I could see the smirk threatening to curl around his lips, despite his obvious attempts to keep his expression sincere.

"You know! You deleted all my male contacts. Why would you do that?"

"Sorry, it was an accident. I'm not used to your phone," he replied with measured indifference.

I bit down on my lip hard, struggling not to choke him.

"You deleted my future brother-in-laws number and friends too, you jerk!"

"I'm sure if there's a number you really needed, you could get it back." His nonchalance fuelled my fury.

"What the hell is wrong with you? You're my boss, not my dad. It's none of your business."

Rick finally looked up at me, acknowledging me with a clenched jaw and narrowed eyes. In that moment, I knew I wasn't the only irate one in the room, but his voice was free of hostility. It was soft, but sarcastic. "Calm down, my little Garter Belt Girl."

"Don't call me that." I slammed my fist on his desk. He actually flinched, which gave me great satisfaction.

I waited for him to reply, to utter his apologies and come up with beseeching excuses for his behaviour. Instead, he smirked and his green eyes were twinkling mischievously.

"I can't have a nickname for you? I mean you have one for me … don't you?" He was staring straight at my eyes, studying my reaction as I analysed his words. It was my turn to flinch. He'd read my text messages to Dillon. Oh, crap! He knew we called him ‘Big Dick'. "Marley, I'm flattered, really."

I had no idea what to say. I was still seething, but I was embarrassed now too.

He broke the silence, "I really do have a lot of work to do if there's nothing else."

I walked out of his office, not sure what had just happened. Part of me had thought about threatening him with HR, but it wouldn't work on Rick. He knew it would be a veiled threat. Part of me felt thoroughly defeated. Part of me wanted to jump in his lap and kiss those soft lips. All of me was completely confused.

"Don't forget your phone, you might need it," Rick said when I was at the door.

I stomped back to his desk and picked it up. "You're right, I have a lot of numbers to track down," I retorted, harshly. His expression was grim as I spoke. I made a point of straightening the frame of his girlfriend's picture on the way out. He noticed it, and I think in that moment I conveyed the message clearly-we're both unavailable.



* * * *



Surprisingly, the cell phone calamity went by the wayside. I was still bitter, but as the days passed, I found myself immersed in new assignments. Rick acted professionally, and neither of us mentioned what had happened at the bar. I started bringing him coffee again like some kind of peace offering, however, he never complimented my appearance or called me Garter Belt Girl. He remained polite, but distant and aloof. I imagined he thought less of me since I'd stupidly revealed the details of my sex life.                       
       
           



       

I missed the camaraderie we'd shared prior to ‘cell phone gate'. Who was I kidding? I missed the way his eyes assessed my body. I missed the way he bit his lower lip when he looked at my legs. I missed the way he would grin salaciously when he made a naughty remark causing me to blush. I actually wanted to dress up more to elicit some kind of response from him, which I knew was completely asinine. I had an image of playing out my inner Bridget Jones and wearing a scandalous bra underneath a see-through top, but I decided against it. HR would kick me out on my butt. We were a casual company, but not that casual. The damn Brits could get away with anything.