“Why did I ever agree to go to dinner with him?”
“Because you were attracted to him. And it didn’t work out. The end,” Sam said.
I turned to look at her through my watery eyes, “Yes, the end. No relationship. No career. No money to pay my mortgage. Only a big, gaping wound made by Matt and pissed in by Jay.”
“They’re different,” Jenny said.
“But he lied about who he was, just the way Matt did.”
“But his reason for lying was different. He lied to protect himself. Understandably. Whereas Matt…” Jenny’s voice trailed off.
“Matt lied to take advantage of me. Just like Jay.”
“I don’t know that that’s what Jay did,” Jenny said.
“Unbelievable. You’re taking his side?"
“No. Not at all. I’m just pointing out his motivation.”
“His motivation doesn't matter, he still lied. Confirmed my belief in all men. I don’t know why I ever let you convince me to go out with him. If I hadn’t, I wouldn’t be hurt right now.”
“But you had so much fun,” Jenny said.
“Sure, until his lie was exposed all over the internet! I wouldn’t be surprised if I’m on the six o’clock news.”
“And Facebook,” Sam added, bringing us mugs of coffee.
“Fucking Facebook. Everyone will know. Everyone I went to high school with. To college with. People I haven’t even met yet.”
“What will they know? That you, Abbie White, scored with a hot billionaire. That’s it. And they’ll be jealous,” Sam said.
I sat straighter and wiped my eyes. Maybe that’s true. My public humiliation is only limited to me looking like an employee sleeping with the boss. Explicitly. Naked in the photo as I straddled him topless in the woods. Thank God I’d still had my jeans on.
The memory made me smile. “It was an amazing day.”
“I’d guess so, naked in the woods with a man like him,” Sam said smiling at me.
The memory fell away. “What do I do now?”
“You don’t think you can go back to Force McAllister?” Jenny asked
“No way.”
“You have your promotion, a secure paycheck. You have so much enthusiasm for this new position,” Sam said.
“But everyone would know. Everyone has seen me naked and fucking the CEO. There’s no way I can face them again. Besides, I’m staying as far away from Jay as possible.”
“It’s a huge company. There’s a thousand people, you wouldn’t have to go anywhere near him,” Sam said stroking my forearm. But her words had exploded into me. One thousand people have seen me topless. I broke down again.
The intercom buzzed, and I felt the color drain from my face.
“If that’s Jay, don’t let him up,” I managed to say between sobs.
“Of course, honey.”
“Delivery for A. White.”
Jenny buzzed him up. I knew what it would be. Some fancy, expensive gift from Jay, trying to buy my forgiveness. There’s nothing Jay. James. Nothing. I’d reject the delivery and have it sent back to him, except I didn’t have the strength to drag myself from the couch.
Sam clasped my hand while we waited. Jenny appeared in front of us, a look of surprise on her face.
A man walked behind her, carrying a vase so large he was hugging it in his arms. The vase was full of yellow roses. Another man appeared behind him, carrying a vase just as large, this one full of lilies. A third man came in, his vase full of a mixed bouquet. And a fourth, and a fifth. Their vases full of tulips and sunflowers.
My living room was stuffed with the vases, and barely any room left over for the people in it to stand.
The men left and returned, so the first man had left but now reappeared, with another vase. This one full of pink asters. The second man came back carrying a vase of purple things I didn’t know the name of. The living room was full, and they had to put some in the bedroom.
By the time the fifth man reappeared with another vase, he had to leave it in the entranceway. I couldn’t help but laugh. My condo looked like a florist’s.
The first man reappeared again, and I wondered how many more vases were going to arrive. The vases didn’t stop coming until there was no room to squeeze even one more stem. They’d put two in the bathroom, covered every inch of my kitchen counter, and left a narrow path to squeeze through to the front door.
Once the deliverymen left, Sam and Jenny ended up dragging over half of the vases into the hallway, to create some space in my condo.
I welcomed the overwhelming scent that swirled around the room, somehow it comforted me. Though I could never forgive Jay, I appreciated the gesture. The thing that struck me most about the flowers was that none of them had a card. No note. Nothing. I guess he knew there was nothing he could say.