Chapter 39

CHAPTER 39

SPENCER

I t had been a couple of days since my meltdown in the office. It wasn't surprising things were still pretty tense. No one was talking to me, afraid I was going to bite their heads off. I still had not officially put in the paperwork to leave the company. For now, we were all operating under the guise I had never said I was leaving.

I paced my living room, the weight of guilt and confusion heavy on my shoulders. I knew I had screwed up, but pride kept me from making amends. I looked out the windows of my apartment, watching the sun rise on a gray, cloudy day. It was perfect for my mood. I barely slept last night. I barely slept the night before and the night before that.

I drank the last of my coffee and put the mug in the sink. It was time to go. Another day in the office with people tiptoeing around me. I hastily grabbed my coat and made my way to the office, my mind racing with thoughts of Marlow. I couldn't shake off the memory of our friendship slowly blooming and then quickly wilting under the pressure of my own insecurities. As I entered the building, the usual buzz of activity in the lobby greeted me. People were carrying their umbrellas and wearing their coats as they milled about. I didn't stop for my usual coffee and headed straight for the elevators.

I couldn't explain quite how I felt about going into the office. I certainly didn't feel like I had any friends. But I had no one to blame except for myself. I stepped off the elevator and stepped into reception. The usual buzz fell silent as heads turned in my direction. I could feel the weight of their gazes, filled with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.

I made my way to my office, trying to avoid eye contact with anyone. Janet rushed in, bringing me coffee and updating me on my schedule for the day. I barely registered what she was saying as I sipped the hot coffee, my mind consumed with thoughts of Marlow. How could I make things right after everything that had transpired between us? I knew I had to swallow my pride and apologize, but the fear of rejection held me back. As Janet left the office, I sat at my desk, staring blankly at the computer screen.

I briefly reviewed the notes for the upcoming meeting with Joshua Powell. Marlow had updated the file for all of us to review. I cracked a smile as I read through what she had done. There was no way the guys could deny how damn good she was. I knew it was going to be a good meeting and our client was going to be thoroughly impressed.

Janet popped back in. "Do you want a snack before the meeting?"

I frowned. "A snack?"

"I thought it might keep your blood sugar even."

I cocked one eyebrow. "Do I happen to have blood sugar issues?"

"I don't know." She shrugged. "I know when I'm hungry or my blood sugar gets low, I get grumpy. Hangry."

I snorted. "You think I'm an asshole because I have low blood sugar?"

"Wouldn't that be nice if that was the cure?" she said, smiling.

"Yes, please," I said, feeling a little hungry. "Bring me whatever."

Janet nodded and left the office, returning a few minutes later with a small array of snacks on a tray. I picked absentmindedly at a granola bar. It was hard to concentrate on work when the turmoil in my personal life weighed on me.

As the time for the meeting drew near, I focused my attention, trying to push aside my inner turmoil. Joshua Powell was an important client, and I needed to focus on impressing him, despite the distraction of unresolved issues with Marlow and my partners.

The team gathered in the conference room. I took my seat at the table, not saying anything to Graham or Derrick. Marlow walked in, briefly making eye contact with me. She was wearing a slim-fitting blazer in a deep navy blue, with a crisp white blouse underneath. Her black pencil skirt hugged her curves and hit just above the knee. Her dark hair was pulled back into a sleek ponytail, showing off her beautiful face. She had minimal makeup on, with just a touch of red lipstick highlighting her full lips. Her posture was confident and poised as she took her seat at the head of the table. She exuded professionalism and determination. I noticed everyone admiring her. The guys all had their own women at home, but it was hard not to look at Marlow when she walked into the room.

A minute later, Kyla brought Joshua into the room. We all stood to greet him, but Joshua was focused on Marlow. It was as if we weren't even present. Marlow got right down to business, respecting Joshua's time. It was one of those rare times when everything seemed to go smoothly. Joshua was in a good mood, and the team was well-prepared.

As the meeting progressed, Marlow's professionalism and expertise shone through effortlessly. She presented the project with such confidence and grace that even Joshua Powell, a notoriously tough client to impress, was nodding along in agreement. I watched her in awe, marveling at how she managed to command the room with such poise. The guys were just as captivated. There was a little voice in the back of my head screaming "I told you so" after all their protests about me hiring her. Even they were in awe of how good she was.

I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride for Marlow. She was truly exceptional at what she did, and it was evident in the way she handled herself during high-stakes meetings like this one. As the discussion delved deeper into the details of the project, I found myself watching her and thinking about what she tasted like. The soft whimpers she let out when I was pleasuring her with my tongue.

I quickly shook my head, forcing myself to focus on the meeting at hand. But the memory of Marlow's taste lingered, tempting me to give in to the desire that simmered just beneath the surface. I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, trying to push those thoughts aside as Joshua directed a question at me.

I cleared my throat, gathering my thoughts before responding with a concise answer that seemed to satisfy him. Marlow shot me a quick glance, her expression unreadable, before smoothly redirecting the conversation back to our project proposal.

The meeting continued on without a hitch, each member of our team contributing their expertise while Marlow navigated the overall pitch. When the whole thing wrapped up, I felt relief. It had gone well with Marlow taking the lead.

Joshua left, leaving me with the rest of the team. We didn't talk as we collected our things. "So, you're still here, Spencer?" Graham asked. "What happened to starting your own firm?"

My muscles tensed, but I managed to keep my voice even. I knew this moment was coming. We could only pretend it never happened for so long.

"I was overreacting," I said. The words came out flat and unapologetic. I could feel Marlow's eyes on me, silently urging me to say more, but the words got stuck in my throat.

No one said anything. I waited for them to tell me it was too bad, they were kicking me out.

Derrick laughed. "No shit, you overreacted. But I'm glad you came to your senses, man." He slapped me on the back.

Graham nodded in agreement. "Yeah, we're stronger as a team." He threw an understanding look in Marlow's direction.

She gave a small smile, her eyes meeting mine for a brief moment before she turned to gather her things.

Sebastian stepped up, extending his hand. "Glad you're staying," he said and shook my hand.

I thanked Sebastian, trying to mask the guilt and embarrassment I felt after my outburst the other day. It had been a little childish. As the team began to disperse, Marlow lingered behind, her gaze fixed on me. I could sense the unspoken words hanging heavy in the air between us, the tension palpable. I knew I needed to address the unresolved issues that had been festering between us for far too long.

Taking a deep breath, I debated how to apologize.

"Marlow," I began, my voice barely above a whisper as I struggled to get the words out.

"It's fine," she said, stopping me before I said anything.

"It isn't fine," I said. "I'm sorry for being a jackass."

"I know." She grinned. "But thank you for finally apologizing for it."

"Can we talk about the water bottle product?" I asked.

"Sure," she said, following me back to my office.

Once we were inside, I shut the door and gestured for her to have a seat in one of the chairs in the conversation area. "Need something to drink?" I asked.

"Water, please."

I grabbed a bottle of water from the mini fridge in the corner. I handed Marlow the bottle, our fingers grazing briefly in the exchange. I cleared my throat, breaking the tension that crackled in the air between us.

"Look, Marlow, I know I've been difficult lately. And I want to apologize for that," I began, taking a seat across from her.

She took a sip of water, her eyes never leaving mine. "By all means, go ahead."

"I'm sorry. And I will try to be the man I should be, not the man I am sometimes."

"It's okay, Spencer. We all have our moments," she replied calmly, her voice gentle and understanding.

I nodded, grateful for her letting me off the hook fairly easily. I picked up the file that was resting on the coffee table between us. "So, I've been looking at the numbers, and I think we need to rethink our marketing strategy for this."

Marlow was nodding along when her phone rang. She glanced at the screen. "It's Rhett. Give me a second." She answered the call. "Hey, Rhett. What's up?"

I tried to focus on the file, but I couldn't help eavesdropping.

"What time will you be home?" Rhett asked, his voice audible even from where I was sitting.

"I'm grabbing dinner with Kyla and a few of our other friends, so probably not until around ten," she replied.

"Sounds good," Rhett said.

"Sorry," she said, putting the phone down.

"Is Rhett in town?" I asked.

She nodded. "He's staying at my place for a few days. He needed a change of scenery."

"Is he going to throw a rager?" I joked.

She smiled. "He'd better not. Some of my neighbors are pretty uptight."

We went back to discussing work, but it wasn't long before the conversation shifted to more casual topics. We started joking about Joshua's obnoxious personality, laughing easily. It felt good to see Marlow relax and laugh. She made me feel lighter, and I realized how much I'd missed this. It was the first time in a while I felt like I could breathe again.

After work, as we were leaving at the same time, I noticed Marlow texting as we stepped into the elevator. Her expression shifted. Her smile faded. I could tell she was bummed out.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

She sighed. "My dinner plans got rescheduled. I was really looking forward to it."

I hesitated, almost asking her out to dinner, but I thought better of it. She'd probably say no anyway and I had just gotten her forgiveness. I wasn't about to press my luck. "That sucks," I said instead.

She gave me a small smile. "Yeah, it does. But it's okay. I'll see you on Monday."

"See you on Monday," I echoed, watching her walk away. Her smile was the warmest it had been in almost two weeks, and it made me feel like maybe things were starting to turn around.