Chapter 15

Ireturned to my office with my head held high, but it took every bit of my strength to do it. I couldn't shake the strange knot that had settled in my stomach at the sight of Anita. I knew I had no reason to feel jealous. After all, I had made it clear to Graham that we couldn't pursue anything beyond a professional relationship. But there was something about Anita's demeanor that set me on edge, something that made me wary of her intentions.

She was what Holly and I affectionately called a barracuda. She looked at me like I was her competitor. The woman clearly had her claws deep into Graham. It pissed me off to know he was kissing me when he was hooking up with her. I would never be one of those women. I refused to be the other woman or a homewrecker, even if it was a woman that might not really deserve a good man.

Pushing aside my doubts, I threw myself into my work, immersing myself in organizing Graham's schedule and ensuring everything ran smoothly. What Graham did was none of my business. He could do what he wanted and who he wanted.

The last fifteen years, give or take a few months, I was sure he was probably very popular with the ladies. What wasn't to like?

I couldn't deny the pang of regret that shot through me as I thought about our kiss in the hotel. It was a mistake, a moment of weakness that I had let myself indulge in. But now, seeing him with Anita, I couldn't decide if I was jealous or relieved. I was glad I didn't find myself in a position to feel ashamed about screwing around with a taken man. But I was also a little bummed that I missed my chance.

As I sifted through the paperwork on my desk, my mind kept drifting back to Graham and Anita. Despite my best efforts to focus on work, their presence lingered in the back of my mind like a persistent whisper. I wondered what they were doing in his office. Making out? Having sex?

"Stop it," I murmured aloud.

A knock on my door interrupted my thoughts. "Yes?" I called out.

It opened a few inches to reveal Graham standing there.

"Yes?" I asked. "Did you need me to add some time with Ms. Darby to your schedule?"

It was a little snide. I couldn't help it. My green-eyed monster was shining through.

Graham chuckled softly at my tone, sensing the underlying tension in my words. "No, Isadora, no need to schedule anything with Anita Darby," he replied, a playful glint in his eyes. "I actually came by to see if you'd like to join me for lunch. I thought maybe we could discuss some new marketing strategies for the upcoming campaign."

I felt conflicting emotions at his invitation. Part of me wanted to jump at the chance to spend more time with Graham, to delve into the world of marketing and learn more about it. But another part of me, the cautious part that had been hurt before, didn't want to risk falling into old habits.

"I'm actually meeting my friend, Holly, for lunch to catch up," I replied.

Graham's expression remained neutral as he nodded again. "Alright, have a good lunch," he said before turning to leave.

As he walked away, I felt a pang of guilt. Despite my efforts to maintain a professional distance, I couldn't deny the tension between us. But I had made my decision, and I needed to stick to it, no matter how tempting it was to waver.

I quickly finished adding meetings and deadlines to our shared calendar before I texted Holly and let her know I was going to be leaving the office in a few minutes. She worked a block away. We were going to be meeting at a restaurant that was about halfway between our offices.

We settled in our booth, and before I could even order something to drink, she launched into her usual candid interrogation.

"So, spill it," she said with a grin. "Did he make you cry or scream in ecstasy? Something big definitely happened."

I chuckled at her bluntness. "No."

"To either?"

"It's complicated."

"Isn't everything?" She shrugged. "What happened?"

"He says it wasn't intentional, but we ended up having to share a room," I started.

Her eyes lit up. "Oh, good move on his part."

"Stop," I chided. "It wasn't cool. We hung out, ate, and then I don't know what happened. We were suddenly making out."

She clapped. "Yes! I knew it."

I shook my head. "No, you didn't know it. It wasn't good. I stopped things before they could get too far. I can't get involved with him."

"Then how come you keep kissing him?"

I gave her a disapproving look. "I don't know. It's so hard. There is an attraction there. I really thought it would have gone away after all this time."

Holly leaned in closer, her expression serious. "Isadora, you can't keep dancing around your feelings for him. It's clear there's something there, whether you want to admit it or not."

"It's not quite so simple," I said. "We can't just pick up where we left off. I have Sloane to consider."

"Have you ever considered that he might actually be a good father?" she asked, catching me off guard.

I paused, taken aback by her question. "He doesn't even know about Sloane," I countered, my voice tinged with bitterness. "And I won't let him make her feel the way he made me feel."

Holly reached across the table and squeezed my hand gently. "I understand," she said softly. "But people change, Isadora. Maybe he's not the same person he was back then. Maybe if he would have known you were pregnant, he wouldn't have left."

I didn't want to entertain the idea. I didn't want to believe that Graham could ever redeem himself in my eyes. But as much as I tried to push it aside, Holly's words stayed with me, stirring up a whirlwind of conflicting emotions.

"I just met his current fling," I said. "Yes, he has a woman on the side and he's kissing me. How much could he have really changed?"

"You're angry he left you," she said. "It was a shitty thing to do. You're not going to get any argument from me about that. But he was a kid. He's not a kid anymore."

"No, but I don't really know if he's changed," I said. "Especially after what I just saw."

"What did you just see?"

"I told you, the girlfriend or whatever she is," I said.

"It's not a surprise he's dating," she said. "You didn't expect him to be a monk, did you?"

"No."

"I think you need to at least consider getting to know him a little better," she said. "It's not just about you. Think about Sloane."

"I know, I know," I muttered. "I'll think about it."

She smiled. "Alright, I'll leave it alone. I've got your back. Whatever you need, I'll be there."

"Thank you."

We finished our lunch and headed back to our offices. I made a beeline for my desk, hoping to avoid any further encounters with Graham. I couldn't explain why there was a sudden urge to tell him about Sloane. Maybe it was the idea time was running out.

She wasn't going to be a kid much longer. She was going to eventually find a way to find out who her father was on her own. I didn't want her to discover the truth and end up being pissed at me. The secret was a ticking time bomb.

As I wrapped up the day's tasks, I couldn't shake the lingering tension that seemed to hang in the air between Graham and me. He'd been surprisingly courteous, giving me the space I'd asked for, but knowing he was nearby left me feeling uneasy.

I finished scheduling his appointments for the week and shot him a quick message to check his updated calendar. It was almost time to leave when he walked into my office, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"Thanks for getting that done so quickly," he said. "You're much more efficient than my last assistant."

I offered him a tight-lipped smile in return, unsure how to respond to his compliment. "Thank you."

"Tomorrow, I'd like you to be at that meeting in the morning," he said. "Since it's across town, I suggest we ride together. I'll have my driver swing by your building and pick you up."

My heart pounded at the thought of him showing up to my apartment with Sloane there. "You can't come up," I blurted out, feeling a rush of panic.

His eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Excuse me?"

"I mean, I'll meet you in the lobby at eight," I said.

For a moment, there was a flicker of something in his eyes—disappointment, perhaps—but he quickly masked it with a nonchalant shrug. "Alright, suit yourself," he replied.

With a sense of relief, I gathered my things and headed for the elevator, eager to put some distance between us. He always left me so out of sorts. It felt like my nerve endings were exposed. Everything felt so raw and sensitive. I needed the rest of the day to settle down just so I could prepare myself for doing it all again tomorrow. And now I was going to be stuck in the same car with him. I couldn't seem to get out of his bubble. Of course, it was my job to be around him. That wasn't going to change just because I felt awkward in his presence.

I stepped out of the elevator, anxious to get some fresh air that didn't smell like him. Just as I was about to find freedom, Anita stepped in front of me. Her smile was polite but the look in her eyes was like a cat staring at a mouse.

"You're Graham's new assistant," she said.

I nodded. "Isadora."

"I'm Anita," she replied. This was the part where she staked her claim.

"It's nice to meet you, ma'am."

"I'm waiting on Graham," she explained. "We're going to dinner."

"I think he was wrapping up and should be down soon," I said with a smile. "You know how he loves his work."

She laughed. "The man is a machine. But I hate when he makes me wait."

I smiled and nodded. "He'll be finished shortly, I'm sure. Have a nice night."

I walked out, letting the forced smile fall away. I'd made the right decision to put a stop to any potential romantic entanglements with Graham. Whatever feelings I may have harbored for him were nothing more than a fleeting fantasy—a dangerous distraction I couldn't afford to entertain. He was involved with another woman. I had half a mind to go tell Anita that Graham had his tongue down my throat just a couple of days ago.

But I stopped myself. There was no point in starting a war between him and his girlfriend. Not if I wanted to remain his assistant. And it would only make me look jealous, which I was, but I didn't want Graham to have the satisfaction of knowing that. I spotted my car and quickly got in before I had to see the happy couple walk out of the building together.

"Home?" Michael asked from the front seat.

"Yes, please."

"How was your day?" he asked conversationally as he navigated the traffic.

I smiled. "Good."

He glanced at me in the rearview mirror. "You don't look like it was a good day."

"Let's just say it was complicated," I admitted, leaning back in the seat and staring out at nothing.

I could tell Michael wanted to ask more, but he held his tongue.

When he pulled up to the building, I remembered the change in plans for the morning. "I won't be needing a ride tomorrow morning," I told him. "But it will be the usual afternoon pickup."

"Sounds good. Have a nice night."