Jonathan
“Any word on where Harrison stands on the Uni-tech investment?” “Are we sure we want to buy Livingston Corp. before we go public? Their sales were dismal last quarter.” “We need to finalize our predictions for the market at least three weeks before the IPO launch.” “The sPhone blue has officially broken our last record for preorder sales.”
I was sitting in another late night board meeting and I was tempted to say, “I honestly don’t give a damn about what any of you are talking about. Let’s just get the hell out of here.” Yet, some of the shareholders were tuning in from overseas and I knew that wasn’t the smartest idea.
We’d been fine tuning the details for the IPO that was still a long while away: Renegotiating stock options, finalizing the requirements for employee buy-ins, and preparing hundreds of public statements and in-house events.
I’d been so busy that I hadn’t seen or spoken to Claire all week. I didn’t have time to attend any of her directors’ meetings or talk to her on the phone at night. My meetings always ended around three in the morning, and since her department was so busy with the sTablet, we only texted each other a few times a day.
I didn’t think not seeing her for a week would bother me, but it did. Anytime the meetings became boring—which was every fifteen minutes, I pictured her bent over my desk, pushed up against the walls of my office, or screaming my name as I pushed her into another climax.
Where else in this building should we have sex?
“Mr. Statham? Mr. Statham?” One of the board members cleared his throat.
Maybe on the roof...“Yes?”
“Is it okay if we end tonight’s meeting a little early?”
I looked at my watch. Two thirty in the morning.
“That’s fine with me.” I tried not to look relieved. “See you all on Monday.”
They stood up at once and shuffled out of the room. There were no “See you later” or “Great job team” goodbyes. The friendly salutations had worn off much earlier in the week, as soon as the first meeting went past midnight.
I closed my folder and realized Vanessa was standing by the door.
“Hey, Vanessa. It hasn’t been the same at the negotiating sessions without you. How was France?”
“It was phenomenal.” She bit her lip. “Did you miss me?”
“In what sense?”
“Funny. Are you sleeping in your office suite tonight?”
“Probably so.” I started stacking my files. “Why?”
“Can I stay the night?”
I looked up and raised my eyebrow. “What?”
“I’m too tired to drive home...”
“I can get Greg to take you in the town car.” I pulled out my phone. “Do you want me to have your car taken to your house too or do you—”
“Jonathan, no one is around right now. Everyone has gone home. There’s no need for you to act like we’re platonic.”
“We are platonic. You don’t want a ride home?”
“No, I don’t want a ride home. I—” She stopped and shook her head. “You changed the employee fraternization policy while I was gone, and I’m finally back so...I took that to mean that you finally decided to give us a chance.”
“Vanessa, I’ve never—”
“Don’t worry. I’m not trying to rush things between us.” She walked over and touched my shoulder. “I wasn’t implying that we sleep together tonight—unless you want to of course...I was thinking we could just talk, you know? We’ve been friends for so long but we don’t really know each other outside of the boardroom.”
I sighed. “I’m dating someone else.”
“Someone else? Since when?”
“Since—” It wasn’t any of her damn business. “It hasn’t been that long.”
“So it’s not serious, right?” She shrugged. “You’ve always kept your options open. I’ll go grab my bag out of my car and we can—”
“I’m dating her and only her, Vanessa. I’ve told you over and over that you and I are just friends. I want to keep it that way.” Forever...
“This doesn’t make any sense.” She crossed her arms. “You’re honestly not attracted to me?”
“I am.”
“You don’t enjoy hanging out with me? You don’t think we have great conversations? ”
“I do.”
“But you don’t want to date me?”
“No.” Can it get any clearer?
“Okay...” She took a deep breath and stepped back. “I take it that the woman you’re dating is an employee here?”
I didn’t answer. I just raised my eyebrow.
“Does she have a name?”
“She does.”
“What is it? Friends can tell each other who they’re dating.”
“Can they?” I stood up. “I never meant to lead you on. If I did that in any way I’m sorry. I think you’re extremely pretty, smart, and—”
“Spare me your pity shit, Jonathan.” She scoffed and headed for the door. “Don’t come crying to me when your low-level employee runs to the press and tries to blackmail you. I might help her.”