Page 90 of Brassy Bigwig

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

CHLOE

The sound of my phone vibrating breaks me from my concentration. I’ve been working my way through emails since nine this morning, barely stopping for a break. Glancing at my phone’s screen, I see a message from Shelby waiting. She’s been messaging me nonstop since I moved out. It’s hardly been a week, and I do miss seeing her regularly, but falling asleep and waking up next to D every day is the kind of heaven I wasn’t sure I’d ever find.

I already knew we had a lot in common, but you don’t really get to know someone until you live with them. So far, there aren’t any red flags I need to worry about. He works the majority of the time, sometimes even through breakfast and dinner. He’s always very apologetic, but I honestly don’t mind. I love watching him work. It’s like a weird type of foreplay I’ve never experienced before.

Outside of work, he’s a bit of a homebody, much like myself, which works out especially well at the moment.

There’s nothing like a stalker to keep you from wanting to go outside.

I’m more than okay with staying in while we’re not at the office. I know my time at Okeanós is limited, and while I would love to stay, leaving means D and I can be free to have the kind of relationship we deserve.

I sigh because I know that can never happen with Blake still in the picture.

There are times, like right now, when I’m more angry than frightened where I want to seek him out and tell him he is insignificant. Tell him he doesn’t scare me anymore. It would be a lie, but that is the point in my life where I wish I was. I don’t want to live in fear any longer.

Grabbing my phone, I unlock the screen and read Shelby’s latest message.

Shelby: Did you know studies have shown you can gain up to seventeen pounds during the first year of a new relationship?

Her message makes me smile and shake my head. These are the types of things we would normally talk about at home, and I love her for not wanting to let that go.

Me: No, I didn’t know that.

Shelby: It’s true. So I’m switching to black coffee to help shed the couple pounds I’ve gained since meeting Reed. Trying to nip it in the bud before it becomes an issue.

Now I shake my head at her for a different reason. She gets this way all the time, even though she barely has one ounce of fat on her bones. She isn’t sickeningly skinny, but she definitely doesn’t need to lose any weight.

Me: Well, you have to do whatever you think is best for your body.

You can’t just tell Shelby not to do something. In all the years we’ve been friends, I’ve learned she is going to do whatever she’s determined to do.

Even if it’s stupid.

The more you fight her on a topic, the more obsessed she gets. If you don’t entertain her ridiculous ideas, she gets bored of them fairly quick.

Shelby: Do you want to meet up for lunch today?

Me: D and I have a lunch meeting with some prospective clients, or else I would. Maybe tomorrow?

Shelby: Boo, you whore!

Me: Calm down, Regina.

Shelby: Okay, tomorrow it is. I’m holding you to it.

Me: It’s a date.

D pops out of his office just as I put my phone down. I still feel guilty when I have it out while I’m supposed to be working. The other day, he told me he could take me into his office and spank me for using it if that would make me feel better.

Thinking back to our conversation now, I don’t think I would mind one bit. Maybe I’ll test him later.

As my thighs begin to clench, D speaks.

“Any thoughts on lunch?” he asks me.

“It doesn’t matter to me. I could go for anything.”

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