Page 19 of Ignite
She let me go, and I stood there, waiting like she’d asked. When she came back, we went outside to mycar.
Faye turned in the passenger seat, her hand resting on my thigh. She had something to say, and knowing her, I’d hear it whether I wanted to or not. Complaining would only lead to me going home alone. So I remained silent, readying myself for the dose of reality she was about toserve.
“Listen, I know you only met like a week ago, but she’s not like the other women here,” she said. “If you want to make a play for her, you’ll have to go all in. No more sleepingaround.”
“I don’t want to go all in,” I lied. “I just want to getoff.”
She snorted and rolled her eyes. “So you weren’t jealous when you barged out of the cagetonight?”
Reaching down, I flipped the latch under my seat and pushed it all the way back. Grabbing Faye’s leg, I eased her over the center console until she straddled mylap.
“Liam,” she complained, wrapping her arms around myneck.
“Shut up for once in your life, Faye,” I said sharply, undoing myfly.
One day, my self-destructive bullshit would come back to bite me in the ass, but for now, I was content to sink my cock into it and forget everything that made me the asshole of thecentury.
9
Alison
Aweek went by,and things went on as if nothing hadchanged.
A second week passed, and it was like I’d become a ghost. At work and The Underground. If it weren’t for a few texts from Faye, I would’ve thought everything had been one long dream I’d just woken upfrom.
After Liam and I argued—honestly, I wasn’t even sure what to label that conversation—I hadn’t heard from him. I’d seen him fight a few more times, but he never sought me out. I was afraid whatever friendship we’d begun had already fizzled out. It hurt more than I realized it would. Like the idiot I was, I’d hoped this time would bedifferent.
It wasn’t. At least on thesurface.
My workload at work had lightened significantly since I stood up to Susan. I was still delegated extra but not as much asbefore.
I had an actual lunch break these days, but I wasn’t entirely happy about taking it. Being idle forced my brain to tick over, and when I thought too much, I started to dwell, and when I dwelled, I started toflounder.
I was sitting at my desk, scrolling through my email, when an instant message appeared on my computer screen. I frowned when I saw it was from Matt, the head of customer relations, otherwise known as my boss’sboss.
When you’ve got a minute, could you come see me in myoffice?
What did he want with me? I glanced over my shoulder at Susan, but she was on the phone talking to a client, her pleasantries sounding as fake as the gossip she spread around the water cooler. I began to worry she’d made a complaint about me, but waiting two weeks wasn’t her style. If she was going to make a stink, she would’ve gone into Matt’s office immediately afterward and stamped herfoot.
I stood, smoothing down my skirt. I’d better go now. Otherwise, I would stew in my own juices until I got it overwith.
When I approached, I saw his door was open. He was lounging back in his chair, staring pensively at his monitor. He was in his early forties, a typical suit kinda guy, and had worked for the company for ten years before I’d shown up. He was good at his job, albeit a little touchy-feely…especially when it came time for the office Christmasparty.
I knocked lightly on the doorframe. “Matt…” He glanced up. “You wanted to seeme?”
“Yes, Alison. Come in.” He waved me forward. “Close the door if you wouldn’tmind.”
The latch clicked behind me as I closed us in the office together. Taking a seat opposite him, I folded my hands in mylap.
“You’ve been working here, what…three years now?” he began, straightening histie.
“A little over,yes.”
“You’ve always been a good employee,” he went on. “Always early, working diligently, most times above and over what’s been required ofyou.”
This sounded promising, but I was waiting for thecatch.
“I’ve noticed the change in you lately.” His gaze raked over my torso, and I began to fidget, not liking the way he was staring at me. “And I’ve been talking with the other department heads about opportunities in the company. There are several openings available for bright, young employees to step up into. Minor management positions. It would be more responsibility, and the pay grade would be more than you earn now.” He stood and smiled down at me. “I would like to put you forward for the position in customerservice.”
