Page 19 of Under The Cherry Blossoms
Approaching his office door, I am juggling the box of cupcakes to free up a hand so I can knock when I hear the sound of voices and I pause to ensure I’m not interrupting anythingimportant.
“Ben, you’re a genius! I’ve been trying to debug that source code for days and was completelystuck.”
At the sound of the feminine voice I peek through the door and see a beautiful blonde sitting on the edge of Ben’s desk. Tall and lean, her crossed legs appear to go on forever and my eyes trail up them, taking in her elegant black dress. Sitting at knee length with a small slit along the side and a V neck that dips low enough to show off a slight amount of cleavage, the overall effect is professional yetsexy.
My eyes rise to her face and I see a classically beautiful woman; her face made up impeccably and her long blonde hair pulled up into an intricate chignon. She is basically the polar opposite to my short, curvy self with my boho style and lack of makeup, and I feel the icy tentacles of jealousy start to tighten around my heart. I can’t compete with a woman like this and as I watch the two of them, I observe her mannerisms closely. The way she brushes her hand across her chest, drawing attention to her breasts. The small, seemingly innocuous touches she places on Ben. Her entire demeanour towards him makes it clear that her interest is not purelyprofessional.
As I stand in the doorway silently observing, Ben glances up and noticesme.
“Skye! Baby, what are you doing here?” He is out of his chair, bounding across the room and wrapping me up in a hug before I have a chance to respond. His enthusiastic welcome almost causes me to drop the cupcakes, but I’m too relieved at his open display of affection in front of Glamor Girl to care, and glancing past Ben I see her watching us with barely concealeddisdain.
“What did you bring me, babe?” Ben asks, reaching out and taking the box from my hands, he holds it in one large palm while he laces the fingers of his other hand through mine and pulls me into hisoffice.
Placing the cupcakes on his desk, he holds me tight to his side and addressesGG.
“Squeak, this is Siobhan; she’s the assistant project manager on that account I’ve been heading. Siobhan, this is my girl, Skye.” He looks down at me, planting a kiss on the top of my head. Trying to be adult about the situation, I give Siobhan a warm smile and hold my hand out toher.
“It’s so nice to meetyou.”
“Yes, you too,” she replies in a silky voice that doesn’t quite match the glint of malice in hereyes.
“Okay, Ben, I’ll leave you to it now. The hotel bookings are all confirmed and our flight is ten fifteen on Wednesday morning. I’ll have a car pick myself up and then we’ll be at your place at about seven thirty. Have a lovely evening.” She reaches out, stroking down Ben’s arm and giving it a squeeze before nodding to me with a slight smirk tilting her lips and walkingout.
I shoot Ben a quizzical look before questioning, “Hotel?”
“Yeah, the managing directors of the company we’re doing that project for sent a memo today, requesting a face-to-face meeting to go over the finer points of the analysis we’ve given them.” He pulls a face, letting me know he’s as thrilled about it as I am. Although remembering the predatory look in Siobhan’s eyes as she watched Ben, I’m guessing my apathy beatshis.
“So, where are you heading?” I probe for details, doing my best to appearunconcerned.
“Their head office is in Atlanta, so all going to plan I’ll be back Thursday. You think you can live without me and my bad jokes for one night,babe?”
Trying to hide the turmoil consuming me, I tilt my head as if pondering his question. “I think I just might be able to survive one night.” I allow a little snort toescape.
“That’s my girl.” He crushes me to him in a toe-tingling, full-body hug. “Now, what’s in your box?” He waggles his eyebrows at me and I can’t control the loud groan that bursts from mymouth.
“Yeah, I don’t think a night off from those jokes is going to be a struggle atall.”
“Ah, Squeak, you know it’s all part of my charm.” Handing me the box, he picks up his jacket with one hand and wraps the other arm around my shoulders. “C’mon, babe, I’ve earned an early finish. Let’s get out ofhere.”
Lying on the sofa, the entire length of my body is connected to Ben’s as we laze about in a food coma, watching aBig Bang Theorymarathon. But my mind is elsewhere and I’ve struggled to stay present all night. I keep seeing Siobhan’s hand gripping Ben’s arm, hearing her melodic voice play over and over in my head as I analyze everything I heard her say. I hate myself for letting these insecurities plague me but I’m helpless to stopthem.
“Skye?” Ben’s whisper caresses myear.
“Huh?” I answerdistractedly.
“Baby, is everything okay? You’ve been preoccupied allnight.”
I squeeze my eyes shut for a moment, trying to center myself and find the courage to have this conversation. Because we do need to have it, of that I’m completelysure.
Manoeuvring myself and twisting my body so that I am facing him, I reach up and stroke my hand gently across his cheek. He leans into my touch, never breaking eye contact, waiting patiently for me tocontinue.
“Did I ever tell you my dad met his new wife atwork?”
“No,” he whispers. “You never mentionedthat.”
“Yeah, Genevieve was his secretary. It’s so ridiculously cliché, it’s hard not to laugh.” I close my eyes against the inevitable pain that flows whenever I think about my father. I feel Ben brush his nose along mine and then ghost a kiss across my cheek. It’s only then that I realize a tear hasescaped.
“Siobhan has feelings for you,” I say, my voice barelyaudible.
