Page 6 of Chance Happenings
“Don’t bother, I’ll let everyone who needs to know, about the imminent arrival of Alexa Wilde.” Chance assures him, obviously trying to get him out the door.
“You do that son, just try to keep the bitterness out of your voice when you do it.”
Chance
How much could change in a week? Unfortunately for me, the answer to that question is a lot. Last week I was looking forward to hand picking my new project manager and coming one step closer to having full rein of the company.This was going to be my week to stand out. Instead, today I’m greeted by not only my father but also the one woman who’s spent the better half of my adolescence trying to one-up or ridicule me at every turn.
As the day goes on, I prepare my statement welcoming Alexa home,as my father likes to put it. I act annoyed, but I’m somewhat satisfied with the idea of being her boss.Settling in to that satisfaction, I ride it out for the rest of the day. I get my assistant Miranda to arrange an impromptu company meeting, which goes well and has my father finally leaving the building. He tried to take us to lunch, but that wasn’t happening.There’s no way I’ll be able to sit through a meal, watching my father drool all over her like some perverted old man desperate for his next lay.It was bad enough when we were kids how he always showed her favor over me whenever we were at odds.Which was a lot.
Now with my father out of the way, it’s time to lay out the ground rules. Yes, Alexa’s back in the fold, so to speak. And yes, she has the big office next to mine. But she works under me, and I'm going to make damn sure that she remembers that.The thought has me smiling until I see Miranda carrying a large arrangement of white flowers headed toward Alexa’s office.With a smile, I run to intercept the delivery, telling Miranda I would take care of it... they were probably from my father. The old man couldn’t help but try to butter her up while rubbing his little show of power in my face.
Knocking on the door. I enter and see Alexa already being her annoyingly astute self, studying what looks to be information from every construction account we’ve had in the past five years. There are files everywhere on the desk and table. And a white board that must have been moved into the room today, covered in illegible writing. I’m pressed to find a clear space to put the damn flowers down, and Alexa is no help. She’s ignoring me or lost in thought, moving from file to file with much more sensible shoes on than the ones I saw her wearing earlier. Her blazer is off. Hair now up in a messy-looking bun and she has on some damn necklace that has my eyes trained to the top of her cleavage, which is now on display as she stands leaning over her desk. It’s a sight that’s got me all choked up for some reason.Coughing, I get her attention and she tries to beat me to the punch, briefly glancing up.
“Our meeting is not till tomorrow.”
“I know that. I’m just dropping these off. Looks like you’re never lacking admirers as usual.”
With her brows scrunched together she eyes the flowers as though she’s confused then grabs the vase giving me a fake smile. “Thanks.” She says, dismissing me as if I’m just going to walk away because she says so. When she realizes I’m not going anywhere, her smile turns to a more genuine expression of annoyance, as she glares at me until I turn to leave.
As soon as I’m out of the door, I hear a crash that has me racing back into the room in time to see Alexa on her hands and knees with glass, water, and flowers scattered all over the floor. When she looks up at me, she has a horrified expression on her face, unshed tears in her eyes and shaking hands. Trying to understand what’s going on, I look at the card that slipped from her hands onto the floor. And I am even more confused than I was before.
Alex
The numbness is backlike an old friend coming in to distract me and make me forget. I knew he wouldn’t take me leaving easily, but… I’d hoped. This little stunt with the flowers and the note has gotten to me more than it should. Now I’m sitting on the floor of my new office, damn near incapacitated in front of Chance, who has ran back into the room. Dazed, I take a deep breath and focus on the pain from the tiny shards of glass I feel digging into my knees. From there, I slowly gain awareness as the numbness wanes. Trying to gather myself, I pick up the pieces of broken glass like nothing has happened, hoping that I can write this off as an accident and trying like hell to hold back the tears until Chance leaves again. Maybe if I just ignore him and keep doing what I’m doing, he’ll leave.
When we were kids, he would take pleasure in taunting me. When we got older, he was more indifferent. Today I’m hoping for that indifference. The door closes, and I let out a sob of relief. Grateful that he’s still an indifferent bastard, allowing me to clean up this mess while I cry in peace. Footsteps that should sound distant are getting closer, and before I can stop myself, I look up to meet Chance’s concerned expression. He lifts my chin with his index finger, forcing me to make eye contact, then asks.
“What’s going on?”
* * *
It’s been a month since my not so flattering break down in front of Chance happened. And every week since, I’ve received a new floral arrangement signed “P” with some dark or witty message. All promising to see me soon. I was mentally preparing myself to pack up and move. But after several long conversations with Cacey, she’s convinced me to stay in town. Arguing that it would be safer for me to stay in a place where I had a support system.Whichmadesense. We also figured that it would be best not to call him, since he was most likely trying to provoke some type of reaction out of me. Whether it be me leaving here or contacting him. I’m pretty sure he didn’t have my new number and I want to keep it that way. Against Cacey’s wishes, I moved out of her townhouse and into the vacant one on the other end of the block beside Chance. Mr. Sullivan insisted I take it, saying that it was abonus,being that I had more relevant experience than the job required. Also, against Cacey’s wishes I decided not to call the police and swore her to secrecy.
“Alexa!” Someone calls my name. Snapping me out of my daydream.Shit!I’mdoingitagain. “Alexa, get your head in the game or go home.” Chance says as he glares at me, obviously annoyed.Iso don’t need this shit today.
“I’m fine. I was just brainstorming on ways to cut time and cost on the Alexander building. Right now, we’re a week behind schedule. We can get back on track but as you know time is money. I’m going to have to cut out some unnecessary expenses and hire a lot of overtime.”Boy,Icameupwiththatonequick.
“If it was anyone else, I’d be worried. But you’re clever enough to figure it out. So work out the numbers and send them to me by the end of the day.” He fires back with the back-handed compliment.
“Wow, you’re getting soft on me. Was that a compliment disguised as a demand?”
“Clearly your hearing has gone selective, so let’s move on. In addition to the Alexander account, I need you to crunch some numbers and put together a proposal for potentially one of the biggest accounts in SWG’s history. I sent the preliminary information to your email. It’s a company called Gannon Industries that is looking to set up some commercial properties in the area. They’re based out of New York, and we’ll be presenting our proposal to them in two weeks’ time at their headquarters.”
“What do you mean we?” I ask, trying to mask nervousness in my voice.
“You, and me.” he says, slowly motioning between the two of us as if I was not getting it. “Do you have a problem with that? Because if you’re not up to the task I'm sure…”
“No, I’m totally fine with it I just wasn’t expecting to travel so soon.”
“Normally no, but this is important, so dad wanted all hands on deck. You and I have to be there to present the proposal.”
I can do this. I don’t even know why I’m nervous about going back to New York. It’s a big city. We'll only be there for a couple of days, mostly held up in some boardroom making presentations and having the standard dinner on us, to further sway the potential client. No biggie. I could do this.
Sometime around 10:00 pm I finally work out the details of the budgets and timelines for all our current projects, sending them to Chance before finally leaving for the day. I shut down my computer and head to the parking lot. That’s when I realize I’m the only one left in the building. Normally there would be someone here, but I guess everyone else has better things to do on a Friday. I can’t believe I’ve lost track of time. Usually, Cacey would have called by now, trying to drag me somewhere. I dial her number while heading out the door, but it goes straight to voicemail. She probably has plans.
The empty parking lot is much more intimidating at night than it was this morning when I arrived before everyone else. I can’t help but frantically look in every direction, preparing for someone or something to jump out at any moment. If anyone could see me now, they'd be laughing their ass off. I laugh to myself for a second but am sobered at the thought that maybe I’m not overreacting and there’s a real possibility of someone watching me. Pearce is possessive to the extent that he would have me followed to know my whereabouts and make sure I haven’t really moved on.
To think I used to find his initial possessiveness endearing is like a sick joke right now. Never mind the fact that I left him over a month ago. I know in his mind nothing’s changed between us. He’s prove that by way of the weekly florist deliveries. It was his way of letting me know he knew where I was, what I’ve been up to and that he could get to me anywhere at any time. And at this time, he was not inclined to impose his will on me. For that, I’m thankful yet frustrated. I just need more time to think about how to best resolve this issue as discreetly as possible.
