Page 61 of Dirty News
Artimus rubbed his temples, looking more than displeased with my news. “Shit.”
“No, it’s not bad. Don’t say that. It’s good.” I thought about the current state of our relationship and added, “Or at least it was. It was great actually. Up until she and I brokeup.”
His demeanor perked up. “Oh! So, you’ve broken up. Okay then. Things will be fine. You’ll meet someone else. And I won’t have to fire you both. This is good. Muchbetter.”
I shook my head. “No, Artimus, this is not good. This is anything but much better. This is awful. This is as close to hell as I’ve ever come. And believe me, I’ve come very close several times in my life. This is a train wreck is what this it. We’ve got to come up with a solution, you and I. I need her in my life. I can’t stand not being with her. And I know it’s killing hertoo.”
“She’s okay,” he said as he waved me off. “I haven’t noticed her performance lacking atall.”
“Because she’s a professional, Artimus. Have you even noticed her fingernails?” I askedhim.
“Um, no.” He looked puzzled. “What the hell does that even mean,Duke?”
“She paints them to match her outfit. Every single day that woman puts on a new shade of nail polish, and she hasn’t changed her polish in a week. Not at all since I broke up with her.” I smacked the table with my hand. “That means she’s depressed. Upset. And it’s all over our breakup, which I didn’t even want to do but felt I had to if I wanted to remainsane.”
“And employed,” he remindedme.
“Yeah, that too.” I got up and started to pace. Not stomp around, the way Lila had said when we were last together. No, I was staying in complete control. “Artimus, there has to be something we can do to be together out in the open and keep our jobstoo.”
His dark brows knitted together while he thought it over, then he raised one finger as his expression went to one of excitement. “You couldquit.”
I was shocked. I’d really thought true love would win out. “I’d rathernot.”
Julia stepped in. “If I may be so bold, I’d like to say that losing Duke right now would be a terrible mistake. Just saying, boss.” She went back to looking througheverything.
I had to make him understand things. “Artimus, there are legitimate couples who work together. I didn’t sexually harassher.”
He smiled at me. “Good to hear. Now stop messing with her altogether, and we’ll beokay.”
“Do you hear yourself?” I had toask.
“Yes.” Artimus looked at his new assistant for a moment as she picked something off a shelf, before looking back at me. “I suppose I couldn’t do anything if you two were, let’s say,married?”
Married?
Not long after our little meeting, I was on my way to Lila’s place. I had great news for her and knew she’d want to hear it right from my mouth instead of over thephone.
I knocked and called out, “Lila, it’s me,Duke.”
The springs on the bed creaked, telling me she’d been lying on it. Probably crying her pretty blue eyes out. She opened the door, and I looked into her red-rimmed eyes. “Duke, what are you doinghere?”
“Delivering news that I hope you’ll be as excited to hear as I am to tell you. Can I come in?” I asked, as she hadn’t stepped back at all, but stood there blocking myentrance.
She looked at me for a moment before answering. “If you do, then nothing can happen, okay? I just can’t take it if I have to lose youagain.”
“You won’t lose me again,” I assuredher.
She stepped back, looking a bit confused. “What does thatmean?”
“You’ll find out in a second.” I closed the door behind us then took each of her arms, holding her back so I could look at her as I delivered the best news ever. “We can see each other out in the open now. And since we can do that, I want this out in the open too. I love you. There, now you know that. And I want you to move in with me. There’s thattoo.”
She shook her head as if in disbelief. “And how’s thishappening?”
She’d missed the best part it seemed, so I had to ask, “Did you hear what Isaid?”
She nodded. “Yeah, we can be together out in theopen.”
That wasn’t enough for me, so I added, “And what else did Isay?”
