Page 16 of Polar Prank
And I get nothing done. The office doesn’t look as sparkly today as it did on Friday. It’s like I’m being smothered by snowflakes from the ceiling. The decorations seem like a little… much.
Was I maybe compensating for the lack of sex in my life with decorations?
No. I just like the holiday.
I pick up my phone and quickly realize that I don’t even have his phone number. He was the boss before this weekend. He was someone who was above me…
My body shivers remember being in bed with him and how he’d look down on me, his body rocking and me shattering into a million pieces.
I’m so screwed.
Jenna stops by my cubicle. “Hey, I have that clipboard with all the signups for the Christmas party at the children’s home Friday.”
“Okay.” I set the board on my desk and rock back in my chair.
She stills. “Everything okay?”
“Umm. Do you know why Brinker, I mean Mr. Carrington, isn’t here?”
“Actually, no, I don’t but he is the boss, so I don’t expect him to let me know.”
“Yeah. Good point.”
“Did you have something you needed to talk to him about?”
I roll my lips inward as feelings steamroller over me. Being alone was my jam… until this weekend and I had hope. I had too much of what I wanted and now I’m really afraid that it’s…
Gone.
She squats next to my desk. “Iclyn, I saw you at the breakroom, under the mistletoe, and leaving with him on Friday. Is there something you need to tell me?”
Her concern isn’t warranted. I didn’t do anything I didn’t want to do.
“We spent the weekend together.”
She doesn’t gasp, but her silence is like one.
“Okay… as the head of Human Resources, I need to let you know that the position he put you into… wait, that sounds bad. I mean, him being on top of… nope, that’s not right either. Shit.”
I chuckle seeing a woman who I consider a friend fighting for the right words. “It wasn’t like that, Jenna. It was mutual, but he said that today would be okay and we’d go to you and tell you that were were…”
Her head tips. “Oh, Iclyn. Men like Brinker… powerful, rich, influential, as sharp as a rose thorn, they don’t date women they work with. I need to put my HR hat on now. I hate to say this, but I’m going to suggest that you consult a lawyer. This is classic sexual harassment in the workplace.”
Stomach acid rises into my throat and the snowflakes seem even closer than before. “No. It was?—”
“It always feels that way. It always feels special. It always feels right. He has a right to change his mind, and from my experience they do.”
I forget that she’s been through a divorce, recently. And not that she’s talking from that experience, but she’s been hurt. Maybe she knows what she’s talking about, but I can’t lose the hope that I’ve found. I’ve wanted to find someone for so long.
Maybe that’s the problem, I wanted it too badly. Was I desperate to believe? I couldn’t see through the rose-colored glasses.
“You know, I’m not feeling well. I’m going to go home.” I grab my purse. “Actually, I’m going to take a couple days off. I need to think.”
She backs up. “Iclyn, take some time to figure out what you really want and I’ll see you at the Christmas party at the shelter on Friday.”
“Oh, right. Yeah, okay.”
I walk like a zombie to the elevator and don’t look back.
