The guy nods, spits on the floor, then turns and leaves.
Leon stands there, rooted to the ground, radiating anger.
I stare at him and slowly, so slowly, I start to feel just as pissed.
“Motherfucker,” he says, storming away. “Fuck. What a stupid mistake.”
“Mistake?” I ask. My voice is small at first, but I say it again, louder. “Mistake?”
He whirls to me. “Mistake. You heard me.”
“You’re such an asshole.”
That seems to surprise him. “Are you joking, little Paige?”
“No, I don’t do that,” I say. “Are you ashamed of me or something?”
He rocks back like I slapped him. “Ashamed of you?”
“You just acted like getting caught kissing me was the worst thing that ever happened to you.”
“That’s not—”
“I’m not so bad, you know,” I say, letting my anger get the best of me. I know I should stop and think about this but I can’t help it. That temper is winning again. “I’m not something you should be so ashamed of. That guy was a crude dickhead but you acted like I was absolutely nothing. Screw you, Leon.”
“Paige—”
“I’ll see you back at the office.”
I storm away. I hear him yell my name but I hurry as fast as I can through the empty building. I don’t run into that guy, thankfully. I make it out onto the street and walk past Leon’s car. The driver gives me an odd look but I don’t break stride.
I just walk, seething with rage.
That asshole. He thinks I’m so embarrassing.
That random guy didn’t know us. Leon didn’t need to act like he got caught doing something terrible.
It was his move to begin with. Leon wanted it as much as I did, and then he acts like getting caught is the end of the world. I hate it, hate him for acting like that.
And I hate myself for getting upset.
This is fake, after all. This isn’t real.
I can’t get upset about something that doesn’t exist.
Or at least I shouldn’t.
I go for a long walk until I calm down. I get an Uber back to the office, but Leon doesn’t come in for the rest of the day.
I go home, anger still unresolved, trying to figure out what’s real and what’s fake.8LeonI feel guilty and I don’t know why.
I guess it’s obvious. I hurt someone I care about.
Except it shouldn’t be like that. I shouldn’t be this involved with Paige. It’s only a business deal, just a cover for some stupid story I cooked up in the spur of the moment to keep my deal going. It’s not supposed to turn into something… more.
But I fucked up.
And now I have to make it right.
It’s early the next morning when I get up and go through my usual routine, but I add one crucial step. When everything’s ready, I head out and beat Paige to the office by just a few minutes.
She shows up at her usual hour, looking glum and annoyed, but I’m happy she’s here at least. I’m already in my office and I guess I surprise the hell out of her because she stands there and stares at me for a second.
“You’re early,” she says. “I usually have everything ready before you get in but you never come in this early.”
I stand up and hold up my hands. “It’s okay,” I say. “I’m actually here for you.”
She bites her lip and looks skeptical. “If this is about yesterday, I don’t want to hear it.”
“It’s about yesterday,” I say softly. “But I don’t have anything to say.”
That makes her narrow her eyes. “What do you mean? You’re not even going to try and apologize?”
I smile a little and come around the desk. “I’m not going to apologize,” I confirm. “The way I reacted wasn’t great, and I understand why you feel the way you feel, but words are meaningless.”
“I’m not following,” she says. “Sounds like you should just apologize.”
“Come with me.”
I step out of my office, moving past her. She hesitates but follows me reluctantly.
I lead her downstairs and out onto the street. My car is already waiting for us, idling near the curb. I help her inside and slide in next to her.
“Where are we going?” she asks. “If you’re taking me back to that building—”
“I’m not,” I say.
“So then where?”
“Just be patient.”
She glares at me but she doesn’t press. I can see a little softness behind those eyes so I suspect that she’s not as angry today as she was yesterday.
The car weaves through early morning rush hour traffic and arrives at our destination not too long later. I get out and help her onto the curb before leading her inside one of the nicest hotels in the city.
She follows me closely. The doormen smile at me and nod. I’m a known entity around these parts.
“What are we doing?” she asks me.
I grin at her. “The owner of this building is a closer personal friend of mine,” I say.