"What are you doing here?" she shot back me with her usual fire. "You've got a company to run. We're in the middle of a lawsuit. Shit's falling down all around us, and the CEO and owner has been missing for three days. I figured someone better come over here and fish you out whatever muck you'd slipped down into, and it looks like I'm not a moment too soon."
"Three days?" I couldn't believe it had been so long, yet the pain of Kayla leaving me still felt like it had just happened. I looked down at my chest expecting to still see blood gushing from my open wound, but there was nothing.
"So, what the hell happened? Did that girl leave you?" Angela didn't pull any punches. I had thought I had done a good job of keeping my feelings buried, or at least hidden, but she saw right through me. Was it as apparent to everyone else?
I started to deny it, but she shot me a glare and I had no choice but to tell the truth. "Yeah. Since the night of the press conference, she'd been pressuring me to commit to her, and I kept having to explain that's not who I am. She couldn't accept it, so she left."
"So you started drinking and haven't stopped since." It was an observation, not an accusation.
"I'd been missing out on a lot of parties since I was with her. I needed to make up for some lost time," I said with false bravado, but Angela didn't buy it.
"Yeah, a party of one. I hope you didn't do anything to make it hard for her to take you back."
"Why would I want to do that? I've got tons of girls falling at my feet."
"Yeah, but none of them are her." She was rubbing it in, and it was starting to piss me off.
"So what? You don't even like Kayla," I grumbled.
"No, but any girl that can steal you away from me deserves some respect. I may not like that wholesome girl-next door thing she's got going, but it's clear that you sure as hell do."
"What are you talking about? I like women of all types: vixens, athletes, petite, curvy. As long as she's got tits and an ass, I'm game to fuck any girl."
"Is that what I was?" Angela shot another zinger at me, and I felt the color rise in my face.
Hiding behind my coffee mug, I said, "I was with you longer than any relationship, except for when I was with Gwyneth back in college. I'm just not capable of settling down with anyone. I'm a born player."
"Yeah, but you never felt for me what you felt for her. I saw the way your eyes lit up whenever you looked at Kayla, and when you talked about her you were practically beaming. I was no match for her right from the start; you two are meant for each other."
"How can you say that? She and I have only been going out for a few months," I said, feeling defensive.
"It's obvious. I've been working with you for a long time and I've seen you with a lot of women, including myself. You've never lit up inside the way you do when you're with Kayla. She's the first girl to touch your heart and actually get inside that barrier of yours. Let down the walls. Let her in. Go for it."
"That's not me. I'm a bachelor." I couldn't stop clinging to who I used to be. It was pure stubbornness now, but I couldn't surrender.
"Then why did you drink yourself into a coma when she left you?" Angela asked pointedly, and I had no answer. She placed her hands gently over mine. "Maybe it's time you stop fighting this and admit that you love her. Give her the commitment she wants from you."
"Why the hell should I do that?" I asked. I tried to put a surly edge in my voice, but I just sounded broken and defeated.
"Because it's obvious it's what you want, too. Your playboy days are over. Now, go make things right with Kayla so you can come back to work. We miss you."
She gave my hand a squeeze and prepared to leave, but when she tried to let go, I kept holding onto her manicured hand. Our eyes locked as I whispered softly, "Thank you, Angela. For everything."
"No problem. I didn't do it for you. I did it for me. The office is falling apart without you, and Stan is going nuts. I'd better get back to him before he completely loses it."
"Do you think he could do without you for a little bit longer?" I asked, giving her my best puppy dog look.
"Maybe? What did you have in mind?" Angela looked weary.
"I've got to plan something big to win Kayla back and I need your expert help."
"You've got it." She grinned, and I told her my plan.
"Do you think it will work?" I asked worriedly.
"No girl could say no to this, and if Kayla does, then let me know and I'll say yes to you," she laughed. It gave me the boost of confidence I needed to carry it through. I just hoped she was right.
Chapter Thirty-Three: Kayla