Eastern Lights (Compass 2)

One night as we were tangled up in one another, Connor frowned as he looked down at his cell phone.

“What is it?” I asked, noticing the alarm in his eyes.

“It’s work. There seem to be some issues happening at our West Coast location.”

“The one Jason runs?”

He nodded. “Yeah. Some deals fell through, and there seems to be some missing paperwork that needs to be accounted for. I’m going to have to fly out there to deal with the issues.” He turned my way and kept grimacing. “How much would you hate me if I flew out to California tomorrow? I just want to make sure he’s not fucking up the company too much.”

“That’s completely fine. Why would it matter what I thought?”

“I feel bad leaving you here alone since you haven’t been feeling well.”

I laughed. “Connor, I’m a grown woman. I can handle not feeling well.” I began coughing, and he frowned.

“That sounds painful in your chest.”

“I’ll be okay.”

“You better be. Or else I’ll kick your plum.” He snuggled into my side and pulled me into him. I fell against him as if we were always meant to be together.

“I hope Jason didn’t ruin too much out there,” I told him, needing to shift the conversation.

“It’s fine. Whatever he breaks, I’ll fix. Not a big deal. Now, the last thing I want to do is talk about him. I just want to be here now with you.”

Be here now.

I melted into him, still feeling awful yet embracing the moment. At that moment, I was wrapped up in a man I was falling in love with. That was the only moment that needed to count.

35

Connor

I hated the fact that instead of being with Aaliyah, I was on my way to deal with Jason and his fuckups. I wanted more than ever to tell Walter that his son was sucky at his job, but alas, I knew that wouldn’t do any good. So, I’d do what I knew I’d end up doing: pull Jason out of the hole he’d dug for himself.

If that guy ever had to fix his own messes, he’d really be screwed. Or maybe he’d learn to actually grow up.

When the plane touched down in Los Angeles, I checked into the hotel then headed straight to the office to meet with Jason. I didn’t want to waste any time and be in California longer than I had to be. All I wanted to do was get back to Aaliyah, snuggle the shit out of her, and be happy.

When I walked into the building, I was stunned to see a familiar face sitting at the receptionist desk. “Rose. What are you doing here?” I asked, baffled by her appearance. Last time I saw her, she was having her Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde moment in my office after I fired her.

She gave me a smug smirk and shrugged, pushing her overly exposed tits together. “I went where I was appreciated.”

“You can’t be serious.”

She was smacking down on her chewing gum and twirling her hair with her finger as she kept grinning like a villain from a fairy tale. Ursula? Was that you? “It turns out having some good dirt on people could land you a solid job.”

“Who did you have dirt on?”

“You.” She said the word, but it didn’t register instantly.

Because what kind of dirt could she have on me?

“You didn’t really think Damian was the only one who could find out shit about people, did you?” she sneered.

My God. She was really unpleasant to be around. I couldn’t believe I fell for her goody two shoes performance.

Brava, Rose, Brava.

“What do you mean you have dirt on me?” I asked.

“I saw it all over your TikTok. You had Jason’s ex-fiancée doing dances with you. It was obvious that you two have been fucking. Nobody looks at each other the way you do if there’s not sex happening. Then, people got photographs of you two pretty much making out in Central Park during a photo shoot. And to think you judged me for screwing Jason, when you ended up going and screwing his ex. The double standard.”

“I don’t think you know what a double standard actually is. Also, none of that is your business.”

“Yeah, well, it became my business after you fired me.”

“I don’t have time for this,” I said, tired of talking to a child. I marched past the front desk and straight into Jason’s office.

“Connor. I didn’t expect you before lunchtime,” Jason commented as I walked in. His desk was stacked high with paperwork, and he had a smug look on his face. For someone who was failing at life, he sure had a lot of nerve to look smug. “Take a seat,” he said, gesturing to the chair in front of his desk.

I did as he said and clasped my hands. “You said some paperwork was missing and that a few deals fell through?” I asked.