The Company You Keep
“I bet it has been. Have you heard of any more talk?”
“Talk? About us?”
“Yes, about us, Piper. About how we share these moments alone stealing kisses.”
“No, no. James, no one has said a thing,” she utters, saying my name for the first time. My eyes move to her lips as she bites the bottom one and a blush comes over her.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to call you James. And I’ve done it again. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry. I don’t have a problem with you calling me James.” Fuck, I want to hear it from her lips as I drive deep into her womb.
My office phone rings, breaking our moment. She nods and swiftly turns on her heels as I answer for my sister.
As the day comes to an end, I’m coming back from the finance department when I hear Piper talking to Susan. They’re both getting their coats on to leave for the day when Piper says, “The new schedule has given me a little freedom.”
Neither of them can see me, so I wait to hear what else they say. It’s fucking lame, but I want to know more about her time off. It’s hard to ask because all my blood pools in my balls. “Are you finally dating? I mean, no one compares to that fine ass boss of ours, but I mean you need to get back into it and forget he exists,” Susan reassures Piper. Over my fucking dead body.
“We were never together. I can’t believe Dow had the nerve to spread that rumor. Besides, I’m bringing someone to the Christmas party.”
“What? A date?” I bolt straight out from behind the wall like a madman and not giving one fucking bit how crazy I looked. Susan’s eyes when wide, but Piper narrows hers at me.
“Yes, Mr. Smith—a date. Now, no one will think we’re together. If you’ll excuse me, it’s time for me to go.” She walks to the elevator without another word. I could kill a motherfucker right now. I see red.
As soon as I know she’s gone, I storm into my office, and I’m on the phone to her guard. “What the hell is going on with the date?”
“What date?” he asks, sounding confused.
“She has a date for the Christmas party.”
“I’m sorry. Unless she had something going on while I was with my family on Saturday afternoon, I don’t know how she got a date. She was out shopping the other day, but I didn’t see her talking to anyone. It’s not like I can follow too closely without her knowing,” he reminds me. I don’t care for this bullshit. There’s got to be something I can do.
And I will.
I close up shop for the night. I follow her to the train station and get on three cars behind. I was pissed that she’s taking the train, but with the gridlock, I can see why she takes it. My driver is going to be waiting outside her apartment for me, but I have to see for myself if anyone comes to her house.
I don’t follow too closely when she gets off. Because it’s extremely busy at her stop, it’s easy to hide among the crowd. As it thins out, I slow my pace, so she doesn’t notice. Once she gets to her house, I hang back until my driver comes. For the next three hours, I watch her building which only has two apartments. She lives on the second floor, and someone else has the first. I’ve seen the family come in later, but no one comes to her place. The lights go out at nine. I should leave, but I can’t will myself to drive away.
The rest of the evening passes so fast that I don’t realize it’s already midnight. The drive home seems longer than ever. Once inside, I head straight to bed. Tomorrow’s the fucking day. I’ve nothing left to lose. Someone took my place when I gave her a little fucking space. I’ve already told her guard that he was done after tomorrow because I’m not letting her out of my sight again.
Chapter 6
Piper
I get into the office early and see his office door closed, so I get to work before he comes in. It’s already ten, and he’s still not in yet. Shit. I grab the files that I finish and enter his office. And there he is, sleeping on the sofa in the corner. The one I usually relax on as I work late. He’s got his coat over his shoulder, and he looks so damn perfect. I set the files on the desk and try not to wake him. He works too damn hard. He’s a millionaire, and yet he works nonstop.
I can’t pull my eyes away from him to leave. I want to run my hands through his short black hair and hear him moan my name. I close my eyes and imagine him dragging me down to him and wrapping me up in his arms. What I don’t realize is that I’ve stepped so close that I could reach out and touch his hair. Greedily, I can’t stop myself from running my fingers lightly over it.