Chasing Love (Dark Love 1)

“Hi. Haven’t seen you for a few days. Did you leave Manhattan?”

“Yes, briefly, but here I am again.” She laughs, then reaches out her hand to introduce herself. “I’m Kate, by the way.”

I shake her hand. “Charlie.”

“I’m sorry, I don’t know why I’m laughing.” She clutches her stomach, letting out a sigh. “I’m so stressed out with work right now I think I’m losing my marbles.”

“I know how you feel. I’m in the same boat. I have so much going on, and it doesn’t help that my love life is a like a rollercoaster ride right now.”

“Man troubles?”

“Man troubles, plural,” I confess.

“Oh, wow. I wouldn’t want to be in your shoes. I’m glad I’ve got myself a good man, just happens he’s on the other side of the world,” she says while catching her breath.

We both take a seat at the bench, resting while we watch other runners woosh by.

“A long-distance relationship requires patience. I don’t know how you do it.”

“It’s not easy. Love is great, but at the end of the day, every couple has needs. Hard to fulfill when you’re across the other side of the world,” Kate complains.

“How did we end up with complicated relationships?”

“I know, right?” Kate laughs. “So, I’m thinking…” she scrunches her eyebrows together, “… you pick who you like best and roll with it. Maybe start with who’s most attractive?”

We laugh in unison. There’s something comforting about confiding in a stranger.

“Well, man number one is gorgeous… like Christian Bale gorgeous.”

“Oh, holy hell! And number two?”

“There are no words… he’s beautiful.”

“Sounds to me like number two is a lady door knocker.”

I burst out laughing, again. Lady door knocker! British slang has me in hysterics. As I wipe away a tiny tear from my eye, I compose myself enough to respond to Kate.

“I guess you could say that, but it’s so complicated.”

“I’m no love expert, but I swear there must be a full moon or something because we

ird shit is happening everywhere.”

“That would explain a lot.”

“Take my boss for example… he’s the most arrogant bastard you could ever meet. I mean the number of times I’ve had to clean up his mess is, well… it’s a lot.” She sighs heavily with exaggeration. “After every girl he fucked and left hanging, who do you think was the one dealing with all the clingy-girl bullshit? You got it! Me! Seriously, I deserve a pay rise because that’s not in my job description.”

How unprofessional of a boss. In our office the only males we employed are Tate and Eric. Eric is interested in men, so no clingy-girl bullshit, and Tate, thankfully, is as professional as you can get. The real deal which is why we hired him.

“So anyway, something weird is going on. I only know that a woman has come into his life, and I think he has feelings for her. I nearly fell off my chair when I found out. I’m telling you the man has no heart. But gosh, something has changed,” she finishes.

“Sometimes, that one person can change everything you believe in. Maybe she captured his heart. Is he at least nice to look at?”

“He’s a drop-dead BILF.”

I raise my brow. “Uh, what’s a BILF?”

“Boss I’d like to fuck… although I never would. I love my job and get great perks. I’ve just learned to tolerate him and always be one step ahead.”