The pangs of defeat in his voice trigger a new feeling inside of me. It makes me want to stop pretending like all of this bullshit between us is okay. So, I don’t hold back.
“Jesus, Patrick! Can’t you see I was just doing what you wanted! You were the one droning on and on about why we should stop seeing each other—sorry,fakeseeing each other—and I just wanted you to stop talking. I couldn’t take it anymore. It hurt too much to hear you say all of that. Fuck, I can’t believe that I was going to tell you that I liked you for real before that whole Greg thing happened. I’m such an idiot thinking that you might've actually liked me back. Well, I’m glad I dodged that bulletbecause—”
“Wait, El, stop!” I don’t even realize that I’m still pacing back and forth until Patrick grabs my shoulders, holding me still. “What did you just say?”
I blink up at him. My mind going blank with the intensity of his stare. “Uhhh, that you were the one who wanted to stop fake dating?”
“No, no. The other thing.” His smile is blinding, and I realize what I did.
“Oh, um, that I was going to tell you that I liked you for real?” I throw my head back and groan. “Oh god, it feels so stupid now, especially seeing you in the bar with that girl—”
“El, stop rambling for just a second?” Patrick’s hands move up to cup my face, so I have to look at him. I don’t know what I expect to see, but all of his disappointment and frustration is gone when my eyes meet his. They’re bright and green and full of hope. My pulse is racing from his touch, and I didn’t realize how much I missed the feeling of being so close to him. “I don’t want that fucking girl in there. I want you.”
Before I have a chance to process anything, his lips crash into mine. Our kiss is desperate and hungry. He tips my head back to deepen it, and all of the suffering and loneliness from the last month disappears.
“Fuck, baby. I missed you so much.” He places a string of gentle kisses on my lips, and I can’t stop myself from smiling. “El, how could you think I didn’t like you back? You are literally all I’ve ever wanted. Do you know how hard it’s been without you?”
“Yeah, I have some idea.” I roll my eyes, but all he does is smirk at me with that same smug expression.
“You are such a smart ass.”
Chapter 42
Patrick
WhenIleftmyhouse this morning, Ellie was wrapped up in my covers, and all I want to do is go back and be with her.
We spent all weekend in my bed, and she was just as enthused as I was to be with each other again. Luckily, she was able to switch her shift this morning with another coworker because I can’t get enough of her now that she’smine.
God, it feels so good to finally be able to say that and mean it.
I thought I would be more nervous walking back into the office, but it still feels natural. The only person I have ever had issues with is Greg, and I know exactly where he is.
Walking towards the conference room, I find Wes, Tom, and Natalie working at their desks. My office remains empty, and I find it funny that Wes has not tried to stake claim to it yet. Knowing Wes, he has definitely thought about it, but he’s loyal to a fault and knows that I have a plan. As soon as everything was lined up, I filled him in, so he is not surprised to see me stroll up to his desk.
“How has he been doing?” Nodding towards the conference room, I take a seat on the corner of his desk and give a tiny smirk.
Wes is wearing a full-on shit-eating grin, and by the way Natalie and Tom look, I already know that Wes has let them in on the secret. “Oh, he’s been freaking the fuck out since they got here, following them around like a lost puppy. He has no idea why they’re all here.”
Standing up, I smooth my hands down my shirt. “This should be interesting.”
I take a look at my watch. They should all be ready right about now, so I decide to make my way over. Giving Wes a pat on the shoulder, he shrugs me off, but he whispers, “Good luck!”
“Thanks, bud. I’ll let you know what happens.”
If I could record the look on Greg’s face when I walked into the room, I would probably watch it back a thousand times.
Going around the table, I shake the hands of the four founding members of ERI. It’s been a while since I’ve seen most of them, but a short six years ago, we were all working together in this office. I’m glad they’re all happy to see me, and we exchange pleasantries for a few minutes. They already know why we are all here—the only one left out is Greg. And, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t enjoying watching him sweat right now.
I’ve spent the last three weeks of unemployment planning this out. It wasn’t too hard to reach out to the founders, and once I gave them all of the information about the incident, the only setback was finding a time that worked for everyone.
When I had told them that I had quit, they all were outraged. Not at me, but about what could’ve gone on to make that happen. I didn’t spare any detail when I told them about the immoral behaviors that Greg had been displaying in and out of the office, and they told me not to worry about it, saying they would figure it out.
It has taken a few weeks for everything to line up correctly, but I didn’t realize how perfectly it was falling into place.
One of the main things that Greg underestimated about me was how deep the rapport between coworkers stems when you’ve been working at a place for as long as I’ve been here. I made sure there were no specifics spread about Ellie and the incident, but Wes and Natalie told me about a nasty ‘rumor’ going around about how Greg treats people outside of the office. Any bonds that he had built since starting have already been unofficially broken.
The other part of it was the security cameras, which are strategically located around the office. Almost everyone knows about them, but only a few people have access to the footage for privacy reasons. When I came in to gather my stuff the day after the incident, I asked Jonathan, our security guard, to see if there was any evidence of foul play. Luckily, he was able to get back to me within a few days.
