I attempt to quickly turn off my camera, but the grin on Jeremy’s face tells me it doesn’t matter. He’s at least seen it, and God only knows who else. My cheeks redden because I doubt there’s anything more unprofessional than having someone get undressed while you’re on a video call with a major beauty brand.
I plaster a smile on my face, nodding intently as the meeting starts to end. “We’ll have the updated designs to you by Monday morning,” I promise, counting down the seconds until we’re done and I can wallow in my misery.
As soon as I hit end meeting, I rest my head on the table, desperately wishing the last five minutes had never happened. Or that no one besides Jeremy saw Jake.
My phone dings.
Once. Twice. Three times.
I groan as soon as I start reading the messages.
Jeremy
Holy shit. Your boyfriend is hot.
Next time, you need to warn me before he takes off his clothes. I almost spat out my drink.
And yes, pretty much everyone noticed based on their facial expressions.
I cringe when I read the next one from my boss because, of course, he randomly attended the meeting to put in some face time with the client.
Frank
Highly recommend blurring your background for future meetings.
Fuck. My. Life.
There goes my delusion of no one else noticing. And it’s not like blurring my background would’ve made a difference when it clearly displaysanyperson in the camera’s view. I shake my head, staring at the ceiling as I try to figure out how to broach this subject with Jake.
Unfortunately, today was not the first time I’ve looked highly unprofessional on video when I’ve been on the road with him. He and his team are so used to coming and going that they’ve unintentionally interrupted my work calls on the bus countless times. Something has got to give if I’m going to keep working remotely while he’s on tour.
Jake strolls into the living area with a towel wrapped around his waist, his hair damp from the shower. “Want to grab some lunch in a few minutes? I think we’re going to run into town and try out this restaurant one of the locals mentioned. Might go catch a movie before soundcheck if we have time.” He drops a kiss on my forehead.
He can’t be serious.
I know I’ve got to eat, but does he not realize I’m working? I can’t drop what I’m doing to hang out with him at a moment’s notice, and the last thing I have time for is a movie.
I inhale and exhale deeply, forcing myself to calm down before I speak. Getting frustrated won’t accomplish anything. “I’m working, Jake,” I reply matter-of-factly. “I have back-to-back meetings for most of the day.”
His face falls, almost like he’s disappointed I’m unable to be at his beck and call. “That sucks. I was hoping we could spendthe afternoon together.” He stands directly in front of the table. It takes everything in me not to touch his sculpted body or tug at the towel around his waist. Heat pools in my core as I try to remember I have a job to do and fucking my boyfriend in the middle of the day is not on my work to-do list. “Are you sure you can’t play hooky?”
Calm Kate is gone. Frustrated Kate, who is about to lose her shit, has entered the chat.
“No, Jake. I can’t ‘play hooky.’ I have to work. All day,” I fume, clenching my fists so tight my nails leave marks in my palms. “I definitely can’t skip out on any of my responsibilities after you made acameoin my last meeting.”
Confusion appears across his face. “What do you mean?”
I chuckle because what else can I do but laugh in this situation—the only other option is crying. “What do I mean?How about when you barged in here ten minutes ago, talking loudly, and getting half undressed in the background of my video?”
His mouth falls open, and his eyes widen as he digests what I said. How many people on my work call saw him taking off his clothes.
“Shit, Kate. I’m sorry. I didn’t think?—”
“That’s the problem, Jake! You don’t think about whatI’mdoing before you come in here. Neither does your team. It’s infuriating and embarrassing,” I yell, gesturing wildly as if that somehow better communicates what I’m feeling. Shaking my head, I close my eyes, grateful my next call doesn’t start for almost an hour.
“Let me put some clothes on, and we can talk about this more,” Jake says softly.
A few minutes later, he sits across from me, sorrow written on his face. “I didn’t mean to embarrass you, Kate. Upsetting youis the last thing I ever want to do.” He runs his hand through his damp sandy-blond hair.
