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“Of course I am,” I said through gritted teeth.
“And that's why you’re nursing that bottle like a fucking baby and look like you’ve been dragged through a bar brawl backwards. Come on Dawson, give me some credit,” he countered back with a raised eyebrow.
“A rough day,” I whispered, taking another sip from the bottle and letting the burn hit the back of my throat.
“I gathered.” He smirked. “That's why you disturbed me, mother fucker.”
I nodded. He knew it would be hard to call him as his attention wandered a moment but soon returned.
“Can you talk…?” I asked, wondering if Tye was up to his old tricks. Midday women had been a past time he loved.
“Yeah… spill. Just thought I heard something.” He shrugged his shoulders before draping one arm over the back of his leather chesterfield sofa.
“Remember the girl…” I quietly said with a tone of defeat.
“Yes…” He leant forward, ears pinned back, and eyes pinpointed on the screen as recognition dawned.
“I saw her today,” I whispered.
“Woah.” He ran a hand through his hair and gazed quickly towards the ceiling before locking eyes back on me. “At a bar?”
“No…” I pushed the words out on the edge of my tongue. “One of the internal transfers.”
“Fuck, Dawson…” He stood, pacing the room unable to focus. “Who?”
“Everleigh Acton.” I let the name flow off my tongue when he couldn't meet my eyes.
“Shit.” He held the back of his neck. I could feel the tension rippling through him, which was strange, but he was a great friend, of course he’d have felt for me. A frown formed across his forehead before he then turned to the sofa and sat perched on the edge.
“Yeah… I walked into that boardroom today and my past turned around to face me, right in front of my eyes,” I replied. “She's worked all this time for us, and you’ve been here all along. Not me.”
I didn't miss the sharp intake of breath he took as I said those words. The look of guilt I saw was fleeting but I knew Tye, and it was definitely guilt I saw. I placed it to the back of my mind to ponder over later, questioning what the fuck could he feel guilt over? Something wasn’t right. I’d learnt to trust my gut over the years and right now, my gut screamed of guilt and distrust.
“I didn't know, how could I? You’ve never said her name,” he whispered. “She's a hard worker that one. Strong and determined, for sure. One of the reasons I promoted her across from The Dalston. How did she react?”
Interesting.
“Well, she basically…” I chuckled out loud, throwing my head back. “Told me that she would only communicate with me under a professional capacity, before she stormed out with a deep fire burning in her eyes.”
“Fuck…”
“Yeah, exactly,” I replied.
“What are you going to do?” he inquisitively asked as he shifted his position slightly and curled his arm under his head.
“Make her listen…” I said confidently, as I put the bottle down.
I stood up and made my way to the fridge, opened a bottle of water, and downed the contents. Time to make her see my reasonings all those years ago, whether she wanted to hear it or not.
“Dawson…” he warned.
“Yep… I know what I'm doing.” I grinned cockily.
“That may be the problem.” He sighed under bated breath. “Don't make the hole bigger… she may have someone who wants her.”
Tye fidgeted with his hands as he tried to avoid my slackened jaw that was nearly at the floor. I just couldn't shut my mouth as I thought of her settling down, having kids and being with someone long term, other than me. I knew that there was no husband when I grabbed her wrist and quickly examined her fingers earlier. Yes, I had overstepped boundaries, but fuck, the desire took over my mind. A whoosh of relief flew through me, but all she confirmed today was the guy with her, Freddie after narrowing down the paperwork, was a friend. Just because Freddie was a friend didn’t mean she was single; she may have a partner… shit, she could even have a kid for all I knew.
“Someone can eat my balls before they take her heart from me, it would all be foreplay for the real action!” I spat out at Tye as he looked stunned. “No fucker is having her and if she's with someone, well that dilemma will be a non-issue very quickly.”
