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“Thank you for filling in, McKenzie. It’s been a pleasure. Your car’s by the elevator on level three.” He turns and walks from my office.
My time with Byron is over. As quickly as it began, it ended. I sit in silence and try to process it. I’d heard all sorts of things about Byron Astor — what a tyrant he is, how cold he is, how badly he treats women — but being on the receiving end of his dismissal is humiliating. I’ll get over it. I rise from my chair, gather up the few things I have in the office, and walk away.
For years, I’ve protected myself by wearing a hard outer shell. Who cares what people think of me? I’ve built up my defenses to keep people from getting inside my head or my heart, but somehow Byron has managed to do both.
I can’t think such a thing. I’m a successful woman, a woman who has a lot going for me and a busy road ahead. Why would I let a man mess with my head or make me think foolish schoolgirl thoughts? I won’t.
I’m barely aware of driving from Astor Construction back to my accounting firm, but when I realize I’m parked in the garage beneath the building, I take a few moments to collect myself.
Zach will be thrilled to have me back, and even sooner than expected. I fight down tears, check my image in the mirror, and give myself a pep talk to ensure I don’t fall apart.
I climb from the car and snatch up my briefcase. It’s time to get to work.Mywork. I’ve been trying to keep up, but doing two jobs makes that impossible. I’ll forget all about Byron as soon as I sit at my desk and turn on my computer.
Before I have a chance to sit, Zach rushes headlong into my office. “Didn’t we just get off the phone?” he asks as I’m pulling out my chair.
“That we did,” I reply with the best cheerful voice I can manage.
“Did something happen? Not that I’m complaining at having you here, but I wasn’t expecting you so soon. Are you okay? You look a bit... off.”
Dammit! The tears I’ve been wrestling with well up in my eyes, and now there’s no way in hell I’ll be able to tell Zach nothing’s wrong. He sits on the corner of my desk, silent for once, and looks at me in shock. I understand. I’ve never broken down in front of him before. This isn’t who I am.
Slowly Zach slides from my desk and kneels in front of me. “You know you can talk to me, right? We’re friends, McKenzie.”
I want to laugh at this. I have no friends — well, maybe I can consider Jewell a friend, but there’s a wall there as well. A true friend knows you inside and out and loves you no matter what. There isn’t a single living soul who knows who I really am.
“I’m an idiot, Zach, and I behaved like a typical idiot,” I say, pushing back the tears with a will of iron forged on the anvil of a hard life.
“The last time I checked, doll, you were about the most brilliant person I’ve ever met, so we both know that’s not true. Tell me about it. I swear it will make you feel better.”
I try to hold back, but I feel my mouth open and the words pour out. “I had sex with Byron... a lot of sex,” I mutter.
My statement’s met with silence. But then a smile appears on Zach’s face. “Well, he must be incredibly bad in the bedroom if you’re looking so melancholy about it.” I’m so flabbergasted by what Zach says that I don’t know how to respond. It isn’t the reaction I expected from him.
“Well... um... I...” How in the world do I reply?
“Did you enjoy yourself, darling?”
Again, I’m so stunned by his question, I answer, “It was amazing.” Because of past experiences I assumed all sex was horrible. Never, ever could I have imagined how great it could actually be. If I were younger,OMGmight come to mind.
“Well, then, I don’t understand the tears. You’re an adult, McKenzie, and Byron Astor is one hot piece of ass. He’s single; you’re single. Enjoy the fact that you had some out-of-the-ballfield sex, and quit beating yourself up over it. It’s okay to let down your hair once in a while,” he says, then stands and moves back to the door.
“I don’t know how to respond to anything you just said.” He laughs then winks at me.
“You don’t have to. Simply close your eyes and picture that moment of ecstasy,” he says with a sigh. “Damn, it’s been too long since I’ve had sex!”
“Um... sorry,” I tell him, but finally smile.
“Since you’re all warmed up, you could help me out...” he tells me with a theatrical wink.
“I think I’ll pass, if you don’t mind,” I say with a laugh that feels heavenly.
“Sucks to be me. Okay, my sweet, I’m going to let you get some work done. If and when you need to vent again, call me. I’m always here for you.”
I thank him and look around my office. I’ve been trying to get back for the past three weeks and now it seems so lonely, devoid of life. I’m heading out on a mission this weekend — some major shopping’s in order. It’s time to add color to my life. I knew when I went into this thing with Byron it wasn’t going to last, so I won’t let it keep me down. No way, no how.
Chapter Twenty-Four
McKenzie
