Page 171 of The Virgin Romance Novelist Chronicles
“Yup, me and Rosie.” I didn’t want to get into it. All I wanted was for Tasha to leave me the hell alone so I could finish the last paragraphs on my proposal and then get home to Rosie.
“Do you ever think about what we used to have?”
“Nope.” I shook my head. Not liking the way she was looking over my shoulder, I turned around and exited out of my proposal. “I’m actually going to close shop for the night.” I shut down my computer, unplugged it from my docking station, and stuffed it in my computer bag.
I stood up but was blocked by Tasha, who now had a predatory look in her eyes. “Don’t you want to share ideas? Maybe brainstorm?” Her hand reached out and pressed on my shirt buttons. “Think about it, Henry. We can combine our ideas and then share the position.”
“They are not going to split the job in two.” What kind of world was she living in?
She stepped even closer, backing me into my desk. “I know on Friday I was a little ornery, but I was caught off guard when I saw you in the conference room. You’re good at your job, Henry, and I was intimidated.”
If there was one thing Tasha wasn't on Friday, it was intimidated. Her hand was inching up my shirt and she was leaning in way too close. Then two things happened simultaneously: I reached up with my spare hand to move her away when the elevator dinged and Rosie walked into the office space . . . wearing a trench coat. She was watching her feet glide across the floor until she was only a few feet away from my cube. And that was when she saw Tasha practically crawling all over me.
Fuck.
All the blood in my body rushed to the floor as I took in the look of betrayal and devastation on her face.
“Rosie . . .” I said, stepping aside from Tasha, computer bag in hand.
Rosie stepped back as I approached, while pointing behind me. “Is that Tasha?” Her voice was shaky, and she stammered.
“Rosie, it’s not what you think.” I stepped closer, but she took another step back. I knew the look on her face, because there had only been one other time I'd seen it. The night Tasha opened my bedroom door and told Rosie we were moving out. Together.Fuck, I'd been an idiot.Now? I could feel her slipping away, and it was the most horrifying feeling I’d ever experienced.
To make things worse, Tasha stepped up behind me, placed her hand on my shoulder and said, “Hey, Rosie, long time no see. How are you, girl?”
Rosie didn’t answer her. “Why are you here?”
“Oh, Henry didn’t tell you? I’m working here now.”
“You’re . . . you’re working here?” Rosie pointed at the ground. “As in working with Henry, late at night, with your hands all over him?”
“Oh, that?” Tasha laughed. “Just reminiscing on who we used to be. Isn’t that right, Henry? We’ve always been so hot together.”
“Nope, no.” I shook my head, hating every moment of this. “No.”
“I’ve got to go,” Rosie shouted—incredibly loudly—and then sprinted toward the elevator, where she continuously pushed the down button.
Turning to Tasha, I said, “Leave me the fuck alone, Tasha. You just turned my night into a shitstorm.”
“Good.” She smiled. “Maybe when you’re done playing house, you can come hang with a real woman.”
I looked Tasha dead in the eyes, hoping she would get it through her head what I was about to tell her. “Real?What we had is in the past and that’s where it stays, Tasha. I am in love with Rosie, so there will be noreminiscing. If you’re attempting to ruin what I have with Rosie because you’re seeking some kind of vengeance? That just makes you a sick human being. Leave me the fuck alone.”
I didn’t let her answer. Instead, I chased after Rosie, but when I got to the elevator, the doors had closed before I could stop them. Fuck. She had to believe me. She had to know I'd never cheat on her.Fuck. It's going to be a long night.
* * *
By the time I got home, it was well over thirty minutes of battling elevators, stairs, taxis, and every single person in New York City. For some reason, the entire population decided to walk the streets tonight and got in my way. Surprisingly, I held on to my composure and didn’t punch every random stranger in my way.
The apartment was dark when I opened the door, not a light to be seen or a sound to be heard. A sickening feeling came over me as I dropped my computer bag in the entryway and searched the apartment. Sir Licks-a-Lot was on the living room windowsill, licking his crotch as usual, and barely looked away from his kitty balls to acknowledge my arrival.
Ignoring him, I blew past the living room and straight into the bedroom, where Rosie was lying on the bed, curled into a ball and sobbing. My heart broke in two from the sight of seeing her so weak, so sad. I did that to her.Fucking Tasha.
I took off my jacket, tossed it to the side, and walked to the bed. “Love, can we talk?”
She shook her head.
“Rosie, please, I need to talk to you about this. I don’t want you being upset.”
