Page 50 of Fractured
Carlos is right behind me; I tap my key card and open the door.
Christopher is sitting at my desk, one hand gripping his hair as he reads something in his hands. I close the door and he looks up, dropping his hand hard on the desk in surprise, his hair sticking straight up.
“You okay, brother?” I laugh. “You look serious.”
“How the fuck do you not go crazy? This shit is a nightmare, man. Taxes, employee benefits, vendors, as well as pissed off vendors and pissed off employees. I’d rather face a sniper than deal with this shit.” He drops his face on the desk, mumbling, “I’m so glad you’re back.”
I sit down in the chair in front of him and smile. I undo my suit jacket and cross my legs.
“Who’s pissed off now?”
Chris lifts his face and looks at me. The spot where he had his cheek pressed against the desk is now pink.
“The way it feels today? Who isn’t? But I handled it.” He holds his head with both hands, his hair sticking out between his fingers as he rests his elbows on the desk.
“Just… I was having such a great week. It seemed fairly easy, till today.”
I laugh at him. “Get the hell out of my chair and go home. I’ve got this.”
I come around the desk, shaking out of my suit jacket as I do, and Chris stands up; I give him a shoulder hug as we clap hands.
“Go home, brother, sleep. I’ll text you if I have questions.”
“Thanks, man.” He knuckle bumps Carlos as he walks out. I pull out the chair and take a seat. On my laptop, I open the last two weeks of sales and my calendar.
“Fuck!”
Carlos sits down in the chair I just vacated. “What?”
“I have a charity event Saturday night.”
“And?” He mumbles.
Exasperated, I look at him. “And? That means I’ll have to drag Mrs. Never talk with me.”
“She’s your wife, Alex. She’s supposed to go to these things with you. Take this as a chance to try a fresh approach with her.” He slumps back in the chair.
Whatever! He doesn’t get it and I am not explaining it. I wanted to give us space. This is just going to put us right back in the spotlight. Anna said she hates crowds. Well, this is going to be more crowded than the wedding and she’ll more than likely just run off on me again.
My brain doesn’t have the space for her anxiety right now. It’s five days away and I’ll deal with it when the time comes.
I give him a quick glance and go right back to work. “You can go home, or head down to Silk and see Triss.” I point at the computer. “I plan to be here most of the night.”
He raises an eyebrow. “You’re not going home tonight?”
I keep typing, “No.”
He nods his head up and down and purses his lips. I stop typing and tilt my head to the side. “What?”
“Nothing, brother. I’ll head to Silk, check it out and get an update for you.” He makes his way to the door. “If you change your mind and want to go home, just call. I’ll come pick you up.”
“No need. I’ll be here all night.”
I spent most of the night getting caught up on paperwork and office business and fought the urge to see how Isabella was doing. I kept picking up that damn phone, only to throw it back down on the desk. I’m still pissed about the whole thing, but wanting to see her makes me just as crazy as her not talking to me.
Eyeing my watch; it’s 2:30 Am. Carlos has long gone, Marcus dropped off the tallies for tonight, and my headaches and I need to sleep. I rub my eyes with my thumb and forefinger.
Flipping off the lights and turning off the computer. I drop on the bed, kicking off my shoes and pulling off my belt, dropping it to the floor, stripping down to my boxers, and sliding into bed.
