Welcome to Town

The hot new guy seemed to be doing something shady. Or was it my overthinking mind that wanted me to hate him? He showed no emotions that would depict getting caught doing something, so I assumed his phone conversation was harmless.

“Forget to pay the light bill?”, I giggled.

He looked around lost, “Oh, haha! No. Conversations with my dad can get heated, so I like to stop into a quiet room.”.

“Sorry, that’s how your conversations get with him.”, I looked down.

He cupped my chin and looked me in the eyes, “Don’t apologize for other people’s shortcomings.”.

He paused, “I hate not seeing you smile.”

I wanted to lift onto my toes and plant a big kiss on those juicy lips, but he spoke before I could.

“How did things go with Jared?”, he changed the subject.

“They went, and we worked out what we needed to. I got this new job that I just know I am going to hate.”, I didn’t want to tell him we banged out our tension.

“Oh cool, are you headed out?”, he asked.

“No, I am going to head to bed. Early day tomorrow, what about you?”, I pressed the elevator up.

“I am going to go check out this band playing.”, I did notice he had changed into a new outfit.

“Oh, that sounds fun. I hope you enjoy it!”, I kissed him on the cheek before getting on the elevator.

He stood there staring at me until the doors closed. I contemplated opening the doors and pulling him inside. I know I just had sex, but my sexual appetite seems to be growing.

**********

Fast forward

**********

Friday morning rolled around, and I hadn’t seen Cameron, he had gone on a camping trip for his blog. That gave me enough time to figure out what I was going to do with Jared. So far, I had been avoiding him around the office.

I start my new assignment today and everyone woman in the office was giving me the side-eye. I hated that I had no workplace friends, I was the outcast. Maybe that’s why I was put on this assignment, the company couldn’t handle a PR nightmare because one of these bimbos slept with an interviewee.

“Good luck today hottie!”, I can always count on Jenny to hype me up.

“Thanks, babe! Now I just must face Jared before I head out. Wish me luck!”, I replied.

“Good luck, don’t fall on his dick again!”, she sent with an eggplant emoji.

“JEN!!!”, I didn’t even know how to respond to her.

“What? I am just saying. Last time you two were alone you slipped and fell on it.”, I could hear her giggle in my head.

“I will see you later, love you.”, I had to stop her before she said another word.

Jared wasn’t in his office before I decided to head out for my first interview of 5. I planned to go in and get my information and leave which shouldn’t be too hard because men like these tend to talk plenty about themselves.

The first one up was Jeffery Branson who was the CEO of some tech company. The interview only lasted an hour because he informed me that I could get all this information by using my phone to scan a QR code. That code was the only thing printed on his business card.

I could tell that having a woman in close quarters with him was very uncomfortable. He was a hot nerd with a serious phobia problem. He was tall, lanky, and wore glasses that covered most of his square face. He had a cute dimple on his chin and the curliest blonde hair.

I jotted down a note on my pad, a week in his life was technically boring. Humor was the only thing that was getting me through this interview. The whole building was sterile and OCD neat, no wonder he was a bachelor, but my opinions weren’t part of the article.

The next guy was Peter Cox, who was the CEO of an importing company and handled all logistics of his high-profile inventory. His office screamed male domination with everything being sleek and black. And the secretary out front screamed escort service.

This interview lasted longer than the last because he kept trying to sell himself to me. I assured him I was only there to write a story about him detailing a week in his life. He was a total sexual harassment lawsuit waiting to happen and he wasn’t even hot enough to charm a prosecutor.

He was shorter than me, probably 5’1’’, and carried himself as if he were 6’5’’. He was round in every aspect with the creepiest mustache. When they handed me the list of the top 5 hottest most successful bachelors, I think they misplaced his name. It took me 30 minutes just to leave because he kept following me and talking.

I kept all the names in alphabetical order, so next was Dr. Joseph Harcross. He was the CEO of the largest psychiatry clinic on River Street. This was the oddest interview because I couldn’t tell if he was studying my every word or if he was thinking about his response before speaking. He had been out of the clinical setting for a few years, but his methods carried on to the business side of psychiatry.

He was an attractive man, very rugged looking. While he wore a suit with a vest, his hair was longer, and his face was unshaven. He had a full beard and mustache combo reminding me of a lumberjack. This man could lose his license by sleeping with his patients and no one would be surprised.

I didn’t need to take notes because he was prepared for my interview. He had printed out a portfolio for me detailing his schedule for the next week with names crossed out in dark black ink. He included his resume and photos of his dogs.

I decided to save the last two for after lunch. Jared had met me for lunch at a small restaurant on the river with his daughter. He was a great father; he always took her to lunch on his break. It was actually a very attractive trait.

She was 2 years old and beautiful, taking after her father with her eyes, nose, and hair. I started to imagine what our children would have looked like. I didn’t follow his life after we divorced so he caught me up on what had been going on in his life.

Apparently, his secretary left the baby with him and skipped town to follow some rich old man around the world. It was commendable that he took full responsibility for his child, I think a lot of men would have run the other way.

Seeing him after these last three interviews made me a little hot and bothered. He was a vision of what women wanted, not the men I am interviewing. He took his daughter out of her stroller to put her in a highchair.

“Do you want to hold her?”, he asked as he handed her to me.

“Hi little beauty, what’s your name?”, I knew she wasn’t speaking fluently.

“Amelia.”, he said, and my heart sank.

“You named her after my mother?”, I didn’t know if I was infuriated or pleased.

“The way you talked about your mother is all that I envision for my daughter.”, he was a charmer.

With that response, I could have pulled down my panties and taken him right there at the table.

“I appreciate that.”, he hugged me.

The hug didn’t last long as an eerie feeling washed over me, and I turned white. I turned around and didn’t see anyone, but we were outside. I felt his burning gaze washing over my body. I felt it as if it was stronger than the wind.

I buckled Amelia in her chair and asked to be excused to go to the ladies' room. I walked around the whole building and could not find him anywhere as I walked back to the table, but I knew who it was. It was Adrian, but how?

Jared pulled me back to reality, “Are you ready to order Leah?”.

“Oh yes. I will have the southwest chicken salad and a glass of sweet red.”, I needed the wine.

We sat there for an hour eating lunch and catching up on life. I guess sleeping with him is what we needed to finally be on good terms. I loved him and probably always will.

As we were finishing up lunch, I felt his gaze fade and I knew he had left. I wondered if he was going to come out of hiding to finally face me, but his leaving was his usual M.O...

Jared took the check, and I hugged Amelia bye as I headed back to the business district to finish my interviews while keeping my eye out for Adrian. He was on my turf now, two can play that game.

"Welcome to town Adrian.", I whispered to myself.