Chapter 37 The Answer is No

John sighed as he put the phone down. He rubbed his eyes trying to dispel the pain between them. It had been a long day and it was going to get longer thanks to the contracts he had to finish tonight. What had started out as simple contracts had evolved into something much worse. What he wanted was to get Anna and go home. A knock sounded on the door making John cringe.
“Come in.” He yelled.
The door opened and Erin stepped inside. “Hi John, can I come in?”
“What can I do for you?”
“I saw your light on and wanted to see if you needed any help.” She said with a smile as she pushed her hair back. “I know I’m not your favorite person right now but I wanted to help, we used to be a good team.”
“We were only a good team when you weren’t trying to ruin my marriage.”
“John, I made a mistake,” She said with a sad smile “I used to be the person you talked to when you had problems with work.” She made her way across the office and slid the papers toward her.
“I could probably help with these contracts if you want me to?”
John slid his chair away and went to sit on the couch. He didn’t want to accept her help but she was a whiz with contracts. Erin brought the contracts over and sat down beside John.
“Do you want help?” Erin asked.
John sighed and leaned forward. “Sure, sure if you have time to.”
Erin sighed and leaned over the contracts. She arranged everything quickly and John marveled at her efficiency, He hated to lose her as a secretary but what had happened had been inexcusable. May be it wouldn’t be too bad to let her help.
The time passed quickly and the contracts were finished before he knew it. Erin stretched, arching her back pushing her breasts out toward him. John went to slide off the couch, busying himself collecting the papers.
“You know,” Erin said softly as she stopped him with a smile putting her hand on his arm “You and I work so well together, I have missed this.”
“Missed what?”
Erin grabbed the papers out of John’s hand and leaned in, her lips an inch from his, “Missed us.”
She grabbed him and kissed him. Her arms slithered around him and she pulled him on top of her.
“NO! This is not okay!” He said pulling back pushing her off. “Why would you do this?”
“It felt right, just like old times,”
“We were never together, why would you think it was okay?”
“I feel something between us, you feel it too, I know you do.”
John stood and grabbed Erin by the arm pulling her toward the door to his office. “The only thing I feel is disgust, how could I have given you even a small chance? You were not just a victim who misunderstood the situation, you planned this!”
“Of course I did!” Erin cried as she turned on him “You were meant to be with me, not Anna.”
“I don’t think so, “Anna said from the doorway as she pushed the door open fully. “I don’t know what you think is going to happen here but not this.”
Erin stood and looked at Anna with surprise. “You seriously don’t think John was working late all those nights do you? He didn’t want to come home to you. He was here with me.”
“Working,” Anna said stepping closer “don’t try and tell me he was doing anything else.”
“You really are blind aren’t you?” Erin sneered “I’m the only one that can satisfy him.”
“Listen, you need to shut up before I do something you will regret.” Anna said angrily “You are talking about my husband.”
“And he loves you. Let me handle it.” John said as he put his hand gently on Anna’s arm.
“Erin this is the last time I want to see you at my company, Collect your things and get out.”
“John, you are making a mistake, let me make you happy.”
John stared at her not really believing what he was hearing. “You are crazy, get out.”
Erin glared at him, her mouth a shocked O of surprise. “John…”
“I said get out!” he demanded again as he picked up the phone on his desk and called security.
They arrived and hauled Erin out, still screaming.
John watched the door shut behind her and shook his head in amazement. He was having the worst time judging people lately, He just couldn’t seem to get it right.
“Why did I trust her, even a little, am I really that stupid?” John said rubbing his nose again in despair.
Anna felt her heart creak as she wrapped her arms around him. She knew what it was like to trust the wrong people. “Maybe we both have been doing too much trusting of the wrong people lately. I’ve been doing it my whole life. We just have to be tougher.”
John put his forehead against hers and laughed as he dug his hands into her hair tilting her face up to his. “How do you do that?”
“What?”
“Make even the worst situations okay?”
“Practice?” She said with a smile as she pulled him closer.
“No, It’s just who you are.” He said with a smile as he kissed her.
Anna kissed him back, wanting more than ever to be anywhere but here. Anna knew she had to do something to help change things or else the past might repeat itself and she was not going to allow that to happen.