Back At the Grind

TINA

I stretched as I made my way to my seat. My back was freaking killing me. This was again another new week. But the joy I had from my weekend kept me buoyant. I spent two nights at my family home in Escondido. It was great to see Mom and Dad again.

Of course, there were the usual questions about work and my relationship. I answered the first question happily and took my time answering the second. My mom nearly threw a fit when she found out about my breakup with Mike. I won’t go into detail, but there were some obscene things said, along with the word “castration.”

My dad, on the other hand, was calm about the matter and comforted me, telling me to focus more on work and that when the time to meet someone who truly loved me would come, then it would come. Parents. What would we do without them?

The only thing about my trip that bothered me was that my dad was looking older. I worried about his diabetes, and I knew he didn’t take great care of himself no matter what any of us told him.

Getting back to the grind this morning meant my weekend buzz was already wearing off. It looked like a mountain of work was waiting for me on my desk—a mountain higher than Everest—and I was just at the base. I had several proposals to properly scrutinize and send out to some potential clients. And then there was the preview of a new product. Let me not mention the email list.

Sighing, I pulled out the chair and was about to take a seat to relax a bit and look at email. I’d get to all of the work in time. If Alejandro had given me credit for increasing the customer base at that last board meeting, I’d be more motivated to achieve even greater numbers. But if he wanted to be petty, I could be petty too.

“Hey, Tina,” Kelly called from beside me. “I need you to take some files to the V.P.”

“Come the hell on!” I groaned, flailing my hands about.

“I’m really sorry, babe.” Kelly patted my shoulder sympathetically. “Tim brought the files earlier, but you weren’t around then.”

I grumbled, picked up the files she handed to me, and stood up.

“Sorry.” Her eyes held genuine pity. “Don’t worry, I’ll make you feel better later.”

“I hope it involves food,” I replied as I walked away.

“Girl, hasn’t your fat ass reached its limit?” I heard her call behind me. “You do realize that’s where all the food you eat goes, right? I don’t want you competing with Kim Kardashian.”

I raised a middle finger at her. “Stop being so jealous.”

“I don’t swing that way!” She laughed.

I shook my head with a chuckle. As I made my way to the elevator, I couldn’t help but wonder about something.

I hadn’t seen Alejandro since that incident in his office last week. That was strange. Alejandro was always roaming around the halls, watching us. If he wasn’t making a worker miserable, then he would be rushing about for meetings. But he had been keeping a low profile. This was even before I left town. I didn’t miss him, but I could tell something was up. And I wanted to know what.

I pressed the button to the elevator. As it dinged and opened, my heart nearly stopped. Speak of the devil, and he would appear. I just had to think of him, and there he was. I fucking hate the universe.

Alejandro stood inside the elevator with a briefcase, looking serious. As soon as his eyes landed on me, he raised an eyebrow.

“Are you going to keep standing there or will you come in?” he said.

I quickly stepped in before the elevator could close. As it made its way upward, so did the movements of my heartbeat.

Just my luck. Why has Mother Fortune made it so that the two of us always meet in the most unexpected and awkward ways possible? Can’t she give me a freaking break for once in my life?

I weighed whether I owed him an apology for waltzing into his office and decided I didn’t—not after his date threw a drink on me, or he stalked my apartment and made me come to the stupid charity event.

There was a painful silence as the movements of the elevator seemed to choose that moment to take centuries. I glanced sideways at him. His eyes were focused on the buttons. He turned to look at me, and I looked away.

“You weren’t home during the weekend,” he said.

My eyes widened. He was at my apartment again? Could this spoiled brat be any more of a creep? Why does he keep doing that?

“I went to see my parents,” I replied.

“Okay.” He nodded and adjusted his collar.

“Did you come to my apartment?” I questioned him.

He turned to face me, his look giving me the obvious answer.

“Seriously?” I folded my arms. “Is this supposed to become a habit now? And even if it is, the last time I checked, there are things called cellphones.”

I was miffed that he was acting like he was entitled to come around my place whenever he felt like it, but at the same time, some small part of me was flattered. A handsome billionaire was showing interest in me.

The blank stare was back on his face. That annoying stare that masked his emotions and made it impossible to decipher his thoughts.

“I’m aware of that,” he said.

“So why didn’t you at least call?” I said. “If you wanted to talk to me, why not call me? Why would you even want to come to my place?”

He didn’t answer. Instead, he leaned toward me. I backed up a bit as his face was inching toward mine.

“M—Mr. Gonzalez?” I stammered. I could smell his cologne now. The scent nearly drove me wild. Was this really happening right now? I felt my heartbeat multiply by ten, if that was even possible.

Moments earlier, I had been upset with him, but now all I could feel was the warmth of him and how nice he smelled. I found myself inclined to do the unimaginable—in an elevator for that matter. I could tell he wanted me, and I liked that feeling.

His nose was close to mine. I knew better, but I shut my eyes and slightly puckered my lips.

And then I heard a ding.

I opened my eyes to see him press a button. My face flushed as I realized that was why he’d leaned forward. He wasn’t leaning toward me after all.

The elevator doors opened. My face flushed in embarrassment as he passed me.

“Get to work, Miss Campbell,” he said as he stepped out. Before the elevator closed, I could have sworn I saw a flash of joy in those devilish green eyes of his.

I nearly tore out my hair as I returned to my seat moments later. Kelly saw the look on my face.

“Are you okay, dear?” she asked.

The image of Alejandro’s face filled my vision, reminding me of my embarrassment again.

“Y—yeah.” I sat down.

“Well, you don’t look like it,” Kelly said.

I groaned and put my head on the desk. I felt her rub her hands over my back.

“You know the best way to take off all this stress?” she said.

I pulled my head off the table and looked at her.

“Unwinding in a bar,” she grinned.

***

“Remind me again why I allowed you to convince me to go clubbing?!” I yelled over the loud noise of music in the bar.

The bar was so noisy and cramped. One couldn’t move without touching bodies with another person. And what made it worse was that most of the people were sweaty and icky. Yuck.

“Because I am persuasive!” Kelly yelled back with a grin. “You should have known that by now.”

True.

She picked up a glass and downed the contents. This was her fifth drink. This woman had an iron stomach. I stared at her incredulously, and she gave me a perplexed look.

“What?” she asked.

“You have an extraordinary stomach.” I shook my head.

“Thank you, love.” She bowed in mock fashion, and I giggled.

I looked around the bar. This wasn’t my kind of thing, and I hated being in crowded spaces with too many people.

I could see some couples dancing wildly and grinding on each other. At another corner was a drinking contest. Two men were surrounded by their friends who were chanting away. So far, they had taken two glasses each. I smirked as I knew Kelly would give them a run for their money.

Speaking of the redhead dame, she squealed and bounced up as a new song played. I flinched at the excitement in her eyes. It was like watching a kid excited at seeing candy.

“This is my shit!” she piped up and began to bob her head to the music.

Some random guy who was passing by stopped and was intrigued by her movements. He moved toward us with a smile on his face.

“Hey, you wanna dance?” he asked.

Enamored with the music, Kelly looked him over, and a smile appeared on her face. He wasn’t bad-looking, though.

“Sure!” she yelled, and he led her away.

“If you need me, I’ll be over here!” she called behind her shoulder as the man steered her through the crowd.

“Yeah, getting wasted!” I yelled back.

She gave me the thumbs-up sign and began to dance with the guy.

I shook my head. This woman was such a character. The song wasn’t my thing, and I wished it would just stop. Instead, the DJ increased the volume and began to bob his head to the music like a deranged lunatic.

Someone kill me now.

I turned and spotted someone I knew by the far corner. My eyes widened. Was that really who I thought it was? He sat at a crowded table, and his silhouette looked familiar. Curse that area for being so dark.

I squinted my eyes and peered harder. The person was dressed in a coat and had a scarf over his face. But I could see a hint of green reflecting by the club light. Those eyes.

I made to move toward him when I suddenly felt a slight grip on my hand. I glanced to the side and saw a guy smiling at me. He was a foot taller than me and had facial hair around his face. He also had an air of mischief around him.

“Hey there, do you need some company?” he smiled.

I looked away from him to that dark corner, hoping to catch another glimpse of that person. The seat was empty. The person was gone. I turned around to glare at the guy who’d ruined that moment. He was waiting for an answer.

“No thanks,” I said in a dismissive tone.

“Come on, I insist,” he persisted, his grip tightening around my wrist. “A hot woman like you shouldn’t be here by yourself.”

“Hey, back off!” I yelled. I was pissed. My raised voice attracted some onlookers to us, and the guy noticed.

“Okay, okay.” He pulled his hands away and walked off.

“I’ll see you around, sweetheart.” He paused and turned around, winking at me.

“In your dreams,” I muttered in disgust.

This was why I hated crowds. Damn Kelly for her annoying gift of persuasion.

The party went on for at least another hour. I was starting to get angry when I spotted Kelly walking toward me. Her footsteps were far from graceful, and she looked disoriented. Her hair was wild and her eyes unfocused. Verdict? She was drunk.

Well, that was a first.

I guess she wasn’t so invincible after all. My guess is she must have taken about twenty shots.

“Is it just me or is the floor spinning?” She giggled like a maniac.

I sighed and held her just as she was about to fall.

Minutes later, we were outside waiting for a taxi—a taxi that took its sweet time coming. I was getting really pissed now. I tapped my foot on the ground impatiently. The burden of Kelly literally on my shoulders wasn’t helping matters. I was just about to let out a few rounds of curses when I heard some footsteps behind me.

I turned around and gasped.

It was the guy who tried to hit on me from earlier, and he was with another guy much bigger than he was. I now realized the situation I was in. I was outnumbered, and to make things worse, I was holding a now-passed-out Kelly.

“I told you we would meet again.” He smiled wickedly as they both approached.

Their movements reminded me of a pack of wolves surrounding their prey—which at this moment happened to be me. And possibly Kelly.

“Back off!” I yelled. I was terrified now.

The two men advanced even further. Their eyes now had a predator gleam to them, and I was helpless. Screaming for help was out of the question. We were the only ones on the road, and it was late. The idiots inside the bar wouldn’t even hear me over the loud music.

As the two men reached for me, I heard a thud. The one guy fell face flat on the pavement.

Behind him stood Alejandro. My eyes widened, and I lit up in glee. I was right. He’d been the one at that far table in the club earlier.

“Taking advantage of a woman, amigo?” He glared at the other guy. “Low.”

The other guy made to hit Alejandro, but his movements showed he’d had too much to drink. Sloppy.

Alejandro caught his fists and, in one swift move, knocked him out.

“Let’s get out of here.” He turned to me.

I was so surprised and grateful that I couldn’t even speak.

He led us to the car and unlocked it. We placed Kelly in the back seat, and we entered the front.

The drive to my apartment was painfully silent. I could see Alejandro clench his fists around the steering wheel and grind his jaw. He was angry. At something I’d done? No, it would have to be at the guys for attacking us. Or maybe whatever work things had been bothering him. I knew there was something, but I hadn’t felt like I could ask him.

We got to my apartment minutes later, and I opened the door. Alejandro helped me carry Kelly to my room. We dumped her on the bed.

Her gown rode up, exposing a lot of thigh. Alejandro’s eyes roamed over her thigh, and I saw him swallow hard. I frowned and pulled down her dress. I felt so disappointed in him. Maybe all men really were pervs.

He saw the look on my face and coughed, excusing himself out of the room.

I shook my head and got to work. After stripping Kelly, I covered her with a blanket and went to the kitchen for a glass of water for her.

Alejandro hadn’t left. He stood by my window staring out into the night. I joined him, and there was silence.

“Thank you,” I finally said.

He nodded without a word.

“I never knew that you were good in hand-to-hand combat.” I made an attempt to lighten the situation. Instead, a deep frown appeared on his face, and he turned to face me.

I gulped.

“You think this is funny?” His voice nearly neutralized my hearing. “What were you thinking? Partying on a work week late into the night? And look at the mess you got yourselves into.”

“Hey, it wasn’t my fault. I could handle myself,” I defended.

Not to mention it was his fault I was even at the bar in the first place. If he hadn’t seemed so stressed out at the office earlier in the day, I wouldn’t have had to unwind.

But I sure as hell wasn’t going to tell him that.

“You could handle yourself?” He raised a bemused brow at me.

“And why were you at the club too?” I tried to divert the focus.

“I’m the CEO, remember?” He folded his arms in an arrogant fashion. “I can afford to come in late if I want.”

The truth of his statement stung hard. He’d made sure I knew that I was one tardy away from being unemployed again. I pouted and folded my arms as silence filled the living room again. We both stared out of the window.

It was awkward, but at the same time, I didn’t want him to leave yet.

“Why were you really at the bar?” I asked, turning to face him.

He turned to look at me with confusion.

“Were you following me or something?” I added.

I waited for an angry look, but I didn’t get it.

Instead, he looked concerned. “No, I wasn’t,” he said.

I gazed intently at him, trying to determine if he was lying. It was hard to know. The art of masking his emotions was something he must have been working on for a long time. There was such depth in his eyes, and he knew how to close it off.

“I go there sometimes if I want to get my mind off things,” he said. “Me being there today at the same time as you was merely a coincidence. And a good one at that. Heaven knows what those assholes planned to do to you.”

My heart lurched at his statement. I turned to face him and discovered he was now staring at me in concern. I also noticed we were now standing closer than usual.

“This is just too weird.” I shook my head. “Can we go back to just disliking each other?”

“Who said I disliked you?” He tilted his head sideways. This was the first time he did that—and it was so cute!

“Well… You… I…” I couldn’t form words. I wasn’t sure whether to be embarrassed or flattered. Had he just said he liked me? “The way you act toward me at work. One minute you’re dismissive and one minute you’re nice. I don’t get it.”

He didn’t say anything.

“And then coming to my house uninvited,” I said. “What’s going on? Is there something about me that interests you?”

Again, for a longer while he didn’t say anything. Then he did something I never thought he would do.

He smiled.

My heart almost escaped my chest when I saw the smile—and then I flushed red when I saw dimples on his cheeks. Jesus freaking Christ, he had dimples! I was a sucker for those. Could the universe surprise me any more?

“What interests me about you?” He caressed my cheek, to my utter shock.

His soft touch felt nice.

“You are quite a character.” His smile widened. “I’ve never met a woman like you. Sometimes, you drive me loco. Then other times, you intrigue me with the way you talk. Your intelligence is an added bonus.”

I closed my eyes and shivered as I felt his hand part my hair to the side.

“You should get some sleep,” he said and walked toward the door. “Goodnight, Tina.”

“Goodnight.” I didn’t want him to go, but maybe it was for the best. I smiled at his back. “Alejandro.”

He paused, obviously from surprise as I’d used his first name. I saw his shoulders flinch a bit, then he relaxed. Turning around, he gave me a small smile and shut the door gently.

I placed a hand over my chest, staring out the window.

~Cupid, you’ll fucking pay for this.~