Just when life was getting good, something else has to come and ruin it. I think that my damn luck is so bad that if I bought a cemetery people would stop dying.
Tajsa has just walked into the pub to introduce my new CFO. To say I am not shocked would be living, this is so not what I expected this morning when I woke up. I think my whole fucked up world is on its head.
Damon ~”I don’t understand this? Did you knew this all along?”
Tajsa ~”No, she just showed up for the interviews.”
Damon ~”Is this Mason’s idea of a joke?”
Tajsa ~”He said that she is the best for the job, he said if she gets stuck then he can help her.”
Damon ~”Oh like girlfriend and boyfriend.”
Skye ~”No Damon, like friends.”
Yes it is Skye, she is my new CFO. I think the universe is playing a prank on me.
I knew I should have sat in those damn interviews.
Damon ~”How do you expect us to work together?”
Skye ~”The same way you and Tajsa do.”
Damon ~”Is this why you wanted Mason to move in with you?”
Skye ~”I told you I wanted to look after Mason.”
Damon ~”Did you mean his job too?”
Skye ~”If you don’t like it then find someone else. What about that perky blonde you were talking to?”
Damon ~”Are you following me?”
Skye ~”Sort of… not really. I had to come to your building for this damn interview.”
Damon ~”Tajsa does she even have the qualifications?”
Skye ~”Do I look dumb Damon!”
Damon ~”Don’t let me answer that.”
Tajsa ~”She has better qualifications than Mason.”
Tajsa shoves a piece of paper under my nose.
Damon ~”Then why the fuck are you running a coffee shop?”
Skye ~”I don’t need to explain myself to you.”
Damon ~”Well technically you have too, I am your boss now.”
Skye ~”God I knew this was going to happen. You are such a jerk.”
Damon ~”A jerk that is your boss now.”
Skye ~”It is after hours, I can do whatever I want.”
Damon ~”Not when you work for Damon Chase.”
Skye ~”Tajsa can I change offices with you, I am going to strangle this man?”
Damon ~”Sorry sweety, but my right hand really needs to be at my right hand.”
Skye ~”You just made that up.”
Tajsa ~”No he says that kind of shit all the time.”
Damon ~”So how about this celebration drink, I just got us some tequila.”
Skye ~”You know I don’t like tequila.”
Damon ~”Sorry but you cannot say no, you never say no to your boss.”
Skye ~”Can’t Tajsa be my boss?”
Damon ~”Sorry sweety but I am the only boss.”
Skye ~”Mason is dead!”
Damon ~”You know all the girls that work on my floor has coffee with me every day.”
Skye ~”That is so not happening.”
Damon ~”Sorry but it is part of the job. In fact we were all going to have a work get together at my place this weekend.”
Skye ~”I am going to murder you.”
Damon ~”At least you are still doing something to me.”
Skye ~”Urhg! I am going home!”
Damon ~”Remember we have a meeting at nine right after we all meet for coffee at the coffee shop.”
Skye ~”Damon Chase.”
Damon ~”Yes Mrs Chase.”
Skye ~”I am not Mrs Chase!”
Damon ~”That is not what that stupid website says.”
Skye ~”I am so un-posting all that shit.”
Damon ~”Yes you can load photos of you and Mason.”
Skye ~”I am not with Mason!”
Damon ~”Sweety, you better sit down, you going to pop a vein in your head.”
Brody ~”Come on Skye, just stay for one drink.”
Tajsa ~”I promise I will punch him if he does not stop being an ass.”
Skye ~”I don’t think he knows how to do that.”
Damon ~”Can you tell her I will stop being an ass if she stops being a bitch?”
Skye ~”Then stop giving me shit.”
Damon ~”Fine.”
Skye ~”Fine.”
Oh she still loves me, she just don’t want to admit it.
Damon ~”Okay but seriously know. I did not know you had all these degrees.”
Skye ~”Well you never asked.”
Damon ~”So why are you running a coffee shop?”
Skye ~”Because I wanted to piss my parents off. They wanted me to become a big shot exec.”
Damon ~”And now you doing it for Mason?”
Skye ~”Yes. Damon he is like a brother to me, I wish people will stop thinking that there is something between us.”
Damon ~”Well you did kind of left me and moved in with him.”
Skye ~”That is not why I left you.”
Damon ~”Then why did you?”
Skye ~”Damon, I am not discussing this with you now.”
Damon ~”Then when are you going to really tell me why you left me?”
Skye ~”When I am ready.”
Damon ~”When are you going to be ready?”
Skye ~”I don’t know, can we just not talk about us anymore. Can’t we just be friends?”
Damon ~”No cause I love you.”
Skye ~”Damon please.”
Damon ~”No Skye, I will never stop saying that, I love you. It does not matter how many times you break my heart.”
Skye ~”Damon.”
Damon ~”I think I have had enough of tonight. Brody are you going to the club?”
Brody ~”Yes Tajsa and me are going to go. You guys coming with?”
Skye ~”No I am going home after this.”
Damon ~”I am also out of here, I will see you at the coffee shop in the morning?”
Brody ~”Yes and don’t be late.”
I down my last tequila and grab my things.
Damon ~”Can I take you home?”
Skye ~”It’s fine, I will walk.”
Damon ~”Skye stop being stubborn, It is raining.”
Skye ~”Will you please drop me off at the coffee shop?”
We make our way through the lobby downstairs into the basement where my car is parked.
Damon ~”Do you want to drive?”
Skye ~”I don’t think there is much speeding that I can do in the rain.”
It feels like it is just like old times, she used to push the car at the top of its speed just to see how fast it can go.
We do not say much to each other on the way to Crazy Beans.
Damon ~”Are you okay?”
Skye ~”You know how it is, today was a bit better than yesterday.”
Damon ~”Skye I am here if you want to talk, just as friends, you can phone me anytime.”
Skye ~”So you not mad at me anymore?”
Damon ~”Like you said, today was a bit better than yesterday.”
We get to the coffee shop and she quickly jumps out to rush through the rain.
Damon ~”I will see you tomorrow.”
Skye ~”See you tomorrow Mr Chase.”
At least she still has a sense of humor. As I watch her disappear into the coffee shop, I pull off from the curb and make my way through the city to my place. Home is going to be quiet again tonight. There used to be a time that all I want was to be alone at my place but now I hate the deafening silence and emptiness.
I get onto the couch with a glass of whiskey and start scrolling through my messages, I so want to speak to her but I said we are just friends. What can a friend possibly have to say to another friend this at this time of night? I mean, I don’t send Mason or Brody messages and Tajsa, it will only be about work. I have never just had a girl as a friend? I know there is Tajsa but she is different.
I end up falling asleep on the couch and for once the next morning I am up on time for work. Is it because of Skye? Well just maybe. Or maybe it is just because my alarm clock is here. I get dressed and make it out the door just before eight.
When I walk into Crazy Beans, Brody is not there but Skye is.
Damon ~”Morning Skye.”
Skye ~”Hey Damon.”
Damon ~”Are you going to have two jobs now?”
Skye ~”No, you said the girls have coffee with you every morning.”
I give her one of my wicked smiles.
Skye ~”You were lying?”
Damon ~”No we do some days but at the office. Have you ever seen me here with another woman?”
Skye ~”Now that you mention it, I have never. Why? It’s so easy to pick up girls in a coffee shop.”
Damon ~”Do you even want me to answer that?”
Sensing she is uncomfortable, I change the subject.
Damon ~”So how is Mason?”
Skye ~”Frustrated that he cannot move around.”
Damon ~”Does he not have crutches?”
Skye ~”He refuses to use them.”
Damon ~”That sounds like Mason. So what is he going to do when he can walk again?”
Skye ~”He said that he can’t wait to get to the club but I think he is lying. I think he just wants to get out of Amber’s house.”
Damon ~”You guys are welcome to come stay by me, I have more than enough place.”
Skye ~”I will tell him in case he starts changing his mind.”
So yes I am sounding a bit way too friendly but if it means she can come back then I will. I still have not really accepted that we have broken up, I have not even cried yet and I don’t think I will. If she wants to be friends then I will be friends but not for one second will I let go of her. We belong together, she will see it sooner or later.
Damon ~”So are you staying for coffee?”
Skye ~”I am here I might as well stay.”
Damon ~”Latte? Extra shot? It’s going to be a long day.”
Skye ~”Here I will go grab it quick.”
Damon ~”Sit down that is what Jo is here for.”
Jo comes to take our order.
Jo ~”Hey Damon.”
Damon ~”Hey Jo.”
Jo ~”Can I get you your usual?”
Damon ~”Please and a latte with extra shot of espresso for Skye.”
A few minutes later she brings our order.
Skye ~”So who was that blonde girl?”
Damon ~”Oh that is Mason’s ex, Leia. She is the one that messed him up so much.”
Skye ~”What happened?”
Damon ~”Mason met her in college. They were on and off for years.”
Skye ~”Kind of like we were.”
Damon ~”Exactly like that. Now the last time they got back together it got kind of serious. She wanted to settle down, like get engaged and married.”
Skye ~”But Mason did not?”
Damon ~”No, so he cheated on her so that she would leave him.”
Skye ~”But how did she mess him up?”
Damon ~”She did not leave him but when he wanted to propose, she left him. Kind of like tit for tat.”
Skye ~”That is one stupid way of getting someone back, I mean she played with his heart.”
Damon ~”But he did too.”
Skye ~”So what is she doing here?”
Damon ~”She is working somewhere in town as a personal assistant. What? Did you think I was seeing another girl?”
Skye ~”Yes, I thought it might have been someone you met at the club.”
Damon ~”Skye I am a jerk but I am not a complete dickhead.”
Just then I get a text from Brody.
Brody ~”Sorry Bro, not going to make it, I overslept.”
It is an half an hour to go until nine, I reckon we might as well head to the office before the madness starts for the day.
Damon ~”What you reckon we go? Brody is not going to make it.”
Skye ~”Yes but this time I want to drive.”
Damon ~”Who says I am here in my car?”
Skye ~”I heard you coming around the corner with that roaring engine.”
Damon ~”I think you like cars almost more than guys.”
Skye ~”Not almost, I do.”
Damon ~”Did you only date me for my cars?”
Skye ~”For what else then.”
I watch the smile on her face as she slides behind the steering wheel. As you starts the car, you can feel the engine vibrating underneath your seat. She puts the car into gear and floors the pedal, in less than two seconds it’s going from zero to sixty. The pure pleasure brings her laughter and it is the most beautiful thing I have heard in over a week.
Skye ~”Fuck I love this car.”
Damon ~”I will make you a deal. If you can survive a week with me, then you can have it.”
Skye ~”Deal, I am going to survive eight. Would you like to bet your other cars too?”
Damon ~”Then how will I get to work?”
Skye ~”Oh so you think I can last eight weeks without me strangling you?”
Damon ~”I don’t think you will make a week.”
Skye ~”Bet on.”
She parks the car in the regular spot in the basement. As we make it through the lobby, I can see she is starting to get nervous.
Damon ~”Hey, relax, it’s just me Damon.”
Skye ~”I know but this is my first real job ever.”
Damon ~”Then you should be excited. You are going to be great. Tajsa would not have picked you if you weren’t.”
Skye ~”She did not pick me because of you?”
Damon ~”No, there is a reason why Brody does not work for me and it’s not just because of his company.”
We take the elevator up to the top floor where you find our offices. I take her to her new office first.
Damon ~”This is you. It looks like your assistant is not here yet.”
Skye ~”I have my own assistant?”
Damon ~”Yes because I am not sharing Joelle with you.”
Skye ~”And Tajsa?”
Damon ~”Yes she has her own too.”
Skye ~”So all of this is mine?”
Damon ~”If you want to change something then please do, Mason has got no colour.”
Skye ~”Fuck but it is still nice though.”
Damon ~”I am just going to go make a few calls before our meeting. If you need anything just pop your head in by Joelle.”
Skye ~”See you later Da… Mr Chase.”
Damon ~”See you later Skye.”
I turn around to head out the door with one big damn fat smile on my face. I am so going to love having her here.
When I get to mine, I have an excited Joelle waiting for me.
Joelle ~”Morning Mr Chase.”
Damon ~”Good morning Joelle.”
Joelle ~”Did I just see you with Skye?”
Damon ~”Yes you did Joelle”
Joelle ~”Where is she now?”
Damon ~”She is in her office.”
Joelle ~”What office?”
Damon ~”She will be filling in for Mason while he is off work.”
Joelle ~”So does this mean you back together?”
Damon ~”No unfortunately not, we just friends.”
Joelle ~That is what she thinks?”
Damon ~”I am never letting her go, she just has not realised it yet.”
Joelle ~”I guess she is your nine this morning? Should I go grab something from downstairs?”
Damon ~”I don’t know if she eats petites so get one of everything.”
As I close my office door behind me, my phone rings.
It’s my father.
Damon ~”Hey dad.”
Richard ~”Hello Damon, how you doing son?”
Damon ~”Very well, thanks.”
Richard ~”Good to hear. I wanted to check if you and your new girlfriend want to join us for dinner on Friday night. Giselle is going to drive me nuts”
He does not know about me and Skye yet, he is so going to flip, he will tell me how useless I am just like Brody. I am so not in the mood for that.
Damon ~”Yes, what time?”
Richard ~”We will see you at seven.”
Damon ~”Great dad, see you on Friday.”
Just as I drop the call there is a knock on the door.
Damon ~”Come in.”
Skye ~”Sorry Mr Chase but Joelle is not in the front.”
Damon ~”Come in Skye, I quickly send her down to go get coffee.”
Skye ~”Don’t they have a tea lady here?”
Damon ~”Believe me you don’t want to drink anything she serves. If you want coffee get from downstairs, we have an open account there.”
Skye ~”I will remember that. Now where do we start?”
Damon ~”First I want to ask you a favour. You can say no.”
Skye ~”Ok let’s hear it then.”
Damon ~”My dad phoned, he wanted us to go for dinner. I kind of did not tell him we have split up.”
Skye ~”So you want to lie to your dad?”
Damon ~”Just for one night, just as friends. Well for us but not for him.”
Skye ~”When?”
Damon ~”This Friday at seven.”
Skye ~”Okay I will think about it. Can I let you know tomorrow?”
Damon ~”That is fine, thanks Skye.”
I really hope that she will say yes, even pretending to be a couple would do my heart good for just one day, hey maybe she even realises that she misses me. But with my dad, she is going to hope that she never met me.
Damon ~”Now let’s get into this. Everything I show you here is confidential, not even Tajsa knows the net worth of the company.”
I open the file with our company financials so she can go through it.
Skye ~”Holy shit.”
Damon ~”Skye, baby you can’t shout like that.”
Skye ~”Sorry Mr Chase.”
Damon ~”Don’t worry, it was good to hear that teenager Skye again, I kind of miss her.”
Skye ~”Well that teenager Skye has never seen so many zeros in her life. And you trust me with all of that?”
Damon ~”I trust you with my life.”
Skye ~”But not your heart.”
Damon ~”I did not say that. I love you Skye and I trust you with anything. But let’s keep work strictly professional.”
Skye ~”Sorry Mr Chase..”
Joelle knocks on the door.
Damon ~”Come in Joelle.”
Joelle ~”Morning Skye.”
Skye ~”Morning Joelle.”
Joelle ~”Here is your order Mr Chase.”
Damon ~”Great, call Tajsa and tell her to meet us here.”
Skye ~”Is this coffee with the girls?”
Damon ~”Yes, it is coffee and petites with the girls. For the next hour we just friends and talk about whatever shit that we want.”
Skye ~”I have never seen this side of you Mr Chase.”
Damon ~”You can call me Damon now.”
I smile at her with my ‘I love you face,’ I don’t know if she even knows that I have one. But that is all that I feel in my heart for her at this very moment, not anger, not hurt but love. I will never going to give up this woman and Mason has just given me the greatest gift. Eight weeks, that is going to be more than enough for me to show her.