Knowing that I’m the only one in the office that has seen those broad shoulders under that sculpted shirt makes me shiver with pleasure. The other girls can fantasise, and I know they do from all the conversations in the kitchen, but I’ve got the real thing between my legs when I go to bed at night. It’s fucking awesome.
Karl catches me staring and smirks as I flit back to my screen. How much does Danny tell him, I wonder?
This past few weeks, I’ve been floating through life, high on daily orgasms and the drug that is Danny Walker.
I’ve spent most nights with him, and on the rare nights we’ve been apart, he has called me from his bed before I go to sleep.
He’s not officially my boyfriend, and we are still a secret, but things are changing. He has nondairy milk stocked each time I come round because he knows I prefer it. I have jumpers there and a few swimsuits for the swimming pond. My make-up remover wipes are in his bathroom. He’s given me a bathroom shelf. It’s an unwritten rule that the right side is my side of the bed because I like to face the door.
I’m wrenched out of my daydream by Jackie standing in front of me. “Hello? Anyone there?” She waves her hand over my face.
“Yes, Jackie?”
“Janet wants the report. Now.”
“I’ve already emailed it to you.” I snap back. “Check your inbox.”
I look at her, confused. “Why do you have a full-body spray tan done?”
“Because,” she lowers her voice and moves closer to me. “I’ve been taking minutes in meetings for Danny Waller, and he is all over me.” Pain shoots through me. “Oh really?”
“Really,” she emphasises. ” Tonight’s the night I make it clear I’m interested. The drinks, remember?”
That’s right, there are free drinks on the top floor bar this evening.
For the umpteenth time since I entered into this thing with Danny, I am crippled with insecurity. Jackie looks a million dollars and me..? I’m still wearing my sneakers to work.
He’s not mine. It’s been 4 weeks, and I’m falling head over heels for him. He has every woman in the goddamn city of London after him. Can I cope with this? What happens when I’m no longer flavour of the month?
An hour later, I’m still on edge, replaying Jackie’s comments in my mind. He’s all over me. Work is piling up, but I’m too upset to focus.
That’s the curse of Danny Walker. He seems to control everything these days, even my productivity.
Mindlessly, I log into OpenMic. I’ve been watching it a little over the past few weeks, and my views are creeping up.
Then I see it.
2 stars.
Worst song ever. Cats fighting in an alleyway would be easier on the ears.
The words jump out and spear me like a knife. No, I’m not built for rejection, either by Danny Walker or some random stranger on the internet.
***
Why is it that the floors get sexier the higher up you are in a building? We are in the top floor cocktail lounge admiring the 360-views over the London skyline. There’s even an outdoor rooftop garden terrace.
The newbies from Dunley Tech are easy to identify; we are gawking around us like humans landing on the moon for the first time.
It’s a free bar, and I’m standing in a group with Stevie, Alex, Jackie, and Aldus, one of the Nexus developers.
Truth be told, the Nexus coders intimidate me. They are produced in the same brainiac factory with IQs off the scale but missing the chip that allows you to talk about anything other than IT.
Aldus is talking about cryptocurrency, and I understand a few words out of every sentence.
“It’s basically the single-best asset that gives the diversity of exposure to crypto.” He explains.
“Really?” I nod, pretending to know what he’s talking about.
Please don’t ask my opinion.
The lifts open, and out walks Danny, Karl, and the rest of the executive board located in London. He’s talking to a girl that looks familiar. Where have I seen her before?
It takes me a minute to register that she’s the blond lawyer from the news article in New York.
Why is she here? Did he fly her over? They don’t look like they are talking business. They seem very comfortable with invading each other’s personal space. She touches his arm, and he throws his head back in laughter.
What could a lawyer say that could possibly be so funny?
“Who’s the bitch?” Jackie mutters under her breath as we watch him deep in conversation, enthralled with whatever blondie is explaining.
“Save me.” Stevie hisses in my ear. “Before Aldus figures out how stupid I am. Bar. NOW.” “I’m coming too.” Jackie huffs.
Dylan, the sleazebag, is at the bar with other developers as we approach. There’s a tray with about 20 shots beside them, some empty, some spilled, some full.
“Charlie.” He beckons us into the circle as Rory in his team hands us shots.
“I’m not drinking this stuff.” shrieks Jackie. “Can someone get me a proper cocktail, please?”
“I’ll drink it.” I sigh, taking the sticky shot glass. I’ll need it if I’m going to witness Danny get mauled all night by beautiful women. Besides, the pain of the internet stranger roasting is still too fresh.
Dylan strategically places himself between Stevie and me.
“That’s the spirit.” He places his hand on my lower back, as usual, too familiar.
“Stop being so handy, Dylan.” I grumble. “And your bloody hand is sticky from that shot!”
“Ah, come on, I saw you on Tinder, Charlie. Why won’t you let me take you out?”
“No, Dylan.” I snort. “Not happening.”
“What about the date with the doctor?” Rory asks me
I draw my lips into a thin line. “That didn’t end so well. I’m not even sure he was a doctor. My mate Cat stalked him online.”
“Isn’t that catfishing?” Rory asks.
“No.” Dylan laughs. “All guys do it. We can be whatever the girl wants us to be.”
I glare at him. “And that is why we aren’t going out.”
“I’m on the elite singles site,” Jackie informs us. “You have to be invited. You wouldn’t catch me being catfished.”