Page 27 of Learning to Trust

When Janice opened her mouth to speak I held up one hand.

“I’m sick and tired of being weak, walked over, and giving in to what everyone around me wants with no regard for what makes me happy. People expect me to be strong but then they treat me like shit when I take a stance. I am so fucking confused about who, and what, I am most of the time. I want—no, I need someone to guide me, give me direction, respect my strengths without expecting me to back down when they disagree. Someone to free me from the stress and anxiety of trying to please everyone all the time.”

Janice took my hand. “Honey, I just want you to be careful, so you aren’t hurt.”

“I know you are worried, but Andrew and I have agreed that our partnership won’t involve being in a traditional relationship and feelings won’t be involved. After the little I've experienced in the last couple of days, I know the lifestyle is right for me and is what I've been lacking."

“Ah—the sore ass?”

I laughed. "Let's just say I struggled with obeying Andrew's instructions, and I'll be reminded for a while."

“Ouch.”

“You don’t know the half of it, Sis.”

“Just promise me you’ll be careful.”

“I will. Andrew will take care of me and ensure I’m okay. Apart from you, he’s the only other person I think I could trust in time.”

“Moving on, will you be starting the business you've been talking of for the past few years?”

“Yes. I’m going to run it from home because I don’t need enough space or equipment to justify renting or buying office space. And before you offer, thank you but no, I won’t share your space. When I’m ready to launch the first program I’ll hire an assistant to take care of the books and any calls as well as an advertising company.”

Janice thumbed her chest. “What about?”

I turned my eyes to the ceiling. “Hmm—I was going to hire a company downtown, but, hmm—”

Janice laughed and smacked my hand. “I promise you won’t be sorry if you take a chance on JanStev Advertising.”

“Love the name and I know I won’t. I’m not sure how long it will be before I call on you, but I have a couple of programs under development. I had a lot of spare time alone since Tristan was out fucking Sebastian.”

“I’m so sorry, Hon.”

“You know something? I’m not.”

We finished our meals and walked back to where our vehicles were parked, hugged, climbed into our cars, and drove away.

As I left the parking lot, I lifted my eyes to the rear-view mirror and gave my ex-workplace the middle finger.

Chapter Ten

ANDREW

A string of curses filled the cabin of the truck as I turned onto the street where I lived. It was ten minutes after six, I was late. The emergency call I’d responded to had taken longer than anticipated. Diane should have been the one to take the call before she left to meet her partner, Dwayne, for a drink. Instead, Mr. Great Employer had to say, “You go, I’ll take care of whoever is calling.” I’d assumed—wrongly—that the call would be for a booking later in the week. Diane had left and now I was late.

Turning into the driveway, I grinned at the sight of David sitting on my front steps, focused on something on his phone. When the garage door began rising, noisy enough to wake the dead, his face lit up in a smile. After bouncing to his feet, he stuffed the phone in a pocket of his jeans and was inside the garage in time to open the door of the truck and offer his hand to help me out.

“You’re late. Did you have a good day, Sir?”

I didn’t answer his question, instead grabbing a fistful of his polo shirt, I pulled him close and crush my mouth to his for an explosive kiss.

“You’re still late,” David said cheekily, and I raised an eyebrow.

“You’re still late, Sir.”

"I had a last-minute emergency call out."

“I suppose that happens quite a bit.”