Page 61 of Secrets We Keep
I look at my watch and see it’s nearly game time. We agreed around lunchtime would be a good time. The lobby will be busy, and that’s what we need. Jenna said she’d make sure she was doing a coffee run. It’s the only time she’s agreed to leave her office during the day. Jenna also said that Alexandria leaves the office at this time every day. Got to love a creature of habit to get a plan to fall into place.
Reid walks through the front door just as Jenna and Alexandria get off the elevator. He sees me and walks over with controlled steps. He got the memo.
“What the hell, man?” he shouts.
“Stop being a dick, Reid. Who the hell do you think you are?” I shout back.
We agreed that we were going to play this as naturally as possible.
“You could have had her all to yourself all these years, but you didn’t.” He shouts. He only has eyes for me, but I can see that people are realizing something is about to kick off, and none of them want to miss the show.
“Stop being an asshole.” I get right in his face. “Hit me,” I whisper without moving my lips.
“I’d rather be an asshole than someone’s assistant,” he shouts, the blow kind of low that he follows with a punch to my stomach. Fuck, that hurt. The gloves come off, and we start hitting each other.
“Don’t hit my face,” he whispers, and we continue to push and pull at each other, throwing the odd punch at each other.
“Lay one on me,” I whisper.
His fist collides with my eye just as Jenna gets to us.
“What the hell are you two playing at?” She looks pissed. Like, for real right now. She gets in between the two of us. “I mean it. Both of you are acting like kids right now.”
We try to get jabs in around her.
“I’m done!” She shouts. We both stop what we’re doing, and silence falls over the room. A couple of people have their phones in hand, documenting the whole thing. “Neither of you is worth this much drama,” her voice goes hoarse. This is hard for her. “I should never have got involved with either one of you. You asshole,” she directs at Reid. “Lose my number. Move on to the next flavor of the week. I never should have gotten involved with either one of you. I mean it, Reid. I don’t want to see you again.”
She takes a deep breath and then turns around. Then all three of us see Josh and Adrien have just witnessed this whole thing, and they both look equally pissed. I watch Jenna storm off, walking past everyone and back to the bank of elevators on the far side of the lobby. Adrien gives us both a look before going after Jenna.
“You two need to stop this right now. Dom, cool off. I expect you back in the office this afternoon.” I’ve only seen Josh this angry, and that’s when the press was giving him, Alex, and Issy trouble last year.
“I’m going,” Reid says before walking off.
“What the hell, Dom?”
“I know. You’re lucky your job is secure. I should fire your ass for this little stunt. Getting into a fight in the lobby, really?”
“I know.” I hate that he looks so disappointed right now. I respect Josh. He’s the best boss you could ask for.
“Cool off. We’ll talk about this when you get back.” He strides off in the opposite direction from everyone else.
Josh is standing leaning against my desk, the office half empty. At least if Josh is going to rip me a new one, fewer people are around.
“My office.” He points, and I stride in there.
He closes the door. He’s controlled and thoughtful.
“Was it worth throwing away all those years you’ve pinned over her for?” It’s working. Josh has believed the lie.
“Josh, with all due respect, what I decide to do in my private life is just that.”
“I’d agree with you, but you did that where everyone could see. You’re going to be the gossip, which I know you’re not going to like.”
“Josh, I respect you. You’re my boss. But we’re not friends. People are not going to remember who I am by the end of the day, definitely by the end of the week.”
“People feed off gossip, Dom, and this is good gossip. You’re savvier than this. What about Jenna?”
“She made it clear she doesn’t want to see either of us.”
