Conflict of Interest (Employee Relations Book 1) (36 page)

After an hour of rehashing a discrimination case that’s made its way to the EEOC with external counsel, I head to my parent’s house to take my shift with my grandmother. I walk through the back door and find my mom wrapping her arm in gauze.

“Burn your arm?” I ask.

My mom bursts into tears, explaining through her sobs how my grandmother burned her with a long-reach lighter thinking she was an intruder.

“We used to worry that she’d wake up in the middle of the night and wander off on her own so you installed an alarm. What’s next? Sleeping with a fire extinguisher? She’s getting worse, Mom. We can’t do this on our own anymore. It’s not safe or healthy for any of us. “

“I know.”

“The board meets in a few weeks. If you can’t wait until then we can find a place that will take her until then.”

“No, we’ll wait. Most places that’ll take her right away won’t give her the level of care we do. Recollections will. We can hold out a few more weeks.”

“What if it doesn’t pass? You can’t continue to do this no matter what.”

“We’ll figure it out.” My mom looks at the clock. “I need to get moving. Grandma’s in the living room.”

I hug my mom, scared of what will happen if the board doesn’t pass the Elder Care Program.

“I’m going to work from here tomorrow. You can sleep in and we’ll talk about other options.”

“Gabby, you can’t put your life on hold because of this.”

“Isn’t that the pot calling the kettle black?” I ask.

“Very funny, now go visit with your grandmother and stop worrying so much about this. You’ll have plenty of time for that when your father and I are old and grey. It’ll all work out.”

She squeezes my arm as she leaves the room. All I can think is I really hope she has that long.

“He actually cut off her ponytail?”

Our monthly meeting never gets old but I have to admit I’m finding it hard to concentrate.

“Yup,” she confirms, popping the
p
for effect. “Apparently, the guy had enough of her high-maintenance ways. According to him, she was late every day and would wear the most ridiculous outfits. What put him over the edge was that during lunch she’d brush her hair and count the strokes Marcia Brady style as she did it. So, he cut off her ponytail and told her if she didn’t stop being such a bitch, he’d cut something else next time.”

“Ohhh, that’s not good.”

Summer laughs. “When I told him that his employment was ending due to workplace violence he just nodded, shook my hand and said he would have done it again just to see the look on her face.”

“Alright, Gabs, you’re up.”

I force a smile and tell them about an employee confrontation where two women weren’t getting along so one of them put their cat’s litter box in the other employee’s
file cabinet, locked it and threw away the key. For a few weeks no one could figure out what the smell was and why it was getting worse.

“That’s disgusting. Why do I feel like there’s a theme here? You both have had near brawls on your hands when all I’ve got is a stupid social media rant.”

“You’re right,” Summer tells Kyra when she’s finished describing her issue. “That was kind of stupid.”

We all vote and surprisingly I win. I usually get excited from the idea of free drinks for a month but I can’t even fake it tonight.

“Gabs, any update on your lucky charm? Summer was telling me that you took him to Sunday dinner.”

“He’s not my lucky charm,” I clarify. “As for dinner, it was a one-time thing. We’re back to being mortal enemies.”

“Is that what’s wrong with you? What happened?” Summer asks.

I tell them about our encounter Monday morning and how I left things yesterday afternoon.

“Is that why you worked from your mom’s house today?” Kyra asks.

“No, things are getting worse with my grandmother and I wanted to give my mom some reinforcement. Grandma burned her the other day. Anyway, it wasn’t the reason I didn’t go into the office but it made it a hell of a lot easier today knowing I wouldn’t see him.”

“How much longer until you find out if that program’s been approved?”

I sigh. “Not soon enough.”

“Well it’s too bad he’s being a punk. Summer and I have been working on a new set of Irish Blessings but it sounds like we’ll have to modify them. “

“Seriously?”

“Want to hear one? Might make you smile.”

“Go ahead.”

Summer and Kyra look at each other and laugh. “Ready?” they say in unison.

“May his long road rise up to meet you, when he finally gets you on your back. May your thighs warm his face, and his rain coat your fields. And until his man meat makes you come, may he pleasure you with his hands.”

We all break out in a fit of laughter.

“My ancestors would be so proud.”

Lucas
.

“Speak of the devil,” Summer says. “Literally.”

“We had a rendition of Bless this House prepared but we’ll need at least five minutes to change it to Burn his House. You sticking around?” Kyra asks.

“Another time. Ladies,” Lucas speaks with my back still toward him. “This is my mate, Ki. Ki, this is Summer and Kyra.” He grips my elbow, spinning me toward him. “And this is Gabriella.”

“Ahh, now I get it. Glad to finally meet you,” Ki says.

Whatever the hell that means.

Ki shakes my hand and then zeroes in on Kyra. “And very nice to meet you. If you don’t mind me saying so, you don’t look like a Kyra.”

“That’s because she’s really Jung,” Summer interjects.

Kyra smacks Summer’s arm before turning her steely glare on Ki. “Are you visiting?” Kyra asks in a slightly condescending tone.

“What gave me away?”

“An Asian tourist with a camera around his neck. Original.”

“Keep the stereotypes coming, baby. I’m comfortable with my heritage. Something you’re clearly not.” Ki pulls out his phone and types something. Seconds later he’s shaking his head with a cocky grin. “Chaste and sweet. Not everyone’s name can accurately describe them like mine. I’m guess that’s why you changed it.”

Kyra sets down her drink. “Fine, I’ll bite. What’s your name?”

“Ki Suck Lee.”

Kyra raises her perfectly sculpted brows at her own Internet search and bursts out laughing. “Oh, come on!”

“What’s so funny?” I ask.

Kyra holds her phone up for us to read. “Rising hardness.”

“Need proof?”

A hand on my lower back demands my attention. It’s too bad because I really want to see where this is going.

“Are we on speaking terms yet?” Lucas nudges me with his shoulder.

“Probably not if you need to ask.”

Holding his gaze, I take a sip of my cocktail.

“I was a prick,” he says.

“Agreed.”

He leans in so close I could lick his ear. Dammit he smells good. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

I turn away from him to listen in on the heated conversation that’s taking place between Kyra and Ki, who as it turns out is also Korean. A very tall and hot Korean. You’d think they’d be a match made in Kimchi.

Not so much.

“Hey,” Lucas says, elbowing my side. “Last weekend changed my perspective on a lot of things. I respect you, Gabriella. I want to work with you.”

“As long as I don’t touch you, right? Whatever. I’m over it, Lucas. Really. It’s fine.” I turn to my girls. “You two ready to dance.”

“Gabriella, would you just listen?” Lucas pleads, but I ignore him.

“Actually, let’s do a shot first.” I push through the crowd toward the bar with my friends in tow. “Three shots of fireball, please.”

“Make it five.” Lucas presses up behind me and looks down at me through his thick lashes. “On me.”

The bartender returns with five glasses that Ki hands out. As I’m lifting the glass to my lips, Lucas covers it. “Apologizing isn’t easy for me.”

“Apology…I must have missed that.”

Lucas takes a deep breath. “For reasons I won’t go into, being around your family was difficult. Mine isn’t like yours and they aren’t in my life. I guess it reminded me of all the things I don’t have. And then you hugged me and as lame as it sounds that messed with my head worse. Do you have any idea how long it’s been since I’ve been hugged? Really hugged? A long fucking time.” He wipes his hand over his face. “It was too real and I took it out on you. I know it’s unfair and it might not make sense but it’s the truth.”

He tips my chin up until I meet his eyes. “I’m sorry.”

As far as apologies go, it’s a good one, but it’s leaves me with more questions than answers. For starters, this isn’t the first time he’s lashed out at me, it’s been going on for over a month and he only met my family a week ago. It’s not my family he has a problem with.

It’s me.

“There’s more to it than that.”

I jerk my chin out of his hold and take my shot. Looking past Lucas to my friends, I tell them I’m ready to dance and leave a frustrated Irishman behind.

“What was that about?” Kyra asks, glancing over her shoulder.

“Forget they’re here,” I practically command.

I find a spot on the dance floor near two good-looking guys and lose myself in the music. It doesn’t take long to get their attention.

“Prepare for round two,” Summer shouts over the thumping bass. “Here he comes.

With Lucas hot on my trail I up the ante, swaying my hips to put on a show for the guys. My hands travel up my sides to my face, gathering my long curls over my head. I turn giving the guys a better view of my semi-exposed back and then let my hair slowly cascade back into place.

One of the guys starts toward me but freezes before making contact.

“Piss off, she’s with me.” Lucas wraps his arm around my waist possessively, pulling me flat against him. He brushes my hair to one side, exposing my neck. The softness of his lips tickles my ear. “I’m fucking sorry, alright.”

His large hand slides around to my front underneath the flowy material of my shirt. Electricity jolts my already sensitive nerves as his hand flattens against my belly. Un
sure of his next move or what I’m hoping to accomplish, I grind against him. If he hated a hug so much this should give him a coronary. But as I circle my hips he matches my movement rather than pushing me away.

“Did you hear me? I’m sorry. I’ll say it as many times as you need.”

I tilt my head back and to the side so that I can see him. “Not good enough.” I start to pull away but he tightens his grip.

“What do you want from me?”

I spin to face him and grab on to his forearms to steady myself, the last shot taking effect. “It’s me. You’ve made that clear on more than one occasion. I want to know why.”

His jaw clenches and his eyes blaze. Lucas leans down so that we’re eye to eye. “You’re right. You want to know what my real problem is?” he taunts. “When I look at you I don’t see a coworker. I see a woman, one I desperately want and can’t have. I don’t want to want you. I hate how you make me feel. Avoiding you is the only way I can function without completely screwing up my career. Yet here I fucking am because even when I try to prove you don’t mean a thing to me, I can’t leave it at that. You matter.”

Liquid courage has chased away my common sense. I fist his collar and do the stupidest thing possible.

I kiss him.

It’s explosive. At first I think he’s going to back away so I pull him closer, sliding one arm around his neck. He groans, deepening the kiss and lifting my leg high up on his hip.

Holy crap. This is really happening.

Our tongues swirl with strange familiarity as Lucas slides one hand into my hair, kissing me with a desperate hunger.

The gasp and murmurs of familiar voices barely register over the sound of the thudding music. I’m lost to whatever is going on between us. I don’t realize I’ve unbuttoned the top of his shirt until my palm slides over the warmth of his bare chest. His growing arousal presses against my stomach and all I can think is that I want more.

In a rush, Lucas loosens his grip on my backside and drops my leg before untangling my hands from his hair, ending the reckless make-out session I initiated. Disappointment squeezes at my chest when he pushes on my shoulders forcing us apart.

"For fucks sake, Gabriella." He runs a hand through his hair and keeps me at arm’s length with the other. "You shouldn't have done that," he growls.

"You shouldn't have said those things," I reply defiantly. 

His anger increases and I can't tell who he's more pissed at—himself or me.

"That can never happen again," he shouts over the music, slashing his hand in the air in front of us in finality.  I focus on straightening my shirt to avoid his accusatory gaze and choke down the hurt that's crawling up my throat.

It's an irrational reaction, I know he's right, yet somehow that knowledge doesn't soften the blow.  

"Don't worry. I'm so drunk, Lucas, I would kiss anyone right now."  

He stares at me, evaluating the sincerity of my words. As if I need to prove my point I grab the guy next to me and kiss him, trying like hell to recreate the fire I felt a few moments ago.

It's a lost cause.

I pull back from the guy and turn to Lucas whose glare has turned lethal. "See? You have nothing to worry about."

I turn and push through the mob of people dancing, heading straight toward the bar as my friends chase after me.  Kyra and Summer catch up and watch me with concern.

"You alright?" Summer asks.

Just as I'm about to answer he’s at my side. "Gabriella," the stern use of my name demands that I face him.

I whip around, steadying myself by placing my elbows on the bar behind me. "What?"

He leans in so that I can hear him over the background noise.  "Can we be adults about this?"

My head drops back and I belt out a bark of a laugh. "That's rich coming from you."

He watches me thoughtfully and once again hovers beside my ear. "Don't confuse my words.
Can't
happen isn't synonymous with don't want. Both of us know that can't happen again no matter how bad I want to get you alone and rip that poor excuse for a shirt off your body. You think I want to sit across from you in meetings knowing how soft your lips feel pressed against mine?  How your tongue tastes? Fuck...those should be the farthest thoughts from my mind, Gabriella. It’s bad enough knowing that no one’s touched you in a long time because I want to be the one that finally does. Why the fuck do you think it’s so hard to be near you?" He takes a deep breath.