Quitting the Boss (9 page)

“I love your father. What Eli and I share, well, I don’t expect you to understand our relationship, Alec, but what we have works for us. All of us, your father included.”

She made it sound so prudent, as though it was a second mortgage or something a normal husband and wife would agree to.

“Your
relationship
is a farce,” Alec spat, slamming the phone back down on the base.

Alec clenched his fists, remembering the events that followed that weekend when he’d seen his mother and Eli. Back at school, when he’d finally told his girlfriend about his discovery and the lie his parents had been living, she suggested exactly what his mother just affirmed, that his father knew and didn’t care. Except Courtney had taken it once step further, suggesting maybe his father was sharing Claire with Eli and that Alec should embrace that side of himself, the side that was desperate to share her with the man who seemed to have a gift when it came to women.

There was no part of Alec that wanted to share Courtney with anyone, least of all his best friend. He’d hoped she was kidding, just ribbing him to try to make him forget about it, but when Gavin returned to their dorm room and she stripped down in front of him, Alec immediately ended their relationship.

He’d grown up believing marriage was a union of love between a husband and wife, a union that no other man or woman should be a part of. His parents were loving and affectionate with each other and he knew they had sex because he’d been unfortunate enough to hear them on occasion. What he’d learned was it was all about appearances. Alec refused to fake his way through life just to climb a corporate ladder or be a part of certain social circles.

That was when Alec had come to the realization he would never marry. It had been a double-whammy, the realization his parent’s happy marriage was not what it seemed and learning he couldn’t trust the woman he’d been with for nearly six months.

He’d never intended to get involved with Jenna simply for the reason that he was her boss and he did not want to be anything like that bastard Elijah Stoker. That first night Alec had fucked Jenna, though, his mother’s scandalous relationship with her boss had been the last thing on his mind.

On those rare occasions when he thought of his parents’ relationship, Alec reminded himself that he wasn’t married and neither was Jenna. They weren’t betraying any sacred vow or misleading anyone for personal or professional gain.

No, there was no personal gain in what he and Jenna had shared. They’d been fucking. Two people who happened to be able to provide just what the other needed. There were no false promises, no lies.

Except now she wanted more and hell if Alec knew what to do about that.

The office was suffocating, the room closing in around him. He needed to get out, to get some air, to be someplace where there were no memories of Jenna Craven.

He practically pulled the door off its hinges as he flung it open. His breath caught as Jenna gasped, her hand in the air as though she were about to knock.

“Get out of my way,” he barked. He didn’t miss her eyes widening and even though he didn’t want to concern himself with whether it was shock or surprise, he felt the pain of hurting her stab him right in the heart.

Alec cleared his throat, hoping the harsh scratch would reach his chest. Jenna Craven could no longer be his responsibility, but even as he let that thought take root, the pain in his chest festered.

She stepped aside and he stormed past her, his chin up, shoulders back, walking with the confidence people expected from him. He was on the edge of fury. Many had seem him straddle that line, but that was only when it came to work, when an account was on the line. He never let his personal life interfere with his job.

It had been a mistake to call his mother. She was right; her sex life was none of his business just as his was none of her business. He’d never told his parents about Jenna. Why would he? They were simply fucking. There was no future for them.

As Alec exited the building, the afternoon humidity slammed against him. He sucked in a breath, drawing little air from the thickness engulfing him.

He loosened his tie, shed the suit coat. Reaching his car, he tossed them on the hood. He’d left the damn building without his keys. Rolling his sleeves, he looked around the parking lot, searching for options.

What he found was Jenna.

Jenna’s heart raced, her palms damp. She had no idea what she’d nearly walked in on in Alec’s office, but she’d never seen him so furious.

Her first instinct had been to chase after him, but she hadn’t seen him since he’d walked out of his house two nights ago. She’d opted to work from home yesterday to give him some space - and to avoid him. Even though she’d wanted to call, she hadn’t given in to the urge. After he walked out Monday night, the ball had to be in his court. He knew what she wanted, but she was not going to beg for it. Alec had to make the decision on his own.

Since she had no idea where they stood, she’d gone to Gavin’s office to tell him about Alec’s disheveled state. Unfortunately, Alec’s best friend hadn’t been there.

Jenna couldn’t just leave him. He was obviously angry and when Alec was like that, he made bad decisions. Without knowing what set him off, she didn’t know how to calm him down but she wasn’t willing to leave him alone.

Now he just stared at her, his breaths shallow as his chest rose and fell quickly beneath his shirt. He had rolled his sleeves, obviously seeking some sort of reprieve from the heat. He’d tossed his coat and tie on the hood of his BMW and she wondered why he hadn’t gotten inside and sped off.

Sucking in a deep breath and summoning her courage, she crossed the parking lot in slow, sure steps, hoping he wouldn’t run. He looked like a caged animal, ready to pounce.

“Are you alright?” she asked.

“We’re done,” he said, his expression losing none of its fury. “I shouldn’t have let this go on as long as it has.”

She wanted to argue, to fight for him, to fight for them, but she’d fought with Alec before and always came up short. He was stubborn.

“What just happened in your office?” she asked, opting not to address what he’d just proclaimed.

“None of your business,” he said, so much venom in his voice Jenna felt as though she’d just been given a lethal dose.

Anger stirred in her chest but it was nothing compared to the ache in her heart. He was right; they had let this go on too long. She had never intended to let her heart get involved. While she’d wanted more, Jenna hadn’t brought any extraneous emotions into it. She simply wanted to be out in the world with Alec instead of sneaking around with him. Now, though, as she stared at the man she’d shared a bed with for nearly a year, she realized there was more to it than public appearances. He owned her heart and his words had just crushed it.

Feeling the sting of tears pooling in her eyes, Jenna turned on her heels and walked back the way she came. She’d find Gavin and let him talk Alec off the ledge because it was obvious he didn’t want her to do it.

Alec watched Jenna walk away, every long step revealing just how on edge she was. She kept her emotions on a tight leash, much the way Alec did. She’d shown them though, the moment he told her they were done.

He hated to say the words. They still tasted bitter in his throat as he watched Jenna disappear into the building.

Alec slammed his palm against the side of the car, pissed off at what he’d just done. He’d never wanted to hurt Jenna. He’d never wanted to let her go. He still didn’t.

Yeah, he could give her more, after all, keeping the secret for this long had put him in the same league with his parents. The secret, though, had kept their relationship safe. It had kept it from getting too serious and forcing Alec to make a decision he couldn’t trust himself to make.

Making their relationship public was just one small step. Soon she’d be asking for more again, marriage and children. Or worse, something would go wrong in their relationship and instead of walking away she’d do what his mother had done.

Only his mother had said it was his father who had made the deal. What the fuck did that mean?

Alec stormed back through the office, grabbed his shit, including his cell phone and car keys, and headed back out without making eye contact with a single person.

He needed to get out of there, to get into his BMW and race down the interstate until night fell and the treachery of his parents’ marriage was masked by the darkness. Until he could put a dark blanket on this ache in his heart and forget Jenna Craven had ever come into his life.

“Do you know what happened?” Cash asked as Jenna made her way to her desk.

Since she’d managed to hand off all her projects, there was no real point in coming into the office at the crack of dawn, so she’d taken her time, reading a romantic suspense novel for a couple hours before she made it in just before nine o’clock.

“What are you talking about?” she asked, dropping into her chair.

“Alec called in sick. Sick. Alec Winter. I was a project coordinator when he started as a PM and never once has he ever called in sick. He usually leaves you in charge when he travels, but I’m guessing because you have one foot out the door he put it all on my plate.”

“Alec called in sick?” Jenna asked, surprised herself. And yes, she had one foot out the door, but she had nothing else to do, so why not give her the reins? Well, except for the fact he’d have to communicate with her and his last communication had been loud and clear.

We’re done.

“Yeah. Crazy, huh?”

“Crazy,” Jenna managed to say. “I’m as clueless as you are,” she added.

“He emailed me. I tried calling, but it goes straight to voice mail without even ringing, so I’m guessing he has his phone turned off.”

Jenna wondered if he was really sick or if whatever had happened yesterday was the reason for being out. There was one way to find out.

She headed to Gavin’s office, grateful to find his office door open. Jenna closed it behind her, causing Gavin to raise an eyebrow.

“Have you talked to Alec? Is he alright? What happened yesterday?”

“He’s fine. He went to Chicago to deal with some stuff.”

“Chicago? What happened? Are his parents okay?”

“What do you know about his parents?” Gavin asked.

“I know they live in Chicago. That’s it. What happened?” Alec never talked about his parents. She got the impression he wasn’t close with them, something she could understand given her own relationship with her mother.

“Nothing happened. If you don’t know the history there, I’m not going to be the one to share it. Apparently he had a conversation with his mother yesterday that pissed him off. He needed to talk to his father and thought it would be better face to face.”

Jenna wanted to know what the conversation was about. He’d once said that his parents tolerated each other, but she had no idea what that meant. Alec didn’t offer and she didn’t pry. She’d never known him to call them, but it’s not like she was always with him. She called her mother every Saturday, but she was never around Alec when she made those calls. He likely did the same when he called his parents.

“Call him,” she demanded. “He’s not answering when Cash calls, but maybe he will if it’s you. I need to talk to him.”

Gavin chuckled as if there was some sort of joke Jenna had missed. “I’m not calling him for you. He’s my best friend and you’re about to be my subordinate. I am not getting in the middle of you two.”

She wanted to ask if Alec had talked about her, about his intentions, but it seemed so juvenile and she was already being unreasonable. Of course Gavin would side with Alec. She should have known better than to think otherwise.

Plus, Alec had a jealous streak that rivaled the anger of a rabid bear. He would not be happy about her being behind closed doors with Gavin, especially if he found out they’d been talking about him, another thing he abhorred.

Jenna gripped the handle, taking a deep breath and searching deep for her self-control. “Please, just let him know I was asking about him.”

“Jenna,” Gavin said as she started to open the door. “Don’t give up on him. He’s got to work through some stuff, but I’ve known him over a decade and I’ve never seen him react to a woman the way he does to you.”

She ignored the hope that sparked, focusing instead on the reality of the situation. She had told Alec she wanted more and he had bolted. “I don’t know if that’s good or bad,” she admitted.

“I don’t either. Just don’t give up on him, not yet.”

She nodded, wishing Gavin could offer more insight. But she’d take his advice and not give up. She just hoped her heart didn’t get shattered in the process.

Alec’s father waited for him in the terminal at Chicago Midway airport. Erik smiled, obviously happy to see Alec despite the circumstances.

Stepping into his father’s open embrace, Alec wished he was in Chicago just for a friendly visit with his dad.

“Your mother left today on a business trip,” his father said as if it was no big deal. “Let’s head to Ariana’s for dinner and drinks.”

A business trip. That meant she was with Eli. What really grinded on Alec was how his father didn’t seem to mind.

They exchanged small talk on the drive into the city, something Alec abhorred but tolerated because he wasn’t ready to tackle the subject that had brought him home.

Erik, on the other hand, never seemed to mind small talk. Alec’s mother, though, hated it as much as he did.

His father had always been much more laid back than his mother. Claire ran a tight ship when Alec was growing up. Even though Alec didn’t want to admit how much he took after his mother, the similarities couldn’t be denied.

Ariana’s was an intimate bistro at the north end of the Magnificent Mile. Given that it was Wednesday, Alec expected the restaurant to be quiet, but it was bustling with patrons young and old.

“Your mother and I are going to Alaska this summer. We’re taking a cruise ship out of Seattle,” Erik informed him after they ordered their dinner. They sat at a small table in a dimly-lit corner and the waitress, a woman around Alec’s age, probably in her mid-thirties, seemed to know Erik. Their greeting and exchange was more than just friendly, making Alec suspicious of their relationship.