Let's Play A Dirty Ass Game, Mr. CEO

Chapter 61: APOLOGY NOT ACCEPTED

LAURA

Tristan’s hands let me go with obvious reluctance as Peter Callahan, his corporate assistant, came into view.

I scooted away with a tad bit of elegance and tossed the champagne down my throat, trying to bring my racing heart under control and ease the pounding in my chest.

If Peter noticed anything odd, he didn’t give it away. He acknowledged me with a nod and faced Tristan calmly. "Mr. Pierce, sorry to bother you, but there are people asking to meet you."

"Who are they?"

Peter cleared his throat and his voice dropped a notch. "The manager from southside bank and his entourage. I believe they might have some business proposals."

Tristan glanced over at me, and the fire in his eyes had dimmed. "I’ll be right out."

Peter nodded and turned to leave, but stopped halfway. "Also," his eyes met mine briefly, "your fiancée keeps asking to know where you went. Do I share your whereabouts with her or—"

"I said I’ll be right out," Tristan snapped, his jaw tight.

"Yes, sir." His assistant scurried out without wasting another second. Then it was just Tristan and I. For some reason, the awkwardness in the air amused me.

He glanced at me, surprise flickering across his features. "I don’t know why it’s so funny to you." He sighed, running his fingers through his hair. "But I’m sorry. I should kiss you somewhere no one’s going to see us next time."

I folded my arms across my chest and glared at him, amusement evaporating. "Apology not accepted. We shouldn’t even be kissing in the first place."

He rolled his eyes towards the skies, groaning. "Not this again. Come on, Laura. We’re adults who know what they want and are perfectly capable of going after it."

"Don’t hit me with the ’adults’ bullshit. You know very well how complicated this is."

"Do we always have to argue about what we want every time we’re together, when we can be doing much better things? Leave the complications to me to handle."

"I’d rather argue than sneak around like some teenager! Did you forget already who had to face the complications of what shouldn’t have been in the past? I’m not doing that again, especially not with you!"

I turned to leave when his words stopped me. "Why not me?"

"You really don’t know why?" I scoffed, shaking my head. "Of course you don’t. You’re too full of yourself to see it. Too blinded by lust."

"And what if it’s not just lust I feel for you?"

"What else is there, Tristan?" As I watched him, I desperately hoped to hear that it was more than lust...that what he felt for me was as overwhelming as what I felt for him. "Why else do you look at me like you want to devour me all the time?"

Tristan stepped forward. I retreated.

Then we stayed that way, holding each other’s gaze, chests heaving.

A shrill ringtone shattered the moment, and he reached for his phone. One glance at it, and his face clouded over again. "Let’s talk more later." Then he was gone, leaving me standing there like a complete fool.

As the balcony door closed behind him, I threw my head back and heaved a deep sigh.

"Ughh." Groaning, I looked towards the skies. "Can I just sleep, wake up and forget he even exists?"

But that was far from possible. Especially as I worked with him now.

°°°

I got home around 11pm to a quiet house. Ivy and Eli were fast asleep on the couch, popcorn sticking to their cheeks, the T.V showing the latest release of Toy story.

Smiling to myself, I pried Eli free from Ivy’s arms and took him up to his room. He stank of juice and strawberry favored popcorn. But it was already too late to give him a quick bath. Plus, he slept like a log of wood...so it’d be a real hassle to get him to move now.

A scream rang from downstairs and I hurried out to see Ivy running up the stairs.

She blinked when she saw me coming out of Eli’s room, rubbing her eyes. "Ms. Hayes?"

I heaved a sigh of relief and grilled the balustrade for support. "Good heavens, Ivy. You gave me a real scare. Why did you scream like that?"

"I’m sorry," she made a cute, apologetic face that almost tore a laugh out of me. "I just woke up and Eli was nowhere next to me. I thought for a split second that I might have lost him."

I laughed, shaking my head. "You’re just so sleepy, Ivy. It’s fine. Eli’s asleep in his room."

"I’m sorry." She started back down. "I’ll just grab my purse and leave now."

"What? No. It’s late. You can sleep in the guest room tonight."

She turned and blinked those sleepy-red eyes at me. "Are you sure about that?"

"I can’t let you leave my house by this time of the night. So, up here. I’ll show you to the room."

She thanked me profusely as she followed me up to the guest room that Mara used whenever she was here.

"I’m truly grateful for the comfortable bed, ma’am." Ivy yawned as she settled into the bed. "Mmh. Super comfy."

"I know, right?"

I moved towards the AC and switched it on. And by the time I turned around again, Ivy was fast asleep. I watched her for a few seconds, a smile of gratitude tugging on my lips. Gratitude for all the times she looked after my son and made sure he was safe and sound.

Then I went up to my room and had a long, warm shower. I still felt lightheaded and tingly all over, thinking about that almost kiss with Tristan and how electric it felt at just the slightest contact.

What would happen if we eventually gave in and kissed like our lives depended on it? Would the world come to end? Would it put an end to the pounding in my chest? Would it help me sleep better at night?

I was curious to find out, but that tiny thread of sanity and clarity kept pulling me back every time I tried to give in.

How long would I have to struggle with how I felt?

How long before I understood how to run and hide from these thoughts that consume my being?

Heaving a sigh, I wrapped a fluffy robe around my body and went to grab a glass of water from the kitchen. Sleep was still far from me by the time I returned to my bedroom, so I decided to pull out my laptop and see what I could do to distract myself.

But the minute I got on social media, the engagement pictures and announcement of a certain business tycoon filled my screen, and I spiraled back to square zero.