Authors: Alicia Roberts

Considerations (6 page)

"You're so soft," he murmured, "You need to be with someone who'll really take
good
care of you."

His hand travelled down, and I tried to lean backwards. He smiled as his hand found my butt, and he squeeze
d
me gently, leaning forward and kissing me, his teeth
grazing
my lower lip. I felt the shivers along my spine
even as I considered
whether I should slap him or kick him in the groin, when I heard Brad's voice.

"I think I'll take it from here."

Green Eyes released me and turned to Brad. "Sure thing, you can borrow her for now," he said as he walked away,
smirking
at me.

I couldn't meet Brad's eyes as he took me in his arms and we started to dance slowly.

"I…"

He cut me off, pressing the back of his fingers against my lips.

"I told you to be careful of the vultures."

"I need to sit down," I said, as I realized I was trembling. Was Green Eyes right, should I make a move and leave Brad now for a chance at something real? But as my eyes skimmed over the couples here, I doubted that any of them had anything "real".

We were outside now, and Brad was helping me into the limo.

"They're a necessary evil," he said, once we were seated. I
breathed in deeply
and wondered how much of them I could stand. Maybe my resistance would go up with time?

"It was a fun weekend
.
" I tried to thank Brad, but I couldn't get much further.

"I'm sure you'll enjoy work tomorrow."

I gulped, thinking of my bosses. There didn't seem to be much to say, and we sat silently till the limo arrived at my apartment.

"This is yours," he said, handing me a duffel bag. "And let me know what you think."

"What if I say no?"

I saw the cloud flicker briefly over his eyes. "You know I
'll
have to marry someone else. I don't have a choice."

I nodded. There was a chance he'd divorce her after a year, and maybe I'd see him again, but that
was
about as likely as a comet hitting the earth tomorrow.

I slid out of the limo and walked up to my apartment, switching on the lights.

My place seemed small, dirty and cheap, and I collapsed in a heap on the bed, no longer bothering to hold back my tears.

Chapter
Six

W
ork
w
as the same as ever.
I answered calls and ran errands, thankful that my role didn't involve any actual thinking. I felt Lisa's cold stare, and in response to her questions I mumbled that my cold was much better, thank you.

During the lunch break I went downstairs and at
e
my sandwich, sitting on a
cold
bench. I could see my life stretch out ahead of me, bleak and uninteresting. I wasn't going to be able to afford college in this economy, and I'd just hop from one boring job to another. Maybe I'd meet someone, maybe not. I certainly wouldn't meet anyone like Brad again. My stomach flipped as I remembered
our time in
Paris
, walking along the
Seine
, and the moments we'd spent together in the hotel room.

Forget it, I told myself
sternly
.
Brad
obviously
doesn't feel the same way about you.

But so what, I thought? It was time to
get
practical and face the real world. I'd been running from my fears for long enough. This was my one chance, something like this might not come along
ever
again. Brad might be nice, but I should see this for what it was - an awesome career opportunity.

Just stop drooling over him and be realistic, I told myself,
as
I texted Brad:
"
I'm in. When's the wedding?
"