Deborah made herself another cup of coffee and stared at the bottle of brandy on her kitchen table. She’d bought the alcohol when her son left for college since she’d found that a nightcap soothed her in the empty house. The time was technically after high noon, so no one could claim she was boozing it, but it was still too early to drink.
“Alcohol isn’t going to solve your problems.” Her sister Sue walked into the kitchen and picked up the bottle. She tightened the cap back and studied the label before placing it back on top of the refrigerator. “I didn’t even know you had a bottle of Disaronno.”
Her one bottle of hard liquor. She glanced at the tiny bottle—the smallest one Disaronno came in—and noted the small amount of golden liquor gone. She had used so little, you could almost swear she had only now opened it.
“Why don’t you take a shower and we can go out to lunch?” Sue said, her voice too cheery for Deborah. “The sky is blue, and it’s a beautiful day.”
Was it Wednesday? Thursday? Deborah didn’t even know anymore.
Not that it mattered.
She slowly shuck her head and shuffled in her house shoes to the kitchen table where she plopped into a chair. She should try to get dressed today, she should get something to eat, she…she should have never let her sister in the door.
Running to her that first night was one thing, but Sue had called or come over every single day since. It was sweet of her to care, but it interfered with Deborah’s all-day crying plans.
“Deb, I’m concerned.” Sue scanned the room. “Sink full of dishes, your mail unopened on the table…” She now focused on Deborah and the sloppy atire she was in. “And you.” She took a seat next to her sister, her arm around her shoulder and her hand gently stroking her unkempt hair. “You’re a mess.”
A week had passed since Deborah had last seen Daniel, although he had called several times. Biting her lip, she kept her tears at bay. She didn't want to cry any more over something she never had. She certainly hadn’t expected Mr. Ellington to give up his carefree lifestyle to chase down a secretary.
An ex–secretary.
An unemployed, ex–secretary, who had not heard about the scholarship being renewed for her son. So an unemployed and penniless ex–secretary. A woman who missed her target objective since Daniel had still made it to the top of that damn list.
She was pathetic.
“I’m sorry that things with your boss didn’t work out.” Deborah’s phone buzzed from the kitchen counter where it was charging, the familiar ring tone signaling it was Daniel and not Josh—both of whom had called her several times.
“He keeps calling.” Sue retrieved the phone and brought it over. Looking at the display, she added, “Josh texted too. He wants to know if you’re all right.” She handed the phone to Deb, but she wouldn’t take it.
She didn’t want to talk to her son right now. What was she supposed to say? Get another job because I suck as a mother and lost your hard-earned scholarship? Maybe she could confront Daniel and have him make good on the their deal, even though she completely failed on her end.
Ugh! That would mean having to see him. She didn’t want to go back to that office. Definitely didn’t want to go back to his home. Other than officially turning her resignation in, she shouldn’t have to go through the humiliation.
Sue texted on Deborah’s phone. “I’m telling Josh you’re doing better. He’s wondering if he should change his spring break plans and come home so…”
“No.” Good Lord, she didn’t need him doing a marathon drive to Chicago during a busy drive-time like spring break. Every college kid was on the road, as well as families traveling across the country. Plus, Josh had been asked by a friend to vacation at a beach-front resort. He had been so excited, especially since the hotel was already paid for by his friend and all Josh had to expense was the gas money. He needed this vacation, especially after working so hard this semester. “Tell him I’m fine and not to come home.”
Sue texted and hit send. She then placed the phone back on the charge station and began cleaning the mail and paperwork off the table. “Perhaps a trip out there to see him would do you some good. The problem is that you’ve been cooped up in your house for days.”
No, the real problem was her and Daniel’s one–night stand which caused her to hide out. Why did she cave? She had remained strong for nearly two decades, and because of a silly diamond ring on her hand, she’d become a love–struck girl willing to spread her legs and sleep with her boss.
She was as weak as the heroines of her book series.
Billionaire bosses were married to their businesses and obsessed with the rush they felt with mergers and takeovers. The love of a good woman was only something they enjoyed for thirty minutes in bed before they kicked you out.
Which was exactly what had happened except she and Daniel had made love for hours, and, technically, she was the one who left their bed—and in such a rush. What could he possibly be thinking of her? They enjoy a passionate night together and then she goes all crazy?
Geez, he always said he did his best to avoid the psychos out there, and here she was—one of the crazies that came out of the woodwork. The man couldn’t have even seen this coming since she had kept her secret so well.
But, secrets or not, she hadn’t learned anything from the affair nearly twenty years ago. So, she was a slut and an idiot.
A cry escaped her throat, and she did her best to stifle it. Her night with Daniel meant so much more to her than just a tryst. She had sacrificed her professional life with him for a one–night stand that was no more than him satisfying an itch. He'd toss her aside and move on, just like his uncle had done.
Her cell phone chirped, and she ignored it once again. It was Daniel. What did he want? To tell her that he needed her for the merger? That the office was a mess without her? Would it just be business as usual, or would he want a quick fling on the couch in his office for a few weeks and then show her to the door?
She couldn’t even handle looking into his beautiful blue eyes any more. She would see that he got what he had wanted, and then those gorgeous eyes would gaze upon another woman—probably in her twenties—and Deborah would be asked to send herself a parting gift.
“That’s it.” Sue grouped all the dishes so they were at least all around the sink and waiting to be cleaned. She then tugged at Deborah’s arm. “We’re going out to lunch.”
Deborah shrugged her off. “Maybe tomorrow. I think I’ll go back to bed.”
Sue’s eyes narrowed, and one hand rested on her hip. “I’m not going to have you wither away like this. Go upstairs, shower, and get dressed.” When Deborah didn’t answer, Sue added, “Listen Didi. I’m sorry things didn’t work out between you and your boss. But you need to get your life back in order.”
The word boss echoed in her mind. He was now her ex-boss.
“I know. Things happen. It's just life.” Deborah had been saying that a lot to herself in an effort to believe it and move on. Deep down, she knew the expression wasn't working.
Still wearing her pajamas, she was slowly becoming the clichéd, unemployed bum, who let themselves go with no plan or hope for the future. Invites like having lunch with your sister were important. She just didn't want to eat today.
Wasn't that the epitome of being a couch potato?
Sue pointed to the stack of paperwork on the kitchen table she had just cleaned up. “You don’t have to go see the man, but you should mail in your resignation later and then go file for unemployment. We should go to the Workforce Commission and see the job postings.”
She really shouldn’t let another day slip by. Besides, now that she wasn't employed by Ellington–Weston, she wasn't receiving a paycheck, and Josh wouldn't be getting the next installment of his scholarship. She couldn't afford to be a lazy bum.
Picking up the resignation letter which rested atop the stack. She sealed the envelop and grabbed a pen. “I’ll mail it today.” Her heart ached. She wasn’t just leaving Daniel, she really did love her job. She never thought she’d walk away from it.
“That’s the spirit.” Sue said in a happy tone. “Go shower and get dressed. I’ll clean this kitchen and straighten the house.”
Deborah stood. Lunch, resignation, then find another job. Deborah had picked herself up once before. She could do it again.