Chapter Nine

 

Gray’s declaration of love still echoed through her memory when Alaina walked into the office, five minutes late. For someone always fifteen minutes early for work, this was yet another momentous occasion.

“You’re late,” her father called from his office.

“Sorry,” she called back as she turned on the computer, called in and turned off the voice mail, and prepared for the day.

“Bring me my schedule for the week and Hep Anderson’s file.”

Alaina added several letters left over from Friday that needed his signature before she could mail them, and a pad to take notes onto the pile. Entering her father’s office, she slid the file he requested and his schedule in front of him then took her customary seat across the desk from her father. She carefully balanced the notepad and letters on her knees while wondering if she could cross her legs without exposing anything.

Then her father looked up from his desk as he reached for the phone. “What the hell are you wearing?” Her father slammed down the receiver and glared at her.

“A suit I got this weekend.”

“It’s too short. Take it back. And put on a proper shirt. I can see your underwear.” He ordered as he opened the file and began to flip through the papers inside

“No.” With Gray’s assurances echoing through her thoughts, she now had the courage to do what she should have done ten years before.

“Excuse me?” He looked up and scowled at her.

“This is perfectly acceptable office wear and I am not going to take it back.”

Her father glared at her for another moment then looked down at the paperwork before him before looking up again. “Get out of my office and don’t come back until you’re dressed appropriately.”

“Are you firing me?” She stood and placed the paperwork she held on the corner of his desk.

“If that’s what it takes. You are a member of…”

“Yes, I know, a member of one of the oldest, most respected families in New Bern, and as such am held to a higher standard. Guess what, Dad. I don’t care. I’ve worked here for the last dozen years because that’s what you wanted. I dressed the way I did because you wanted it. Well, Dad, I’m sorry, but I’m tired of trying to make you happy. Because no matter what I do it’s never good enough. From now on, I’m going to live to make me happy. Good bye, Dad.”

With that, she turned and walked out of his office. Retrieving her purse from her desk, she left the office where she had spent the last dozen years. Her heart pounded. though she was not sure whether it was with excitement or fear. She had done it. She had quit her job.

She climbed in her car and drove away without a backward glance. She made it home in one piece, though she had no recollection of the drive. After turning off the car, she sat. Then the shaking started. She had quit her job. Oh my God. What would she do now?

“Oh my God,” she whispered as her door opened.

“Alaina?” Gray knelt beside her and touched her face. His fingers felt so warm against her skin.

“Oh my God,” she repeated.

“What happened? You’ve only been gone twenty minutes. Are you all right?”

She blinked and turned to look into his eyes. Those silver eyes she loved. Those silver eyes that turned her on with a glance. “Gray, I love you.”

“I love you, too, baby.”

Alaina unhooked her seatbelt and climbed from the car, forcing Gray to straighten and take a step back. Looking up at him, she smiled. “My father hated the suit and told me to change back into my old clothes. I said no. He threatened to fire me…”

When she didn’t say anything further, Gray took one of her hands in his own and lifted it to brush a kiss over the back of it. “And?”

“I told him I liked my new suit, hated my job, and I quit. I quit my job. What am I going to do now?”

Gray smiled at the note of amazement in her voice. “Why don’t we go inside, take off our clothes, and talk about it? I’m sure together we can think of something.”

Alaina laughed at his comically overdone leer as she turned to the house. “That sounds like a very good idea. If nothing else, I can always go to work for one of the other agencies in town. I am, after all, a certified financial planner and licensed insurance agent.”

“No way,” Gray opened the front door for her then followed her inside, closing and locking it behind them. “From now on you’re only doing things you love.”

“Like loving you?”

“Yeah, like loving me.” He swept her up in his arms and carried her up the stairs to her bedroom, where they celebrated her newfound freedom.

 

The End