Page 20 of The Substitute
Surface-level. Short. Disinterested.
The calls with my dad are even less exciting.
My parents love me, but they’ve never been terribly interested in me, which is why it’s always been difficult for me to let anyone get close. Years ago, in college, I met a woman and dated her. Enjoyed the hell out of her. And finally opened up to her. And then she proceeded to tell my business to everyone who would listen, proving my judgement wrong. Trust isn’t something that comes naturally to me.
With an eye on the time, I gather everything I’ll need for this afternoon, shut down the laptop, and stow it in my briefcase before leaving my office and closing the door behind me.
When I glance over at Maya, I see she’s nibbling on some red licorice. She doesn’t look my way.
“I’ll be out for the rest of the day.”
“See ya,” she says without looking up. She slips the end of a piece of licorice between her teeth and sucks on it. I can see the tip of her tongue. It reminds me of having that mouth around my cock just yesterday, and I can’t stand it.
I stalk to the door, walk out, and let it slam behind me.
* * * *
It’s been a long week.
Court hasn’t been going the way I want it to. My caseload is heavier than it’s been in years.
And Maya won’t fucking talk to me.
It’s Friday, and she came waltzing in here wearing the sexiest damn power suit I’ve ever fucking seen. The tight, thin skirt should be up around her waist as I sink inside her.
Oh, yes, I’m still thinking about that. I fear I’ll never stop thinking about that.
But she’s also been nothing but helpful and productive this week. Efficient. Polite. Almost too polite because she hasn’t spared me so much as a glance, and I miss the playful side of Maya, and yet, I can’t help but respect her abilities as a damn good assistant.
And now I notice that her candy stash is dwindling since she frowns when she opens the bottom drawer of her desk and sees nothing there.
“I need these scanned and emailed,” I inform her as I pass her a small stack of documents. “ASAP, please.”
“Sure,” she says, not meeting my eyes.
Before I can say more, she clears her throat. “I’m going out to lunch today with my sister-in-law.”
“Enjoy,” I reply with a nod. “And, Maya?”
“Yes?” She looks my way but still doesn’t meet my eyes. I take a breath and shove my hands in my pockets. I don’t usually hand out compliments, but she deserves one.
“You’ve done a good job this week.”
She frowns, just a quick tightening between her eyebrows, and then nods once. “Just two more weeks, and you’ll be rid of me.”
“I don’t want—”
But before I can finish, the door opens, and a beautiful blonde about Maya’s age walks through with a big smile on her face.
“It’s lunchtime,” she announces.
“Already?” Maya checks her watch. “Wow, the morning flew by. Stella, this is Der—Mr. Langley. My boss. This is Stella.”
“Pleasure,” I say with a nod, shaking the woman’s hand.
Maya hasn’t addressed me by my first name all week, not since Monday, and it makes me want to punch something.
“Oh, no,” Stella says with a grin. “The pleasure’s all mine. My husband is Grayson Sterling.”