Page 5 of Effing Eli
“I don’t know if he’s going, but I’ll find out. Just try to relax. It’ll be okay.” She kissed my head and went to the door. “Call me if you need anything. I need to get back to my desk.” Davina closed the door behind her.
It wouldn’t be okay. How could it with Eli on the same coast as me? In the building every day. On the same floor as me.
After finalizing our divorce, I’d fled Manhattan and moved to the West Coast. I’d left our apartment intact, only taking my personal effects with me. The day I drove out of the city, the apartment keys were delivered to Eli at work via messenger. I’d also changed my phone number so he wouldn’t be able to contact me. Because I knew he’d try to.
Davina had graciously welcomed me into her apartment, helped me get a job here at SJI, and became my anchor during the last three painful years. I wouldn’t have made it without her.
What does Eli want?
You know exactly what he wants, or more like who he wants.A shiver zipped down my spine. The last words he had said to me roared back like a freight train. “This isn’t over. We will never be over.”
Was Eli here for me?
2
Eli
MY EYES FLITTED around the elegant yet modern corner office with a spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean. To be the VP of a company like St. James Investments was my dream. “I really appreciate you giving me the position, Will. I know our grandfathers go way back. You won’t regret hiring me.” Luck had been on my side when Autumn was hired at SJI. There hadn’t been an opening for me right away when I’d contacted Will. He’d said, “Give it time. The social media marketing director’s position would be opening up in a year or so.”
There had been some delay, and it had taken longer than I’d hoped. But I was here now. That was all that mattered to me.
He smiled, lifting his coffee cup to his lips. “My secretary shot you a nasty look when she showed you in. Know anything about that?” He arched a suspicious brow.
I’d only met William St. James III a few times over the years. We weren’t close but close enough to feel comfortable asking him for a job. I hadn’t told him Autumn’s cousin Davina worked at SJI. Or that Autumn was my ex-wife.
For the last three years, I had been biding my time working my ass off before I moved in on Autumn. I’d kept close tabs on her. Making sure she hadn’t gotten serious with anyone. I was willing to bet she hadn’t had sex with any of the guys she dated either. Oh, it pissed me off when my PI sent a photo of her with some dickhead in a suit. But I didn’t go all Tarzan and claim my woman, though I wanted to many times. Being patient wasn’t an easy thing for me. Knowing some dude had his hands on my girl gave me great anxiety. Still, I held my shit together until I was ready to reclaim my Boo.
“She’s my ex-wife’s cousin,” I told him honestly—no sense in hiding it anymore. Will would have found out as word spread around the building. Better he heard it from me. “What’s your policy for interoffice relationships?”
He set his coffee down and scratched his jaw. “Looking to start something with my secretary? I don’t think that would go over well, I mean with your ex working here too.”
I snorted. “Davina? Never. I want my wife back.”
Will leaned forward, putting his elbows on his knees. “I’m intrigued. Continue.”
“Autumn Lucas is my ex-wife. We’ve been divorced three years today, actually. I’ll be straight with you, Will. I wanted the director’s position solely to get Autumn back.”
His dark eyebrows shot up. “Well, I’ll be fucked. Autumn had applied for the position. My grandfather insisted you get the job, so she was passed over. According to Davina, Autumn was quite disappointed. I’m willing to bet she’ll be furious when she finds out you’re her new boss.”
“Oh, I guarantee she’ll be mad as hell. But you see, Will, Autumn doesn’t really want to work. We divorced because she wanted to start a family, I wasn’t ready, but now I am.”
“Have you seen her yet?”
“First thing this morning. I’ve been too busy with meetings to drop in on her since. Let me assure you, I take my work seriously. My intentions with Autumn won’t affect my job.”
“That’s good to hear. We don’t have strict rules at SJI. Just try to keep it outside of the glass walls of the building.” He shook his head and laughed. “The lengths you went to get close to her—you’re a determined son of a bitch, aren’t you?”
“She’s the love of my life. I fucked up, but she’s mine. I’ll do whatever it takes to get her back.”
“I understand completely.” He looked at the photo beside his chair. “My wife and daughter are my world. I almost lost them not long ago.” Will stared at the picture. I’d heard some crazy shit had happened with Will’s friend kidnapping Miranda a year and a half ago. My grandfather had told me the sordid story about a breach within SJI and swore me to secrecy. Miranda had been pregnant at the time too. I would lose my mind if anything ever happened to Autumn.
“I’m glad they’re both all right.”
Will exhaled a heavy breath. “I’d never been so scared in my life. I wish you the best getting Autumn back.” He stood from his chair and I followed suit. “I have some meetings to attend. I presume you know about the party this weekend.”
“I do.”
“It may get a bit wild.”