But it was long enough, and he was going to put an end to it.
*****
Pushing the doors open, she started speaking without looking up from the documents she had in her hands. “We have a—” her voice petered off as she looked up to see the couple springing apart guiltily.
“Jacinth- “
“Get the hell out!”
“Jayne was just-
“She was leaving and never coming back.” Her dark brown eyes flashed as rage poured through every fiber of her being. “Is this your idea of us becoming public? Snuggling inside your office with your ex?”
“Look- “
“I was just having a conversation with- “
“Was I talking to you, bitch?” She rounded on the woman. “I am going to give you three seconds to get out of this office and out of the building, or I am not going to be responsible for what happens next.”
“Are you going to allow her to speak to me like that?”
“Your time is up.”
“Jayne, please go.” Reginald hustled her toward the doors and slammed them shut. Bracing his palms on the rich wood, he took several breaths before turning toward Jacinth.
“You had no right!”
“I had every right.” Moving toward his desk, she slammed the files down and walked towards the exit. “She was in your arms.”
“I was saying goodbye to her.”
“Oh, was that what you were doing? And saying goodbye meant holding her in your arms. “
“It meant comforting her. After all, I ended things with her when I met you.”
“Do you see how messed up this is? You saw Brian touching my arm, and you blew up and ordered me not to have anything to do with any of the males in this office, and I walked in here to see you with your ex.”
“It was purely innocent, and we were involved.”
“I am beginning to wonder if you still are.”
His eyes glittered ominously. “What the hell are you saying?”
“I have work to do. Let me pass.”
“Do you think I am still seeing her?” He grabbed her arm as she made to pass him.
“I don’t want to talk about it now.”
“You don’t trust me?”
“I don’t know you.” She knew she had said the wrong thing when the words were out of her mouth. He stepped back and strode over to his desk, letting go of her arm.
“Get out.”
Fighting down the anger and jealousy still raging inside her, she tried to apologize.
“I didn’t mean- “
“Get out, Jacinth. I don’t want to talk, and like you said, we have work to do.”
She stood there staring at him for a minute before leaving.
Lowering himself into the chair, he leaned his head back wearily. Dealing with her was like walking through a bloody minefield. And he feared that part of it was the frustration of keeping them a secret.
Jayne had called him in tears, insisting on seeing him. He had met her at a restaurant to tell her that it was officially over between them to avoid a scene. When she called his phone and insisted on seeing him, he figured he owed her that much. Forcing himself to concentrate on the job, he dragged the folders toward him and opened the one on the top.
*****
She knew he was avoiding her. She had transferred several calls to him, and he had responded in a calm and polite voice that told her firmly that he was still pissed. And she could not stand him being mad at her.
Rather than entering her office to make his exit, he had chosen to go in the other direction for his meetings. Now, it was almost wrapping up time, and he was still not back. He had not even called to let her know if he was coming back.
She jumped as the intercom sounded.
“William?”
“I need you here for a minute, Jacinth. I am afraid there has been a development in the airport deal, and I need to meet with the directors.”
“I will be right there.”
Pushing back her chair, she went to get the relevant information and went into his office.
“Any plans for this evening?” He asked as soon as she stepped into the office.
“I am not sure.” She walked over to place the folders on his desk.
Looking up from the desktop, he gave her a curious glance. “Is something wrong?”
“No. I-“ She shook her head. “It’s nothing.”
“Does it have anything to do with the fact that Jayne was here?”
She gave him a startled look that had him smiling. “I know everything that goes on here, my dear.”
“We had a fight.”
“You and my son?”