Chapter 4: Off Limits Taylor's Pov
As soon as the door closed I had Chris's neatly pressed lapels clinched in my fist. "What the fuck was that Scarpa?"
"What? I was just trying to be friendly." Friendly? Yeah right, I knew what he was trying to do. Chris had a way with women. They all seemed to fall for his shit like he was some fuckin prince charming when actually he was just like the rest of us out for a quick screw. "You like this broad don't you?" He asked. I released his shirt and sat behind my desk.
"You're pushin' it Scarpa." I don't know what the fuck is going on with me. This was just Chris being Chris, it usually doesn't piss me off when he flirts with a girl I'm eying.
"It's cool if you do, I mean she's definitely fuckable." No arguments there.
Matty shook his head and took a cigarette from the pack on my desk. "Is that all you care about Scarpa?"
He nodded his head, "yes, me and every other straight guy on this planet."
"Whatever you say. So is somebody gonna' tell me what's goin' on here or am I gonna have to guess?" asked Matty.
"Well… remember when I was telling you about Taylor getting slapped." Matty nodded his head gesturing for Marbles to continue. "Well…"
"No way! That was her?" He looked at me for some type of confirmation to this story; I guess my silence was enough. "Damn, I can't believe I missed that."
"Yeah well she's lucky I don't hit women." My mother would have my head on a platter for Sunday dinner if I ever did.
"You sorta had it coming Taylor. You can't just walk up to a chick and shove your tongue down her throat." Said Chris.
"You did what?" Matty practically choked on the Newport.
"It was an impulse." I replied plainly.
"Well try to keep your impulse in your pants, I want this thing to work out with her and we all know how you are."
"Oh yeah, how am I?"
"Listen Taylor you're my best friend and I love you like a brother but have this thing where you run through women like it's nothing. At least Scarpa over here makes them feel special for a day or two before he tosses them out."
"I wouldn't do that to her Matty, she works here and besides, who said I wanted to do anything with her anyway?"
"I'm just sayin'."
"Well don't."
"Alright, Alright." Matty threw his hands up giving in. He looked exhausted between this job and his old man he was burnt out. He sat back in his chair and ran his hand over his face. "Did you guys catch the rest of-" His eyes shifted to the overstuffed binder on his desk. "Damn!"
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"I forgot to give Gia the books, now I gotta go take it to her." He replied.
I grabbed the books off his desk and went for the door before he could say anything. "I'll take it to her, you go home and get some sleep."
"Thanks Taylor" He stood and grabbed his jacket off the coat rack, "I'll see you fellas later."
Matty and I walked out of the office leaving Scarpa and Marbles to argue about some bet they made back in '95. Matty didn't waste any time, as soon as the door closed he vanished down hall leaving me standing there outside of the room across from ours.
Gia's Pov
I sat at my desk silently cursing Matty. I could really kick him right now. Why couldn't he just save all of his files on a flash drive like everyone else? Now I have to sort through all of these documents and transfer them properly to my laptop. It's a good thing I brought it with, I can at least get a jumpstart on this mess.
As my fingers started typing away I allowed my mind to wander, and strangely it wander in the direction of Taylor. He had the softest lips ever, just thinking about it made me want to taste him again. I know it's wrong and I shouldn't be thinking about him, but damn he just won't get out of my head. A girl can fantasize, it's not like I plan on acting it out or anything. He's my boss and most of all he's a cocky jerk. Now getting back to the situation at hand. I plugged in the payroll getting that out of the way first, now for the hard part, making the account books digital. I riffled through the pile of folders on my desk looking for the income statement, balance sheets and so on and so on, but couldn't find them. 'Maybe I dropped them.' I got up to check around the desk area, still nothing.
I stood there looking at the floor completely stumped; then a faint knock was at my door. "Come in."
The door opened slowly and to my surprise for the third time tonight I came in contact with Taylor Reese. "I'm not interrupting you am I?" He asked. His muscle mass blocked the majority of the door.
'Damn I love his voice.' "No I was just looking for something." Turning my back to him I searched through the stack once more.
"Is this it?" He moved closer to me handing over a black book.
A warm sensation came over me when our fingers touched in the exchange. I took the book from him totally relieved that I didn't misplace it. "Thank you! I thought I lost it."
"Matty forgot to give it to you." He said with a shrug of the shoulders.
"Well thanks." I gave him a small smile and for some reason started fidgeting with the book I was holding.
"No problem." He stood there over towering my five foot five frame and there was an uncomfortable silence.
"Is there anything else?" I asked.
"Do you have a second to talk?"
"You're the boss you tell me?"
There was another silent moment before he finally spoke. "…I want to apologize about earlier."
"You mean you attacking me? That's long forgotten." I said waving my hand in front of my face.
"Attack?" His eyes widened and eyebrows shot up. "I didn't attack you?"
"What the hell would you like to call it?" My arms folded across my chest as I stood there defiantly not backing down.
"I'd like to call it a kiss." He said with a lop sided grin.
"An unwanted kiss." I stated matter of factly.
He shrugged off my comment making a sound that I can only identify as a grunt. "Keep telling yourself that. Listen lady I said what I had to say."
"Lady? I do have a name Mr. Reese, it'd be nice if you would use it."
"I'm not nice…see ya around lady." Next I knew it he was gone before I could say anything else, I hate not getting the last word.
Later That Night
The rest of the night went considerably well. I noticed quite a few things about the guys. They attracted a lot of female attention, especially Chris. All them left with a girl on their arm. I couldn't help but notice the blonde attached to Taylor, not that I cared or anything. The DJ packed up his gear while the security cleared the remaining lingerers from the dance floor. The only ones left was Marcy, Carla, Marco and myself, everyone else went home. Marcy swept the floor; Carla wiped the bar down and cleaned the glasses while Marco flipped the chairs. I took down the register and counted the intake for the night.
Looking down at my watch I saw that it was a little after three-thirty a.m. "You guys can cut out, I'll finish up the rest." There was much left to do anyway.
"Are you sure? It's no problem this is what we get paid for." Marcy set the broom in the storage room and grabbed her jacket from behind the bar.
"Yes of course, go you worked hard tonight." I shooed them off with my hands.
"Thanks Gia! I plan on sleeping all day tomorrow, I am tired." She reached across the bar to pass Carla her purse.
"Tired? Try working here and taking care of a child." She said with an exhausted sigh.
"You have a kid?" I asked. I knew I was getting maternal vibes from her.
"Yes I do, a ten year old son." Carla's face beamed with joy showing me a photo of her little boy that she kept in her purse.
"He's a cutie." I smiled looking at the handsome kid in his baseball uniform.
Marcy walked over to Carla. "You ready to go?" She asked nudging the older woman.
"Yep, I'm ready." The two of them made their way to the front exit, "Goodnight! See ya tomorrow," they yelled walking out.
"I'll lock it up." Marco voice cut in from the corner of the room.
The sound of his voice caused me to jump; I didn't even notice he was still in here. "Hey big guy, when I said you can cut out that meant all of you too."
"I'll wait and walk you out." He picked up two overstuffed garbage bags and walked it towards the back.
I followed behind to hold the door for him. "You don't have to. Why don't you go home and get some sleep." I said as he hurled the bags in the dumpster.
I locked the door when he came back inside. "I wouldn't feel right leaving you here all by yourself, this is New York in case you've forgotten." He said while washing his hands.
"Listen, I didn't just get off the bus, I'm no stranger to city life."
"Good, then you should there's a lot of dangerous people out there." Marco sat down waiting for me to finish up.
"I can take of myself. I pity the fool that tries to mug me." I said doing my best Mr. T impression.
"I'm not gonna win this on am I."
I simply shook my head. "Nope."
"Just make sure you lock the door behind me and before you leave check the surveillance cameras to make sure there's no one hanging around outside." I don't know why he felt the need to handle me with kid gloves.
"Is that all?" I yelled out to him when he made it to the door
He stopped and turned around. "Yeah… oh and get home safely."
"You too big guy.'
"Night boss lady."
When Marco left I did like he said and locked the doors. I finished counting the money and made note of the in take for the night. After which I locked it away in the safe. Today had been a long a day but I wasn't the least bit tired. I love my hours, even though I don't work a traditional nine to five. I've been a nocturnal person most of my life. Something about the night sky speaks to me, maybe it's because you can see the stars more clearly than in the daylight.
After finishing the dishes and doing another thorough check of the premises I grabbed my jacket, purse and laptop bag to head home. Tonight I have a date with a pint of Ben & Jerry's and Columbo.
As soon as I stepped outside a cold gust of wind went up my legs. I pulled my jacket around me shivering. I rummaged through my purse for the set of master keys Matty gave me. It probably would have been a smart idea to get the keys out before I walked out of the club instead of searching for them alone on a cold dark street in Brooklyn. I could hear my mother now, 'Never have both your hands full when you're out at night because you can't protect yourself,' I hear you ma! Finally, at the bottom of my bag I found the keys. I turned the lock and pulled the door a couple of time to make sure it was secure. I got the strange feeling that someone's watching me. You know that feeling where the hairs on your neck start to stand up, well that's the way I feel. Without turning around to confirm my suspicions, I slowly eased my hand in my purse and grabbed my can of pepper spray. Just then a hand touched my shoulder.