"Give me a call when you get out of your meeting. Knock em dead baby! I am so super proud of you! You will never believe what I already bought for you! Love you! –James" I smiled down at my phone and bit my bottom lip resisting the urge to pick up my office phone and call him already. But I literally had to go into a meeting that would map out the rest of my future in less than two minutes. I was a nervous wreck but seeing James text made me feel 1,000 times better. SO much better I stood up from my desk straightened my tie, brushed down the hair on my head and slipped my phone into my suit pant pocket. I grabbed my suitcase off the top of my desk and walked to my open door smiling at the back of Carlos's head as he typed rather quickly on his computer. I gently smacked the back of his head making him groan but not look away from the screen.
"Don't you have a meeting to go to?" I smiled and walked to the front of the counter leaning on it, looking down at his very clean and organized desk.
"I need to wait for Louis. Whatcha doin?" He sighed out and looked up at me stopping his typing. I laughed, more so my nerves could get out and he looked back to his computer. "I already discussed it with Kendall and he can't go because he has practice tomorrow, but you wanna go out and celebrate with me tonight? Get some drinks at a bar maybe?"
"Hell yeah. Sounds like fun. You and I haven't done a lot of hanging out together in a long time. It will be a blast buddy." I grinned and stood up straight seeing Louis's office door opening. Three men, all in business suites came walking out. Two had smiles on their faces, while the third was on his phone, looking stern. I cleared my throat and started to walk towards them slowly putting on my best serious, professional face. Louis then walked out, also smiling and walked right up to me clearing his throat softly.
"Gentlemen I'd like you to meet Logan Mitchell the smartest guy to walk through this office building." I blushed hard but extended my hand letting the two not on the phone shake my hand. "Logan this is Bradley Swanson and Jeffrey Newmark. They are the current foreign directors on the East Coast who are here to give you all your paperwork, a few solid tips and the keys to your apartment in New York." My mouth fell open as I was turned and pushed behind the two men by Louis.
"What did you just say? My own apartment? In New York? Louis…I live in L.A. My home is here…I can't…" He stopped us fast and smiled down at me shaking his head.
"Loges…this is a great opportunity. Take everything from it. When you're done with the meeting come see me in my office. We got to work on getting two new assistants. One for you and me." He patted my shoulder gently, while pushing me after the two men holding briefcases and talking quietly. I felt nausea and so nervous but I followed anyway, keeping my head held high. I glanced over my shoulder seeing Carlos now standing next to Louis, who were both smiling at me. Carlos gave me a goofy grin and two thumbs up while Louis only smiled and put his hands in front pockets of his pants. He had a very genuinely proud smile on his face. It made my confidence boost and my nerves sort of fade away. I turned back to the two men in front of me and followed with a slight smile on my face.
It's funny how easy and fast time goes by when you are honestly happy. When you feel like what you're doing in that current moment, is the best and nothing can break you down. I was actually surprised that two hours flew by and in those two hours I became a completely different person. It was actually amazing to me that, not just three weeks ago I was nervous about an assistant job, to now, where I am the Foreign director of one of the biggest financial companies on the west coast. It was literally life changing. Minus the fact that instead of working for 55,000 a year, I am now jumped up to 75,000. And to be completely honest, the best part for me, was that these two men, Jimmy and Frank talked to me like I was an equal. They didn't ask me to get them a cup of coffee. They didn't ask me where I bought my shoes. They treated me like a guy who knew what he was doing and they talked to me as if I already cured cancer or ended world hunger. They let me talk about my ideas and my concerns about the company. They let me talk for myself, not on anyone else's behalf. It was empowering. It was also causing a huge complication in my heart because while I turned down the apartment in New York, saying I might already have one, (both men really exciting I'm dating a sportscaster), James was constantly running through the back of my head. And while he went through my head, another thought crept inside. Independence. Getting this new job, with all these new perks made me feel like maybe I didn't need to be so focused on my fiancée taking a job in New York. And what scared me is that I've always been dependent on James. He's my big over protective teddy bear. And now that I felt like I didn't need him…I felt like a complete jackass. My guilt was getting the best of me.
I walked out of the meeting room thanking Jimmy and Frank one last time making sure they had my cell phone and home phone number. When I walked them to the escalator smiling still and waving, until the doors closed. I dropped my hand fast going directly to my pocket and grabbed my phone. I kept my head down as I unlocked my screen, and pulled up James's number. I walked right into my office, went right behind my desk sitting down hard. Just as I let my thumb hover over the call button for James something on my desk caught my attention. I looked up quick but stood up even faster letting my briefcase, and jacket crash to the floor. There was a bouquet of beautiful yellow lilies sitting perfectly in a back vase. The scent automatically filled my nostrils and my head spun. This had James written all over it.. One, he knew my favorite flower was a yellow lily. And two he knew I loved to have every think look ordered. So if I got flowers, or anything really, they had to match our kitchen flow as I called it. Either stainless steel, dark blue or black. So the black vase was a super dead give a way. I reached out quick for the note car attached to the flowers and opened it up, smile fading. They were too me, but from Louis. Not James. I frowned hating that I got worked up for an inevitable let down. James wasn't really romantic. He got by just fine by his looks but when he wanted to be, he could be the sweetest most irresistible romantic piece of ass on the plant. Today was not that day apparently.
I left my phone and my worries in my office as I carried the lilies out of my office and knocked on Louis's door softly. I heard his chair creak and not two seconds later his door pulled open. He smiled instantly seeing the flowers in my hand and I leaned against his door frame blushing. "You didn't have to get me flowers."
"Oh but I did. See…I've noticed your new office isn't all that bright. It's actually kind of boring. So I think you should have some color. Something fresh." He gave me a winning pearly white smile that made me laugh. It was a nervous laugh. That was weird. I only nervous laughed when I flirted. "You like them? I didn't really know what color, or what type to get, but I've seen you wear a lot of yellowish ties, and noticed that the air freshener you keep in your office is lilies so I guessed. How'd I do?" I glanced up at his face, smiling small before blushing again and nodding.
"Perfect. Lilies are my favorite." He nodded and chuckled clapping his and then rubbing them.
"Well I'm ordering pizza for Lunch today. Any favorite toppings?" He walked to his desk and I followed still holding the vase.
"I'm a cheese kind of guy…uhm Louis…who was that other guy here? I mean…the one who was on the phone?" He picked up his office phone and chuckled.
"My business partner. We started the company together. He handles all of the nitty gritty detail work of this joint, while I'm more concerned with customer satisfaction." I nodded slowly and sighed sticking my nose into the lilies inhaling deeply. I looked up, very aware I was being watched and blushed turning out of the room. "After lunch we'll put out an ad for two assistants. I want yours to be fluent in at least two of the languages you are, so let's keep that in mind." I only nodded giving him a thumbs up and walked out of his office. Back to mine. I stopped in the door way however seeing Kendall sitting on my couch in my office.
"He let himself in! Barely gave me a kiss." I smirked hearing Carlos's voice and walked to my desk. "Just so you know…" I turned hearing Carlos closer and set down my flowers. "He doesn't like the idea of the tow of us tearing this town apart tonight but he hasn't won the argument. Stay strong Loges." I couldn't help the smile widen as he turned grabbing the door knob and pulling the door closed, tight. I sat down behind my desk and glared at Kendall as he stood up and walked towards me.
"I don't need to hear that I don't know how to take care of myself. I don't need to hear a bullshit speech that I need to watch how much I'm drinking, so spare your breath."
"Actually…" He walked all the way behind my desk and sat on the edge, right next to me. He reached into the front pocket of his black leather jacket and pulled it out quickly raising a pill bottle. I stood up, curiosity peaked and took it from him. I scanned over the label seeing his name and the name of a certain drug, I didn't know. "This bottle had a 60 day supply, with 12 days already taken. These pills keep my heart rate down and my blood pressure under control. This bottle is now empty." I looked up quick and saw how…scared he looked. "I cannot even begin to explain to you why it's empty. I know I didn't empty it. I know I didn't take all the pills. And I sure as hell know I'm not crazy and I have been following the directions right." He took the bottle back form me and shoved it back in his jacket pocket. "I already talked to my doctor who said I could get a refill but sounded worried, like maybe he thought I was ODing on them or something which seems stupid to me…but I'm, myself, am worried. If it wasn't me who emptied this bottle, and no one else knows about this bottle except Carlos…" He stopped and we locked eyes if only for a second before he looked down, closing his eyes. "Who did empty it?"
"You cannot stand here and tell me you think Carlos had something to do with this." For some reason, I was whispering. That made Kendall look up and blink at me, giving me a glossy look. It was that look, a mix of sadness, fear and pain that made me feel bad. "Do you want me to talk to him tonight?"
"If I did he'd yell at me and it would cause another fight." I frowned crossing my arms over my chest and he chuckled. "He's not happy with em still Loges. About everything that's happened with Louis and whatnot. So I'm in the dog house. I thought I had a break through when we banged on your living room floor but he's still pissed and half the reason is because he wants me to quit hockey because of my heart condition. It worries him I guess. So if you could…yeah talk to him for me." I could only nod feeling a heavy rain cloud encompass my heart. "And James really knows how to sweep you off your feet. Flowers and shit…fucking suck up." Kendall pushed off my desk and turned to the door. "I'll come by after Carlos gets home, to pick you up to drive you guys to the bar." He grabbed the door knob and pulled it open walking out into the main office. I followed quick wanting to tell him James didn't send the flowers but stopped fast, seeing Kendall bend over pulling Carlos's face away from his computer screen to kiss him. Carlos melted instantly but it was short lived. Kendall let him go and walked to the elevators fast. Carlos looked back at me, a little out of breath, a smile on his face. How in the world was I going to talk to him about this?
Questioning my best friend on whether he was purposely taking his boyfriends heart pills wasn't going to be easy. It made me less focused the rest of the day and almost made me make a call to James. I was supposed to call James because he asked, but I didn't want to bring up that my boss got me flowers after getting a great job and he didn' I decided to not even go down that road. But as the day progressed, I became more worried about how to deal with the situation. I know just as well as anyone that Carlos gets a little loosened up when he drinks so maybe I just had to put a few shots in front of him to get him to talk. Maybe his guilt, much like mine I was feeling earlier would get the best of him and he'd tell em everything, if there was anythgin to tell. My drive hoem was even worse, seeing how close the tiem was getting to when iwould hav eto confront Carlos. And just as my luck would have it, as soon as I pulled into the driveway of our house, James called. I regreatfulyl answered it as I got out and wlaked to the front door. "Hello?"
"Hey babe." Hey babe? That's all he's got for me? "How was your day?"
"Fine." I struggled with the lock for a minute before pushing it open and walking in, slamming the door hard making Romeo bark and jump off the couch charging towards me.
"Are you alright?" I closed my eyes letting my briefcase drop to the floor hard and pinched the bridge of my nose feeling a headache already forming.
"I'm fine James. Just trying to get ready to go out."
"Out?"
"Yes out, as in Carlos and I are going to grab some dinner and go drink at a bar. Is that alright with you?" There was a very shocked silence on the other end making me feel bad, but not enough to not walk to the stairs and start undoing my tie. Before he could get a word in, a lot of words I only said out of anger, came pouring out. "How is it New York? Fabulous and amazing with your amazing apartment and new life? Do people you barely know give you flowers, your favorite flowers in your favorite color, just because their proud of you? Have you met a rich good looking guy I need to be worried about getting in your pants because your just a pretty face?" I threw my tie, now a ball of fabric to the floor of my bedroom making Romeo chase after it and start chewing on it. I kicked off my shoes towards the closet and swallowed hard. "I'll call you later. I need to get dressed."
"Logan what the hell is wrong? What the hell did I do?! Did you not like my flowers?!"
"Goodnight James!" I hung up fast throwing the phone on the bed and wiped my face under my eyes walking to my closet. I found tonight to be the most perfect night to get wasted with my best friend, given my current life problems.
Kendall and Carlos came to pick me up about 15 minutes after I talked to James. In that time, he called me 50 more times leaving a voicemail every time. It was so ridiculous, when I walked out the front door locking it, making sure Kendall had Romeo's food and favorite blanket because he was dog sitting, I didn't even care my phone wasn't in my pocket. The drive was quiet, with me in the back seat trying to calm down Romeo, who was really excited to be in the car. I think Kendall and Carlos could tell I was pissed but o one said anything. I hated seeing their hands laced together resting on Kendall's leg and hated even more to see Kendall kiss Carlos as he stopped on the side of the road by the gay bar we were going to. I chose the bar for a couple reasons I wasn't proud about. I literally had to pull Carlos away from the car just to stop the gross make out fest. We walked inside, arms linked and made our way to the bar in a hurry. As soon as I got up to it I order a shot of tequila and a red bull and vodka, getting nothing for Carlos. "Okay…I thought we were going to get some food first, and you want to talk about why James called us asking why you were pissed?" I sat on the stool and shook my head breathing out hard.
"No. Not tonight Carlos. Tonight I want to get wasted with my best friend and make horrible decisions." I saw his mouth fall open as the bartender set the shot of tequila and cup of the bitter vodka and energy drink.
"What do you mean? Are you planning on cheating on James? Logan just talk to me…maybe I can help!" He grabbed my arm but I picked up my shot glass and downed it all squeezing my eyes shut hard. I turned going down and made me grab my cup of red bull. I chased it fast drinking all of it down and slapped the red cup on the bar top. "Logan seriously, you are worrying me."
"Yeah like your one to talk. Taking Kendall's heart medicine. Really fucking shitty asshole." I slid off my stool and saw down the bar a really good looking guy…beach blade hair, killer blue eyes and tan delicious skin staring at us, smiling small. I smiled back and walked around Carlos's still but didn't get a step farther. His hand was on my arm and he got in front of me looking confused.
"I didn't take his medicine. Why the hell would I do that?!"
"You tell me…now let me go, or come have a good time with me." I gently pushed him to the side and walked down the length of the bar bumping into some guys along the way. I stopped in front of Blondie and gave my best flirty smile. "Hey…you wanna dance?"
"Sure." He got off the stool and slipped an arm around my waste walking me to the small, already dance floor. I glanced over my shoulder, spotting Carlos and groaned on the inside seeing him on his phone. I clearly saw him mouth Kendall's name and started to hate him. But I was turned away fast and forced to face the guy now gripping onto my hips. He was gorgeous, no doubt about that, but as he started to bounce us to the music, it hit me like a ton of bricks. He wasn't James and I was an idiot. But the tequila and that Vodka was doing a great job, already (because I'm a lightweight) and I could have cared less who was holding me and grinding his body onto mine.
So…hey. How you liking this story? Review if you please. It's going to just get juicier every chapter so buckle up. I had an idea thrown into my face by ,y spirit animal, DeniseDEMD when she reviewed saying is something gonna happen between Logan and Mr. Packing? I don't know how you do it, but you are my inspiration. You gave me such an evil plan, I kind of feel bad for writing and thinking about it. SO again…buckle up.