A few minutes later, a return message arrived.
I think you’re going to hit that and forget all about that stupid ass Holden!
Chapter Eight
For the past three days, Holden had worked late every evening because he hadn’t felt like going home. With the work-week winding down, he perused some of the documents from the business affairs office to familiarize himself with some other aspects of the company. None of the information would qualify as light reading, but at least his mind was occupied with something other than a certain redheaded artist.
As his eyes glazed over, he sighed while he checked his email and noticed early that morning, Mary Allison had sent him a status report without him even asking. What the hell? Normally she seemed offended when he questioned her progress and getting a response from her via email or phone was about as likely as Ian inviting him over for Sunday dinner. Her message was cold and clear, professionally implying, here’s what you need to know so fuck off. Knowing how much she despised him felt like a punch to the gut. His stomach growling, he felt lightheaded.
He frowned and pulled up her Instagram account before opening a package of crackers he’d squirreled away in his desk. Mary Allison owed him some revisions, but after seeing the picture she’d posted online, the odds of him receiving them that afternoon seemed unlikely. He leaned back in his chair, looked up at the ceiling, and sighed. What am I doing lurking aroundand peeping at her Facebook and Instagram posts? Such a fucking wanker I’ve become… Confronted with picture after picture of her with that jackass, Donnie Mac, he gritted his teeth. In her last post, the happy couple was all dressed up to go out on the town.
His thoughts returned to the day he spent watching television with him. Why’d she call me over? And why did she want to sleep with me if she was already into another guy? Based on everything he knew about Mary Allison, particularly the fate of the unfaithful in her comics, he never would have suspected she was the type to cheat. He leaned his head against the back of his chair and stared at the ceiling before spinning in his office chair. As he stopped himself, he blew out a puff of air. That blond asshole had probably pissed her off that day—maybe I was a little revenge or someone to motivate him to show her more attention…I was justconvenient.
The sound of a pint-sized tornado whirling into his department stole Holden’s interest away from his computer screen seconds before Mark plow through the door. Shaking his head with disdain, Holden wondered how he managed to be in charge of all the artists who seemed unwilling to fax or email drafts to him.
“Bunch’a nutters,” he mumbled before Mark smacked a large envelope down on his desk. Holden chuckled as Mark leaned forward, bending his knees and propping his hands above them while he huffed and puffed. “Dude, did you run up the stairs?”
“You…know…I…can’t…stand…elevators.” Mark’s face was beet red.
“Sorry, Mark, why didn’t you call? I would have met you out front.”
“Climbing stairs is good for the heart!” Having finally caught his breath, the artist shot Holden a grin. He rounded the desk and looked at the picture on his screen. “What are you looking at?”
“Nothing! You stay back, you nosy little Keebler elf!” Holden tried to cover the screen with one hand while attempting to minimize the page with the other. Having Mark Melton laugh at him had to be a low point in his life.
Before he could put the artist in his place, a woman’s voice distracted him. “Hello? Mr. Carter?”
“Here,” he answered as he stood.
A young, brunette woman holding a folder stepped into the room. He recognized her as twenty-three-year-old Carla Jimenez, a talented part-time illustrator, and Mary Allison’s occasional assistant.
“My boss lady wanted me to give these to you.” She held up an envelope.
“Whoa, Marley’s a hottie!” Mark pointed to the picture Holden had been trying to conceal.
“Who asked you?” Holden tried to cover the screen of his desktop with his palm while nudging Mark away with his other arm.
“Pardon?” Carla asked.
“Oh no, not you…him, definitely him!” Holden smacked at Mark with an envelope.
“Why are you mad? I’m just saying your lady is hot.” Mark’s tone of voice annoyed Holden.
Holden furrowed his brow. “Well, if you look closely, it’s clear she isn’t my lady.” He reached out to accept the packet of revisions from Carla.
“Huh? You two were so into each other that day at my house.” Mark scratched his head.
“It just looked that way. She wasn’t really interested. She likes this guy.” Holden flicked his hand toward the computer screen.
Mark lifted an eyebrow and shrugged. “So, I’m not a lady’s man by any means, but you can’t give up without a fight.”
Holden crossed his arms over his chest. “Mind your own business, tosser. In fact, come back and talk to me in a year that you’ve managed to get laid by the same person twice.”
“Hey! I’ve gotten laid… Well okay. You got me on the repeat but that’s beside the point! This isn’t about me. Mary Allison loves cosplay, can kick ass at Assassin’s Creed, and has a hot body. She can even speak Klingon! If you just lay down for this other guy, you’re the tosser!”
“She won’t talk to me. I guess she’s happy with fucking Donnie Mac.” Holden placed his palm on the back of his neck.
Carla burst out laughing and continued to laugh without regard to the signs of confusion the two men were exhibiting. Holden looked over to Mark but he was no help at all. “What
