Conklin's Blueprints (38 page)

“Baby, what’s wrong?” he asked with concern.  I pushed away from him, causing his jaw to drop with confusion.

“Don’t touch me,” I choked, more tears escaping my eyes.

“Becca, what’s-”

“I’m done Tyler.  Why don’t you go find someone else to fuck that you don’t have to buy dinner for,” I sobbed.  I tried to sound angry and furious but only pain and sorrow escaped my mouth.

Tyler’s eyes went wide as he sucked in air.  “Becca, baby I didn’t-”

“Just STOP!”  I practically screamed at him.  “Fuck you for using me, you arrogant asshole!”

He was stunned against the opposite side of the elevator.  I had never raised my voice to him, and I had never cursed at him.  I had never shown any anger at this level towards him; I don’t think I have ever showed anyone half as much anger.  The elevator dinged at the basement floor before he could say anything else.

I darted out of the elevator feeling hurt and betrayed by the man I was determined to invest time in.  I had hoped to spend the rest of my life with him.

And he didn’t follow me.

Chapter 22

I went home and sobbed for hours.  I sobbed on my bed, I sobbed in the shower, I sobbed on the couch.  Nothing had ever hurt so badly.  Even walking in on my best friend screwing my boyfriend didn’t compare to this, and it was all because of the connection we made last night.  I loved Tyler Conklin, but he didn’t love me.  If you loved someone you wouldn’t be able to say those things about them, whether you meant it or not.

I left my phone in Jamie’s car, knowing Tyler would try and call and smooth things over just like he had after lying to his brother about walking on the pier, and how he lied about having a meeting just so he wouldn’t have to be seen with me at the office.  The problem was I would forgive him, and we would remain a secret, and I wasn’t okay with that.

By 6:00pm I managed to stop my tears long enough to get in the car and go pick Jamie up from the airport.  I needed her more than anything right now.  Once I got in Jamie’s car I glanced at my phone.  Sure enough, I had numerous calls and text messages from Tyler.  I deleted the texts without looking at them and shut off my phone.

I greeted Jamie in the pick-up lane at the airport, and she instantly knew something was wrong.  I just shook my head at her, and she understood.  She would give me silence until we reached the condo.

Once we were inside Jamie wrapped her arms around me and squeezed, and I broke down again.  I cried for damn near an hour with her until I could finally manage to speak about what had happened.

“He said that?  Why would he say that?  Why wouldn’t he just drop it?”

I just shrugged my shoulders while wiping my nose.

Jamie brought me to my bedroom and laid down next to me.  “I think I will die alone.  Maybe I should get a few cats.”

Jamie laughed, “No, you won’t die alone.  You will always have me.”

I hugged her tighter.  “Thanks Jay Rae, I don’t know what I would do without you.”

“Ditto, Becca.”

~

I called in sick the next day, telling Will my “reaction to the new makeup” was still bad and needed another day of Benadryl.  He understood and gave me well wishes.  I kept my phone off and in the kitchen.  I didn’t want to talk to anyone, and I didn’t want to succumb to Tyler’s constant calls.

A week went by and I managed to dodge Tyler at work.  Every day he left a single rose somewhere around my office space to remind me of him.  Every time I found one, I would throw it away and refuse to look at the note that was attached to it.  I didn’t need to cave and crawl back to him.  I was done being his dirty little secret.

I met my mother for lunch and somehow was able to avoid the topic of Tyler, until she started to talk about my father’s annual Christmas party for all of his business associates.

“Becca, we should start shopping for a dress for the Christmas ball this year.  Your father has reserved the museum.  It is going to be beautiful.”

I shrugged my shoulders.  I didn’t have anyone to go with, and I wasn’t at all in the mood for a party.  “I’m not sure if I am going to be able to go.”

“What are you talking about?  Your father ran into Tyler the other day and said he was excited for it and that he wanted to take you instead of riding with us in the limo like we normally do.”

He said what?

I just politely smiled at my mother while my insides were reeling.  How could he tell my dad that? I had been avoiding him and refusing his calls.  For the first time in a week I wasn’t sad about Tyler, but I was downright mad.  Furious even.  I was going to approach him the second I got to work.  I didn’t know if he was in the office, but I sure as hell was going to check, and I was going to give him a piece of my mind.

“We should go dress shopping, both you and Jamie.  It would be fun.”

Dress shopping with my mother was never fun.  Hearing her tell me it was okay that I didn’t wear a dress size as small as her and that I couldn’t wear certain styles because they didn’t fit my body structure made my ears bleed.  I didn’t need to feel any shittier about myself than I already did.

“Yeah, we will see,” I said, feeling full and pushing my plate away from me.

~

Roger dropped me off at the Conklin building, and I waved goodbye to my mother.  I marched into the building and stopped at the restroom. I straightened my black shift dress and white belt and un-did my pony tail, running my hands through my hair trying to make it sexy.  I touched up my eyes and even put on the red lipstick I still hadn’t given back to Jamie and puckered my lips into the mirror.

I headed to the elevator with my head held high and went to the top floor.  I crossed my arms and tapped my foot, trying to focus all of my rage on Tyler.  He was bringing feelings out of me that I had never let out and normally would bottle up inside because I didn’t want to hurt anyone else’s feelings.  But I didn’t care with him.  He had drawn the line with insinuating we were together to my father.

I stomped to Tyler’s office, completely ignoring Cooper who was on the phone.  I pushed the door open and found Tyler sitting and staring at his computer.

“I need to talk to you,” I said with confidence, slamming the door behind me.  I straightened my shoulders and crossed my arms as I stood in front of his desk.

Tyler quickly rose from his chair and started to walk over to me.  He looked so damper in his gray pinstripe dress pants and light blue dress shirt.  I had to look towards the ceiling so I wouldn’t be distracted by his handsomeness.  The look on his face held both fear and hope as he approached me.  “Of course, but Becca can I just tell you that I am so-”

“I said,
I
needed to talk to you,” I raised my voice, causing him to stop dead in his tracks before he reached me.  He put his hands in his pockets and closed his mouth.  His chest rose as he took a deep breath through his nose as though he knew what was coming.

“Why did you ask my father if I could ride with you to his Christmas party?” I said narrowing my eyes.

Tyler bit his lip and looked nervous.

“Because I am not going anywhere with you, and I would appreciate it if you didn’t talk to my family about me and quit leaving me stupid roses everywhere!”

Tyler took a step closer to me, and it took everything in me to keep my hard exterior.  “I was going to ask you, but you haven’t answered your phone.  I have been bending over backwards to try and talk to you.  What exactly did RJ tell you anyway?”

I laughed once then frowned.  “RJ didn’t tell me anything.  I overheard you.”

Tyler’s shoulders dropped as he put his hands on his face.  He looked unbelievably sad, and his eyes gave away that he hadn’t been sleeping.

Serves him right.

“I didn’t mean it.  I just wanted RJ to stay the hell away from you!”  he exasperated, taking another step closer to me.  He was so close that I could smell his cologne.  My face fell.  I hated that I was showing this much animosity towards him.  He moved even closer to me, bravely lifting his hand to brush my cheek.  I tilted my head into his hand instinctively, letting my emotions get the best of me.

“I’m so sorry,” he whispered, bringing his face so it was just inches from mine.

I wanted more than anything to kiss him and tell him I believed him, but he had gone too far this time.  There was only one way I would forgive him.

“Tell your dad,” I whispered back, closing my eyes.

His nose was touching mine now, and our lips were going to meet any moment.  “Tell him what?”

I pulled my head back and looked at him.  His eyes were soft and affectionate, as though he thought he had won me over again.  The fire burned in my eyes as I looked at him, causing his face to fill with apprehension.

“Becca, I can’t.”

“Then I’m done.  You can’t give me what I want.  Goodbye Tyler.”  I started to walk towards his door, holding back tears.  If we weren’t going to be out in the open, then I wasn’t going to get the future I wanted so badly. 

I noticed a set of blueprints on a side table that had the name Prince on a sticky note as I turned to leave.  I took a sharp breath in and rapidly flung my body around, practically crashing into Tyler because he was following me.  The sudden impact startled me as his arms wrapped around my waist so I wouldn’t fall.  We were face to face.

“Becca, please!  We can work this out… I’m falling,” he sighed, “I need you.”  He pleaded in desperation, his breath smoothly touching my face.  My heart contracted so hard with his confession.  

Remembering what I had turned around so abruptly for, I reached over to grab the rolled up blue print, struggling because Tyler had his hands wrapped around my waist pulling my hips so they were touching his.  Trying to not get caught up in our closeness, I boldly asked.  “What are these?”

Tyler bit his lip uncomfortably and shifted his hands so they were gripping my waist.  His eyes were letting off a hint of fear as he let out a breath of air before he spoke.

“Ashlynn couldn’t get a hold of you about the prints, so she called my office and I told her that you had a lot on your plate and that I was going to finish them.”

I shoved his chest and threw the prints at him.

“Yeah, I bet you finished them for her!” I sneered at him.  Tears were no longer threatening, but anger and frustration rose in my chest. 

“Becca, I was just trying to help.  Ashlynn walks all over you and makes you feel like crap.  I didn’t want you to have to deal with her anymore.”  His tone was low as he took a step closer to me.

“The only person making me feel like crap right now is you!”  I said, shoving his chest again, voiding him to come any closer to me.

“I never should have said those lies about you to RJ, I’m sorry!” His eyes were pleading as he searched my entire body, trying to penetrate the energy of fury that I was radiating off my skin.

“So did you meet with Connor and Ashlynn?  Or did Ashlynn grace you with just her presence?”  I seethed.

Tyler tilted his head at me, his scowl forming out of discomfort.  “Becca, we just went over the blueprints.  It was nothing else.”

He avoided my question, and it took everything in me not to lash out at him.  He had probably met with her more than once, and she probably dazzled him with her good looks and flirtatious, perky body.  I could just picture her pawing at his arm as he pointed towards the blueprints.  The thought made my stomach churn.

His eyes shot up with realization.  “Becca, I would never touch her!  I can’t stand her!  You are the only one I want!” he exasperated while reaching for me.  I swatted his hands away and took another step back so my hand was on the door knob.

“Leave me alone.  I’m done being toyed with,” I said through gritted teeth, while turning the knob from behind.  I glared at him as I walked backwards through the doorframe and whipped my hair as I turned to walk away.  Just as I dramatically turned, I ran into another hard body.

“Whoa… are you okay?”  RJ said with his sly grin, grasping both of my biceps.

I stood up straight and pulled away from him.  “I’m fine.  I was just leaving,” I said more sternly than I meant to.

“Becca, I have been meaning to ask you if you wanted to grab dinner.  Let’s say, Friday?” he said with his big blue eyes and salacious grin.  It felt more like he was looking at Tyler than at me as he asked.  Steam must have been coming from my ears.  The Conklin men were really starting to piss me off.

I glanced over at Tyler who looked pale and pleading.

“I think if you want to meet with me about work, it should be during office hours,” I simply said as I stepped past him and hurried to the stairwell.

Chapter 23

“Becca, it’s been three weeks of this shit.  Let’s go out,” Jamie said, jumping on my bed.  I was curled up in my blankets wearing sweats.

“I’m just tired, okay?  I don’t feel like going out in the snow and the cold!” I said with irritation.

Jamie sighed and cocked her head at me.  “Well, you need to start answering your phone.  Everyone keeps calling me trying to get a hold of you.  I can only come up with excuses for so long.”

I rolled my eyes at her.  “Who is calling you looking for me?”

“Your mother.  I keep telling her you are really busy.  She wants us to go with her to Tanaz on Saturday before the Christmas party.  You know it’s this weekend, right?”

I groaned.  I had done everything to avoid Tyler at work, and there would be no way I would be able to avoid him at that party.  Maybe he would have to be in Chicago for the weekend and I wouldn’t have to worry about it.

“I think it’s a good idea.  We can get all beautiful, and the night before we can go get dresses. It would be a great girls’ day.”  Jamie pleaded.

“Yeah, so I can have my mom point out what doesn’t look good on me.  I don’t feel like having her beat around the bush about my ass looking huge in an elegant gown,” I said covering my face with my blanket.