Reinvention of Chastity (17 page)

She nodded, against her better judgment. Sebastian gave her another quick kiss before walking to his car. It just wasn’t right for one man to look so damn sexy. When his car drove out of her line of vision, she sighed in resignation and walked back into her house, only to find her mother looking more than slightly miffed.

“Sorry that took so long,” Chastity apologized.

“Who does that man think he is? Did you hear him call me classless?

I hope you gave him the what for.”

Here we go again.
“Uh, yeah. We did have a talk, but you know, Brenda, you were laying it on a bit thick.”

Hazel eyes widened, the picture of mock innocence. “What did I do?

He asked about you and I told him.”

“Yes, but it’s funny that you always manage to come out on top at my expense.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“Absolutely nothing. If I thought it would make a difference, I’d have plenty to say, but it’s probably better if we just drop it.”

“No. I don’t want to drop it. Chastity, I may not be the best example of motherhood, but I do love you. If something I’ve said or done has upset you, I wish you’d let me know.”

“Brenda, it’s much too late to play the mother role with me.”

The older woman released a sigh, twisting the large emerald ring on her finger. “You’re right. I haven’t been a very good parent to you, but I did the best I could. Maybe I can never be the maternal figure you need, but can’t we at least be friends?”

Chastity shrugged. “That’s the problem. I never wanted your friendship. I wanted a mother. I’d like to be able to have a conversation with you without being told what a loser I am.”

123

Eve Vaughn

Brenda frowned. “I don’t think you’re a loser.”

“Really? It sure seems like you do. Look, I realized that it’s not me.

It’s just the way you are, but sometimes, like today, you can be extremely hurtful. I’ve had enough.”

“I see.” Brenda stood and walked over to her daughter. “Sweetheart, I don’t ever think I can be the person you want me to be, but I’m sorry that I’ve hurt you. I…well, the truth is, I’ve just been so damn jealous of you. I hated myself sometimes and instead of—” She broke off to nibble on her bottom lip.

Chastity was too stunned to hear her mother admit what others had only speculated. It was obviously a day of revelations. “Jealous of me?

You’re gorgeous, and men fall over themselves to get to you.”

A faint smile touched Brenda’s burgundy-smeared lips. “There’s no denying that, but so are you, sweetheart. You look great, by the way. I knew you always had so much potential, and that’s why…I’m not proud to admit this, but I flirted with all your boyfriends to prove to myself that I was still a desirable woman. Call me ignorant, but I didn’t realize how damaging that was to you. I was too wrapped up in my own self and issues to see that you were hurting. Besides, men look at me and want one thing. Men look at you and they want more.”

“Hardly,” Chastity snorted. “I was such an introvert.”

“Yet, you inspire loyalty in a lot of people. Look at how protective Dallas is of you, and you remember that silly boy you brought home from school and caught me with? While he was with me, all he could do was talk about you. He was guilty as hell afterwards and I really think he cared about you, but you know how boys think with their little heads at that age.”

This was news to Chastity.

“And look at your Sebastian…if I were you, girl, I’d hold on to that man and never let go. It’s obvious he’s crazy about you, Chastity. I’ve never said this before, but I’m very proud of you and I admire you.”

Hearing her mother say the words after all this time meant a lot.

Brenda wrapped her slender arms around Chastity and kissed her on the cheek. It was the first time Chastity’s mother had ever hugged her since 124

The Reinvention of Chastity

she was very small. Maybe things would be okay between the two of them now.

Chastity didn’t fool herself into thinking that things would be perfect, but at least an understanding had been reached. Now, all she had to do was figure out what she should do about Sebastian.

125

Eve Vaughn

Chastity pushed away from her desk and stood to stretch her tense muscles. She must have been sitting for three hours straight, the last half hour of which she’d spend trying to draft the same letter. A nice massage would be great right now, she thought, but it wouldn’t solve her problems.

If anything, work was the least of her worries. Things weren’t going according to plan. In fact, her mission to exact revenge against Sebastian Rossi had gone completely haywire. When she and her friends had come up with their strategy, Chastity didn’t calculate on falling even harder for him than she had before. A few months had now passed since they’d become lovers, and each time they came together was explosive.

Chastity would daydream about the way his tongue danced over her body, how his cock felt plundering her wet pussy, and the way he’d hold her afterwards, stroking and kissing her neck as if they were more than just fuck buddies.

The thing was, she wasn’t really sure what they were anymore. From the day he’d taken her to his house to take care of her, there’d been a shift in control. Sebastian no longer allowed her to call all the shots.

They’d fallen into a pattern. At work, things were kept as professional as possible, with the exception of the time he’d caught her in the file room alone.

Sebastian had quickly locked the door, pulled her against his hard body and fingered her until her knees went weak. Most nights when he wasn’t bogged down with work, Sebastian would come to her place or she’d go to his and they’d fuck until all hours of the night. On the weekends, they’d go out, doing things like a real couple. Even her friends were beginning to suspect there was something going on between the two of them that had nothing to do with Chastity seeking revenge.

126

The Reinvention of Chastity

She shouldn’t have let things go this far, and now Sebastian was talking about taking her to Long Island to meet his mother. Chastity glanced at her desk clock and sighed. Five o’ clock, quitting time, yet there was still so much to be done. Sebastian had made no mention of getting together tonight, since he didn’t know what time he’d get back from court.

Maybe that was for the best. It would give her time to figure out what she needed to do. Whatever it was, Chastity had to do it fast, or else she would be in deeper than she already was. Even though she had a pile of paperwork on her desk, she figured it wasn’t anything that couldn’t wait until tomorrow. Just as she was shutting down her computer, Sebastian walked over, startling her. “Chastity.”

She jumped in surprise. “Holy cow, Sebastian! You’re going to give me a heart attack.”

“I’m sorry. I know this is short notice, but do you mind staying late tonight? I have a few things I’m going to need to have done by tomorrow morning.”

Chastity furrowed her brows. He looked distracted, cagey almost, as if something was weighing heavily on his mind. “Sure. What do you need me to do?” she asked, grabbing her pad and pen. In this way she could relate to him, because then she didn’t have to analyze her feelings. She jotted down a list of items he rattled off to her.

“Anything else?” she asked.

“No. I think that’s it. If you need me, I’ll be in my office. I’m staying late as well.” There was no sexual undertone to this statement, which was fine, but again, Chastity got the impression that there was something going on that he wasn’t letting on to.

“Okay. I got it.”

“Oh, and don’t worry. A few others have agreed to help out as well. I really appreciate you doing this for me.”

Pearl chose that moment to walk over to them, hands on hips and lips pursed in one thin, angry line. Her faded blue eyes narrowed slightly as she looked up at Sebastian. “Don’t expect me to stay late. Carl and I have our bowling league tonight. You can’t expect a body to stay late without giving proper notice.”

127

Eve Vaughn

Chastity wanted to sock the old biddy. In the last several weeks, Pearl had become harder to deal with, constantly muttering under her breath and making snide comments. On most days, Chastity could ignore her, but there were times, like today, when the urge to shake the disagreeable woman was nearly too strong to resist.

“Sebastian was talking to me, Pearl, not you,” Chastity pointed out.

Pearl’s head whipped around so fast she looked like the kid on the Exorcist. Her eyes shooting daggers. “I wasn’t talking to you, Miss High and Mighty. Just because the two of you are having an affair, doesn’t give you the right to talk to me like your stuff doesn’t stink.”

It was now Sebastian’s turn to glare. Lifting a sinister dark brow, he asked, “I beg your pardon? Would you care to repeat that, Pearl?”

Embarrassment flickered briefly over the older woman’s face, before defiance replaced it. “Well, it’s no big secret that the two of you have something going on. I see the way you look at each other, and personally, I think it’s disgusting. You two have made this a hostile work environment for a decent Christian woman like me.”

“Those are very serious charges you’re levying against us. Have you caught the two of us in the act?”

Pearl’s nostrils flared. “I’m not stupid. I don’t have to see it, to know it’s happening! I see the way you two go off together. Aren’t there rules against stuff like this?”

Sebastian remained expressionless, but Chastity could tell he was pissed. “I suggest you think long and hard before you bring this up again in my or Chastity’s presence, if you want to continue working here.” He spoke with such dead calm that made Chastity feel the chill from where she stood.

Pearl lost all color in her face. Chastity couldn’t figure out if Pearl was incredibly stubborn or just plain stupid when she didn’t back down right then and there. “Oh, so now you’re threatening me for speaking my mind? I work just as hard as the African Queen over here, but because I don’t spread my legs for you, I’m the one who gets the flack.”

Chastity’s hand flew to her mouth to hide her gasp. Pearl had said some pretty nasty things in the past, but nothing this vicious. She was 128

The Reinvention of Chastity

practically begging to be fired. Instead of exploding like Chastity thought he would, Sebastian remained calm.

“That’s quite enough, Pearl. No one is keeping you here right now.

Have fun at your bowling league tonight, but I think you should start looking for a position elsewhere, if you have a problem working in this

‘hostile environment’. As a matter of fact, it would probably be for the best,” he said, before turning to Chastity. “Thanks for staying.” He walked off then.

Chastity shook her head at Pearl, who stood there with her mouth agape. “You miserable old battle-ax. Sebastian has more class in his pinky than you have in your entire body.”

“How sweet of you to defend your lover, but he’ll soon get tired of you like the rest of the sluts who parade through here. His kind can’t keep it in his pants. I can’t wait to find another job and get away from the likes of you two.”

“Pearl, you’re going to make me forget I’m a lady, and that you’re old enough to be my grandmother, if you don’t leave this minute.”

“I’ll leave when I’m good and ready. I’m not going to let some stupid cow tell me what to do. You’re nothing but a dumb—”

“Say it, and I’ll hand your teeth back to you in a bag.” Chastity’s hands clenched into tight fists. Pearl must have read something in her eyes because she quickly turned away muttering under her breath.

Chastity stood with folded arms as she watched her nemesis gather her things. Pearl sent her one last scathing look before marching off in a huff. Old bitch. With a deep breath, Chastity sat down at her desk again.

It wasn’t the first time someone had insulted her, and unfortunately it wouldn’t be the last, but she was still ticked.

She plopped on her headphones, slipped in James Taylor’s greatest hits CD and began tackling the list that Sebastian had given her. Several CD’s later and a huge dent in her list, Chastity glanced at the clock.

Seven-thirty. Removing her headphones, she stood and stretched, her stomach starting to rumble.

She walked to co-workers’ desks to see if there were any dinner plans. Most of the people who’d stayed late had already left for the night, while a few others declined ordering out. It was probably for the best, 129

Eve Vaughn

since she didn’t need any greasy take-out. Chastity remembered a bowl of mixed fruit she’d left in the refrigerator and decided that would be a better option.

On her way to the kitchen, she stopped at Sebastian’s door, wondering if she should check on him. Half of her said to keep moving, while the other half, wouldn’t let her go on. Against her better judgment, Chastity knocked on the door.

“Come in.” He wore a pair of gold-rimmed glasses, his nose buried in a pile of books. Sebastian looked just as sexy wearing them as he did without. Her pulse quickened, and as always, her body tightened with awareness. “What can I help you with, Chastity?”

“I was just peeking in to see if there was anything you needed, and to see if you were okay. That Pearl incident was intense.”

He grimaced, pulling off his glasses and setting them aside. “I’m fine, thanks. Actually, I was more upset about the things she said about you.”

Chastity shrugged. “She doesn’t get to me most days.”

“Her brand of harassment doesn’t belong in the workplace, or anywhere else, for that matter. I would have said more to her, but it would only have exacerbated the situation. Don’t worry about her, Chastity. It will be taken care of.” He sighed, sounding as if he carried the weight of the world on his shoulders.

“Are you sure you’re okay, Sebastian?”

A brief grin touched his lips, which didn’t assure her at all. “I’m fine.”

Not sure if she should press the issue, Chastity decided it was best to let it go. “Okay, but if you need something, let me know.” When she made it to the door, a palm shot out, closing them inside together. Before she realized what was happening, Sebastian turned her around and pushed her against the door. Then he covered her mouth in a hot, hungry kiss.