Not So Saint Nick

Welcome Home-II

He pulled his head back in revulsion before shaking it emphatically no. His face held the appearance of a man on the verge of vomiting.

“Do not puke here,” Grier held a finger at him before slowly turning her head to Hazel. “Is that what this is about? You’re still pissed off after all this time I got this job, and you didn’t? You’re holding a grudge?”

“I could have made him fall in love with me and you stole my chance. You knew I crushed on him and –” she paused as she realized the man she was confessing about was standing right there. “I’ve loved you for so long Nick Santos. We would be great together.” She turned to Grier again, “you could have declined the job so I could get it and be with him!”

“I was invited to the interview, Hazel. Invited. You applied for it, but I was invited by his prior administrative assistant.”

“On a fluke! It was a fluke because you helped her with her stupid coffee and pastries order and carried them to her car.”

“While you and three others stood there watching her struggle! Even though there were so many interviewees I was the one selected and you weren’t. Besides, I’ve told you a thousand times, he’s a prick to work for.” She turned her head to face him, “sorry but you are.”

“Noted.” Nick let the insult roll of his back like water off a duck.

“I think I need to go to the emergency room,” Arlo was slowly rising from his kneeling position.

“I don’t give a s**t. What you do need to do is get the hell out of my condo. Both of you.”

“Grier, can we talk, please?” Hazel whimpered. “I have nobody else. I’m sorry.”

“You f****d my boyfriend. I told you last weekend about how I thought maybe I was catching feelings for him, which led me to sleep with him Saturday night and Sunday morning and you f****d him in my bed while I was away.”

“You were away with Nick.”

“It’s Mr. Santos to you.” Nick sneered at Hazel. “And she was at work. We weren’t having sex.” He gave Grier a look, “this is the kind of company you keep?”

“Not anymore. Hazel, you need to get out. Leave my key on the counter.”

“You can’t just –”

“Just what?” she finally raised her voice an ounce. “Cut you out of my life? Watch me. You brought someone I told you I cared about into my place and had s*x with him. God only knows how long this has been going on.”

“How long has it been going on?” Nick asked Arlo who was slowly stepping into his trousers, his face contorted with pain.

Grier was starting to believe maybe his d**k really was broken. He was moving quite slowly.

“Almost a month.”

“How many times did you have s*x with Hazel,” he sneered the name, “in Grier’s bed.”

“This was the first time in this bed. Hazel wanted to borrow a pair of shoes for our date, so we came in to get them and –”

“Date? You were taking her on a date?” Grier growled, “Jesus Christ, you were taking her on a date, and you thought in your infinite wisdom, to borrow my belongings to do so and then got distracted by having s*x in my bed!”

“Grier” Nick motioned to the wine glass, “have another sip.” He texted on his phone, his jaw tense.

She downed the glass and grumbled, “I just want them out of here.”

“I’m working on it. Barrett is on his way with his team.”

“Who is Barrett?” Arlo asked as he tried to get his shoes on.

“This feels far too civilized considering I came in and caught you having s*x in my bed. Can you please hurry the hell up and get the f**k out?”

“Agreed,” Nick nodded.

“Mr. Santos?” a voice called from down the hall.

“Down here, Barrett. Miss Bush came home to find trespassers in her apartment. Remove them. I believe the man may need medical attention but do not offer it to him. He can find his own way.”

“Yes sir.” Grier in five years had never figured out whether Barrett was his first or last name, but the man was massive yet with the finesse of a serpent, he squeezed between Grier and Nick and motioned for two men with him. “I’ve got him. You get the girl. I hate carrying the girls. They do that,” he motioned to where Hazel started to thrash and kick violently as she was dragged from the room.

“Make her leave the key to Miss Bush’s condo, please.” Nick called out as the couple were escorted out.

Hazel’s pleas for Grier to just listen slid along Grier’s spine like nails on a chalkboard. When finally, there was silence again in the condo she looked at the bed and sighed, “I really liked that duvet cover and now I’m going to have to burn it.”

Huffing frustratedly she considered all the ways she could fix the pretty cover and none of them were ever going to work. She looked at her boss who was still there and motioned to the laptop bag he still held onto.

“You can set it on the floor there. I apologize for making you bring it up.”

“I wanted you to have it in case I needed you over the weekend.”

“You told me when I booked the flights back I could have the entire weekend since we were coming back early.”

“A billion dollar company doesn’t run itself, Grier. If I work, you work.”

Rubbing her head with frustration she returned her attention back to the task at hand. “Fine but I want it noted, if you make me work this weekend, I’ll probably be unable to talk you down off ledges you climb up. In my current frame of mind, I might let you fire everyone.” She suddenly had a new appreciation for the video he sent to the wives. “Also, I take back my anger over the videos. They have the right to know.”