Stryker

12 - Men!

Coral

“Everything okay?”

I look up from my desk at the person speaking.

I only started this job last month. Mason’s Accounting is one of the largest accounting firms in the state. Each morning, it’s quite a drive from the apartment I share with Denise. Yeah, I’m still there, and it’s forty-five minutes, to be exact. However, it was the only job I could get, and I got sick of being let down. I’d applied for many positions with so many companies while working at the department store, but this was the only one who called me back for an interview and hired me.

You would think being two years ahead in academics would have helped me get a damn job faster, but I guess nothing works out like you think it will.

My new boss, Neil Ross, is a pig of a man. He has made it quite clear what he’d like to do to me should he get the chance. That will never happen. However, he’s starting to get on my nerves. He’s always up in my personal space, always finding a reason to bother me while I’m trying to work, always finds a chance to touch me, his hand on my shoulder, his hand brushing mine – accidentally, or so he says. Likely story.

I feel uncomfortable working here. I shouldn’t feel uncomfortable this early in the damn job. If I could afford to walk away, I would, but I can’t. If I want to stay in Tennessee, and I do want to stay, then I need to work. I can’t survive without money in the bank. A girl needs to eat and pay her way.

The trouble is, Stryker has started to notice my change in mood. I don’t mean to be that way, but I feel so down lately. I can’t seem to shake the depressive mood I find myself in every time I walk into this building. I hate this job, but until I find something else, I have no choice but to work here.

“Yes, Mr. Ross, everything is fine. I’m just finishing this spreadsheet before lunch.”

“You’re a hard worker, Coral.” There he is again with his hand on my shoulder. It makes me cringe.

I’m not a weak woman; I went through too much as a child and came through the other end to be weak. However, I find it hard to be around men like this.

I suppose there are lots of women out there that would snap their damn wandering fingers and quit. I would, too, if I could. But then, there are the women who can’t afford to lose their jobs, so they allow their boss to touch them so that he doesn't fire them.

I never wanted to be that woman, but I’m finding myself turning into her.

Is this job really worth all of this?

If it gets too much, I’ll have no choice but to quit. I’ll find something else. I won’t let this man turn me into someone I’m not.

“Thank you, Sir.” I don’t make eye contact with him. I don’t want him to think I like this. I don’t.

I swallow hard. I can feel the bile rising in my throat as his finger strokes my neck. “You’re such a beautiful girl.” I cringe. “You could go far in this business, Coral.”

Neil Ross is a portly man with round glasses and salt-and-pepper hair; he’s short and sweats too much. I’m sure he’s someone’s ideal man, but he’s not mine. I’m not a shallow person, and I don’t have a type when it comes to men; I like everyone. Personality always wins out of looks with me. But I'm in love with Stryker; he’s my ideal man and my future, and I don’t want this man to touch me. Not for only that reason, but because he has no damn right putting his hands on me like this!

If Stryker finds out that this man has so much as touched my shoulder, there will be hell to pay. God forbid Shepard or BlackJack find out. I don’t even want to think what could happen to Neil if that happened.

I’m not the only woman working in this office, but I am the only one here today. The other girl who works with me is out sick today. Typical. Not that she pays any attention to the way Neil is; she seems to like being the center of his attention. No accounting for taste, I suppose.

“Why don’t we go have a chat in my office where it’s more comfortable?” By that, he means, why don’t we go fuc.k in his office.

Never. Going. To. Happen.

I haven’t even slept with Stryker yet, and we’ve been secretly seeing each other for the past couple of months.

Why on this earth would I sleep with this man when I haven’t been able to sleep with any man since I was raped as a child?

“I don’t think I have time, Sir; I’m very busy with this spreadsheet.” Total lie. I could do these spreadsheets with my eyes closed in no time at all. But I don’t know what else to say to him.

“Oh, I think it can wait for a little while. Follow me.” He walks toward his office just a few feet away from my desk. He stands in the doorway, holding the door open, with a smirk as he waits for me.

He’ll be waiting a long time. There is no way I’m going into that office with him. I would be walking into the Lion’s den.

How stupid does he think I am?

Does he honestly think I want to have se.x with him?

He’s deluded!

Do I need this job so badly I would compromise myself like this?

No, I don’t think I do.

Something will turn up. If I become desperate, I know Shepard will give me a job at the clubhouse. Not that pouring drinks for bikers is my idea of a job, but it would only be temporary until I find something else.

I get to my feet. Neil’s eyes widen in delight. He must be insane if he thinks I want him in any way. I’ve never known a man to love himself and think he’s God’s gift to women like Neil Ross does. Ridiculous man.

“Can you give me a moment to use the bathroom?”

“Don’t be too long. I’ll be waiting.”

A long damn time if you think I’m stupid enough to follow you.

I merely nod and head to the bathroom just down the hall. I hear his door click shut and poke my head around the corner to ensure he's nowhere in sight. He’s not. I sneak back to my desk, careful to keep my eye on his door in case he comes back out. He’s not looking at me through the glass beside his door. He’s staring out of the vast windows in his office. Thank God.

I sign out of my work on my computer, shut it down, grab my bag and belongings, and head for the stairs. I don’t want to risk waiting for the elevator. Knowing my luck, he’d come out of his office before it arrived and drag me into said office.

I run down those damn spiral stairs. My mind tells me I’m not going fast enough, so I run even faster. When I’m finally in the lobby, I hand Elena my badge and office key behind the front desk and tell her to give them to Neil because I quit.

She eyes me as if she knows the reason why and tells me to take care of myself and that she’ll hand the stuff to Neil. With that, I’m out of there. I will never set foot in that place again!

I’m already pulling away from the garage when I see Neil rushing toward my car. I flip him off and drive the fuc.k out of there. The insane idio.t!

I drive home in a daze. My head is banging, thanks to that moron.

God, can things never go right for me?

I’m not one to dwell, though. So, it didn’t work out; it’s not the end of the world. There will be other jobs with better bosses who won’t try it on with me.

As soon as I’m inside the apartment, I drop my bag off in my room. Denise isn’t home again, which means she’s with Ice because I know she has the day off work today. They’ve become a close couple these past few weeks. I’m happy for her. Ice seems to have tamed her. He’s claimed her, that much I do know. She even got herself inked with his brand on her arm. Crazy Cow.

Not that I wouldn’t do the same thing should Stryker ask it of me. I’d love nothing more than to show everyone that I belong to him, ink and all. I love that man more than I could ever explain. My heart bursts each time I see him. The smile that spreads across my face almost splits my cheeks.

However, I don’t feel much like smiling right now. I feel like crying. I’m frustrated and disappointed. If it weren’t for Stryker, I’d go back to California to see my parents and sister. However, I don’t want to run back there with my tail between my legs. I don’t want my mother to tell me, “I told you so.” She's good at that.

I need to shower. I need to get that feeling of that pig’s touch off my skin. But first, I need to text Stryker. I need to know that I’ll see him tonight. I don’t care if I have to go to his place. Not that it’s ideal to sneak around all the time. It’s made even worse when Stryker stays over at BlackJack’s once a week so he can spend time with the boys. That night happens to be tonight, which means he’ll be sneaking me in, which we’ve done once or twice before. It scares the shi.t out of me, and I hate doing it, but if Denise is home tonight, I won’t have a choice; I need him to hold me.

Stryker said BlackJack doesn’t know about us. If he did, he’d tell Shepard. But I know deep down that he suspects. I think BlackJack knows that Stryker sneaks me in and up to his room, but he chooses to ignore it. It’s not like we can stay at the clubhouse together, Shepard would find out in seconds, and God only knows what he’d do to Stryker then.

Coral: I miss you.

I came home from work early.

It’s been a shi.t day.

Will I see you tonight?

I don’t put anything more. I don’t want to give Stryker a reason to ask me anything I don’t want to answer. Not that I’ll be able to lie about why I quit my job; lies aren’t in me.

Sure, I haven’t told him about what happened to me as a child, but that’s not lying as such. I just don’t feel ready to spill that secret.

But as the days go on, as I fall deeper in love with the man who hides secrets of his own, I know we can't go on like this. I need to tell him about myself. I also need him to tell me his secrets. Only then can we talk to Shepard and tell him the truth about our relationship.

I know he’ll flip out, especially after he warned each of his men to stay away from me. But some things are worth the risk. Stryker says I’m worth the risk, but I don’t want him to get hurt because of me. I just hope Shepard understands that what Stryker and I have found is real and perfect.