parents, I have to fit a certain mold. So, Slade, I guess what I’m trying to say is that I more than like you too.” She glanced down for a moment, then tilted her head up to look at him again. “And you have a great ass too,” she said with a laugh.
Chapter 8
The next morning, Slade sat in his office trying to review spreadsheets with Francesca, but his mind kept wandering to Jessica. He hated having to leave her so early in the morning, but he had a crew of men coming daily to work on the renovations on the gym.
Just then he noticed Francesca shifting uncomfortably in her chair and wincing.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, concerned.
“I had a tattoo done before I left Brazil, and I think it’s infected. Hurts like a mother,” she said as she rubbed her hip. “So, as I was saying, the numbers look—”
“You shouldn’t ignore an infection,” he interrupted. “Have you gone to the doctor?”
“Nah.” She waved her hand around. “I’m sure it’ll be fine.”
“You want me to take a look?” He asked. “I know what an infected tattoo looks like.”
“It’s kind of in a weird area. Not sure if that’s appropriate.”
“It’s only weird if you make it weird.”
She threw her hands up. “Ugh. Okay. Fine. I could use a second opinion—it’s really bothering me.” She unbuttoned her fitted black slacks and scooted them down by her hip, then pulled down her blue panties a little. The tattoo was by her hip bone. Slade bent down so that his face was right by her crotch.
“Oh, that’s not good. It’s really red and scabby. You should definitely go t—” he began.
Just then the door to the office swung open and Tony walked right in. He looked over at them and his eyes bulged out. “Shit, man. You’re one lucky hijo de puta!”
Realizing what it must look like, Slade quickly stood as Francesca pulled her pants up and began to button them.
Then Slade noticed Jessica standing right behind Tony. When she took in Francesca and Slade’s intimate-seeming position, she turned and left.
“Damn it!” Slade said, pushing Tony out of the way to catch up to Jessica. “Jess! Wait up!”
She just continued to walk away.
“Jessica, I said to fuckin’ wait.”
Jessica halted but didn’t turn around, her hand already on the door handle. Slade placed his hands on her shoulders and gently turned her around. “It’s not what you think, baby. She’s just my business partner.”
At that moment, a blond woman who was dressed like a flight attendant in a navy blue short skirt, cleavage spilling from her not-fully-buttoned white blouse, walked into the Academy. The woman was sex personified, and her eyes zoned in directly on Slade.
“Hi, honey. I was in town, so I went to your place first. When you weren’t there, I figured you’d be here.” She put a hand on Slade’s shoulder and leaned in close. “It’s a short layover—we’ve got a lot of ground to cover in a short time.” She ran a finger down his chest.
Jessica’s eyes were full of unshed tears. “Perfect redhead in the office and beautiful blonde out here. All in, my ass!”
Slade ignored the other woman and focused on Jessica. “What the fuck are you talking about? Of course I’m all in. That’s me fucking changing for you!” he said in a pissed-sounding tone. Then his voice gentled, and he asked, “What did you come here for?” He reached for her, but she stepped away.
“It was nothing. Go back to your redhead.” She turned and tried to walk out, but he caught her forearm. She spun around to face him. “Or your blonde!”
“I told you, I don’t do fucking drama. Don’t be that girl, Jess. I won’t put up with it. She”—he pointed behind him to the blonde—“doesn’t do drama. That’s how I like it!” He immediately regretted the words. “Shit. Sorry. I didn’t mean that.” He let go of her forearm and ran his fingers through his hair. “Fuck, Jess, I’m sorry. That was an asshole thing to say.”
She stood staring at him, her chin quivering. Then she turned and walked out.
“Goddammit!” he said out loud to no one in particular.
“Big-time fuck-up,” said Cain, who had apparently witnessed the entire thing from a nearby weight machine.
“Fuck off, Cain. I like it better when you don’t talk.” Then he turned to the blonde. “Leave.”
Slade turned around and marched back to his office, not waiting to see if the blonde had left or not.
Francesca was sitting behind the desk,