A Heart to Trust A.L. Brooks (romantic story to read .txt) 📖

like Olivia’s praise didn’t mean anything when, deep inside, she glowed from her words. “I don’t know about that. Yeah, it was hard. But it had to be done. She was toxic.”

“Yes, she was.”

“Look, I’m going to take off. I need some air.” Jenny stood. She couldn’t be around Olivia anymore; she wanted her too badly. Wanted to lunge across the table and kiss her, to wrap her arms around her and hold her. Why do I crave the one thing I can’t have? And how am I going to get past this so we can continue working together?

Olivia looked startled but made no protest. She nodded, her eyes sad. “You take care, okay? I’ll see you on Monday.”

Jenny, not trusting her voice, fled the coffee shop before she lost the will to resist.

Olivia returned to the office but only to collect her laptop and travel mug. Ordinarily she would have soldiered on and kept her head down, showing C&V she was dedicated and professional, but not today. She was emotionally exhausted, and it wasn’t even eleven in the morning. “I’m heading home,” she said to Maxwell once she’d packed her bag.

He nodded, his expression sad. “Over one third of employees admit to having a workplace romance. But only one third of those have a happy ending.” He shrugged. “I guess the odds of that would be higher if you didn’t pick someone who was already married.”

Olivia didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at his words. She also wasn’t sure if he was talking about Chrissy and Derek, or if he had somehow picked up on the tension between herself and Jenny. “Yes, quite,” she murmured.

“I think you should apply for Derek’s job.”

She stopped packing her bag and looked up. “You do?”

“Yes. You are very good at what you do. Much more organized, and fair, than he was.” Then Maxwell frowned. “However, if you want to start a relationship with Jenny, and you get Derek’s job, you will be in breach of company policy just like Chrissy and Derek were. You should consider that.”

Olivia stared at him as she sank back into her chair. “How did you…?” It never occurred to her to try to deny it.

“I’m not stupid, Olivia.” He shrugged. “I am not an expert at relationship things. I’ve only ever had one girlfriend and she said I was ‘not husband material,’ whatever that meant. But I can see the way you two look at each other, so I think there must be something there.” He leaned forward in his chair and locked gazes with her. “I don’t know anything about your marriage, but if you are not happy in it, then you should leave. It’s not fair to anyone. My dad had a ton of affairs before he died. My mom knew about every single one but she kept waiting for him to realize he was better off with her. He never did.”

Olivia waited for more, but nothing was forthcoming. “I… That’s good advice, Maxwell. Thank you.” He couldn’t know that it didn’t apply in her case, but she appreciated how much he seemed to be looking out for Jenny’s wellbeing. She swallowed. “I won’t hurt her. Well, any more than I’ve inadvertently done already.”

He sighed. “Sometimes I think we would all be better off alone.”

“Do you truly think that? Is that what you want?”

“No,” he said after a moment. “But trying to find someone is so hard.”

“You’re not wrong.” I’ve found someone who makes my pulse race and puts a smile on my face and I’m pushing her away. Damn this bloody arrangement with Broderick. She almost wished she’d never started, but if she hadn’t, she’d never have met Jenny in the first place. God, what a mess. She stood again, confident her legs would support her now. “I’m going to go.”

Maxwell turned back to his desk. “Me too. My mom is visiting my aunt today, so I’ll be able to play FIFA 20 all afternoon.” His look of glee was almost childlike. “I’ll see you on Monday.”

“You will. And thanks again, Maxwell.”

Olivia walked to the elevators, her mind whirling. It still turned over the events of the day when she stepped into her apartment thirty minutes later.

Broderick looked up from the paperwork spread out before him on the table. “Are you okay? Why are you home in the middle of the day?”

She hung up her coat and scarf, then kicked off her boots and left them with her bag near the front door. She walked over to where he sat and pulled out the chair next to him. Slowly, with a lot of stumbling, repetition, and backtracking, she managed to fill him in on all that had happened since they’d shared breakfast earlier.

“Is it noon yet?” Broderick asked when she’d finished.

“What?”

“I need a glass of something to help me digest everything, but my mom always said no drinking before noon.”

Olivia managed a smile. “It must be noon somewhere.”

“Good point!”

Ten minutes later they were on his couch, a glass of white wine each, feet up on the coffee table.

“Do you think you would have done what Jenny did?” Broderick asked. “I mean, if you’d had that photo, that knowledge. Would you have gone to HR?”

“You know, I keep thinking about that. I told her I thought it was brave; I’m in awe of her. I honestly don’t know if I could have done it.” Olivia sipped her wine, vaguely noting that she ought to eat something with it too. “She seemed embarrassed that she’d been so convinced Chrissy was a good person. I think that became anger when she thought about all the ways Chrissy had lied to her. I mean, I was angry too, especially after her stunt at the charity event, but even so…” She gazed, unseeing, at the bookshelves before them. “I would have been so scared of putting my own position at risk. I think I would have chickened out and just hoped Derek would still make his decision