Troubled Temptations

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

I wish I could spend all of my days with Benjamin and all of my nights with Anthony, but life is not that simple. I have to work. Working has become somewhat of a pain in the ass, considering recent events. I sit in the empty break room of Lesh and try to picture our future with Anthony. I know it's far-fetched, but I can at least hope that things eventually turn for the better. They already have, a little at least.

I replay the last day in my mind. Every word Anthony said to me sounded so genuine, so comforting. He makes me feel like I'm the only girl in the world. I want it to be like this forever. I want him to want me. I need him to make me feel the way he does, every day. I feel like I'm blossoming whenever I'm with him. He said I was his light. He doesn't even realize that he's becoming my air.

Even Benjamin seems to like him a lot. I couldn't get Benjamin to sleep last night, because he was too excited. As I suspected, he has some big plans about introducing Anthony to his playgroup. I didn't want to disappoint him, so I told him that Anthony would definitely think about it. And that he might do it if he's off work. I still have to ask Anthony about what he does for a living since we're on again now. I need to know more about his life.

"Victoria and Hot Guy sitting in the tree, k-i-s-s..." Emily's voice echoes through the break room.

​I guess my reminiscing in peace and quiet is officially over. How come we always end up doing the same shift together?

"Stop it, Emily," I cut her off her mid-sentence.

"Why-y-y-y, though? You look so cute daydreaming about your hot man and all," she adds with a stupid grin.

She's back to being annoying, no, to being herself. I guess she's over that Blake-dude trauma.

"Emily, seriously, what do you want?"

"Nothing, nothing," she denies whatever evil thoughts she had, "I'm just a little bit jealous that you landed the best one of the group."

"You don't know that!" How could she know? I only know two of the five, and while my choice is a hundred percent better than hers, we still don't know the other three. "You can pick one of the three other guys," the words shoot out of my mouth and I regret what I just said a nanosecond later, I wouldn't recommend any of the other guys to anyone, but I bite my tongue and keep quiet. I consider myself lucky that Anthony is not like Blake.

"Yeah, like I'm going to try again with that group." She sounds offended, but then adds, "I think they are all bad news."

"What do you mean?" Does she include Anthony in her bad news statement? Granted, I don't know anything about what he does for a living, but it can't be that bad can it?

"I'm sorry to tell you this but I think your guy is mixed up in some shady business," she states bluntly. I don't know what her problem is, but I'm getting sick and tired of her wise-ass comments.

"Okay..." I respond. Do I want to ask? Do I need to know? I do. I ask. "Please do elaborate." I exaggerate and bat my eyelashes at her.

"The other night when I was out with that bastard," she begins, "we were dancing, and he kind of referred to his group that they were all dirty guys with dirty pasts doing dirty business. I thought it was his bad-boy act and even got turned on a little bit. Little did I know that he was actually warning me..." She frowns, but continues, "I had to learn the hard way."

"I don't know anything about his business," I confess.

"Exactly! I would watch my back if I were you." She shrugs, "That's all I wanted to say."

"Okay, well, thanks." Is she being genuine or is it just her attempt to make me doubt Anthony? I have to find out, sooner rather than later.

"Hey, what's this?" Emily points to the piece of paper stuck to the door.

"Beats me," I reply and shrug.

I was in here before her and didn't even notice it. What could it be anyway, a note from Alexi? Or is it someone's secret admirer? None of the options sound possible but who knows.

Emily stands up and struts over to the door, in hopes of gossip, I'm sure. I don't even care what that is.

She takes the piece of paper and reads it. Her face falls immediately and she pales. The note slips from her hand and falls to the floor.

"What is it?" She's freaking me out. Emily just points to the note while clasping her mouth with her other hand.

I rush to her, pick up the piece of paper, and read:

"So you girls think you can toy with me? Beware. Blame is on you! X."

Blame. Blake Myers.

That's a threat from the guy Emily went out with. I knew he wouldn't let rejection go this easily. I had a bad feeling about this since she told me what had happened.

Emily seems to have a breakdown since she slumps down and cries uncontrollably. I quickly step closer to her and hug her shoulders. She's a weeping-shaking mess, and I, on the other hand, am on autopilot.

"What... do... we... do... now?" She asks me between her sobs.

We?

I re-read the note. Girls. It says girls, as in plural. Fuck.

"Yeah, I really don't know," I admit honestly. How the hell I'm still so calm? I should be weeping with her, not consoling her!

"You know what," I say after some consideration, "we'll just ignore it for now. Maybe he was hurt because you kneed him, you know..." I turn up my empty palm in a corresponding gesture. "And now he just wants to scare us. Maybe that's an empty threat?"

"Okay," Emily replies between sobs and wipes her nose with her sleeve. Classy.

"Now go fix your makeup in the bathroom."
Emily looks at me quizzically, her crying finally ending.

"You know, in case they are out there and are looking for a reaction," I add.

"You think they might be here?" Her eyes are alert, and she's panicking now.

That's not the direction I wanted her mind to go. I need to make her calm down, the sooner the better. We've been in the break room for too long as is and someone will be looking for us or tell on us if we don't show up soon.

"No, no of course not," I lie. The possibility of that happening is huge. "But to be sure that we're not giving anyone reason for gossip, we should ignore this and play it cool."

"O-Okay," she stutters in response.

And just like that, I put myself in charge of this situation, even though I didn't want to. Now if anything happens, the blame will really be on me.