Resist Me Not

41

"Thank you, Oscar." I was relieved to walk back in my apartment, with Adam following.

The old maintenance man smiled at me with such a grandfather-like smile, I couldn't help but return it. "My pleasure, Ms. Ashcroft. You have a good evening and don't forget your keys next time."

"I won't. You have a good night too." I shut my door and stood there for a moment, still facing the plain white panels, not wanting to turn and look at Adam immediately. I wasn't ready to talk to him or anyone. I just wanted to be alone, but seeing him looking so helpless in the lobby lounge, I couldn't just help but invite him up.

Adam's voice trailed from the other end of my apartment. "John's a likable guy. I wish the security in my building was as protective as he was."

I removed my jacket and hung it up on the hook by the door. "He is. Funny, he thought you were your brother though." I tried to sound casual, like it was any ordinary visit for him being there.

"It happens all the time." He chuckled.

I slowly inched into the living room, feeling like a stranger in my own home. Adam was looking out at the skyline when I finally saw him.

"This is an amazing view."

I hated trying to make small talk, when that was obviously not why he waited to see me. I sat down at my simple, circular dining table. "Adam, can we just get to the reason for you being here?"

He pivoted to look at me and slowly walked over, taking a seat across from me at the table. "I really don't know where to begin, Vicky."

"Well, let me see if I can help." I rested my hands together on the table. "Last night, your fucking brother punched Eric in the face which led to a full-blown fight. Though I tried to stop it, I couldn't. Then you, along with everyone else, including the clients, came out and saw the end of it.

"Then Mr. Gima pulled out of the deal, which led to me being called into your father's office this morning." I gave a grim chuckle then. "And then fucking Mrs. Turner called the event 'unacceptable.'" I made quote signs with my fingers. "The fucking hypocrite that she is, dared to tell me off. Thankfully, your father was kind enough to fire me gently.

"He said he didn't see how I could remain with the company because of his connection to Eric's fucking family. So who am I to argue? I'm not a fucking Herman son. I'm not born into a fucking political powerhouse family like the Walton's. I'm expendable. So there you have it in a nutshell." I slammed my back against the back of the chair, feeling angry for even having to relive the events for that brief moment.

Adam had kept his eyes laser-focused on me the whole time, but now he looked at the table as he breathed out a heavy sigh. "You're not expendable, Vicky. You've honestly been one of the best employees we could have hired. Fuck! You're even better than me and Ryan combined. Maybe not Peter, but you'd probably get there if you wanted to." He gave a half-smile as if the last part of the compliment was supposed to make me happy.

"Yeah, well, then it's your loss." I wiped a tear that tried to stray away from my eye.

Not wanting Adam to see me cry or seem weak, I got up and walked around the corner and into the kitchen. He could still see me through the kitchen window, but I made myself busy, grabbing a wineglass from the cabinet and a bottle of red that sat on the counter by the stove.

"Would you like a glass of wine?" I asked with my back still to him. Of course, I couldn't help but be polite. Damn my parents for raising me with manners.

"No, thank you. I'm still recovering from last night. Mr. Gima and his team can really drink."

I poured until the glass was practically full and took it, along with the half-empty bottle, back to the living room. I walked past Adam and went to sit in my armchair.