The icing on the cake was Eric leaning around Dayton to ask, "Brooke what's she talking about?"
"Oh haven't you heard," Maxine cuts in, "Apparently her apartment manger caught wind that Brooke here was unemployed. So he terminated her lease." Brooke pales at the truth in Maxine's words. Her humiliation at Eric finding out has tears brimming in her eyes and she quickly looks away from Eric in a feeble attempt to keep him from seeing them.
Maxine of course doesn't stop there. She just keeps driving nail after nail into Brooke's coffin. "I believe the same source that tipped your apartment manager off placed a call to every agent in town on your behalf as well. Telling them how you betrayed your boss. Trust is a very important commodity in an employee you know. especially in our line of work." She feigns indifference by inspecting an imaginary imperfection in one of her nails.
The dam holding back her mortification was cracking and she would be condemn herself to hell before she let Maxine and Dayton see her cry. Standing she spoke to Eric without looking at him, "Eric thank you for a lovely evening but I think I should be going now. Excuse me."
Briskly she turned and walked right out of the restaurant without waiting for Eric's response.
Tears blur Brooke's vision as her chest tightens. It's aching to release the sobs she desperately wants to keep in. When her car comes into view she gives into the ache letting her dam give way as she slumps to the ground next to her "home" and cries.
Her sobs were so loud she didn't hear the approaching footsteps. Nor did she see who the mysterious stranger was that sat down next to her pulling her into his arms. At this point she didn't care who he was. Right now she needed to be comforted even if it was by a stranger.
Seconds turned into minuets. All the while the stranger allows Brooke to soak his shirt with her tears as he strokes her hair. Never once did he pull away or say anything. He was just simply there which was all Brooke needed.
Finally the tears ceased there flowing and her sobs turn into undignified hiccups. Sitting up Brooke attempts to wipe at her streaked face with the back of her hand but a calloused finger beats her to it. That's when she looks up to see who'd been so kind to her. Yet it wasn't a stranger who stroked her cheek. It was Eric.
Faster then a jack rabbit Brooke jumps up to her feet. Eric following suite concern furrowing his brow. "Whoa Brooke," he says as he reaches out a hand to steady her, "It's just me...Are you alright?"
Brooke fiddles with a button on her blouse to avoid looking at him as she replies, "Yes, thank you." Motioning back towards the restaurant she she sighs, "I'm sorry for all that back there. What Maxine said was embarrassing and you were caught up in the middle of it."
Eric's fingers slide beneath her chin gently tilting her face up to meet his, "The only embarrassing thing back there was Maxine's behavior. That woman is bat shit crazy."
Brooke couldn't help but giggle at Eric's keen observation of her ex boss. The answering smile she found on his face kept hers from receding back into a frown. There it was again that inexplicable pull. She saw Eric recognize it just before he began to lean down towards her.
Then suddenly he was gone, walking around her car reaching in and grabbing her laptop bag and tablet. Then striding towards his car which just so happened to be parked two spaces over. He tossed her tablet and bag into his backseat before going around to open the passenger door.
That's when he looked back up at her evidence of that charge still lingering in his eyes. Without giving her any options he said, "Come on you're coming with me."
Brooke tried to refuse Eric's offer but the idea of getting to take a hot shower was to tempting of an offer to pass up. Which is how Brooke wound up walking through the immaculate front doors of Eric's home. The house in its entirety wasn't very large. Within its wooden walls it boast three bedrooms, one of which is a master suite, along with a down stairs and an upstairs guest bath. The ground floor has an open concept plan. Complete with a state of the art kitchen. With mahogany floors stretching throughout the whole house giving it a warm cozy feel.
While it was small compared to other homes in the neighborhood it was still quadruple the size of her crappy old apartment. Everything about his house screamed old southern charm and sophistication.
Eric lead the way up stairs depositing her bag in one of the guest rooms. Then backtracking down the hall to the master suite. "Both guest bedrooms have a door that connects to the guest bath; however, the tub in there isn't as nice as mine. I thought since you've had a rough couple of days you might enjoy a nice long soak," he explains.
Much like the rest of his house Eric's bedroom has it's charm. On account of it being his personal space it does have a more manly appearance. Decorated in rich dark browns with touches of midnight blue and forest green to accent the browns. The theme is carried into the bathroom as well.
Brooke watches hesitantly as Eric steps up to what looks like a small wading pool and begins filling it with water. As it fills he pores some amber liquid into the tub causing bubbles to appear. Then he reaches into a cabinet next to him and pulls out an extra large fluffy towel, laying it on a stool next to the tub. Pointing to a panel along side the faucet Eric explains it's uses, "This is the jet panel. It's pretty self explanatory. You can switch it on if you want." And just like that he walks out leaving Brooke alone.
Honestly the idea of bathing in her client's home doesn't sound appropriate. Especially after all that's transpired between the two of them tonight. Eric is right though, she's been through a lot these last few weeks. The stress of it all is weighing her down.
So without further thought she strips down and climbs into the deliciously warm water. Reclining against the side of the tub Brooke switches the jets on with her toes. Their vibrations rub and beat at her tired muscles easing her tension. Bit by bit she starts to relax further into the water.
Closing her eyes she lets the sounds of the jets work on her thoughts too. Allowing them to push out her worries and inhibitions.