Are you going to fire him?" asks ember walking beside me heading outside where the guys are fixing our client's cars.
"Of course, I'm going to fire him," I say opening the door gesturing for her to go first.
"He put my head on a porn star's body, and had the crazy idea to leave it in the office for me to see and he wrote the words- Suck me, tonight boss? You're going to be lucky if I Don't have him arrested for sexual harassment."
Yes, you heard that correctly. The guy is fucking idiot and I should have fired him months ago.
When we get outback I spot my guys working on the Chevrolet Corvette we are fixing, I glance around looking for Chris, and when my eyes land on him I know firing him is the right idea.
Standing with a vest and overalls I can see him making motions with his hips to the other guys around and granted a few laugh, but nobody likes him. With determination, I walk right over towards Chris, when my guys notice me they all smile and wave but I don't miss the Curiosity they have as to why I am here. After all, I usually trust them enough not to come out here unless I need to. Like right now.
Because of this sexist pig.
I knew he was but the guy knows his way around a car, so I choose to ignore him hoping it would stop but he's worse now than before.
No woman should be objectified when there at work, just because you have a penis, doesn't give you any right to think a woman is yours for taking.
End of.
All I ask for them is respect and in turn, I'll respect them back but what this idiot did isn't respect. What he did was sexual misconduct in the biggest fucking form. Asshole.
When I approached the car everybody turns and looks at me.
"Boss, you okay?" asks Simon wiping his head with a cloth before narrowing his eyes on me. I feel everybody else stop talking, observing me standing here.
"Fine Simon, " I turn my eyes to Chris who has a smirk and Is leaning on the car. Chris is a serotype playboy, his hair is styled every day and always fixed even though we work on dirty cars a majority of the time. It's always white clean wide beaters he wears. Then complains if he gets paint or oil on them. I mean Jesus the guy where white trainers to work on cars.
"I hope you enjoyed writing that this morning Chris, as from" I look down at my watch, "ten minutes ago, your fired, " his eyes widen and he opens his mouth.
"Don't bother, maybe someone from the local bar will suck you off tonight, You have half an hour to get all your belonging before you have to go."
He goes from shocked to mad in seconds, His nostrils flare and he comes to stand right in front of me."Has anyone ever told you, you're a fucking bitch."
I Don't react to his jab instead I step back sighing.
"Half an hour Chris," I turn around giving him my back.
Big mistake.
I Don't manage to take a step before I'm spun around and a hand comes flying hitting me right on my cheek.
Pain exploded through my face and my ears start to ring out, my hand moves automatically to my cheek cradling It.
Holy fuck.
That fuckin fucker just hit me.
I hear commotion but can't seem to grasp what's going on at first, it's not until two arms circle me and I'm pulled into a chest that I start to get my bearings.
"You okay boss?" asks Simon trying to look at the possibly now black eye.
"I'm fine," I croak out, Shit that hurts. Turning around I look at the scene in front of me.
Johnson and Craig have Chris pinned on the ground with him struggling but it's no use the boys have him down hard.
"Let me fucking go Craig, the bitch deserved it," Chris shouts.
"I swear if you don't shut the fuck up Chris, I'm gladly going to beat your ass."
I shake my head and walk-up to them, I stand out of reach and glare at him.
"You shouldn't have done that," I turn my attention to Craig and Johnson., "Get him the fuck out of here, and if you could make it as painful as possible I'll give you a raise."
"Yes boss, " says Craig a sinister smile on his lips. "Let's go pretty boy, " they both pull Chris up and march him towards the entrance.
I Don't watch, instead, I turn to head for the office, "Shit Adria, what happened?" comes ember running over to me.
"Who did it?" she asks her eyes narrowing, "it was that limp dick wasn't it?" she touches my cheek where there's a bruise now and her hands shake with anger.
"I'm going to kill him, where is he." she starts to tie her hair in a bun and a snort escapes me.
"Don't worry, the guys are escorting him out now, no need to get irrational their Tyson."
She looks at me with shock and disgust., turning in circle she bands and picks up the crowbar. "Escorting him out? Hell no, I'm gonna beat his as first."
I couldn't stop her even if I wanted to because she's flat out running towards where Johnson and Craig went.
"You better fucking wait for me," she shouts running with a crowbar.
Even though I just got slapped, I can't help the full-on laugh that leaves me watching ember.
That girl is loyal.
Heading into the building I make my way down the grey and black hallway before entering my office.
There are no windows, just a desk with chairs and a black couch, perfect for when we have a big contract coming and I call a meeting.
This place is perfect.
I go to sit down but my phone beeps telling me I have a text. I sigh knowing as sad as it is There's only one person who texts me.
I lift the phone and my ea back to the couch sitting down, I open the camera first to see how bad the damage is.
Well then.
My cheekbone is already bruising a deep purple, and my eye is starting to swell. I Don't get how he hit my face but my eye seems to have taken the damage.
Going off the camera I open my message and look for the text I received, I frown my brows when it's an unknown number and not lee.
Unknown: I heard about the bike, you have for sale. I'm interested.
Now I am very confused. I posted an add for a bike I fixed up and are reselling but I put the shop number not my private one.
ME: Sorry, I'm confused how did you get my number it wasn't posted on the ad?
I send that and wait for a reply, and it comes through instantly.
Unknown: I never seen the ad, my friend told me and I searched your shop up online and this number is posted there.
I roll my eyes and laugh at how paranoid I am, ever since I was a kid I couldn't believe or trust anyone. Except for the two exceptions.
And look how they have turned out.
Me: Sorry long day, yes she's for sale do you need a link to the ad, so you can see the images?
Again he replies immediately.
Unknown: No, I trust the judgment my friend had of it, I would like to meet in person and discuss the fee.
Me: I've only viewed the bike to one other person, so mind me asking who your friend is? And if you want to meet then you can come to the shop for nine to five Monday-Saturday but your better booking an appointment, out at the moment.
Unknown: He didn't view it he was the one who saw your ad. Well, I'm very interested in buying it as soon as possible, and I'm a very busy man so how about we meet up?
Me: mmm, well sorry but I'm a very busy woman and I don't meet anyone for work outside working hours, again if you interested in the bike book an appointment for a viewing.
Unknown: You sound crabby.
My heart stops when I read that text. Dejavu hitting me like a ton of bricks. There's no way I never even gave sam my number, it's just a coincidence that all.
It takes me a few attempts but I text back.
Me: I'm not crabby and I would prefer to end this conversation as I said very busy, and the word crabby never made any sense.
I don't know why I write that but I lock my phone and put it away. This is going to be a long ass day and as soon as I'm done I'm going to the bar for a drink I desperately need.
❧
It's been a week since that incident with Chris and my eye still looks like shit. There's purple swelling and I had to go for a cheak up at the eye doctor, turns out I'm fine just sore. Why do men hit women with the back of their hands? I'm lying when I say it hurts like a bitch and even a week later is still hits.
I'm working on my latest project in the back of the shop when Aleisha comes in.
"Adri, there someone coming to see the bike tonight at eight?"
I don't look up from what I'm doing but I answer her.
"Lock up the front and put a sign saying to come around the back. I'm not stopping right now, " I lift the screwdriver and start tightening.
"The guy sounded hot on the phone, " she says to me.
twisting the last section in I shout back, "You said about the last one and it was a fifty-year-old man who was overweight and bald."
"Yeah but this one different, Mark my words. Anyway, I'll do that for you then I'm off,"
Not looking up I wave my hand, "bye Alisha."
The hour's blend and I Don't stop, fixing cars and bikes are great distractions to keep me out of my head. This morning altered in another fight with lee again, this time he went extra and wrecked the whole house. I can't keep doing this with him, Lee needs help to manage his anger, and deep down I know it's also something else.
But I can't think about that.
The fight started over me telling him I wanted to expand the back of the house and make a garage for the bike and cars I fix-up. I also want a place to build smaller version of my shop for me to work so I don't need to stay so late every night.
Well, his response was he never sees me as it is, and if I did that he would see me less, my comeback to him was so what. Then and there lee flipped and smashed everything, I didn't even shout I just and came here.
Now it's dark and I have no desire to go home and see lee, there's a chance he will grovel or he is still pissed. I'm going with the latter.
I'm thinking of what color I want when I hear a knock on the back door, looking down at my watch I see it's after eight. Must be the guy to View the bike.
I shout for them to come in and I hear the door open, pushing myself up I get out from under the car and wipe my hands on my overalls. Real classy Adria.
I put down the wrench and torch on the table before turning to face the buyer.
"Hi, I'm Adria, are you here for the bike?"
I'm over the other side of the garage so I can't make out his face that well, but I sense him looking directly at me. I start feeling kind of uncomfortable when he doesn't answer straight away.
"Do you want to see it or will I get one of the other guys to show you?" I'm lying through my teeth there's no one here except me but he doesn't need to know that.
He still doesn't answer and this time I feel my patients slipping and I'm on edge.
"Look mister, I'm going to have to ask you to leave, or one of the guys is going to have to come and make you."
I use my firm voice and cross my arms, the person instead of leaving walks forward slowly, and what he says next makes my heart stop and blood freeze.
"Your good at a lot of things kid, but lying ain't one of them."
Three more steps and deep blue crystal eyes clash with mine rooting me to the spot. The whole room fades until I can just see him, I open my mouth but close it again nothing coming out.
His stare burnss into me, leaving me frozen in place along with every second that passed. His black hair that he had, when we were younger is gone, replaced with a much shorter style. Shaved right down.His face has a stubble but not too long just enough it darkened his jaw.
There's a scar on his eyebrow that comes down just past the side of his eyelid, with a straight nose and full lips he could easily be on the cover of a magazine. I blink my eyes making sure they're not tricking me and move my gaze from his face to his body. Like Sam, he's in a crisp cut suit that fits him perfectly, a long black coat finishes off his outfit. Something about the way he's holding himself has me thinking about sam being the same way now, and I need to remind myself it's really him.
"Jensen?" I whisper but it's loud enough he hears me, a smile tugs his lips and he walks over to me confidence shining from every step he takes. He comes and stands right in front of me and I have to tilt my head to look up at him.
He stares down and I see emotions pass through his face until they settle on one I'm very familiar with, one I'm showing on my face right now.
"Hey kid," and that's all it takes.
Not questioning myself, I fling my body right into Jensen's embrace wrapping my arms around his middle. His arms automatically come around and he pulls me closer squeezing me.
"I Can't believe it's you, " I say before following up with. "I'm so sorry"
"You have nothing to apologize for Adria, if anything I'm sorry for not finding you sooner,"
His voice is deeper than I remember making a small shiver pass through me, Tears leak out my eyes and I sniffle trying to stop it.
"I thought you would have hated me, " I say thick emotion in my voice.
He scoffs and squeezes me harder. "Never, You were just a kid and beside it was your friend I didn't like. Not you," his hand touches the back of my head and he rubs it gently.
"Yeah, not too many people like him these days either, " I say truthfully.
I Don't know how much time passes but eventually I pull back from him and wipe my face.
"So are you really here to see the bike or just came to make me cry like a girl," I tease.
He grins at me, " No I didn't come here to make you cry, when Sam told me he saw you I had to come and see it if was true, " he pulls out a stool from under the table and sits on it. "I thought he was shitting me, after that night you left I never knew where you both went."
I pull out the other stool and plop down before sighing, " Yeah, I never really left the den after that, I was embarrassed after what lee did." He tries to hide it but his eyes darken when I say Lee's name.
"Do you still talk to him?"
I bite my lip wondering how I say this the best way. "Yeah, we live together."
He nods his head and says, "I always thought that kid was in love with you, doesn't surprise me you both are together now"
"Hold on," I say frowning, "Lee isn't in love with me, and we are not together, together," I scrunch up my nose not wanting to think of lee like that. Eww.
"it's complicated" I go with instead.
He bends forward resting his arms on his knees clasping his hands together and holds my gaze. "You not with lee?"
I shake my head. "No, I'm not with lee."
Something passes between us and the air crackles with tension, his eyes don't waver from mine, and the longer we stare at each other the more something surrounds us. What's going on? I've never felt this with Jensen before? it takes a lot of strength to pull away and advert my eyes.
"Do you want to see my bike?" I blurt out snapping us out of whatever that was. "I learned how to ride bikes and I restored one I think you going to like from scratch." His lips twitch knowing I'm trying to distract him from what just happened, "I would love to kid,"
Getting up quickly I nearly knock over the stool I was sitting on, cursing myself I walk behind me not looking and Jensen,to where I have the bike covered with a sheet.
"She was banged up pretty bad when I snatched her from an auction, but I fixed everything and I have to admit she looks badass."
Pulling off the sheet the classic 1987 Suzuki GSX1100F comes into View.
I kept as much originality as I could, buying parts online and traveling far for some of them. But looking at her now? totally worth it.
The Blue and white paint job I gave her, match the original handles and the trims of the wheels, which have been polished and all the old rust took off and replaced.
Yeah, she's perfect.
"You fixed her?" Jensen asks walking around admiring the bike.
"Yeah," I clear my throat. "Someone one time told me that the 1987 Suzuki was one hell of a bike." I tease.
Jensen walks around the bike, his eyes taking in every detail, carefully like she will break he touches the seat and drags his finger over it.
"I can't believe you found one, " he mumbles to himself,
"Sam mentioned to me he doesn't ride anymore, do you?"
His eyes flick up to mine and lord Almighty, it takes everything not to sway with the intensity of his gaze.
"Not for a long time, " he stands up rounding the bike but I can see he is reluctant to take his eyes off her.
"She's fully restored, so you know, " I tell him. "If you ever wanted to ride her you can."
He stops a few feet from me putting his hands in his pockets.
"I'll keep that in mind," His eyes frown looking over my face, "What happened to your eye?" he asks.
"Oh," I roll my eyes thinking about Chris." I fired an idiot who used to work here, as you can see he didn't take it very well, But I'm okay."
He doesn't say anything else just stairs at the now slightly blue and green bruise. I start to get a bit apprehensive and cross my arms, not noticing I'm doing it I take a small step back.
"Can I see you again?" he asks flicking his eyes to me.
"What?" I quickly ask him and feel like cringing with how high my voice is.
He grins noticing and walks up to me. "I said, I want to see you again, preferably in a restaurant, with just the two of us."
He stops in front of me not dropping that grin.
"What do you say? For old times sake?"
Instead of answering like a normal person, I nod my head, all the while screaming inside I'm going on a date with Jensen.
"Good girl," he deliberately brushes his body against mine when he moves to go past.
I hold my breath when his body slightly grazes mine. I try and keep my eyes adverted hoping he will just go past but Jensen is in no hurry.
"Tomorrow I'll pick you up, text me your address," ultimately he moves past and heads to the door. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding, I call out to him when something pops in my head.
"I Don't have your number?"
Reaching the door, he opens it before taking one last look at me.
"I know you're a busy woman, Adria, although I'm sure you will find the time," with a wink he walks out the garage, and the door shuts behind him leaving me alone.
It's not until later, I realize what he meant.
He was the one texting me.