That drink Stevie agreed to have with Tom turned into a few more over the next couple of days, then he asked her out to dinner and after several weeks, they were on a date. They weren't flaunting their relationship, but they weren't really hiding it either. Nobody seemed to mind at work, except Lindsey. He hated seeing as Stevie arrived with Tom every morning or when he drove her home. He saw them spending their lunch breaks together and something as natural as that made his blood boil. He wanted to fire the pair of them, every time they smiled passing by each other.
There was a nice little restaurant not too far from where Stevie lived and it was where she and Tom would usually go to. After dinner and desert, which Stevie complained about to Tom, asking him did he want her to get fat, as he just rolled his eyes and told her to eat it, they were taking their time walking back to Stevie's.
Tom was a lovely guy, she thought, such a gentleman. He saw her shudder and he didn't hesitate to take off his jacket and put it on her shoulders. She thanked him and let him take her hand. But that was pretty much all that she let him do, plus a kiss here and there. Stevie knew she wasn't going to have a long-term relationship with this man, no she just needed him for a little while, even if it was selfish of her. He made her forget about her wedding that never happened and it also kept Lindsey away.
"I'm sorry, but I'm not going to invite you in tonight. I'm exhausted." Stevie said, when they reached the apartment building.
"Oh, it's okay." Tom smiled, cupping her cheek with the palm of his hand. "You go rest and I'll be here tomorrow to pick you up."
"See you then." She stifled a yawn, sensing he was leaning closer for a kiss.
"Goodnight, beautiful."
She half smiled and waved at him, before walking through the door inside. She made it to her floor and rummaged through her bag for the keys. She sighed kicking off her heels, as she flicked the light on. It couldn't have been ten minutes, when Stevie heard a knock.
"What on earth are you doing here?" She glared, a hand on her hip. "Have you been creeping outside, waiting for me?"
"I may have." Lindsey shrugged, hands in his pockets, as arrogant as ever. "You and him look ridiculous together."
"You got that off your chest, you can go now." Stevie wanted to close the door, but he didn't let her, sticking his foot in the doorway. "I am not in the mood to communicate with you."
"Hey... I, uh... actually, I came here to apologize."
"Wait, what? Did I hear that correctly?"
"Yeah, yeah, now stop looking at me that way."
Stevie smirked, crossing her arms. "This had to be unbelievably hard for you, I'm sure. How many times in your life have you told someone you were sorry? Or is this the first one?"
"Will you just accept my apology and let me in?" Lindsey was getting frustrated, especially knowing that she had moved above him in their power play.
"Why should I? You said you were sorry, now off you go."
Lindsey realized fairly quickly after that little incident in his office that he wasn't going to get Stevie if he forced himself onto her, she was clearly unlike other women that had been a part of his life. He had to try a different approach, therefore, he could not show her he was getting more annoyed with each second.
"You're still pissed off."
"Of course I am." She nodded, but stepped aside and let him enter her home. "You're not the first man to try and have his way with me, you know? What gets me angry is that you think you can do it and it's totally normal."
"I was not trying to have my way with you, let's get that straight." Lindsey held up a hand, defending himself.
"Oh? It sure came across like you were." Stevie guided him to the living room and offered to take a seat. "Can I get you anything?"
"Thanks." He shook his head, so she sat next to him. "Again, I'm sorry I acted the way I did. Yes, I'm an asshole and I... well, I have a thing for beautiful women, what else can I say?"
"I'm going to call you Lindsey."
"Sure."
"Lindsey, you have a wife! How many more times do I have to remind you that?"
"And marrying her was a mistake. I needed to somehow start out, make a name for myself and her father is filthy rich. Those suits weren't cheap for a twenty something year old, who just graduated."
"You don't love her?"
"God no! She's an obsessive bitch. If it was up to her, she'd have me on a leash. Lindsey, we're going to this opera tomorrow night, Lindsey, we'll be attending that opening of a gallery... I'm so tired of her. I can barely look at her, that's why I look elsewhere..."
"Why don't you divorce her?" Stevie listened to him speak, as she started taking off her jewelry.
"Because I kind of feel like I've used her and she's wasted about ten years of her life with me and if I leave her now, then I definitely am the top contender for the asshole of the year title."
"Aw, you have a heart after all! You know the right from wrong." Lindsey rolled his eyes, as Stevie laughed. "I'll be right back."
Lindsey sighed, leaning against the back of the couch, finally loosening up a bit. This was good, this was working. I don't feel like she wants to murder me anymore, Lindsey chuckled to himself, not noticing Stevie coming back.
"You're weird."
"I just... remembered something funny." He lied, seeing her place a nightie and a silk robe on the couch where she sat before.
"So, are you going to suffer for the rest of your life then?" Stevie returned to their previous conversation, as she began undoing the buttons of her blouse. She took it off, standing in front of him in just a short skirt and a bra.
"What..." He swallowed. "What are you doing?"
"Testing you." She smirked, turning her back to him, showing to the zipper of her skirt. "A little help?"
Lindsey hesitated, but stood up and took a step closer to her. "My hands are a bit cold."
"I'm only asking you to undo the zipper."
"Right..." He coughed, trying to do just that.
He unfastened the zipper, the skirt still hugging her hips. She stood with her eyes closed, awaiting his next move, wondering if there's going to be any at all. His eyes traveled from her neck to her butt, that was too close to his groin, closing his eyes as well, as he sank his teeth into his clenched fist and backed away.
"There, uh... there you go."
"Thank you." Stevie smiled, facing him again for a moment, before she turned around again and unclasped her bra, his eyes following the lacy piece, as she threw it aside and pulled the nightgown over her head. She put on the robe too and tied the sash in a loose knot.
"That was really cruel."
"But you passed, you should be proud of yourself."
"Do I get anything as a reward?"
Stevie thought for a second, then placed her hands on his thighs and leaned in to kiss him, biting his lower lip as she pulled away. "Good enough?"
"No, but that will have to do."
She laughed at his genuine response and straightened up. "Well then, Mr. Bossman... I have to ask you to leave now. I need my beauty sleep."
"You don't need it. You're a stunner."
"I'm not kissing you again tonight."
"Somehow I don't doubt it."
Stevie led him to the door, the tension between them easing off little by little. "It was nice of you to apologize and I do accept it."
"Good. Thank you. I'm not always like that..."
"I'm glad you opened up to me."
"Plan some more tests for me. That kiss was really nice." They smiled at each other, as she held onto the door handle and he was already out in the hallway. "Have a goodnight, Ms. Nicks."
"You too, Mr. Buckingham."
She closed the door and locked it, feeling butterflies in her belly starting to awake...