Irrevocably HIS

Chapter Six

I slowly wake up with a heavy arm wrapped around my stomach. What the heck is going on? Honestly, the only thing I remember is waking up feeling extremely drained the other morning, making a beeline for the toilet, vomiting every single that coated my stomach and then collapsing onto my bed in a fetal position. What transpired afterward is a mystery to me.

I try to shimmy from this heaviness but find my other arm aching and when I look down, it's because I am hooked up to an IV. My eyes widen from the line of sight I take from my arm to the bags nearly empty above me. I then tear my gaze to find said arm moving and I shriek. My shriek gained the attention to the person beside me and if I could vomit again, I would.

I watch as my boss blinks rapidly before seeing exactly why I had screamed.

"s**t, I must've dozed off." He says like this isn't the weirdest f*****g moment in history. I may be sick and all but I'm not stupid. What the f**k is he doing here? I can never catch a break.

"What the hell are you doing here Tatum." I say in a clipped tone while trying to sit up as best as I can, gripping my blanket and making sure to cover myself up. I want to think he was a gentleman but I don't know him anymore. He could be some kind of perv for all I know. I was clearly out of it. I shudder at the thought and try to make sense of everything but fall flat. I look at the IV line in my arm and begin to carefully pull at it knowing that the bags are now empty.

"Whoa, wait, what are you doing? You can't just tear that out of your arm! Let me call the doctor." Tatum nearly squeals and I just roll my eyes.

"I know how to remove an IV without causing damage to myself Tatum. This isn't my first rodeo." I've been sick multiple times throughout the years, mostly garnering visits to the ER. I am definitely not good with infections. I become a shell of myself. I continue to do what I am doing as I strategically remove the IV from my vein and press down on it with the tissue that is right beside me on the bed to ensure I stop the bleeding. Against my better judgement, I slowly rise to a sitting position with my legs dangling off my bed. I see that I am still fully clothed and sigh wit relief. Damnit. I feel horrible, and I must smell and look horrible. Embarrassment like no other washes over me making me internally cringe. How the hell did he manage to lie next to me?

Tatum is now standing at the end of my bed with a look of what I want to say is concern but I am banking on something else. He never showed the least bit of humanity since I met him again. What makes now any exception?

"Do you need help standing?" He says and I quirk a brow at him, still confused about why he is here and how he is even in my apartment. I grit my teeth and push my arms against the mattress to try and stand and immediately regret it before nearly collapsing. Tatum, however, predicted the moment and has his arms wrapped around me to keep me steady. His closeness reminds me of the other day in my hallway, and I can't help but needing to hate the feel of it, yet, my body deny's my head and hearts logic. I push against him, seething with rage.

"I got it. Let go." I say rather harshly but he manages to let go hesitantly, making me think he wants to remain next to me. I begin to move and I can finally feel my legs again. I desperately need a shower and once I manage to do that, I need to get some answers. I make my way to my small bathroom before turning around to settle my gaze on Tatum who looks like a lost child just watching my every move, making me want to laugh but I refrain from doing so.

"I'm taking a shower and then you and I are having a little chat. This is beyond weird having my boss in my apartment." I say before closing the door making no room for him to reply to me. The heat from the shower feels so good against my body that I let out a slight moan. I suds my body with my vanilla body wash and then quickly shave because I can feel the mini hairs everywhere. I am an absolute stickler for shaving. I wash rinse repeat twice with my oatmeal shampoo and conditioner, and by the time I get out, I feel a shitload better.

I exit the bathroom, clinging onto my towel wrapped around my body, hair dripping down my neck, to find Tatum sitting on my bed, this time, patiently waiting. Well, that's a new look on him. Even so, it freaks me out. He made it known where he stands and the moment his words left his mouth that night, I vowed to not let it tear at my heartstrings. He will never be the Tatum I adored back then. Who was I to think there would be a shred of him even left? All I wind up doing is falling for assholes and allowing them to invade my heart only to tear it to shreds and I am forced to pick the pieces up by myself, only having one person to blame for my stupidity. Never. Again.

"Take it you enjoyed your shower?" He says with a tone that is unlike the one he uses at the office with me.

"Okay, first things first. For both of our sanities, cut the act. This is all too much to handle right now. Go back to being the cutthroat asshole I have come to know and tell me exactly why you are here and how you are inside my apartment." I say standing eyeing him apprehensively. He nods his head and he looks so out of his element. I've never seen him so unsure of himself before. I don't think it helps to see me in just a towel but oh well.

"You, you didn't show up for work the other day and I immediately found Kaden who told me you were sick. The very notion of you being sick, alone mind you, didn't bode well for me so I took it upon myself to come check up on you and thankfully I got here in time. You were lying on the bed, delirious, barely moving, with an intense fever that I immediately had my personal doctor come and assess you. I, I remember from back in the day that sicknesses wreak havoc to your body. I couldn't just stand back and do nothing. I, I couldn't allow myself to turn away from you. You needed help. I did what any person with a conscience would do." He says as if I need to immediately jump into his arms and thank him for his kindness. I don't miss the fact that he said he was a man with a conscience. Isn't that a load.

"Well, thank you I guess? Still doesn't explain how you literally got into my apartment." I say crossing my arms against my chest. I may be in a towel but this is my apartment, and also a way to get under his skin because if his heated gaze is anything to go by, I know I am thoroughly messing with him. He grabs the back of his neck looking all kinds of sheepish.

"Don't freak out but, but I had made a copy of your keys when you were at lunch one day. It was after our, um, well yeah." He says and I balk at him.

"You made a copy of my keys?! Are you f*****g insane?! You are my boss Tatum. I am your employee! How is that not some f****d up s**t right there?! You! You act as if I am a possession to you, one that you can control. We aren't kids any more Tatum. You can't just act like a f*****g alpha human being and then just discard me like I am the s**t beneath your shoe when s**t becomes real." I yell but I am just too drained to continue my rant. Why dwell on everything that was when I need to focus on everything that will be. Absolutely. Nothing.

"This is ridiculous. I'm up now. I'm better. I'll make sure to get some more rest and I will see you at work tomorrow. Must be a lot to catch up on and I don't need my boss hounding me. He can be a ruthless fuck." I say making him flinch from my words as I walk to my door, making sure he gets the hint to get his ass out.

"Don't worry about that. I'll give that to someone else. You have more pressing matters to deal with. I wanted to surprise you but when you hadn't shown to work, it kind of ruined it." He says and I am baffled at what I could have possibly found myself to deal with now. I'm pretty sure he isn't taking the hint to leave so I just sigh and lean against my door.

"What do I have to do now Mr. Kennedy?" I say.

"I've decided to go ahead with the community center you proposed. It's yours. Do what you need to do to make it the vision you pitched." He says as if that could bring me solace right about now. Is he toying with me? Is this what pity looks like? I want none of it.

"No." I say to which his eyebrows rise seemingly shellshocked with my answer.

"No? What do you mean no? You're the one who came up with the idea. You pitched it. It's up to you to follow through. You earned this." He says becoming agitated. Good. Get agitated fucker.

"Do you not know the definition of the word no? I mean it Tatum. No. The only reason why you are doing this is because of pity. You pity the fact that I live in this dump. You pity my condition. You pity me. I don't want your pity. I don't need your pity. You hired me to be your assistant and that is what I will continue to do. I will not take advantage of the fact that we had history together to fathom even heightening my career. I shouldn't have crossed the line with my ideas and for that I am sorry. When my time comes to an end at your office, I will make sure to aim higher, and never settle, no matter how enticing." I say to which he scoffs. He makes a move to come closer to me but I give him a glare that shows I want him to remain right where he is. He stops as I watch his gaze morph into anger.

"Pity? You think I pity you? I am giving you an opportunity to do just that, and become greater! You can rise from the position you were hired for through my company. You can be who you want to be with me guiding you. You aren't leaving me. I won't allow that to happen. Not again." He says like he has a choice. I bark out a laugh. Guess I haven't lost my spine.

"Cut the bullshit Tatum. Whatever you are trying to prove to me, to yourself, is falling on deaf ears. You are the one that approached me. You are the one that hired me. You are the one that f****d everything up and kissed me. You are the one that broke me, which is what you intended to do am I right? There is only one common factor to all of that. You hate me. You don't want to see me achieve the goals that I have dreamt of. You don't want me to happy. You don't want to see me strive. You want to see me fall because you will be the one controlling that aspect since you blame me for morphing you into this cold hearted f**k. I won't be damaged to help thirst your need for revenge. You made it clear as day that you hate me so let's keep it at that. I only know how to handle you that way. I can't. I can't allow myself to believe that you don't have ulterior motives. If I allow myself that, then I will only wind up getting hurt, again." I say before opening my door.

"Thanks for the save Mr. Kennedy, but from here on out, leave me be." I say to which his face falls. He grabs his suit jacket from the chair, throwing it over his arm before he picks up a bottle of what looks to be medicine.

"Take these after eating. They're antibiotics." He says softly, not eyeing me once, before exiting my apartment. I close the door behind him and close my eyes tightly to keep from becoming effected over someone. This isn't on me. He chose for me to look at him in only one way. He accomplished his task. The only thing I need to do now is job hunt. I won't stay somewhere I know I am not wanted, even if he thinks differently.

The next day couldn't come any faster as I make my way to the office. I'm rather early so I decide to stop off at the convenience store and grab myself a coffee, the newspaper catching my eye at the fact that it has Tatum's face plastered all over it, showing him shopping at some luxury jewelry spot. I would say I am shocked and hurt but I cast my feelings aside because I knew everything was a facade.

I take a sip of the coffee and it brings me a bit of peace while also going down rather smoothly. I know I just had a cup before I left my two by four, but I need to be on the ball for my first day back, especially while having to look at the man clearly on his way to becoming a taken man. I shake any and all feelings I may have trapped within me and make my way into the office and come to find a totally different person behind the front counter. No longer is Ms. Bitchy sitting there, instead a middle aged woman who looks wholesome and sweet.

"Good morning my dear. Do you work here?" She says in such a nice tone that I am floored. I smile at her and show my ID card.

"Ah, brilliant. Have a good day Ms. Erickson." She says and I can't help but do a double take. I call for the elevator that comes rather quickly and then make my way inside. I once again look at the lady behind the desk and just shrug it off. Maybe she is a temp, even though I hope she isn't. Ms. Bitchy will be back and will continue to throw daggers my way. The elevator opens and I make my way out heading straight for my desk. Tatum's office is still closed so I figure he must be running late, which is again not like him. I power on my desktop as I shed myself of my coat and sit down and wait. Once it boots up, I immediately check my emails and get to it when the sound of footsteps make me look up.

"Good morning Annie." Tatum says to me making my eyes go wide. I must look like a deer caught in headlights as he just chuckles softly. What game is he playing here? He has never said my name and vowed he never would. This fucker.

"It's Ms. Erickson to you. Only my friend can call me Annie." I reply hoping he knows exactly who I am referring to. His eyes narrow at my comment and I internally smile knowing he knows.

"No fraternizing within my company Annie." He says pointedly and I just roll my eyes.

"You should take your own advice and stick to Ms. Erickson." I say before continuing to type out his agenda for the week. He opens his office door but before he closes it, he replies.

"That rule doesn't apply to us Annie." Once again, I am a deer caught in headlights.

Us?

What the hell is wrong with him?

I am too focused on typing out the remainder of the agenda for the week that I don't even notice the clacking of heels and my teeth grind against each other when she comes into view.

"Is he in?" Cassandra says, standing there in all her infamous beauty.

"Yes. I don't think you need an introduction so go ahead and see yourself in." I say as raw jealousy courses through me. His words from before vibrate against my mind but I toss it aside. Like hell there will be an us when every moment together has been nothing but unbridled fury. I begin to mentally berate myself when a fresh pair of shoes can be heard stepping off the elevator. I click print on the calendar of events when someone looms over my desk. My eyes slowly trail up to his face when my breath hitches.

"Lex?" I say as he gives me one of his signature smiles. The only smile that could light up my whole world once upon a time.

"Hello sunshine." He says as I roll my chair out and stand slowly. My heart constricts in my chest and I want nothing more than to make my escape. I look to the elevator but Lex takes a step in the direction I am looking, giving me a look of guilt.

"You still are as beautiful as I remember. How are you doing? I didn't know you worked here." He says as if we are old friends, like I owe him an explanation or even a damn conversation. Memories come flooding back to me and I need to bite the inside of my mouth to keep from hyperventilating.

"Mr. Higgins. Mind telling me why my assistant looks like she has seen a ghost?" Tatum says from the side of me, hands in his suit pockets. I remain stock still not really having a connection to my body at the moment. Tatum can sense my inner turmoil as he comes to stand beside me, placing his hand on the small of my back. The simple gesture awakens my body making goosebumps rise against my skin.

"Annie and I? Oh we go way back. Isn't that right sunshine?" He says looking at me to throw him a bone.

"I, um, Mr. Higgins is someone that is from my past. Someone that will continue to remain in my past." I say as I remove myself from the clear elevated testosterone level equation.

"If you'll excuse me gentleman. I need to continue working." I say as I round my office only to have Lex grab my wrist in his hand.

"Annie. Please." He says just below a whisper but I don't even register his words. He doesn't get to fake hurt when all I did was drown in misery because of him.

"I would kindly refrain from touching my Annie." Tatum says with a look of murder in his eyes. Lex let's go rather quickly as he turns to assess Tatum.

"Yours? I beg to differ Mr. Kennedy. From what I can gather, you are well near to being engaged to Cassandra are you not? Nevertheless, I am here on business. Let's go talk some before I lose my cool at the thought of you having any romantic notions for my fiancé." Lex says with hostility as I catch Tatum's gaze turn to me with hurt flashing in his eyes. Not wanting to deal with any of this but feeling as if I have to quell the tension in the room, I finally find my voice.

"Ex fiancé." I say as I watch the rigidness fall from Tatum's posture as I make my way to the copy room. I gather what I need and make my way back to my desk only to come face to face with Cassandra and the realization that she had been there the entire time dawns on me.

"If I were you, I'd stay far, far, away from Tatum. He is mine and always has been. My name is the only name that will fall from his lips when he falls over the edge. You think he would choose you over me? I'm class while you're nothing but trash. Remember your status gold digger." She says with a hint of pure malice in her eyes. She stalks away clearly angry but I don't have it in me to care. I have no idea why she would be threatened of me? She has the beauty, the body, the guy. I have nothing. I keep telling myself that and begin to finally feel I can continue with my days work when the office opens with Lex walking out looking like his face was clearly drained of color, much like mine had done when he first came to stand by my desk. As soon as his eyes meet mine, the color soon comes back to his face and I keep myself from rolling my eyes. He approaches my desk. I keep my eyes on my desktop clearly wanting nothing to do with him.

"Can we talk sunshine? Please?" He says as I watch Tatum walk and lean against the doorframe of his office making his presence known. I don't know whether to feel grateful or pissed.

"There is nothing to talk about Lex." I say, chancing a look at him, seeing my words make his hopeful face flutter away. He stalks closer to me, making me bristle with rage at his audacity.

"I f****d up. I know I did. You were my everything and I let you go without good cause. I should have seen what an amazing woman you were instead of pushing you out of my life. Out of our apartment." He says which makes Tatum straighten, anger radiating from him, fists balled my his sides.

"What's done is done Lex. If there is nothing else you need, please leave. I am sure Mr. Kennedy will be in touch with you regarding business." I say in a clipped tone.

"You know there is still something between us sunshine. I love you. I will continue to love you. All I need is another chance to prove to you that it is you I want." He says as he leans in closer, both hands on my desk at this point. Tatum coughs behind him making Lex step away from my desk but his eyes solely trained on me.

"I no longer need to think about my choice. I think I have come to a conclusion." Tatum says with an angry tone.

"You're officially cut from the merger. I want nothing to do with you or your company. Whatever my father saw in it is beyond me. It was always that unneeded branch that needed to be cut off at some point." He says with no room for discussion.

"You can't be serious. Is this because of Annie? You have nothing that Annie could ever want. She has been mine for a long time and will be again. Just you wait." He says wanting to provoke Tatum but he just remains there looking like a blank slate.

"Please leave or I will have security come and escort you out. You have ten seconds." Tatum says with such authority. Lex looks between me and Tatum. He doesn't know what to believe but when I see Tatum dialing someone on his phone, Lex jumps into action.

"This isn't over Annie." He says before hustling towards the elevator. Once is he gone, I release the breath I didn't know I was holding.

"You're going to need to explain everything Annie." Tatum finally says, his face filled with confusion and pain.

"Why?" I say breathlessly.

"I just cut ties with a multi million dollar corporation for you, not because of you, for you. I want nothing to do with a company that is run by a person that could break the heart of the only woman that I have loved since I was a kid. I'd cut ties with anything and anyone, including this company, who remotely hurt you Annie. I've gotten rid of half the staff here because of how they behaved ethically. If that doesn't show you how much I love you, I don't know what else would. I may have hated you but it is only because you broke my heart and I couldn't find another way to deal with the pain. It was never truly hate. It's always been love. It will always be love. Please say you believe me." He says with such emotion that it nearly floors me if I were standing. I rise from my seat and walk towards him, hoping to god that if I wear my heart on my sleeve that I won't get hurt.

"I believe you." I say before I can change my mind as he pulls me closer and captures my lips with his.