Workplace Romance Collection 1, page 1
Workplace Romance
Collection 1
Jade Winters
Contents
Love Interrupted
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty-One
Chapter Forty-Two
Chapter Forty-Three
Chapter Forty-Four
Chapter Forty-Five
Chapter Forty-Six
Chapter Forty-Seven
Chapter Forty-Eight
Chapter Forty-Nine
Chapter Fifty
Chapter Fifty-One
Just One Destiny
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Falling
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
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Love Interrupted
Chapter One
Dylan grabbed a bottle of Jack Daniels from the kitchen worktop and took a hearty swig. Kicking off her heels and dropping her bag on the grey porcelain tiled floor, she hurried along the hallway to run a bath. She felt momentary disgust with herself. Of course, she had known what kind of man Mr Michaels was, yet she had helped him keep his fortune while the mother of his children lived a life of poverty. He was pond scum. No, even that was too good for him. He was Satan incarnate. So what did that make her? A very good divorce solicitor!
She grabbed a fresh towel from the airing cupboard, and her mind turned to her prize—the reward she would receive for being a traitor to her sex. It was a dirty job denying people a financial settlement they thought they were entitled to, but someone had to do it, so why not her? After all, she’d been groomed for the position ever since she had begun studying law ten years ago. Dylan smiled inadvertently at the thought of the hefty bonus and pay rise that was in store for her. The only thing that put a dampener on her spectacular win was there was no mention of the elusive partnership she so desperately wanted.
Dylan stripped naked and unceremoniously threw her clothes to the other side of the room before sinking into the soothing warm water, breathing in the bath oils she’d mixed. Bottle of Jack still in hand, she closed her eyes, turning her thoughts to the evening ahead. Dylan realised with dismay she hadn’t had sex in over three months, which was a lifetime for her. Her latest case overwhelmed her to the point of working as many as sixteen hours a day. She barely had the time to sleep, let alone anything else.
‘Sex or sleep? Sex or sleep?’ she said aloud, lifting the bottle’s neck to her lips. The burning liquid assaulted her throat and tongue, sliding down her gullet and warming her insides. Dylan hated to admit it, but she missed having a woman in her life. Not only for the sex but the companionship. Unfortunately, her work schedule allowed insufficient time to build a strong foundation for a relationship. When it came down to choosing between love or work, she always chose the latter, and she couldn’t see that changing anytime soon.
‘Oh, sod it, I can sleep when I’m dead,’ she said, finally making up her mind to cruise the bars in search of someone she could connect with for a few hours. It would help to recharge her batteries for her next case. After all, it could be the one that finally propelled her onto the next step of the partnership ladder.
Chapter Two
Harper only realised it was after nine when the sound of her mobile phone broke her attention. She glanced down at the caller ID. Oh crap, now I’m really in for it. She cleared her throat and put the phone to her ear.
‘Hey, sweetheart. Now, before you say a word, hear me out …’
‘I’m all ears.’ The voice on the other end of the line was cold and impersonal.
‘I was meant to meet you earlier, right?’ It was as clear as day that Harper was fishing. In all honesty, she couldn’t actually remember their arrangements.
‘Kaboom. She’s suddenly regained her memory. Harper, I sat by myself in that damn restaurant for over an hour. The looks of pity were an embarrassment. Even the waiter knew I’d been stood up. I felt like a right prat. And to do this to me on my birthday of all days. How fucking humiliating is that?’
‘Stella, God! I’m so sorry. Shit. I totally forgot.’ Harper jumped to her feet and began clearing her desk. ‘Twenty minutes. I’ll be there in twenty.’ I need to get her a card, dammit! I hope Tesco is open. If I show up empty-handed, my life won’t be worth jack shit.
‘Don’t bother,’ Stella mumbled. ‘You’re everywhere but where I need you … always.’
‘Come on now. That’s so not true.’ Harper scrambled for an example to prove her point, grabbing the first one that came to mind. ‘Ha! I came to your nan’s for tea last week,’ she said triumphantly.
‘And left after an hour!’
‘Only ’cause there was an emergency at work.’
‘Exactly. Work, work, work. It’s all you bloody think about. Well, I hope it’s worth it, ’cause I’m done with you and your shit. Go and play superhero on someone else’s time.’
Harper dropped onto her seat. ‘What the hell’s that supposed to mean?’
‘I’ll make this really simple for you, shall I? We. Are. History.’
The line went dead. Harper stared down at her phone. Is she for real? Dumping me over a missed date. What’s the world coming to? Okay, so she knew it wasn’t just any date; it was the poor woman’s birthday, but Stella hadn’t even given her a chance to explain the importance of the case she was reviewing. If she had, she’d have known the blame for her absence lay at the door of the hot-shot divorce solicitor who had literally run circles around her colleague earlier today. Harper was all for trying to win the best outcome for a client, but some of the underhanded tactics played by the opposing solicitor to get the right deal for her own client, were outrageous. It seemed the rumours about Dylan Blue being cold-blooded and ruthless were true. I bet she’d go as far as selling her own mother if it helped her win a case. Harper closed the file she had been reading, opened her desk drawer, dropped it in, and slammed it shut. It was true she wanted to save the wo
Like me, once upon a time.
Harper grabbed a pile of work files from her desk and headed for the door. The one saving grace was that it wasn’t her who had to tell the client that after being a housewife for forty years and rearing two sons, she was going to get nothing—at sixty-five the woman was now penniless.
Damn Dylan Blue—if Harper ever had the misfortune of crossing paths with that woman, she’d look her straight in the eye and tell her exactly what she thought of her.
Chapter Three
Robyn paced the living room floor, a pinched, tension-filled expression on her inflamed face. ‘Why the hell should I have to pay maintenance for your baby?’
Abi blinked rapidly. ‘Oh my God, I can’t believe this. My … my baby? Have you heard yourself? You’re talking as if I planned for our baby by myself.’
‘Rephrase that, Abi,’ Robyn scowled. ‘There’s no “our”. That’s what I’ve been trying to drum into your thick skull for the past year.’
Abi cocked her head. Her heart pounded against her chest, but she fought to keep her voice steady. ‘So what’re you saying? That you’re just gonna walk away like you’ve got no responsibility towards our child? ’Cause if you do, think again. I don’t care what you say, Robyn, Jake’s your son, and you’re as much responsible for him as I am.’
Abi’s estranged wife’s illogical behaviour astonished her. Just over a year ago, Robyn was excited about trying for a child. Fast forward to today, and it felt like seven lifetimes ago.
‘No, that’s where you’re wrong.’ Robyn stopped near the dining table and pounded her fist on it, causing the contents to fly in the air. ‘You think I’m going to let you and your greedy demands fuck up my life because you can’t bear for me to be finally happy?’
‘Finally happy?’ Abi folded her arms over her stomach. She tried to maintain eye contact with Robyn but bottled it, not able to bear the hate and anger in her eyes. Instead, her gaze dropped to the floor. ‘So what was our time together then? All doom and gloom?’
Robyn took a few jerky steps towards her, then stopped abruptly. Sneering, she threw her hands in the air. ‘I give up. Seriously, we’re just going round in circles. From now on, I’m just letting my solicitor deal with you.’ Brushing past Abi, she stormed towards the front door, kicking a packet of nappies lying in the hallway to the side. ‘Look at the fucking state of this place. It’s a shithole.’ Roughly pulling up a folded buggy that had fallen in front of the door, she reached for the door handle and wrenched it open.
Abi did a quick run-walk behind her, glancing through the crack of Jake’s bedroom door as she passed by. ‘That’ll be about right. Run away. Why did I expect anything different from you?’ Abi called out as Robyn started towards the communal stairs. The stench of piss in the air was overpowering. Abi nearly laughed out hysterically when she saw Robyn’s face crease in disgust. Imagine having to frigging live here.
Robyn stopped a couple of steps down and glared at Abi through a space in the railings. Her eyes burned into Abi’s with mock pity. ‘You’ve brought this all on yourself, not me.’
Abi slapped a hand on her forehead. ‘Are you crazy? You’re punishing me because I want you to be part of Jake’s life. Despite the fact that you cheated on me. No mention of that in the divorce petition was there?’ She stooped slightly, bending to hold the rail. Her trembling hands gripped the cold steel tightly. ‘And now you don’t wanna help raise him or pay maintenance. What kind of a mother are you?’ she demanded, her eyes wide and wet with the sting of betrayal.
‘A reluctant one,’ Robyn said, raking her hands through her hair. ‘And I’ll tell you what’s crazy. Expecting me to pay for a child that isn’t even blood-related, that’s crazy. If you want an easy ride, go and find yourself a rich sugar daddy.’
‘You actually think I want the money for me?’ Abi quickly scanned her immediate surroundings to see if any of her neighbours’ doors were ajar, eavesdropping on their conversation. Satisfied they weren’t, she continued, ‘This isn’t about us. My only concern is Jake and what he needs to make sure he has a decent upbringing.’
Robyn fixed her with a stony stare. ‘No, what I think is that you’re jealous that I’ve found someone else.’ She spat the words through gritted teeth. ‘It burns you that I’ve got someone younger, doesn’t it?’
Abi said nothing. Instead, she watched as Robyn broke into a run, taking two steps at a time. Seconds later, she heard the entrance door slam shut with finality. Despite the warm air, she involuntarily shivered and wrapped her arms around her chest. Defeated, she slowly returned to her flat. She had neither her youth nor beauty with which to retaliate. She was just a single mother, working two jobs, trying to make ends meet. Robyn was right about one thing, though. Her life was a mess, and she had no one to blame but herself.
She had given up her dreams and aspirations for love and look where it had landed her.
Chapter Four
Adrenaline coursed through Robyn’s body as she jumped into the driver’s seat and slammed the door behind her. She dropped her forehead onto the steering wheel with a muffled thud. ‘That bloody woman infuriates me.’ Mimicking a growling dog, she then added, ‘How did I let this happen to me, Tiffany? How?’
‘Calm yourself down and tell me what happened,’ Tiffany chastised, rummaging through the Subway bag sat on her lap.
‘Abi’s still going on at me about wanting money for the baby.’
When Robyn initiated divorce proceedings a week ago, she had stupidly assumed the process would be a quick one. She hadn’t considered for a second that Abi would be so hard to get rid of. She was refusing to get divorced until Robyn agreed to pay for her baby’s upbringing. Like that’s ever going to happen.
Tiffany unwrapped her sandwich and took a large bite from it, chomping away with her mouth open. ‘You’re gonna have to sort this out pretty sharpish ’cause you’re gettin’ seriously borin’. All you ever yap on about is that bloody baby and her mother.’
Robyn tilted her head to the side and grimaced. ‘Weren’t you taught not to speak with your mouth full?’
‘Hey, don’t start gettin’ arsey with me,’ she said firmly. ‘I ain’t the one tryin’ to fuck you over.’
Robyn closed her eyes and groaned. ‘You’re right. My bitch of an ex is.’
‘Anyway, maybe you should take your dad’s offer of gettin’ you a new solicitor? The one you’ve got at the moment is an idiot.’
‘You’ve got that right. Seriously, what solicitor in their right mind would think handing over fourteen hundred quid a month for a baby that isn’t mine, is “reasonable”? It’s daylight robbery. I’d rather go on benefits than have to pay it.’
Robyn sank back in her seat and wiped the thin film of perspiration from her forehead with the back of her hand. Just when she thought her life was on the up and up, a big black cloud appeared, pelting fat raindrops down on her dreams.
She had spent months fantasising about making love with Tiffany in Venice while the gondolas hovered on the water, their fire-lit lamps reflecting on the rippling waves of the lazy canals. The two of them sipping red wine in the vineyards of Tuscany at sunset, enjoying the good life. Abi’s stubbornness had soon put a stop to that. Until her divorce was finalised, the plans for Robyn’s work promotion and transfer to Italy were on hold.
Tiffany devoured the remaining piece of her sandwich, only speaking once her mouth was empty. ‘So whatcha gonna do then? Something’s gotta give.’
Robyn huffed. ‘The one saving grace is Abi can’t afford a solicitor. So, yeah, I think I will let Daddy hire me someone new. Someone who can put the fear of God into her. There’s no fucking way I’m letting some over-the-hill has-been ruin my life.’
In the cold light of day, Robyn saw Jake as just another burden, the same as his mother, and Robyn wanted nothing to do with either of them.
Tiffany flipped down the mirror and messed with her hair. ‘So that’s sorted then. Let’s go and get pissed. All this drama between you two is depressin’ the fuck out of me.’
‘It’s quite frightening.’
Tiffany pulled a face. ‘What is? Goin’ out for a drink?’
‘No. To see how much Abi has changed. She looks like shit.’
Robyn’s mind sourced hazy images from a time when Abi looked so hot; just one glance from her ocean-blue eyes was enough to seduce Robyn on the spot. How she used to love running her fingers through Abi’s thick, long, glossy hair. That was before she became pregnant with that parasite. Ever since she gave birth, Abi had been a shadow of her former self. Dark shadows under her eyes and a pale complexion seemed to be her permanent features nowadays. Robyn glanced over at Tiffany as she ran liner carefully along the curvature of her lips. Licking her lips to moisten them, she applied her lipstick and rounded it off with strawberry gloss. Tiffany was just what she liked, her fresh skin still unblemished and smooth. Robyn loved young women. They were so impressionable. They had no idea what life was really about, how cruel it could be, or how easy they were for men and women to feed on.
