Two weeks later, I was still feeling vulnerable from what had happened between Jackson and me when Drew knocked on my open office door.
"Hi, Emma, do you have a moment?"
"Sure, come in." I watched Drew stride into my office and settle into the chair opposite my desk.
"So, how do you like working at Forrester so far?" Drew was tapping his thumb on his leg, a restless movement that was at odds with his confident and commanding demeanor. He seemed fidgety, something I never associated with Drew.
"I really like it. Everyone has been great and I really like the clients I'm working with." I paused, waiting for Drew to tell me the reason he had stopped by.
"Good, I'm glad to hear that."
I cleared my throat when Drew continued to sit there, watching me. He had stopped fidgeting but the intensity of his gaze discomfited me even more.
"Did you need something, Drew?" I asked gently. He smiled faintly, as if he were slightly embarrassed.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to just sit here staring at you. I was wondering if you wanted to get together for a drink after work today."
I sat there flummoxed, not understanding the intent behind his request. I wanted to assume that he was just being a friendly colleague, but I had a feeling there was something more behind the invitation.
"I'm not sure what time I'll be done. I have a lot of work to get through."
"I can wait. I have plenty of work to do too."
"Well..." I stalled, not knowing how to ask if this was just a friendly drink or if he was asking me out. I didn't know how to refuse either way, since he had volunteered to wait until I was finished with my work.
"I'm usually not this clumsy asking a woman out," Drew said with a wry grin. "I'd rather ask you to dinner, but Celeste said I was better off asking you out for drinks."
"What does Celeste have to do with this?" I asked with a raised eyebrow. Celeste had been on a mission to set me up once she found out I was single, and I was mortified to think that she had pressured Drew into asking me out.
"I didn't know if you were involved with someone, so I asked Celeste," he admitted. "Celeste, being Celeste, didn't let things rest until I told her I was interested."
"I'm flattered, Drew, but it's probably not a good idea to get involved considering we work for the same company." And I was flattered that someone as accomplished and attractive as Drew Stephens was asking me out, but I couldn't banish the thought of Jackson from my mind.
"Forrester is pretty lax," Drew said. "There's no non-fraternization policy and we don't work directly together." He frowned before continuing. "This is the worst way to ask a woman out. Let me be frank. I'm interested in you. I've been interested since we both worked at Mass Comm, but I was in a relationship then and I believe you were as well. You're beautiful, smart and ambitious. I admire that."
I swallowed, not knowing how to respond to such a candid admission of interest. I was about to gently refuse when I thought about Jackson with Candace Stile. During my self-destructive searches online, I had seen a picture of them together in Spain, taking time out from promoting their movie to enjoy the sights. She had been leaning into him, looking up at him and laughing. I had been sickened that the image still had the power to cut me, to make me ache to be the woman that Jackson looked down at so lovingly. At the same time, I was disgusted that Jackson hadn't changed. He had pawed at me while he was in a relationship with another woman.
Drew Stephens had everything to offer a woman and he was interested in me. Work was just an excuse since I knew he was right - Forrester didn't frown on interoffice relationships as long as they didn't involve direct reports. I needed to cultivate a life outside of work, and Drew was an attractive distraction from obsessing over Jackson.
"How can I say no to that?" I responded with a wry smile. "I'd love to get a drink with you after work."
"Great," Drew said beaming. "Just let me know when you're ready to leave."
I was able to push both Jackson and Drew to the back of my mind for the remainder of the day, busy with meetings and clients. I wasn't surprised when Marie announced that Celeste was on the phone for me, claiming it was urgent.
"Hi, Celeste," I said, resigned to the interrogation I knew I would be receiving.
"I had to wait until Drew left for a meeting so that I could call you! What happened?"
"You mean you weren't hiding in the hallway listening to the entire conversation?" I asked, only half-joking.
"I wish," Celeste harrumphed. "Marie shooed me away, telling me it wasn't professional to crouch in the hall."
I reminded myself to thank Marie later. "You know just as much as I do. Drew asked me out for drinks tonight and I accepted."
"I knew you would say yes!" Celeste squealed. "Drew just raised his eyebrows when I asked what happened and then gave me a stack of folders to file. He's never really shared anything about his personal life with me, so I about fell over when he asked me about you earlier."
All the information I knew about Drew was from Celeste, and she didn't know much about him beyond work, despite having been his assistant for years. He seemed like a very private person, much to Celeste's chagrin, and all I knew was that he traveled a lot for work and had never been married.
"I think I need to follow his lead and stop disclosing details about my personal life to you."
"You wouldn't!" Celeste sounded horrified, as if I told her I kidnapped babies in my spare time.
"You'd get it out of me sooner or later," I said chuckling. "Now I really have to get back to work or I'll never be able to meet Drew later and give you all the details tomorrow."
"Okay, no problem!" Celeste said eagerly. "Remember, I want all the details."
I felt a hollow pang as I put the phone receiver back in the cradle. Celeste's words were reminiscent of the past when she would make me promise to share all the details of my relationship with Jackson. I remembered the giddiness I felt when I recounted one of Jackson's sweet gestures to her, and the excitement Celeste had shared when Jackson had given me the diamond pendant. I reminded myself that those memories were tainted with Jackson's betrayal.
It was almost eight o'clock when I finally powered down my computer, happy with the amount of work I had accomplished. The halls were quiet since a lot of people had already left for the day. I quickly dialed Drew's extension, waiting for him to pick up since I knew Celeste was gone.