Quincy met me at the door with that damn smile spread across those luscious lips. "Hey, are you feeling better?"

"I was until I started calling you a half hour ago only to be sent to voicemail."

He ushered me inside, then glanced around the bustling lobby, raising then lowering his arms as he replied, "I am at work, and I told you I would be out of pocket most of the day because of deadlines, remember?"

Muttering, I replied. "I was three sheets in the wind last night. You expect me to remember that?"

With a smirk, he answered. "It was more like five."

He laughed. I wasn't amused. As a matter of fact, I became more irritated with each passing moment. I had never been to the office during business hours, so I didn't know if it was my approach or angry stance that caused people to stare and whisper. I was uncomfortable, but of course, Quincy carried on as usual.

"We were about to break for lunch when Priya told me she noticed you in the parking lot. Care to join us?"

"I'm not good company today." As if he hadn't already figured that out.

"Maybe being in the presence of "good company" will help." He didn't allow me to protest, merely ever so gently gripped my hand, then tugged me towards the elevators.

Once we exited the top floor, he was bombarded by people, questions and tablets needing his signature. Priya saved me from the feeding frizzy by guiding me into an humongous conference room.

"Care for a sandwich?" She asked after closing the door, then pulling back a chair.

"No." I responded while keeping my eyes on Quincy. He moved effortlessly between each person seeking his attention, and a part of me envied his tranquil demeanour. I worked from home and couldn't keep it together when I received five to six phone calls in an hour.

Behind me, I heard. "He's amazing isn't he?"

Now, Priya had my attention.

"Yeah." I gave her the side eye before declaring, "You're fortunate to get to work so close with him... all the time."

I occupied the chair she offered as she smiled and placed a bottle of water in front of me.

"I am fortunate, but I don't work with him all the time. Just when he needs a hand."

"Right." I rolled my eyes to add emphasis to my sarcastic response.

"Are you okay?" Her concern came across more as "what the fuck is wrong with you."

"Peachy, and I think I will take you up on your offer for a sandwich."

Priya smiled through gritted teeth, then proceeded to the spread of lunch on the opposite side of the room. Soon after, Quincy joined us. He kissed me on the cheek as he offered an apology for being distracted. Joining his "assistant" at the food bar, their muttered conversation followed by her chuckle, got on my nerves. I liked her. I just didn't know if I trusted her intimacy with Quincy. She placed a plate of chips and a turkey on rye in front of me, then excused herself from the conference room.

"Where is she off to so fast?"

"Doing what she does, making my life easier. How are you feeling?"

I flipped back the bread and stabbed the pale, limp turkey slices with a plastic fork. "I don't know."

"Care to talk about it?"

"I just spent two hundred dollars 'talking about it.' "

He smirked as he replied, "My rates are a lot cheaper."

Tossing the fork onto the plate, I leaned back, then spun to face Quincy.  "Is there something I need to know about you and Priya?"

"Like what?"

"Like, why she's so infatuated with you."

He lay down his sandwich, wiped his mouth, then asked. "Where did that come from?"

"Doesn't matter."

"Yes, it does. Infatuation is a strong word for someone you barely know and about a relationship you've only  been exposed to for a few months."

"So, there is something there, then."

"Dana, seriously?"

"Yeah, seriously. I just want to know what's Priya's deal and where I rank in your life."

To my surprise, Quincy erupted into a cacophony of laughter and muttering of incoherent phrases.

"There's no punchline, Quincy, and I don't appreciate being mocked by you."

Wiping tears, he attempted to calm himself down. "I apologize, but I'm trying to figure out how we went from "I could love you's" over breakfast to me being interrogated about Priya and a "ranking" system at lunch."

I folded my arms across my chest and glared.

"Okay, okay. Let me get this straight. First, you think there's something between Priya and me."

"Why wouldn't I? She's at your every beck and call."

"Dana, that's literally her job."

"Well, she's too damn good at it in my opinion."

"And that you're entitled to, but to make accusations, that's unwarranted and not fair to Priya."

"That's not an answer, Quincy."

"I'm not going to justify another person to you."

"I'm not worth that?"

"You're worth more than you give yourself credit for."

"Could you cut the Ghandi bullshit for once, and be real with me?"

Quincy spun his chair until our knees touched. Leaning forward, he gripped my hands, then declared, "That might be the problem. I've been nothing but real with you from the moment we met. You just choose not to believe it."

Priya poked her head into the conference room. "Hey, Bancorp is on the line."

"I'm on my way." As soon as the door closed, he added. "I have to go. I would like to continue this conversation tonight, my place?"

"Yeah, whatever." I replied as he planted a kiss on my lips, then disappeared out the door and down the hall.

Priya waited for me outside the conference room.

"I'm sorry I had to interrupt you two, but this is our busy time of month."

"Sure."

On the elevator, she smiled at me. I didn't bother to return the gesture. Once we reached the lobby, I expected her to say goodbye. Instead, Priya matched my stride, remaining silent until we reached my car at the back of the large parking lot. She finally asked. "Do you mind if I ask you a question?"

I mean, she was practically my Siamese twin at that point. Not bothering to verbally respond, I shrugged my left shoulder and swiftly shook my head.

"Are you aware that Quincy hasn't dated anyone for six years?"

"Yes, I am."

"Do you know why?"

"According to him, he was focused on his personal growth."

"He was, and during that time, he also vowed to never fall in love again."

"So, does it bother you that he loves me?"

"Not in the least bit. I knew that three months ago."

Great, she knew more about my love life than I did. My "like" for her began to shift towards annoyance. "How did you know before he told me?"

"Because he stopped brooding and started living again."

"Forgive me if I call bullshit on that. I don't take Quincy Winters as the "brooding type."

"Then you don't know him–"

I jumped at the opportunity to shut her up. "Like you, huh?"

She shook her head, then answered, "Yeah, like me. I love Quincy. I have ever since he came into my life. Dana, he's a good, good man that I will go to the ends of this earth for and back. And I was so pleased when the two of you connected. He deserves every good thing that comes his way, and I swear I want you to be one of those things, but I'm not going to sit back and allow you or anyone else to stress him the hell out."

"Just admit it, then. Admit that you wish he was in love with you instead of me."

"Why, when that's the furthest thing from the truth."

"Then why are you here, in my face, spilling his accolades like a BP oil slick?"

"Because I owe that man my life, that's why."

"That's poetic." I muttered.

"You're a piece of work, but if Quincy loves you, I'll manage."

"You don't need to concern yourself with anything regarding my love life."

"I know your story. I know what you went through the last time you were in love. That's why I believed the two of you were good for one another. But you stroll in here today like you're queen of the fucking castle without knowing the entire story of the king you profess to love. You're not the only person to have endured some shit, Dana. But you are the only person in your relationship who is making everyone else pay for your pain."

"What are you talking about?"

"Ask Quincy." She demanded as she spun on her heel, then began to storm away. A few feet from where we stood, she paused, before announcing over her shoulder. "And for the record, unless Quincy is going to sprout a vagina and a pair of double D's, he has nothing to offer me, so stop digging for something that isn't there."

I didn't see that coming, nor did I expect to leave with more questions than what I had when I arrived. And yeah, great, Priya was a lesbian, but after that exhibition, I moved her from "like" to "tolerable." She wasn't a threat for ending up in Quincy's bed, yet, she was in his head, and that was a place, the place I wanted to be... alone.