Services Collected Boxed Set Read Online Free PDF Page B

of Chunky Monkey and one of Cherry Garcia.
    Every time he did it I burst into tears all over again. He was so sweet. Why couldn’t Jacob be like that?
    I’d thought I’d loved him. I really had. It had been such a short time, but a tornado only took minutes to do lasting damage. How could he betray me like that? How could I have been so naïve?
    In Jacob King’s defense, it was obvious he felt sorry now. Every hour, on the hour, someone had knocked on my door. I never answered, but when they left there were always 12 long stemmed roses waiting for me on the doorstep. The bin was full to overflowing.
    He had tried to call too – multiple times. But it was too late. The damage had been done, and there was nothing he or anyone else could say to change that. Apart from that first, heart breaking conversation on the bus I hadn’t spoken to him again. Eventually, I’d turned the phone off.
    This morning, the day after that day , I woke up refreshed; happy with the world until I realized why I was lying on the couch, empty ice cream buckets at my feet and a 500 Days of Summer DVD on repeat in front of me. I sighed; I was going to need more Chunky Monkey.
    I grabbed my keys, patted down my hair and squinting against anticipated sunlight, opened the door.
    Then I shut it again.
    Then I opened it very, very slowly, and peaked outside.
    The first thing that hit me was red; a sea of red that covered the steps, the front yard, the fence and the footpath – in some areas it had spilled out onto the road. The next thing that hit me was the smell – like walking through the most beautiful garden on a hot summer’s day. I shook my head, trying to make sense of what I was seeing. Were they roses? Good god! How many of them were there? There must be thousands! My heart started beating faster and a funny feeling began to spread from the pit of my stomach. He’d done all this for me!
    I closed the door against the sight, squashing my emotions ruthlessly, resting my head against the frame. This wasn’t going to happen. He wasn’t going to do this to me again. It didn’t matter that I wanted him so badly it hurt. It didn’t matter that my time with him had been the happiest I’d ever had. It didn’t matter that I couldn’t live without him.
    He’d used me – purchased my services when he’d purchased my company, bought me for lunch and a kind word; screwed me after screwing me over.
    I lifted my head. I needed to see him. Tell him it was over. Tell him to stop with the nonsense and let me get on with my life. However long that might take.
    I re-locked the door then strode toward the shower with a purpose. I was going to visit Jacob King. I was going to make him stop this. And I was going to do my hair, put on fresh makeup, squeeze myself into my shortest skirt and lowest cut halterneck top, and make him realize what he was losing.

CHAPTER FOUR
     
     
    I’d walked with purpose into the elevator, but I left far less confident. That long ride up had given me too much time to think. What was I doing? This man had ruined my life! He’d also helped me live it. He’d used me! I’d wanted him to. I hated this man. I didn’t want to .
    “Mr. King will see you now.” The receptionist buzzed me straight in. I smoothed down my skirt, feeling suddenly exposed. This was it – I was going to be strong. I wasn’t going to cry. I could resist him.
    “Anna?” Jacob King was out of his chair and rushing toward me as soon as I stepped through the door. “I’ve been so worried!”
    I backed away. “Don’t touch me,” I said. “I’m only here because you don’t seem to get the message. Leave me alone. It’s over.”
    “Anna, you don’t understand. You need to let me explain.”
    “There’s nothing to explain. You bought my company, had me fired, waited until I was desperate and then used me.”
    “You’ve got it wrong Anna.”
    “Oh, you didn’t get me fired? You didn’t sleep with me?”
    His lips quirked. “Well, I