Ruined Promises Read online

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Ruined Promises

  Copyright © 2020 by Stefanie Jenkins

  Editing and Proofreading by One Love Editing

  Cover Design by Ya’ll That Graphic

  Interior Book Formatting at authorTree

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without written permission of the copyright owner except for the use of quotations in a book review.

  Independently published.

  To The Cookie Jar,

  Thank you for accepting my crazy and loving me anyways.

  Contents

  Prologue

  1. Lexi

  2. Lexi

  3. Lexi

  4. Ben

  5. Lexi

  6. Lexi

  7. Lexi

  8. Ben

  9. Lexi

  10. Ben

  11. Ben

  12. Lexi

  13. Lexi

  14. Lexi

  15. Ben

  16. Ben

  17. Lexi

  18. Ben

  19. Lexi

  20. Ben

  21. Ben

  22. Lexi

  23. Ben

  24. Ben

  25. Lexi

  26. Lexi

  27. Lexi

  28. Ben

  29. Lexi

  30. Ben

  31. Lexi

  32. Ben

  33. Lexi

  Epilogue

  Also by Stefanie

  Playlist

  Acknowledgments

  About Stefanie

  “Love is when he gives you a piece of your soul that you never knew was missing.” - Torquato Tasso

  There are moments in our lives that prepare us for the transition from children to adulthood. The memories are forever embedded in our brain: the first time you drive a car, moving off to college, eventually graduating college and setting foot into the real world. For me, today is another moment, starting the first day of my career.

  A recent graduate of Willow Creek University, I wear my nerves on my sleeve, as I stare up at the ten-story building in front of me. My favorite communications advisor at WCU called in a favor to an old friend and got me an interview with Maritime Media. It’s only an entry position as an events assistant, but I have big dreams to one day make it to the top. I knew from when I was a little girl that I wanted to plan events. While some girls played dress-up with their Barbies, I planned lavish birthday parties for them.

  Maritime Media is the one-stop local entertainment guide for activities, lifestyle, restaurants, and special events in Willow Creek, NY, and the surrounding area. They attract customers of all demographics, providing information in magazines both print and digitally. The company is known for its events in the community.

  I speed toward the elevator as it begins to close and shout, “Can you hold the elevator?” A hand sticks out, holding the door open. The most beautiful piercing blue eyes stare at me as I cross the threshold.

  “Thank you.” I somehow manage to get out, captivated by how gorgeous this man is in front of me. He has boy-next-door good looks. He is wearing a light gray suit with a white dress shirt and black tie, so he must be in this building for some form of business.

  “What floor?” he asks.

  I look at the numbers and see that he has already hit the seventh floor. Does he also work at Maritime Media?

  “I’m heading to the seventh floor, also.” He smiles, and I just about go weak in the knees. We ride mostly in silence, and I twist my hands nervously, and my foot taps the floor, the sound echoing in the small space.

  “Are you okay?” He turns to face me with his back against the wall.

  “Oh, sorry. I’m just a little nervous.”

  “First day?”

  I look down at my feet and tuck a piece of my chestnut-brown hair behind my ear before looking back at him. “Yeah, is it that obvious?”

  The elevator dings, and we exit, walking toward the entrance of my new job. My mystery man holds the door open and ushers me inside. He leans down and whispers in my ear, “No. It’s not obvious. It’s just that I would’ve remembered a gorgeous woman like you.”

  He’s totally flirting with me. I slowly turn to meet his gaze, and the corners of his mouth turn upward. His smile makes my cheeks warm, and my mouth goes dry. I also feel the moisture pooling between my legs.

  We both approach the receptionist’s desk. Is this his first day, too? He motions for me to go first.

  “Hi, I’m Alexis Baker. I’m here for my first day.”

  The woman smiles. “Ah, yes, Miss Baker. I’ll let Mr. Jennings know you’re here, and then I can show you to the conference room.”

  “I can take her back, Ruth. I’m heading that way, too.” He flashes her the same smile, and her cheeks turn the slightest shade of pink as he leans against the counter on his elbows. Okay, guess that answers my question that it’s not his first day.

  She nods. “Of course.” My no-named, gorgeous stranger places his hand on my lower back and guides me toward the conference room. His touch lights a fire in me. This definitely isn’t how I imagined my first day going. I enter the conference room and look around nervously.

  “You’ll be fine. Alexis, was it?”

  “Lexi. You can call me Lexi.”

  He smiles and breathes my name to himself. The way my name sounds on his lips makes my heart flutter.

  “Thank you.” I pause, realizing I don’t know his name still.

  “Dominic.”

  “Nice to meet you, Dominic.” I extend my hand, and he takes it. He then leans closer, and my breath hitches. I stare into his eyes. Is he about to kiss me? Do I want him to kiss me? With his proximity, I think my heart might jump right out of my chest. I can hear my heartbeat loud in my ears; can he hear it, too?

  “Just so you know, Mr. Jennings isn’t a hard-ass like they say.”

  “And who is it that says that, son?” a deep voice calls from the doorway, followed by a soft chuckle. My eyes widen, and I jump back.

  “Son?” I mouth to Dominic, and he shrugs, putting more space between us.

  The man I recognize as my new boss, Paul Jennings, enters the room.

  “Miss Baker, it’s so nice to see you again.” He shakes my hand and smiles. Everyone in this office is so welcoming. I now see a resemblance between Dominic and his father as they stand next to each other. While Paul has dark hair, Dominic is a darker blond, and Dominic is slightly taller than his father. They both have piercing blue eyes with specks of green and the same facial structure.

  “I see you’ve met my son, Dominic.” I glance over at Dominic, and he continues to stare at me.

  “Do you work here, too?” I internally hope that he’ll say no. Office romances never work out—too many complications.

  I quickly turn my attention back to Mr. Jennings as his laughter fills the room. “Oh, no, Dominic wanted nothing to do with the family business. He is in his final year at Redwood Law.”

  Handsome, smart, wow—the full package. I smile timidly, both relieved that he doesn’t work here, but sad that this could be my only interaction with this man. “Good luck, Dominic.”

  “Thank you. Well, Dad, I’ll wait for you in your office.” His father nods. “And, Lexi, I’m sure I’ll see you around.” With one last smile, he exits the conference room.

  I look at my phone and see it’s already 7:18 p.m. Another late night at the office, but I didn’t become the youngest events director in Maritime Media’s history by working the bare mi
nimum over the past three years. It’s not that I don’t know how to let loose and have fun. I go out regularly with my friends, checking out local bars, restaurants, and clubs. Of course, while there, I typically scope the places out for hosting events. I also have Dominic in my life.

  I pull up my texts and see the last text message I had from Dominic was three hours ago.

  Babe: Working late. I should be home around 9.

  Hmm, it’s strange but not unusual. Dominic typically checks in throughout the evening, seeing how my day was, etc. But this time, nothing. Maybe he was just caught up with something. He’s just as much a workaholic as I am, but we make it work. I always figured that was one reason we work so well—both understanding the importance of working hard.

  I shut my computer off and pack up my things. Monday is another day. As per usual, I am one of the last ones to leave. I smile to myself as I wait for the elevator to arrive, remembering when I met Dominic on my first day working here.

  For an entire month, Dominic found reasons to stop by Maritime, specifically to see me. How he found time with his busy schedule at school, I’m not sure, but it definitely brightened my day, and I looked forward to it. Even his father commented that he hadn’t seen that much of his son recently. It took another month until he finally convinced me to go out with him on a date.

  After that date, we became inseparable, and here we are three years later. I broke my rule of no office romances, but Dominic and I could be the exception to the rule. Plus, he was only connected to the company—he didn’t work there—so that was my brain’s way of finding a loophole. After graduation from law school, Burke, Wilson, and Talbot, located downtown, hired Dominic. I think about whether I should just swing by his office but decide against it. There have been so many nights spent curled up on the couch in his office with takeout just so that we could spend time together.

  Instead of making my way over to Eighth and Townsend, where Dom’s office is, I go in the opposite direction toward our apartment. My best friends, Hadley and Brynn, said that we had rushed with moving in together, but when you know, you know. And unlike Heath Ashby in college, who tried to date both Hadley and me simultaneously, Dominic is the one.

  I stop by the local market between my office and our place and grab the ingredients for Dominic’s favorite meal and a new bottle of red wine. When I unlock the front door to our apartment, the lights are already on, and Dom’s work bag is on the bench by the door. Yay! He’s already home. I’m glad I didn’t go to his office. I set the bag of groceries down on the counter and grab two wineglasses and the bottle and go in search of Dom. I hear the shower running, so I make my way to our bathroom. When I enter our bedroom, I hear soft moaning.

  “Oh, fuck, yes! Right there, baby.”

  Oh my God, is he jerking off in the shower? I slip my shoes off in our bedroom. Well, now that I’m home, I can help him out.

  I stop in my tracks when I hear him say, “Suck me, baby, take it all. You take my cock so much better than Lexi.”

  It’s then that I hear a second moan, a softer muffled moan, definitely belonging to a woman. Oh my God! I close my eyes. No, this is not happening. I take the three steps to the doorway of our bathroom and come face-to-face with my nightmare—or should I say, back-to-face since Dominic has his back to me while some whore is on her knees, in our shower, our apartment.

  Why can’t I move? Why can’t I say anything?

  “Get up off your knees and spin around. I want to make you come two more times before she gets home.” This woman knows about me, yet she has no issue with being with a man who has a girlfriend?

  It’s as if my life is going in slow motion, and I can’t move, frozen in time. As she stands and spins around, I now recognize the woman to be none other than his secretary, Missy. He tugs on her wet blonde hair, wrapping it around his hand as he slides in her. He was never like this with me.

  “Why are you still with her when you love my pussy more? I let you do things to me that she doesn’t even dream of.”

  I can’t take it anymore as my boyfriend plows roughly into this other woman. I drop the wineglasses and bottle, cabernet splashing and glass shattering everywhere, just like the pieces of my broken heart.

  I quickly back up as Dominic spins around at the commotion, and his eyes meet mine. Shock and guilt fill his blue orbs. I run out of the room, my feet finally moving. I don’t even bother to grab my shoes. I ignore Dominic shouting my name behind me.

  “Lexi! Stop! Baby, listen, it’s not what it looks like.”

  I spin around to face him, my chest heaving up and down. “You mean it doesn’t look like a humpback whale choking on a sea snake?”

  His mouth gapes open. Yeah, that’s what I thought. I roll my eyes and ignore him, grabbing my purse and my keys before slamming the door in his face.

  I press the button on the elevator as if pushing it over and over will make it arrive faster. When the elevator dings, I enter and sink to the floor, both thankful and hurt that Dominic didn’t continue to chase me.

  I allow the tears to fall as the elevator descends. Dominic Jennings promised me the world, and I was a fool to believe him.

  Nine months later…

  Knock. Knock.

  I look up from my work and find my boss standing in the doorway of my office.

  “Got a moment, Lex?” he asks, his hands stuffed in the pockets of his gray dress pants.

  I scooch back from my desk and extend my hand, offering him to enter and take a seat on one of the chairs in front of my desk.

  “What can I do for you on this beautiful Friday afternoon, Mr. Jennings.”

  His smile fades. “How many times have I told you to call me Paul.”

  I laugh. “Too many to count, Paul.” I emphasize the use of his first name, and his smile returns. When Dominic and I were dating, I would attempt to call him Mr. Jennings, and he insisted I call him Paul, as I was now part of the family. Throughout our relationship, I spent countless family dinners and holidays with the Jennings family. When we broke up, I was grateful that my relationship with my boss did not change.

  When Dominic and I had begun dating, the whispers started around the office. There were those who did not approve of my relationship with the boss’s son, and as my workload increased, the rumors began as well. Some coworkers believed that I had only gotten my new job title over favoritism being the boss’s possible future daughter-in-law, but Paul constantly assured me I earned it by working hard and doing my job well. I was young and vulnerable and spent many nights crying on my best friend’s or Dom’s shoulder over the whispers in the break room.

  “I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate everything you do for this company. Even after everything with my son”—I look down at my hands—“you persevered. You are an amazing woman, and my son missed out. I’m very fortunate to have snagged you right up after WCU. You always go above and beyond what I ask of you, and this company definitely wouldn’t be where it is without you.”

  I bite my lip to fight back the tears. “Thank you, sir. Not that I don’t mind the praises, but is everything okay?”

  He nods, running his hand through his short salt-and-peppered hair. His appearance has undoubtedly changed over the years. There are more tired wrinkles around his eyes than when we first met. “Never better. I’ll let you get back to your work.”

  “Thanks. My boss is a real hard-ass if I don’t get my work done on time.” Mr. Jennings throws back his head in laughter before exiting my office. He pops his head back in. “Oh, and I called a quick staff meeting in twenty minutes.”

  I look over at my computer, and sure enough, there is a calendar invite for a staff meeting. 4:00 p.m. on a Friday? That’s strange. I finish reviewing the specs for this year’s Best Of party in a few months. It’s a tradition here at Maritime. Every year, our readers vote for the best of Willow Creek. The categories range from Best Burger to Best Late-Night Munchies to Best Place to Take Out-of-Towners. It’s a big deal and one
of the best events in town if I do say so myself.

  With a few minutes to spare, I grab my notepad and make my way to the conference room. Of course, I am one of the last to arrive, so I choose to stand in the corner. Lacey, one of the sales reps, offers me her chair, but I wave it off. I have been sitting all day; it feels good to be stretching my legs out.

  “Any idea what this is about?” Tiffany, our food and wine editor, asks next to me.

  I shake my head. “Not a clue.”

  Mr. Jennings arrives and stands at the front of the conference room, looking around at the staff. He smiles and nods. What is going on?

  “I’m sure you are all wondering why I called you all in here at 4:00 p.m. on a Friday. I promise I haven’t lost my mind. Well, not any more than I previously had.” Everyone laughs. “I will keep this short and sweet. Effective as of”—he looks down at his watch—“two minutes ago, I no longer own Maritime Media.” I gasp for air, completely caught off guard.

  “What?” The staff erupts into chatter, asking questions. Mr. Jennings waves his hands in the air to quiet everyone down. Is this why he came into my office earlier? I’m at a loss for words; I can’t believe this. My hand covers my mouth, unsure what even to say.

  “Now, everyone, please don’t worry. Nothing is going to happen to your jobs. I have made sure that you’ll stay on board in your current roles. This sale has been in the works for a little bit; I just did not want to say anything until it was final. I have always held and encouraged an open-door policy here, so I apologize for keeping this a secret.”