Chapter 2

Weeks went by, and Chloe was always met by the same brutal honesty by her nemesis, Brady Black. He was so rude. Who the hell did he think he was? Bossing her around all the time. Telling her she was in the way. Finally, she had made enough to get her car back. It had been fixed all this time, and that cruel miser of a boss had kept it right there in the shop until she could pay for it. She didn't even have money left over for rent, so she got kicked out of her apartment. Thankfully, there were still gentlemen in the world, and Jared had allowed her to move in with him temporarily.

Not that she was at home a lot. She was too busy taking in the New York scene. Every night a different club, a different bar; but always the same pathetic ass holes trying to get a piece. She was finished with mindless dicks. Although she wasn't sure what she wanted, she knew what she didn't want.

She couldn't escape Brady though. She saw him at work and sometimes at Jared's. He always seemed to ignore her, like she didn't even exist. She was starting to think there was something wrong with her. Brady was not shy by any means, but he had not hit on her. Not since the day when she first arrived at the garage and even then he was just humouring her. She had seen him with plenty of women, so she knew he was straight. So what the hell was his problem? Not that she wanted to go out with him. She just wanted the opportunity to turn him down.

Jared on the other hand was always full of compliments, but that kind of guy didn't appeal to her either. He was a real pushover.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Brady come into the club, a blonde around his arm and a bottle in his hand. The loud bass pumped through her chest, and the electric beats buzzed into her ears. She set out onto the dance floor with some tall Italian schmuck. There he was, illuminated in blue lights, dancing with some slut. It couldn't really be called dancing, more like foreplay. He was grinding into her to the rhythm of the music. She just leaned into him kissing his neck and grabbing his ass. What the hell was that about? Ever heard of a room? But she couldn't help herself; she had to watch. His hips swayed to the techno beat, and his eyes were closed. He was absorbed in the music. His body so free, but the look on his face so troubled. Chloe looked away when he opened his eyes.

He felt the burning sensation on his skin, like someone was looking at him. When he opened his eyes, he looked around. He couldn't place the familiar feeling he had but shook it off. His focus was brought back to his date when she whispered into his ear that they should go back to his place. Brady took her hand, and they couldn't make it out fast enough.

Or at least that is how is seemed to Chloe. She watched him put the empty beer bottle on the bar before running out onto the rain-streaked pavement with the cheapest looking woman she had ever set eyes on.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

That wasn't the only time she had come into contact with Brady outside of work. She saw him in other bars, always with different women, and always with that longing expression on his face. Once, he had offered her a casual ""Hi"" as he walked past her to the bathroom. At work the next day, he would never acknowledge having seen her, if he acknowledged her presence at all.

That's okay, she thought to herself. She had her own game going on. She didn't need the attention of Brady Black.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"What's his problem?"

"Who?"

"You know who."

"Brady? What'd he do now?" Jared said, rolling his eyes. This seemed to be a continuous never-ending conversation: what was Brady Black''s problem?

"Apparently, everything I do is wrong."

"Ah, you'll get used to it. He just likes things done his way."

"So why doesn't he just do it his damn self?" Chloe said, frustrated.

"Because what would the fun in that be? He does it just to piss you off."

"What? Why would he do that?"

"I dunno. Maybe because he knows he can't screw you."

"Why not...?"

Jared broke out into uncontrollable laughter. ""Chloe is there something that you want to share?"

"Nooooo...God...like I would let that filthy pig near me."

"I think that's part of the attraction for these girls. That fact that he is so infuriating, that he doesn't give a shit about anything."

"What, now you're lumping me in with these no brain whores?"

Jared got serious. "No, that's not what I meant...look, just don't let him get to you. He's just pushing your buttons to see what you can handle. I'm actually really impressed you haven't cracked yet."

"What do you mean cracked?"

"Well, the other girls usually slap him, or sleep with him. What's your pleasure?"

By now, some of the other mechanics were in the lunch room with Jared and Chloe and were listening intently.

"You're all a bunch of pigs," Chloe said in a huff.

"Sorry, lady; facts are facts," a balding man blurted out, followed by low grumbles of agreement.

"Well, I'm not going to let him get to me." Silence filled the stale air. "I'm not," Chloe said, loud and defiantly. "Now if you'll excuse me, I need to get Mr. Black to sign some of these checks."

"Ah. Chloe...if the door is closed, don't go in, okay? Or at least knock really loudly first," Jared said, concerned.

"What? What the hell are you talking about?"

"See, sometimes Brady likes to..." Someone elbowed Jared in the chest and cut him off in mid-sentence.

"She'll be fine."

"Okay you all are acting really weird....I'm leaving now. And I don't need any of you telling me what to do." She looked over the room and was met with bowed heads and men trying to suppress their laughter. She shrugged it off and headed toward the garage office.

As soon as she was out of ear shot, the men erupted into fits of laughter. "She's totally going to walk in," one man blurted out.

"Yeah, and get the shock of her life," Jared said, a little less amused.

Chloe opened Brady's office door and dropped her papers. There was Brady hovered over a girl on his desk. The girl was buck naked, and Brady had no shirt on. His pants were around his ankles. The girl was clawing her nails into his back as he drove into her. His back was toward Chloe, and neither one of them heard her open the door. The woman called out his name loudly as she came. Brady was still hard and continued to press himself inside her. Now, she was moaning loudly; and Chloe felt her cheeks redden.

Chloe looked on, totally frozen in place. It was like she was at the scene of an accident. She didn't want to look, but she was compelled to. She knew it was wrong, but she needed to know what was happening. When the girl sat up as Brady came, she noticed Chloe. She clung onto Brady and made him turn to look.

Brady looked over his shoulder and winked at Chloe. "Chloe, what can I do for you?" he said coyly, aware of her discomfort.

Chloe turned around and ran down the hallway, straight into the ladies'' room. She locked herself in one of the stalls and tried to calm her breathing.

The girl jumped down from the desk and dressed. As she left, she stuck her number in the front pocket of Brady''s shirt that he had just put on and whispered into his ear. She left, closing the door behind her. Brady took the paper from his pocket, crumpled it up and tossed it into the trash. "Call me, my ass!" He sighed. Why did he keep doing this? All he wanted was to feel whole again.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

God, he probably thinks I'm some kind of pervert. So what if he does? Who cares what he thinks anyway? Chloe tried to rationalize all the thoughts and feelings she was having, but the truth of the matter was she didn't have a clue what she was feeling. Was it jealousy? No, that couldn't be it. What was there to be jealous of? That girl meant no more to him than the others before her. But still she felt hurt. For some reason, despite how badly he treated her, she thought that maybe they could at least become friends.

After spending nearly an hour in the bathroom, just going over everything in her head, Chloe finally stepped out. Jared came from around the corner and stopped when he saw her. "Hey."

"Hey," Chloe said, shyly. "Did you hear what happened?"

"Yeah."

"Oh my God, does everyone in this fuckin' place know?"

"Nah, Brady told me. He said maybe I should check on you."

"He said that?"

Jared sighed. "Yeah. So what?"

"It's just odd. I didn't think he would care."

"He doesn't really. He just doesn't want everyone around here too busy gossiping to do work," Jared said, annoyed, then softened when he saw the look on her face. "So are you okay then?"

"Yeah, I'm fine I was just...kinda..."

"Shocked?"

"Yeah, to say the least."

"Like I said, you'll get used to it."

"What? So you all knew what was happening and didn't warn me?"

"Hey, I tried. Would you have listened anyway?"

"No I suppose not. I don't like to take orders. I can't believe he just takes some chick into his office and screws her right there."

"Yeah, they come in for a tune-up and really get one hell of a...."

"Okay, spare me."

"Anyway, he wants to see you."

"I can't face him, not after that."

"You'll be fine."

Jared went to fix one of the cars, leaving Chloe by herself. She walked what seemed like a mile to the office and made sure to knock first.

"Come in," Brady said from behind a stack of papers, cigarette in hand and a shot of tequila on his desk. Chloe opened the door and fixated on the ground first and then the desk, finally making eye contact before looking away. "So, Chloe, where are these papers that Jared said you needed me to sign?"

She couldn't believe it. He was acting as if nothing had even happened, like she hadn't walked in on him having sex. Chloe's mouth was agape as she looked back up to meet his smiling face.

"Look, I'm really sorry for what happened back...Wait. What am I apologizing for? You're the one that should be apologizing."

"Me?"

"Yeah."

"Chloe, I don't know if you noticed, but I run this place, so I can fuck whoever I want when I want," Brady said, slyly.

"As long as they're willing."

"Yeah, what about you, Chloe? Are you willing?"

Chloe's face went beet-red, and she looked at him with defiance in her eyes. "You sick fuck! You think I'm just going to roll over for you? Well, you have another thing coming. I would never……ever let you even touch me."

"Oh really? Are you sure about that?"

Chloe tried not to pause when she blurted out, "Positive. Never, Brady Black."

"We''ll see."

"No, we won't." Chloe stormed out of his office. The nerve of that guy was driving her insane. She wanted nothing to do with him. Or at least that was what she kept telling herself. There had to be more to Brady than this. There had to be some redeeming qualities beneath that icy exterior. Somewhere buried deep, she knew he was a good person. Or at least she wanted him to be.

Brady laughed heartily. God, was he having fun! The look on her face alone drove him insane with desire for her. The fact that she wanted nothing to do with him made him want her even more. But he wasn't going to pursue her. He would let her come to him, like all the rest. He had to admit that there was something about her that was different and that he might just have to work on her. But just for the sex, nothing more.

Jared watched her staring at Brady. Her eyes fixated on him, shooting daggers and willing evil thoughts. "He wasn't always like that, you know," Jared said, trying to redeem his character.

"Oh really, and how was he?" Chloe asked, disbelieving he could be any other way than a cynical jerk.

"He used to be caring and loving, but when Lisa..."

Chloe looked like she had missed something.

"Lisa, was his fiancéé..."

"He was engaged?" Chloe said, shocked.

"You'd be surprised. He was ready to give everything up for her. He was even going to give up this place, go to work for her father. You know, one of those corporate gigs, and you know how much he loves it here."

"So what happened?"

"He wasn't enough for her, I guess. At first, it was some guy she picked up at a bar, then someone at the office. When he found her with his best friend, that was the breaking point. A part of him died, I think. She was everything to him. He loved her so much. He took her back so many times, but then he just realized that he would never be enough for her. That his love wasn't enough."

Chloe continued to stare at Brady, as if maybe seeing him in a new light.

"He sorta went crazy for a while. He put his fist through his office door. He smashed the glass and tore his hand to shit. He still has the scar on his knuckle."

"So then," Chloe said, turning to face Jared, "why does he sleep with all these girls...women, whatever?"

"At first, he wouldn't even look at another female. The wound was too fresh. He was so bitter, but then he fell in with one of the guys that used to work here. He got into some heavy shit, partying and never could get completely out of it. Now, it's like he's looking for something."

"Like what?" Chloe turned back to look at Brady.

"Something to fill the void. Make the pain go away maybe? Fuck if I know. But I do know he hasn't found it yet, maybe he never will. He's destroying himself, and he knows it." Jared went back to work leaving Chloe alone to think about what she had just found out.