What Happens In Germany Stays In Germany

Jessica’s POV

I was more upset than I had been when Luke showed up in my apartment yesterday, more upset than when he cheated on me. I was pissed and felt helpless which only made me even more angry.

I didn’t know how to react to this. My boss and partner in a sense —only two names ever sat on the cover of a book; the author and the illustrator— had just sexually harassed me, then threatened to fire me and keep me from receiving any other means of work here in Germany if I tried to report him.

I sat at my desk in my office, head in my hands, sniffing back the last of the tears. Breathing deeply only showed just how rattled I was as my breath shook then caught in my throat.

I fell back in my chair as a few more tears slid from my eyes. What was I going to do?!

The clock on the wall read 10 till 1:00pm and I knew Tom would be waiting down stairs for me.

The thought of his loving smile, inviting arms and warm gestures calmed me only slightly; I had to try and keep this from him. But would I really be able to?

I stood and grabbed a few Kleenex and began wiping at my face and then reapplied the makeup that had been ruined.

After I’d finished, I grabbed my messenger bag and headed out the door, closing up my office before making a mad dash for the elevator.

Once down stairs I saw Tom waiting in the lobby, flipping through some car magazine. I smiled lightly, already feeling better. Noticing my approach, he set it down and rose to embrace me.

“Hey, beautiful.” he said sweetly.

“Hi.” I kept it simple to keep my voice from cracking. I hid in his embrace and just breathed him in as deep as I could, allowing his smell to wipe away any trace of Christian.

After our long hug, he took my hand and led me out to his car, he’s driven the Audi today. We quickly drove off toward our apartment in silence.

Tom soon broke it asking, “How’d the meeting go?”

“It was fine. Took forever though.” I continued staring out the window.

“Did he like your sketches.”

“Yea.” I sighed.

Tom took my hand in his at a stop light and kissed it softly. I looked over at him and smiled briefly. He looked slightly hurt but hid it quickly as we pulled away. I knew my silence was anything but reassuring to him.

We pulled into the parking garage and he held my hand all the way to the elevator. I leaned my head on his shoulder hoping that would comfort him some.

’After everything that happened, I’m comforting him.’

He came to my apartment with me and we soon realized we were alone. I set my stuff aside and before I could make it into the kitchen Tom stopped me.

“Did I do something?” he asked meekly.

I turned to see his worried face. “No, I’m just…tired?” he didn’t look convinced.

“What’s wrong? Did something happen? Did Christian decide to change a sketch or something?” I cringed away at the sound of his name, and I’m sure Tom noticed.

Worry once again flooded his eyes and he peered down at me.

“Jess? Should you be telling me something?”

I shook my head and then let the tears spill again. Without knowing what was going on, he immediately pulled me into his arms and hushed me.

We ended up sitting on the couch, me in his lap.

“Now, tell me what’s wrong.” he pressed.

“I can’t.” I sobbed into the crook of his neck.

“You can tell me anything, you know that.”

I sat up straight and looked into his eyes knowing what had to be done. So I did it.

“Christian came onto me after the meeting. He asked me to stay behind and help straighten things up, and then before I knew it he was on me. He forced me to kiss him but I pushed him away.” I blurted out as fast as I could.

“What?!” Tom shouted.

“I’m so sorry.”

“Why are you apologizing? He should be the one apologizing!” he seemed pissed.

“That wont be happening.” I said.

“I’ll make him.” he said confidently.

“No!” I startled him and he started at me questioningly. “He said if I mentioned it or tried reporting it he’d fired me and make sure I never worked anywhere in Germany again! I’d have to leave!” I started crying again, at the thought of loosing my job and having to leave Tom.

“But…he can’t do that! Baby, you…we have to do something!”

“I’ll just ignore him, make sure I’m never alone with him again. I can’t jeopardize everything I’ve started here.”

He seemed to understand where I was coming from, but I could tell he didn’t like the idea of ignoring it.

“I’m walking you to your office everyday from now on. And picking you up there too. No questions asked.” he said with a final tone in his voice.

I nodded and smiled slightly.

“Gah, I can’t believe that asshole was all over you.” he sighed and pulled me into him again.

After sitting there in his embrace, I’d realized that I’d yet to kiss him. I sat up and looked at him and he returned the gaze with questioning eyes.

“I love you.” I whispered and leaned in slowly, my lips meeting his in a warm kiss. His tongue slid out and ran across my bottom lip and I happily opened up to him. The fire that had been there yesterday seemed to light up again and soon a was straddling his waist in a heated embrace.

When we finally parted he looked up into my eyes and with so much sincerity he said, “I love you. I wont ever let anything bad happen to you, ok. I promise.”

I knew it was a very bold promise, one that he couldn’t keep with certainty, but the promise in and of itself meant much more to me.

Instead of replying ,I reconnected our lips and pulled him to me hungrily. I needed him more now then he knew. He took that as an invitation, and from there we allowed things to escalate.

Tom seemed to very good at erasing the bad things in my life. And that’s exactly what happened with every touch of his hands or heated kiss he placed on my skin.

One thing led to another and soon our clothes were a heap on the floor and he took me right there on the couch. It was amazing and perfect in every way. We lay in each others arms as I let him continue to whisper things to me in German. Some things I knew and others I didn’t, but I thing was for sure; I undeniably love him.