Brazen Bossman: A Hero Club Novel, стр. 23

The way he is with me changes so frequently, especially today, I think I have whiplash.

Seeming so angry when I came into the office, then making me come on his desk, then instantly kicking me out. And now he wants to take me to dinner? What the fuck is going on?

My phone dings with an incoming email, and I see across the notification bar up top that it’s from Ida. She’s so fast sometimes.

Piper,

Wow. You have more drama than a soap opera sometimes.

In a good way, of course.

And hooking up in the office? Atta girl. Live on the wild side.

As for dinner tonight, I say go for it.

You’ve already crossed a line with him; why not explore it a little further?

You obviously want to or you wouldn’t be asking for advice about it, right?

Ida

I swear, sometimes it’s like two different people respond to me from the Ask Ida email. One is like an older, wise, kind aunt. The other is a no bullshit taking, rule with an iron fist, brutally honest best friend. Both are needed in times of crisis, so I’m grateful I’ve been lucky enough to hear from them consistently. Over the course of my time interacting with whomever Ida is, it started as a more formal email conversation with days spanning in between, and has grown into a rapid response, informal conversation.

I read over her response a few more times and really let it sink in. She’s right. He and I have already done something we can’t take back, so I at least owe him dinner and to hear what he has to say. He specified he wanted to talk, and I’m a mature, grown-ass woman. I can get eaten out and come like I’ve never come before in my life at the hand of my very attractive, asshole of a boss and still be an adult about it.

I drop my head onto my desk with a thud.

“Um. Should I come back?”

I look up to see Kate standing there with her hands on her hips.

“No, no. I’m okay. Just a little stressed out is all.” I don’t relish lying to my best friend, but this is something I really need to keep to myself for many reasons.

“I’ve never seen stress make you literally smash your face onto your desk. What gives?”

“I swear to you it’s just stress. Everything with my mom and the restaurant. She’s talking about selling it off and her apartment now, so things are a little tense between all of us. Which I’m assuming my brother told you, since I know you two are still talking.”

Deflection. The perfect way to avoid discussing your feelings.

“This isn’t about me. We’ll have that discussion when there is something to discuss, which there isn’t.” She perches on my desk and crosses one leg over the other. “This is about your mom trying to sell her apartment. Why would she do that?”

“I mean, I understand the reasons. It would take a lot of financial stress off of her in the long run, but it would strip her of anything normal. She loves that apartment. It’s where we grew up. There are so many memories. And I can’t even fathom not having Kingston’s anymore. That’s further than my brain can process.”

“Has she exhausted every option?”

“My brothers and I help her financially in any way we can, but it’s still not enough to break even. I love my father and I miss him every day, but I could punch him in the fucking face for leaving her with this struggle.”

“I can talk to my father. See if he has any thoughts or a way to help.”

Kate’s estranged father is some hotshot attorney in California. He calls on birthdays and Christmas, but has shit all to do with her otherwise.

“Absolutely not. I appreciate that you would do that for my family, but I can’t let you go to him for anything. Especially not for me.”

“You’re family, Pipes. Never forget that. It’s a standing offer, so if you change your mind, all you have to do is say the word, okay?”

I rise from my desk and wrap her in a hug. “Thank you.”

My cell phone vibrates from within my desk and I sigh heavily, pulling away from her to see who is calling me, but when I look at the screen, it’s a text message.

Asshole: Name a place, Ms. Lennox. Unless you’re planning on standing me up. That would make work very awkward, wouldn’t it?

I can’t fight the slight smile that plays on my lips and Kate reads it like an open book.

“Oh my God, I know that smile. That’s a man-induced smile. Who is it? Is it Ryan? Speaking of, you never told me how that date went.” She talks a mile a minute.

“Huh? Oh, um, yeah, yes, it’s Ryan. He’s just saying hello,” I lie, typing out a response on my cell.

Me: I do have work to do. My boss is kind of a hard-ass.

Me: The Blue Room in the Village. I’ll be there.

Asshole: You better.

I release a shaky breath, tucking my phone back into my desk. This night is going to be very, very interesting.

Kate checks her smart watch. “Well, I need to go wrap a few things up then I have dinner plans.”

“With who?” I ask knowingly.

“Why do we even pretend you don’t know?” She shakes her head.

“If he’s mean to you, you better tell me and I’ll kill him,” I warn.

“You know him, Pipes. He wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

We say our goodbyes and I finish up my last-minute tasks and before long, I’m in the back of an Audi SUV, being driven across the city by the sweetest older man named Arthur.

***

Nathanial is already waiting for me outside of the restaurant when the driver opens my door to let me out.

“How was the ride?” he asks, taking my hand to help me from the car.

“Quick, actually. And Arthur is incredibly kind.” I clear my throat. “I could have gotten myself here though.