Mr. Big Shot: An Enemies To Lovers Romance (Kinda Cocky Book 1), стр. 40

“Good morning to me,” I sighed.

I did however, enjoy what little bit of the sunrise was afforded to me. Then, I abandoned all hope of breakfast and started throwing clothes on. Rushing over to his place, I picked the suit up off the porch swing. The damn thing looked like it was covered in spilled drinks, and the smell of booze made me wrinkle my nose. Great. Just grand. He could go out and have some fun with whatever bimbos he found for himself while I was passing out at six every night because he was running me down to the nub.

I wanted to slap him in his face.

I rushed around all morning, rehearsing the speech I wanted to give him. I wasn’t his work mule. I wasn’t just his personal assistant. I was also his fucking secretary. That meant I needed to be in those meetings with him instead of running the petty errands he felt he was too good to do.

I should’ve never taken the job.

I drew in deep breaths as I did everything he asked in the note. I called Brenden after dropping off the suit at the dry cleaners, but not before vetting the owners in the process. Brenden gave me a laundry list of questions that needed to be answered, so I walked my happy ass into a little island-side coffee shop and sat down to make some phone calls. I jotted down notes on my laptop to send to Zane’s email, and with two hours in my morning to go, I still had half a day’s worth of work to accomplish.

How I actually got it done, I would never know.

But, when I got back to my bungalow right at noon, I almost blew through the roof.

“Is he kidding with this shit!?” I exclaimed.

In my room was a box. And in that box on my bed was the cutest little sundress, wide-brimmed hat, and bikini that I’d ever seen. It wasn't a gift, though. It came with a note. A demanding note, just like that morning’s note. Again, attached to another rose.

Karina,

Put this on and meet me at the dock. It's right outside of that little beach shack where we had drinks our first night here. See you soon.

Zane

I gripped the rose and threw it at the wall, watching the petals splatter everywhere. I drew in deep breaths as I closed my eyes, trying to settle my anger. The only thing we could possibly be doing was entertaining business guests. So, I had to put on my best face, my best smile, and that skimpy little outfit. Zane would hear it from me, though.

I wasn’t his eye candy to parade around in front of his fat-ass colleagues.

After swiping on a bit of makeup, I changed my clothes. And after fluttering my hair past my shoulders, I reached for my purse, refusing to haul that damn laptop down to the dock. He could bite me, for all I cared. I slipped my bare feet into flip flops and made my way out the back door, with the smell of sad, warm fruit following me outside.

Tomorrow, I’m actually eating breakfast. No matter what he says.

I hurried through the yard and made my way to the beach. Sweat trickled down the nape of my neck as I set my sights on the dock off in the distance. Great. Just grand. I felt it gathering around my thighs, too. I’d be a sweating nightmare by the time I got to Zane and his buddies. What a great look from his piece of--.

“Ahoy, matey!”

Zane’s voice hit my ears, and I paused.

“Zane!?” I called out.

He held out his arms at the end of the dock. “Ready for our adventure?”

I looked around but didn’t see anyone else. “Where are your friends?”

“My what!?”

“Your business friends, Zane!”

“I can’t hear you!”

I groaned as I started walking toward him. “Where are the people we’re entertaining?”

He looked confused. “I’m not following.”

“Come on, Zane. You had me rushing around all day, and then you bought me an outfit. I can only assume it’s because we’re entertaining some of your business people today.”

His face fell. “Well, no. That’s not quite what we’re doing.”

I blinked. “Then, what are we doing?”

“That’s what you thought we were doing?”

“Working? Yes. Because that’s what we came here to do.”

He sighed. “Well, then consider this afternoon an apology from me. Care to come aboard? I’ve got beer, wine, and a few things to make something called a Pineapple Doozy.”

“A what?” I looked toward the boat to see what he was talking about.

“It’s a doozy of a drink, apparently.”

I scrunched my eyes and scowled. “Apparently?”

“Yeah.”

“So, you've never had it?”

“Nope.”

“But, you want to make it for me,” I pointed out with my hand on my hip.

“Well, uh, in hindsight, I didn't think that through. But! Welcome aboard anyway!”

He plastered on that beautiful smile of his, and I studied his ensemble. He certainly didn’t seem like he was dressed for a business outing. His floral swimsuit came just above his knees, and his white linen shirt was unbuttoned, except for the bottom two buttons. He clutched a beer bottle in his hand, and the smell of steak carried itself through the wind. When I turned my head toward the scent, my jaw dropped open.

There was a spread of finger foods on a table on the boat.

“Is this for us?” I asked.

Zane held out his hand. “Come aboard with me.”

“Zane, is this for us?”

He nodded. “Yes. It is. Come on, Karina. Let’s have some fun while we’re here.”

I didn’t know what the hell had gotten into him, but I took his hand anyway. I could use some fun after he worked me up so badly and in all the wrong ways. He clung to me as he helped me onto the deck, and the boat felt very sturdy beneath my feet.

Then, he hopped on himself and untied us from the dock. I had no idea what was happening, but yet again, I