Mr. Big Jerk: A Forbidden Second Chance Romance (Kinda Cocky Series Book 3), стр. 2

“I’m glad my pain is amusing to you,” I murmured.

“Oh, come on, Roxy. Clint’s a nice guy.”

“I know he’s a nice guy. He’s just a shitty boss.”

“Hey, at least he’s a shitty, hot boss.”

I nodded. “Yes, but he’s my boss, Kelly. I’m not even stupid enough to try and think about something like that, much less go through with it.”

“Do my ears deceive me? Is the infamous man-handler Roxy Crown really throwing in the towel with someone like her boss?”

I scoffed. “I’m hardly throwing in the towel. I just know when the war is worth it and when it isn’t. And this war certainly isn’t worth it.”

“Does Dad know about your job yet?”

I sighed. “I haven’t spoken with him since Fashion Week last fall in New York City. You?”

She paused. “You haven’t spoken to Dad in five months?”

“Girl, we’ve talked. Don’t be weird. We just haven’t talked talked.”

“So, he doesn’t know about the job yet.”

“No.”

“So, you think he’s going to get upset when you do talk.”

I sighed. “After one of his daughter’s starts her own fashion line? I’m pretty sure he won’t be proud of the fact that his other daughter works as a receptionist.”

“You know damn good and well, Dad would be elated at the fact that you’re working.”

“Oh, yeah. Just like he’s thrilled that you have your name plastered all over billboards advertising your boots with your rich husband on your arm.”

“Roxy, please.”

I clicked my tongue. “I know, I know. I swear, I’m not envious. I’m just…”

I didn’t know how to tell my sister that I felt small in her presence. Like we were kids again, with Mom always asking her to help put dinner together or Dad always asking her to come outside and kick a ball around. It had always been her over me when we were growing up. Always. And while that never bothered me because it gave me time to sneak around and do some wonderful things, I was at a point in my life where I wished I had worked harder to be the apple of my parent’s eye.

“Roxy?”

I cleared my throat. “Look, I have to get back to work. See you this weekend?”

“You know I love you, right?”

I nodded. “I know, Kelly. I love you, too.”

“And so do Mom and Dad.”

“I know that.”

“So, talk to them. Tell them. Update them on your life.”

“Gotta go. Lots to do!”

Then, I hung up my cell phone and tossed it back in my purse.

“You also shouldn't be talking on the--.”

“Oh, my god!”

I jumped up from my chair and shrieked as my hand fell against my heart. I spun around and saw Clint standing behind me, staring down at me from his perched peak. The man towered over me easily. And whenever he looked down his nose at me, I always wondered what he was thinking. What he was judging me on next.

“No personal calls on company time,” he said.

I drew in a sobering breath. “Yes. Of course. My apologies, Clint.”

“Clint?”

I shook my head. “Mr. Hearthstone.”

He nodded. “Do you have those files for me?”

“Files?”

He blinked. “The files I needed you to pull from the back room. It was the first thing on your list?”

The company phone started ringing again. “That thing has been ringing off the hook ever since I got in. I haven’t even had a chance to look at the list, much less do anything on it.”

The phone kept ringing. “But, you’ve had time to take a personal call to speak with your sister?”

I settled my hand on the phone. “Fifteen minutes, and I’ll go pull them. Okay?”

His eyes fell to the phone. “You gonna answer that?”

I resisted the urge to smack him. “SEAL Securities, how may I direct your call?”

And when I couldn't understand the man, yet again, on the other end of the line? I held it out for Clint.

“It’s for you. I’m going to go pull those folders.”

I didn’t care if I pissed him off, and I didn’t care if he was upset with me. I had been swamped with work since I sat my ass in that chair, and I needed a break. I plucked the sticky-note list from the front of my computer and made my way into the back room, ready to pull these files my grumpy-ass boss needed.

And it took me way longer than fifteen minutes to find everything.

I carried them to the elevator and made my way up to the top floor. I mean, the building was only four stories high. But, still, his office was on the top floor, and I needed to get these folders onto his desk as quickly as I could. The elevator doors opened, and I rushed down the hallway, ignoring the navy-colored walls with the white trim and crown molding that I ended up convincing Clint to use in his remodeling efforts. There was still a lot missing, though, like pictures on the walls, or chairs for people to wait in, or a nice little side table with an array of exotic flowers protruding from the top. All of it clashed with his brown door, though.

For the life of me, I couldn't convince him to switch it out for a nice white door. Maybe with a silver handle, to add another muted accent color into the mix.

A nice silver would open up a plethora of--.

“Are those my files?”

Clint’s voice ripped me from my thoughts, and I found him standing in his doorway.

“Uh, yes. All seven of them.”

He palmed his hair. “There were supposed to be eight.”

“The list only had seven names on it.”

“The Calgary folder is one folder, not two.”

I shook my head. “I checked and double-checked. All of these names only had one--.”

He held his hand out. “That’s fine. Just give them to me. I’m behind an hour in my work because I needed these first thing this morning.”

I walked over and dropped them into his arms.

“I’m sorry for the delay. It's just been a--.”

“You can leave early for the day as well.”

I blinked. “What?”

“You