won’t matter. “I assure you, I don’t usually react that way to a drink. I’m painfully sorry. It will never, ever happen again. I deeply appreciate the opportunity to work here, and I’m going to do the best I can for everyo—”
“So you want validation,” he spits.
Holy hell. I’m rapidly finding out why the Warden name fits. He talks to me like I’m wearing orange.
I bite my lip. “I was just hoping—if you’re willing—maybe we could just—”
“What? Forget it ever happened?” He cocks his head, spearing me with those sea-storm eyes.
“Yes! That!” I smile until my face feels numb.
He crosses his arms, biceps barely contained by his sleeves. “No chance in hell that’s going to happen. In fact, I told my grandmother to fire you before I ever left your apartment Friday night since you were so stinking drunk.”
He—what?
It’s a fight to stay standing because of course he isn’t done.
“For whatever reason, Grandma wouldn’t do it. You have her to thank for that. Not me. She sees something in you. I’m sure it’s because she’s not wearing her bifocals, but you don’t serve under me exclusively, and Miss Holly, you should be very, very thankful for that. If you did, I’d make sure you didn’t last a day.”
Nice. Well, asshat, don’t hold back. Tell me how you really feel.
I blink my eyes too fast. It’s either that or cry. I want to tell him he’s a colossal prick.
If I could take it back, I’d have never left with him last Friday, and not because we have to work together.
Because he’s horrible.
I can’t reconcile the Warden with the image of the chivalrous grump I met at the museum.
First impressions can be wrong. Irony of ironies, I know.
That kind of works both ways here.
“I’m only going to say this one more time. I had one glass of wine. One.” I hold my finger up, desperately wishing it wasn’t shaking.
It’s not a snappy or punchy declaration. It’s tearful and pathetic and totally unlike me.
I’m the girl who dishes crap out and doesn’t take it. Except—oh, right—I have to gag on humble pie if I want to keep this job.
I’m so deflated the words are barely audible.
Maybe I should’ve just gone with Brina’s first option and pretended like it never happened. I could’ve tried to deny it. A mistaken identity lie seems better than this shitshow.
“You can quit lying to yourself because you’re not fooling me, Miss Holly,” he says coldly. “Believe me, if you’re ever such a lush on the clock, I assure you I will find out. And when I do, I’ll skip Grandma and go straight to HR. You’ll be promptly removed without an appeal—or even a sobriety test. We don’t dispense those here.”
“Ha, ha,” I sputter bitterly.
His eyes widen at the open disrespect.
It’s too much. I need this job but I can’t stay quiet any longer.
Now, I think I’m cool with the route I took.
This Warden—this Wardhole—isn’t turning me into a coward.
“Whether you believe I’m a drunk or not doesn’t change what happened that night.” I smile at him and keep my voice even. “I’m fine with arguing the truth. But then again, I don’t call my boss 'Grandma.'”
The last word hangs in the air like thunder.
Either he doesn’t get it or he doesn’t care.
Clearly, I’m not accomplishing much here, so I think I’ll escape to the lunch Beatrice insisted I take and clear my head before I have a nervous breakdown.
“Watch your mouth, Holly. I’m a partner!” he snaps, his pride and his ego showing its bruise.
I throw my head back and laugh. “God, you’re funny.”
“Excuse me?” His eyes bulge, and I can practically sense his blood pressure building like a mudslide.
“Oh, nothing.” I shrug. “One, it took you long enough for my comment to sink in. And two, you’re a partner in a family firm. My sister works for my dad. I don’t. I freelanced for two years before landing this job and I earned it honestly.” I grin at him. “On my own.”
His mouth drops.
Now who’s speechless?
I put two fingers to my head and move them away in a smart-ass salute before I pivot for the door. I leave it hanging open on my way out as I sail away.
He can shut it himself.
He’s a big boy, and a very thin-skinned boss.
I came here to apologize, not declare war.
If this Warden wants to play games, I’ll give him the jailbreak of his life.
4
Sloshed (Ward)
For a nanosecond, I almost regret being so harsh with her.