Lord of Rain (The Dragon Demigods #5) - Charlene Hartnady Page 0,67
it makes me think about Bolt. Such an asshole!
“What was that?” Simon asks.
I realize that I must have been muttering to myself like a deranged person.
“Nothing.” I shake my head again. “How’s Helen? How is the pregnancy going?”
He looks at me strangely. “It’s only been a week since you left, but she’s great. Not much has changed.”
Simon is right. It’s only been a week. It feels like much longer. I wonder why that is.
“Are you back?” he asks. “I mean, to stay?”
Yet again, I shake my head. “Maybe.”
“You can’t shake your head and say maybe, it’s confusing.”
I shrug. “Well, I’m confused.”
“There’s definitely something bugging you. I’m going to assume that it’s a problem at the office.”
I nod. “Yes, but I don’t want to talk about it.” I can’t talk about it, even if I want to.
“You can’t keep it inside, either. I’m going to assume that there is someone you can talk to about it. Someone at the office. Maybe the cause of all this…need to knead. You should talk to them. Bread-making is a good way to let off steam. You’re right to want to do that first, because you don’t want to say something you’ll regret. But you need to have that talk.”
“Oh, I intend to have that talk…don’t you worry.”
Simon smiles. “Keep baking for a while before you do that. What bread are you making?”
“Plaited white loaves. I think I might do a couple of plaited garlic ones as well.”
“We don’t have those on the sales board.” He frowns.
“Things need to start changing around here.”
“I’d say.” Simon chuckles. “First, you make those crazy cupcakes, and then you make the bread.”
“The crazy cupcakes are for someone at work.”
“I figured that part as well.” He laughs some more. “Remind me never to get on your bad side.”
“You could never get on my bad side. You’re too nice.” I wipe my hands on my apron, “Now if you’ll excuse me, I think I’ll go and have a talk with my father.” Now is as good a time as any.
Simon nods. “You’ve already done half of my work for the day, and it’s only just gone nine.” He looks at his watch. “You should pop in spitting mad more often.” He grins.
I can’t help it, I grin back. “You wish!”
He laughs.
I wash my hands, take off my apron, and go down the hallway to the office, which is a mess. There are files and stacks of paper everywhere. Funny, I never noticed that it was this bad before. After working at the pristine Zeus Group offices, I’m noticing now. There are two desks crammed into the small space. An ancient desktop computer is on one of them. There are stacks of accounts on the other. Boxes are piled into a corner of the room.
“Hey, sweetie,” my dad says as I walk in. “Mom mentioned you were here. She said you missed baking so much you needed to get your hands into some flour.”
“That’s right.” I nod and walk into the office.
He puts down an invoice. “Your boss doesn’t mind you taking the morning off?”
I shake my head. “No, I’ll stay later this afternoon to work the time back.” I take a seat on a threadbare office chair that squeaks as I do.
“Nice that you have flexi hours. Not often you hear of that in the corporate sphere.”
“My job is a little different.” Understatement of the year. I’m a personal assistant. Huh! More like a personal sex slave, where I am in charge of everything until a real decision about my own body comes along. Then, I apparently have no say. I clench my jaw. I haven’t baked nearly enough. Not nearly. I think I’ll make a couple of batches of cupcakes after all. I might just smoosh a couple more on Bolt’s chest. Heck, possibly even his face this time. Screw him!
“Honey,” my dad looks at me with concern, “why are you covering your mouth like you just said something terrible?”
I’m losing my mind. That man! “Um…nothing…I’m just worried.” It’s all true. “I’m worried about Buns, Dad.”
“We’ll get there. It’s just a matter of time before our customers come flocking back. Lower prices don’t equal service and quality. Don’t worry about it, Ash. Next month will be better.” It’s what he’s been saying since Sweet Things opened.
“I went to Sweet Things.”
“You went to… Why would you go there?” He frowns and takes off his glasses, wiping his eyes before putting them back on.