Boss I Love to Hate An Office Romance - Mia Kayla Page 0,23

him to be my savior for this horrendous upcoming wedding. Really good-looking people were not accessible in my life.

The devilish glint in his eye told me what he was thinking. That I was going to ask for some sexual favor. Um, gross. No. I mean, he was gorgeous, but no.

“Sure.” The smile was still heavy on his face.

“And I don’t mean sex,” I clarified quickly. “Pigs could fly and there could be an apocalypse and you would be the last man on earth and I’d still not sleep with you.”

He jerked back, and his posture turned rigid as though what I’d said was absurd.

“You’re being mean again, Sonia.”

I got up from my chair, slipped the bag over my shoulder, and ignored his last sentence. “There’s a drugstore down the street. I’ll take her.” I glanced behind me. “But you’re going with me.”

He groaned.

“I’m buying them. All you have to do is stand there. What’s the big freaking deal?” When he didn’t answer right away, I quickly added, “You’re going.”

My comment did not amuse him.

“Anyway, about your favor, are you gonna ask me now?” he asked, genuinely curious.

“No. But I need your guarantee.” Inside, I was fist-pumping, doing pirouettes, flips, and cartwheels. Outside, I gave him a stern look and lifted an expectant eyebrow.

He didn’t hesitate. “I promise—or as Mary says, pinkie swear.”

For all he knew, I could ask him for money or diamonds, to drive his Aston Martin or to give me half the shares of Brisken Printing Corporation, and he would have to give me that, which only meant this man was serious and also very, very desperate.

“Anything,” he promised. “Just get my niece her products, and I will owe you big time.”

“Fine.”

He was satisfied with that answer.

So, I stuck out my right hand and smiled. “Then, we have a deal, boss man.”

He just had no idea I was getting the better end of it.

Sarah inched closer as we entered the drugstore at the corner of Clark and Nelly.

As requested by Brad, I had called their personal driver to send Mary back to school. Brad had panicked this morning because he’d forgotten that Mary had an event at school that she couldn’t miss out on.

Something about the way Sarah sidled up against me made me realize that maybe she wasn’t entirely comfortable around Brad. Not like I was surprised. Brad didn’t seem like the sentimental type, but I was a complete stranger, and we’d met only moments before.

We both perused the selection of pads.

“There’re so many different brands. But they’ll function the same way.” I lightly tapped her left hand, and she cowered into me, linking her arm through mine.

Sarah wasn’t a typical pre-teenager. I should know. I was the oldest of six and had seventeen cousins, ranging from seven to twenty-five, and the majority of those teenagers were hormonal and rambunctious. Sarah was quiet. She’d said five words since we left the office, and it was mostly one-worded answers to Brad’s questions. I’d guess she didn’t open up to people much. Where most of my teenage cousins were into makeup, skinny jeans, and heels, Sarah was a Converse, boy-jeans kind of girl.

Brad trailed behind me. His hands were shoved in his pockets, and his eyes perused the feminine product aisle, his face devoid of any emotion.

He plucked a few boxes from the shelves and began to read the labels because, of course, he had to know it all. “This one has wings. This one doesn’t have wings. What do you prefer, Sonia, wings or without wings? What do you recommend?”

“Neither,” I deadpanned. “I prefer tampons.”

The color drained from his face, and he cleared his throat. “Um … I don’t think she’s ready for that yet.” Then, he plucked another box off the shelf. “How about these? They come with a little packet that you can put your product in. Isn’t that nice?” He ended that with a smile.

Sarah’s lips pressed together, and her gaze flicked upward. She was not a bit amused.

“Look, these are scented.” He gritted his teeth in the most uncomfortable smile.

I laughed under my breath when he lifted the box to his nose and inhaled deeply. I should snap a picture and send it to our company paper, which all the employees received. That’d be comic relief for the day—Brad sniffing a box of pads.

“Uncle Brad, please stop it.” Sarah plucked the box from his hands and placed it back on the shelf.

“I’m just trying to help.” He picked up another box and began to