Boss I Love to Hate An Office Romance - Mia Kayla Page 0,27
into the details of our arrangement. Ava coughed up her morning joe when I mentioned the sanitary pads.
“This couldn’t be more perfect if you tried. I can’t believe you told him what you’re going to do, and he’s okay with it. I mean, buying pads for his niece and being your pretend date for the wedding is not necessarily an even deal.”
My gaze dropped to the ground, noting the coffee stain on the carpet from over a year ago. “Well … I haven’t exactly told him yet.”
So what though? Brad was a pompous ass, a womanizer, but a man of his word in business.
“You haven’t told him yet?” She paused. “Well then, you have to have a backup plan.”
There was no backup plan. Brad had to come with me. I couldn’t come with a dud. Maybe I could hire someone? But I didn’t have that kind of cash.
“He’ll agree to it.” But, as those words slipped out of my mouth, there was no certainty in my voice.
Would he? This wasn’t your typical boardroom deal, but he’d promised me.
Sarah rushed out of Brad’s office. “Uncle Brad wants to go with us to lunch. Can you please tell him no? He’s being so annoying today.” Her eyes skittered behind her, her voice frantic.
I smiled at her and then told Ava I’d call her back.
“I can’t. He’s my boss.” I dropped the phone back into the receiver.
“He’s having the worst possible conversation with me right now. Like, how I’m turning into a woman now.” She grimaced. “And I know he’s reading a script because he’s staring at his computer screen the whole time as he does it and pauses to ask me if I have questions.”
I cringed, knowing how uncomfortable she must feel, but I had to give him some credit. At least he was trying.
Then, sympathy kicked in. My mother had gone through the motions with me, read me all the books, and we’d have long talks about puberty. Sarah’s mother was gone. Her only info was from what she had been getting from sex ed in school or from Becky.
She plopped down in the seat by my desk. “And then, somehow, the conversation turned into a ‘boy’ talk.” She placed the word in air quotes. “And about how I shouldn’t date until I’m thirty. And to finish school. It’s not like I’m not gonna finish school. I want to go and finish college.” She slapped her forehead. “Doesn’t he know that?”
It was amazing how kids were so animated with their hands when they talked. My sixteen-year-old sister was the same way.
Yeah, Brad was taking this personal counseling session a little too far.
I placed a tender hand on her shoulder and squeezed. “I’ll tell him you want girl time, alone.”
My desk phone rang with two beeps that indicated that Brad was beckoning. I pressed the receiver and picked up. “Hello? I’ll order your lunch. We are just about to leave.” Direct and to the point, and I hadn’t asked him to come with me. It was my way of helping Sarah out. I threw her a sideways glance and winked.
“I’m going to lunch with you guys.” His tone was clipped, short, and brooked no argument. “You have to give me at least fifteen minutes until I call a couple of clients back.” Then, he hung up.
Rude much? I stared at the phone. “He hung up on me. Again. Is your uncle always so rude?”
She nodded and then picked up my Harry Potter bobblehead at the edge of my desk. “Always. Mostly to Uncle Mason. They’re close in age, and that’s why they fight so much. At least, that’s what Dad says.”
“Nice to know he’s consistent. I was starting to get offended.”
I shot him an e-mail, stood from my chair, and then grabbed my purse from my drawer. “I’ll get him lunch on our way back. I just e-mailed him.” He’d be pissed, and I’d probably pay for this later, but ask me if I cared. Sarah and I were on a mission—to spend quality time together and get tacos, alone.
Sarah’s face relaxed, and she placed down my favorite figurine. She linked her arm through mine as I led us to the elevators.
“And to Gomez’s Burritos we shall go,” I singsonged.
We were seated in a booth in the far corner of the restaurant, right by the window where we could people-watch outside. The scent of meats and spices and grease in the air bombarded our senses.