Boss I Love to Hate An Office Romance - Mia Kayla Page 0,30

you care that they are compensated properly, that the Christmas parties and promotional parties continue, and that everyone is happy and morale is high.” I picked off a chip from his plate and stuffed it in my mouth. “That’s why you send those questionnaires all the time.”

He waved his taco toward his niece. “See, I’m not the mean one after all.”

“I never said you were. But I think those questionnaires were Uncle Mason’s idea,” Sarah added.

He pulled at the end of her hair. “Playing favorites again.” Then, he turned to me with that intense look as though my opinion really did matter. “Go ahead. You were saying?”

I blinked, surprised at his value of my opinion. Then, I cleared my throat and began again. “Well, besides the whole money part, I’m sure, even though he might be a dick like you said, he can’t possibly be so heartless to not care for the future of his employees who have families to support.” A gush of energy rushed through me as a thought pushed through. “So, next time you talk to him, go with that angle. That, although you can’t promise the employment of every employee, you can guarantee that you would try to place all you could with permanent positions and that we have good benefits at Brisken.”

He examined me and stopped eating altogether. After a beat, he let out a satisfied smile. “You’re a smart one, you know that?” He pointed to me and then took another bite of his taco. “I knew there was a reason I hired you.”

“Smartest cookie in the cookie jar.” A flush warmed my cheeks. I wasn’t used to getting compliments, especially from Brad. “And correction, Charles and Mason hired me.”

Brad’s phone buzzed on the countertop, and the screen read, Worst Sitter. The smile slipped from his face, and he let out an exasperated sigh. “Do I even have to answer this?” He placed his taco on the napkin, the grease of the steak seeping through. He took another napkin, wiped the corner of his mouth, and then picked up. “Annie.”

No hello. No how are you. With Brad, you got what you got.

“Oh. So, you couldn’t bring the girls to school this morning, and now, you can’t pick up Mary?” His voice was low, menacing, yet he was smiling. “Mmhmm. Yep. Is that it? Mmhmm.”

His smile widened, and he reached for his taco. Tiny goose bumps formed on the back of my neck at the evil glint in his eyes.

I glanced at Sarah, and she sliced her neck with her pointer finger in an off with her head motion.

“Don’t worry about it.” His tone hitched up in pitch, so un-Brad-like. “I’ll pick up Mary myself. I’ll just cancel my two, three, and four o’clock meetings today. I already canceled my morning meetings because you couldn’t drop them off.” This wasn’t entirely true, but he kept on going anyway. “I’m assuming, since you didn’t do your duties today, tomorrow will be more of the same and the day after that and after that, but it’s okay because you’re fired.” Then, he hung up and retook a bite of his taco, as though nothing had happened.

My mouth slipped ajar, and Sarah bit her cheek and held her stomach, one second from bursting from laughter.

“I think I’m going to have to take another one of these tacos to go,” Brad added, unaffected.

Sarah let out a peal of laughter and collapsed against the booth. “Oh boy.” She cackled. “Uncle Mason is going to be pissed.”

“I’ll deal with Mason.” Brad turned my way and placed down his food. “Sonia, cancel my afternoon meetings. I hate to do that, but the worst babysitter left me no other option … unless …” He lowered his gaze, almost to a puppy-dog look. Nope, this must be his seductive do whatever I want look. “My favorite secretary and friend wants to do me a huge favor and pick up Mary? Our driver is off Monday afternoons, and I don’t trust anyone else to pick her up.”

And to think, I had been in such a good mood only minutes earlier.

He added for good measure, “Then, we can discuss the deal you were talking about earlier.”

I sighed overly loud. When he put it like that, how could I refuse him? I was the desperate one in this situation. “Fine,” I grumbled.

He smiled. “Best. Secretary. Ever.” He picked up his taco and took another bite.

Chapter 7

Sonia

After picking up Mary from school, I plugged in the address to