Boss I Love to Hate An Office Romance - Mia Kayla Page 0,56
of my name falling from his lips. I’d remember that voice in my sleep, in my dreams, after I was dead.
I inhaled deeply, turned around, and plastered a smile on my face. So wide that my cheeks hurt from the strain.
Jeff stood there, almost six feet in height, dapper in a black suit, red tie, and glasses very similar to my black frames. His girlfriend was in a skintight fiery-red dress, which hugged her figure like Saran Wrap.
My stomach rolled, and my heartbeat slowed. At that moment, I remembered what heartbreak was and was reverted back to months ago when I had cried for hours on my couch. I wanted to do it again, right here and now.
“Hey.” I pushed confidence in my tone that I didn’t have. There were so many things to say, so many questions to ask, but so much time had passed so that one word was all I had. My whole body froze when Brad slipped his arm around my waist and pulled me flush against him.
“Hey.” Jeff’s eyes immediately flew to assess Brad.
Funny enough, his girlfriend’s eyes appraised Brad as well.
“Crazy how they got married, right?” Jeff said, attempting small talk.
“Yeah.” Not really, given they’d been together forever. I simply nodded. My gaze focused on my pointy designer shoes, a name I couldn’t even pronounce.
A short silence filled the awkward space between us, and of course, Brad was the first to speak. “Aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend?” Brad moved his hand lower on my back, just above my ass cheek. He extended his other hand, introducing himself to Jeff and his date. “Brad.” His smile was cocky and confident. “Sonia’s boyfriend.” The words rolled out of his mouth in a possessive, masculine manner that made me think he’d pound his chest, caveman-style, next.
I inhaled deeply and held my breath because, even though I had this fine man beside me, I wanted to cower and hide and run back home to the comfort of my couch.
Jeff smirked, but I knew this smirk; it was a tiny, forced smile that told me he wasn’t too happy, which didn’t make a lick of sense because he had dumped me.
“Nice to meet you, man.” Jeff gripped Brad’s hand in one of those manly handshakes. “I’m Jeff.”
“Jeff?” Brad spat out the word like it was brussels sprouts in his mouth. Then, his eyes met mine. “Oh, is this the ex?” he asked, pretending to be quiet but fully knowing they could hear him.
I had to give Brad credit. In his former life, he’d probably been an award-winning actor.
My eyes widened, but Brad continued. “Oh.” He let out a low laugh. “I guess I expected something … different.” His eyes scanned Jeff’s suit as though he had a piece of dirt on it, and since it wasn’t a designer, it wasn’t good enough.
My face turned beet red, and blood pounded in my ears, reaching to my temples. Where was my genie in the bottle? My three wishes granted. I’d take one. Get me out of here, being my only wish.
Jeff’s eyebrows furrowed, and the Barbie behind him cleared her throat. “Jean.” She extended her nicely manicured hand to Brad, not me. “Pleased to meet you.”
Of course, I’d already known her name. I’d stalker-stalked and Google-gawked this woman.
Brad met her hand and then dropped it, his face devoid of any emotion. He made it seem like shaking Jean’s hand was a chore. “Have you met my lovely Sonia?” he asked, basically pushing me in front of her double Ds. “Doesn’t she look beautiful?” Then, he scanned her dress with distaste.
I raised an eyebrow, throwing him a look. What is this, the Oscars?
God, this is awkward. I glanced toward the door, but then Carrie and Tim were still inside. Where were the groom and bride when I needed them? I wanted to stay silent and blow my stupid bubbles.
Jean did a hair flip and then brought some of her long locks to one side. “Hi, Sonia. I’ve heard so much about you.”
I sensed that it was such a loaded statement, given her condescending tone.
I shook her hand and couldn’t stop staring at her pink bubbalicious lipstick staining her lips. “I hope all good things.” Because that was what I was supposed to say.
“Yes, omigod,” she gushed, adjusting her dress because she was spilling over the two-sizes-too-small gown. “Even when Jeff and I used to work together, he’d talk about you nonstop.”