How to Have Your Boss's Secret Baby - London Casey Page 0,27
“I’m not sure you made the right choice, Cole.”
He laughed.
Maya grabbed her drink and downed it in seconds.
She slammed the glass to the table. “I’ll have another one of those. Better yet, let’s have some fun. Make it a double.”
Mr. Pickle called for Thomas.
I didn’t like where this was going.
The dinner itself was delicious and mostly quiet.
From the corner of my eyes, I watched Maya. She had a few drinks at first but then slowed herself down.
Which was good.
I didn’t need her getting too drunk and messing this all up.
Mr. Pickle had his left hand under the table, touching Rissa’s leg. I watched her squirm a little, her cheeks turning red.
Mr. Pickle winked at me.
I leaned forward against the table. “Let’s finish this up so we can all have some fun.”
“The four of us together?” Mr. Pickle asked. “We better set some rules.”
I forced a laugh. “I like this side of you, Mr. Pickle. It’s nice to get out of that office setting.”
“You’re telling me,” he said. “Want to know where my fingers are right now?”
“Judging by the look on Rissa’s face, I know right where you’re at,” I said. “I’m sure you have plenty to do tonight. And I’m sure Rissa doesn’t want to come in front of us.”
“Don’t assume,” Mr. Pickle said. “Right, Rissa?”
“I’m good with anything,” Rissa said. “I’m at his command.”
She was speaking to me.
I looked at Maya.
Her eyes told me if I touched her, she would stab me with a fork.
“Then let me slide in one last pitch,” I said. “Then we all can finish the night properly.”
“No need, Cole,” Mr. Pickle said. “If I wasn’t interested, you wouldn’t be here. You showed up. You brought a date. She’s a little prudish and feisty, but it’s not my cock that has to work that hard, right?”
“Right,” I said. “I love a good challenge. That’s why I brought Maya.”
“Is that so?” Maya asked.
“That’s right, love,” I said to her. “The bigger the fight, the bigger the reward.”
“But,” Mr. Pickle said. “The bigger the wallet, the easier it all is.”
“Which is why we’re talking,” I said, turning my attention back to him. “This makes all of our wallets much bigger. My fear is that the longer we take to get this deal done, we lose value on both ends. Mr. Pickle, I’m only talking to you. I don’t want to talk to anyone else.”
“Kind of like your choice in women?” Mr. Pickle asked. “You set your sights on Maya and that’s it, huh?”
“Yeah.”
“What made it work?”
“With Maya?”
“Yeah,” Mr. Pickle said.
He put his left hand on the table.
Rissa’s cheeks were still flushed.
“I’m not sure what you mean,” I said.
“You hired her,” Mr. Pickle said. “You brought her here. Why?”
I looked at Maya again.
“She knows how to look beautiful when it counts,” I said. “Plus… I told her to. She’s my hired help.”
Mr. Pickle hit the table. “Now that’s what I’m talking about!” He pointed to Maya. “So you do have a price. I’m sure I can offer a whole lot more than Cole is.”
Maya looked ready to explode again.
I reached to put my hand to her back and she shook me away.
I cleared my throat. “Mr. Pickle, why don’t we-”
“I think that’s enough for one night,” he suddenly announced. “I have some thinking to do. Among other things.”
He and Rissa looked at each other.
When I looked at Maya, she asked, “Is this done now?”
I nodded.
She wasted no time standing up and hurrying away from the table.
Chapter Thirteen
Maya
I hate him. I hate him so much. I’m quitting tonight. As soon as we get back to the cabin. I’m quitting and I’m making him get me a ride out of here. This is a waste of time. I’m not going to be treated like that anymore.
I hugged myself in the backseat of the SUV.
The ride to our cabin was literally only a couple minutes.
That was the longest couple minutes of my life.
Cole had the balls to sit there in silence. Not offering anything to me.
The drinks I had didn’t go to my head. They went to my muscles. I felt big and strong, ready to fight someone. There were two versions of Maya when I was drunk. The happy and fun version. And the version who wanted to fight someone.
Now, I had never fought anyone, but tonight…
The SUV came to a stop.
I threw open the door and stepped out.
The air was like ice. Like little knives cutting at my face.