To My Arrogant Boss (The Inappropriate Bachelors #2) - J. S. Cooper Page 0,83
you are, girls.” Emily gave us both a big hug as she reached us and her blue eyes stared into mine in concern as she pulled back. “You okay, Char?” She studied my face for a few seconds. “I heard you lost your job.”
“Meh,” I made a face. “I’m fine.” I ran a hand through my long black hair and stifled a sigh. “Nothing a couple of stiff drinks won’t fix,” I said, and we all laughed.
“I’m going to go and see if I can get us a table.” Anabel headed towards the door. “Wish me luck.”
“You got this!” Emily’s voice was enthusiastic. “If anyone can get us a table, it will be you, hot-shot lawyer.”
As soon as her back was turned, Emily grabbed my hands.
“Okay, tell me everything. What the fuck happened? Didn’t they just give you a promotion?”
“Yes,” I said. “That’s why I got my own place, remember?”
“Yeah, I remember. That’s so shitty. So they just decided to fire you?”
“No, well, yes.” I sighed and took a long breath. “I guess the company wasn’t doing well, and Sally wanted to retire and move to Boca Raton in Florida. Some billionaire made an offer on the business and he promised to keep on all the staff, so she ended up selling it to him.” I flushed, feeling angry as I told the story. “And then as soon as he took over, Parker Industries or Parker Corporation, whatever it’s called, had their HR department send us all a letter firing us.”
“Oh, no!” Emily’s jaw dropped. “But can he do that? Can’t you guys sue him?”
“Sue him?”
“Sue him for breaking his promise to Sally. Didn’t he promise Sally?”
“It was verbally. It wasn’t in their contract when she sold.” I shook my head. “So I’m screwed, along with the others.”
“Getting a severance package?” Emily looked at me hopefully.
“One thousand dollars.” The words dripped off of my tongue like poison. “What the hell am I supposed to do with a grand?”
“Not much in New York City,” Emily commiserated with me. “That’s absolutely ridiculous. Want us to go and egg his car or send a stripogram to his office or something?”
“No.” I laughed. “Though that would be funny.”
“That would be hilarious. I’d totally do it with you. Most probably Anabel wouldn’t because she doesn’t want to lose her law degree or whatever.”
“I think she’d lose her bar license, not her degree, but yeah.” I grinned at her. “I don’t think we should risk getting arrested.”
“You don’t think we could talk our way out of a ticket?” Emily winked at me, and I just shook my head.
“What would you do to get out of a ticket, Emily?” I asked her knowing she would say something that would make me laugh.
“I wouldn’t blow a cop, if that’s what you’re asking. That rumor was false.” She gave me a wicked smile.
“What rumor?? You did not blow a cop to get out of a ticket?” I stared at her, my mouth agape.
“Of course I didn’t, but wouldn’t that be a totally awesome story if it were true.”
“Oh, Emily.” I laughed and looked towards the front of the restaurant to see Anabel walking back to us with a disappointed look on her face. “Oh no, looks like Anabel wasn’t lucky.”
“Oh no, we don’t have a reservation?” Emily wrinkled her nose. “I looked up the menu and the food looks divine. Expensive but divine.”
“We can’t afford expensive.” I grinned at Emily, who, even though she had a job, was almost as broke as me. “So maybe this was a sign for us to go to Shake Shack or something.”
“Shake Shack. Hmmph.” Emily rolled her eyes. “What’s the word?” She asked Anabel, who joined us with a little shrug.
“They said we can wait to get a table, but there is no guarantee that one will become free.”
“So we could be standing here for hours and still get no food?” I looked at Anabel and she nodded. “Well, that doesn’t sound great.”
“I have an idea.” Emily’s expression was devious. “Let’s go inside by the hostess table and just stand there and talk very loudly about how hungry we are.”
“I don’t know.” Anabel shook her head. “That seems a bit rude.”
“Exactly! That’s the whole point. They should seat us faster then because they won’t want us making a scene.” Emily linked both of our arms. “Come on, girls, it’s the Christmas season, let’s have some fun.”
“Emily.” Anabel tutted and gave me a look. I just grinned back at her and we all walked