The Price of Inertia (The Seven Sins #4) - Lily Zante Page 0,22
the mansion being so big and alien, and how I can go the entire day without seeing Ward and that suits me.
Unfortunately, the kitchen has a side that opens up to the room with the huge TV and I can see right into it. Worse, the thing I see from where I stand, is the couch, and if Ward is in there, I’ll have a full view of him lying on the sofa, often with a bag of chips in his hand, stuffing his face as he watches TV.
“Sorry,” I say, when Jamie looks at his watch. “I’ve come here and all I’ve done is whine and moan about my life. Tell me what’s going on with you? How’s the new job?”
We swap stories about our weeks and how we have fared since getting laid off. He needs more money. Seems like every working person I know needs more money. Life is just one big never-stopping hamster wheel, unless you’re a big ass author like Ward. I look at his life with envy. The guy works from home, floats around in a satin number, writes when he feels like it and goes on to make millions.
I hate him even more.
“You should make use of the gym,” Jamie says.
“The gym?”
“It’s there, he’s probably not going to use it much. It will help you feel better. You can do your yoga.”
I do love my yoga. It calms me, helps me, grounds me.
“Seriously, Mari. Don’t waste the opportunity.”
He has a point. I’m probably going to need my yoga more than ever now that I’m working for Mr. Grumpy.
A delicious aroma floats through the air, and I’m starving. I didn’t even have anything to eat for lunch and now its late evening. “Did you cook?”
“I’ve made dinner. I figured you might be feeling down.”
“Aw, Jamie. You didn’t have to do that! We could have gotten take out. It would have been my treat.”
“Well, this is my treat. I know it upsets you seeing your mom.”
This man understands me, I see that more clearly now that we’re not in the confines of our work environment. I want to give him a hug and I get up to do just that but he walks into the kitchen. In a corner on the countertop, I see a few bars of my favorite chocolate. He bought them for me. Before I get a chance to say something, he opens the oven door and pulls out a roast chicken complete with roasted potatoes and vegetables. I go to hug him but now he has his arms full.
“Here,” I dart around the table, setting mats out, “Put it here.” “This is too much, Jamie,” I say, as I get out the plates and cutlery.
“Don’t go thinking I did this just for you. I have to eat, too.”
Except I know that Jamie wouldn’t have gone to all this trouble for himself. It’s been a while since anyone took care of me, and this, tonight, with Jamie fussing over me, is perfect.
“I’m so lucky that I have you in my life right now.” I mean that sincerely. His smile makes up for everything.
The Ward Maddox’s of this world have made me cynical, but Jamie restores my faith in humanity.
Chapter 9
WARD
“How are you getting on with your new friends?” Rob asks.
I’ve been staring at my notepad for ages. His phone call is a welcome diversion. “I don’t have any friends.”
“Yeah. That’s never going to change,” Rob throws back.
“I fired the personal trainer.” I expertly deflect the conversation before he can ask me about my writing.
“You did what?”
“I fired him.”
I listen to his cries of exasperation and explain exactly what happened. “So I fired him.”
“Don’t you think you overreacted?”
“If you think I’m going to put up with that crap, you’re wrong.”
“I should have warned him,” Rob grumbles.
“Warned him about what?”
“About how difficult you were. I told Mari, but for some reason I didn’t think to warn Trevor.”
I find it amusing that he has to warn people about me, although it’s the right thing to do. They need to know what they are getting themselves into. “There’s no way I’m going to let anyone talk about me like that.”
“So, this guy upset you?”
“You sound surprised that I have feelings.”
“Sometimes, Ward, I’m not so sure.”
Rob can piss me off easily sometimes. “I’m getting the impression that you think this is my fault.”
“You’re not good around people. I knew this wasn’t going to be easy, but I expected the new hires to last longer than a few