Stay For Me - Megan Smith Page 0,30

my head.

“Do I need to change that and make it one?”

I look everywhere but at him. I can’t or I’ll leap out of this chair and beg him for just one more kiss even though it’s so wrong. It’s wrong that we’re even talking about it while we’re at work. Everything about it is wrong but oh so right.

“Answer me.”

I clear my throat trying to answer him but the words fail me.

He chuckles seeing me struggle.

“I’ll take that as an answer as to why you’ve been avoiding me.” Eli crosses his ankles. “Look, I know it was---“

“Wrong.” I finish for him. “It was wrong and shouldn’t have happened. We had a few drinks, things got carried away. I get it.”

He stares at me for just a moment before nodding his head. “I’m going to be hiring a replacement for you.”

My heart stops. He’s firing me because of a kiss, a kiss that he started? “Wait, I promise it’ll never happen again. You can’t fire me because of that.”

He smirks. “Don’t make a promise you can’t keep, Layla. Now, if you let me finish what I started to say. I’m going to be hiring a replacement for you.” He stares at me for just a second before continuing. “Cooper and I would like to train you to be one of the managers here at Fierce. As you know, Cooper is gone a lot and I need the extra help. We’re aware that you don’t have the experience but we’re willing to train you if you accept the offer.”

I sit thinking for a minute. This could be a great opportunity, some experience, and I’ll be able to actually use my degree that I’m going to school for, but what do I do about Fallon, about Brian? I’m sure more hours are going to be needed.

“I see those wheels turning.” Eli chuckles. “What kind of questions do you have?”

“Will more hours be needed? I’m already kind of here as much as I possibly can be.”

Eli walks around his desk and retrieves something from his drawer. “No. I may need extra help from time to time but, for the most part, the hours you have now will work. Any other questions?”

“Are you sure you want to offer it to me?”

“Yes,” Eli responds with no hesitation “Cooper and I talked about it and we trust you more than any of the other girls here and we’d rather it be someone who knows what goes on around here. Is that it?”

I think for a second, as long as he’s sure, I’m sure. “Yes that’s it.”

“Good, then I need you to sign these and I’ll get started interviewing for your replacement.”

I reach for the pen and quickly sign my name on the paperwork. I can feel Eli’s eyes on me and it’s making me flustered.

“Here you go.” I say handing him the paperwork back.

“You aren’t going to read it over? Ask about the salary?”

“Should I?” I smirk. “If you have trust in me to help you out with the club then I have to have trust in you that you’re taking care of me.”

“Fair enough.” Eli extends his hand to me.

I take his hand in mine and he pulls me suddenly to him so that we’re nearly face to face. “And just so you know, yes, that kiss shouldn’t have happened but I’m only saying that because you have a boyfriend, Layla, if you didn’t, this situation right now would turn out much differently.”

I swallow hard as Eli let’s my hand go.

“Have a good rest of the night, Layla.” Eli calls out to me as he leaves me standing in his office.

Jesus, what have I gotten myself into accepting this job where I’ll be working with him more closely?

Saturday afternoon rolls around and I find myself at the mall looking for the perfect pair of earrings for Fallon. Her birthday is just a few days away and I wasn’t sure when I was going to be able to find the time to pick them up, so here I am while Fallon is out with Mrs. Stein.

Browsing around in a few stores, I haven’t quite found what I’m looking for. I have a few options but I’ll know what I’m looking for as soon as I see it.

When I left work last night I was a little irritated with Eli. I know he’s teasing me, pushing me, for a reaction about the kiss we shared but it’s not helping me at all. It’s all I think about. I’ve