Tailored for Trouble (Happy Pants #1) - Mimi Jean Pamfiloff Page 0,48
me wonder if you’re really fucking cruel.”
He made a bitter laugh. “That all?”
“You lied to me about why you wanted to hire me.”
“And? You might as well lay it all on the table. After all, you’re leaving tomorrow.”
He poured another drink and slugged it down.
“Okay,” she laced her fingers and placed her hands on the table. “If you want to hear more—I know you’re engaged to that Victoria woman, but you kissed me. And then there’s the matter of the—” She was about to bring up the six million dollars he’d won by telling his friends they’d slept together, but he didn’t give her the chance.
“I am not engaged to that woman, but if I were, I would never deceive her or cheat on her.”
Taylor fished her cell from her purse and pulled up the photo. “Then what’s this photo all about?”
He grinned. “I think you’re jealous, Ms. Reed.”
“No. Why would I be? And don’t change the subject,” she snapped.
His blue eyes flashed to her cell and then settled on her face. “That picture was from a charity auction. I donated the ring. She won it.”
“Then why did you let them print such a big lie, especially when you’re dating her?”
“I am not dating Victoria.”
“Okay—having a relationship with her.”
“I don’t do relationships.”
“Fine—sleeping with her. Whatever,” Taylor snapped.
“Victoria is an acquaintance, nothing more. And if I went around trying to correct all the misinformation in the tabloids, I’d spend my time doing nothing else. I attend a hell of a lot of events, conferences, and dinners. And every time my picture is taken with a beautiful woman, the gossip columns automatically assume I’m sleeping with her. That’s a lot of women—a new one every week.”
“Well, now my brother thinks I’m hooking up with you, an engaged man.”
“Which part bothers you more? That he thinks you’re sleeping with me or that he thinks I’m about to be married?”
Taylor stared from across the table into his icy blue eyes, trimmed with those silky dark lashes. She felt like he was looking right through her, like it was impossible for him to see anything but the truth on her face. “I’m not ashamed that he thinks we’re involved if that’s what you’re asking.”
“You’re lying.”
She sighed. “You’re right. I am. Because I haven’t even told him about your misleading me yet, and my family already think you’re an asshole for getting me fired.”
“You got yourself fired,” he pointed out.
She leaned in and hissed, “You acted like an ass, and I defended Vera.”
“Why?” He folded his arms over his chest. “Didn’t seem like she needed defending, and I certainly don’t think she was the type of woman to stand up for you.”
The waiter appeared and patiently waited for Bennett to look at him. Taylor felt grateful for the interruption.
“Would you like some more sake, Mr. Wade? Or one of our fine specials.” He gestured toward the chalkboard on the wall with the menu written in French and Japanese.
“No, thank you. Just the check, Okomoto-san.”
The man bowed and backed away from the table before turning to fetch the check.
Bennett took a quick breath. “I treated Vera like that because she was bad-mouthing you before you entered the room.”
“She did what?”
“She implied you were to blame for my mishaps that morning and that you would be pulled off the account if it made me happy. I believe her exact words were ‘I will handle you directly so you know everything will be done right.’ ”
That backstabbing bitch.
“I can’t believe it,” Taylor muttered.
“Believe it,” he snarled. “And it just so happens I have a pet peeve about people who abuse their positions or throw their staff under the bus. It pisses me off. My father used to cut me off, take credit for my work, and belittle me in front of his board members and colleagues. I’m finally in a position where not only do I not have to stand for that sort of high-handedness, but I feel obligated to give a little back when I witness that kind of behavior. Vera got what was coming to her.”
Taylor didn’t know whether to feel flattered or insulted. On one hand, she didn’t need him standing up for her. On the other, it was touching that he’d gone after her ex-boss because he hadn’t appreciated how Vera treated her—a complete stranger. It was frightfully aggressive yet sweet at the same time.
Kind of like Bennett?
He emptied the bottle of sake into his cup as Okomoto-san arrived with the check and a tiny dish