highhandedness.
Chapter 8
Dakota
I FEEL MY cell phone buzz in the back pocket of my jeans, and I don’t even bother checking to see who it is. Braxton has been calling and messaging for the last hour and a half. I messaged him back after the first text, letting him know I was getting a drink with a few of my coworkers but would be at his place for dinner and conversation about him sending Hanna down to talk to Kathy and me.
Unsurprisingly, he sent a message immediately asking where I was having a drink, who I was having a drink with, and informing me that we didn’t need to talk about Kathy or Hanna. I didn’t bother disagreeing with him, since I want him to see my face when I reinforce my point.
When someone laughs loudly, I come out of my head and look around the table, finding everyone cracking up; about what, I’m not sure. I’ve always been a little awkward when getting to know new people. I have a tendency to watch and listen before I let people in—a trait that makes people think I’m a bitch when I’m not.
Tonight, hasn’t been any different. I don’t know where I fit in. They’ve all been working together for a while. They have built friendships, have inside jokes, and are all alike in a way that makes me feel like an outsider.
“I think I’m going to call it a night,” I say, and all eyes come to me.
“It’s still early,” my coworker Samantha replies, glancing at her watch. “Don’t you want to at least finish your drink?”
I look at my second beer, which I only took a couple sips of, and shake my head. “I really should get home, I need to eat dinner and I want to get some sleep so that I’m ready for my show tomorrow.”
“Don’t overthink the shit Kathy says,” Mat tells me with a shake of his head. “I’ve been working here for three years, and she’s never liked any of my ideas, which sucks. But at the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter. She doesn’t have the final say, what matters are ratings and sales.”
“Really?” That surprises me.
“Yeah, and the bigwigs know she’s stuck in the past, but since her niece is sleeping with the CEO, it doesn’t matter.”
My stomach turns. Still, I manage to ask, “What do you mean?”
I know Braxton said that he and Hanna are not together and haven’t been intimate, but could they be sleeping together? I didn’t think Troy was cheating on me. I didn’t have a clue until I saw photos.
“Mr. Adams and his assistant Hanna have been together forever. I wouldn’t be surprised if there are wedding bells at some point soon.”
“I would be,” a deep voice says from behind me, making me jump while Mat’s face pales.
Knowing who just arrived, I turn on my stool and glare up at the handsome guy who looks ready to pick me up and drag me out of here.
“Dakota.”
“Braxton,” I say, and his eyes narrow. “What are you doing here?”
“I’ve been calling you,” he replies, and I hear a gasp come from behind me. “You’re not picking up your phone.”
“I’m with friends.”
“I see that.” He looks around the table, and I have no doubt everyone is wondering what the hell is going on, how I know the CEO of IMG, and why he would be calling me. No doubt, they are coming up with a million different scenarios, and I’m sure that most of them would be correct. “Dinner is ready at my place.”
So much for keeping things between us on the low. “You are unbelievable.”
“So you’ve said.” His eyes lock with mine. “Are you ready to go or would you like to have a conversation here?”
“I hate you,” I hiss just loud enough for him to hear as I stand, and then I turn to face the table, grabbing my bag. “I’m sorry, guys. I’ll see you all tomorrow.”
“Yeah… sure,” Chris and Mat say in unison while the rest of the table of women stare at me in disbelief, their eyes ping-ponging back and forth between Braxton to me.
“Night.” I turn and stomp past Braxton, wondering exactly what I would have to do to hurt him without hurting myself, because I swear to God the minute I get outside, I’m going to kick his ass for what he just did. Once again, he ignored me and what I wanted so he could get his way.
“Dakota.” He tries to