Page 115 of Bossy Romance

“I have to make it up to you,” he says earnestly.

The poor kid. “Just keep working hard and that’ll be enough for me.”

“Can I at least buy you dinner?”

I freeze.

He backtracks, rubbing his neck. “Not like a date or anything. Just to say sorry. I won’t be able to forgive myself if I don’t at least show you how much I regret what happened.”

I tilt my head, thinking about it. I’ve been meaning to speak to Henry about staying on permanently at Vision Tech. Rather than giving him a slot of my day and thus taking time away from another task, maybe I can slot him in at night.

Excited by the thought of maximizing my time, I smile. “Okay. I have something to discuss with you as well.”

“Really?” He gives me a hopeful look.

“It’s about work.”

“Oh.” His face falls. Then he seems to bounce back. “I’ll set it up.”

My phone rings.

Distractedly, I back away from him. “I should be finished at the office around six o’clock. How about we meet at six thirty to be safe?”

“Sure.”

I put the phone to my ear. “Hello?”

More morning greetings are flung at me as I step into the elevator. I acknowledge those with a wave of my hand and get an update from the lawyer about the patent case.

Since Adam suggested we settle, I changed my strategy. He was right. Not fighting this out is freeing up a lot more of my time.

I get to the top floor and Rochelle shoots to her feet. “Miss Delaney.”

“Morning, Rochelle.”

She opens her mouth and reaches toward me. Then she snaps her lips shut.

I stop my power-walk and face her. “Is something wrong?”

“I’m sorry about what happened at the sports day.” Her eyes hit the ground.

“Are you referring to me falling or to the unfortunate jazz band incident?”

“Uh…”

“Thanks for the concern.” I start to leave and then change my mind and walk back to her table. “By the way, I saw the memes you put in the group chat. I didn’t know you had such a talent for video-editing. That little clip of me falling down over and over again was…” I kiss my fingers.

A horrified expression climbs over her face. Eyes wide and fearful, she starts trembling. “I’m sorry, Miss Delaney. I’ll take them down.”

“No need.” I wave her concern away. I found all the jokes that came out of the day’s events hilarious. Me and Rowan had a blast picking out our favorites from the Vision Tech group chat.

Rochelle rounds the desk and shuffles behind me. “I’m really sorry.”

I keep walking toward my office, done with the conversation. “Did you compile the financial data that I asked for?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Bring it to my office please.” I push my office door open and take a seat in my chair.

---