Page 2 of Tangling with the Boss

“What’s that?” Leo is doing that one-eyed squinty thing he does when he’s got a headache brewing, and I’m already itching to run and fetch him a painkiller and a cool glass of water. Hate when he’s in pain. But my feet are glued to the floorboards, my stomach twisting into knots as Leo drags the envelope across his desk and rips it open with a scowl. “You already brought the mail…”

He trails off, frown deepening as he reads.

Silence fills the office, swelling between us and cutting off my air supply.

Oh, god. Oh,god.

Can’t breathe. Can’t think.

And this is awful.Easily one of the top ten worst moments of my life, and I’ve had some doozies. In fifth grade, I tried to dye my blonde hair pink with a box kit and botched it so badly, half my hair fell out. Everyone at school called me Gollum.

“I’ll work my notice period—”

Leo cuts off my squeaky voice. “You’re not leaving, Hazel.”

Well… I am. That’s what my resignation letter says, right there in black ink. But sometimes the boss needs a minute to process bad news, so I suck in a huge breath and keep going. He’ll catch up, and then he’ll probably be glad.

No more perky assistant trying to cheer him up on gloomy mornings! No more elevator rides with me chatting his ear off about my weekend baking disasters! No moreme!

Leo will see. This is for the best.

He’ll get the serious, silent assistant of his dreams, and I’ll get a chance to nurse my poor, bruised heart far away from his scowls.

“My new role starts on the fifteenth. If you would be willing to write me a reference before then, that would be—”

“New role?” Leo blinks and sits up straighter. His desk chair creaks under his impressive bulk. “You have a new job lined up? This is serious?”

Lord, give me patience. This man is experiencing a shock.

“Yes,” I tell him gently. “I’m starting a new job on the fifteenth.”

He’s already shaking his dark head. “No, you’re not.” His big hand twitches around my letter, crumpling it into a ball. “You’re not leaving, Hazel. This is not happening.”

When I burst out laughing, Leo looks at me like I’ve gone insane—and maybe I have. The jitters have taken over my body, and there’s a weird ringing noise in my ears. None of this is going like I expected, but I have to push through, because the second I leave this room, my jelly legs will give out. I’ll collapse into a sad puddle on the floor.

“You don’t even like me, boss.”

He blanches, shaking his head.

And I wait for the words to come—any words, anything nice at all, because if Leo asks me in this moment to stay, if he says he actually likes me, I’ll do it. I’ll cave.

But he gives me nothing. Nada. Zip.

The big, scary boss opens and closes his mouth like a goldfish. The man I’m desperately in love with can’t deny that he finds me annoying.

Oof. New low.

And meanwhile, a crack splinters through my chest, pain searing my insides. See, this is why I’m leaving. It’s self preservation, that’s all, because I deserve to find a man wholikesme. A man who’s thrilled by my bouncy attitude and who can’t get enough of my chatter. Hell, even just a boss who’ll tolerate my presence without wincing.

So although this hurts even worse than I thought it would, although it feels like I’m sawing off a limb, I need to stay strong. Need to hold out for something healthier. Somethingsweet.

For starters: a man who sees me as more than a planner on legs. Anannoyingplanner at that.

“You let me handle tonight’s party.” If we didn’t have this giant desk between us, I’d pat Leo’s shoulder. He looks shell-shocked. “You focus on that reference, okay? And I’ll set up interviews for my replacement. Don’t worry, I know your wish list by now: someone who won’t speak unless they’re spoken to, and who doesn’t believe in Flapjack Fridays.”

AKA: not me.

“Hazel,” Leo says.

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