Page 41 of Marrying My Ex's Boss

“We didn’t do anything.” The two of us were standing in front of his desk Monday morning like two whipped puppies who were caught peeing on the carpet.

“What does the phrase ‘keep a low profile’ mean to you?”

“He started it. Didn’t he, Justine?”

“He sure did.” That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.

‘Damn straight, and he’s lucky I didn’t get my hands on his ass, or they’d still be picking up pieces of his slimy ass with tweezers.’

Not now, Justice; I have to concentrate before Marcus trips me up. He’s a slippery one.

“Tell me again what happened.”

“I was so scared. If Mo hadn’t been there, I don’t know what I would’ve done.”

‘Good, that’s good; now turn on the waterworks.’

Huh?

‘Cry bitch!’

“Whaaaaa!”

‘Bitch you sound like a trapped dingo.’

“Okay-okay, don’t cry, come ‘ere, it’s okay now. Monique, was it really that bad?”

“What do you think? You think we’re lying to you?” I can’t believe that worked. Marcus had even forgotten that we were at work and we weren’t supposed to be touching each other. As soon as I started crying, he bounded out of his chair and rushed to my side to comfort me.

I could get used to this.

‘You and me both bitch, that’s my damn hug you stealing over there. Who was it that told you to cry?’ I ignored Justice’s little meltdown and enjoyed the feeling of being in his arms after such a long time. It felt good to be held by him, and I didn’t realize how much I’d missed it until now.

“I can leave and come back if you two need some time alone.”

“Mo, go away.”

“Fine, I’ma go check on the kiddos.” The daycare was open for the first time today, now that the sick room was operational. Now, we have a waiting list that is a mile long.

I didn’t know there were so many employees here, but as soon as the doors opened and the moms and dads who had already signed up came in and saw what we had done, they’d blabbed to their coworkers, and people had been lining up to sign their kids up.

I felt a little bad that some places were going to be losing their clientele, but Marcus assured me that most of the daycare centers around here had waiting lists, so it shouldn’t be a problem. I just can’t stand the thought of taking food from someone else’s mouth.

I don’t even know how he knew about it. I would’ve given him a watered-down version at some point but saw no reason for him to know that Monique had knocked the stuffing out of my ex and broken his arm just for spite.

That’s not what I told the cops, though, when they showed up. “Of course we were afraid, officer. Two women alone with three young children in the next room. We only heard someone breaking in, and our fight or flight kicked in.”

And when Paul had to admit that he and Monique had never met when the cops asked her if she didn’t recognize him as the homeowner, that just solved our case for us. All he got was a pat on the shoulder and a ‘sorry mate’ nothing we can do.

“You get back here.” He let me go to sit in his chair again.

“The cops didn’t press charges, so I don’t see why you’re getting your nose out of joint.”

“That’s not how that saying goes.”

“How’s it go then?” The two of them started arguing, and I went back to my desk to file my nails because, obviously, I wasn’t needed for this part of the Laurel and Hardy show.

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